Villain Simulator, Ch 420-425

Lucas couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart, and he hurriedly called out to the system in his mind. But the system, which always responded instantly in the past, now seemed to have vanished completely, without the slightest reaction.

Lucas, who had always firmly believed in himself, now truly began to feel confused.

"Lucas!"

Shenhe immediately pulled Lucas into her arms and said sadly, "Every time you have one of your mad episodes, you keep saying you want to take me away. But I've always been right here, haven't I? You even said that in reality, my mother passed away early, and my father tried to harm me. But the truth is… they're both perfectly fine, aren't they?"

Yes... Shenhe's parents both seemed completely normal, and their eyes were filled with concern for her.

For a moment, Lucas genuinely began to harbor a sliver of doubt.

Which was real, and which was a dream?

At this point, Lucas still hadn't realized that the dream illusion was slowly dissolving his rationality. Aside from Shenhe, he... had long since fallen into the illusion as well.

"Lucas, wake up!" Shenhe cupped Lucas's cheeks, silently shedding tears as she said, "You have to distinguish it clearly. That side is fake. This side… is what's real."

Fake?

Could it be that transmigration, the system, and all those simulators—were all fake, just the fevered hallucinations of a madman?

"I can't tell! I really can't tell!" Lucas clutched Shenhe's wrists helplessly and cried out emotionally, "Shenhe! Can you tell? Do you know who you are? You're a disciple of Cloud Retainer, one of the strongest among Liyue's younger generation..."

"I can tell," Shenhe nodded and said, "Everything you said is fake. Who we are now, that's what's real. There's no system, no thrilling adventures—just us, an ordinary couple living in the countryside."

In that instant, something incredibly important inside Lucas's heart seemed to collapse with a deafening crash. He was momentarily dazed and lost. Just then, Shenhe's father suddenly pressed a talisman onto his forehead. In a flash, Lucas felt like he had been struck by lightning—his whole body convulsed, and he instantly lost consciousness.

"Father, y-you… what are you doing?" Shenhe asked nervously, looking at Lucas slumped over the table. "Is Lucas… is he okay?"

"His madness has reached the point of no return," Shenhe's father said with a deep frown. "Now, we can only use drastic measures. We'll invoke the clan's 'Spirit-Swallowing Rite of Immortal Petition' to call upon the Four Immortals and devour the strange delusions inside his mind. Only then can he be freed from his suffering!"

...

No one knew how much time passed before Lucas suddenly opened his eyes wide.

He found himself in a dark room. Candles were lit all around him, arranged in the eight directions of the bagua.

Lucas himself was tightly bound to a wooden bed by several thick iron chains, completely immobilized. Moreover, his entire body was plastered with talismans—hundreds of them, from head to toe. Strange symbols were drawn on his skin using some kind of unknown blood.

"Let… let me go!" Lucas struggled, but he was completely powerless to resist.

However, because he was still trapped in the illusion, no matter how powerful he was in reality, he couldn't exert any of it here.

Or perhaps… this was the real world, and all those powers he had gained in the "illusion" were naturally unUrsable.

"Lucas, don't blame me!"

Shenhe's father, clad in a Daoist robe and holding a peachwood sword, appeared before Lucas with a stern expression. "Though the process may be painful, only by going through this ordeal will your madness be cured."

"What… what are you trying to do?" Lucas cried out in shock. "I… I'm not crazy! I'm not crazy!"

"Lunatics never admit they're mad," Shenhe's father chanted incantations as he waved the peachwood sword. "Good son-in-law, once I summon the Four Immortals and have them devour your hysteria, your madness will be healed!"

At the side, Shenhe also looked deeply concerned. "Lucas, just behave and don't move. Once Father finishes the rite, all those strange memories in your head will be wiped clean!"

Shenhe's father raised the peachwood sword and began chanting incantations: "First I summon the Fox, second the Weasel! Third I summon the Hedgehog, fourth the Snake! Fifth the Judge, sixth the King of Hell! Four Immortals come to save this soul!"

As the incantation finished, four phantom figures suddenly emerged around Lucas—each one taking the form of a fox, a weasel, a hedgehog, and a long serpent.

