Chapter 3: Qingce Village
-Yuanshi Tianzun-
As the portal closed behind him, the cool scent of running water and forest drifted into his senses, and he breathed it in slowly, adjusting to the Outer World after a month in the Inheritance Grotto. A soft breeze tugged at his robes, and sunlight filtered through the trees.
"Hm?" Tianzun noticed her almost instantly.
His gold eyes narrowed slightly behind the lens of his monocle. He took in the person quickly. The simple clothes, the lack of Genesis Qi fluctuation, the humble posture, and the basket of herbs.
A Mortal.
"Glaze Lily, Jueyun Chili, and Jadelead Ferns." All low grade herbs, and mostly useless, other than the Jadeleaf Fern that was an ingredient in the Meridian Unblocking pill.
Hearing his voice, the girl snapped out of her shock from watching him step out of a portal and bowed at once.
"G-Greetings, Lord Genesis Master."
Tianzun studied the plain, village girl before him, and then calmly asked, "Where are we?"
Though startled by the sudden question, the girl answered dutifully, "This is the eastern outskirts of the Qingce Village, my lord."
"Qingce Village…" He repeated the familiar name, questioning further. "What kingdom and continent?"
"Liyue Empire of the Profound Sky Continent." She replied, glancing at him with visible confusion.
Tianzun's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Liyue…"
The name struck him like a thrown pebble rippling across a still pond.
Liyue was a region in Genshin Impact, a gacha game he'd played during his university years on Earth. A region rich with Chinese aesthetics, ruled by contracts, a place of adepti, jade carvings and tea houses. It was Fiction.
Pure fiction.
Profound Sky Continent, on the other hand, scratched at the edge of a different memory. A manhua he could barely recall. Something about 'Scum Che' if he remembered correctly.
And now the two—no, four, were together.
He didn't forget about Yuan Zun, nor that the Burden Original Sin brought people from Lord of Mysteries into this world.
"…A crossover?" He mused.
"I-I beg your pardon, Lord Genesis Master. Have I said something wrong?" The girl bowed deeper, misreading his long silence.
Tianzun snapped back to attention, shaking his head. "No, girl—what's your name?"
"Ah? This one is called Xiao Zhi, my lord."
Xiao Zhi…Chinese people introduce themselves with their surnames first, don't they? The Transmigrator considered purchasing the Cultural Chameleon perk, so as to not make mistakes, but decided to hold back the choice, for now at least.
There were too many unknowns. Spending CP without a clear picture of the world was reckless, especially in a setting this muddled.
Still, he offered a gentle nod. "Xiao Zhi, then. You may rise."
The girl straightened up timidly, clutching her basket to her chest. Her eyes lingered on his face for a long minute, getting a chuckle out of Tianzun.
"You can breathe, girl." He didn't hide the amusement in his voice.
Xiao Zhi let out a gasp. Her face turned a shade redder than the Jueyun Chilis in her basket, and she quickly bowed, mortified at her actions.
"S-sorry, my lord! I didn't mean—It's just, you look…" Her voice trailed off, too flustered to finish the thought.
Sparing her any more embarrassment, Tianzun changed the subject. "I'd like somewhere to stay…"
Xiao Zhi immediately took the lifeline he threw at her, quickly replying. "Please follow me, my lord."
The Alchemist gave a smile and a nod, adjusting his monocle as he followed along silently.
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The village was beautiful.
Simple wooden houses with their blue-tiled roofs dotted the hills, blending naturally with the greenery that surrounded them.
The terraced fields were alive with colors, flowers blooming in neat rows, their petals swaying softly in the breeze.
In the distance, he could see a waterfall cascading gently down a rocky slope, forming a river and dividing the fields.
The scene seemed straight out of a painting.
"How beautiful…" For a moment, Tianzun almost forgot that this was supposed to be a death world.
"Welcome to Qingce Village, my lord." Xiao Zhi smiled proudly as she saw the admiration in his eyes.
While they made their way down the footpath, venturing deeper into the village and offering greetings to passing villagers, Tianzun asked. "Tell me about the village. How did it come to be?"
