Genshin Impact: Villain Life Sim

It was no wonder Keqing was so irritated.

Ever since Lucas agreed to help Ganyu and moved here, she had been keeping tabs on him from time to time. Yet, it seemed this guy wasn't in any hurry to return. On the contrary, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself here.

Of course, Lucas was indeed having a great time.

"No way!" Lucas quickly shook his head.

"Miss Keqing?" Ganyu walked over with a gentle smile. "What brings you here?"

Seeing the graceful and ethereal half-adeptus before her, Keqing began to understand why Lucas was so content.

Who wouldn't be happy living under the same roof as such a lovely young lady?

"I… I came to deliver this to Lucas," Keqing said, pulling out an intricately designed badge from her waist and handing it to him. "This is your token for participating in the Tianshu election. The first round will take place three days from now, at noon, at the Yuehai Pavilion in Yujing Terrace. Don't miss it."

The badge was exquisitely crafted, featuring the emblem of the Liyue Qixing. Clearly, earning this qualification was no small feat.

"Got it," Lucas said, clutching the badge confidently. "Don't worry, I'll give it my all."

"You must succeed!" ×2

Both Keqing and Ganyu spoke in unison, then exchanged an awkward glance.

Keqing couldn't help but wonder. Her desire for Lucas to become the next Tianshu was understandable, but why was Ganyu so supportive of him too?

Could it be that Ganyu also saw Lucas' potential and was trying to recruit him for some reason?

While Keqing had always thought of Ganyu as someone unaccustomed to political maneuvering, she was, after all, the secretary responsible for the entire Liyue Qixing. Perhaps she saw Lucas as a way to balance the internal dynamics of the Qixing.

"Lady Ganyu," Keqing said pointedly, "has our dear Lucas completed your 'secret mission' yet?"

She emphasized "our dear Lucas" as if to stake a claim, either intentionally or unintentionally.

But Ganyu seemed unfazed and simply smiled. "I know you're eager, but don't rush. Lucas' mission isn't complete yet. Don't worry—I'll take good care of him."

Lucas? Already calling him so affectionately?

It had only been a few days, yet Ganyu had shifted from "Mr. Lucas" to "Lucas"?

At that moment, Shenhe appeared, completely disregarding the tense atmosphere. "Senior Sister, Brother-in-law, aren't you coming to eat—mmph!"

Before she could finish, Ganyu quickly covered her mouth, muffling her words into indistinct sounds.

Keqing, on the other hand, was utterly stunned. She stared at them and murmured, "Senior Sister? Brother-in-law? What's going on here?"

With an awkward smile, Ganyu stammered, "Don't listen to her. She's just a kid, making things up…"

But Keqing wasn't so easily fooled. Grabbing Lucas by the wrist, she took him outside to a secluded corner, she demanded, "Brother-in-law? Secret mission? Tell me everything!"

Realizing he couldn't keep up the charade any longer, Lucas sighed and confessed the whole truth about Ganyu asking him to pose as her husband to deceive Cloud Retainer.

"So, it's just pretend?" Keqing narrowed her eyes. "You two haven't… made it real, have you?"

"What kind of joke is that? It's Miss Ganyu we're talking about!" Lucas scoffed. "How could I ever match up to her?"

"And why wouldn't you?" Keqing replied sharply, looking slightly displeased. "If you become the Tianshu, your position won't be beneath hers. Besides, why should being an adeptus inherently make her superior to humans?"

Lucas hadn't expected Keqing to be so supportive. He patted her shoulder and said, "I swear I haven't crossed the line yet."

That wasn't a lie - he hadn't crossed the line, but he had danced dangerously close.

"Huh!" Keqing's cheeks flushed. "Honestly… why didn't you explain this earlier?"

"This involves Miss Ganyu's reputation, so the fewer people who know, the better," Lucas explained. "Once Cloud Retainer leaves, Miss Ganyu and I won't have anything to do with each other anymore."

