Genshin Impact: The Sharpshooter of Teyvat

Chapter 1296 Silky's Doubts about the Fate of the Stars

Nighttime, at Shao Yun's ranch.

Everyone had finished dinner and went about their own business, but Shen He was still in the nursery taking care of the baby.

Kong hadn't had much free time this week. After dinner, he went back to his room to rest early, and soon there was no more noise in the room.

In the backyard, however, a different kind of lively scene unfolded. Paimon was having a great time playing with his little dragon potato pancake.

She chased the potato pancake around the yard, sometimes flying back and forth, and sometimes gently poking its smooth scales with her finger, which made the little dragon let out a happy "whoosh" sound.

The mother goat that had been watching Shao Yun acted like a guardian, keeping an eye on the two little creatures.

Looking at the scene before her, the mother goat couldn't help but start her "complaint mode."

Sigh, this family will fall apart without me... The lady of the house, "Ying," managed to lose herself while herding cattle. And these two little ones, Paimon and Xiaolong "Potato Pancake," are playing outside alone late at night, without any sense of propriety.

The family's godmother, "Shen He," is a cool and aloof older sister type, but she's all brawn and no brains, oblivious to everything else, and only focused on taking care of the children.

The family's butler, "Yuanshang," is like a dog... He can't even beat the Wind God, so we don't even need him to guard the gate.

The family's female slave, "Ningguang," was even more exceptional. She squandered her advantages and ended up working on the ranch in desperation.

As for the male head of the household, "Shao Yun," he's an absolute freak; even the female goat doesn't want to comment...

This place probably needs to hire an expert to take a look, otherwise something bad is bound to happen sooner or later!

As for Daines Reeb, he is out of contact, and nobody knows where he went.

At this moment, in the ranch's living room.

Ningguang was standing behind the sofa, carefully massaging Skykirk's shoulders, doing her best to serve her.

You should know that Ningguang specially prepared a "patient's meal" for Skirk at dinner.

The soft and sticky rice porridge, the light vegetable soup, and the carefully stewed chicken are all made tender and easy to chew, making them suitable for injured people.

Despite Skylark's repeated insistence that she only needed rest and was not a "patient" in the traditional sense, Ningguang still kept in mind Ying's instructions and did her best to provide her with the best treatment, fearing that she might not be taken care of properly in any way.

Silky expressed her gratitude to Ningguang for everything she had done for her, saying, "Thank you, Miss Ningguang, and thank you for the special meal you prepared for me. I'm very full."

Upon hearing the thanks, Ningguang replied, "Thank you for the compliment. Actually, these were all Ying's instructions. She specifically told me to take good care of you and help you recover as soon as possible."

"If you really want to express your gratitude, just go and thank Ying. I'm just doing what you asked."

In her view, she had simply completed what Ying had asked her to do, and it wasn't something she was particularly grateful for.

Skirk patted the spot next to her, her expression still blank, but her tone gentle as she invited, "Want to talk?"

Ningguang was slightly taken aback. Why did this taciturn Sikerk, who was just like Shen He in the past, suddenly want to chat with her?

“This week… I remember you’ve been quiet and reserved… how come you’ve become so talkative today?”

As Skykirk gazed at the darkening night sky outside the window, the clouds that had hung over her head dissipated, and she naturally became more willing to talk and began to try to communicate with the people around her.

In the end, Ningguang did not refuse the sudden invitation. She smiled and replied, "I would be honored to accept your invitation," and sat down on the sofa next to Skykirk.

"So what would you like to talk about? The local customs and culture of Nata, or interesting stories from the ranch?"

She had expected Skykirk to talk about lighthearted topics, but to her surprise, Skykirk said something astonishing: "I want to talk about you."

"Me?" Ningguang pointed to herself instinctively, asking in confusion, "Why are you talking about me?"

Skork did not shy away from the topic, quoting a line of poetry she had learned from Liyue.

"A golden carp is no ordinary fish; it will transform into a dragon once it encounters wind and clouds. Miss Ningguang, I know something about your life."

She paused, looking at the complex emotions gradually emerging in Ningguang's eyes, and continued, "I've heard about what's been happening in Liyue lately. You left Liyue and came to this ranch to make a living."

"You are now like a tiger fallen into the plains, bullied by dogs; a phoenix that has fallen from its pedestal is no better than a chicken."

Ningguang listened to Silky's candid recounting of her past, lowered her beautiful eyes, revealed a slightly forced, indifferent smile, and gently changed the subject.

"Stop talking about it, it's all in the past, there's no point in bringing it up again."

Silky stared intently into Ningguang's eyes and asked:

"Are you really willing to accept this? Before, you were a member of the Liyue Seven Stars who were served by others. You had servants following you wherever you went and your meals were taken care of by someone. But now, you have to serve others, massage my shoulders and prepare my meals."