With a pep in her step, Xiao Zhi happily summarised the founding of Qingce Village.
Long ago, before Liyue's great cities rose, this land was still and quiet, just mountains, rivers, and sky.
Qingce was not founded by scholars or merchants, but by wanderers and a few Genesis Masters. Farmers and craftsmen who had grown weary of war, and of the chaos of changing dynasties. They came here seeking peace, following the winding rivers and mountain paths until they found this valley.
The land here was difficult—steep hills, thick forests, wild beasts—but the soil was rich, and the waters flowed clear and cold from the cliffs above. The first settlers carved terraces into the hills, planting rice and herbs, and built homes from wood and stone. It was hard work, but the land answered their efforts with abundance.
"The founders named the village Qingce, believing that with honest work, simple lives, and respect for the land, they could thrive without the interference of nobles or wars." Just as Xiao Zhi finished her tale, a shrill cry echoed down the path.
"Big sis Xiao Zhi! Who's that!?"
A small group of children came bounding over the stone steps from the nearby rice fields.
"Whoa… He's so tall!"
"And look at his clothes! Are you a Genesis Master., Uncle?"
"Uncle?" Tianzun's brow twitched faintly at the word. He was barely in his mid-twenties when he transmigrated. And when he appeared in this world, he instinctively knew that his body's age was eighteen.
"Don't be rude!" Xiao Zhi chided, even as she found herself trying to suppress a smile.
"A real Genesis Master!?"
"From outside the mountains?"
The kids clustered around him like moths to a flame, whispering, giggling, and gawking at his robes and monocle.
After a few questions, Xiao Zhi shooed the children away, promising that the "important guest" needed rest and couldn't answer a hundred questions all at once. With disappointed groans and a few reluctant bows, the children scattered like sparrows, running back down the hill.
"Apologies, my lord," Xiao Zhi said, embarrassed.
Tianzun waved her off with a faint smile, "No need. Their hearts are pure. It was refreshing."
Several times better than modern IPad kids. He internally added, reminded of his cousins.
"A clear mind for a young man." A voice, calm and warm, sounded from behind.
Tianzun froze, a chill running down his spine.
Ididn't sense anyone…Not even an undulation of Genesis Qi, nor the softest footstep. His gaze narrowed as he slowly turned around.
The sight surprised him. An elderly woman draped in simple green robes, her silver-grey hair tied neatly, a bamboo walking stick in one hand, and a soft smile on her weathered face.
And yet…the Transmigrator didn't underestimate her.
"Granny Ruoxin!" Xiao Zhi beamed at the woman, seemingly unsurprised at her sudden appearance.
Granny Ruoxin smiled warmly in response, "Xiao Zhi, back already from gathering herbs? And with a guest, no less."
At her words, Xiao Zhi's mouth opened as if to reply, only to halt. Realization dawned on her face, and her cheeks flushed red.
Granny Ruoxin chuckled knowingly at her blunder, whereas Tianzun shook his head in amusement.
"Yuanshi Tianzun." He introduced, looking at their expressions.
Granny Ruoxin's eyes twitched faintly at the name, while Xiao Zhi stared at him in awe.
Such reactions seemed like they were going to be common in the future.
"The children here all call me Granny Ruoxin. Feel free to do the same, if it suits you," she said.
Tianzun nodded and bluntly inquired, "Then, Granny Ruoxin, are all the elders in Qingce Village as elusive as you?" He was referring to how she appeared behind them silently.
Granny Ruoxin smiled meaningfully, seeing through his probing, yet still answered truthfully. "No, no. Most of us are loud as birds when we walk, but I have had… a performer's grace drilled into me since I was young. Old habits, you could say."
Her eyes studied him just as intently as his did hers. "And what about you, young man? We rarely have Genesis Master's passing through this village, let alone those that look like a noble."
Ah, despite my appearance and outfit, it seems I've already been seen through for the commoner that I am.
Tianzun gave a calm smile, "I suppose I have a certain friend to thank for that. They've always been… dramatic. No concept of restraint, let alone privacy. They act as they please, when they please, with no regard for consequence." He let out a soft sigh in exasperation at the thought of Aha.
