Looking at the matching backs of the Salt King and the Salt God walking away hand in hand, Ping'er touched her tender little face and sighed.
Forget it, it’s all fate. There’s no need to be jealous. You can only be happy for the end.
Then again, after all, I'm alone at home now, right?
Well, it’s decided. Let’s take Liuyun Jiefeng with us to go see our best friend so that she won’t feel lonely at home.
Chapter 153 Heulia's Guilt
In the afternoon, the bright and warm sunshine shines on the bustling ancient port city.
In the commercial street, Maria was walking among the crowd.
With a tall figure, flawless face, and an exotic black windbreaker swaying gently in the wind, she looks elegant and graceful. The most eye-catching thing is her eyes as deep as the sea, as if they can see into the deepest part of people's hearts, and the nobleness that she exudes inadvertently when she walks, mysterious and elegant.
In Liyue, or anywhere else, people like this are bound to attract a lot of attention.
The gentle gray-haired girl who was held by her hand and protected by her side added a touch of tenderness to the elegance.
"Helia, Helia?"
"Ah! King, I, I'm here."
"What's wrong with you?"
"No, it just felt like everyone was looking at us."
Heulia leaned close to Maria and bowed her head weakly.
When she was in the Salt City, she was surrounded by her people and was used to being the center of attention. It was no different from being with Maria.
But in Liyue Harbor, where there are only strangers with no connection to each other, that’s another matter.
Maria smiled helplessly. On the one hand, she found it funny that a demon god could not adapt to the gazes of the crowd, and on the other hand, she felt helpless about the attraction of her own clone. This was due to the excellent modeling and the transcendent demeanor accumulated over seven hundred years. It was difficult to conceal it without illusion.
Maria could only silently hold Heulia's hand tightly, then look up at the store in front of her.
"arrive."
"what?"
Heulia looked up in confusion, but saw that the shop was clean and tidy, with people coming and going. In the shop were jars of pure white salt.
Heulia was stunned for a moment, then looked at Maria with her heart beating faster.
Maria did not explain, but reached out and gently touched a jar of salt crystals, then put her index finger dipped in salt grains to Heulia's mouth.
"I know this is what you care about most, and so do I. Let's give it a try."
"Yes, my king."
Heulia's eyes sparkled as she gently put Maria's index finger into her mouth and savored it carefully.
After a moment, she seemed relieved and moved, and said softly:
"Almost no bitterness, very pure quality. Not as good as mine... but it's a very good salt."
"Is that so? It seems they are doing a really good job."
Maria also smiled with relief.
At the reunion banquet just after waking up, Heulia asked the fairies about the fate of the Salt People.
According to the immortals, after they came to Liyue, they took over the salt production and management business here, which is now the Silver Hall in the Seven Stars and Eight Gates.
At first, they used the salt pans and salt rulers left by Heulia to make salt to meet the needs of Liyue. Later, they worked hard to explore the process of purifying mineral salt and making salt from seawater. After hundreds of years and several generations, they successfully met the demand for salt production with human power.
Then, the salt people built large ships and crossed the sea water that covered Ogihua Province and the salt of the earth at that time, and delivered the salt pan and salt ruler to the salt city of that time.
When asked why they did so, the Salt People said that it was the sacred artifact of the Salt King and Salt God, and should be placed on either side of their statues to be worshipped by the Salt People. It should not be wasted in the distant Liyue Harbor until its power was exhausted, which would be disrespectful to the Salt God and the Salt King.
The salt people have spent the efforts of several generations just to return the artifact.
"Thank you, King."
"We've known each other for so many years, why are you still being so distant?"
"I'm not saying bring me here, I'm saying thank you king for caring about me and the salt people."
"Ok?"
Maria was confused.
Heulia simply held Maria's hand and carefully wiped her fingers that were stained with salt and saliva, with a gentle and soft smile on her face.
Heulia knew very well that if her people had only followed her from beginning to end, they would never have such ambition.
Only when there is security can there be development. Only when there is prosperity can one cultivate a proud and unyielding spirit.
It was the King who protected the Salt City and brought it safety and prosperity, so the Salt People who came to Liyue could always remember their pride and finally perform such a great feat. And these, Heulia herself would never be able to do.
"Wang, I'm sorry."
"Huh? What are you thinking about again?"
Maria felt a little headache and pinched Heulia's cheek. She didn't understand why she seemed to be in a bad mood when she came here to make her happy and relieved.
Heulia forgot that she was in the crowd and put her arms around Maria's waist and pressed against her chest.
"It was me and everyone else who dragged the king down. I have always thought that if I hadn't held the king back then, you would have gone with Sister Guizhong. If it were just the two of you, it would be a strong alliance, and the king wouldn't have to run around in two places, and he wouldn't have to keep paying for us who are powerless. In that way, the king would definitely be able to go further, and if he was with Sister Guizhong, it would be completely possible for him to compete with Morax for that position, instead of..."
Heulia sniffed.
At that time, when the Salt City was in danger, she was of course happy to see Maria flying over to rescue.
But after being happy, I saw those unknown lines on Wang's face again.
Heulia realized then that she and Yancheng were once again dragging the king down.
So before falling asleep and after waking up, Heulia often thought, if it weren't for her and the City of Salt, such a disaster would not be a danger at all to the powerful and gentle king, right?
It was her incompetence that caused Wang to die of exhaustion.
It has always been like this, the king is fighting, the king is working hard to protect everything, and she, the god, can't help at all.