Hu, Huang, Bai, and Liu referred to these four creatures. In certain regional legends, they were believed to be spiritual entities—part monster, part immortal—due to their strong supernatural nature.

Certain unorthodox rituals involved summoning these four spirits for magical workings.

At this moment, the four so-called "great immortals" began to surround Lucas from all directions. The fox spirit perched on his head, drooling foul-smelling saliva from its mouth that dripped down his cheeks. The weasel spirit directly bit into Lucas's neck.

Though these spirits were mere phantoms, the pain they inflicted on Lucas was intensely real. He couldn't help but cry out in agony as the snake spirit coiled tightly around his body.

The hedgehog spirit dragged its spiked body across Lucas's chest and abdomen, carving countless bloody marks into his flesh.

Lucas struggled desperately, but to Shenhe, there was nothing around him at all. He was just flailing wildly, like someone in the grip of madness.

"Lucas!"

Seeing Lucas in such torment, Shenhe's heart ached unbearably. She tried to rush forward, only to be stopped by her mother, who earnestly pleaded, "You mustn't be softhearted—this is all for his own good!"

As the Four Immortals continued devouring his body, Lucas's consciousness began to blur.

His memories of reality became increasingly fuzzy, while memories of "this world" became ever clearer.

If this continued, the memories of the real world would be completely erased and replaced by these other memories. Then Lucas might truly believe that this world was the real one.

At that critical moment, a giant black hat suddenly descended from the sky, trapping the four spirits inside. The pure yang energy within the hat instantly obliterated the evil phantoms, reducing them to ash.

It was the Harmony Hexagram Hat!

Illusions could never affect reality—so that meant…

This world was the illusion!

Seeing this, Shenhe's father's expression turned sinister. Without hesitation, he raised the peachwood sword and struck down hard at Lucas's forehead, shouting, "What evil dares to invade my ritual? Die!"

Lucas immediately understood—this wasn't about exorcising evil. It was about eliminating him.

The reason he hadn't been able to use his power before was because his mind had been muddled, unable to distinguish illusion from reality. But now that his spirit had cleared and his consciousness returned, his mental strength surged. Even within an illusion, he could now use his abilities.

With a sharp crack, the iron chains binding him snapped.

The peachwood sword descending toward his forehead was caught firmly in his hand.

"Son-in-law!"

Veins bulged on Shenhe's father's face as he quickly cried out, "You've been possessed by evil spirits! Let me help you drive them out!"

"Drive out evil?"

Lucas sneered. "Who could be more evil than me?"

With that, he unleashed a palm strike squarely into Shenhe's father's chest, sending him flying and slamming hard into the wall.

"Father!" Shenhe cried out in alarm. "Lucas, what are you doing?"

"Shenhe, I'm already awake. Are you still not?" Lucas stepped toward her. "I'm not crazy. You're not crazy either. You just cling too tightly to your delusions and refuse to believe in 'reality.'"

Shenhe's father spat out a mouthful of blood. Using the last of his strength, he grabbed Lucas's leg and shouted, "Ah-He! Take your mother and run! He's possessed by a demon—he's dangerous beyond belief!"

His face was covered in blood, his state wretched. Shenhe's heart twisted in pain, and she pleaded, "Lucas, look at him—he's my father!"

Lucas said coldly, "Your true father, in order to bring your early-dead mother back to life, sought out the forbidden art of 'Life for Life,' and even intended to sacrifice you to the spirits to resurrect her."

That statement struck Shenhe's heart like a hammer. Her face collapsed in disbelief, and she fell to her knees, clutching her head. "You… you're lying!"

But Lucas didn't stop. "So, in the illusion, you imagined a version of him who was willing to sacrifice himself to save you. Unfortunately, the more he appeared to love you, the deeper your obsession truly was."

With that, Lucas gritted his teeth, raised his foot, and stomped hard on Shenhe's father's spine. With a cracking sound, all his internal organs shattered. He vomited another mouthful of blood, reached out to his wife and daughter—but his arm fell limp to the ground. He was dead.

