Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Albedo’s worries were something Ryen didn’t really know about.

After returning to his little courtyard, he told Ganyu to rest for the night. It wasn’t as if he was hiding anything from her.

He carried Klee and Nahida into the next room—both little ones were already so sleepy they could barely keep their eyes open. With just a bit of coaxing, they quickly drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

After quietly closing the door, Ryen said a few words to Ganyu. Though she showed a touch of grievance, she didn’t really mind.

After all, she was Ryen’s very first girlfriend—she naturally had the privileges of the ”main house.”

Lisa’s place was at the foot of Mt. Tianheng, not far from Ryen’s courtyard.

Jean’s room, on the other hand, had already gone dark. Today had indeed been exhausting—fighting nagas, exploring the Twilight Forest… It was no wonder Jean was drained. The naga’s terrifying face had startled her earlier, and her mood hadn’t quite recovered.

But Lisa’s room still glowed with lamplight.

Ryen raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

”Come in.”

Lisa’s lazy voice answered, and Ryen walked inside without hesitation.

The room wasn’t large, lit only by a single torch, giving it a dim and hazy atmosphere.

Lisa half-reclined against the bedframe, a book in her hands. She wore a thin blanket draped over her shoulders, and beneath it, a set of luxurious dark-purple sleepwear. Even lying there so casually, she carried an elegance that seemed effortless.

She lifted her gaze slightly, eyes tinged with a soft smile as she looked at Ryen.

”All settled with your lady?”

Ryen rolled his eyes and, without being polite, sat straight down at the edge of her bed.

”You make it sound like I’m sneaking around… I openly told Ganyu before coming here.”

Lisa pursed her lips with a teasing smile.

”You really are honest about things like this…”

”Is there any need to hide it?”

Ryen shrugged, slipping off his shoes before moving closer and gently wrapping his arms around her.

Though Lisa often carried herself like a bewitching enchantress, deep down she was surprisingly innocent.

The moment he embraced her, she shivered slightly, her heartbeat quickening.

Ryen of course noticed, secretly amused, and whispered:

”What are you reading?”

Lisa raised the book in her hand.

”The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies.”

Ryen blinked, baffled.

”What kind of strange title is that?”

As they chatted idly, Lisa relaxed as well, no longer leaning against the hard headboard. Instead, she shifted into Ryen’s arms, finding a comfortable spot to rest.

Wrapped in warmth, she felt a gentle aura of reassurance surround her.

Only now did Lisa truly understand why a woman as powerful and headstrong as Ningguang could still lose herself in love.

No matter how strong you were, having someone to lean on was a blessing. At the quiet hour of midnight, whispering softly with someone close… that too was a kind of happiness.

”Little cutie came with me once to retrieve some borrowed books, but this one was stolen and hidden away by an Abyss Mage.”

”When I found it, the Abyss Mage muttered, ’So, you’ve discovered the secret of this book too?’”

”At the time, I suspected the book had something to do with the Abyss—or perhaps with Khaenri’ah’s secrets.”

”But later, I couldn’t be bothered, so I put it under a long-term loan and just gave it to little cutie.”

”Today, when we ran into people from the Abyss Order, I thought maybe it was time to check what secrets this book really holds. So, I borrowed it back from her.”

Ryen raised his brows, gently caressing Lisa’s back as he asked softly:

”So, have you found anything?”

Lisa shook her head with a helpless smile.

”I’ve already read it twice before you came. It’s just a bunch of old-fashioned fairy tales. Even Klee probably wouldn’t sit through it.”

Ryen chuckled silently.

”In the world I came from, there was a fairy tale just like that—called Snow White.”

At that, Lisa’s interest was piqued, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

”So, before you get down to ’business’ with me, you’re going to tell me a story first? Is this story actually proper?”

Ryen rolled his eyes.

”I’m being serious! What if it gives you some kind of inspiration?”

”Besides, when I want to get down to business, I don’t need any lead-in—you’ve already walked right into my arms. This is no time to worry about saving face.”

With practiced skill, Ryen mastered the art of breaking down defenses in an instant.

He had mastered the future itself.

”Well? Am I amazing or what!”

Ryen looked at Lisa with a hint of pride.

She flushed a deep red, her face glowing in the dim firelight, making her even more alluring.

”Is that really something to boast about? If you use the tricks you honed with Ganyu and the others on me, I’ll only feel annoyed, you know.”

Ryen gave a sheepish laugh, brushing past the topic.

”So, do you still want to hear the story?”

”Why wouldn’t I?”

Lisa blinked playfully and teased:

”Isn’t this a warm little moment between lovers? By the way… am I your girlfriend?”

Ryen kissed her lightly and whispered:

”Once upon a time, there was a kingdom. And in that kingdom lived a princess, her skin as fair as snow. The people called her Snow White…”

The fairy tale of Snow White was one that Klee and Nahida had already heard many times.

But they still loved it.

Just earlier, when Ryen coaxed them to sleep, this was the story he had told.

Ryen spoke with seriousness, and Lisa listened with equal seriousness.

To her, it was just a clichéd tale of a prince rescuing a princess—but it mattered who told it.

If anyone else told the story, Lisa would scoff.

But if Ryen told it, Lisa could never grow tired of listening.

And in that moment, Lisa understood completely.

She truly had fallen for Ryen.

And she didn’t reject that feeling.

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

Patreon Advance Chapters:

[email protected] / Dreamer20