Sanctuary of Surasthana.
After escorting Ryen and Nahida inside, Alhaitham promptly departed with Zhongli and the others.
It wasn't fear of Ryen.
It was exhaustion.
Once Ryen began discussing "upgrading" the Akasha, he had grown almost feverish.
TikTok. Youtube. Livestreaming.
Then movies. Television dramas.
Then games, Tears of the Kingdom, Elden Ring, Red Dead Redemption…
His thoughts leapt so wildly that even Alhaitham struggled to keep pace.
The Akasha had been meant to assist scholars and improve daily life.
Yet after Ryen's "improvements," it threatened to become the greatest entertainment device in Sumeru.
It was already indispensable.
If further transformed into an all-purpose amusement system, Sumeru's citizens might truly become its slaves.
Better to delay such "renovations."
If unavoidable, perhaps create a private Akasha terminal exclusively for Ryen.
Let him have his games and livestreams alone.
Perhaps even allow Ganyu and the others to livestream for him personally.
As for recruiting other women to dance for him,
Alhaitham valued his life too much.
Originally, Ryen and the others were meant to stay elsewhere that night.
Only Nahida was required to remain in the Sanctuary for tomorrow's proceedings.
But she had grown accustomed to being with Ryen.
Separation was unacceptable.
Thus Ryen, Ningguang, Ganyu, and the others were permitted to stay.
Zhongli and the Archons retired leisurely to a hotel.
Before leaving, Alhaitham handed each of them an Akasha terminal.
Ryen turned it over thoughtfully.
This was Teyvat's smartphone.
Despite his earlier righteous lecture about not being controlled by technology,
In truth, Ryen had once been a thorough smartphone addict.
In his previous world, it rarely left his hand.
Arriving in Teyvat and losing that connection had been disorienting.
He examined the device with mild disdain.
"Low-tech. Bare bones. Once you add TikTok, we'll talk."
He pocketed it casually.
Ganyu approached quietly, lips pursed.
"Ryen… do you dislike my dancing?"
He blinked.
"Why would you think that?"
"You said you wanted to watch other girls dance on the Akasha…"
She lowered her head.
"I know I'm not good at dancing. But I can learn."
"If you want, I can dance for you. Ningguang and Hu Tao can too."
"Don't watch other women dance… okay?"
Ryen laughed softly and pinched her nose.
"I was joking."
"With you here, why would I need anyone else?"
(Well… except perhaps Nilou.)
If Yae Miko performed a shrine maiden blessing dance…
Or Raiden's sword dance.
Or Jean's knightly routine.
Or Eula's noble ballroom form…
He cleared his throat.
"Of course," he said quickly, rubbing Ganyu's horn. "No one has your figure. Or your beauty."
"Besides, other girls can't exactly let me… interact."
"Watching without tasting is meaningless."
"With my little Ganyu, I can always…"
Ganyu's eyes curved happily.
"Tomorrow night… I'll wear that outfit again and dance for you."
Ryen immediately brightened.
Perfect technique wasn't essential.
Black stockings were.
And inevitably,
The dance never reached its end.
Art, in Ryen's view, was about beauty and awakening the fundamental impulses of life.
Desire was not vulgar.
It was a form of artistic expression.
And he practiced it diligently.
Nearby, Nahida was proudly showing Klee around the Sanctuary, excitedly describing every stone and pillar.
Their laughter echoed warmly through the once-lonely hall.
Ningguang glanced around thoughtfully.
"To remain here for five hundred years without leaving… that must have been unbearably lonely."
The thought made them ache.
They agreed that tomorrow they would visit the city gates, to watch Azar being pummeled by citizens.
Not personally, of course.
He was filthy.
Rotten vegetables, eggs, spit,
Better to observe from a distance.
For Sumeru's people, daily life had simplified:
Eat. Sleep. Beat Azar.
Scholars added one more activity:
Research.
Lisa's gaze lingered at the center of the Sanctuary.
The former barrier that had imprisoned Nahida was gone.
Yet faint green light still shimmered on the floor.
"Do you feel that?" she asked.
Ryen glanced at her arm wrapped around his.
"I feel it clearly."
Lisa rolled her eyes.
"Not me. There."
He shrugged.
"I'm not attuned to elemental perception."
"You have seven Delusions and five Gnoses," she retorted. "Use them."
He closed his eyes.
A trace of Dendro divine power extended outward,
And he felt it.
A faint ripple of consciousness.
His brows lifted.
"This is…"
"It can only be her," Lisa smiled knowingly. "As the avatar of Irminsul, how could she truly vanish?"
Hu Tao tilted her head.
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata? But isn't Nahida her incarnation?"
Ningguang explained softly.
"Zhongli once mentioned that Rukkhadevata's demon name was Buer. So is Nahida's."
"Yet they are spoken of as separate."
"Perhaps they share essence, but are distinct individuals."
"Like Raiden Ei and Makoto?" Hu Tao asked.
"Not quite," Lisa mused. "But the exact truth remains unclear."
Ryen waved casually.
"Then why speculate?"
"Let's revive her and ask."
He turned to Ningguang.
"Did you bring a Totem of Undying?"
"If not, we can ask Zhongli to gather consciousness fragments. He's quite experienced lately."
They all laughed.
Recently, Zhongli had worked tirelessly to resurrect fallen adepti.
Initially, only a handful remained.
In a single week, over twenty had been revived.
He scoured Liyue and beyond for soul fragments.
The old dragon had been thoroughly tricked by Ryen's provocation.
Ningguang covered her smile.
"Don't worry. I brought one."
"So did Zhongli."
"When the time is right, we'll present Nahida with the greatest gift of all."