To be honest, if Lucas hadn't known the truth, this scene really would look like a demon-possessed villain savagely murdering a loving father.

"Husband!"

Shenhe's mother, seeing her spouse die horribly, shoved her daughter aside and rushed at Lucas. "Ah-He, run! I… I'll fight him with my life!"

Lucas sighed. He knew that although everything before him was an illusion, within it, Shenhe's parents weren't evil. They were merely parts of her fantasy, created from her mind—but their love for her was wholehearted.

Hardening his heart, he struck Shenhe's mother squarely in the skull. She let out a faint murmur and immediately perished, collapsing over her husband's corpse.

In the blink of an eye, Shenhe had watched both her parents die before her eyes. She didn't think to escape, but instead threw herself onto their bodies, sobbing in anguish. "Father! Mother! Wh… why… why did it have to be like this…"

"Ah-He," Lucas said coldly, "I know this is a hard truth to accept. But this is all fake."

"Fake? So what if it's fake?" Shenhe's voice was hoarse. "Even if it's fake, I'm willing to accept it. If the 'reality' you speak of is truly that painful, then why not let me live in the illusion forever?"

That… was indeed a hard question to answer.

Just like in The Matrix, where the protagonist must choose between the red pill that represents harsh reality and the blue pill that represents a beautiful illusion—not everyone can be as brave as the protagonist and choose the former.

As the words fell, the "corpses" of Shenhe's parents slowly transformed into a swirl of black mist and merged into Shenhe's body. The black braid at the back of her head gradually unraveled, and as if soaked in dye, turned pure white in an instant.

"Why… why did you take them away from me!"

Shenhe lifted her head, her eyes now blood-red, the whites of her eyes laced with crimson veins. She grabbed Lucas by the throat and demanded, "Tell me! So what if it was fake?!"

This world was, after all, Shenhe's dreamscape. Everything within it was formed by her own consciousness.

Even though Lucas's awakening had temporarily allowed him to break free of his restraints, in this world, before a furious Shenhe, he was still at a disadvantage.

Shenhe had nearly lost all reason, intent only on avenging her "parents."

Lucas felt as though his throat were clamped tight by chains, struggling even to breathe, yet he continued to resist and force out words: "Because the fake... the fake is..."

Just then, with a swish, an arrow pierced straight into Shenhe's back, its sharp tip bursting out from her chest.

"Because a fake is still fake. Like a dazzling bubble—no matter how beautiful it is, when it bursts, there's nothing left but emptiness."

A cool voice echoed from behind them.

A girl with dark horns and blue hair had appeared in the room without notice. She said calmly, "Junior sister, breaking a beautiful dream is cruel, but remaining trapped in it will only lead to ruin."

"Ganyu?"

The arrow had made Shenhe loosen her grip. Lucas coughed twice and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here?"

"I had a feeling of unease all day, as if disaster was looming. So after work, I rushed to the Jade Chamber," Ganyu replied softly, visibly relieved to see Lucas unharmed. "I didn't expect all this to happen. Ningguang told me you entered Shenhe's dream alone to save her, so I followed in after you."

Though Ganyu referred to Xiao as "senior," she was actually older than him. In terms of power, she was no weaker either. Any techniques Xiao could perform, Ganyu wasn't necessarily incapable of.

However, when it came to Dream-Infiltration Arts, Ganyu wasn't as skilled as Xiao. Attempting it hastily carried some risk.

"Why were you so reckless?" Lucas felt a warmth in his heart. "What if something had happened to you..."

"You've done so much for me—how could I stand by and do nothing?" Ganyu smiled gently. "If you're not afraid, why should I be?"

Lucas was deeply moved to know that Ganyu had braved danger just to help him.

"You… who are you..."

Seeing this woman who was both familiar and strange, Shenhe's consciousness began to grow muddled again. She suddenly yanked out the arrow in her chest—yet it left no wound behind.

"I… am also your family." Ganyu reached out her hand to Shenhe and said softly, "Come back."

"You... you're trying to trick me!" Shenhe clutched her head, shaking it violently. "You're the ones who are fake!"

