Genshin Impact Simulation: Starting with Melsin's Friend

Chapter 171 I love you, but... I'm sorry

"Mr. Mu Feng, due to the large number of mercenaries staying in Aru Village recently, there are currently some vacant houses in the village. I am glad to see that you have returned alone this time."

The girl with heterochromatic eyes (gold and blue) put down the training gun in her hand, her pupils curving slightly as she greeted him playfully.

Mu Feng's face darkened. This was slander, blatant slander. He, Mu Feng, could swear to Feng Shen Baba Tuosi that his two previous encounters with Tianmei and Dixia were purely accidental.

As the saying goes, things shouldn't happen more than three times; doing it again would be impolite.

After all, if Nilu, the little dancer in Sumeru City, knew that he had gone to the desert on official business and brought back several girls, he would probably have to sleep with Swan when he got back that night.

Thinking of this, a chill ran down someone's spine, as if they could already feel the phantom pain of the little girl's hand pinching their waist.

There's no place for you in this house today.

However, it has been some time since he left Sumeru City, and now that the desert mission is nearing its end, it is time for him to go back.

I wonder if things are going well on Naxida's side.

Mu Feng turned his gaze toward Huan Nalan. He didn't really have a clear answer in his heart about the extent to which the Tree of Awakening had corrupted him, or whether Naxi Da could still suppress the forbidden knowledge.

Dealing with the issue of taboo knowledge is urgent, but before that, there are a few last things to prepare.

"Hello, I'm Dixia."

In the instant Mu Feng was distracted, the wheat-skinned girl stood in front of him, her large, bright blue eyes blinking as she generously extended her hand to him.

"Thank you so much for your help in my time of crisis. I, Dixia, will remember this life-saving grace!"

"However... I don't seem to have anything I can do to repay you for the time being..."

At this point, Dixia's voice suddenly softened a little. She touched her head shyly, and her expression showed a slight embarrassment.

She left in a hurry after a big argument with her father, and partly out of spite, she took almost nothing with her except a few changes of clothes.

However, the girl seemed to suddenly remember something, excitedly raised her face, and proudly pointed to the tavern in Aru Village.

"Oh, right! According to our mercenary rules, we should treat you to a drink right now... Ouch!"

Before she could finish speaking, a sharp rap on the forehead struck her unexpectedly.

"Candice, what are you doing!"

The girl standing to the side withdrew her hand expressionlessly and coldly uttered a few words.

"Your wounds haven't healed yet, and for the sake of your health, patients are not allowed to drink alcohol."

The suggestion was ruthlessly rejected. Frustrated, Dixia rubbed her brown hair and puffed out her cheeks in anger.

Candice doesn't seem to be much older than her, but she talks just like her father.

"Alright, alright, let's skip the alcohol. I'll treat you to date and honey candy for lunch."

Mu Feng smiled and gently rubbed the cat ears on Xiao Dixia's head.

He had been curious for a long time whether it was a hair ornament or real animal ears. For a scholar, practice is the only criterion for testing truth.

If he doesn't touch her now, when the little girl grows up, he'll only be able to fight her to a 30/70 split.

It means that you will only be knocked away seven times in three minutes.

Alas, what can he do when he's just a frail intellectual?

Upon hearing about date and honey, Little Dixia's attention instantly shifted from the failed drinking contest proposal to lunch, selectively ignoring someone's slightly rude behavior.

Having grown up in the desert, she had never actually seen the delicious date and coconut honey that the people of Sumeru spoke of, nor had she ever had the chance to taste it.

When she was little, she pestered her father to let her taste date and honey in exchange for cooperating with him to perform a complete play. However, her father brought back several fresh dates and confidently planned to make it himself.

As a result, she didn't get to eat the date and honey, but the entire tour group was forced to drink date porridge with her for a whole day.

Thinking of this, Dixia couldn't help but chuckle, but when she recalled the argument between her father and daughter not long ago, her expression darkened a bit.

How did it turn out like this...?

In her memory, although life in the tour group was not easy, and sometimes she even went hungry, she still loved her time there.

When she was born, no one knew where her mother had gone. Her father was also very secretive about it, and whenever she asked, he would often give vague answers or change the subject.

But ever since she came into the picture, her father stopped caring about the affairs of the troupe, leaving the tasks to his subordinates, and instead spending his days studying those old-fashioned fairy tales with her.

It's about heroic mercenaries slaying dragons, treasure hunting and ancient ruins in the desert, and warriors rescuing beautiful princesses from villains.

But unfortunately, her father was very enthusiastic about those things and often gathered a large group of people to rehearse with her.

She seemed to vaguely remember a line or two, something like... "I hereby... declare victory?"

The main problem is that Uncle Idris and the others are also messing around with Dad, even though they all seem like reliable people.

But all of that changed very quickly.

The members of the troupe once again took up arms and targeted the passing caravan. Although they tried their best to hide this fact from her, Dixia quickly noticed the anomaly.

Why do we need to do this?

The girl didn't understand, so she went to question her father, but he remained silent, offering no explanation.

She went to Uncle Idrissi and Uncle Balsa again, but the result was the same, without exception.

Although Dixia was young, she vaguely knew that this seemed to be wrong.

Although life wasn't wealthy before, it wasn't unsustainable either. Why target those innocent people?

Could it be that all those stories my father told me about—mercenaries who killed the dragon and heroes who rescued the princess—were just lies?

Now, they seem to have become the evil dragons in the story.

She tried to persuade her father, but he, who usually doted on her, was stubborn for the first time, leading to escalating arguments and deepening conflicts between them.

Until her disappointment reached its peak, after another unpleasant argument, she left Ahmar's Beard in a fit of anger, leaving the home she had lived in for more than ten years.

She felt lost for a moment when she left home.

Not knowing where she was going or what the future held, she wandered aimlessly until she was attacked.

And then... she arrived here.

"Dishia, what's wrong?"

Candice's voice drifted over from afar. Dixia shook her head slightly, jolting awake from her long reverie. A complex feeling welled up in her heart, like colorful parchment.

Regret? Reluctance to part? Longing? Or remorse? Confusion? Or perhaps a touch of guilt?

Perhaps a little bit of both.

But from now on, she is alone.

Dad... I love you, but... I'm sorry.

She silently turned her head, took one last look at the boundless sea of ​​sand in the distance, and then walked into the small house.

……