The puzzled little Ganyu could only turn to her master.
Gu Chen patted her head with a smile. "You're still young. You wouldn't understand even if I explained it. When you grow up, you'll understand naturally."
"That's right, that reminds this old man of my granddaughter. When she was little she screamed every day about marrying the boy next door, but once she grew up she didn't want him anymore—ha!" The old man couldn't help laughing at the memory.
Little Ganyu didn't understand, so she simply stopped thinking about it.
Following the old man, they reached a certain place.
It was lively here—festive and bustling.
Ganyu saw someone lighting red tubes on fire. They suddenly burst with loud crackling pops, making her jump in fright.
"It's fine, it's fine—just firecrackers." Gu Chen motioned for her to relax.
After watching for a while, Ganyu stared curiously, feeling it was all rather interesting.
As they drew closer, many people noticed Gu Chen.
His aura was simply too striking.
Whether spirit, bearing, or appearance, he had nothing in common with ordinary mortals.
Only the term "banished immortal" could describe him.
"Immortal Gu is here!"
"Aiyo, even Immortal Gu came! This couple's luck is incredible—an immortal attending their wedding!"
"I heard that among the immortals, only Immortal Gu is a human immortal—a human who cultivated into an immortal! That's amazing!"
"Tch, you're out of the loop. I heard it from my boy—the Sword-Extreme Demon-Slaying True Lord is actually an immortal from another realm!"
"Huh? Never heard that before."
"I heard my boy say so!"
"Her boy's in the Qianyan Army!"
"No wonder!"
As Gu Chen arrived with Ganyu, people greeted them warmly, thrilled on behalf of the newlyweds.
For mortals to have an immortal attend a wedding—such glory!
This was enough to bring honor to one's ancestors.
"That dog—er—'Four-Zero-Zero' brat is blessed for life now!"
"Yeah! If only an immortal would attend my boy's wedding someday!"
"Keep dreaming! That's the kind of blessing that only happens when your ancestors' graves start smoking green!"
Joining the feast, Gu Chen and Ganyu offered their blessings to the couple.
The bride and groom were both excited and nervous, terrified of being disrespectful.
People may not have been joking—this groom truly had heaven-defying luck.
Though Ganyu couldn't see the bride's face beneath the red veil, her voice was as sweet as an oriole, and her figure was elegant.
Ganyu moved closer, staring blankly at the bride beneath the red veil.
So this is what people call a bride?
She's so pretty...
After thinking a long while, Ganyu returned to Gu Chen's side and whispered, "Master, I saw her. She's so, so pretty!"
"You…"
Gu Chen pinched her little nose, then her cheeks. "Alright, sit quietly here, or go play if you want. Just make sure you come back when it's time to eat."
"Mmm, I'm not going."
For once, Ganyu didn't go play; she obediently sat by Gu Chen's side.
Though she hadn't grown much these past years, she could at least touch her toes to the floor now.
Before long, the wedding procedures began.
Happiness radiated from the groom's face.
Perhaps this was what being married meant.
Ganyu didn't really understand.
After thinking of something, she hopped off her stool and ran back into the bridal chamber.
Inside, she saw the bride sitting on the bed.
"Who's there?"
Hearing the footsteps, the bride was surprised.
"Big sister, aren't you going to eat?" Ganyu asked in confusion.
"Oh, it's little Ganyu." The bride laughed softly. "I can't go out to eat yet."
"Why?" Ganyu didn't understand.
"I don't understand it either."
Shaking her head, the bride asked, "Aren't you in a hurry to eat?"
"I'm not."
Ganyu shook her head, then asked, "Big sister, can I ask you a few questions?"
"Me?"
The bride froze.
Ganyu was an immortal's disciple—she should know many things. Hearing her curious tone, perhaps she was confused about something?
The bride nodded lightly.
"Big sister… what is 'being married'?"
"Marriage means that from now on, he and I will live together, eat together, and stay by each other for life."
"Do you have to marry?"
"I'm not sure… even without marrying, some people can love each other for a lifetime."
"What kind of people can get married?"
"Two people who like each other—and as long as their elders agree, I suppose."
"Oh~"
Ganyu suddenly understood. "Then Master and I can get married!"