Seeing this, Lucas and Ganyu exchanged glances. Ganyu sighed helplessly. "In that case, we'll have to use that method."

"W-What method?" Lucas asked in confusion.

"I didn't want to try this," Ganyu's gaze sharpened, "but Master once taught me—when someone is too deeply lost in a dream and refuses to wake up, the simplest and most effective method is..."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Shenhe's wrist. Still dazed, Shenhe instinctively prepared to retaliate, but Ganyu gave her no chance.

She raised her palm and slapped down hard—smack!—leaving a burning red handprint on Shenhe's face.

"Snap out of it!"

Do you know how much psychological damage a massive slap like that can do to a "delicate girl" with strength in the thoUrsands of jin?

Sure enough, Shenhe, who moments ago had been utterly deranged, was stunned by the blow.

After a moment, the red glow in her eyes gradually faded. She clutched her stinging cheek, looked dazedly at the two in front of her, and muttered, "Brother-in-law... Senior sister… what happened?"

That really was... simple and effective.

Of course, while it seemed simple, this wasn't something just anyone could do.

In Shenhe's dreamscape, she possessed overwhelming power. Even Lucas couldn't easily get close to her. Perhaps only Ganyu could deliver such a quick, precise, and clean strike.

What's more, the palm strike was imbued with pure Adepti energy, which instantly swept away the obsessive delusions clouding Shenhe's mind.

A literal exorcism by physical means.

"Nothing happened," Ganyu said gently as she stroked Shenhe's head. "Everything's fine now."

"But… why does my cheek hurt so much?" Shenhe asked in confusion.

Ganyu's face turned slightly red. She said nothing and turned her gaze toward Lucas.

Ganyu never lied, and that one look said everything. Shenhe noticed and immediately stepped forward, grabbing Lucas by the collar and growled, "Oh? You dared to hit me?"

Ganyu hadn't wanted to use this method precisely because she disliked violence and didn't want to damage her image—in Shenhe's eyes, she had always been the gentle and understanding senior.

"Yes, it was me." Lucas gritted his teeth and took the blame boldly. "If I didn't slap you, how else could I drag you out of your fantasy?"

Unexpectedly, Shenhe wasn't angry. She just bit her lip and said, "I… I'm not mad. I just… still feel a little dazed."

Everything that had just happened felt like a dream—at times clear, at times hazy.

"Let's go." Lucas extended both hands and held Shenhe's and Ganyu's hands in his own. "Let's go home."

The two girls froze slightly, exchanged glances, then smiled and nodded.

Before leaving, Shenhe couldn't help but glance at the dark traces on the ground. In this illusory world, she had finally experienced the family love she had never known.

But now, she had completely let go.

Even she didn't realize how important resolving this knot in her heart would be for her future path in cultivation.

For cultivators, the most difficult hurdle to overcome was the trial of the heart. Ordinary immortals often needed hundreds or even thoUrsands of years to dispel the inner demons blocking their path to sainthood or true immortality.

Because of her tragic childhood and the special nature of her Solitary Star and Calamitous Fate constitution, Shenhe's heart trial had always been even more difficult to break through. Despite her extraordinary talent, she remained stuck at that bottleneck, unable to advance to the next level—let alone become a true immortal.

Ganyu's slap had done more than simply wake Shenhe from her dream—it had opened the knot in her heart, shattered her karmic obstacles, and allowed her to truly take the first step on the path of cultivation.

...…

Inside the Serenitea Pot Realm.

"Lucas!"

The normally composed Doctor now wore a stormy expression as she confronted Lucas, who had just returned to the Serenitea Pot Realm. "What exactly are you trying to pull?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Lucas shrugged, wearing his usual insufferable expression. "I released you from prison as stated in the contract and didn't obstruct you in any way. You're free now."

"Don't play dumb with me!" the Doctor snapped. "This place isn't even Teyvat—I can't find any way to return!"

"You're right, this isn't Teyvat," Lucas nodded. "I thought you would've figured that out already."

"You… you violated the spirit of the contract!" the Doctor could only cling to that argument.

