Chapter 355

"So many fish… why don't we take some back and fry up crispy little fish?"

"You guys go ahead and catch them."

"Boss, I suddenly came up with a brilliant and super easy way to make money!"

"I'm not interested in selling fish."

"Aww…"

"Cousin, I tested it earlier—your singing voice, even when recorded on the recorder, still works to attract fish."

"Oh?"

Not far away, Diona, who was busy scooping fish, perked her ears up.

Wait, what!? The recorder can do that too!?

"But compared to when you sing in person, the effect is way weaker. And when I played it a second time, the fish-attracting effect weakened even more. By the fifth playback, it was basically useless."

Diona's ears drooped again.

Tch, and here she thought she'd have an endless supply of little fish from now on...

Eventually, the appointed time came, and the small boat paddled back over. Everyone boarded and returned to the port.

They wandered around town for a bit, and by the time they got back to the shop, dusk had already settled in.

Xia Zhi whipped up a simple fish hot pot and deep-fried the small fish that Diona had cleaned and prepped.

That evening, it was time for Xia Zhi's daily massage for his cousin.

"Cousin, do you have any more of that essence you gave me last time?"

"Nope."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"I don't believe you! Didn't you say you'd decide based on my performance?"

"I did."

"And haven't I been great these past few days?"

"Not bad… but not quite there yet."

"Cousin, you must be tired after playing outside all day. Why don't I give you a massage this time?"

"Even if you try to butter me up like that, there's still no essence left."

"I just feel bad for you, Cousin~"

"Don't kid me. I know you too well. Spill it—what do you really want?"

"Hehe, well, it's not that big of a deal… Cousin, you know that super unusual massage technique you've got?"

"Forget it. You can't handle it."

"It's fine! Give it all you've got! Even if I pass out tonight, you can keep going!"

"…?"

Xia Zhi "looked" at Xia Ci's face glowing with suspicious excitement.

Something was definitely off with her today.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I wanna push my limits!"

"…You're acting strange."

"Cousiiiin~"

"Tell me the truth."

"Massage me first, and I'll tell you afterward."

"…Alright."

Xia Zhi activated his [Master of Massage] trait: [Enjoyment].

Ten seconds later, Xia Ci was lost in an utterly euphoric trance.

Expression calm, Xia Zhi raised a hand and cast [Clarity] on her.

Thanks to the [Tears of the Goddess], his mana cap increased by another 5 points.

Xia Ci slowly opened her eyes, her gaze soft and sultry, radiating charm.

After all, she was no longer the little girl from before—she was now a bright, youthful young woman.

"Cousin, you're amazing…"

"Alright, now talk."

"It's not that big of a deal, really. Last night Nahida told me something."

"Oh?"

"My adorable little sister said that lately, she's been feeling strange sensations all over her body every night—like being lightly shocked or tickled, as if invisible hands were caressing her."

Xia Ci giggled mischievously.

"I asked when it started, and she gave me a date—which just so happened to be the very same day I first got a massage from you. Cousin, don't you think that's a little too coincidental?"

"…"

Xia Zhi fell silent for a moment and sighed.

"How could you drag your own sister into this?"

"'Drag' is such a harsh word! This is a sister's love! She's been studying so hard lately—I just wanted to help her relax a little!"

"Truly worthy of being you."

"Right!?"

"But how do the two of you even have such a weird connection?"

"Probably because of our 'one-body, two-souls' physique."

"And what if it worked the other way around? If she got stimulated intensely, would you feel it too?"

"Needs testing."

Xia Ci closed her eyes again.

"Cousin, let's do another round."

"Nope."

"Don't worry—I can still handle it!"

"I'm worried Nahida can't."

"…Fine."

—

That night, back in his room.

Xia Zhi opened the [Shop] and found the remaining bottles in the vocal potion set.

[Siren's Voice], [Fairy's Voice], [Angel's Voice], [Succubus' Voice], [Flower Spirit's Voice], and [Celestial Fox's Voice].

After a moment of thought, Xia Zhi bought them all.

He picked up [Siren's Voice] first.

A blue liquid, very similar to [Mermaid's Voice].

[Siren's Voice] 

Rarity: Silver 

Type: Set Potion 

Trait: None 

Effect: Makes the user's voice as enchanting as a siren's. 

Hidden Effect: Drinking all seven potions in the set unlocks a set trait. 

Price: 50 points 

Xia Zhi read the description. Nearly identical to [Mermaid's Voice], and also 50 points.

He opened it and drank it down in one gulp.

Slightly sweet, with a faintly fishy tang of seaweed.

A few moments later, he tried speaking—his voice hadn't changed much, but there was now a new captivating resonance to it.

Just like last time.

He glanced at the remaining bottles on the table and drank them one by one:

The green [Fairy's Voice]. 

The golden [Angel's Voice]. 

The purple [Succubus' Voice]. 

The red [Flower Spirit's Voice]. 

The white [Celestial Fox's Voice].

With each potion, Xia Zhi felt his voice gaining a new, unique tone.

When he finally drank the last one, a system message echoed in his mind.

"All seven set potions consumed. Set trait activating." 

"Set trait [Charming Voice] unlocked." 

[Charming Voice]: Your voice now possesses an alluring effect on others. For each unique voice tone from the set used during speech, the attraction effect increases by 20%.

Xia Zhi looked at the prompt, recalling the moment he'd completed the eight-piece cooking utensil set.

[Longevity]: Food prepared with this set has a life-extending effect. Each set item used increases this effect by 10%.

He noticed something the two set traits had in common—

The effect scaled with the number of set items used.

That might be the fundamental difference between set traits and regular traits.

To test this theory, Xia Zhi opened the [Shop] and found the two missing components of another set: [Spirit Bamboo Brush] and [Spirit Jade Brush].

