Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

The depths of the mine were immeasurable.

This section was a vast, hollow cavern.

Scattered throughout the empty space were veins of coal and other various ores, glinting faintly under the flickering torchlight.

The group had just finished placing torches everywhere to ensure that no monsters would spawn in the darkness.

After a quick estimation of the time, Ryen clapped his hands together and called out to everyone, "Alright, let's stop exploring for now. We'll set up a temporary second base here."

This time, it wasn't Keqing who was the most excited.

Cloud Retainer immediately raised her hand, gripping her pickaxe enthusiastically. "Ryen, we can keep going! This little bit of work doesn't tire us at all!"

Before Cloud Retainer could rally the others to join her, Ryen rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"I know! I know you're not tired, but we've already gone quite deep into this mine. It's about time we took a break and set up a small base here. At the very least, let me organize this area for restocking supplies. This will make it much easier to continue mining later."

"Relax, it'll just be a simple setup, nothing too elaborate," he added.

At first, no one disagreed with Ryen's logic. After all, this area was rich in resources, so splitting up to gather and then regrouping here made sense.

However, the words that followed sent a chill down both Ganyu and Keqing's spines.

"Simple."

"Just a small setup."

"That's all."

Those were the exact same words Ryen had said when they first ventured into the mines together. And what happened then?

In less than twenty minutes, Ryen had constructed an entire underground survival center, complete with living quarters, storage, and workstations.

Exchanging uneasy glances, Ganyu and Keqing watched nervously as Ryen began inspecting the surroundings, clearly already planning how to proceed.

Ganyu quickly stepped forward and grabbed Ryen's arm.

"Don't overdo it, Ryen! There's no need for anything grand. Once we've mined everything here, we'll be leaving anyway. Building something too complex would just waste resources!"

Ryen paused, looking surprised for a moment, then laughed.

"What are you imagining? Of course, we don't need a massive base here. This mine is only temporary."

"I was thinking we could plant some crops since our food supplies have been running low. I brought plenty of soil with me, so it's the perfect chance to set up a small farm."

If Ryen had suggested farming in a mine just a few days ago, Keqing and Ganyu would have been utterly shocked.

But after everything they'd experienced with him recently, this sort of "minor" idea barely registered as surprising anymore.

Ryen pulled out a stack of dirt blocks and glanced at Zhongli, who seemed eager to get involved. Smiling, he handed over half the stack.

"Here, let's do this together. Remember to leave one row open for water."

Zhongli nodded calmly, adding, "Like the farm in your estate?"

"Exactly!"

Without another word, Zhongli began placing the dirt in an orderly manner, his movements steady and precise.

Meanwhile, Ryen turned back to the others.

"Well then, I'll leave the mining to you all. Collect every bit of ore you can find, but remember to stay safe. When mining walls, listen carefully for any unusual sounds, and when mining overhead, make sure your footing is on blocks that don't align directly with the ore. You don't want gravel or sand collapsing on top of you."

He glanced at Cloud Retainer. "I'm counting on you to look after them."

Cloud Retainer waved a hand dismissively. "Don't treat them as defenseless maidens. Focus on your own tasks; we'll handle this swiftly."

Ryen chuckled, watching as the four women confidently headed off with their tools.

"Ryen, what about me?" Xiao asked, standing nearby with his trident in one hand and a battered shield in the other.

The shield bore scratches from arrows and dents from zombie attacks, evidence of the dangers they'd already faced.

Ryen rubbed his chin thoughtfully before replying, "Alright, once they're done mining, we'll need to process the ores. We've got a lot of iron that hasn't been smelted yet."

"Xiao, could you build about twenty furnaces along that wall over there? After that, keep an eye out for any threats in the mine."

Xiao didn't mind what tasks he was assigned. Whether it was slaying monsters or helping with construction, he found everything in this world oddly intriguing.

Nodding in acknowledgment, he immediately turned to gather the materials needed for the furnaces.

Ryen breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the farm, only to find that Zhongli had already finished laying out the soil and even added water.

Now, Zhongli was calmly tilling the ground with a hoe, looking every bit like a seasoned farmer.

Ryen burst out laughing at the sight.

"Well, well, I've got to hand it to you. Six thousand years of experience really pays off—you've already set up a perfect little farm without me saying much at all. At this rate, you'll be building your own retirement villa in no time!"

Zhongli tilled the final patch of soil, then straightened up, his gaze calm as he glanced at Ryen. With a serious tone, he remarked, "From a rational standpoint, there's certainly merit in the idea. Living in a home you've built with your own hands, inviting friends over to discuss life's philosophies—such a lifestyle would be ideal for retirement. Though, when the time comes, I might need to consult you on some design ideas."

Ryen grinned and gave a firm nod. "Deal! No problem at all! I mean, knowing you, you're probably planning to settle down right next door to me anyway. If your place ends up being an eyesore, it'll totally ruin my vibe."

Zhongli's lips curved into a faint smile. He genuinely appreciated Ryen's casual banter and the ease with which they conversed. It was refreshing—a stark contrast to the rigid respect and formality he often received from others. With Ryen, there were no walls, no pretenses, just simple camaraderie.

This kind of lighthearted interaction reminded Zhongli that he wasn't entirely alone. While he held great affection for comrades like Xiao, their reverence for him often created an invisible chasm. Perhaps this was the unique burden of one who had stood at the apex of power for centuries.

Breaking his musings, Zhongli asked a question, his tone thoughtful. "A small concern: from what I've observed, even in this world where logic is often defied, crops still require at least a full day to mature. Were you planning to leave this farm and return tomorrow to harvest?"

