Seeing that the seawater on Gu Chen's body hadn't completely dried yet,
Kitsune Saiguu thought for a moment, then called out to Gu Chen and pointed at him.
Gu Chen looked down at himself in confusion, then looked at Kitsune Saiguu and spread his hands.
What does that mean?
I don't get it!
Kitsune Saiguu pursed her lips and said,
"Doesn't he feel uncomfortable being like that?"
"Who knows?"
Raiden Makoto couldn't figure it out either.
After letting out a light sigh, Kitsune Saiguu ordered someone to fetch a set of clothes.
She pointed at Gu Chen, then at the clothes in her hands, then raised both arms as if lifting a bucket of water and tipping it over her head, miming water pouring down.
Gu Chen thought for a moment and more or less understood her meaning.
He nodded, pointed at the clothes, then shook his head.
After that, he stood up weakly, looked around, and then looked back at Kitsune Saiguu.
"Communicating like this is exhausting,"
Kitsune Saiguu complained, then raised her hand and pointed toward a building in the distance.
Gu Chen understood, nodded, and walked over.
He didn't walk fast—his body still looked very weak.
But at the same time, it was obvious that he wasn't as fragile as an ordinary mortal.
Before long, Gu Chen came out of the building.
After taking a bath and drying his clothes, his whole mood felt refreshed.
He clasped his hands together and bowed to Raiden Makoto and Kitsune Saiguu, then looked at the two of them with a completely blank expression.
Kitsune Saiguu puffed on her pipe, looking melancholy.
Raiden Makoto blinked, equally at a loss.
After a long while, Raiden Makoto finally said,
"I'll go get Ei to come take a look. You watch him for now."
"Alright,"
Kitsune Saiguu nodded.
Seeing Raiden Makoto turn and leave, Gu Chen didn't quite understand. He looked at Kitsune Saiguu in confusion.
"It's hard to explain to you,"
Kitsune Saiguu shrugged. "And even if I did, you wouldn't understand."
Seeing that Kitsune Saiguu didn't want to explain, Gu Chen didn't ask further.
After all, even if he asked, he wouldn't understand.
Better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
[Nilou]: Haha~ Mr. Gu Chen who can't understand Teyvat's language is kind of cute~ (Klee · yay)
[Collei]: It feels like you could totally use a few tricks and trick him into going home with you! (Hu Tao · cute)
[Hu Tao]: He looks super fun to tease, hehe. (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
[Kaeya]: You guys—now you're all thinking of bullying the Cult Leader. (LOL)
[Venti]: How do you know the Cult Leader isn't secretly thrilled right now?
[Gu Chen]: Who asked you?! (Nahida · pointing)
[Raiden Makoto]: This version of Ah Chen is actually quite interesting. (Raiden Ei · light smile)
Standing in the Narukami Shrine and staring at each other with Kitsune Saiguu,
it didn't take long before Raiden Ei was called over by Raiden Makoto.
Gu Chen turned his head to look.
Although the two sisters looked similar, their auras were completely different.
Raiden Makoto felt like a gentle, warm big sister next door.
Raiden Ei, on the other hand, felt socially awkward—and instinctively, one could tell she possessed overwhelming martial strength.
Looking at the sisters, Gu Chen stayed where he was.
Raiden Ei stared at Gu Chen.
Sickly-looking.
Indeed, there was a strange aura around him.
"A curse?"
Raiden Ei stepped forward and circled Gu Chen twice, her gaze carefully examining him.
Gu Chen felt baffled.
He suddenly felt like a monkey being inspected.
"What are you doing?"
He couldn't understand.
"Maybe he really did come from outside the world,"
Raiden Ei said.
"Unfortunately, he can't speak our language yet. We'll have to rely on Kitsune Saiguu to patiently teach him for a while. While we're at it, we can see if he recovers,"
Raiden Makoto added.
The taciturn Raiden Ei nodded.
Then the sisters left.
Kitsune Saiguu cleared her throat to get Gu Chen's attention and said,
"You'll stay at the Narukami Shrine these days. It's full of shrine maidens—don't run around causing trouble, okay~"
Her tone carried a faint warning.
Unfortunately, Gu Chen didn't understand a single word.
Thus, Gu Chen stayed at the Narukami Shrine.
[Kaeya]: I'm jealous. Living in a shrine full of shrine maidens—how happy that must be, I don't even dare imagine!
[Venti]: Coward. I dare imagine it! (LOL)
[Nilou]: Mr. Gu Chen isn't that kind of person! (Paimon · hmph)
[Collei]: I saw it—Mr. Gu Chen is painfully studying Teyvat's language already!
Because she was interested in Gu Chen—someone who was human yet not quite human—
Kitsune Saiguu often taught him Teyvat's language whenever she had time.
Learning another language without translation was extremely painful for Gu Chen.
But he had no choice.
To survive in this world, language was essential.
