Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Outside the Yunhan Opera Troupe

After watching Hu Tao bounce away cheerfully, Yun Jin turned back to glance at Tartaglia.

Seeing the ever-sunny, seemingly carefree young man standing there, she found it amusing but simply nodded before heading backstage to change out of her costume.

She needed to leave quickly—otherwise, she might actually laugh out loud in front of him.

This so-called cunning, smiling tiger of a Fatui Harbinger...

In reality, he was just a straightforward guy.

And yet…

This straightforward guy was trying to play mind games with Hu Tao?

Did he really think the ever-optimistic Hu Tao was as simple as she seemed?

Someone who had long since seen through life and death, Hu Tao had an uncanny ability to read people and situations.

More importantly...

Tartaglia had barely waited for Yun Jin and Hu Tao to step outside before rushing up to them with a grand declaration that he knew Zhongli's whereabouts.

It was as if he was desperate to let everyone know he had an ulterior motive.

Let's be real—when a Fatui Harbinger, infamous across Teyvat, eavesdrops on someone's conversation and then, instead of keeping it subtle, immediately exposes himself, saying he can help with their troubles...

And on top of that, he just so happens to mention Zhongli's location while throwing in Ningguang, Keqing, and the other Liyue Qixing?

Good grief.

Even Hu Tao had to admit, what a guy.

Was he really treating her like a fool?

If someone wanted to set up a trap, wouldn't the smarter move be to wait until she left Yunhan Opera Troupe and then "accidentally" reveal Zhongli's whereabouts in passing?

But Tartaglia?

He just went ahead and blew his own cover.

Seeing someone trip over their own scheming like this…

Hu Tao saw a perfect opportunity to give him the ultimate Wangsheng Funeral Parlor welcome.

And so, after Tartaglia signed the contract and paid five million Mora for a funeral package—

Hu Tao patted her chest and declared that she would go find Zhongli.

The way Tartaglia's expression lit up, as if he had scored a victory, was priceless.

Yun Jin simply couldn't hold it in anymore…

Five million Mora?! That was enough to fund a mass funeral for an entire Fatui battalion!

Even the renowned Mora spender Zhongli had never once splurged five million on a single coffin.

But hey, if it was the Fatui's money—might as well take it, right?

With a satisfied smile, Tartaglia arranged for people to wait at Tianheng Mountain, expecting Hu Tao to show up.

After all, Liyue was a land of contracts, and once something was agreed upon, it would be honored.

In his mind, Hu Tao had already signed away her commitment to finding Zhongli.

This was bound to be a grand success!

Through this, he might even uncover the secret dealings of Ningguang and the others.

But what Tartaglia failed to realize…

The contract he signed with Hu Tao was a five-million-Mora funeral service agreement—

Not a contract requiring her to go to Tianheng Mountain.

He had effectively shot himself in the foot.

So while Tartaglia sat there in the opera house, eagerly awaiting his flawless scheme to bear fruit—

While his people stood freezing at the foot of Tianheng Mountain, waiting for someone who would never come—

Hu Tao happily took the one and a half million Mora deposit, treated herself to a sumptuous meal at Wanmin Restaurant, and even had extra funds to print up a fresh batch of funeral service advertisements.

Then, with a gleeful grin, she headed straight for the Liyue Ministry of Civil Affairs' public bulletin boards.

She was no fool.

No matter what kind of meeting Zhongli was having with Ningguang and Keqing, it was clearly confidential Liyue business.

It wasn't worth barging in, especially when the person tipping her off was a Fatui Harbinger.

Spending the Mora she rightfully earned was the only correct choice!

"Hehe! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's special promotion! Full funeral package including escort ceremony, premium blackwood coffin, blue stone tombstone, and soul guidance—family bundle now available! Buy one, get the second at half price!"

Satisfied with her handiwork, Hu Tao dusted off her hands and cheerfully moved on to the next public board.

Meanwhile, Tartaglia was still seated in the opera house, lost in Yun Jin's elegant and captivating performance, blissfully unaware that his brilliant scheme had already fallen apart.

Inside the Dark Mine

BANG!

The sharp sound of a pickaxe shattering rock echoed through the cavern.

Moments later, a chain reaction caused a large section of stone to break loose, tumbling to the ground and momentarily hovering before settling.

Xiao immediately planted a torch into the cave wall, casting flickering light across the hundred-square-meter cavern they had just uncovered.

His golden eyes flickered with disappointment as he turned back.

"Ryen… another dead end."

"...Got it."

Ryen let out a soft sigh, glancing back at the others.

Although they still looked energetic, a hint of weariness was evident in their eyes.

Judging by the passage of time, it was already well past midnight, soon approaching the next day.

After a brief pause, Ryen spoke in a low voice:

"Xiao, place torches around the perimeter. Cloud Retainer, craft five workbenches. Keqing, make five furnaces."

"Zhongli, seal off this cavern entrance with stone—leave only a single opening at the top for ventilation."

"Ganyu, Ningguang, come with me to set up beds and other supplies. We'll rest here for now."

At his words, everyone let out a small breath of relief—

Even Zhongli.

They weren't physically exhausted. As powerful Adepti, Archons, and warriors, fatigue wasn't an issue.

But being trapped in the dark, narrow confines of the mines for so long was undeniably mentally draining.

This was precisely why Liyue's miners in the Chasm required frequent shift rotations—the oppressive underground environment could wear down even the strongest minds.

Without protest, everyone moved to carry out their respective tasks.

Meanwhile, Ryen couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened.

And why wouldn't he be?

After striking an absurdly rich ore vein, their mining progress had come to a complete halt.

Beyond that, the tunnels they had discovered thus far extended only a few dozen meters before being completely blocked off.

Clearly, this particular cavern was a dead end.

The choices ahead were now clear—

1. Go back and take another path—where countless hostile creatures likely awaited.

2. Find diamonds.

The decision wasn't difficult.

And as for how to find diamonds?

There were actually a few methods…

Aside from using commands or an omniscient overhead map,

There was one simple and effective technique:

The "Clay Patch Diamond Method."

Find a river or lake, search for a cross-shaped clay formation underwater, and dig straight down—

Chances are, diamonds will be waiting below.

…

The eerie, unnatural silence weighed on everyone. If not for the occasional conversations keeping them sane,

Ryen felt that mining in this kind of environment alone could drive someone to madness.

Seated by the campfire, he absentmindedly roasted a potato, his expression darkened by deep thought.

The others had recovered and were chatting as they sorted through their haul.

But Ganyu…

She noticed something.

Ryen's mood was off.

And she was worried.

Carefully, she sat down beside him and offered him a roasted chicken leg.

"Ryen, eat some meat. You've been eating nothing but apples and bread all day…"

Ryen snapped out of his thoughts, smiling as he accepted the food.

"And you? How are you holding up?"

Ganyu smiled softly, shaking her head.

"Don't worry! I may be half-qilin, but I won't be worn out by something like this."

"My stamina is still full, you know!"

She hugged her knees, tilting her head slightly as she watched him.

Under the flickering firelight, Ryen's face appeared sharp yet serene, mesmerizing her.

She unconsciously leaned closer.

Ryen, unaware, continued his train of thought—

But then, Ganyu's next words shattered everything.

"Hey, Ryen… is it possible that someone else got here before us and mined all the diamonds?"

And suddenly—

A chilling realization struck him.

The neatly arranged ores.

The eerily silent mines.

A legend from the world of Minecraft surfaced in his mind.

Him.

~~----------------------

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