binnovel Chapter 948 The So-Called Running Away from Home
Chapter 948 The So-Called Running Away from Home
Looking at the illuminated Spirit Path, Chikoa sighed with emotion: "The old scrolls say that when a dim path is lit up, it's like a fire-washed veil being renewed in the dazzling light. It's not an exaggeration at all."
But then he hesitated: "How...how should we get up there?"
I once saw a description on a scroll of ancient people swimming in liquid phlogiston. Do you think that's absurd? Could they even swim in that?
"Trying to swim in lava, huh..." Saffir's expression held a hint of amusement.
Honestly, this kind of death isn't really that bizarre, considering she's been crushed to death by an anvil more than once. (MC reference)
Saffir shook his head vigorously, banishing those strange thoughts from his mind, and then said, "Let's not talk about that. You just said you couldn't go up? Is it because you can't use phlogiston?"
“Hmm, riding the Spirit Path of the Gap requires the support of elemental energy, which I’m afraid I can’t do… Damn it, I’m not willing to give up here.” Chikoa clenched her fists and stared intently at the Spirit Path of the Gap, as if that would provide a solution.
Seeing her like this, Saffir smiled slightly, took out the Cave Heaven Pass, and began to make contact.
A few seconds later, the call connected, and it was Mavica's voice: "Hello, Saffir? What do you need?"
"Is the wheelbarrow you promised to make for me ready yet? I need it urgently." This was the most suitable solution Saffir came up with.
Upon hearing this, Mavica chuckled and replied, "This isn't something that can be done in a couple of days. I'd guess it'll take at least a month or so. What, is there something urgent you need it for?"
“Yes, we need to carry people across the Spirit Path. If there’s no wheeled vehicle, it looks like I’ll have to carry them on my back.” Saffir said with some helplessness.
Mavica laughed and said, "For something like this, why don't you just use mine? Hmm, let me see... how to send it to you?"
"Put the dust-collecting pot away, I'll go get it," Saffir said directly, not bothering with formalities with Mavica.
Mavica was quick on the other end: "Okay, I've put the car in. Just put it back when you're done."
After the two agreed and hung up the communication, Saffir felt a burning gaze from Chikoya.
"You were just talking to Lord Vulcan?" Chikoa asked excitedly.
Saffir, Ying, and Paimon exchanged glances, then shrugged: "I've already told you, I have a wide network of connections."
As she spoke, she gathered immortal power in her hand, connecting the Dust Song Pot with the Cave Heaven Pass. In the blink of an eye, a fiery red chariot appeared before everyone.
"Is it really Lord Vulcan's chariot?! My God, Sapphire, your connections are more than just extensive, you're simply..." Chikoa didn't know how to describe it anymore, "Is this something you can borrow from Lord Vulcan with just a word?"
From what I overheard your conversation, she even agreed to make you an exact replica? Just how close are you two?
Saffir initially thought it was just so-so, but then he realized that their relationship would probably be incomprehensible to others. In Chikoa's view, the fact that Mavica was willing to lend her the chariot meant that Saffir must be a very close friend of Mavica.
However, in reality, her relationship with Mavica cannot be so simply divided. Whether it is Mavica or other gods, the principle is the same: Saphir's existence itself is a kind of value. Even for the sake of Saphir's value, these gods can give kindness and support that is unbelievable to ordinary people.
Needless to say, the Wind and Rock Gods can be commanded by Sapphire if she wants, whether it's the Knights of Favonius, the Liyue Septim, or the Liyue Immortals, let alone borrowing some inanimate objects.
The same applies to Inazuma. As long as Saffir speaks, even the dreams of Isshin and Inazuma are within easy reach. Not to mention, the new Void Terminal of Sumeru was built under Saffir's initiative, and its core computing program was constructed by Saffir bit by bit in Fuchigami Palace.
The successful establishment of the Dragon Nest system on Kronos Island in the Abyss Palace was largely thanks to the Void Terminal and the server group provided by Alice.
As for Fontaine, it's hard to say about Vilette, but Fryna and Fucaros will definitely fully support Saffir; that's the benefit of personal value.
This is also the source of Saffir's confidence to stand up and counterbalance other countries.