In truth, Zhongli found Ryen's foresight commendable. Despite their current ample supply of provisions—bread alone amounted to a full stack—Ryen's proactive decision to cultivate fresh crops was a practical choice, ensuring they wouldn't run low on essential food during their expedition.

Before Zhongli could finish expressing his approval, Ryen turned toward him with a peculiar look, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and incredulity.

"Are you kidding? Who's got the time for that? By tomorrow, we'll probably be so deep in the mine that we'll hit diamond veins. When that happens, we'll just teleport straight back to the mansion for a proper break before returning to Teyvat. If I were planning a second trip here, I'd go all out and renovate the place into something a bit more... comfortable."

Zhongli wasn't offended by Ryen's bluntness, though he was admittedly intrigued. "Then what's your plan for this farm?"

Before he could get an answer, Zhongli's eyes narrowed slightly as he caught sight of Ryen's next move. In a few swift motions, Ryen had crafted a workbench, pulled out a sizable bundle of bones, and casually tossed them onto the table.

"You're thinking too hard about this," Ryen said with a grin, picking up a pile of bone meal. "We've got fertilizer, don't we? Why wait for nature to do its thing when we can speed it up?"

Without hesitation, Ryen began scattering bone meal across the field. Crops that had barely sprouted moments ago suddenly shot up, fully mature in seconds. Ryen's movements were so fluid and practiced that it was clear this wasn't his first time employing such a method.

Thanks to the mob grinder back at his estate and the skeletons they'd dealt with on the way down, Ryen had no shortage of bones. In fact, he seemed almost too nonchalant about the process, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Zhongli, on the other hand, found himself... unsettled.

It wasn't that he was squeamish. As a former Archon and now a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli had long grown accustomed to the realities of mortality. He had witnessed death in its myriad forms, helped lay the deceased to rest, and even recommended fine urns and burial plots to grieving families.

Yet something about watching Ryen grind up bones—bones that had once belonged to humanoid skeletons—and use them as fertilizer for crops that they would then eat was, for lack of a better word, deeply off-putting. He could almost picture Hu Tao's horrified expression if she ever witnessed such a practice. No doubt, she'd start lecturing Ryen about the balance between life and death and the sanctity of the deceased.

Zhongli's thoughts were interrupted as he noticed Ryen had already treated half the farm. The once-barren patches of soil were now filled with rows of lush, fully-grown carrots. Their vibrant green tops swayed slightly as if mocking Zhongli's internal discomfort.

"No way am I eating any of that," Zhongli thought to himself, his stomach churning slightly.

Before Ryen could continue to the other half of the farm, Zhongli stepped forward hurriedly, raising a hand. "Ryen! Wait a moment."

Ryen paused mid-motion, a freshly pulled carrot in hand. Without so much as a rinse, he bit into it with a satisfying crunch, chewing contentedly. "What's up?" he asked, his voice slightly muffled by the mouthful of carrot.

Zhongli forced himself to suppress a grimace. Taking a steadying breath, he said, "Leave the other half of the field as it is. Let the crops grow naturally."

Ryen raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. Then, as he noticed Zhongli's averted gaze and slightly strained expression, realization dawned. A mischievous grin spread across his face.

"Seriously? The mighty Geo Archon, the God of Contracts, the terror of the Archon War, getting all worked up over a little bone meal?"

Ryen's teasing only deepened Zhongli's discomfort, though he refused to rise to the bait. After a moment, Ryen sighed and waved a hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. If it bothers you that much, I'll leave the rest of the farm alone. Happy now?"

Zhongli exhaled softly, a hint of relief crossing his features. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Ryen said, taking another bite of his carrot. "Man, you're really something else, Zhongli. Guess even gods have their quirks, huh?"

As Ryen turned back to his work, humming a light tune, Zhongli allowed himself a rare smile. Yes, Ryen's methods might be unconventional—even borderline irreverent—but his humor and straightforwardness were, in their own way, a reminder of life's simpler pleasures.

Ryen tilted his head, about to say something, when Xiao silently approached. Seeing that everyone was still busy, he went straight to the point.

"Lord Zhongli, Mr. Ryen, the furnace setup is complete."

Ryen turned his head, and sure enough, twenty furnaces were neatly arranged against the wall in two stacked rows. He chuckled, casually tossing a carrot to Xiao.

"Not bad! You're getting better and better at this."

Hearing Ryen's praise, Xiao's lips quirked into the faintest hint of a smile. "Thank you for the compliment," he said quietly. Without hesitation, he took a bite of the carrot, finishing half of it in one go.

"???"

Zhongli, for all his meticulous foresight, had not accounted for this. He watched in stunned silence as Xiao casually ate the carrot, seemingly enjoying it. He had intended to intervene but found himself too slow to act.

What made it worse was that Xiao actually looked like he found the carrot… sweet?

Zhongli felt a shiver crawl up his spine.

Before he could process what was happening, Xiao, noticing Zhongli's expression, assumed he was hungry. Without a second thought, he handed a carrot to him with a gesture as straightforward as his character.

"Lord Zhongli?"

Instinctively, Zhongli took a step back, causing Xiao to pause in confusion.

Ryen glanced at the scene, his expression casual but laced with amusement. "Don't bother. He won't eat it. He's got… issues getting over it."

"Issues?" Xiao frowned slightly, his gaze shifting between Ryen and Zhongli. He could sense something was off.

Ryen, utterly unbothered, shrugged and explained, "These carrots were grown using bone meal. Quick and efficient."

"…Bone meal???" Xiao's expression darkened instantly.

The next moment, a gust of wind howled through the room as Xiao vanished in a blur of motion, appearing by the far wall. His face was pale, and his body trembled slightly.

Then came the sound: retching.

"Urghhh!"

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