"That outsider…"
"What… what did he just do?!"
Ororon seemed to sense something—and was utterly shocked.
His perception was sharper than most.
He could feel that Natlan's ley lines had been somewhat unstable.
But after that faint hum just now—
They had actually stabilized… even if only slightly.
His understanding of the world—
Was completely shaken.
Someone capable of this…
Had likely already noticed him long ago.
Should I… go out and meet him?
Ororon hesitated.
Struggling internally.
"…No matter what…"
"He's helping Natlan."
"I have to meet him."
After a long moment—
He clenched his fist.
And stepped out from behind the rock.
But the moment he emerged—
Qiu Nian was already far away.
His figure had disappeared entirely.
"…Did I think too long?"
Ororon immediately broke into a run—
Chasing in the direction Qiu Nian had gone.
Under the night sky—
He ran across the land.
After some time—
He finally spotted him again.
Standing atop a long canyon.
Qiu Nian stood with his hands behind his back—
Looking down at the brightly lit Smokeveil Tribe below.
The tribe wasn't large—
Only spanning a few dozen square kilometers.
But at night—
Its unique terrain and architecture—
Made for a mesmerizing sight.
And that—
Was enough to make Qiu Nian pause.
"…What is he trying to do?"
"Why did he come here?"
Ororon hid behind a tree—
Watching him carefully.
After stabilizing Natlan's ley lines—
This outsider came to the Smokeveil Tribe.
Was he planning something?
…No.
If he truly meant harm—
Why would he stabilize the ley lines first?
I can't wait any longer…
No matter what, I need answers.
With that resolve—
Ororon stepped out.
Walking straight toward Qiu Nian.
He stopped behind him—
And simply stood there.
Watching.
Without speaking.
Meanwhile—
Qiu Nian continued gazing at the scenery below.
As if completely unaware of the person behind him.
Ororon hesitated.
Unsure how to begin.
He had assumed—
That this man would notice him.
That they would start a conversation naturally.
He hadn't expected—
Things to turn out like this.
"This person…"
"He stood still for hours earlier…"
"Was he observing Natlan's ley lines?"
"Was his mind so focused that he didn't move at all?"
"And now…"
"Is he observing the Smokeveil Tribe?"
"But it's part of Natlan…"
"And he already stabilized the ley lines…"
"Which means the tribe should already be affected…"
"Then why observe it further?"
"…I shouldn't disturb him."
"If there's a problem here…"
"He might be able to solve it."
And so—
Ororon simply stood there.
For half an hour.
During that entire time—
Qiu Nian didn't move at all.
Only quietly watched the scenery.
"Ororon? What are you doing here?"
A voice suddenly broke the silence.
Ororon snapped out of his thoughts.
And turned around.
"Grandpa Kunor."
He greeted politely.
The old man held several freshly made meat flatbreads.
"Enjoying the view, huh?"
"Haha, it's a great spot. You can see the whole tribe."
"I just made these—have you eaten yet?"
"If not, take some."
He handed Ororon two flatbreads—
Smiling warmly.
"That over there your friend?"
"Looks like he's from Liyue."
"Didn't expect you to have friends from there."
He handed over two more.
"Share these with him."
"I won't disturb you two."
With that—
He left.
"Grandpa, I—"
Ororon watched him go.
Wanting to say something—
But stopping himself.
He looked down at the four flatbreads in his hands.
Still warm.
Fragrant.
They look delicious…
My stomach would be very happy to eat them.
Shaking off his wandering thoughts—
He looked back at Qiu Nian.
"My brain says I'm not hungry…"
"But my stomach is."
"…Would his stomach be hungry too?"
He stared at Qiu Nian—
Still silently observing the tribe.
"But his mind is highly focused."
"And when the mind is highly focused…"
"The brain won't be happy."
"But the brain needs the stomach for energy…"
"And we haven't eaten all day…"
"So both our stomachs should be hungry."
He tightened his grip on the flatbreads.
"I can't let his brain stay unhappy…"
With that—
He walked up beside Qiu Nian.
"I have some flatbread."
"Do you want some?"
"I know you're focusing…"
"But if you don't eat…"
"Your stomach will be hungry."
"And your brain won't be happy."
He held out two flatbreads.
"…Highly focused?"
Qiu Nian looked at him—
Clearly confused.
When was I focusing?
I was just looking at the scenery.
Why would that require concentration?
And more importantly—
He couldn't quite follow what this young man was saying.
What does it mean…
'The stomach gets hungry, and the brain gets unhappy'?
…Ororon, was it?
Of course—
Qiu Nian had already noticed him earlier.
But he hadn't paid any attention.
After all—
He was just here to enjoy the view.
Stabilizing Natlan's ley lines—
Was merely something he did in passing.
"I can sense things more clearly than most."
"I felt the ley lines stabilize after that hum."
"You stood on that cliff for hours…"
"So I assumed you were observing them."
Ororon nodded seriously.
"…Observing Natlan's ley lines?"
Qiu Nian chuckled softly.
"In a way… you're not wrong."
"Only when the stomach isn't hungry…"
"Can the brain be happy."
"And when the brain is happy…"
"The mind can focus better."
Ororon raised the flatbreads slightly higher.
Offering them again.
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