“I can see the resentment in your eyes, that feeling of wanting to struggle but having to compromise, it doesn’t lie.”

These words pierced through Ningguang's feigned strength and touched upon the deepest secret she didn't want to face.

Ningguang's body froze instantly, and she subconsciously clenched her fist.

She was indeed unwilling. Who could willingly fall from the clouds into the mud, from being a revered star to becoming a "slave" at everyone's beck and call?

But what could she do even if she was unwilling? She was no longer the Ningguang who could command the winds and rains of Liyue. It was already a blessing that she could keep her life and live peacefully on the ranch.

Ningguang took a deep breath, forced herself to relax her fist, and explained with a forced smile:

"Haha, as you know, I'm not some pampered rich girl who grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I don't have that many spoiled tempers."

She paused, her gaze drifting towards the window.

"I still remember how I walked barefoot all the way from Yaoguang Beach to Liyue Harbor. Only I know how much hardship and suffering I endured along the way."

"Hehe, it sounds easy now, but back then, I'll never forget it."

Ningguang paused, not wanting to discuss the past any further. She smiled calmly, appearing much more at ease, and continued:

"If you think about it carefully, isn't it just about coming from somewhere and going back there? Money and status are indeed things you can never have, but they are ultimately external things. You can't take them with you when you die."

"I'm already very grateful that I'm still alive and don't have to live a life of constant displacement."

"Moreover, the people on the ranch treated me very well. The mistress didn't treat me like a slave, the master respected me, and Shenhe treated me like a sister."

Ningguang paused here, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes before she regained her composure.

"But I am clear about my identity. Now I am a 'slave' living under someone else's roof. I should correct my attitude, do what I should do, and not have too many unreasonable thoughts."

When Skykirk heard Ningguang say the word "slave," his eyebrows twitched slightly, and his eyes were full of curiosity.

"Slave" is someone who is deprived of freedom and driven by others, but Ningguang was clearly treated equally on the ranch, so why would she use this word to describe herself?

She subconsciously repeated, "Slave?"

Ningguang nodded slightly and explained further: "Rather than being a slave to others, I am a slave to power."

"Back then, when I was sitting on the Jade Capital Terrace, in charge of Liyue's trade, I chose another path to consolidate my power: to rely on Shao Yun's military might."

"This has indeed made my position more secure, but what doesn't belong to me will never be mine, and forcing it will only backfire."

"In the end, I was no longer the master of power, but its slave. Every word and action served power until I destroyed myself."

"Now that the word 'power' is gone, all I'm left with are the other two words, aren't I?"

"Although Mr. Shao Yun never treated me as a slave, I know in my heart that I need to know my place."

"That dependence on power and the fear of losing everything have long etched the mark of 'slave' into my heart, and I have never felt that I have truly gotten rid of it."

At this point, Ningguang stretched out her finger and gently tapped her chest: "It's in my heart, constantly reminding me of the choices I made and the price I had to pay."

Skirk listened quietly without interrupting until Ningguang finished speaking, at which point she slowly opened her mouth and asked a more pointed question:

"So that's how it is... Do you hate it?"

"Do you hate the past version of yourself who would stop at nothing for power? Do you hate the Jade Balance Star who poisoned you? And do you hate those immortals who betrayed you after you lost power?"

Ningguang paused slightly upon hearing the question, then lowered her head.

It would be a lie to say she didn't hate them. She hated her own foolishness, hated Yuheng Star's betrayal, and hated the indifference of those immortals even more.

What can be done about being hateful? She is no longer the powerful Tianquan Star who can manipulate events in Liyue. Now, she is nothing more than a dependent.

"I hate it... how can I not hate it? But the victor is king and the loser is villain, that's an eternal truth."

"I lost, so I have no right to talk about revenge. I have no resources, no ability, and no matter how much hatred I feel, I can't stir up any trouble."

She raised her head and spoke about the heroes and the current situation in her eyes.

"Times create heroes, and heroes can also create times. The two are interdependent and indispensable. Without the right circumstances to help me make a comeback, I would have long lost the ability to become a 'hero'."

"So the only thing I can do now is to do what I'm supposed to do, so that my master knows I'm still useful."

"Even if it's just taking care of the ranch's chores and preparing three meals a day, as long as I can prove my worth and not be kicked out like a useless dog, I'll be satisfied."

After listening, Skirk didn't say anything more, but slowly raised her head and looked at the ceiling of the living room.

Her eyes were somewhat vacant, as if she were looking through the two layers of wooden ceiling at the distant Teyvat starry sky. Her lips moved slightly, making a muttering sound that only she could hear.

"I once heard someone say that the starry sky of Teyvat... reflects the fate of every person."

"Why is your fate... influenced by the intertwined fates of that deer and wolf?"

……