Meanwhile, Makoto directly returned to his room after leaving Barbatos's room.
Makoto looked up at the window.
The torrential rain had stopped unnoticed, and the air was filled with the rich scent of soil.
After Liyue's land was nourished by the rain, tender green shoots sprouted on the treetops.
However, a faint rumble of thunder echoed in the sky, as if the next downpour could arrive at any moment.
This also meant no ships dared to venture out to sea, only waiting for this thunderstorm to end before considering anything else.
Makoto lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
He didn't know what was going on; he just wasn't sleepy and felt extremely energetic.
This couldn't go on.
After a moment, Makoto sat up and lit the spirit inducing lamp by his bedside.
The arrival of a new night meant this lamp could be used again.
In just a moment, the figures of a man and a woman slowly appeared before Makoto.
This scene somewhat surprised Makoto.
Before, he had used the spirit inducing lamp several times, but each time it only attracted one ghost.
This was the first time he had seen two ghosts appear simultaneously.
Makoto noticed the woman was holding the man's hand.
These two ghosts should be a couple.
Did this couple have a common unfulfilled wish?
At this moment, the woman looked up at Makoto, her emotions appearing somewhat agitated: "Excuse me... are you the one who can fulfill our wish?"
The husband beside the woman also said earnestly: "As ghosts, there's so much we can't do now; we can only rely on outside help."
"Kind stranger, please help us."
Looking at the two ghosts before him, their faces filled with nervousness and anticipation,
Makoto was also curious about their wish.
"First, tell me your wish. As long as it's within my ability, I will do my best to help you."
Hearing Makoto's reply, the couple exchanged glances, suddenly overjoyed: "Thank you so much, young man!"
"This favor is definitely within your ability, we can guarantee it!"
The man stepped forward and said: "Please, on our behalf, play a game of hide-and-seek with our child."
"Now that the rain has stopped, he can go outside."
"Please go to the north side of Tianheng Mountain and find a child named Xiao Jiang; play a game of hide-and-seek with him. Please!"
"Our wish is simple: to hear that child's laughter one more time."
When he heard the name Xiao Jiang, Makoto immediately understood the couple's wish.
Xiao Jiang,
Perhaps many players don't know that such an NPC exists in Liyue,
But if one were to say, a plump adult always standing on the slopes of Tianheng Mountain,
That adult who asks players to play hide-and-seek with him,
And if you find him, the player gets a treasure chest,
That would be Xiao Jiang.
When Makoto first encountered Xiao Jiang in the game, he felt this guy was a bit childish.
He was already an adult, yet he still enjoyed playing hide-and-seek,
And he kept calling people 'big sister' and 'big brother,' not realizing he was older himself.
Later, when Makoto learned Xiao Jiang's backstory, he realized that Xiao Jiang was actually quite tragic.
Xiao Jiang's mind was forever stuck in childhood.
And Xiao Jiang's father also passed away while on a mission.
After Xiao Jiang's father passed away, the family suddenly faced a crisis.
To protect Xiao Jiang, his mother used hide-and-seek to make Xiao Jiang hide,
But she herself could never return to reunite with Xiao Jiang.
This young couple had already passed away, and the Millelith had even erected two stone tablets outside Xiao Jiang's home,
But the innocent-minded Xiao Jiang didn't notice this.
He would just often stand outside his house, hoping for his parents to come home.
Pulling back his thoughts, Makoto looked at Xiao Jiang's parents, then nodded gently: "I understand. I will help you fulfill this wish."
Hearing Makoto's reply, Xiao Jiang's parents were overjoyed.
They quickly bowed to Makoto and said earnestly: "Thank you, thank you so much, kind young man."
"As long as we can see Xiao Jiang's smile one more time, we will have no regrets."
"Then, please allow us to go to Tianheng Mountain."
As they spoke, the two ghostly figures floated towards the window.
Tianheng Mountain was their home, and their child was there.
The couple was naturally eager to return.
Makoto also quickly followed them.
Fortunately, Chihayaburu could be cast twice in a row, otherwise Makoto wouldn't have been able to keep up.
In just a moment, Makoto had followed Xiao Jiang's parents to a residence on Tianheng Mountain.
As soon as he arrived, he saw a child squatting on the ground, covering his ears with his hands, as if afraid of the thunder.
It wasn't hard to tell that this child should be Xiao Jiang from twenty years ago.
When she saw her son, whom she had longed for day and night, appear before her, Xiao Jiang's mother's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
She wanted to go forward and tightly hug Xiao Jiang,
But her husband reached out and stopped her, slowly shaking his head.
Xiao Jiang's father also missed Xiao Jiang dearly and longed to hold him in his arms,
But he knew even more clearly that they were no longer humans,
But ghosts who would soon dissipate into the world.
He didn't want Xiao Jiang to experience the painful torment of separation from loved ones.
Xiao Jiang's mother gazed at Xiao Jiang without blinking, tears silently falling,
But in the end, she still chose to obey her husband's wishes.
Let's just secretly watch Xiao Jiang from afar like this.
Seeing Xiao Jiang now able to grow up healthy and safe,
As parents, their worries were greatly reduced.
Xiao Jiang's mother turned to look at Makoto, then said solemnly: "Sir, I entrust you with playing hide-and-seek with Xiao Jiang."
Makoto nodded: "Don't worry, I won't disappoint you."
He also knew that this game of hide-and-seek was unusual,
It concerned Xiao Jiang's parents' attachment and longing for Xiao Jiang.
Makoto stepped forward.
Looking at Xiao Jiang, who was squatting on the ground, covering his ears with his hands, and trembling slightly,
Makoto gently said: "Little friend, what are you doing?"
Hearing someone speak, Xiao Jiang also looked up.
The current Xiao Jiang was not yet the plump adult,
On the contrary, his body looked somewhat thin,
The only thing unchanged was Xiao Jiang's eyes,
Clear as water, innocent and pure.
"Big brother, I'm waiting for Mom and Dad to come home."
In response to Makoto's question, Xiao Jiang also answered honestly.
Xiao Jiang's mind didn't distinguish between good people and bad people;
Anyone who asked him a question, he would answer truthfully.
Even though thunder was rumbling in the sky, Xiao Jiang was already trembling with fear, covering his ears with his hands,
Yet even so, he still had to stand at the door waiting for his parents to come home.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"