"Not necessarily. If you really do become the Tianshu, you'll have plenty of interactions with her," Keqing pointed out with a smile. "Anyway, I might have overthought things. You'd better head back now and avoid slipping up. Cloud Retainer's temper isn't exactly easy to deal with."

"Understood!" Lucas winked. "Once the mission's complete, I'll return to you immediately."

As Lucas walked away, Keqing stood there, deep in thought. "Speaking of which," she murmured to herself, "Dad did mention setting me up with someone recently… Maybe I could use a similar approach?"

When Lucas returned to the house, he noticed two unfamiliar young women standing at the entrance, talking to Ganyu. Though still at a distance, Lucas could sense an extraordinary aura from them—one that felt surprisingly similar to Ganyu's.

"Hello," Lucas greeted as he approached. "Ganyu, are these guests?"

As he drew closer, Lucas could see the two more clearly. One was a tall red-haired woman with elegant feathered ornaments in her hair, while the other was a petite silver-haired girl with soft, fluffy curls.

Both were strikingly beautiful in their own ways, though they were still slightly outshone by Ganyu's ethereal charm.

"Big Sis," the red-haired woman said, raising an eyebrow. "Who's this guy? Your servant?"

"How could that be possible?" the silver-haired girl said with a smile. "In Sister Ganyu's residence, how could a man possibly appear? He must be just a gatekeeper or doorman."

What's up with these two women…?

They're inexplicably annoying.

Before Lucas could speak, Ganyu placed a hand on his shoulder and said seriously, "He… is my husband."

The two women fell silent for a moment before exclaiming in unison:

"What?!"

"Big Sis, you're joking, right?" the red-haired woman said incredulously. "How could this guy possibly compare to my brother?"

"No, that's impossible," the silver-haired woman shook her head. "Cloud Retainer would never agree to this."

"What's all this commotion? Are we eating or not?"

Xianyun appeared, stepping out of the dining room. Seeing the two young women, she frowned slightly and said, "Biyan, Baiye, what are you two doing here?"

The two women immediately adopted a respectful demeanor. "Greetings, Cloud Retainer!"

"It's like this," Biyan explained first. "We heard you were in Liyue, so we came to pay our respects."

"Additionally," Baiye added with a smile, "we wanted to revisit the matter of Sister Ganyu's marriage to our brothers."

Lucas looked utterly baffled. "What's going on?" he murmured.

"These two are Biyan and Baiye," Xianyun explained. "Both are hybrids of humans and mystical beasts. Biyan has the bloodline of the Vermilion Bird, and Baiye carries the bloodline of the Bai Ze. The brothers I previously mentioned, Mr. Bi and Mr. Bai, are their siblings."

So, they're here as matchmakers for their brothers?

"I can't accept this!" Biyan glared at Lucas. "My brother is nine feet tall and incredibly strong. How could he lose to this guy?"

"If I'm not mistaken…" Ganyu sighed. "Your brother is only eight years old, isn't he?"

"So what if he is?" Biyan grinned. "They say a woman three years older is like holding a golden brick!"

"But this is over three thousand years older…" Lucas muttered. "Are you planning to use those bricks to build the Great Wall?"

"And my brother?" Baiye said with a sly smile. "He's over 400 years old, well-educated, and holds many academic degrees."

Ganyu replied dryly, "Didn't he not leave the house for over a hundred years and still can't take care of himself?"

"Cough, cough…" Baiye looked slightly embarrassed. "He's just a late bloomer. Besides, how can a mere human deserve you?"

"He's no ordinary human," Xianyun interjected. "He's a candidate for the Tianshu election."

At these words, both Biyan and Baiye burst into laughter.

"Him? The Tianshu?" Biyan clutched her stomach. "Impossible!"

"Cloud Retainer, that joke…" Baiye shook her head. "It's a bit too far-fetched."

"I admit it's surprising," Xianyun said calmly. "But I've already promised him—if he becomes the Tianshu, I will approve of his marriage to Ganyu."

Realizing Cloud Retainer was serious, Biyan and Baiye stopped laughing.

