The third life: Don't cling to me anymore

"Hello, Venti. Nice to meet you. I'm Xiu Yuan," he said, speaking first.

Venti paused in surprise at Xiu Yuan's arrival, then leaped down from the tree.

"Nice to meet you, too! Hello!"

"Oh... wait."

"That wouldn't happen to be cider in your hand, would it?"

"I can smell it! It's cider, and top-quality cider at that. Ah... what a wonderful aroma."

"Let me compose a one-of-a-kind poem for you. In exchange... hehe, could I have a taste of your cider? Hmm... just a sip."

Sure enough, the cider Xiu Yuan had brought caught Venti's eye immediately.

As expected of a drunkard, both his eyes and his nose were remarkably sharp.

Especially when it came to detecting alcohol.

Still, for the Anemo Archon to be reduced to composing poems for others just to get a sip of alcohol...

It was rather pathetic.

Of course, Zhongli and the Raiden Shogun weren't much better.

One always forgot to bring his wallet, while the other was a complete shut-in.

It was pretty absurd that three gods together couldn't scrape up even one Mora.

"No need for a poem. I mainly wanted to ask you a few questions. If you can answer them, these bottles of cider are all yours."

"Really?!" Venti brightened at once.

"Really," Xiu Yuan replied.

After they talked for a little over ten minutes, Xiu Yuan got the answers he wanted and left the cider with Venti.

As Venti watched Xiu Yuan walk away, even his favorite cider seemed to lose its flavor.

"I'll compose a poem for you, one that belongs to you alone."

Even long after Xiu Yuan's figure vanished into the night, Venti remained lost in thought.

Xiu Yuan returned to the inn.

After a brief chat, the two of them went to sleep.

"Xiu Yuan, Xiu Yuan..."

In the middle of the night, Xiu Yuan sensed someone calling his name.

He opened his eyes groggily and found Shenhe before him, her face faintly flushed.

"What is it? Can't sleep?" Xiu Yuan murmured softly.

"I'm a little... unused to this. Um... could I... sleep with you?"

Her face was red, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum. Even this close, Xiu Yuan could barely make out her words.

"Sure. Come on."

As he spoke, Xiu Yuan made some room for her.

Shenhe lay down carefully, blushing. Xiu Yuan could even hear her heartbeat.

Sharing a bed with such a beautiful woman made it hard not to let his thoughts wander, so Xiu Yuan simply rolled onto his side and went back to sleep.

But just as he was about to drift off, he felt Shenhe reach out and wrap her arms around him.

"So warm..." she murmured, then fell asleep.

The next day.

Xiu Yuan woke first.

Shenhe was still sound asleep.

Even when Xiu Yuan slipped out of her embrace, she didn't wake.

After washing up, Xiu Yuan started putting together breakfast.

Only when the aroma reached Shenhe did she stir.

She stretched, opened her sleepy eyes, and sniffed the aroma carefully.

"You're awake. Breakfast is almost ready," Xiu Yuan said, looking back with a gentle smile.

Shenhe obediently got up, washed, and began slurping her noodles with a look of pure happiness.

"It's delicious." She simply couldn't get enough of Xiu Yuan's tomato and egg noodles.

"Hehe, then have some more. There's plenty," Xiu Yuan said with a light smile.

"Last night was the best sleep I've had in years. Thank you."

"It's fine. If I help you sleep comfortably, we can keep doing this."

"Mm..." Shenhe blushed faintly as she recalled the night before.

Then she began slurping her noodles faster.

After breakfast, they continued wandering around Mondstadt.

Before they knew it, they had spent several dozen days there.

Gradually, Shenhe's personality began to change in subtle ways.

Compared to before, she was clearly much more talkative. Her tone was no longer so cold, and she had learned a great deal about dealing with people.

Through their time together, Shenhe gradually came to understand Xiu Yuan and even tried making tomato and egg noodles for him.

Although they turned out terrible every time, Xiu Yuan always ate every last bite.

Moved by this, Shenhe worked even harder to learn to cook. She also became friends with Acting Grand Master Jean and often went to her to learn.

Then, one night, they slept together as usual.

The hand Shenhe should have been hugging him with slowly drifted toward a place she shouldn't touch.

"Shenhe, what are you doing?" Xiu Yuan asked, catching her right hand.

"You... you're still awake...?"

Caught in the act, Shenhe's entire face turned as red as a ripe apple.

"Yes, I'm still awake."

"I... I..."

"Acting Grand Master Jean said that once we do this, we'll be husband and wife."

At that moment.

Shenhe stopped hiding her intentions. She rolled Xiu Yuan onto his back, the look in her eyes sending a deeply alarming signal.

Blushing, she sat astride him and slowly began undoing the Red Ropes on her body.

"My master gave me the Red Ropes to restrain my nature, but through cultivating alongside you these past days, I've finally grasped the key. I can control my power more freely now..."

"You're the Red Ropes that can truly bind me."

Xiu Yuan froze at Shenhe's words. Seeing her like this, he felt as though countless ants were gnawing at his heart.

He clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut. His fists tightened until his nails pierced his flesh, and blood trickled down from his hands onto the floor.

How could he not love Shenhe?

But...

Heaven had willed otherwise. Things would not go as he wished.

He couldn't escape the nine reincarnations.

Erosion.

Yet another bout of erosion.

"I don't love you. Let's part ways."

At that moment, Xiu Yuan spoke in a low voice.

His tone was icy, as cold as an ice cavern.

But then.

Halfway through undressing, Shenhe went rigid, her pupils contracting sharply.

"What did you say...?" she asked in disbelief, seriously wondering whether she had imagined it.

"I said I don't love you. Now get off me."

Xiu Yuan spoke again.

But those words were like a heavy hammer crashing into Shenhe's heart.

At that moment, her breathing stopped, her heartbeat stopped, and everything around her stopped.

She began trembling all over, her pupils quivering as though shaken by an earthquake.

"Xiu Yuan... I..."

"Don't cling to me anymore."

Xiu Yuan forced himself to his feet, his eyes so cold they were suffocating.

He walked to the window with the Long Spear in his hand, unleashed all his strength, and hurled it out in an instant.

"Xiu Yuan, don't go! I won't do this anymore, I won't..."

Before Shenhe could finish, Xiu Yuan vanished from where he stood beside the window.

Acting Grand Master Jean, standing outside the door, frowned slightly as well.

Sorry today's update was late. I added an extra chapter to make up for it. Tomorrow is Saturday, so there will be three chapters then too, but they won't be this late. I'm really sorry...