After a brief moment of frustration, the girl quickly regained her fighting spirit.
Although farming for artifacts was tough, she had no choice but to push through.
Getting stronger was like sailing against the current—if you didn't move forward, you'd fall behind.
Lumine didn't want to be left in the dust, becoming the kind of "primitive" meme people joked about online.
Everyone else was working hard to grow stronger—how could she slack off?
Time to grind!
Seeing Lumine's renewed determination, Lu Heng simply smiled without a word.
Artifact farming was pretty much the same as gacha pulls.
But at least gacha had a pity system—a safety net for the worst-case scenario.
Artifacts, though? That was a whole other story…
Lu Heng decided it was best not to dwell on it too much. The more he thought about it, the more he'd remember his own past struggles.
Lumine asked, "If I want to farm artifacts, do I just follow the in-game domains?"
In the game, domains could be farmed endlessly, but real-world domains might not be so generous.
If there were domains in reality that could be farmed indefinitely, they would've been cleared out centuries ago—long before Lumine even had a chance to explore them.
Domains definitely existed in reality—that much was certain.
But unlike the game, real-world domains were "one-time" deals. Once the treasures inside were taken, they wouldn't respawn.
If she stumbled upon a domain with artifacts, great. But what if it had nothing useful, or worse, someone had already looted it?
Wouldn't that be a waste of effort?
"Let me think…"
Lu Heng pondered for a moment before using his "cyber divination" to calculate the odds.
After a brief silence, he said, "It's possible. As long as you can locate the domain, your card's conceptual power should work."
This was a pleasant surprise for Lumine.
The game's map was a 1:1 recreation of Teyvat.
All she had to do was find the real-world location corresponding to the in-game domain, and she'd be set.
Convenient!
"I'm going to farm until I can't take it anymore!"
Since she'd have to keep farming until she got a full set of god-tier artifacts, she might as well go all out now.
Better to suffer intensely once than drag it out.
What if… she got lucky on the first try?
Though that was wishful thinking, let's be honest—when farming artifacts, didn't everyone secretly hope the next one would be perfect?
"Then I'll wish you luck in advance," Lu Heng said, choosing not to use his cyber divination this time.
Sometimes, knowing too much ruined the fun.
The three of them gradually approached Wanmin Restaurant.
"Ribbit!"
The Crimson Demon Frog perched on Tartaglia's shoulder croaked.
Tartaglia, who had just finished eating at Wanmin Restaurant and was furiously grinding the main story on his phone, looked up and brightened upon seeing them.
He waved enthusiastically. "Hey, isn't this the Traveler and Paimon?"
"Childe?!"
Paimon was all too familiar with this rich, handsome guy.
Who wouldn't like someone wealthy, generous, and not overly scheming?
Most importantly, he was always happy to treat people to meals!
Lumine's expression shifted slightly.
It was this guy!
He was the reason her team had wiped so many times in the game!
But game mechanics were one thing—reality was another.
Besides, in the original timeline, she had defeated him!
A confident smile crept onto Lumine's face, though she kept it subtle, simply nodding in greeting. "Hello."
"We're practically old friends at this point, right?"
Tartaglia smirked strangely before continuing, "If you're free sometime, how about a sparring match? You guys still train, don't you?"
Wait, what?
After watching his in-game self lose to Lumine in the cutscenes, Tartaglia had been puzzled.
Huh?
Was the Traveler really that strong with just two elements?
He, Tartaglia, was no slouch either!
A Hydro Vision plus Electro Delusion!
On paper, no matter how you looked at it, the advantage was his!
Yet he still lost!
If theoretical strength didn't match actual combat prowess, then the truth was clear.
Tartaglia was skilled in all weapons, so the issue wasn't adaptability.
There was only one explanation—Lumine was genuinely stronger than him!
"A spar? Me?"
Lumine pointed at herself, then gave Tartaglia a bewildered look.
Are you serious?
She'd heard that Tartaglia could transform into the "Childe" form, wielding the power of "Obliteration."
Not to mention his powerful Polearm and an arsenal of cards…
Fighting him?
Wouldn't that be suicide?
Even though her equipment and levels had improved, facing Tartaglia now would be like a newbie challenging an endgame boss—complete madness!
"Not a fight to the death or anything," Tartaglia quickly clarified, realizing the issue.
He didn't know how many cards Lumine had, but as one of the earliest cardholders, he considered himself an established powerhouse with a well-developed deck.