Heulia held Maria in her arms and felt extremely guilty and regretful towards her king.
Maria touched the little head curled up in her arms, and from Heulia's emotions and her understanding of her soft and inferior character, she gradually understood what she was thinking.
Maria pinched Heulia's cheek and said helplessly:
"You should learn more from Guizhong. Think less about the messy things and eat more delicious food, okay?"
"King, I want to learn mechanisms and magic from Sister Guizhong."
"You can just tell her about this. Her skills are indeed very high, but I don't know her teaching level."
"It's okay, I'll just try my best. I may never learn how to fight, and I won't be able to fight alongside the king, but I will help in other ways."
Heulia knew that Maria didn't want to see her complaining about herself, and that it was meaningless. Instead of making the king worry, she should work hard.
"I am looking forward."
Maria smiled encouragingly. She didn't expect Heulia to become powerful, that didn't matter. She just hoped that Heulia would find her own value as soon as possible, and she would feel at ease.
Chapter 154: Walnut's smile gradually disappears
Just as Maria and Heulia were snuggling together tenderly, a snow-white little hand with black nails reached out.
"Two beautiful couples in love, Wangsheng Hall is having a big event, couples can enjoy half price, let's find out~~"
The 77th head of the Wangsheng Hall is called Hutao if not Qiqi.
Hu is the Hu who does evil things, and tao is the tao with a human face and peach blossom.
She has sparkling plum blossom eyes, reddish-brown ponytails, and a mischievous and happy smile on her snow-white face.
She loves strange and new things, and beautiful foreigners naturally interest her. At the same time, it is also the best way to promote her own business.
Well, promoting the business of Wangshengtang to a good-looking foreign couple was definitely a great opportunity that was worth all that Walnut had been looking for.
Maria looked at a leaflet promoting the campaign and asked:
"What event, what are you selling?"
"That makes sense. Let me introduce you to the Wangsheng Hall, the oldest funeral institution in Liyue. It specializes in afterlife affairs and will ensure that you have a safe and comfortable afterlife. We guarantee professionalism and honesty. You can trust us. What are you still hesitating about?"
"It's a funeral... If couples get half price, how about three people? Also, how long can the order be kept? Oh, Zhong Li invited us to come over for tea. Since Master Hu is here, can you please show us the way? Thank you."
"What? What the hell? Are you friends of Zhong Likeqing?"
This very good-looking guest held the beauty in one hand and looked at the flyer in the other. Nutcracker frowned, and his smile gradually disappeared, feeling that the situation was a little unexpected.
……
Finally, the guests were taken to the Hall of Rebirth.
In addition to being passionate about sales, Walnut is essentially a polite and good girl who is good at guiding customers.
"I was wondering why Guest Zhong Li was so kind today and didn't go out to spend a lot of money. It turns out he had a guest."
"Master Hu, please forgive me."
"Forgive me! Of course I forgive you! I didn't expect that Guest Zhong Li finally got into the state gradually. He did a good job. Keep it up. Two guests, come on, listen to me introduce our business in detail. Guest Zhong Li, don't just stand there, hurry up and make tea for our distinguished guests."
"..."
Zhong Li didn't know what had happened, why Hall Master Hu, who was always complaining, started praising him.
But seeing that Walnut looked very interested and Maria also looked like she wanted to listen, she could only silently pour tea for everyone.
"Ah! No, don't bother you, I'll do it!"
As expected, Heulia did not dare to answer.
So it was Zhong Li who sat down, and Heulia poured tea for the three of them.
Walnut narrowed his eyes, moved closer to Maria, and asked in a low voice:
"My dear guest, why do I feel that Sister Helia seems to be a little afraid of the guest Zhong Li?"
"Well, it's probably because Zhong Li was more murderous when he was young, and his power was so great that it frightened everyone."
"Oh? Is Zhong Li still as young and energetic as before? Please tell me in detail!"
"Cough cough!"
Zhong Li had to interrupt.
I asked the Salt King to help me discipline Master Hu, not to expose my identity.
Walnut and Maria looked at Zhong Li at the same time.
Kurumi then blinked nonchalantly and asked:
"Go on, what did Zhong Li Keqing do when he was young?"
"I won't mention the bloody ones. The more peaceful ones, for example, tearing anyone who provokes their family or passes by their family into dozens of pieces, or simply crushing them under a huge rock to serve as a warning to others."
"Wow! Exciting!"
Walnut clapped happily.
You can tell at a glance that she didn't really believe it, she was just amused and her eyes were full of smiles.
Zhong Li stared blankly, and gradually realized it - it had begun! The Salt King's unique seriousness, which inexplicably made Gui Zhong calm down, began again.
Walnut then asked with a smile:
"Then why aren't you afraid of the guest Zhong Li?"
"Because I was probably a little more murderous than him at that time."
Maria had a serious expression as if she was reminiscing about the past, her eyes were firm and gentle, as if she was revealing her persistence in fighting and her respect for life. Honestly, it was very charming.
Anyway, recalling Heulia back then, her eyes were dazed.
Walnut was also dazzled for a moment, then smiled and praised:
"Wow! The guest is mighty, the guest is domineering!"
"I'm still not as good as Zhong Li. It's better to say that none of us can compare to him. Now that time has passed and circumstances have changed, looking back, I still have to say that the only heroes in the world are me and Zhong Li, and it should be made clear."
Maria raised her glass and left.
