Genshin Impact: Villain Life Sim

[Setting foot in Liyue Harbor once again, it was three years later. In fact, counting the years you were imprisoned by Yelan, it had been six or seven years since you last saw the city.]

[Yet, despite this, you knew Liyue Harbor like the back of your hand. Over the years, through newspapers, books, and correspondence, you kept yourself thoroughly informed about every change in the city. Even those who lived there continuously might not know it as intimately as you did.]

[The Fatui crafted a new identity for you: the child of Liyue merchants who conducted business in Sumeru. You were raised and educated in Sumeru and studied sociology under the "Vahumana" Darshan at the Akademiya. Now, having completed your studies, you returned to Liyue to further your career.]

[To make this identity more believable, the Fatui even used their connections to have you spend three months as a guest student at the Akademiya.]

[Additionally, to avoid exposing your ties to the Fatui, they assigned you a single contact: an official named Yusupov, who would provide assistance as needed.]

Yusupov?

Wasn't that the same Fatui official who liaised with Zhiyi in the game's storyline?

So this is Zhiyi's script, but rewritten for me?

Still, you quickly dismissed the comparison. Your background and experiences were vastly different from his.

[Upon your return to Liyue Harbor, your first thought was to check on Chuyi. According to Fatui intelligence, she still worked as a maid in Yelan's estate and had not suffered any harm after your escape. Yet, your heart was filled with worry for her.]

[However, you reminded yourself that rash actions could jeopardize your larger goals. Right now, your top priority was to achieve your mission.]

[Becoming one of the Liyue Qixing was no easy task. The Fatui had formed a specialized team that devised hundreds of strategies to help you reach this position, at least thirteen of which were deemed completely viable.]

[You also reviewed the discarded plans, many of which made you laugh out loud.]

[For example: becoming Tianquan Ningguang's exclusive male consort to win her favor and secure her support.]

[Or: marrying into the Yuheng Keqing family and poisoning Keqing to replace her.]

[The most outrageous plan: becoming the adopted child of Ganyu, one of the Qixing's envoys, and rising through her endorsement after two or three decades.]

[Ultimately, you chose the plan with the highest chance of success: gaining the trust of "Tianshu" and being named his successor.]

[Among the Liyue Qixing, the Tianshu position is rarely in the public eye, focusing on behind-the-scenes strategies. Candidates are not selected through public elections but are nominated by the current Tianshu, with the approval of the other Qixing.]

[To minimize external influence on candidates, the Tianshu typically prefers individuals with no significant affiliations or past entanglements—a "blank slate."]

[This made you a perfect fit: an overseas scholar returning to Liyue, highly educated, and with a clean background that raised no suspicions.]

[Tianshu, affectionately called "Uncle Tian" by those close to him, was about sixty years old and had a daughter named Huixin, who worked as a secretary for Liyue Qixing.]

[Uncle Tian was known for his modesty and simple lifestyle. In his spare time, he enjoyed two hobbies: fishing and a card game called "Genius Invokation TCG." You planned to use these hobbies to connect with him.]

[At the port where Uncle Tian often fished, you set up a table and chairs and began playing Genius Invokation TCG. Unsurprisingly, many idle fishermen stopped by to play a few rounds with you, though few could beat you. Before long, your name spread, and some people even came to the port just to challenge you.]

[Genius Invokation TCG was one of your training subjects. The Fatui spared no expense, purchasing rare cards for you, and with your Gambler's Prowess, you dominated every game.]

[Sure enough, Uncle Tian eventually took notice. As an expert player, he rarely found worthy opponents, but you managed to win a few games against him.]

[Over time, the two of you formed a bond. You promised to play TCG with him, and he, in turn, taught you how to fish.]

[During these interactions, you cultivated an image of diligence, humility, and warmth. Uncle Tian grew fond of you and even revealed his identity as Tianshu, imparting wisdom and lessons to you.]

[Age 25: Your relationship with Uncle Tian deepened. He frequently invited you to his home, where you met his daughter, Huixin. This poised woman, about your age, took a liking to you and treated you like a younger brother. Your carefully maintained persona and the Doctor's reconstructed face, which made you exceptionally handsome, won her over easily.]

[Since your family's downfall, you had not experienced genuine affection from others. Uncle Tian and Huixin reminded you of your father and Chuyi, who had been like a sister to you. But you constantly reminded yourself: they were merely tools. To achieve revenge, you couldn't afford to show mercy.]

[Age 26: It became increasingly clear that Uncle Tian was grooming you as a potential successor, though he wouldn't make any moves until after his retirement. Despite his age, he was still healthy and dedicated to his work, meaning his retirement could be years away.]

[You didn't mind waiting—you were accustomed to patience. But the Fatui couldn't wait. Every day you delayed becoming one of the Qixing was a loss for Snezhnaya.]

[Your contact, Yusupov, often urged you to act, suggesting ways to hasten Uncle Tian's retirement. You consistently stalled, avoiding rash actions.]

[Finally, one day, Yusupov brought a letter personally signed by the Doctor. Enclosed with the letter was a poison—a slow-acting, nearly undetectable toxin.]

[The letter was concise: either administer the poison to Uncle Tian in small doses to weaken him and expedite the succession process, or consume it yourself. The Fatui had no use for the useless.]