It'd be like a veteran player bullying a fresh account—that just wasn't fair.
Tartaglia suggested, "How about we just spar in terms of pure skill?"
"Hmm…"
Lumine thought for a moment, then turned to Lu Heng.
Under the gaze of her golden eyes, Lu Heng felt a bit helpless.
Tartaglia challenged you—why are you looking at me?
Did she expect him to make the decision for her?
"Brother Lu, what do you think?"
Brother Lu?
Hold on, isn't she older than me?
Lu Heng chuckled. "If you've got time, sure. If not, then forget it."
"Then I'll pass for now."
Lumine shook her head.
"???"
Tartaglia scratched his head in confusion. "Don't you want to improve through combat?"
"Ah, no time."
Lumine sighed.
She was too busy farming artifacts—who had time for sparring?
"Alright then."
Tartaglia shrugged. "You guys here to eat? My treat!"
"Next time."
Lumine smiled. "This meal's on me—I'm treating Brother Lu."
"Oh, I see."
Tartaglia nodded in understanding. "Then I won't bother you. I'll go back to grinding the main story."
Once Tartaglia was out of earshot, Lumine muttered, "What a battle fanatic."
"That's part of why he became a Harbinger at such a young age," Lu Heng remarked with a smile.
They entered Wanmin Restaurant, where Xiangling had reserved a spot for them in the backyard.
The backyard was pleasantly quiet.
As soon as they sat down, Xiangling brought out the dishes.
Seeing her, Paimon asked, "Is the Time-Freeze Bag useful?"
"Super useful!"
Xiangling nodded enthusiastically.
Pre-made meals needed reheating, but this was different!
Whatever state the food was in when stored would be exactly how it was when taken out—time itself was frozen!
Xiangling could only marvel—this was a god-tier preservation skill!
"Glad to help."
Lu Heng nodded.
After serving the dishes, Xiangling asked, "Need anything else?"
Lu Heng glanced at the table—four dishes and two soups were more than enough for three people.
He shook his head.
Lumine also declined. "This is plenty for now."
"Anything to drink?" Xiangling pressed.
"Juice is fine, any kind," Lu Heng said.
"Same here!" Lumine agreed.
"Me too!" Paimon chimed in.
Xiangling returned with juice before bustling off again.
With the restaurant's efficiency improved, more customers were pouring in.
Xiangling barely had any downtime these days.
Lumine poured herself a glass of juice and raised it toward Lu Heng.
"Normally, we'd use wine, but I'll toast with juice instead. This one's for you, Brother Lu!"
"Thanking me again?" Lu Heng chuckled.
"Of course."
Lumine's expression turned serious.
"Often, people don't realize how much a single decision can change their lives. A small choice might shape their entire future…"
"Because of you, everyone got to see the original timeline. Isn't that a chance to change their 'fate'?"
"Your game gave everyone the power to choose—whether to follow the destined path or carve out a new one… Now, we have that choice, don't we?"
"And that choice came from you."
Lu Heng was momentarily taken aback.
Lumine wasn't wrong.
Normally, people only knew their future after living through it.
But now, knowing one possible future meant they could rewrite it.
Would they copy the original script or write a new one? The power was in their hands.
Lu Heng watched as Lumine downed her juice in one go.
She drank too quickly and ended up coughing, wiping her lips with a napkin.
The smile she wore now was one he'd never seen in the game—relaxed, carefree.
No longer desperate to find her brother.
No longer forced to play the role of Teyvat's errand girl, running around solving everyone's problems.
Now, she could truly choose her own path.
To put it simply—
She had a home, transportation, savings, and even an organization leader willing to give her an allowance!
Whether she worked or not depended entirely on her mood!
Life was good!
Seeing Lu Heng silently smiling, Lumine couldn't help but say, "While playing the game's story, I kept wondering—what's the meaning of your presence in Teyvat?"
"Oh?"
Lu Heng gestured for her to continue.
"Now, I think I have an answer."
Lumine nodded solemnly. "The people of Fontaine were right—you truly are the Great and Benevolent Monsieur Lu."
"Maybe I'm not that great?"
Lu Heng shrugged. "Don't just follow the crowd and see me as some kind of merciful deity. What if I did all this for myself?"
"Then what's your reason?" Lumine asked curiously.
Paimon also perked up, ears twitching.
Lu Heng didn't dodge the question, smiling as he replied, "Maybe… to make up for regrets?"
"For example, imagine being the only person in the world who's played Genshin Impact, the only one who knows its story."
