As the days passed, Beidou gradually adapted to life in Liyue Harbor.
At the beginning, she did everything cautiously, afraid that even the slightest mistake might displease Jiang Yan and cause him to send her away.
But as time went on, she slowly relaxed that careful restraint.
She began acting more naturally and freely.
Jiang Yan was quite pleased to see this.
Since his house was located near the harbor, stepping outside meant seeing the vast ocean immediately.
Beidou loved the sea.
She often went to the shore just to walk around.
Especially whenever the Liyue Navy fleet sailed past the harbor, her eyes would light up with excitement.
She looked extremely fascinated.
And when Jiang Yan once asked which direction she wanted to develop in the future—
Beidou's first reaction was that she wanted to join the navy and learn there.
Jiang Yan smiled, though he wasn't surprised.
As the future Captain of the Crux Fleet, Beidou naturally had a special talent for the sea.
However, both Ningguang and Beidou were still too young.
They hadn't even reached the age to attend school yet.
In about another year or so, the two girls would be able to start attending classes.
Before that, Jiang Yan would teach them some basic theoretical knowledge.
He had even already planned their future schedules.
On weekdays, they would attend school during the day.
After school in the evenings, they would come to Jiang Yan for extra lessons and cultivation.
On weekends:
One day would be spent visiting Adepti abodes to learn immortal arts.
The other day Ningguang would go to Yuehai Pavilion to learn administrative work.
Beidou would go to the naval base to gain practical experience.
Jiang Yan felt extremely satisfied with this plan.
"Ah Yan, don't you think this is a bit too strict?"
Ganyu frowned slightly when she saw the schedule Jiang Yan had drawn up.
It looked like far too much pressure.
They had to attend school and also intern elsewhere.
"There's no helping it. As disciples of the Tianquan, this is something they must endure."
Jiang Yan said calmly.
"If they don't attend school at this age, then what's the point of the academy I established?"
"Other people's children must go to school, and the Tianquan's disciples are no exception."
"This isn't a privilege."
At that moment, the roles of strict father and gentle mother were perfectly embodied by Jiang Yan and Ganyu.
"You're taking this a bit too seriously."
"They're still children. You shouldn't place so much pressure on them."
Ganyu gently handed the paper back to Jiang Yan.
"Don't make them go to the naval base and Yuehai Pavilion on weekends."
"On weekdays they can still study immortal arts with you, but weekends should be for resting and playing."
"They can go to the naval base and Yuehai Pavilion during summer and winter vacations instead."
"As for visiting Adepti abodes, that's unnecessary too. I'll ask my master and Sister Guizhong to come by occasionally and guide them."
After listening to Ganyu's suggestions, Jiang Yan eventually nodded.
Sure enough, Ganyu had thought things through more carefully.
Oh right.
There was also Morax!
He couldn't let that old fellow stay idle!
Recently the Hu family of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had welcomed a newborn granddaughter, and they had given bonuses and vacations to their employees. That old guy had probably wandered off somewhere again.
"I need to find a way to drag that old fellow over here to teach Ningguang and Beidou."
"They can't be calling him Martial Uncle for nothing."
With that thought, Jiang Yan tidied himself up and prepared to go find Morax.
"This old guy… he's run pretty far."
Opening his cosmic perception, Jiang Yan quickly located Morax.
But not just Morax.
Jiang Yan suddenly frowned.
He also sensed a trace of resentful aura from a fallen god appearing within Liyue's territory.
Hmm?
His brows furrowed.
The key point was that this demonic resentment hadn't been there before—it appeared suddenly right when he located Morax.
Something about it felt suspicious.
After locking onto the location of the resentful aura, the Space Gem in Jiang Yan's hand lit up instantly.
A massive portal appeared before him and swallowed him inside.
Half an Hour Earlier
In a small village between Lingju Pass and Mt. Tianheng.
"Father, where are you taking me?"
A little girl with neatly braided hair asked curiously as she looked up at the middle-aged man in front of her.
"Shenhe, be good. Father prepared a big surprise for you in the back mountain."
"When you see this surprise, your mother will recover!"
The man forced a strained smile as he spoke.
Shenhe's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Father, is that true?"
"That's wonderful!"
The man said nothing.
He didn't pay attention to his daughter's excited reaction.
Instead, his steps grew faster and faster.
At first, Shenhe could keep up.
But as time passed, she gradually slowed down.
She was still just a child. Climbing a mountain at such a pace quickly exhausted her.
Looking up at her father, Shenhe said:
"Daddy… can He'er sit down and rest for a moment?"
"He'er really can't walk anymore."
All she wanted right now was to sit down and rub her aching legs.
For a five- or six-year-old girl, enduring this long was already remarkable.
Hearing this, Shenhe's father patted her head and said softly:
"Shenhe, be good. Just hold on a little longer. We're almost there!"
"When we arrive, you'll be able to rest for a long time, alright?"
Although he spoke in a gentle tone, he didn't actually give Shenhe any choice.
He continued pulling her hand as they walked deeper into the back mountain.
Shenhe had always been an extremely obedient child.
She couldn't refuse her father's request.
So she clenched her teeth and continued climbing.
She didn't understand why her father insisted on bringing her to the back mountain and refused to waste even a moment on the way.
What kind of surprise could make him so impatient?
Little Shenhe couldn't figure it out.
Finally, after a long trek, Shenhe's father brought her to the entrance of a cave.
But when Shenhe entered the cave—
She froze.
There was no surprise.
Instead, as her father performed a strange ritual-like motion, a ghost-like monster suddenly appeared.
The creature emitted an eerie black glow.
Its skeletal body gave off a foul, rotting stench.
The monster let out a hoarse roar—
Its eyes fixed unblinkingly on Shenhe. 👁️🗨️
To read 30+ future chapters, head over to patreon:
patreon.com/ToastWizard