As the mysterious water-like substance extracted by the [Universal Syringe] increased, Xia Zhi noticed the diamond progress bar above Focalors growing increasingly faint.
Once the extraction was complete, the progress bar would likely vanish entirely.
Xia Zhi asked, "How do you feel now?"
Focalors replied, "Fine."
Xia Zhi pressed further, "Do you feel weakened at all?"
Focalors glanced at him. "Having my divine authority stripped away naturally weakens me. I'll fall from godhood to mere mortal existence."
After a moment's thought, Xia Zhi stopped extracting and instead began injecting—returning half of the extracted [Hydro Authority] back into Focalors.
As the mysterious substance in the syringe decreased, the diamond progress bar above Focalors grew more solid again.
Feeling the returned power within her, Focalors asked, "Aren't you extracting it?"
Xia Zhi withdrew the syringe. "Just testing if this method works. Besides, there's no use extracting it now. You can keep it for the time being."
Focalors lowered her arm. "So should I continue gathering faith through the [Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale] as planned?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "Yes. Though we won't need it to carry out an execution, faith itself has many uses. Gather as much as you can."
"I know—it can power Fontaine's cities."
"It's not just about power... Never mind. Wait a moment..."
Xia Zhi opened his inventory, put away the syringe, and pulled out a thick book.
[Detailed Explanation of Faith Power].
This was a book he'd specially purchased from the [Shop] earlier.
Of course, what he held wasn't the original—that version's text was only legible to him.
This was a transcribed copy written in Teyvat's native language, originally meant for Xia Ci and Xia Zhen. Given the circumstances, he'd give it to Focalors first.
He handed the book to Focalors.
Curious, she took it, noting the familiar handwriting on the cover.
"You wrote this?"
"Mhm. Copied from another book. The contents are fascinating and will help you, though quite esoteric. It should keep you occupied for a long time."
"Really..."
Focalors opened the book. Within seconds, she was absorbed by the profound knowledge, nearly losing herself in it.
With effort, she closed the book and stored it away.
"It's truly an extraordinary book. Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Xia Zhi waved a hand.
"Any other questions?"
Focalors sipped her juice. "None from me. Furina?"
"Huh?"
Furina blinked, still somewhat dazed. She vaguely understood that something major had happened but wasn't entirely sure how serious or troublesome it was. Since these two had already handled everything, she just needed to follow their arrangements. She trusted he wouldn't harm her.
"Me..."
Furina tapped the cake spoon against her lips, tilting her head thoughtfully.
Then, as if recalling something, she asked Xia Zhi, "Earlier, you said this Rainbow Juice is a specialty from a shop you own?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "Yes."
Furina's curiosity piqued. "You own a shop?"
"Mhm."
"Where?"
"Liyue, Feiyun Slope. I run a drink shop there. Only sell Rainbow Juice and Rainbow Wine."
"Is it expensive?"
"100 Mora per cup—not cheap."
Furina asked, "Why open a shop?"
Xia Zhi chuckled. "Why not?"
"But you're already so capable. Why work so hard..."
"Not for money, of course. I just wanted something to do. You might not understand yet, but Focalors likely does."
Focalors looked at Furina. "He means finding amusement. A god's lifespan is too long. You'll understand eventually."
"Oh."
Furina only half-grasped it.
As a newly born "mortal," even after glimpsing Xia Zhi's past in another world, most things in this world still fascinated her. The "godly" boredom was beyond her for now.
She asked, "What's Rainbow Wine?"
"A blend of this Rainbow Juice and alcohol."
"Is it good?"
"I've prepared some for you both. You can enjoy it slowly."
Xia Zhi paused, then added,
"Best to savor it. Unlike Rainbow Juice, which can be diluted, Rainbow Wine can only be brewed by me or one blessed staff member in my shop."
"What blessing?"
"[Water Spirit's Blessing]—"
He suddenly cut himself off.
Because the so-called "water spirit" was, in fact, an Oceanid.
And Focalors—she was originally a powerful Oceanid.
In other words, she should also possess this mixology skill.
Xia Zhi laughed. "Ah, my oversight. Never mind, then. I'll give you a bottle of [Rainbow Concentrate]. You can mix drinks yourselves whenever you want."
Furina asked, "So your shop only sells those two things?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "Yes. Officially, just those two."
Focalors caught on. "Officially? And unofficially?"
"For friends, I offer a special service."
"What service?"
"Massage."
"?!"
Xia Zhi sighed. "Don't misunderstand. I mean a perfectly normal massage—the kind that relaxes the body. Like when I massaged Furina's head earlier."
Furina's face warmed as she recalled the incredible pleasure of Xia Zhi's fingers soothing her headache.
Through his god's-eye view, Xia Zhi saw Furina pressing a hand to her forehead. He asked softly, "Furina, does your head still hurt?"
"Ah? N-No, not much..."
"Not much? So it still aches a little?"
"Mm... just a tiny bit."
"In that case, shall I massage it for you again?"
"This..."
Furina hesitated—not unwilling, just uncertain if she should feign reluctance.
Focalors glanced at her and directly assisted: "Then please massage it for her."