"As you play through the quests, did any moments move you? Did any scenes make you feel something?"
"Not yet, but maybe in the future?" Lumine guessed.
Lu Heng smiled. "Everyone has their own interpretation. For me, this is enough—using the card system to mend past regrets."
"Um…"
Lumine couldn't resist interrupting. "Can I ask… what regrets do you have?"
"There are too many to count."
Lu Heng shook his head, not elaborating. Instead, he chuckled. "Honestly, this isn't the first time I've been asked this."
Lumine wasn't surprised.
Given how many people must have wondered the same thing.
After all, spending a bit of Mora in exchange for such immense power…
In the world of investments, turning a million into a billion could be attributed to luck or skill.
But turning a million into a trillion?
That was the reality of Lu Heng's card shop!
Even an average person, with decent luck, could obtain a 1-star card—a taste of supernatural power!
Could that really be measured in Mora?
Of course not!
Spending a little Mora for power worth hundreds, even thousands of times more… It was like stumbling upon a fortune!
Unless someone was completely heartless, they'd feel uneasy, right?
Like finding 200 Mora versus 2 million Mora on the street—the difference was staggering.
"Then I won't ask further."
Lumine shook her head, her smile radiant. "I know Brother Lu would never harm me!"
Though she'd only recently awakened, her memories were still fragmented. But Lumine was no naive fool.
She could sense something unique in Lu Heng's attitude toward her.
Sometimes, it almost felt like frustration—as if he wished she'd done better.
Combined with Genshin Impact's story, Lumine guessed that Lu Heng might have been dissatisfied with her actions in the original timeline.
Maybe, as he said, this was his way of fixing regrets.
A stronger Lumine could handle future challenges with ease.
Did he want to see her do better this time?
"I won't let you down," Lumine murmured softly.
Lu Heng's eyebrows rose.
He'd underestimated her.
In fan works, Lumine was often portrayed as mischievous. In the game, she was kind and helpful.
But he'd almost forgotten—Lumine was sharp.
Clearly, she'd picked up on something.
Seeing her current state, Lu Heng felt she wouldn't be so easily "defeated" this time around.
A satisfied smile crossed his face.
Lumine, who had been serious just moments ago, suddenly looked a bit odd.
That look again!
It was like a father proud of his daughter growing up.
Not only did it make her feel younger, but it also felt like she was being teased!
Lumine scooted her chair closer and abruptly asked, "How's your Lumine built? With one element per nation, did you give her 21 Crowns?"
If you're going to treat me like a daughter, then let's see how well you raised her!
The sudden question caught Lu Heng off guard.
Who in their right mind invested heavily in the Traveler in Genshin Impact?
Well… Lu Heng was only half-sane.
Let's just say youthful ignorance led him to dump resources into a 3-star tier character.
Lu Heng took a sip of water and coughed lightly. "What if I played as Aether instead?"
With the way you look at me? Even if you had ten accounts, you'd never pick Aether!
Lumine smirked, locking eyes with Lu Heng without saying another word.
"Fine, fine."
Lu Heng sighed deeply.
"Don't tell me you didn't give her a single Crown?"
Lumine also sighed, her voice tinged with self-deprecation.
"Ah, it's fine. I know I'm weak. I don't blame you—it's my own fault."
Paimon's mouth fell open as she glanced at her cup.
They were drinking juice, right?
So why did it suddenly taste like… tea?
Seeing Lumine's sad expression—like a neglected puppy—Lu Heng's heart softened.
How could this be tea? This was just a sweet, uncomplaining little sister!
With a gentle thought, the Civilization Core activated.
Instead of dumping all his saved Crowns into Lumine, he distributed them evenly among his roster.
Feeling the Civilization Core's work complete, Lu Heng smiled faintly.
With this confidence, he feared nothing.
"Actually, I did give her one. I just didn't mention it."
"Really?"
Hope flickered in Lumine's eyes.
"Really."
(Even if it was just now, it still counted.)
"Good, good!"
So he was going for the "equal treatment" approach, huh?
He was too careful!
Lumine sighed inwardly.
"Let's eat first. If we keep talking, Paimon might starve," Lu Heng joked.
"Ah, I'm fine! I'm just greedy, not actually hungry!" Paimon waved her hands frantically.
Lumine shot her a teasing look. "If we wait any longer, Paimon's stomach will start growling."
"...It's not happening!"
At least not yet!
--------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 50 chapters in advance on my Patreon : [email protected]/furinaimpact