"This texture… so… so amazing!"
Ganyu stared at Junze's horns in disbelief.
At the same time, a puzzled expression appeared on her face. "When I touch my own horns, it doesn't feel this comfortable. Why is that?"
Ganyu extended her other hand and placed it on her own horns.
This half-adeptus compared the tactile sensation of her own horns and Junze's with great seriousness.
In the end, she shook her head helplessly.
Sure enough, this child's felt better.
Ganyu lowered the hand that had been touching her own horns, but her other hand showed no change at all, still rubbing and stroking over Junze's head.
Mm… it seemed a bit addictive.
And Junze?
Originally his sleeping expression had been very peaceful, but ever since his horns were touched by Ganyu, he began to feel strange.
It was an indescribable comfort.
It clearly made him feel very comfortable, but… but he inexplicably wanted to avoid it.
Junze's small body began to squirm.
The little boy's fair cheeks flushed faintly red, unbearably adorable.
"Mn…"
A soft, muffled sound escaped Junze's mouth.
"So… cute."
Even Ganyu, who had already lived for over a thousand years, had to admit that Junze's appearance was exceptionally adorable and handsome.
Moreover, this boy carried a very peculiar aura.
It was the innate aura of a Ravaging Beast of Greed.
Anyone who approached him would be subtly, almost imperceptibly drawn by that aura.
And just as Ganyu was still immersed in the superb tactile sensation of the horns, a sudden gust of cold wind blew past.
Junze's body involuntarily shivered.
The little boy curled in on himself, and finally couldn't help but sneeze.
"Ah-choo!"
The sneeze nearly startled Ganyu.
At the same time, Junze woke because of it.
'So cold… so hungry…'
Awakened by the cold wind and hunger, Junze's eyes were bleary with sleep.
He slowly opened them.
But the instant he opened his eyes, he froze.
His still-drowsy eyes instantly widened.
'Ga… Ganyu!'
Because he had only just been born not long ago, Junze still couldn't speak properly, and could only cry out in his mind.
Even so, it did nothing to conceal his shock.
He had indeed thought before about encountering the people he liked on the continent of Teyvat, but he had never imagined he would meet Ganyu under these circumstances.
And just as Junze was astonished about why Ganyu was here and was even touching his horns, the system in his body that had shown no reaction until now finally responded.
[Ding—]
[Personal Growth Task: Child of the Qilin triggered]
[Task Description: Given that the host Taotie is currently incapable of self-care, please find a way to make the half-adeptus Ganyu willing to "feed" you]
[Task Reward: Descension Gift Pack ×1]
[Note: As the host is the embodiment of greed, inherently in conflict with the auspicious beast Qilin, please proceed carefully]
Junze received the information transmitted from the system in his mind.
But this task made him unsure how to describe it for a moment.
'Feeding is feeding, but why does it feel a bit strange?'
Junze always felt the system was somewhat off.
But he didn't dwell on it much.
After all, this thing had finally shown some movement.
At the same time, he was very curious what good things were inside this so-called Descension Gift Pack.
Only… this task…
Junze's gaze fell on the red-highlighted note.
Ganyu was a child of the Qilin, an auspicious beast.
He himself was Taotie…
Ah, this…
Junze's expression turned awkward.
Leaving aside whether the task could be completed, purely from a standpoint perspective, he was completely on the opposite side of Ganyu.
At this moment, Ganyu herself was also extremely surprised and flustered.
She had never expected Junze to wake up directly, and it left her completely stunned.
And while stunned, her hand was still resting on Junze's horns.
She had even, because of her surprise, tightened her grip slightly on Junze's horns.
That squeeze made Junze, who couldn't even stand steadily, jump in shock.
"Ya!"
A babyish cry came from Junze's mouth.
Ganyu was also jolted awake by Junze's cry and immediately withdrew her hand.
A blush appeared on the half-adeptus's face.
But before Ganyu could explain, Junze was already tottering backward.
The current Junze had only just been born not long ago, and coupled with being in a constant state of hunger, he simply had no way to stand firmly in place.
"Careful!"
Ganyu, who had originally wanted to apologize to Junze, saw him falling backward and shouted in alarm.
But in the end, Ganyu was still a step too late.
Already unable to stand steadily, and with the raging wind atop the peak, Junze flipped directly out of the massive eggshell.
"Ah—"
Junze fell straight down from the summit.
In an instant, the gently drifting clouds were violently stirred.
Seeing Junze fall, Ganyu did not dare pause for even a moment and also leapt down from the peak.
Junze, falling straight down, had absolutely no way to control his body.
Just born, and with the Taotie body constantly in a state of hunger, he had no strength whatsoever to struggle.
Junze only felt his entire body turn cold, the surrounding gale slicing across his tender skin like blades.
The immense sense of weightlessness made his brain feel extremely uncomfortable.
'Never thought… I… would just… die like this.'
Junze revealed an incomparably bitter expression.
Although he had previously said he was dissatisfied and shouted about restarting, he had never imagined he would actually restart like this!
'If I don't die this time, I'll definitely cherish life properly!'
Junze was almost frightened to tears.
However, as if hearing his prayer, that blue figure shot straight down through the sea of clouds like a swimming fish.
The moment she spotted Junze, relief appeared on Ganyu's face.
Good, I made it in time.
As the distance rapidly closed, Ganyu extended both her arms.
And Junze, lying on his back as he fell, stared blankly at Ganyu reaching out toward him.