<h4>Chapter 160: Viin Simtor, Ch 159</h4>


    [After all, there was no longer any force that could threaten them. Your existence seemed to gradually lose its meaning, and even the quality of tributes offered to you became increasingly poor.]


    [Age 510: During one of your patrols, you unexpectedly discovered a "curious" creature. Unlike the monsters you were familiar with, these beings were far more adorable,cking dense fur and rough skin. They wore strange coverings on their bodies. Later, you learned they were called "humans."]


    [They could sing, dance, and make pleasing sounds using bamboo instruments. On their faces, you saw an expression you had never witnessed before—a smile.]


    [You didn''t approach them, choosing instead to observe from a distance. You didn''t want to disrupt their happiness and harmony. After watching for a while, you reluctantly decided to leave.]


    [However, on your way back, you unexpectedly encountered a human child being attacked by monsters. Although you had lost the intimidating presence of your prime, the monsters still dared not act recklessly and quickly fled.]


    [You cleared a path through the tall grass with a gust of wind, and the child seemed to understand your intention. Surprisingly, she didn''t run away in fear of your appearance or power. Instead, she bowed and said a word in hernguage before turning to leave.]


    [You thought your meeting with the human girl was a mere ident. But a few monthster, while patrolling the same area, you discovered that the girl was waiting for you, waving and calling out from a distance.]


    [This time, you didn''t leave. A longing stirred in your heart—a desire to "connect" with her. The monsters feared, respected, and revered you, but they had never epted you. To them, you were merely a lofty protector.]


    [You restrained your power as much as you could, staying several meters away to avoid harming her with the surrounding gusts. Yet, she seemed unbothered.]


    [She offered you food—not raw meat or fruit, but a cooked dish. For the first time, you tasted something so delicious.]


    [She began teaching you the humannguage. Pointing to herself and then to you, she taught you your first word—"friend."]


    [Age 511: You became secret friends. You would meet at an agreed time, ying, learning, and talking. She even gave you a name—Decarabian, meaning "Wind Sweeping the Grasnds" in hernguage. Her name was Yuni.]


    [Age 513: You learned how to take on a human form, a skill that wasn''t difficult for you. Although Yuni didn''t care about this, she was still thrilled and invited you to her settlement. You declined, knowing that being in a densely popted area could endanger them.]


    [You had never been aware of "time," but now, for the first time, you found it unbearably slow, especially when waiting to meet Yuni.]


    [Age 515: As usual, you met Yuni, but she seemed upset. She told you that her father wanted her to marry a boy from their tribe.]


    [You asked what "marriage" meant, and Yuni exined that it was a bond where two people who loved each other would stay together forever.]


    ["I really like Yuni. Let''s get married!" you blurted out but quickly shook your head. "That''s not possible. Your family wouldn''t agree."]


    ["No, let''s get married!" To your surprise, Yuni''s face lit up with excitement. "We can elope and be together forever."]


    [The innocent girl and the naive god made a lifelong promise under the starry sky on the grasnds. Yuni went back to pack her belongings, and you prepared to bid farewell to your domain.]


    [Returning to the shrine built for you, you found that the monsters now only offered tributes during celebrations. Yet you didn''t mind. Sitting on your throne, you imagined a future filled with happiness.]


    [You weren''t sure how much time passed, but just as you were about to leave for your meeting,motion erupted outside the shrine.]


    [The monsters hadn''t developed a "civilization," but their innate wildness asionally led them to gather and celebrate. A bountiful hunt or a great victory in battle could spark such revelry.]


    [As the shrine doors opened, you intended to announce your departure. Before you could speak, the monsters unexpectedly presented you with tributes for the first time in ages.]


    [The moment you saw the tributes, your heart felt as if it had been shredded by a violent wind. The so-called "offerings" were a group of wounded humans—and Yuni was among them!]


    [She spotted you immediately, and in her eyes, you saw a torrent ofplex emotions.]