"Didn't we agree—you tell me how to dispel the illusion, and I let you go free?"

"As you yourself said before, you only promised to tell me the method. Whether I could actually pull it off was my own problem," Lucas said with a grin. "Now I'm returning your words to you: I've granted your freedom, and if you can't find your way back, that's your problem—not mine."

The Doctor was momentarily speechless. Indeed, by the contract's literal terms, Lucas owed her nothing more.

"Fine! Fine! Very well!" the Doctor spat the words out through clenched teeth, then laughed coldly. "You think you can trap me here? If you won't let me leave, I'll turn this place upside down and force you to send me back!"

"Feel free," Lucas said with a bow. "But the residents here aren't as reasonable as I am. If you provoke the wrong one, don't expect me to protect you."

"Hah! Who would I possibly be afraid of?" the Doctor sneered.

"Ursa!"

With a snap of his fingers, a black shadow circled through the sky before crashing down like a falling star. Its massive body hit the ground with a force that made the earth tremble slightly.

A fearsome jet-black dragon with a sleek build and menacing aura landed—yet before Lucas, she acted as docile as a well-trained hound.

"Do you need me, Master?" From the black dragon's mouth came a sweet, girlish voice.

"Ursa, do you remember..." Lucas crossed his arms. "That time you were forcibly transformed into a combat weapon?"

"Of course I remember!" Ursa snorted in anger. "If I ever get the chance, I'll tear that bastard into pieces!"

"Good." Lucas smiled. "Take a look over there. Does that lady seem familiar?"

Ursa turned her head. Her big round eyes immediately narrowed into vertical slits.

"It's YOU!"

Cold sweat slowly slid down the Doctor's forehead.

Back when she had tried to control the demon dragon Ursa, the Doctor had invested quite a bit of effort. Now, with Ursa no longer under her control, and herself empty-handed, even the usually composed Doctor subconsciously stepped back two paces under the dragon's furious gaze.

"Master…" Ursa opened her enormous jaws, saliva dripping from between her fangs. "May I teach her a little lesson?"

"W-Wait a moment!" the Doctor panicked. "I'm not like those combat clones—I'm terrible at fighting! I could die very easily!"

"No worries. Ursa always knows her limits," Lucas chuckled, patting Ursa's chin. "Go ahead and have some fun. Just leave her alive."

"Understood!"

Ursa locked her gaze on the Doctor and growled, "What are you standing there for… RUN."

"Y-You all just wait!" the Doctor shrieked as she turned and fled, her voice echoing furiously through the skies above the forest.

...…

Two days later.

Because the final round of the Tianshu Selection was held within the Jade Chamber, and due to Ningguang's repeated instructions not to reveal anything, even the contestants were largely unaware of the true events.

Ningguang publicly explained that the contestant Zhiyi had tampered with the dream incense to enhance his chances of advancing, thereby causing everyone to fall into illusions. When the incident came to light, Zhiyi, realizing he couldn't escape punishment, committed suicide in fear of retribution.

Two days later, inside Ningguang's office at the Jade Chamber.

"In summary, the matter is now resolved." Ningguang closed the document in front of her and rubbed her temples. Even her usually flawless features showed faint dark circles under her eyes. "Although the final round was sabotaged, given that you were the first to awaken and took initiative in the rescue efforts, your contributions are considerable. Therefore, by joint decision of the Liyue Qixing, Yuehai Pavilion, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, you are to be appointed as the next Tianshu."

"Uh, well…" Lucas scratched his chin. "Won't this feel a little... predetermined?"

Ningguang and Keqing from the Qixing, Ganyu from Yuehai Pavilion, and Yelan from the Ministry were essentially all "his people." This so-called "three-party decision" was likely just a formality. Everyone silently agreed on the Tianshu selection.

Of course, Lucas's achievements truly left no room for criticism either.

"As the saying goes, worthy candidates aren't overlooked just because they're close to us," Ningguang raised an eyebrow. "What? You're not pleased?"

"I... ow!"

Before Lucas could speak, Ganyu—seated beside him—suddenly pinched his thigh with a smile. "Lucas is very honored. Though he's still young and lacks experience, with my assistance and the support of our colleagues, he will surely be able to fulfill the role of Tianshu."

