"Grandma Ping, this child is in your care now." Smith handed the sleeping Naruto to Grandma Ping and explained, "His situation is a bit special."
Smith then went on to share Naruto's origins—how he carried the chakra of Uzumaki Kushina, the Nine-Tails sealed within him, and even the chakra of Ashura. "Can you take care of him?" Grandma Ping asked after hearing Smith's explanation. "Do you want me to teach him fairy arts?"
Grandma Ping gazed down at the child in her arms with a hint of pity. He had lost his parents at such a young age, and the destiny of a Jinchūriki seemed like a cruel fate. "Is this guy named Namikaze Minato really his father? Oh, by the way, there's a child in Liuyun who has been exposed to the devil's resentment," Grandma Ping mused. "It seems that every world has its share of psychopaths."
However, despite the confusion about his origins, Grandma Ping was still optimistic about Naruto's future. "I can consider teaching him, but it's still a bit early. We should focus on shaping his views on life first."
Smith looked down at Naruto, his expression thoughtful. The Ashura chakra within Naruto's body was subtly influencing him, but Smith knew it was mostly enhancing Naruto's potential. Naruto, being only half-Uzumaki, didn't possess the full strength of his bloodline. While it was rumored that Minato Namikaze might have had Senju blood, it was clear that Naruto's true potential was being elevated by Ashura's chakra.
Smith didn't plan on removing this chakra. Although it might affect Naruto's character, in this world, there were many beings stronger than Ashura, so its influence wouldn't be a major concern.
"Alright, I understand. Leave it to me!" Grandma Ping assured him. She seemed confident that Naruto had great potential. Although she was curious about why someone like him couldn't live forever, she felt that she could help him reach his full potential. After all, humans could become immortals, as demonstrated by her own path, which started as a human and eventually led her to become an immortal.
Smith nodded, feeling reassured. "I believe in you, Grandma Ping."
When Smith returned home, he found that Keqing had already finished dinner. However, upon seeing him enter, Keqing quickly hid a soup bowl, her expression turning slightly evasive.
"What are you eating?" Smith asked, his curiosity piqued as he approached her. He caught the scent of something in the air—something that smelled like sheep's internal organs. "Is that sheep kidney? And... is that medicinal herbs I smell?"
Smith's eyes narrowed as he caught the underlying scent. "Aqing, is there something you're not telling me? Is my performance not enough? Are you trying to 'replenish my kidneys'?" Smith teased, his tone playful.
He figured Keqing was trying to tell him something indirectly, but he found it amusing and a little flattering. After all, he was no stranger to Keqing's subtle hints, and he felt the need to show off more, especially since she was the one who had been so insistent.
Keqing flushed at the implication and quickly shook her head. "No, no! That's not it! I'm just eating something the doctor recommended for me." She said, looking a bit embarrassed. "I went to see the doctor earlier because my husband said I didn't have enough water."
Smith blinked, processing her words. "Wait, what? You're telling me that your physical condition is fine, but you're still concerned about... water?"
Keqing, now fully embarrassed, glared at Smith. "Yes! My strength has improved, and my overall health has gotten much better recently, but... my kidney water is still insufficient."
The redness on her cheeks deepened. If it weren't for the doctor's good reputation, Keqing thought she would have committed suicide in shame after hearing his teasing comments.
"Alright," Smith said, his voice softening with mock regret, "It seems I'll need to work harder in the future." He glanced at Keqing, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"You!" Keqing couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. She knew Smith was just trying to tease her, but she had to admit—her health had improved recently, and much of it was thanks to him. She could already see the benefits of his suggestions. Despite herself, she felt a sense of comfort knowing that her husband was always looking out for her.
At the North Country Bank, Tartaglia was reading the latest report from his subordinates, his expression growing increasingly curious. "What? You're telling me that there's a fox several tens of meters tall over at Guyun Pavilion? Are you sure you're not joking?"
"Yes, my lord. The fox appeared suddenly, and its aura is extremely terrifying. I suspect it could be a demon god, or possibly the great demon of Inazuma!" The hidden mirror lady explained to Tartaglia with respect.
"A demon god?" Tartaglia's eyes gleamed with interest. "Could it be that it's trying to break the seal at Guyun Pavilion?"
Tartaglia's thoughts raced. His primary goal was to steal the Heart of God from Morax, though he knew that the chances of taking it from Morax were slim. Originally, he had planned to release a demon god under Guyun Pavilion to provoke Morax into a fight, then take advantage of the chaos to steal the Heart of God. Afterward, he could escape to the Zhidong Kingdom and avoid any consequences in Liyue.
But now, with the demon god potentially appearing on its own, Tartaglia saw it as an opportunity. "No, my lord. When we returned to the North Country Bank, we received a notice from the General Affairs Department stating that the fox wouldn't harm people and advised everyone not to visit Guyun Pavilion," the hidden mirror lady quickly clarified.
Tartaglia's frown deepened. "Could it be that it's an immortal of Liyue? Could our plans have been exposed?" He muttered to himself. Liyue had many immortals, and Morax was known as the ancestor of all immortals. Some demon gods had even voluntarily become immortals under Morax's rule.
The hidden mirror lady remained silent. It was up to Tartaglia to make these decisions. She was merely there to relay the information.
"Forget it, we won't go near Guyun Pavilion for now," Tartaglia said after a pause. "I'll inform the Kingdom of Winter and see what they suggest."
Though Tartaglia was eager to make contact with the fox, he couldn't help but worry it might be a follower of Morax. For the moment, he decided to bide his time and see how things unfolded.