    [To you, humans were endearing beings, but to these monsters, they were merely prey—cleverer than most, but prey nheless.]


    [On the very day of your promise, the monsters discovered Yuni''s settlement and attacked it.]


    [You had nevermunicated with the monsters, so you couldn''tmand them to stop attacking humans. You had underestimated their lust for violence. Their ughter wasn''t driven by need, but by bloodthirsty instincts.]


    [These tributes weren''t offered out of reverence. Unlike their elders, these monsters hadn''t witnessed your power or experienced your protection. They saw you merely as a ceremonial fixture.]


    [Seeing Yuni gravely injured, you felt something for the first time—anger. With a flick of your hand, a de of wind instantly shredded the monsters poised to strike.]


    [The once-revered god unleashed their power, bringing not glory but endless ughter.]


    [The monsters couldn''t fathom why you suddenly "went mad," but they took up arms against you. Laughably, after years of concealing your strength, they saw you only as a slightly formidable foe.]


    [When they needed a god, they worshipped you. When they no longer did, they raised their des without hesitation.]


    [The battle was utterly one-sided. As the god of storms, you reimed the authority of the fierce winds, the gulf between mortals and gods as vast as earth and sky.]


    [You watched as the once-small encampment you had seen grow over two centuries was obliterated in less than two hours.]


    [Looking at the corpses of your "subjects," you felt no satisfaction, only emptiness. Returning to the shrine, you found Yuni too gravely injured to speak. You tried to heal her, but your proximity only worsened her wounds.]


    ["I''m sorry..." For the first time in your life, you apologized. Perhaps you were the first god to ever apologize to a mortal. Yet Yuni could no longer hear your voice. You finally understood how fragile human life could be.]


    [Age 540: You resumed wandering, as you had centuries ago. Monsters still worshipped you out of fear, but you paid them no heed.]


    [Age 665: You began to long for the feeling of being worshipped, a desire rooted in your very being. But being revered by these monsters meant nothing. Their faith was born of fear, not sincerity. You longed for subjects worthy of your love, just as you loved them in return.]


    [Age 712: Over the years, you sought to rule various monsters, attempting to be their sovereign. Each attempt ended in failure. Their reverence was no different from that of savages—they saw you as a powerful figure to rely on, not as one they truly revered.]


    [Age 803: One day, you crossed the borders of your former domain and entered a new territory. Here, you encountered an astonishing sight.]


    [Humans! Many more humans than you had seen before, living in structures built of stone. Their clothing was not made of animal hides but fine, woven fabrics.]


    [You thought to yourself, how wonderful it would be to be worshipped by these humans, to be their god. Almost instinctively, you moved closer, only to be stopped by a figure blocking your path.]


    [It was a man with long ck hair, wielding a spear. You soon realized that he possessed a power strikingly simr to your own—the power of a god.]


    [Since your birth, your strength as a god had left you unmatched. But for the first time, this man made you feel a sense of oppression.]


    ["I am Morax, guardian of Liyue. State your purpose," the man said, his voice deep andmanding. You told him of your desire to be a god worshipped in Liyue.]


    [Morax shook his head and said, "Thisnd does not need a second god. Please leave."]


    [But with your dream so close, how could you give up? You attacked him, summoning your fierce wind des to strike.]


    [Your wind des, which had never met an obstacle they couldn''t cut through, were effortlessly deflected by two stone pirs Morax conjured. The pirs bore only the faintest scratches.]


    [The mighty winds you so prided yourself on were as feeble as a breeze against Morax''s stone walls.]


    [With just one exchange, you realized the gulf between you and Morax. You expected him to retaliate, perhaps even kill you. After all, you had always lived in a world where the weak were prey to the strong.]


    [But Morax did not strike. He simply said calmly, "You are no match for me. Please leave. It is not my desire, but I cannot allow my people to face any threat."]


    ["Your people?" A twinge of envy arose in your heart. You didn''t flee but instead asked, "What must I do to be like you, to be a god worshipped by humans?"]


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