Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [512]

"Childhood, huh? Isn’t that just how it is?"

Albedo glanced at Gu Sanqiu. "What about your childhood?"

The latter’s mouth twitched. "Spent it completely in the dark, kept out of the loop by a bunch of old geezers while being forced to master every weapon under the sun and all sorts of exclusive Liyue techniques. Occasionally, I’d sneak off to mess around with my brothers."

Thinking about it now, his fondest childhood memories—aside from causing trouble with Xingqiu and going out to play with Hu Tao—were probably the rare moments he and his friends gathered for meals.

That dining tradition had stuck with him, but for the most part, his childhood had been a relentless sprint down the path of training.

Honestly, it was a miracle he hadn’t grown up in some massive sect. Otherwise, his fellow disciples would’ve probably crowned him King of Overwork behind his back.

Not like I asked for any of that!

Noticing the dark cloud of regret settling over Gu Sanqiu’s face, Albedo wisely chose to drop the subject.

Something about pushing any further just felt… dangerous.

Thanks to their speed advantage, the two quickly caught up to the others searching for the second prism shard—only to find the group casually resting on the ground. Meanwhile, Itto was locked in an impromptu wrestling match with a Hilichurl Berserker, who had set his massive axe aside.

"Boss, you’re here! Can you believe there are Hilichurls in this place? I thought it was just us out here!"

The moment Gu Sanqiu arrived, Arataki Itto promptly flipped the Hilichurl over. The defeated creature hastily grabbed its weapon and fled, disappearing into the distance in no time.

"Yeah, sounds about right. If there’s one thing you can count on in this world, it’s that Hilichurls will pop up literally anywhere."

Gu Sanqiu wasn’t even surprised. At least the Fatui had some discipline, knowing where they could and couldn’t operate.

But Hilichurls? Treasure Hoarders? Those guys had infiltration skills that put every intelligence agency to shame. Their adaptability and sheer persistence were practically laws of nature at this point.

Once everyone was gathered, the three prism shards emitted a faint glow. Their distinct colors merged, forming a pillar of white light—a beacon guiding them to their final destination.

"Hah, looks like the big boss is finally making an appearance."

Arataki Itto cracked his knuckles excitedly. "Now that the warm-up’s over, how about we head over right now?"

Jean, gazing into the distance, furrowed her brows. "But that area ahead… It looks like nothing but open ocean. Could it really be as we suspected? Is their base actually hidden underwater?"

"No, we already had our suspicions about that."

Gu Sanqiu pointed at the ground beneath them. "At first, we didn’t want to introduce any unnecessary risks without fully understanding this place."

"But there’s actually a second layer of islands down below, concealed by mechanisms. If we activate the right one, the Demon King’s lair should reveal itself."

Klee tugged at Gu Sanqiu’s sleeve, eyes sparkling. "Big Brother, can you make it appear? Like those magicians who sometimes perform in Mondstadt?"

"I’m not a magician—I’m a mage."

Gu Sanqiu cast a glance at Albedo, who was clearly pretending to be dead. "I don’t know the exact method to unlock it, but I can force it open with a controlled seismic spell. That should expose at least part of the hidden island. Close enough, right?"

"No need for that."

Albedo spoke up, shutting down Gu Sanqiu’s dangerously reckless idea. "I’ve been analyzing the geography of this entire archipelago. I have a way to bring the submerged island to the surface."

Barbara, who had been clutching Gu Sanqiu’s wrist to stop him, let out a relieved sigh.

Finally, a voice of reason in this party!

Seriously, who in their right mind thought "just cause an earthquake" was a valid solution? What, was he trying to wipe out his own team in one go?!

…Hah.

If they didn’t put some pressure on him, how were they supposed to make this undercover GM slip up and reveal anything?

Gu Sanqiu shot another glance at Albedo, who was supposedly conducting a "final data analysis" but was very clearly just using admin privileges to unlock a new map area.

This was ridiculous. It was like having devs secretly playing among regular players, gathering feedback, then tweaking game mechanics behind the scenes to mess with them.

Yeah. Gu Sanqiu was now 100% convinced that Albedo’s ever-expressionless face was an act—probably just his way of avoiding unnecessary social interactions.

Beneath that calm exterior? Pure, scheming black-heartedness.

And honestly, there was another reason Gu Sanqiu wanted to flip the table—Klee.

Maybe his presence had changed something, but what was once a carefree summer adventure on the Golden Apple Archipelago now seemed to have an added subplot—one centered on Klee’s growth.

I’m just some useless, idle wanderer. Shouldn’t this have nothing to do with me?

Gu Sanqiu stroked his chin, then looked at Klee, who was now squatting beside Albedo, eagerly waiting for her big brother to unveil the so-called Dodo-King’s lair.

From an adult’s perspective, this whole situation might seem overly pragmatic, but… this was exactly what made children so pure.

"If I remember correctly, I once said—"

Gu Sanqiu smiled. "I came to change tragedies, not erase beautiful things."

Childlike innocence. Hope. Emotion.

And the people he cherished.

"The world of adults is too complicated. So complicated that even parents keep countless secrets from their own children. And when it comes to everyone else? You never know what’s true and what’s a lie."

"Elves live long lives, little Klee."

"So hold onto that purity of yours. Have a long, fun childhood—one where you believe the world is bright and colorful."

"As for everything else, leave it to us."

"We’re already stained by reality, anyway."

As tremors shook the islands, the Golden Apple Archipelago gradually revealed its true form. Guided by the prism shards, they arrived at their final destination—unsealing the domain set by the Dodo-King.

"The bigger the barrier, the stronger the Dodo-King?"

Gu Sanqiu clapped a hand on Albedo’s shoulder. The latter gave him a confused look as Gu Sanqiu turned his gaze toward the phonograph.

"No matter how large this barrier is, it can’t obscure the most genuine love a mother has for her child. Just like how true emotions shine without embellishment."

The group listened quietly as Alice’s voice played. More than anything, her words were filled with a mother’s affection—gentle reminders, warm exchanges.

From the oversized kid from Inazuma, to Mondstadt’s crew, to the young master from Liyue… Alice’s way of giving people nicknames was just as crude as a certain emergency food.

Blunt, to the point, and utterly lacking in aesthetic.

"Klee, in our long lifespans, even parents are but fleeting figures in our journey. You will meet many people, and you will part with even more."

"Perhaps one day, you too will embark on a journey like I did. The world you once knew may become unfamiliar, but always remember this, my dearest daughter—"

"No matter what the future holds, the present world is always dazzling, filled with love and joy."

"The friends who choose to adventure with you—they are the golden brushstrokes upon the blank canvas of your life, painting an unforgettable masterpiece."

One by one, red books landed in their hands, as Alice’s tone turned more serious.

"Write your own stories with them, Klee. Just like how I wrote my ‘Teyvat Travel Guide.’"

"Klee, Mommy loves you."

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This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!