"However, due to the complexity of the Tianshu's duties, your current title and position are only temporary," Ningguang added. "As for your actual responsibilities, the previous Tianshu, Uncle Tian, will help guide you—so there's no need to worry about that."

"Uncle Tian?" Lucas asked in surprise. "Wasn't the old man sick?"

"Sigh, the reason Uncle Tian was ill was because Zhiyi had been secretly poisoning him," Ningguang explained. "Now that Zhiyi's identity has been exposed, Uncle Tian's condition has stabilized. Besides, he was already nearing retirement age—this just gives him a perfect reason to go home early, spend time with his grandchildren, and enjoy his twilight years."

As expected, this was exactly the same as in the game's plot.

"So..." Lucas scratched the back of his head, somewhat awkward. "I'm the new Tianshu now?"

"According to protocol, the appointment of a new member of the Liyue Qixing usually involves a coronation ceremony," Ningguang said, shaking her head with a hint of resignation. "But given the current circumstances, we'll have to keep things simple."

The "special circumstances" she referred to, of course, meant the incident during the Tianshu selection.

Lucas frowned slightly. "The one behind all of this is the Fatui Harbinger known as 'The Regrator'—Pantalone. What does Lady Ningguang plan to do about him?"

"Pantalone is extremely cautious. By the time I sent people to Zhiyi's residence, the place had already been burned to the ground, not a single clue left behind." For once, Ningguang's face showed a trace of helplessness. "As for that puppet, unfortunately, under current law, a bionic automaton does not count as a human witness or valid evidence. It can't be used to support a legal case."

Indeed, even if Baibianji (the mimic automaton) was confirmed to be a product of Snezhnaya, someone like Pantalone would have long planned an escape route.

To a businessman like him, even if he didn't profit from the operation, he would ensure he never lost out.

To him, Zhiyi had always just been a disposable pawn—likely worth less than the automaton used to impersonate Ningguang.

"You've got a point," Lucas nodded. "But... are we just going to let this go?"

"Of course not," Ningguang smiled. "After this incident, the Fatui under Pantalone will likely lie low for a while. I'll have my people keep a close eye on them. That said, what do you plan to do with that automaton?"

Baibianji, huh?

Lucas asked tentatively, "What, you're interested in her?"

"That's right," Ningguang made no effort to hide it. "In the field of puppet, Snezhnaya and Inazuma are the most advanced. Liyue is still in the early stages and facing many technical hurdles. This automaton is a secret product of Snezhnaya, but for reasons of self-preservation, they'll never claim it. It makes the perfect research specimen."

Among Liyue's "Qixing and Eight Gates," the Qianji Gate specializes in mechanisms and marvels. For them, this automaton would indeed be a valuable resource.

Ningguang was, as always, a shrewd businesswoman—she never passed up a chance to win Liyue some advantage.

However, agreeing to her terms would mean Baibianji would be completely dehumanized—reduced to a soulless machine, dismantled and dissected.

"Sorry, but that automaton is no longer just a machine. So I can't agree to your request," Lucas answered honestly. "But I can introduce you to someone who specializes in puppet research."

"That would be even better," Ningguang said with satisfaction. She knew that any talent endorsed by this man wouldn't be ordinary.

"Well then, Lady Ningguang, if there's nothing else, we'll be taking our leave," Lucas stretched lazily. "These past few days have worn me out."

"Suit yourself. From now on, you're welcome to visit the Jade Chamber anytime—no appointment needed," Ningguang stood as well. "Also, as you now hold equal status with me as a fellow member of the Qixing, there's no need for formal titles. All this 'my lady' business makes me feel old."

"You? Old? Not at all," Lucas said with a chuckle. "Look at Ganyu—she's over three thoUrsand years old, and she's still—"

"Husband..." Ganyu suddenly placed a hand on Lucas's shoulder, smiling warmly. "What exactly… did you just say?"

Even Ningguang sensed the sudden murderous aura and quickly excused herself. "Ahem, I have other official matters to attend to. I'll take my leave."

