Chapter 36. Cold Lotus Root Salad. Good tea, good lotus root, good scenery...
The newcomer was no nobody; he was Jing Yuan, one of the Seven Heavenly Generals of the Immortal Boat Alliance, the Divine Strategy General in charge of the Luofu Cloud Cavalry.
As the first character featured in the game's launch, he is undoubtedly a highly sought-after character in Honkai Impact 3rd. The development team put a lot of thought and effort into creating this character. Not only are the names of his Star Souls perfectly matched, but his character design is also rich in Taoist mythology and references.
Shen Mi once stumbled upon a video on a video website that showcased the production team's ingenuity in localizing foreign languages. It's well known that translating Chinese into English often results in semantic misalignment and a loss of rhythm, and Jing Yuan's Star Soul name was no exception. However, the production team cleverly restored the poetic beauty and parallelism inherent in Chinese in a different way—
All six star souls begin with the letter S, and their initials rhyme, creating a unified sense of phonetic beauty. This is the beauty of sound.
Each Star Soul name consists of three words, strictly following the grammatical structure of "verb-noun-past participle," which is aesthetically pleasing.
This presentation cannot be explained by coincidence alone, but rather by a well-thought-out aesthetic design.
In that instant, Shen Mi was so shocked that he was somewhat lost in thought. A virtual character was endowed with such rich cultural connotations and aesthetic embellishments, as if he was not born to "appear" but to "exist" for the sake of existence itself.
Now, seeing this character who should only exist in data and settings with her own eyes, Shen Mi suddenly felt an indescribable sense of disorientation. She had gazed at him in countless scenes and listened to his whispers in the character's voice, but she had never imagined that one day she would be face to face with him, looking into his eyes at such close range.
He was right in front of her, breathing clearly, calm, and even the glimmer in his eyes was no longer a special effect, but a real reflection of her presence.
"Yes, I am... I am Shen Mi."
She spoke haltingly, her voice so soft it was as if she were afraid of disturbing something. Surprise seemed to have choked her tongue, she forgot to organize her thoughts, and her voice floated in the air, without a foothold.
"Sorry I'm late. Are these your things?"
His tone was as gentle as ever, as if he could remain calm no matter the situation. After listening, Shen Mi slowly got up as if waking from a reverie, and turned her gaze to his hands.
She took the cloth bag, paused slightly, then opened the bag and took a look.
The imperial genealogy, the communicator, the stun gun—it's all there.
“It’s mine.” Shen Mi replied softly, as if responding to him, or as if confirming that she was right in front of him.
"It's good that there's no mistake." He opened the gate on the railing and said to Shen Mi, "It's getting late, let's go out and talk first."
He thoughtfully stood in front of the door, blocking it from closing for her.
Stepping onto the street and breathing in the fresh air, Shen Mi felt as if she had just woken up from a dream. Could the person Dan Heng had promised to pick her up be Jing Yuan?
Isn't her entourage a bit too much?
"Dan, Danheng..."
Shen Mi spoke up decisively, wanting to introduce herself, but Jing Yuan raised his hand to interrupt her.
"Danheng has already mentioned you to me. Let me introduce myself first. I am Jing Yuan, the 'Cloud Cavalry General.' Your travel permit was given to Danheng by me. Because it bears my personal seal, this is the first time my colleagues at the Star Chariot Sea Central Hub have encountered such a situation, and they initially thought it was a forgery. The misunderstandings are complicated, and I apologize to you on their behalf."
Jing Yuan's tone was gentle, and his gaze remained aloof, yet a seriousness that could not be ignored was revealed between the lines.
Shen Mi was stunned, never expecting that his acquisition of the pass was so directly related to Jing Yuan.
She was somewhat surprised, but quickly composed herself, waving her hands to try and hide her inner turmoil: "No, no, I can understand this situation."
To be honest, if we were to act according to the laws and regulations of the Immortal Ship, she would be the one truly in the wrong. She had only managed to enter Luofu by using Jing Yuan's name, relying on Dan Heng's favor and Jing Yuan's endorsement. The person involved had already apologized to her, so if she were to be petty, wouldn't she seem ungrateful?
"It's good that you understand," Jing Yuan said softly, a gentle sense of relief in his eyes. "It's getting late, you haven't eaten yet, have you? You've just arrived in Luofu, how about I take you to a famous restaurant to try some of the Immortal Boat's specialties?"
His words were calm and sincere, as if he were trying to put Shen Mi at ease. Shen Mi sensed his concern and was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected him to make such an invitation, and this unexpected suggestion, carrying a touch of warm care, made her unconsciously breathe a sigh of relief.
"Okay." She smiled slightly, the tension in her heart easing a little. "I'll do whatever you say."
It was completely dark, and there were not many people on the road. The few scattered lights were streetlights spaced about ten meters apart.
The wind rustled through the leaves, the sound like the invisible hands of a legion of monstrous creatures in the darkness dragging her toward the abyss.
Shen Mi fearfully moved closer to Jing Yuan.
He noticed, and a gentle voice sounded in her ear, "We'll be there soon."
Sure enough, with Jing Yuan by her side, she felt incredibly safe. However, Shen Mi still had some doubts. She reviewed the map but didn't see any restaurants that matched this route. Most of Luofu's shops were concentrated in the Changle Tian area, so why was Jing Yuan leading her down this secluded road?
Shen Mi frowned slightly, her gaze involuntarily falling on Jing Yuan's retreating figure. Though she harbored doubts, she quickly dismissed them. Since it was Dan Heng who had entrusted her with this task, and Jing Yuan was such a reliable person, there must be a reason why he led her down this path.