One day.
Raiden Makoto brought Raiden Ei to the Narukami Shrine.
Today was a rare day of leisure for Raiden Makoto, and she cherished it greatly.
Raiden Ei was busy every day—not with administration, but with cultivation and self-improvement.
The reason she came today was to accompany Raiden Makoto and check on Gu Chen's condition.
"How's his learning going?"
Raiden Makoto asked.
"Not bad,"
Kitsune Saiguu replied.
"He recognizes pots, bowls, ladles, and pans now."
"Pots and pans?"
Raiden Makoto was confused.
"Yeah. What else?"
Kitsune Saiguu said matter-of-factly.
"You have to start with things he's definitely used before. If you teach him what a god is, he won't even have a concept of it."
Raiden Makoto felt that made a lot of sense.
At that moment, Gu Chen carried over some desserts and placed them on the table, gesturing awkwardly while making sounds like "ah-ba ah-ba."
"What does that mean?"
Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei looked at each other.
"He says he's grateful you saved him,"
Kitsune Saiguu translated.
"He doesn't know how to repay you, so he's treating you to some sweets."
"You can understand him?!"
Raiden Makoto clicked her tongue in amazement.
"You get used to it after spending time together,"
Kitsune Saiguu sighed, as if recalling some painful memories.
Raiden Ei said seriously,
"Amazing."
"Alright, try them,"
Kitsune Saiguu sighed again.
As she spoke, she casually picked up a piece of dessert and took a bite.
Then she paused.
"Surprisingly good!"
Curious, Raiden Makoto tried one as well.
"Mmm! I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise."
Seeing both Kitsune Saiguu and her sister praising them,
Raiden Ei—who already loved sweets—couldn't resist.
She picked up a cake-like pastry. Her lips parted slightly, and after biting into half of it, she froze.
They hadn't been lying.
The pastry didn't feel dry at all, unlike how it looked.
Raiden Ei stuffed the whole piece into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish.
"Ei, mind your manners,"
Raiden Makoto said helplessly.
"Oh!"
Raiden Ei quickly swallowed, sat up straight, and tried to look dignified—though her eyes kept drifting toward the table.
[Nilou]: Hehehe, Miss Ei snapping into seriousness after being scolded by her sister is so cute. (Nilou · popping in)
[Kujou Sara]: Shogun… (hehehe)
[Arataki Itto]: Hey, Tengu, what's wrong with you? You sick or something? (Albedo · confused)
[Kuki Shinobu]: Probably the same state you're in when you see Miss Hina.
[Arataki Itto]: Huh?! (Itto · scratching head)
[Gorou]: (trembling)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: This side of the Shogun is so rare. The contrast is really… um, just like Miss Nilou said—very cute. (Shenhe · staring)
[Paimon]: I'm okay with this kind of Shogun! (Klee · yay)
[Shikanoin Heizou]: Do you think Lady Ei will ultimately be won over by desserts? (Thoma · holding Taroumaru high)
[Yae Miko]: A reasonable guess~ After all, our Lady Ei is a god who needs light novels and sweets to survive~ (Yae Miko · mischievous grin)
[Raiden Ei]: You're right—but light novels are great, and sweets are delicious.
[Navia]: Desserts! (Klee · yay)
[Furina]: @Gu Chen Bro, send me one—I'm craving it. (Klee · please)
[Raiden Ei]: Brother-in-law!! (Klee · please)
[Gu Chen]: I really can't refuse you. (takes off glasses)
[Kaeya]: The group suddenly smells… suspicious. (alert)
[Venti]: Big bro, remember to send a group red packet so your little bro can taste your craftsmanship too! (envy)
[Gu Chen sent a group red packet]
[Furina grabbed a dessert]
[Raiden Ei grabbed a dessert]
[Navia grabbed a dessert]
[Venti]: Nice, nice—a little cake. It tastes really good! (Keqing · praise)
[Keqing]: As expected of the all-capable Cult Leader. (praise)
[Raiden Ei]: Thank you, brother-in-law! (Ayaka · bow)
[Yae Miko]: Still calling him brother-in-law? (raised brow)
[Raiden Ei]: (Ayaka · stunned)
[Raiden Ei]: Speaking of which, affairs of state are pressing—farewell!
[Kamisato Ayaka]: Is Lady Ei embarrassed? (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
[Yae Miko]: (photo of Raiden Ei blushing and running away)
[Yae Miko]: Understandable~ After all, he's her sister's man. There's a psychological hurdle for the little sister~ (mischievous grin)
Yae Miko found this absolutely hilarious.
Every time the topic came up, Raiden Ei's mix of confusion and embarrassment was endlessly entertaining.
Another good mood secured for the day!
[Jean]: Understandable! (nod)
[Lisa]: A forbidden romance~~ (bad smile)
[Barbara]: As long as Lady Ei firmly believes that the current Lady Makoto is merely the Makoto of a past life, this hurdle becomes easy to cross! (confident)
[Venti]: Good idea!
