After struggling for a full day and night, Shopkeeper Sun ultimately couldn't resist the allure of a "hit product" and the readers' fervent demands for updates.
He gritted his teeth and stomped his foot: "Print it! Just say it's an out-of-print unofficial history manuscript from overseas, for reference only, not to be taken seriously!"
Then, he muttered to himself in self-consolation, "His Venerable Lordship is broad-minded; he probably... wouldn't bother with such absurd jokes from a commoner like me."
And so, "The Name of Morax, Actually Hides Twin Deities and a Contract of Life and Death!" and "regarding the matter of the geo archon being a synthesized god who caused his wifes death" quietly hit the market that day.
This time, the stir it caused far surpassed the previous one!
Within days, Liyue Harbor first fell into a dead silence, then exploded into an uproar.
"What?! His Venerable Lordship... wasn't alone after all? He had a wife?"
"Morax and Kexi... breaking down the name actually makes some sense?"
"So, it's not that Master Zhongli didn't want to bring money, but that he couldn't create Mora anymore? He's imitating his departed lover? Oh my god... that's too devoted!"
"No wonder Master Zhongli always says 'I want it all'—is it because 'Mora' used to be like that?"
"The current Mora is made of stone? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I touch it every day, it's clearly metal!"
"But you say... why didn't the Archon directly create Mora later on? It really seems like it's been a very long time since we heard of the Archon creating money..."
"The more I think about it, the more terrifying it becomes!"
...The discussion grew to an unprecedented fervor.
People were deeply captivated by this bizarre and tragic story. Although most considered it absurd fiction, they couldn't resist its interesting plot, genuine emotions, and its ability to explain some long-standing "unsolved mysteries."
The threshold of Sanyu Bookstore was almost worn through. The newly printed booklets quickly sold out. Shopkeeper Sun counted his Mora until his hands were sore, all the while on tenterhooks, fearing that the Millelith would rush in and seal the bookstore at any moment.
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Just as Liyue Harbor was stirred by undercurrents and heated discussions because of the two booklets, Lovia, the instigator, went about her business as if nothing had happened.
"Keeping your achievements hidden, and making a fortune in silence—that's the way to survive," Lovia said.
Her small shack was located in a secluded corner near the harbor, quite simple and dilapidated, barely able to shelter from wind and rain, but nothing more.
For the past few days, she had treated it as a temporary lodging, not bothering to tidy it up, never thinking of seriously managing it.
But recently, she received some manuscript fees (though not much, it was enough to improve her life), and the unexpected "success" brought by the record of shi pos wanderings gave her a little peace of mind, so she began to feel a desire to "nest."
After all, a person (or rather, a Melusine) needs a decent home.
This day, the weather was fine, and the damp sea breeze carried a salty, moist scent.
Lovia rolled up her sleeves, revealing her slightly slender arms, carefully nailing new wooden planks over the worst gaps in the shack. Her movements were not skilled, even a bit clumsy; the hammer occasionally hit her fingers, making her gasp in pain and blow on her reddened fingertips.
"Hmm... it seems building a house is much harder than writing articles," Lovia mumbled, her blue eyes intently fixed on the unruly wooden plank.
"Once I learn, next time I'll add a chapter to the record of shi pos wanderings called 'The Archon Teaches You How to Build a House with His Own Hands,' haha."
After much back and forth, the wooden planks were finally nailed in place.
Next, she took out an old, faded piece of cloth, measuring it to hang as a curtain over the only window. That broken window was particularly drafty, and the sea breeze would whistle through it at night, blowing directly onto her.
Fortunately, she was a Melusine; if it were a human body, they would definitely catch a cold the next day and have to go straight to the hospital.
At that point, the medical expenses would be more expensive than the manuscript fees, a pure loss.
Lovia mused idly while standing on tiptoe, trying to fix it. Her wide hood was already off, revealing her prominent Melusine features: unique hair and long antennae, and those blue eyes that appeared exceptionally bright even in the dim shack.
