Under Ganyu's careful guidance, Ye Xi successfully cultivated a massive vegetable garden.
Moreover, following Ganyu's advice, the garden was not a mixed planting, but instead arranged in a very orderly and scientific manner.
Each type of crop had its own fixed section, complementing one another.
After sowing the seeds, Ye Xi directly used Dendro Elemental Power, blanketing the entire garden with it.
In an instant, those little seeds all sprouted.
Once the garden was taken care of, the portal connecting to Sumeru lit up.
Two figures, one large and one small, slowly walked out—none other than Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and Nahida.
Except, in Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's arms, she was also carrying a thoroughly exhausted Lumine.
On Nahida's shoulder perched a cat, and in her arms she held Paimon.
Seeing this situation, Ye Xi was quite puzzled.
"What happened here?"
"Mmm..."
Nahida shook her head and guessed, "They must have just come back from the desert."
"When we got back, we saw them collapsed at the entrance of the Sanctuary of Surasthana."
At this moment, Paimon weakly said, "Water..."
Hearing this, Ye Xi took out a water flask from his portable space.
Seeing Lumine in such a state, quite a few of the girls hurried over to look after her.
After drinking some water, Lumine felt as if she'd been reborn.
Gulp—gulp—
She downed several whole flasks before finally letting out a long sigh of relief.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "Why is the desert so big——!"
"Going to activate the Anchor points nearly worked me to death!"
Beside her, Paimon also crossed her arms and chimed in with a complaint, "Not only is it huge, but the underground space is enormous too!"
"Ruins everywhere! Paimon got all dizzy and turned around!"
Hearing the two of them, Dehya burst into a fit of belly laughter, "Hahaha, anyone going to the desert for the first time really does end up like this."
"Whose fault is it for not bringing along a guide?"
Nahida and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata nodded in agreement as well.
"The desert was once under the Red King's rule. In the early years, he let humanity govern itself, which led to many civilizations emerging in the desert."
"After those humans established their regimes of power, they all went astray and began fervently worshipping the Red King."
"As a result, they exhausted the people and drained their resources, building countless tombs and palaces."
"That is why the desert's underground is so intricate and convoluted."
Lumine sighed, "The worst part is, those Anchor points are both above and below ground. I kept going up and then down, up and then down—my legs are about to give out!"
"And today I only managed to open a few teleport points!"
"Dehya, please, I'm begging you to help me! Be my guide!"
"This Paimon fellow is utterly useless!"
"Ehh!?"
Paimon stamped her foot in midair in anger, "Traveler, you! You're terrible!"
"Paimon's mad now! Paimon's ignoring you!"
"Hmph!"
With that, Paimon crossed her arms, looking thoroughly sulky!
Lumine quickly gave a giggly smile and coaxed her, "I was just saying that. Paimon, my forever companion!"
"Th-that's more like it!"
Paimon let out a soft little snort, then flew over in front of Xiangling and asked, "Xiangling, did you make anything yummy~?! I'm so hungry!"
"Ehh!? Oh no!"
"It's going to burn!"
Only then did Xiangling remember that there were still several dishes cooking in the kitchen!
Just now, she had spotted Lumine through the window, which was why everyone had come rushing out in worry!
She hurriedly dashed back into the kitchen.
Meanwhile.
Lumine pleaded with Dehya to help her.
Dehya scratched her head and said, "I'd better not go. Honestly, there are plenty of places in the desert I haven't been to either."
"But I can recommend a great candidate for you!"
"You can go to Aaru Village and ask Candace for help!"
"She knows the desert like the back of her hand!"
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in such a long time."
Reminded by Dehya, Ye Xi suddenly recalled something.
Why not open a door over at Aaru Village too, to make it convenient for Dehya to go see Candace.
Candace had even taken part in the plan to resist the Great Sage before—she couldn't be forgotten; she was a person of merit!
Thinking of this, he took out a Teleport Crystal and handed it to Lumine, instructing her, "If you go to Aaru Village, open a door over there. You can ask Candace about it—best to set it up somewhere discreet."
"Ehh!?"
Dehya's eyes instantly lit up.
Of course she understood—Ye Xi must have heard what she'd just said, and that was why he'd decided to do this!
It moved her deeply.
After all, she and Candace were very close friends.
Back when she was a mercenary, every time she was in the desert, she would stay over at Candace's place!
In her free time, she would also take Candace out to wander around, buying clothes, jewelry, and the like.
But ever since she'd followed Ye Xi, she no longer went to the desert very often.
If Candace could settle down in Sumeru City, then naturally they could see each other whenever they wished.
The problem was, Candace was the guardian of Aaru Village and couldn't leave the village for too long.
Unless, of course, they waited until the Train was officially up and running.
Now that Ye Xi was saying he'd open a door in Aaru Village, it would be all too easy for her to meet with Candace!
Thinking of this, Dehya couldn't help but throw her arms around Ye Xi and fiercely bite him on the cheek.
"Master, you're so wonderful~!"
Ye Xi said with a smile, "It's not just to make it convenient for you and Candace to meet—it's also convenient for this little one."
As he spoke, he ruffled Lumine's little head.
With the portal, no matter where Lumine was in the desert, she could teleport straight to Aaru Village to get Candace's help.
And she could just head right back home from there too.
"By the way, you can also invite Candace over as a guest."
Hearing this, Dehya instantly caught on.
If she couldn't pick up on the meaning at this point, then she'd been lying at Ye Xi's pillow side all this time for nothing.
This was clearly his way of wanting to bring Candace home too!
Honestly, the fact that Ye Xi was willing to accept Candace made her genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart!
Of course, it wasn't that Candace was unattractive.
Her heterochromatic eyes were quite distinctive, her features were not bad at all, and she had a great figure too.
She had only been worried that Ye Xi might look down on someone who worshipped the Red King—after all, Candace was a descendant of the Red King.
Now that Ye Xi was willing to accept Candace, nothing could be better!
Once she became family, everyone could be together every single day!
The moment she thought of this, Dehya patted her chest and guaranteed, "Don't you worry, Master~ I promise I'll get her for you!"
"Three days! All I need is three days!"
"I'll definitely have her go wait in your room on her own accord!"
Ye Xi: ???
Beside them, Dunyarzad blushed furiously and hurriedly reached out to tug at the hem of Dehya's clothes, saying in a low voice, "Dehya, what nonsense are you spouting!"
In truth, Ye Xi really hadn't meant anything else by it.
He just felt that conditions in the desert were so harsh, and since Candace was a person of merit, she naturally couldn't be treated unfairly.
Having Candace come over as a guest would not only let her soak in the baths every day, but also make it convenient for her to go straight to Sumeru City to shop with Dehya.
It was just that—
Since Dehya had put it that way, well, that wasn't out of the question either.
Candace was indeed a beauty—the kind of desert girl who was remarkably nimble and vigorous—with a steady character, and very protective of her own.
Having one more person like that in the household would be a good thing too.
So he nodded, "Dehya, don't force her into it."
"Don't worry, Master~ Leave it all to me!"
Dehya laughed heartily.
Force her?
Was that a joke?
As if any coercion was needed?
She only had to mention a few things about Ye Xi, and there was no fear Candace wouldn't fall for him!
Candace needed to protect Aaru Village, so she was deeply hungry for strength.
Just lay it out plainly that Ye Xi could grant her an additional Eye of God, along with the Adepti Breathing Method and all sorts of powerful swordsmanship.
Candace would no doubt be itching to scrub herself squeaky clean and get ready!
....
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