"W-Wait, Ganyu! I didn't mean it like that—AAAHHH!!"

From high above Liyue Harbor echoed a joyful scream of pain.

...…

After Ganyu's gentle correction, the two finally left the Jade Chamber. It was only then that Lucas truly realized—even a half-Adeptus like Ganyu took the topic of age quite seriously. Joking about it was a good way to get yourself killed.

Just as they were about to head home, a familiar figure approached them. It was none other than Bai Ye of the Baize clan.

Lucas's expression instantly turned cautious. "Well, if it isn't the young lady of the Bai family. What do you want?"

"There's no need to be so guarded," Bai Ye replied calmly. "Everything has been settled. The competition is over. There's no longer any conflict between us."

What's more, during the final round of the Tianshu selection, Bai Ye had also been one of the contestants Lucas rescued. She was far more composed than Bi Yan and knew how to show gratitude.

"Lucas, don't be so harsh," Ganyu said with a soft smile. "The past is the past. We're all citizens of Liyue—there shouldn't be grudges between us."

"Senior Ganyu is right," Bai Ye nodded. "I only happened to see you and came by to offer my congratulations."

"Wait a minute, becoming Tianshu was my achievement, wasn't it?" Lucas blinked. "Why are you congratulating both of us?"

To his surprise, Bai Ye narrowed her eyes slightly. "The congratulations I'm offering have nothing to do with your appointment as Tianshu. Besides, is that really worth celebrating?"

While the position of Tianshu was important, to the high-minded Adepti clans, it was still just a mortal's pursuit of worldly things. Bai Ye and Bi Yan had only entered the competition to obtain the right to marry Ganyu.

"Then what are you congratulating us for?" Lucas scratched his cheek. "I don't recall anything else worth celebrating recently..."

Argentina beating Mexico 2–0? That barely counted—but then again, there was no World Cup in Teyvat.

Upon hearing Lucas's question, Bai Ye furrowed her brows. She pulled a gilded invitation from inside her robes and said, "This so-called happy occasion is, of course, your wedding."

Lucas and Ganyu exclaimed in unison, shocked: "Wedding?"

"That's right." Bai Ye handed the invitation to Ganyu. "Over the past two days, all the Adepti clans in Liyue Harbor have received invitations from Cloud Retainer herself. It says her disciple is marrying the newly appointed Tianshu. The wedding is scheduled for tomorrow. You mean… you two didn't know about this?"

Well, well—getting married tomorrow, and the bride and groom are the only ones who didn't get the memo.

"T-Thank you for the congratulations," Lucas replied calmly, forcing a smile and a nod. "We'll head home right away to… verify a few things."

With a quick glance exchanged between them, he and Ganyu turned and hurried home without another word.

Bai Ye stood alone, watching them rush off, muttering to herself, "Just what the heck are those two doing...?"

...…

Smack!

The moment they pushed open the doors and stepped into the estate, both Lucas and Ganyu were stunned.

The entire residence had already been decorated with lanterns and streamers—it had been only a few hours since they left home, and somehow it had been completely transformed.

"This way! Over here!" a purple-haired girl was giving out directions. "Those two tables go right there. Make them neat."

Shenhe casually carried two massive banquet tables, one on each shoulder, and placed them down as if they were featherlight. "Here, is this good?"

"Keqing?" Lucas blinked. "Why are you here?"

"To help set up the wedding venue, of course." Keqing clapped the dust off her hands. "It's probably best if outsiders don't find out about this."

"I invited her."

Cloud Retainer walked out from the inner room. "The invitations have all been sent. By tomorrow, every Adepti family in Liyue Harbor will know that Ganyu is married."

"B-But…" Ganyu's cheeks turned crimson. "Lucas and I actually…"

Their so-called marriage had originally been a ruse to placate Cloud Retainer. But if they actually held a wedding, then she and Lucas would truly be husband and wife.

Though Ganyu had long since fallen for Lucas, marriage was not something to be taken so lightly. Especially since… she still didn't know if Lucas truly wanted to marry her.