[Zhongli]: So that's the solution?
[Dvalin]: An approach I never would've imagined… (Paimon · shocked)
[Guizhong]: The more I think about it, the more sense it makes! (nod)
[Lumine]: Approved! (LOL)
In the video.
Under Kitsune Saiguu's diligent teaching,
Gu Chen's progress in speaking and reading was slow—but his cooking skills skyrocketed.
At first, Raiden Ei only accompanied Raiden Makoto occasionally.
Now, she came every single day.
Her excuse was—
"I'm just worried that this unexpected variable might cause unnecessary chaos!"
"Mm-hmm~"
Kitsune Saiguu nodded with a face that clearly said I totally believe you.
Raiden Ei kept her expression tightly controlled, revealing no flaws.
But Kitsune Saiguu knew her far too well.
She clearly just came for the desserts.
What were all those excuses for?
Over these days, Gu Chen gradually recovered and no longer looked as weak as before.
At the same time, thanks to Kitsune Saiguu's serious instruction,
Gu Chen had essentially mastered dessert-making—and even created sweets Kitsune Saiguu herself had never tried.
After tasting them, there was only one conclusion:
He was a pastry genius.
As they spent more time together,
both Kitsune Saiguu and Raiden Ei developed a very good impression of Gu Chen.
Aside from his black right arm—which was worrying—everything else was highly satisfactory.
One day.
With the combined efforts of Kitsune Saiguu and Raiden Ei,
Gu Chen finally managed to communicate with them—albeit haltingly.
"You mean… my arm?"
"Yes. A curse. A god of death's… curse."
"That god of death is… special. It grants power. That power itself is the curse."
After Gu Chen's explanation, both Kitsune Saiguu and Raiden Ei were astonished.
A curse, by definition, should cause suffering.
Why would it grant power?
But that power came with a price.
The power in his arm fought against his mind like an evil spirit.
Only by relying on an iron will to suppress it could he use that strength.
And overusing it would drain his very life!
[Kirara]: This reminds me of the cover image of Mr. Gu Chen… It feels ominous!
[Baizhu]: Now that you mention it, it really resembles life-force depletion. Could it be that something caused Mr. Gu Chen to overuse the cursed power? (concerned)
[Shikanoin Heizou]: If we analyze it—could it be the Khaenri'ah war? (observant)
[Xingqiu]: That doesn't add up. Lady Makoto went to Khaenri'ah. What does that have to do with the Cult Leader? This episode is about him and Lady Ei!
[Bennett]: Could it be that when Lady Ei went to Khaenri'ah, Mr. Gu Chen went with her? I remember Khaenri'ah had forbidden knowledge. Maybe the forbidden knowledge clashed with the curse power, making Mr. Gu Chen fall ill?
[Shikanoin Heizou]: A very reasonable hypothesis! But I have another one: after the Khaenri'ah war, Lady Makoto fell there. Lady Ei went to investigate, and the calamity swept across all of Teyvat. Could it be that Mr. Gu Chen overused his power to protect Inazuma? After all, Kitsune Saiguu teaching him language and desserts means they were already close friends, right?
[Yae Miko]: Kitsune Saiguu died in that disaster. With that in mind, it makes sense that brother-in-law got into trouble around that time. (nod)
[Zhongli]: By common rationality, Lady Ei lost even more.
[Raiden Makoto]: I'm so worried about that world's Ei… Losing me and then losing Ah Chen… Would she fall into obsession again? (Amber · save me)
[Yoimiya]: Suddenly worried about the people of Inazuma in the later era. (trembling)
[Paimon]: @Gu Chen So can you please not die?
[Gu Chen]: Is that something I can control? (Zhongli · black line)
[Gu Chen]: Don't worry. With Yae around, she'll find a way to pull that blockhead Ei out of it. (Childe · sigh)
[Yae Miko]: (sigh) Why is Ei always so obsessed in every past-life video?
[Raiden Ei]: Don't jump to conclusions! The me in the video isn't obsessed yet! (Ei · take my blade)
[Gu Chen]: It's only a matter of time.
[Raiden Makoto]: It's only a matter of time.
[Yae Miko]: It's only a matter of time.
[Raiden Ei]: I'm getting angry! (annoyed)
[Gu Chen sent a special red packet]
[Raiden Ei]: Thank you, brother-in-law! (gratitude)
[Yae Miko]: Tsk—Lady Shogun, so easily controlled by mere desserts~ (mischievous grin)
[Venti]: I get it now. Next time I cause trouble in Inazuma, can I bribe the Shogun with sweets? (LOL)
[Kaeya]: Then there's only one outcome.
[Venti]: Which is?
[Dvalin]: Inazuma Prison welcomes you with open arms. (LOL)
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