[Spirit Bamboo Brush] 

Rarity: Silver 

Type: Set Writing Tool 

Trait: None 

Effect: +30% creation success rate, +15% perfect product rate when drawing. 

Hidden Effect: Collect all 3 items in the set to unlock the set trait. 

Price: 60 points 

[Spirit Jade Brush] 

Rarity: Silver 

Type: Set Writing Tool 

Trait: None 

Effect: +40% creation success rate, +20% perfect product rate when drawing. 

Hidden Effect: Collect all 3 items in the set to unlock the set trait. 

Price: 80 points 

After purchasing them both, another system notification popped up.

"All three writing tools collected. Set trait activating." 

[Spirit Ink]: Drawings made with these tools undergo a spiritual transformation. Each additional set brush used boosts the transformation by 15%.

Xia Zhi examined the prompt and fell into thought.

Just as expected—set traits scaled based on the number of set items used.

He decided to try drawing an Adepti Sigil with the three brushes.

Originally, he was planning to draw a [Thunder Talisman].

He'd done it many times before—should've been a guaranteed success.

But this time, the final product wasn't a regular [Thunder Talisman].

The spiritual lines on the paper shimmered faintly with a violet hue—it had become a special [Frightening Thunder Talisman].

Xia Zhi checked it in his inventory.

[Frightening Thunder Talisman] 

Rarity: Black Iron 

Type: One-time Use Item 

Trait: None 

Effect: Summons a bolt of heavenly thunder upon use, causing fear in the target. 

Hidden Effect: None 

Recycle Value: 1 point 

The name had changed from [Thunder Talisman] to [Frightening Thunder Talisman], and the effect was different too.

So this was the "spiritual transformation" of [Spirit Ink]?

Out of the five talismans he drew, one was normal, two became [True Thunder Talismans], one became [Frightening Thunder Talisman], and one transformed into [Mysterious Thunder Talisman].

He examined each carefully—each had undergone a strange mutation in their lightning attribute.

Apparently, the transformations were completely random.

And surprisingly, the [Mysterious Thunder Talisman] wasn't black iron, but silver-tier—worth a full 10 points when recycled.

[Spirit Ink] had a chance to cause true evolution.

That genuinely surprised Xia Zhi.

Even if the evolution rate was pretty low.

Later, when Shenhe came over, Xia Zhi handed her the three brushes.

He had a better way to farm points now, and these brushes had barely been used anyway. Might as well give them to Shenhe—she could draw the talismans and he could recycle them.

Shenhe was absolutely delighted by the gift.

After all, she was a Talisman Master and loved good tools.

"Boss, do you want me to draw any specific talismans?"

"Nope. Just draw whatever you like when you're bored. If they're useless, give them to me."

"Okay. By the way, your voice sounds even more pleasant than before."

"Doesn't it?"

And that was that.

Well… if you had to say more, it's that Shenhe seemed extra affectionate that night.

Whether that was because of the gift or because his voice had become irresistibly lovely… who knows.

—

Dream Realm.

The three of them were out looking for materials.

Xia Zhi had just pulled out the [Treasure Compass], about to check for any extraordinary materials nearby, when the system chimed in.

"Host has acquired trait: [Charming Voice]." 

"[Treasure Compass]'s trait [Hypnosis] can now be activated via voice alone. No need to dangle the dial in front of the target's eyes."

Another synergy between different traits.

[Hypnosis] and [Charming Voice] were both charm-type effects, with plenty of overlap.

Given their compatibility, it made perfect sense that they would have a combo effect.

Though, the [Treasure Compass] wasn't classified as special equipment—so the system didn't trigger until he actually pulled it out.

Xia Zhi looked down at the compass in his hand, then turned casually and said, "Cousin."

"Yeah?"

"Say: I'm a pig."

"I'm a p—huh?!"

Xia Ci's eyes were filled with confusion.

She couldn't understand how someone as brilliant as herself had fallen for such a childish trick.

"Cousin, your voice just now…"

"What about it?"

"Something was off! I think I instinctively believed whatever you said, without even thinking about the meaning… how did you do that?"

"Simple. I hypnotized you."

"Cut it out with the innuendo!"

"I meant real hypnosis."

"…Forget it."

—

Sunday, Yuehai Pavilion.

Ningguang walked into Ganyu's office, bringing her assistant Baishi along, only to see Ganyu sipping tea and listening to opera.

"Whoa, look at you all relaxed."

"Not really. I just finished up my tasks and was taking a short break. What brings you here?"

"Isn't it obvious? The Secretariat."

"They're fully staffed now?"

"All set."

Ningguang turned to the door. "You can come in now."

A dozen people in official uniforms filed in from outside.

"Greetings, Lady Ganyu."

Ganyu put down her tea and stood.

"No need for formality. From today onward, we're colleagues."

After a quick round of introductions and faces put to names, the secretaries left.

Ningguang said, "This office is way too small to fit that many people. I've arranged a larger one outside. They'll work from there. They can handle routine matters on their own. Only come to you if they're really stuck. That should lighten your workload quite a bit."

"Thank you."

"No need. Can't believe it's December already."

"Yes."

"In the past few days, merchants and travelers visiting Liyue have steadily increased."

"Well, next month is the Lantern Rite, after all. One of Liyue's two major festivals, along with the Moonchase Festival."

"Got any ideas for this year's Lantern Rite?"

"Ideas? You mean for the [Mingxiao Lantern] designs?"

"Exactly. Which Adeptus do you think we should pick as the model for this year's lantern?"

"…"

Ganyu hesitated, then said softly:

"How about… Iceheart?" ( shenhe's title in short form)

"Who?"

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