Genshin Impact: I Became The Son Of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata

"Scarlet King Ahmar, could you lend me a few dozen people?"

"For what purpose?"

"To dig for oil."

"What's oil? And why would you dig it up?"

"It's something that, a thousand years from now, will make me the richest person in all of Teyvat—while I sit comfortably under a simple canopy."

"Well, although I don't quite understand… any specific requirements?"

"I think that dog-headed fellow would do nicely…"

"That's… my high priest."

"Surely he has a son, right? One who also has a dog head?"

"Well… yes, he does…"

"Great. He'll do. Just grab a few more people, and that should be enough."

…

Yu stared at the little dog-headed priest before him, completely indifferent to the latter's bewildered expression.

"Let's move out! Keep an eye out for black soil, and notify me the moment you find any."

"Yes… (in a drained tone)," the others replied weakly.

Yu's group trudged through the desert, tirelessly exploring, and they soon uncovered a number of peculiar things.

"A scorpion? Whoa, it's huge! Did it gain sentience or something? Roast it! Alhaitham, mark this location and note the taste."

"A fennec fox? It's so cute! Way too adorable! Pack up its whole family for me! It let me pet it! It actually let me pet it!"

"Wait, did we just dig up an ancient tomb? Oh well, since we're already here, it'd be rude to leave empty-handed."

"What on earth—? There's water in the desert? Why are you all cheering? Found a new water source?"

"Did we just stumble upon primitive ruins?"

"Why are there so many ancient tombs here? They're actually quite beautiful. One day, I'll build one for myself. Where should I have it built?"

"We found a jade mine, but in this era, what's the use? Even as ornaments, it feels too heavy. Never mind, maybe my mother would like it. Take everything we can carry and head back."

After several grueling days, Yu finally returned to the oasis late at night.

"Forget it. Oil won't be of any use for another few hundred years. Let's drop this for now."

Yu stroked the newly acquired fennec fox, pondering how he might nurture it into gaining sentience. Unable to think of a way, he released it and went off to find a place to bathe.

He recalled that there was a bathhouse in the palace. When he arrived, he noticed a faint flicker of light coming from within.

"Someone's inside?" Yu muttered, puzzled. He approached the door and peeked through a small gap to get a look at the interior.

What he saw left his jaw hanging in disbelief.

"Your Highness," Alhaitham tapped Yu on the shoulder, curious about what he was doing.

Yu broke out in a cold sweat!

He turned around abruptly. "Where did you come from?!"

"Your Highness, I've been following you the whole time," Alhaitham said, scratching his head in confusion.

Yu sized him up, breathing a small sigh of relief. He probably didn't see anything. After all, I was the only one peeking. Even so, he couldn't completely calm down.

"Al, a healthy body is important. Starting tomorrow, you're going to exercise daily. I'll set a small goal for you—train until you have a hundred thousand abs. Not one less."

Alhaitham was stunned.

"Your Highness, please don't make this difficult for me! What did I do wrong? I'll change!"

"You didn't do anything wrong. I just want you to strengthen your body."

"But Your Highness, I could train for a lifetime and never get a hundred thousand abs. I'm just an ordinary person. Please, have mercy!"

"It's fine. You have a son, and your son will have a son. Generations can continue training. Eventually, you'll meet the goal. Keep at it."

…

The sun rose and set, repeating the cycle hundreds of times. Yu's problem only worsened. He often perched on tree branches, staring absentmindedly at the sun for hours on end. He had even stopped tending the land, though it didn't matter much, since the people were doing well enough on their own. He rarely participated in any events, feeling they held no meaning. If things continued like this, he feared he would be bored to death. He wasn't the type to entertain himself with trivial amusements, nor did he enjoy pestering others for fun. Sigh.

"Your Highness! Today is Lady Rukkhadevata's birthday. She has invited you to attend the banquet!"

"Alright." He had to show up for his mother's birthday. The other two were probably going to be there too—how troublesome.

"Yu, you've come." Rukkhadevata smiled warmly when she saw her son arrive. She was genuinely pleased. Lately, Yu had grown increasingly distant, much to her confusion. How could his emotions have worn down so quickly? He was still so young—barely a few decades old—yet he already carried an air of lifelessness. She hoped that by attending more social events, he might reconnect with human emotions. At least he still displayed laziness, which counted as a real feeling.

A servant poured wine into Yu's goblet and presented it to him, but he sniffed it and set it aside. He didn't like drinking—he thought it was a waste of grain. With so many people struggling to fill their stomachs, using food to brew alcohol felt wrong. Each sip burned his throat, and his heart ached at the waste.

Yu glanced around and noted that the banquet wasn't overly extravagant, which he found tolerable.

He acted like an invisible bystander, silently observing the lively atmosphere. Suddenly, the Goddess of Flowers stood and announced,

"I would like to offer a humble dance in honor of the Lord of Wisdom. I hope you find it pleasing."

"The Dance of the Goddess of Flowers… something countless people dream of witnessing." (Yes, that includes you, pure-hearted warrior.)

The graceful movements of the Goddess unfolded slowly. With each step, Padisarahs bloomed beneath her feet, captivating Yu's gaze.

But it wasn't the flowers that held his attention.

It was…

"Measured in golden inches, delicate white toes peek from beneath silken hems, wrapped in clouds of gossamer."

In plain terms… jade-like feet.