"In that case…" Biyan cracked her knuckles. "All we need to do is make sure he doesn't become the Tianshu, and the marriage won't happen, right?"

Baiye smiled meaningfully. "For once, that reckless brain of yours came up with a good idea."

Ganyu's expression grew anxious. "You're not saying…"

"Exactly," Biyan confirmed. "We're entering the Tianshu election too!"

Baiye added with a grin, "If we can stop this marriage, there's still hope for our brothers."

"But…" Lucas frowned. "Aren't immortals forbidden from holding positions in the Liyue Qixing?"

"In theory, immortals can't hold such positions," Ganyu explained with a helpless expression. "But as hybrids, they're eligible. However, due to their longevity, their terms would be limited."

"Cloud Retainer…" Biyan squinted her eyes. "You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

"The words of an adeptus are as solid as gold," Xianyun said with a faint smile. "Your participation will make things livelier. But registration is closing soon."

"I'll go now!" Biyan, impatient as always, turned and left immediately.

Baiye, before leaving, glanced back at Lucas and said lightly, "You'd better watch out. People targeted by that brute rarely have a good ending."

As the two left, Lucas sighed. "Looks like things just got more complicated."

Dealing with Shenhe was already enough trouble. Now there were two more half-adepti. Even if they weren't as strong as Ganyu, they were still formidable opponents.

"It seems Senior Sister is truly popular," Shenhe said thoughtfully. "So many suitors."

"I'm really sorry…" Ganyu said apologetically. "It seems I've brought you even more trouble."

"Not at all," Lucas replied with a hearty laugh. "If I become the Tianshu, those so-called immortal heirs won't have anything more to say, will they?"

Only now did Lucas understand why Cloud Retainer had set becoming the Tianshu as a condition.

Given Ganyu's current status, marrying a human would inevitably bring immense pressure from other immortal clans—unless that human was a true standout among mortals.

"Let's eat!" Lucas said, full of determination as he headed toward the dining room. "There are only three days left. We need to train hard!"

"Lucas…" Watching his back, Ganyu's heart softened as she murmured, "Thank you."

"It seems I didn't misjudge him," Xianyun said with a meaningful smile. "That boy is quite interesting."

Three days later, at Yujing Terrace.

In front of Yuehai Pavilion, about a hundred people had gathered. These were the candidates participating in the Tianshu election.

Just standing there was proof enough that they were all individuals of considerable capability.

Lucas, standing among this group of contestants, didn't particularly stand out.

Aside from Shenhe, who had also qualified, Biyan and Baiye—who had visited a few days ago—were present as well. However, perhaps due to their status, the two seemed to be deliberately keeping some distance from the other participants.

"Hey, you look pretty unfamiliar," a lively voice suddenly came from behind Lucas as he glanced around. "Only notable figures can qualify for the Tianshu election. Did you… get in through the back door?"

Lucas turned to see a slender young girl dressed in black, with a small frame and delicate features. Her plum blossom-like pupils added an animated and unique charm to her appearance.

"You wouldn't happen to be… the head of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao?" Lucas ventured.

Although there were some differences between the two- and three-dimensional worlds, Hu Tao's distinctive hat and eyes made it hard to mistake her for anyone else.

"Hehe, seems like I'm quite famous," Hu Tao grinned, extending a hand. "Just call me Hu Tao. What's your name?"

"Lucas," he replied, shaking her hand. "I didn't expect someone so young to qualify for the Tianshu election."

"Don't be fooled by my looks. I just age well," Hu Tao said, brushing her smooth, fair cheek with a mischievous grin. "I'm actually forty-two years old!"

"What?!" Lucas exclaimed in surprise. "Are you serious?"

"Of course not!" Hu Tao said with a playful wink. "You really believed that, huh?"

This little rascal clearly loved joking around.

"A girl's age shouldn't be judged by her appearance alone," Hu Tao chuckled. "Take Lady Ningguang, for example. She looks so young, but her real age must be at least—ow!"