The gods' kindness towards her was not purely altruistic; it stemmed more from her values and stance. Of course, Zhongli's kindness was entirely of pure goodwill, but let's not dwell on that.
Saffir patted the back seat: "Get in!"
Bright looked on longingly, indicating that she also wanted to get on the carriage, but unfortunately, the carriage could only seat two people. Paimon could be held by Chicoa and sit with her, but Bright definitely couldn't squeeze in. She had to look after Krest and Carmos.
Knowing she had no chance this time, Ying was a little disappointed. Saffir promised to take her next time, which cheered the little girl up.
After arranging everything, Saffir straddled the wheelchair and started the engine. Chikoya sat nervously in the back, one arm around Paimon, who was looking on expectantly, and the other around Saffir's slender waist.
Once Chikoya was securely seated, Saffir twisted the throttle sharply, and the chariot roared as it surged onto the Spirit Path, eliciting gasps from Paimon and Chikoya.
Ying quickly followed, trailing behind with Krest and Karmos.
On the long, winding spiritual path, the group began their upward climb.
"Wow! This thing is really awesome!" On the wheeled vehicle, Saffir, wearing a matching helmet, twisted the throttle and kept climbing upwards.
Chikoa, also wearing a helmet, tightened her grip on Saphir's arm, saying, "Slow down, slow down, I'm a little scared!"
Paimon was alright, after all, the little one could fly, so even if something happened, she wouldn't fall to her death. She opened her eyes open and looked at the surrounding scenery with curiosity: "This is the first time I've seen the Nata environment from this angle. It's really spectacular."
The group had already climbed a considerable distance, and the entire territory of Nata was now laid out before them, completely visible.
After overcoming the initial tension, Chikoa reluctantly opened her eyes and looked around, immediately becoming captivated by the scenery.
She stared in a daze, and it took her a long time to come to her senses before she whispered, "It's a little pleasant... or rather, a little touching, very happy..."
She choked up a little, but was mostly happy: "I never thought I would see such a view, and I never thought I would actually be able to go up to the Floating Earth Realm."
“That’s life. You never know where you’ll be tomorrow,” Saffir chuckled. “That’s the fun of adventure.”
Chikoya nodded vigorously, her helmet clashing against Saffir's helmet with a dull thud.
Saffir exclaimed, "Now is not the time to commit murder! We'll all die together!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I was just too excited," Chikoa quickly apologized.
Saffir understood her; she had experienced similar feelings, more than once.
After calming herself down, Chikoya continued, "Originally, I thought I would be good enough to just go down to the gate and take a look."
"Thanks to you all, otherwise it would have been such a waste to sneak out and see nothing."
"What do you mean by sneaking out?" Paimon noticed.
Chikoya paused for a moment, then confessed, "Well, I didn't tell my friends and family in the tribe before I came out..."
"I'm sorry, Saffir, I hid some things from you before."
“It’s alright, that’s not important.” Saffir didn’t care.
Paimon objected, shouting, "This isn't right! Isn't this just running away from home?"
"So what? Isn't life just a journey that you can take whenever you want?" Saffir remained unconvinced.
Paimon was somewhat helpless. This person's moral bottom line was sometimes really so low that it was outrageous: "Do you think everyone is like you? Speaking of which, every time you leave Liyue, it can be considered running away from home, right?"
No, leaving Zhidong counts as running away from home, right? It seems like anywhere you go counts!
"So you say I have several homes? Whether I'm in Liyue, in Zhidong, or in Yuanxia Palace, they all count as home. Can't you speak properly?" Saffir was driving and couldn't free her hands, otherwise she would have definitely tapped the little guy on the head a couple of times.
Paimon wasn't afraid anymore. She snorted and said, "Others may not know, but I know very well that Zhongli doesn't approve of you running around everywhere, but you always sneak out."
“You’ll be retaliated against for casually exposing someone’s shortcomings.” Saffir’s tone was soft, but his words carried weight.
Paimon immediately fell silent, realizing that her little bottom was about to suffer.
After that, the little guy stopped talking about it and tried to make jokes to make Saffir forget about it.