Thinking of this, my complicated mood eased considerably, my steps became lighter, and I felt a faint anticipation for the delicious food I was about to taste.
Sure enough, after turning a corner at the alley, the two of them arrived at Chang Le Tian.
In stark contrast to the quiet and desolate environment just moments before, Chang Le Tian was bustling with activity, as if it had been set ablaze with lights overnight.
The streets were wide and smooth, lined with shops on both sides, with vermilion lanterns hanging high in front of the shops, their lights casting a warm golden glow over the entire street. The area was bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, so crowded that it was impossible to move, and even the air was filled with the lively atmosphere of a bustling community.
The cries of vendors rose and fell in waves:
"The finest Lanzhou snow carp, freshly roasted and sold on the spot—you haven't truly experienced Changletian if you don't try a bite!"
"Come and see! The newly arrived Radiant Sword is incredibly sharp and can cut through iron like mud. Don't miss it!"
"The Immortal Ship Classics are handwritten, with absolutely no mixed printing! Only three copies are available today, first come, first served!"
The stalls lined up in a row, displaying a dazzling array of goods. The aroma of candied hawthorn skewers, crispy golden-brown fried fish cakes, steaming hot soup dumplings, and skewers of grilled chicken wings coated in chili sauce were incredibly tempting under the firelight. On another stall, swords, jade pendants, scrolls, and spirit stones were arranged in a glittering display, attracting even Chen Mi's attention.
Vendors waved gongs and called out their wares, children laughed and chased each other, and acrobats performed magic tricks, drawing gasps of amazement from the crowd. The entire Changletian seemed to have become a city that never sleeps, condensing all the hustle and bustle of the world into this brightly lit area.
Shen Mi was so engrossed in watching that she felt completely enveloped by the vibrant life force, and unconsciously stopped in her tracks. Compared to the suffocating and oppressive environment on the desolate planet, she felt as if she had been suddenly released back into the human world, and had rediscovered real and vibrant life.
"Oh my god..." she murmured, a slow smile spreading across her face, "So this is Chang Le Tian."
Jing Yuan didn't speak, but glanced at her with a slightly softened look, and led her to the small building on the second floor—Ruomu Pavilion.
He skillfully led Shen Mi to a table in the northwest corner of Ruomu Pavilion and said to Shen Mi with relief, "This is the best viewing spot in Changletian. We are really lucky today; it hasn't been taken yet."
"Yeah."
Hearing Jing Yuan say this, Shen Mi also became a little excited.
Jingyuan beckoned to the waiter and said to him, "Hello, bring this table a pot of the finest Huqian Longjing tea and a plate of crispy lotus root."
As soon as she finished speaking, she patted her head in self-reproach, "I'm used to ordering things by myself, I forgot to ask if you eat lotus root?"
"Yes." Shen Mi's eyes sparkled. Afraid that the other person wouldn't believe her, she emphasized her words again, "Yes, I especially like eating lotus root."
"Hahaha." Jing Yuan laughed three times. "You have good taste. This restaurant's cold lotus root salad has been ranked among the top dishes on Changletian's food list for years. You'll see soon enough."
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
The waiter handed over two pairs of chopsticks, and Jing Yuan pushed the crispy lotus root towards Chen Mi.
You eat first.
"Um!"
Shen Mi couldn't wait to pick up a piece. The crisp "crunch" sound came almost as soon as she bit into it. The chilled lotus root slice had an extremely crisp texture. It was so thin that it could almost melt on the tip of the tongue, yet it had an undeniable chewiness.
Jing Yuan slowly poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of her, then began to speak with great interest.
"Cold lotus root salad may seem ordinary, but its quality can be discerned with just one bite. The lotus root slices must be made from tender nine-hole lotus roots, cut to an even thickness, and soaked in ice water to maintain their translucent and crisp texture. The seasoning is all about balance—aged vinegar adds acidity, white sugar balances it, minced garlic enhances the aroma, chili adds flavor, and a sprinkle of sesame oil and chopped green onions completes this refreshing and palate-cleansing dish."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, as if he were describing a path of cultivation. Shen Mi listened in a daze, then lowered his head and took another bite of the lotus root, suddenly feeling... that it really did taste a little better.
"I didn't expect you to know this." She couldn't help but mutter to herself, as if she had found an unexpected treasure. Her eyes were filled with surprise and joy, as if this bowl of cold lotus root salad not only satisfied her taste buds but also unlocked a side of Jing Yuan that had never been mentioned before.
Seeing her enjoying her food, Jingyuan smiled, as if afraid someone would snatch it away. He quickly grabbed a piece, chewed it with relish, and even squinted his eyes, like a kitten that had just gotten its favorite snack.
Seeing Jingyuan eating with relish, Shen Mi said nothing, only glancing down at the chopsticks in her hand before gently and quietly placing them back on the edge of the bowl.
She moved very quietly, as if afraid of being noticed by him. After putting down her chopsticks, she quickly withdrew her hand, picked up the cup of tea he had poured for her, and turned her head away as if nothing had happened.
Good lotus root, good tea, beautiful scenery—
Luofu is a treasure trove!
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Author's note: Sister, you're just too trusting. Being busy is just Jingyuan's excuse. He deliberately took you down that path to test your abilities. He was afraid that Danheng would be deceived by bad people.
Sister: I'm not a bad person, I'm just a thief.
[doge emoji][doge emoji][doge emoji][doge emoji]
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