Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence.

Only when a god was truly woven into the fabric of people's daily lives would worship no longer be confined to grand rituals. A simple prayer before a meal, a quiet blessing before sleep—these gestures spoke of faith and reverence.

A devotion that resided in the heart rather than being displayed through elaborate offerings.

How interesting.

Jiang Bai found this kind of faith fascinating. The more he learned about the Geo Archon, the more curious he became.

"Then why are there statues of the Seven scattered across the land? Were they not built by humans?" he asked.

"Oh? You figured that out on your own?" Hu Tao looked at him in surprise.

She hadn't even explained anything yet! She had deliberately kept him in suspense, hoping to tease him, but somehow, this guy had already understood.

Tch. No sense of accomplishment at all.

Flicking her long twin tails, Hu Tao clasped her hands behind her back and took the lead, imitating an elderly scholar's tone—though where she had picked it up from was anyone's guess.

"The Statues of the Seven have stood upon the land since the end of the Archon War. Some say they mark the gods' territories. Others believe they are a sign of divine protection. Some even claim they serve as markers of ley lines… In any case, they've been around for a very long time."

Archon War? Ley lines?

Jiang Bai had just been introduced to more unfamiliar terms. He was about to ask for clarification when Hu Tao, fully expecting his barrage of questions, spun around and made a large X with her arms.

"Nope! You ask way too many questions. I'm not your personal guide! The only reason I've answered this much is because you're my little sidekick. If you wanna learn more, figure it out yourself!"

"…Alright."

Jiang Bai sighed in defeat, feeling utterly deflated.

His curiosity had been thoroughly piqued, yet every question only led to more mysteries. It was like an itch he couldn't scratch. But if Hu Tao refused to answer, he had no choice but to let it go.

Such is the humble fate of a sidekick.

"Well, Mondstadt, Sumeru, and Fontaine are Liyue's neighboring nations," Hu Tao continued, seemingly in a better mood now that she had won their little exchange. "Mondstadt worships the Anemo Archon, Sumeru follows the Dendro Archon, and Fontaine reveres the Hydro Archon."

"Beyond them, there's Natlan, which worships the Pyro Archon, Inazuma, which follows the Electro Archon, and Snezhnaya, home to the Cryo Archon."

Jiang Bai listened carefully, committing these basic details to memory.

He wanted to ask about the gods' specific domains and powers, but Hu Tao had already pulled ahead. If he didn't keep up, he'd be left behind.

Hu Tao led him into a general store. When they entered, Jiang Bai had nothing in his hands.

By the time they walked out, he was loaded with supplies.

A hoe, a broom, rags, brushes, a pair of large shears, and a variety of travel rations.

"…Are we going to clean something?" Jiang Bai asked, bewildered by the sheer amount of tools he was carrying.

"I'm taking you to see a Statue of the Seven!" Hu Tao declared.

She marched forward, completely unburdened, while Jiang Bai followed behind, lugging an armful of supplies.

"There's one in the mountains near Lisha. That area is mostly abandoned ruins, so aside from Treasure Hoarders and adventurers, not many people go there. Since we're heading that way, might as well do a little cleanup while we're at it."

"How long will it take?"

Judging by the fact that Hu Tao had packed their lunch, the journey probably wasn't short.

"We should be able to get back before nightfall."

Even though Lisha was just outside Liyue Harbor, walking there on foot would take quite some time.

"…Alright."

Accepting his fate as a pack mule, Jiang Bai trudged toward the city gates with his load.

The roads within Liyue Harbor were well-paved and wide. Outside the city, though the roads weren't cobbled, the dirt paths were well-maintained, compacted and smooth, showing little sign of carriage wheels getting stuck—evidence of regular upkeep.

Despite carrying all their supplies, Jiang Bai didn't find it particularly strenuous.

Hu Tao, on the other hand, seemed to have an endless supply of energy. She hummed little tunes of her own creation, skipped along the path, and occasionally vanished from sight—only to reappear out of nowhere, startling him.

The first time, Jiang Bai stopped and called out for her. But after it happened a few more times, he got used to it.

As the sun rose higher, reaching its peak, Jiang Bai finally stopped to rest. He set down the hoe he had been carrying on his shoulder and sat on a large rock.

"…Boss, where'd you run off to this time?"

"I found a perfectly grown Sweet Flower!"

Hu Tao suddenly popped up behind him, grinning as she presented a small flower in her hands.

Jiang Bai tilted his head.

This is called a Sweet Flower?

It looked pretty ordinary—he had seen plenty along the way.

"Is there something special about it?" he asked. Judging by the name, maybe it was particularly sweet?

"You don't know? The sugar we eat is made from Sweet Flowers! Both the nectar and petals are incredibly sweet."

Hu Tao plucked a petal, popped it into her mouth, and then handed the rest to Jiang Bai. "Try it! It's really good!"

Jiang Bai brought the flower closer to his nose. A faint, honey-like fragrance wafted from it. Following Hu Tao's lead, he pinched off a petal and placed it on his tongue—his eyes widened in surprise.

A rich, honeyed sweetness blossomed across his taste buds. But rather than being overwhelming, it was light and refreshing, carrying a delicate floral undertone.

It wasn't just sweet, either. The veins of the petal held the slightest hint of bitterness, balancing out the flavor in an oddly satisfying way.

"Well?" Hu Tao grinned from her seat atop a shaded rock, swinging her legs.

A small, white wisp floated from her body, tilting its head curiously as it watched Jiang Bai.

"…It's delicious."

Jiang Bai didn't usually have strong preferences when it came to food, but the Sweet Flower had won him over the moment it touched his tongue.

Hu Tao grabbed the little wisp by its tail and rested her cheek against her palm, watching him eat.

At that moment, Jiang Bai looked just like a cat that had discovered a ball of yarn—completely immersed, radiating pure joy. His normally sharp features softened, his entire demeanor relaxed.

"You really like sweet things, huh?"

"I don't know… but I do love this flavor."

Maybe it's because eating something sweet makes it easier to forget unhappy things.

But now? I've forgotten everything already! That just makes it even better!

Jiang Bai fully embraced the Sweet Flower as his new go-to treat. Within minutes, he had stripped the entire flower clean—petals, stem, even the base. He chewed on it like sugarcane, completely content.

I've decided—I need a garden.

I'll plant an entire field of Sweet Flowers!

Only after finishing did he turn his attention to the tiny wisp Hu Tao was holding.

"Boss, what is that?"

He had noticed it earlier, but he had been too busy enjoying his snack to ask.

"This?" Hu Tao smirked ominously, her tone turning eerie.

The wisp in her hand mimicked her expression, its tiny face twisting into something 'sinister.'

"It's an underworld emissary!"

Right on cue, the little ghost phased straight through Jiang Bai's chest and hovered by his ear, pulling a grotesque face.

Unfortunately, it was simply too cute to be scary.

Jiang Bai patted his chest where the ghost had passed through. He hadn't felt a thing—not even a trace of coldness.

It was as if the spirit existed in an entirely separate dimension, unable to physically interact with him.

Curious, he reached out to touch it, but—as expected—his hand passed right through.

Realizing that it had utterly failed to scare him, the little ghost drooped in defeat and retreated back into the ring on Hu Tao's finger.

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T/N: awww cute