Only here did she not need to hide.
After a good while of busy work, the shack finally looked a little more "orderly," at least no longer resembling a pile of junk that could be blown away by the wind at any moment.
Lovia patted the dust off her hands with satisfaction, looking around the small space that was gradually becoming cozy.
The house was rented, but life wasn't!
Then, she carefully took out the small cloth pouch containing all her savings from her bosom, poured the Mora onto the broken table covered with old cloth, and counted them one by one.
"Hmm, these are enough to buy a thicker blanket, so it won't be so cold at night," she pinched a few Mora.
"These, perhaps, can buy a pot that doesn't leak?" She pushed out a few more.
"Ah, I also need to save money for paper and ink..." She furrowed her brow, calculating meticulously, her expression extremely serious.
"Indeed, poverty makes me rational!"
Having experienced the hardship of being penniless, Lovia cherished every Mora she earned. She had to plan each one carefully to avoid falling back into the cold and hunger she faced when she first arrived.
A long while later,
After finishing her calculations, Lovia carefully put away the Mora, put on her hood, and slipped out the door again, blending into the bustling market.
She lingered at the general store, comparing the thickness and price of blankets for a long time, picked up an iron pot at the kitchenware stall to carefully check for leaks, and tried clumsily to haggle (with little effect). Finally, she bought some fresh sea fish and vegetables, planning to cook them herself back home.
Even though her cooking skills weren't great, buying ingredients and cooking at home saved a lot of money!
She had only been living in the shack for a short time, but Lovia had quietly come to regard it as "home" in her heart. Now, that small shack was filled with the traces of Lovia's life.
She held these "trophies," her heart filled with a simple sense of satisfaction.
In the afternoon, the sun became quite scorching, and the humidity from the sea steamed up, making it oppressively hot.
Lovia felt her Melusine constitution couldn't quite withstand the dryness and heat; her skin craved moisture.
She returned to the shack, put down her things, and happily ate a self-created "Seafood Medley Soup."
After eating, she sat idly, but the longer she sat, the more stuffy and uncomfortable she felt. She peered around, seeing no one (there weren't many people nearby anyway), and then ran to the backyard.
Yes, the backyard. Her shack had a small "backyard," which was actually a wooden platform extending out, with clear seawater below.
"No one's watching anyway..." Lovia mumbled to herself, quickly taking off her outer robe and shoes, dressed only in a simple shirt and shorts.
Then, she walked to the edge of the platform, took a deep breath, and silently slipped into the sea.
The cool seawater instantly enveloped her entire body, dispelling all the heat. She turned flexibly underwater, stretching her body, as comfortable as if she had returned home.
The water gently caressed her skin, making her sigh contentedly.
Is this the Melusine's free air conditioning? I love it!
Then, like a fish, she gracefully darted through the shimmering water, occasionally surfacing to breathe, gazing at the dense ship shadows in the distant harbor and the layered pavilions of Liyue Harbor built against the mountains, savoring this unique tranquility.
When she had swum enough, she climbed back onto the platform, dripping wet, and sat on the edge, her feet gently dangling in the seawater. She watched the setting sun dye the sea golden-red, listened to the faint clamor from the distant market, and felt a profound peace in her heart.
As for how the bookstore was selling? What was the readers' reaction? Would there be trouble?
Hmm... that was temporarily outside her scope of consideration.
Anyway, the manuscript was submitted, and the Mora was temporarily sufficient. The rest was for the shopkeeper to worry about.
Even if the Millelith wanted to arrest someone, they wouldn't catch her, hehe!
Right now, she just wanted to enjoy this moment of peace and her slightly improved life, bought with manuscript fees.
Lovia's lips curved into an arc, letting the sea breeze dry her blue hair.
"Hehe, nothing to do today, listen to music at the pleasure house... oh no, I mean, slacking off by the sea."