The bride was stunned, then laughed helplessly. "No, no, that won't do. A teacher is like a father. How could you marry your master?"
"…We can't?" Ganyu tilted her head. "But I like Master, and Master likes me. Doesn't that mean we can?"
"Mm… feelings aren't just romantic love. There's also family love, friendship… Your master probably sees you as his disciple, or even as his daughter."
"Oh…"
Ganyu scratched her head, looking a bit disappointed.
"You're still young. When you grow up, you'll understand."
That sentence again.
But when would she actually "grow up"?
Leaving the room, she returned to Gu Chen, brows tightly furrowed.
She'd disappeared for a moment and came back troubled?
Curious, Gu Chen asked, "What's wrong?"
After hesitating, Ganyu shook her head.
"When you're my age, you'll understand."
"?"
Gu Chen: "…"
What an abstract answer.
Chuckling and shaking his head, he said, "Come on, let's eat. Afterwards I'll teach you another protection technique."
"Mm."
Knowing an immortal was coming, the kitchen had even prepared extra vegetarian dishes.
After the meal, they returned home.
Gu Chen received news that Morax was leading the immortals to subdue a demon god.
He didn't dwell on it. Instead, he laid out all kinds of weapons for Ganyu to choose from.
"This one!"
Ganyu instantly pointed at the bow.
"The bow?"
Gu Chen thought a moment and nodded. "Not bad. Come, I'll teach you."
Drawing the bow, he loosed an arrow.
Whsssh!
The arrow pierced straight through the earthen wall.
Ganyu gasped in amazement. "That one! I want to learn that!"
She clearly loved archery.
Gu Chen began teaching her.
At first, she couldn't even pull the bow properly.
Gu Chen knelt to let her lean against his chest, guiding her hands. "Focus. Only when your mind, bow, and arrow become one can you strike the target."
As he released, the arrow flew true, hitting the mark.
Ganyu's pupils trembled. She seemed lost in thought.
"What is it?" Gu Chen asked, puzzled.
"Teach me again! I want to practice this!"
"It's rare to see you this motivated. Pay attention."
He taught her again.
Pressed against his chest, Ganyu clearly felt his heartbeat and warmth.
She had nestled into his arms countless times before, but never felt like this.
Confused, she didn't understand why.
And she didn't ask—this was the first thing she ever hid from her master.
"Spacing out again?"
Gu Chen flicked her forehead.
Ganyu covered her forehead, giggling. "One more time!"
"You…" Gu Chen sighed helplessly and explained each step in detail.
Day by day, time passed. Ganyu slowly grew.
But with a target only ten meters away, out of ten arrows, only one even brushed the edge. The rest vanished who-knows-where.
Gu Chen even doubted whether she practiced seriously.
Yet strangely… her technique did improve every time he helped her.
[Chat Group Reactions]
[Lumine]: Scheming Ganyu! I see right through her. Pretending she can't shoot just to stay in his arms while he teaches her hand-over-hand. Then she improves a little each time—so sneaky! (Hu Tao: evil grin)
[Nilou]: Little Ganyu was so clever—using this method to get closer to Mr. Gu, and he doesn't suspect a thing!
[Collei]: Gu Chen would rather think he taught poorly than doubt Ganyu's talent… I'm crying! Ganyu stock skyrockets!! (Klee: yay!)
[Venti]: @GuChen Gu-gege~ I'm not that good with bows either~ Will you teach me too? (5s soft voice clip)
[Gu Chen]: ? Scheming wind spirit! (Nahida: points accusingly)
[Kaeya]: Bro… Venti is scaring me now.
[Zhongli]: Disgusting. (Zhongli: black lines)
[Venti]: Not into that style? No worries! (another 5s mature-voice clip)
[Jean]: Venti!! Where did you learn these things!?
[Dvalin]: This fits my impression of Barbatos perfectly. (Qiqi: falls over)
[Cloud-Retainer]: @Ganyu What do you think of your previous-life childhood self?
[Shenhe]: (stares)
[Ganyu]: I want to die. (sobbing)
[Keqing]: It's not that bad… though she was different back then.
[Heizou]: Probably just her upbringing. After all, Gu Chen indulged her in everything—what a good hus— I mean, good master!
