Shenhe paused at the sound of a voice behind her.
"Do you need something else?"
Ji An struggled to his feet, wincing in pain. "If the immortal hadn't saved me, I would've been killed by that masked monster. Naturally, I must express my gratitude properly."
What a joke, he thought.
Since transmigrating into the world of Genshin Impact, this was the first living person he'd encountered. How could he possibly let her walk away now?
Moreover, her strength was undeniable. Judging by the way she'd saved him, she was most likely a righteous cultivator—someone who wouldn't harm an innocent.
So why hesitate?
If there was ever a time to form a connection, it was now.
Shenhe shook her head, her smooth white hair rippling like silk.
"I am no immortal," she said softly. "Merely a nameless recluse."
She turned and resumed her path toward the distant mountains. "There's no need for thanks. Eliminating demons and spirits is our duty. When evil harms the innocent, we cannot stand idly by."
A moment later, she stopped.
Without turning around, her delicate brows drew together. Her voice was calm, but carried the weight of frost.
"Why are you still following me?"
Ji An, limping a few steps behind, gave an awkward smile. "Great Hero, you can see my condition. I truly have nowhere else to go."
He mixed truth with fiction as he spoke. "I'm from Liyue, orphaned since childhood. I fell ill recently and ventured into these mountains to find a certain medicinal herb. I didn't expect to get lost—and I've already run into monsters several times. If not for you, I would've died."
Shenhe turned to study him.
After days of wandering, Ji An was utterly disheveled. His soaked hair clung to his face, his clothes were torn, and his features were almost indistinguishable.
He looked less like a man and more like some bedraggled creature that had just crawled from a river.
Ji An clasped his hands together pleadingly. "Great Hero, where are you headed? Could you take me along? Just until we reach the next town."
"..."
Shenhe hesitated.
You carry the fate of solitude and calamity. You should not form bonds with others.
That was the warning she'd received long ago.
Since childhood, she had always been alone—her only companions the beasts of the mountains and the stars above. Over time, solitude had ceased to be loneliness. It had simply become life.
And yet, looking at this battered mortal before her, she hesitated.
If he was telling the truth, it was natural for him to see her as his last lifeline.
Even though the adepti had receded from worldly affairs, they never turned their backs on mortals in need. If her master were here, she would not ignore him.
Shenhe sighed inwardly. "If you insist, then follow me."
Ji An's face lit up. "Thank you, Great Hero!"
"My name is Shenhe."
She turned fully then, and Ji An finally saw his savior clearly.
Her face was serene, as cold and pure as untouched snow. Long silver-white hair was bound with a red cord that trailed to her waist. Even her brows were white, framing eyes that shimmered with faint, restrained sorrow.
What an ethereal beauty, Ji An thought, stunned. Even the most heavily filtered influencers in my past life couldn't compare.
Shenhe's expression remained distant. "Remember this," she said quietly. "We are only traveling together for a short while. Once we reach a town, we part ways. You must not approach me unnecessarily."
Her voice held an unmistakable chill.
Ji An nodded rapidly, like a chick pecking at grain. "I understand, I understand!"
Shenhe's sharp eyes caught his overly casual tone, and her brows knit slightly.
So frivolous.
In her dealings with other adepti, she had often heard of mortals who sought them out—hoping for power, wealth, or beauty, always wishing to receive without giving anything in return.
Such people were laughable.
And in her eyes, this mortal was no different.
"In that case," she said, turning away, "let's move on."
After a pause, she added, "By the way, what is your name?"
"Ji An," he replied promptly.
"An…"
The single syllable struck her like a blade of cold wind. Shenhe froze, her breath catching in her throat. For an instant, her Dao heart nearly wavered.
"Immortal Shenhe, is something wrong?" Ji An asked, puzzled.
"…It's nothing."
Her breathing steadied slowly, though her expression was shadowed.
An… why that name?
Could this be fate mocking her? A reminder of the sin she could never atone for?
---
Two days later, Shenhe and Ji An had traveled south, covering dozens of li.
They crossed mountains and forests, finally reaching a new region.
Whenever Ji An faltered from exhaustion, Shenhe formed a quick hand seal, summoning an ice-blue phantom in feminine form.
"This is a Talisman Spirit," she explained. "It won't harm you. You may borrow its strength."
Ji An curiously touched the icy figure. Being lifted by it felt strange, almost thrilling.
In my old world, technology was the source of power, he mused. But here in Teyvat, it's elemental energy that drives everything.
---
After leaving the mountains, they stood on a ridge overlooking a deep valley below.
"Since you're from Liyue," Shenhe said, her voice carrying over the wind, "you should recognize this place."
"Ahem… my sense of direction isn't the best," Ji An admitted sheepishly. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten lost."
"Look below," she instructed. "Tell me what stands out to you."
Ji An stepped forward and peered down.
At first, nothing seemed remarkable—then his eyes widened.
"Immortal Shenhe, are you referring to those strange stone pillars?"
Shenhe gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment. "You have keen eyes. This place is called Cuijue Slope. Those nine pillars are known to the world as the Nine Pillars of Peace."
"The Nine Pillars of Peace…" Ji An repeated softly.
Even without knowing their history, the name alone carried a weight that seemed to echo from the depths of time.
-------
A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
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