Before she could finish, a small golden stone hit her forehead, leaving a tiny red mark.

"Uh-oh, she must've heard me!" Hu Tao yelped and quickly ducked behind Lucas, peering cautiously around.

Sure enough, a silver-haired beauty with waist-length hair appeared at the entrance to Yuehai Pavilion.

Her gaze swept across the crowd. When her eyes landed on Lucas and Hu Tao, they narrowed slightly, sending Hu Tao scurrying further behind Lucas to avoid further punishment.

"This Tianshu election will be presided over by me, Ningguang of Tianquan," Ningguang announced with a smile. "Everyone here must be highly capable to have qualified, so I won't waste your time…"

"Stop teasing us, Ningguang!" A tall woman with black hair and an eye patch laughed heartily. "I've been waiting long enough!"

The crowd buzzed with whispers.

"Isn't that Beidou, the Captain of the Crux? She's here too?"

"If she becomes the Tianshu, Liyue Harbor will practically belong to the fleet!"

"Let's hope we don't end up competing against her. That greatsword of hers could split a mountain in two!"

Lucas turned to glance at Beidou, intrigued by her bold demeanor. Her hearty laugh was as striking as her commanding presence—and her, well, ample figure didn't go unnoticed.

"Wow, your eyes are about to pop out," Hu Tao whispered teasingly. "Men really are all the same."

Lucas' gaze flickered briefly toward Hu Tao's rather unimpressive chest before he forced an awkward smile.

"Hey! What's that look supposed to mean?!" Hu Tao huffed indignantly. "Small has its perks, you know! A guy like you would never understand."

"Let's not rush," Ningguang said, unfazed by Beidou's interruption. "The first round of the competition will be… making money."

"Making money?"

Most of the crowd looked puzzled upon hearing this.

How could one compete in making money?

"One of the primary responsibilities of the Liyue Qixing is managing the port's commerce. Simply put, it's about the ability to generate wealth," Ningguang explained, raising a hand. "In this round, contestants must start from scratch and earn as much money as possible within the allotted time."

"I have a question!" Hu Tao raised her hand. "What if someone cheats? Like, I pick up a random rock and sell it to a friend for a few million mora. Would that count as my earnings?"

Indeed, many of the contestants came from wealthy backgrounds or owned significant assets. Cheating would be easy for them.

"Don't worry. The Tianshu foresaw this possibility," Ningguang said, clapping her hands. Her secretary stepped forward with a box for drawing lots. "To ensure fairness, every contestant will be accompanied by a referee who will evaluate whether their earning methods comply with the rules."

To show there was no foul play, Ningguang opened the box, revealing sealed wax balls that all looked identical.

Apparently, the referees would be assigned randomly to prevent collusion.

Lucas took a deep breath and reached into the box, breaking open a wax ball. Inside was a slip of paper with a neatly written name:

Yanfei.

"Hahaha! You're doomed!" Hu Tao immediately started teasing him. "You got that lawyer! She knows Liyue's laws inside and out. Good luck trying to exploit any loopholes!"

Lucas couldn't help but sigh but still retorted with mild defiance, "Let's see yours."

"Fine, take a look!" Hu Tao snapped her fingers, producing a small flame to melt her wax ball. The revealed slip of paper bore the name:

Zhongli.

"Looks like Rex Lapis himself is watching over me!" Hu Tao said smugly. "Zhongli is a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Maybe he'll go easy on me!"

Zhongli?

Lucas, knowing the game's lore, instantly recognized Zhongli as Morax, the Geo Archon among the Seven. Though he had only encountered him once in the simulator, he was curious if Zhongli in this world would match his refined and composed image.

"Sorry to disappoint you," a cool female voice suddenly spoke from behind. "Hu Tao, even as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant, I won't show you any favoritism."

----

Author's note: Well, here's your extra chapter :)

Keep voting and I might bring back the powerstone goals for extra chapters starting tomorrow.

----

Read more than 50 chapters in advance on Patreon .com/NiaXD