Check out my new translated fanfic,
Genshin Impact: The Gambler of Teyvat
....
On the second floor of the auction house, most of the maids and attendants from the private rooms had already left. Only a group of potbellied noblemen were scurrying away in embarrassment, desperate to flee the scene.
When they saw Aether walking up with Paimon and the fox-eared girl, they all quickly turned their faces toward the wall, as if trying to bury their heads in it.
Aether ignored them and walked straight to Room No. 2.
He knocked on the door. After a brief silence, there came the sound of a chair scraping.
"B-Brother…"
Creak.
The door opened slightly, revealing Xue Qinghe's face. But when he met Aether's gaze, he couldn't maintain eye contact anymore.
This young man, about the same age as himself, was actually a being on par with the gods!
Earlier, he had still been thinking about getting to know and win over the pair. But now, that thought had completely vanished.
How could someone like him possibly keep a godlike powerhouse around?
"Qinghe, we're back!" Paimon tugged on Yu Keke's hand and stepped into the room first, then introduced them cheerfully.
"Qinghe, this is Keke. Look at her little ears—aren't they adorable?"
"Hello, Your Highness…"
Yu Keke bowed nervously toward Xue Qinghe. Paimon had already explained his identity, so she was visibly tense.
"Hello, Keke. If you're a friend of Brother Aether and Paimon, then you're also a friend of mine. No need to be so formal."
Xue Qinghe quickly stepped forward to help her up. This little fox-eared girl was, after all, the catalyst for a string of earth-shaking events.
Had things not been resolved, who would have imagined that a girl with soul power not even at Rank 10 could cause the sect masters of the Three Upper Clans—and even the gods above the heavens—to intervene?
"Eh? Who are these two uncles?"
Paimon glanced around the room and noticed two extra figures standing suspiciously near the window, seemingly ready to make a run for it.
"Esteemed one, I'm She Long, and he's Ci Xue. We're the prince's attendants~"
Seeing that they'd been discovered, She Long simply cupped his fists and introduced himself and his companion to Aether.
"Yes, they're my attendants. They were worried about my safety earlier and just wanted to come in and protect me."
Xue Qinghe spoke, then turned toward Aether. Seeing him nod with a smile, all three visibly relaxed.
During Aether's duel with Chen Xin, She Long and Ci Xue—both Title Douluo—had sensed trouble and rushed over to Xue Qinghe's side, worried he might be in danger.
They had also briefed Xue Qinghe on the earlier probing and their exposure. Naturally, this made Xue Qinghe anxious.
He hadn't yet revealed his true identity to Aether and Paimon. If they found out, would they think he'd been deceiving them?
But judging from Aether's expression, it seemed he didn't care at all.
Or perhaps… from the moment Aether noticed the Title Douluo following him, he had already deduced the truth?
Of course. Someone on par with the gods—how could he not know? He simply chose not to expose it.
"Your Highness, sir, we'll be taking our leave."
Even though Aether hadn't done anything intimidating, the immense pressure of his presence made She Long and Ci Xue feel like they were sitting on pins and needles.
There was no reason to stay and keep stressing themselves out. Better to disappear while things were still calm.
They weren't worried about Xue Qinghe's safety. The three got along decently enough, and if anything did go wrong… well, even Sword Douluo had lost in a single move. If things turned violent, they would be nothing more than two extra corpses.
"Mm, you may go."
Xue Qinghe nodded. As elders of Spirit Hall, lingering around him for too long might attract unwanted attention.
The two bowed respectfully to Xue Qinghe, Aether, and the others, then hurriedly took their leave.
"Brother, now that everything's settled, shall we go eat?"
They'd made plans to eat together even before entering the auction house, so Xue Qinghe finally dared to bring it up. He certainly wouldn't have had the guts now, otherwise.
He looked at Paimon nervously, unsure if they'd still be willing.
"Yes! Food time!" Paimon's eyes lit up, stars practically sparkling in her eyes. "After all that fighting, I'm starving. Keke, are you hungry?"
"I'm not hun—grrrryyyy~"
Yu Keke had just opened her mouth when her stomach growled loudly, making her face turn red. She practically buried her head in her fuzzy little shawl with embarrassment.
"Hehe, Keke's lying~ Your punishment is to eat extra."
Paimon giggled, teasing her playfully before turning to Aether.
"Since it's the prince's treat, how can we say no? Let's go!"
Aether smiled and nodded. Paimon was clearly dead set on getting a free meal out of Xue Qinghe today.
"Wonderful! Brother Aether, this way, please!"
Xue Qinghe beamed with unexpected joy and quickly led the way out.
The four of them exited the private room. Just as they reached the end of the corridor, Yu Keke, walking behind with Paimon, suddenly gasped in shock, drawing everyone's attention.
"Wah! Keke, what's wrong? Don't cry…"
Paimon rushed over. Yu Keke had covered her mouth with her small hand, and tears were pouring from her eyes.
"T-They… they're the ones who captured me… the ones who killed my dad…"
She pointed a trembling finger down to the first floor—where seven or eight corpses lay on the ground in a pool of blood, hands bound. Clearly lifeless.
"Keke, don't cry. The bad guys have been punished. Your dad wouldn't want to see you so sad."
Paimon gently tried to console her, but her heart ached at the sight of Keke crying.
Aether gave a subtle nod toward Chen Xin, who stood near the corpses. It was his way of acknowledging the man's gesture of contrition—bringing these murderous bounty hunters to justice was a form of apology.
"Paimon, big brother… thank you…"
Yu Keke wiped her tears. She knew it was Aether and Paimon who had avenged her. She immediately dropped to her knees to offer her gratitude.
But Aether quickly waved his hand, and an invisible breeze held her legs in place.
"No need for all that. Come on, let's go."
He reached out and gently patted her head, smiling as he took her hand and led her forward.
From a peaceful little village, she had been kidnapped and dragged all the way to Heaven Dou City. Barely eleven or twelve years old, and she had already seen the darkest side of the world. Her only family had been killed.
What this little girl needed now—was comfort.
"…"
Yu Keke looked up at Aether's back. Though his frame seemed a bit slender, to her it felt as solid and reassuring as a mountain.
The warmth from his hand drove away all the shadows in her heart.
"…Big brother," she whispered.
"Hmm?"
"I… I don't have a home anymore. Can I come with you? I can do laundry, cook… even warm the bed~"
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost inaudible.
"…Let's eat first."
Great. Out of everything she could've picked up, she just had to copy the nonsense those people said earlier.
Aether pretended not to hear, loosening his grip on her hand just a little.
_
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