"No need to explain," Cloud Retainer waved her hand. "I already know that your relationship was just an act to fool me, wasn't it?"

That silenced both Lucas and Ganyu, who looked at each other but couldn't come up with a defense.

"I'm sorry…" Ganyu lowered her head guiltily. "I didn't mean to deceive you, it's just…"

"Just that I kept pressuring you for so long, and you didn't want to go on any of those Adepti matchmaking appointments, so you found someone to play the part instead, right?" Cloud Retainer let out a knowing chuckle. "I knew all along. I've just been playing along with your little act."

Well, crap. Busted.

Lucas should've known—Cloud Retainer had lived far longer than even Ganyu. How could she have been so easily fooled?

Still, thinking quickly, he said flatteringly, "Of course! Someone like Cloud Retainer, with such great wisdom, how could you possibly be tricked so easily by the likes of us?"

In truth, Cloud Retainer hadn't figured it out at first. But with her proud personality, she simply put on an air of having known the truth all along. "Good that you realize it."

"But…" Ganyu asked hesitantly, "If you knew it was fake, why go through with a wedding? And send out all those invitations?"

"To make sure the other Adepti families give up on pursuing you," Cloud Retainer sighed, a trace of guilt in her eyes. "I was too forceful before, and didn't consider your feelings. Now, this wedding is the perfect chance to make it clear—you're already taken. No more admirers."

So that was her true intent.

Indeed, as long as Ganyu's marriage remained undecided, those clans coveting her pure Adepti bloodline would never give up.

"And if someday you truly wish to marry someone else, we can revisit it then," Cloud Retainer added, glancing at Lucas. "Of course, if you actually fancy this boy, then it saves us all some trouble."

Ganyu still seemed a little puzzled. "But… how did you know we were faking it?"

After all, their act had been nearly flawless—there shouldn't have been any obvious signs.

"Isn't it obvious?" Cloud Retainer casually grasped Ganyu's wrist. "Just a touch of your pulse was enough. You're still a pure maiden. The two of you share a bed, yet you've never crossed that final line. Unless he's impotent, the only explanation is that you were faking the whole thing to fool me. Am I right?"

"S-So that's how…"

Ganyu flushed with guilt and quickly pulled her hand away.

Fortunately, Cloud Retainer's pulse-reading only revealed whether that final barrier had been breached—and she and Lucas had never actually gone that far. So in her eyes, Ganyu was still pure.

"Cloud Retainer really is amazing. She can even tell that sort of thing just by checking a pulse?" Keqing said in awe.

She'd seen many skilled physicians before, but at best they could tell whether someone was pregnant. This was something else—way more convenient than that old bloodstone trick.

"Of course," Cloud Retainer said proudly, her face glowing with satisfaction. She casually grabbed Keqing's wrist, took her pulse for a moment, and nodded. "You too, Yuheng—still pure, yes?"

"S-So what if I am?" Keqing blushed. "I'm always busy with work. I don't have time for that kind of thing."

As she said that, her gaze flicked—intentionally or not—toward Lucas.

"Not only that," Cloud Retainer continued, "you've also been having irregular periods, insomnia, and vivid dreams lately, haven't you?"

Keqing quickly pulled her hand back, a bit embarrassed. "I-Is it really that serious?"

"You may have an extraordinary constitution, but you're still human," Cloud Retainer nodded solemnly. "A woman at your age must take better care of herself. If not, it could cause many health issues later in life."

"You should really listen to Master," Shenhe agreed with rare sincerity. "Her medical skills are far beyond those of the barefoot doctors in Liyue Harbor."

Normally never one for flattery, Shenhe made no attempt to hide her respect and admiration for Cloud Retainer.

"Indeed. Just look at Shenhe," Cloud Retainer said with a proud smile as she grasped Shenhe's wrist. "Raised under my care since childhood—excellent cultivation, and a healthy body. Come now, let your Master check how your condition is lately..."

Shenhe's heart skipped a beat, but she dared not evade.

Cloud Retainer held her pulse for a moment, but soon, the smile on her face faded. A strange look crept into her eyes. She murmured, "That's not right... not right at all..."