But what kind of person is Saphir? She belongs to the Yura clan; I can't remember anything else, but she holds grudges.
As a result, the little guy's bottom was almost split into four pieces.
Ying arrived late, accompanied by Krest and Carmos, only after the execution was over.
Seeing her friend covering his little bottom with a wronged expression, Ying pursed her lips, suppressing a laugh, and pretended not to know anything.
Of course, Saffir wouldn't let Paimon suffer for too long; he would teach the little guy a lesson and then heal her.
After rubbing his sore bottom, Paimon clung to Saffir again, completely forgetting his past mistakes.
Only then did the group have a chance to properly observe their surroundings.
Contrary to expectations, the Floating Earth Realm is not a desolate area, but a paradise of life floating high in the sky.
This place is covered with lush grass and flowers, and the air is filled with fireflies and honey bugs; it is truly a paradise.
It's understandable, after all, the floating soil itself is formed by the condensation of phlogiston and life force. Here, grass and flowers can be cut, and the power of phlogiston can warm the cooled land again, igniting the soul and lighting the flame in the darkness.
"This is phlogiston, something that the Fire-Stealing Sage stole from the dragons and gave to us," Chikoa concluded after her introduction.
At this point, she became somewhat indignant: "Some people in the tribe, upon seeing the Floating Earth Realm, claim that humans using phlogiston could never achieve the level to create floating islands, and that the so-called Fire-Stealing Sages are actually dragons or something..."
She crossed her arms, a hint of anger on her face.
Saffir instinctively reached out to try and create a similar point of suspension, but then realized that she was not human either, and even if she did, it would not be of any reference value, so she gave up.
Ying shook her head and said, "Everyone has their own opinion, and opinions are free."
"But you can't say that! People who claim they can do something they can't do themselves aren't human. They're just spineless bastards. I don't want to be friends with them!" Chikoa was still indignant.
Saffir chuckled softly: "Human or not, what does it matter?"
“But the Fire-Stealing Sage should be human! If it’s not human, why would it do so much for humans? That doesn’t make sense, right?” Chikoa felt that her thoughts were correct.
But these words made both Ying and Saphir frown. Ying had many non-human friends and had also met many demon gods who truly loved people, so she felt that Chikoa's idea was very arbitrary.
Saffir was genuinely offended because, although she was not human, she was indeed on the side of humanity.
However, she wasn't angry. She simply pointed calmly at Krist and Carmos and asked, "Look, are they human?"
“This…” Chikoya was speechless.
Saffir shook his head: "Race is not important, and whether the Fire Thief Sage is human or not is not important. What is important is that he did help the Nata people a lot, so your focus was wrong from the beginning. You shouldn't be concerned about whether those people are slandering the Fire Thief Sage."
Instead, we should ask them what their true intentions are in labeling a great man as a foreigner. What are they implying, what are they alluding to? Even Vulcan could do things many others cannot; does that mean Vulcan wasn't human?
It would be best to say this to Mavica's face, and see how those people will react when they hear it.
“That makes sense, Saphir, you’re absolutely right! If I were half as smart as you, I wouldn’t be so angry! Oh, could you teach me how to argue sometime?” Chikoa grasped Saphir’s hand.
A misunderstanding that could have led to an argument was thus resolved. Saffir raised an eyebrow: "Agile thinking needs to be cultivated through extensive reading and communication; it cannot be taught."
Chicoa thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case, so she stopped worrying about it.
Paimon was somewhat confused: "So, where's the treasure? Where's the secret medicine?"
The little one was getting impatient, or rather, her focus had never wavered from the beginning: "In that sense, there doesn't seem to be anything here!"
Krest and Carmos also looked around, but found nothing either.
But Chicoa said that this was a test left behind by the Fire-Stealing Sage, and it would definitely not be that simple. There must be various mechanisms hidden here, and as long as you search around, you will definitely be able to find them.
Saffir, however, had no such intention. She flew directly to the very center of the Floating Earth Realm, where she found the same golden inscription as before.
After telling Ying and the others about this discovery, the group came to the place and touched the golden inscription. The ancient voice rang in their minds once again: "Those who wish to take the flame should go to the monument where the fire is enshrined."