[Furina]: You said that on purpose, didn't you!? (Paimon: hmph!)
[Heizou]: Yes, deliberately. (Hu Tao: evil grin)
[Furina]: Deliberate mistake? Then you're innocent! (Venti: throws confetti)
[Neuvillette]:
[Osial]: Watching this peaceful little life is… strangely comforting…
[Paimon]: True.
Counting the days, Ganyu was now sixteen.
Her archery was still poor, but Gu Chen wasn't strict.
He believed she would improve slowly, and he trusted in her talent.
But this day was different.
Morax and the Geo Dragon King were away on campaign, leaving only the Dust King Guizhong and the other immortals guarding Liyue's regions.
East of Guili Plains, by the sea, an ominous aura rose.
Currents stirred.
"Something's coming…"
Gu Chen sighed.
"What is?" Ganyu blinked.
"Something in the sea might be coming to attack us."
"A monster?!"
Ganyu was frightened.
"Mhm." Gu Chen nodded, then smiled at her worried expression. "Don't worry. Your master is here."
"Mm-hm!"
At her master's side, she felt perfectly safe.
After practicing arrows a bit more with her, Gu Chen went to Guili City's core and met Guizhong and the immortals.
"The sea is turbulent. I'm sure you've sensed it. We must prepare," Guizhong said, worry in her expression.
Cloud-Retainer said boldly, "Even if the Emperor and the Dragon King aren't here, we still have the Stove God and the Sword-Extreme True Lord!"
"That's not the point," Mountain-Shaper said. "The problem is how close we are to the ocean. If battle erupts, the mortals will be in danger."
Cloud-Retainer froze. "True… then we should relocate them?"
"No time," Gu Chen said, brows tightening as he looked toward the sea.
Guizhong and the immortals looked as well.
The distant sky darkened. The sea boiled, bubbling violently.
Black clouds surged. A terrifying demonic aura pressed down on all hearts.
A massive vortex surfaced, countless sea beasts rising within it.
A colossal wave hundreds of meters tall surged forth—enough to swallow Guili whole.
Though Guili Plains sat almost a hundred meters above sea level, such a wave could still engulf it entirely.
"Not good!" Guizhong cried.
"The Vortex Demon God Osial… and his followers…"
Gu Chen narrowed his eyes. In a flash, he stood at the cliff's edge, directly facing the incoming tidal wall.
He also saw in the distant seas a monstrous silhouette—five ferocious heads, each gathering elemental power to fire.
[Chat Group Interlude]
[Azhdaha]: Yo, isn't that Osial? @Osial
[Osial]: …
[Kaeya]: How do you feel facing the Sword-Extreme Demon-Slaying True Lord? @Osial
[Osial]: No feelings.
[Venti]: Really? (mischievous)
[Osial]: Didn't expect it to come to this… but I'll still say—fools! (slams table)
[Baizhu]: He's done.
[Azhdaha]: What are you afraid of? It's only the Sword-Extreme True Lord. Sure, he has killed demon gods, but that's all! You're a demon god yourself! That stone-man one can't compare to you! What's there to fear? (smirk)
[Osial]: Easy for you to say! If you're not scared, YOU go fight him!! (flips table)
[Venti]: Honestly? After analyzing it carefully, you really don't need to be scared. (certain)
[Osial]: Really?
[Kaeya]: Why would we lie? Absolutely.
[Osial]: Haha! Then I'm relieved!
BOOM!
A sword-aura a kilometer long cleaved across the sky.
The tidal wave was cut down by more than half. The remainder surged onto land like a flood, destroying the hard-built Guili settlement.
The field of Glaze Lilies was submerged entirely.
Gu Chen's expression turned cold. With another strike—
Countless sword-lights wove into a massive net, descending upon Osial.
Osial spat out elemental torrents, but they were shredded instantly.
"Roooaaaar!!"
The sword-lights fell upon one of Osial's heads, leaving countless terrifying wounds.
[Chat Group Again]
[Osial]: ?!
[Gu Chen]: @Osial Bro, sweating yet?
[Kaeya]: This guy actually believed it!
[Osial]: Damn it! If I hadn't dodged, that would've one-shot me!!
[Azhdaha]: Bro… you really don't have the strength. (regret)
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage