Genshin Impact: This fireplace house is your graveyard.

Chapter 8 Desire will only devour you.

After settling Claire in, Akikawa returned to his room, locked the door from the inside, and went back to bed.

Holding his breath and concentrating, Qiuhe drew his consciousness back into the black space. He walked towards the giant dragon and slowly placed his hand on its head.

This time, he didn't rush to pull his hand back. He let that power flow into his body, and after a while, he suddenly felt a storm raging in his mind, just like that day on the snow mountain.

His mind was filled with curses, and a dark purple light flickered in Qiuhe's eyes, altering his aura.

When he tried to pull his hand back, he found it was as if it were being sucked in. Purple flames began to erupt around him. "Greed. It will distort you beyond recognition!"

At this moment, Qiuhe's mind was filled with many scenes he had never seen before. He saw a demonic dragon wreaking havoc on a city, with war raging and cries of agony filling the air.

Then another dragon appeared ahead. It was magnificent and beautiful. Its six wings were like those of an angel, and its feathers were as vibrant and dazzling as those of a phoenix.

Undeterred by the murderous intent ahead, he charged towards the evil dragon. He was protecting the city with his own body.

As he fought the dragon, the dragon's blood stained its blue wings and its magnificent plumage.

Qiuhe also sensed that this memory was likely left behind by Dvalin's battle against Dulin. But the sheer volume of these memories, the impact of the carnage, and the corpses strewn across the ground...

The countless severed limbs and broken bodies scattered everywhere gradually eroded Qiuhe's mental defenses. "Greed will distort you beyond recognition. Desire will slowly consume you," Qiuhe thought, on the verge of collapse.

Her consciousness was suddenly pulled back to reality. She abruptly opened her eyes and saw the silver-haired, mushroom-eyed girl in front of her pinching her face, crying, "It hurts..."

Peruvelli abruptly released her grip, and Qiuhe's face bounced back, causing him a sharp pain. "Hey? How did you get in again? I already locked the door!"

Peruvier picked up the key and waved it in front of Akikawa. "The key fell down when you knelt down to apply medicine to Clover's foot."

Qiuhe sighed softly. He thought to himself, "He's really persistent. When I came in, you were covered in sweat and looked very pained and serious."

Upon hearing this, Qiuhe realized that there was indeed still sweat on her face, and only then did she recall everything she had experienced in the consciousness space.

She wondered what would have happened if Peruvée hadn't pulled her back to reality in time. A single sentence also weighed heavily on Akikawa's mind.

Greed will distort you beyond recognition. Desire will gradually consume you.

Akikawa wondered if it really was him, too greedy, too thirsty for power. "You're wary of Mother," Peruvier said slowly.

After realizing what was happening, Qiuhe remained silent, unsure of what to say. "I'm not asking you anything right now. You're good at pretending, but some of your little actions are beyond your control."

"When your mother asked you to introduce yourself, I saw something rising in your throat after you finished eating, but you didn't show any unusual expression. However, I could still sense your fear and anxiety."

"You accepted Clementine's cake intending to eat it, but refused when you heard it was made by your mother."

"If your mother makes you feel like you've fallen into a wolf's den, then I have nothing to say. But everyone can see your mother's love for everyone."

"And you probably didn't even notice that when we were hiding in the corner of the wall in the Gray River, a very faint, purplish-black energy emanated from your hands—"

As he spoke, Qiuhe's eyes began to tremble; he didn't know what to say. Peruvée was very perceptive, extremely perceptive.

He noticed things he himself hadn't even been aware of. Looking at Akikawa's trembling eyes, Peruvée was certain of everything.

"I was lying to you just now. During my time in the Gray River, I only sensed that there was something wrong with you; I didn't sense any unusual energy on you."

Hearing Peruvier's words, Akikawa was startled. He could only say, "As expected of him." Akikawa also felt relieved; it seemed he had lost, and lost utterly.

“I know what Kugavina is really like, but you probably won’t believe me when I tell you. The children of the Hearth House won’t believe it either.”

So I didn't tell anyone.

Indeed, I don't believe it.

Peruvéri spoke the truth frankly. He truly couldn't believe that his mother, so gentle and angelic, could be such a bad person.

But he thought that if Qiuhe was just wary of his mother, then he wouldn't care, as long as he didn't do anything to hurt her.

But then she thought again, maybe she was just being paranoid. Peruvier knew her mother was very strong. As the fourth seat of the Fatui's Enforcers, Akikawa shouldn't be able to harm her mother.

At that moment, Akikawa and Peruvier also heard footsteps approaching slowly outside. They both stared intently at the doorway.

Clementine's little head slowly peeked out from beside the doorway. Seeing that Akikawa and Peruvier had both noticed her, Clementine gave an embarrassed smile.

"Uh...hehe, I'm not asleep yet."

"Clementine, you still have an injury on your foot, what are you doing here?"

When Claire woke up, she found herself lying in bed. Someone had covered her with a blanket. When she lifted the blanket and looked at her feet…

Upon discovering that the gauze on her foot was tied with a pretty bow, Clementine couldn't sleep and tossed and turned, so she secretly decided to check on Akikawa's room.

Claire walked into the house, her foot wobbling. Seeing this, Akikawa quickly went to help her.

As soon as Claire loosened her grip on the doorframe, her legs began to lurch forward uncontrollably. Seeing this, Akikawa rushed over.

Claire collapsed straight into Akihime's arms. The sudden physical contact left Claire momentarily speechless, her mind blank.

"Honestly, you're in such a state, you should rest in bed. What if you get injured like this?"

Claire blushed slightly, sensing the urgency and concern in Qiuhe's words. Qiuhe then lifted Claire up in a princess carry.

Clementine was caught off guard by the sudden movement and instinctively wrapped her arms around Qiuhe's neck, her lips very close to his face.

Feeling like they could kiss at any moment, Clementine's mind was in turmoil, her eyes trembling. Her cheeks flushed deeper and deeper.

After carrying Clévi to the bed, Akikawa gave Peruvier a look and gently shook his head, signaling him not to continue the previous topic.

Peruvéri understood the meaning in Akikawa's eyes and said nothing more. Silence fell over the surroundings. Clévius then placed her foot on Akikawa's lap.

Akikawa was slightly puzzled upon seeing this. The next second, Claire, blushing, slowly said, "My feet hurt so much walking here, could you massage them for me again?"

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