The flower carriage continued leisurely down the main avenue.
It passed countless citizens of Sumeru.
Cheers rose in waves, cresting one after another.
People followed behind from a distance, craning their necks to glimpse the carriage.
Within it sat their god.
Ahead, applause and cries echoed continuously. Behind, citizens exchanged excited whispers.
"I never imagined our Lesser Lord Kusanali would be this adorable… My heart is melting…"
"Right?! She's the cutest!"
"When she waved at us, smiling brighter than the flowers, she truly holds us in her heart."
"No one can replace Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's achievements. But Lesser Lord Kusanali inherited her will."
"I believe she will one day become just as great!"
"To think such a gentle Archon was imprisoned for five hundred years, it hurts to even imagine."
"We owe her far too much."
"She's a god! If she hadn't accepted it willingly, who could have confined her? She didn't want to harm anyone."
"It's all the Akademiya's fault!"
"No, it was the Grand Sage lineage!"
"Azar is the real culprit! Trying to create a god and drag Sumeru down with him. If he had succeeded, the Seven would have suppressed us!"
"Did you read his so-called 'God Creation Plan'? He intended to use the Akasha during the Sabzeruz Festival to mobilize all our minds!"
"The more I think about it, the angrier I get. I want to beat him again!"
"He's at the city gate. We can beat him anytime. Today is Her Excellency's birthday, violence can wait. Tomorrow we'll go together."
"I just got a new flaming club from the Hilichurls. I'll light it up and give him a good whack!"
"Even if Lesser Lord Kusanali isn't as wise as Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, so what? Liyue thrives through human governance, human wisdom is no less!"
"Exactly! Knowledge should be explored, not begged for. Those former Grand Sages were unworthy of being called scholars!"
"She's so cute! I just want to hug her and kiss her!"
"???"
The surrounding citizens stared in stunned silence at the girl clutching her cheeks in infatuation.
They all had similar thoughts.
But to say it aloud, here, with the Corps of Thirty and the Eremites nearby,
Did she have no one she cared about in Sumeru?
Fortunately, today was the Sabzeruz Festival.
Alhaitham had ordered restraint.
Otherwise, someone might have cited "disrespect toward the Archon" and dragged her away for "education."
Ryen heard every word.
He felt rather proud.
Hug her and kiss her?
How modest.
He had accomplished that goal days after bringing Nahida out of confinement.
He could hug her, feed her, carry her, and squeeze her cheeks whenever he pleased.
He could even rock her to sleep at night.
Nahida was his precious daughter.
The intimacy these people dreamed of,
Was his daily routine.
The thought made him raise his chin proudly.
After today's celebration, he absolutely had to give Nahida a thorough cuddle session.
One day without affection left him restless.
With that in mind, he suddenly scooped up Klee and planted a firm kiss on her cheek.
Klee blinked in confusion, then beamed, peppering his face with little pecks.
"My dear really is a daughter devotee," Lisa teased with a laugh.
"Of course," Ryen declared openly. "If I don't dote on my daughters, who should I dote on? A son?"
He glanced smugly at Raiden Ei.
"Daughters are sweet and adorable. Soft and fragrant. If it were a son, I'd worry about rebellion like the Scaramouche."
Ei stiffened.
"He's not my son."
"Close enough."
Ryen waved dismissively and hugged Klee tightly.
"Daughters are the best. A good hug every day keeps me energized. I love Klee and Nahida the most."
"Klee loves Ryen the most too!" she chirped.
To Ryen, they weren't biological daughters, but they were closer than blood.
They were his heart.
Not just winter coats, but summer vests too.
With them around, no trouble could dampen his mood.
Lisa's eyes gleamed mischievously.
"But daughters grow up and marry," she sighed theatrically. "Like Ganyu and I, marrying you. What if one day Klee and Nahida marry as well…"
Before she could finish, a chilling killing intent filled the air.
Ryen's smile froze.
"Marry?" he repeated softly.
"Anyone who dares touch them, I'll dig up his ancestral grave."
"Any man who approaches them must pass my test."
"Taking one punch from me isn't unreasonable."
"Surviving my Sword of Universal Dominion isn't unreasonable."
"To provide for them, he should at least control ten more worlds than I do."
"If not, I'll cut him in half. Feed one half to wolves and the other to zombies."
"Pour lava over his ancestors' tomb."
Lisa coughed lightly.
Test successful.
Ultimate daughter devotee confirmed.
Klee wrapped her arms around his neck earnestly.
"Klee won't marry anyone! Klee will stay with Ryen forever!"His fury melted instantly.
"My Klee is the best…"
He kissed her again, her cheeks flushing red.
Paimon floated closer, puffing her cheeks.
"What about Paimon?! Don't you dote on Paimon too?"
He scooped her up as well.
"Of course. Paimon is my good daughter too. Anyone who schemes against you will regret it."
Lisa leaned toward Ningguang and Ganyu.
"Conclusion: we must have daughters. If it's a son, he won't care."
Ningguang sighed.
"That isn't something we can control."
"And none of us have conceived his child yet anyway."
Hu Tao nodded seriously.
"It is strange. I never let him use protection. Even during dangerous days we tried."
She rubbed her stomach.
"But nothing…"
She frowned.
"Maybe… Ryen has a problem?"
Fortunately, he was too absorbed in Klee and Paimon to hear.
Ganyu frowned thoughtfully.
"That can't be right…"
"I heard most men last only minutes. Ryen lasts all night…"
Hu Tao waved frantically.
"That's not what I mean! I mean maybe there's some physical issue…"
The women exchanged uneasy glances.
They wanted children.
Not just Klee and Nahida, but children of their own blood with him.
Ningguang whispered,
"Later, I'll take him to Bubu Pharmacy to consult Baizhu."
"But we must find a good excuse. If he realizes we suspect him…"
They all shuddered.
A week bedridden would be the least of their worries.
Still, they nodded firmly.
For a child, a little suffering was acceptable.
Besides, before the suffering came, there would be plenty of joy.
Unaware of being suspected, Ryen continued cuddling happily.
If he knew,
The Sabzeruz Festival would be canceled immediately for a demonstration.
In truth, the issue wasn't dysfunction.
It was difference in life rank.
As a World Sovereign, Ryen was, strictly speaking, a higher-dimensional existence.
Even if something were wrong,
He had consumed more than enough milk and Enchanted Golden Apples.
In Liyue, infertility had been cured by such means.
Concern breeds confusion.
And today,
Sumeru's Archon conquered the city not with power,
But with pure, overwhelming cuteness.