Xia Zhi nodded, stood, and moved behind Furina. His hands settled gently on her head, fingers beginning slow, deliberate motions.
The moment his fingers pressed with the slightest pressure, Furina felt an indescribable comfort radiating from his touch.
She bit her lip to suppress any odd noises.
Yet her body grew limp from sheer pleasure, her head tilting back slightly until it rested against Xia Zhi's torso.
Even through clothing, Furina could discern the firm contours of male abdominal muscles.
Th-This...
Furina was overwhelmed—she was just an innocent girl with little worldly experience.
As for Xia Zhi, he paid it no mind.
Compared to his other massage sessions, this was far from the most ambiguous scenario.
While free, he used [Skill Steal] on Furina via his god's-eye view.
Having given her [Tears of the Goddess], his water-based skills had vanished from his panel. This was how he'd reclaim them.
The difference was negligible—just missing a few effects from [Tears of the Goddess].
"Furina, relax."
"Mm..."
"How does it feel?"
"So good..."
Focalors suddenly said, "You couldn't massage before."
Xia Zhi nodded. "True. I learned later."
"How?"
"Self-taught."
"Why learn something like that?"
"A blind man learning massage isn't unusual, is it?"
"..."
Focalors fell silent before asking,
"Your eyes were fine before... How did you go blind?"
"Not telling."
"You can do impossible things like time travel now. Why not restore your sight?"
"Can't for now."
"Is it that you can't... or won't?"
"Can't."
Focalors lowered her gaze pensively, sipping her juice.
Xia Zhi noted her diamond progress bar had surpassed [40%].
After a while, he withdrew his hands. "Done."
Furina murmured, "Thank you."
"No problem."
Xia Zhi turned to Focalors.
"Since you're so curious about my massages, why not try one yourself?"
"...Very well."
Focalors nodded.
Xia Zhi approached.
"Where would you like it?"
"My head as well."
"Alright."
Xia Zhi placed his hands on Focalors' head, fingers moving with practiced ease.
The moment pressure was applied, Focalors felt an unimaginable pleasure surge from his touch.
This... how...
She'd thought Furina's reactions were exaggerated.
Now, experiencing it firsthand, she realized the sensation was indeed that intense.
She too bit her lip, stifling any untoward sounds.
Xia Zhi remained composed, watching her diamond progress bar climb steadily.
While free, he also used [Skill Steal] on her, acquiring all her skills.
Then, the system's voice echoed in his mind:
"Progress bar reached [100%]. Diamond Treasure Chest rewarded."
Glancing at the new glittering chest in his inventory, Xia Zhi continued the gentle massage.
Only after covering every pressure point did he finally stop.
"How do you feel?"
"Acceptable."
Grandmaster-level massage techniques—even Xia Ci and Xia Zhen praised them endlessly, yet you rate it merely "acceptable"...
Focalors, you really are a tsundere!
Though perhaps it was because he hadn't used the [Enjoyment] trait during the session.
Xia Zhi returned to his seat. "Any other questions?"
Focalors said, "None."
Furina shook her head. "None."
Xia Zhi checked the countdown. "I have just over an hour left... Let me give you what I've brought."
He produced two rings.
Furina eyed them. "These are?"
"Storage items. Filled with food I prepared—to improve your diets."
Furina glanced at the empty plate where the delicious cake had been.
She'd thought she wouldn't taste such cakes again for five hundred years. Yet he'd already planned for everything.
He's so thoughtful!
Xia Zhi didn't hand the ring directly to Furina.
First, he needed to use [Path of the Netherworld Chef] to alter the food's state so Focalors could consume it too.
Extending a hand, he channeled [Power of the Outer World], his fingers phasing through space into the ring's interior.
Moments later, he withdrew.
"Keep them safe."
"Mm! Thank you... Xia Zhi!"
Furina met his gaze earnestly.
Xia Zhi considered, then said, "Calling me Xia Zhi feels too distant. If possible, I'd like you to call me cousin."
Furina blinked. "Cousin? Why?"
Xia Zhi sighed. "No particular reason. Just indulge this whim of mine."
Mainly because Furina calling him "cousin" was already part of the future. He needed to complete this temporal loop.
Furina nodded. "Alright... Cousin."
Xia Zhi smiled warmly, then retrieved the small cube Xia Ci had given him earlier.
Furina and Focalors eyed it curiously. "What's this?"
"Consider it this world's equivalent of a smartphone."
"Smartphone!? Does it work?"
"Of course. But there's no signal now. You'll need to wait five hundred years until we establish servers."
Xia Zhi gave a brief explanation.
This phone was Xia Ci's personal gift, so he wouldn't give it away.
But there was a solution.
He produced a white box—[Replication Box].
After feeding it five 1-point supernatural items, its color turned black.
Placing the cube inside, two identical cubes tumbled out.
Xia Zhi handed one to Furina. "This is for you. Once I return to the future, we can use it to communicate."
"Okay!"
Furina accepted it and opened the cube.
A lock screen appeared.
"There's a password?"
"The password is 1027..."
Xia Zhi had only tested the communication function briefly this afternoon.
Neither Furina nor Focalors yet realized this innocuous cube would one day become the "root of all evil."
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