Granny Ruoxin raised a brow. "Sounds like quite the character."
"Indeed." He nodded, glancing at the confused Xiao Zhi who didn't seem to understand the layered meanings behind their words.
The elderly woman, too, noticed the young girl's awkwardness and said, "Don't worry, child. Leave your guest to me. You go on and take those herbs to your Aunt Bai."
Xiao Zhi blinked, then slowly nodded, "Yes, of course. I'll go now, Granny."
She gave Tianzun a shy glance, bowing, ready to take off. But before she could, the young man threw a jade bottle, which landed in the herb basket.
"Take it as thanks for answering my questions and showing me to the village." Tianzun explained. "Each pill enhances your appearance."
Xiao Zhi's eyes sparkled at his words, but then looked hesitant, and glanced at Granny Ruoxin as if to ask what she should do.
Granny Ruoxin smiled gently at the girl, "Go on, child. It would be rude to refuse such a gift."
Xiao Zhi's eyes widened just a little, then she bowed her head again and nodded quickly. "Thank you, Young Master Tianzun." Her voice was light with excitement, and with another respectful bow to both of them, she turned and walked off down the path.
"…She's skipping," Tianzun remarked with a faint smirk.
"Let her have her happiness," Granny Ruoxin replied with a soft chuckle. "Come. You'll need somewhere to stay. My house isn't far."
He gave her a sideways glance, then nodded. "I'd appreciate it."
As they began walking, Tianzun's eyes lingered briefly on the quiet village roofs ahead, then on the old woman beside him.
She wants to keep an eye on me, hm? It was only a natural course of action all things considered. He was a Genesis Master in a village full of mortals, well, mostly mortals. He hadn't missed the passive Genesis Qi undulations from the few adults he passed by with Xiao Zhi. Likely Channel Opening stage given the lack of control.
And speaking of control, his own hasn't reached a level where he could confidently and embarrassingly proclaim, "Throughout Heaven and Earth, I Alone am the Honoured One."
As such, he had taken the precaution of stocking up on Breath Concealing Pills to mask the presence of his Evil Qi, a consequence of the Major Burden he carried.
"If you don't mind me asking," Granny Ruoxin's voice drew him out of his thoughts, "what kind of appearance-enhancing pills did you give Xiao Zhi?"
"Nothing extraordinary, really." His gaze flicked briefly toward the modest wooden house they were approaching. "Clear Skin, Slimming Essence, Voice Refining, Silken Hair, and Luminous Gaze Pills."
The old woman's grey brows rose in what he could only interpret as surprise. "The names are telling and rather straightforward."
A chuckle slipped from Tianzun at her words, his mind turning to the uselessly long and flowery titles so common among pills and techniques in cultivation worlds. "I take it you were expecting names like Nine-Petal Jade-Complexion Beautifying Pill, Willow-Body Refinement Pill, Heavenly Phoenix Crying Pill, Flowing Cloud Hair Nourishment Pill, and Starry Moonlight Luminous-Eye Pill."
"Not bad, rather tame compared to what I've heard in my lifetime." Granny Ruoxin chuckled softly. "I don't know what goes on in the minds of these sects and Genesis Masters, making others waste their breath like that." She shook her head in amusement.
Since when did people in cultivation worlds possess meta-awareness? Is it because she's from Genshin, where such naming practices are uncommon? After a brief pause, Tianzun dismissed the thought. There was no point dwelling on something he couldn't possibly solve.
Instead, he circled back to her earlier words. "The names can't have been that bad, could they?" But when he saw the distant look settle into her dark eyes, he felt a prickle of foreboding. The Alchemist had the distinct sense he was about to regret asking.
"Not bad, you say?" She turned to him with a grandmotherly smile and recited, "Heaven-Devouring Dragon Soars Beyond the Nine Firmaments, Myriad Tribulations Annihilating World-Subjugating Scripture."
And regret he did.
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A/N: And there we have it! This world is an absolute disaster of crossover's, with characters from a few manhua's and games.