Genshin Impact: My Villain System Isn't Working Properly

The gate looked dilapidated but was covered in unknown patterns.

Jiang Ning pondered briefly, then suddenly remembered these patterns matched the Salt God's seal from the scroll exactly.

Must be the right place.

"Let's go in..."

Jiang Ning led Wanyan into the domain, which was filled with scenes of decay and ruin.

Vines grew wild, rubble was everywhere, and among the debris were scattered pure white salt crystals.

"This is... the Salt God's salt!"

Wanyan declared with certainty.

Jiang Ning picked up some salt, rubbing it between his fingers.

Indeed, it had the feel of godly power... but why? Shouldn't dead gods leave resentment and remnants?

Or did the Salt God truly die without any resentment?

It was strange - everything from the records to the current situation felt odd.

Betrayed and killed by her most trusted follower, yet the Salt God had no resentment? Too saintly.

"Let's go deeper."

Jiang Ning dusted off his hands and said.

"Mm-hmm." Wanyan followed, pulling out a camera from somewhere to record everything.

They encountered murals along the way, which Wanyan photographed eagerly like finding treasure.

"This is..."

They arrived at what looked like an altar, with a vessel like a chalice in the center of the table.

It was filled with white salt crystals.

[There's godly energy...]

The System warned.

"Yes, I know, but very weak... this should be..."

Wanyan excitedly interrupted Jiang Ning's thoughts: "This must be a weapon used by the Salt God, something that produced endless salt! They say it was used for trading with other gods' followers, bringing prosperity to her people."

"Huh?"

Jiang Ning became more certain - this person must be a descendant of the Salt God's original followers.

"Ahem... I mean, this has great archaeological value. I should take it..."

Jiang Ning said: "But shouldn't this go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs or Yuehai Pavilion? It's an artifact found in Liyue territory, and you're a government official, right?"

"Uh, ah, yes, you're right. I'll be responsible for taking it back. Yes, I'll submit it to the Ministry."

Though Wanyan said this, her manner made Jiang Ning wonder if she really thought he was just an ignorant child.

[Don't worry, it has godly energy - an ordinary person like her can't even lift it.]

The System said calmly.

"I see..."

Sure enough, when Wanyan tried to lift the vessel with excitement and reverence, she embarrassingly found she couldn't move it at all.

"Let me..."

Jiang Ning casually picked it up.

"Ah, this should be..."

Before Wanyan could finish, Jiang Ning said: "Well, you can't lift it anyway, so I'll hold onto it and give it to the Ministry later."

Wanyan felt frustrated but could only agree for now, hoping for a chance to get it back later...

Besides, she didn't believe this was the only Salt God relic in the domain. 

Just one item proving the Salt God's strength would be enough to restore her reputation!

As they walked further, the path became more rugged and steep. 

Several times, if not for Jiang Ning catching her, Wanyan would have fallen.

"Why does it get more run-down the deeper we go..."

Wanyan felt confused. Shouldn't it become harder to proceed but more magnificent? This wasn't what she imagined.

"This is..."

Another room, with murals showing the Salt God using her power to give people fine salt and salt products.

"The Salt God was truly a loving deity..."

Wanyan acted like a fanatic, then gritted her teeth hatefully.

Watching her, Jiang Ning suddenly felt pity, realizing how to make her despair.

About fifteen minutes later, they reached another altar similar to the vessel's, with a broken ruler in the center, covered in white frost.

"Is this... the Salt God's weapon? But why is it broken? Is this proof of her defeat?"

Jiang Ning muttered - this wasn't in the scroll.

"Impossible! The Salt God was mighty, she couldn't be defeated! She must have been ambushed by despicable cowards!"

Wanyan snapped like a stepped-on cat.

"Sigh, I'm tired of watching your awkward act. Has no one told you your acting is terrible?"

Jiang Ning scratched his head.

"What- what do you mean? I don't understand." Wanyan's eyes showed panic.

"Well, let me reintroduce myself. I'm Jiang Ning, sort of an intern at Yuehai Pavilion? An adeptus disciple under Cloud-Retainer, and if that's not clear enough... uh, my senior sister is the Qixing's Secretary, Ganyu."

Seeing Wanyan's confusion, Jiang Ning thought it better to mention a name all Liyue knew.

"You- you're Morax's subordinate?"

Wanyan looked alert and panicked.

"Yeah, I guess. You're a Salt God devotee, right? I don't know what version of history your Salt God followers passed down, but it's probably wrong..."

Jiang Ning said.

Wanyan spoke harshly: "Impossible! Our ancestral records say the Salt God was a mighty and loving god, but was ambushed and killed by the despicable Morax! Then he pretended to be benevolent, supposedly 'taking in' our ancestors - despicable!"

"Don't you have any priestly records? Those would be more accurate than inherited stories..." Jiang Ning asked.

"Those were lost long ago, or rather, destroyed by Morax's lackeys."

Wanyan's eyes were full of hatred.

She didn't bother pretending anymore - since she'd been exposed, there would be consequences anyway. 

But at least she could expose Morax's despicable true nature!

What a pitiful person, blinded by generations of incorrect records...

Jiang Ning said nothing, only: "Let's go. The truth should be at the innermost part... though you might find it hard to accept."

He picked up the broken ruler and walked deeper inside.

Wanyan desperately wanted to reclaim the Salt God's belongings, but faced with his strength, could only grit her teeth and follow.

The final building resembled a palace, though decayed. On the stairs leading to it were salt statues of people seemingly fleeing outward.

"Why are there salt statues here?"

Wanyan asked, confused.

The statues wore expressions of absolute terror.

Jiang Ning glanced over: "These aren't statues - they're real people, the Salt God's former followers. In other words, your ancestors."

"Impossible! The Salt God was merciful, how could she kill her own people!"

Wanyan refused to believe.

"Mm, you're right. The Salt God, Havria, was merciful and would never harm her people."

Jiang Ning, knowing the truth from the scroll, nodded.

This response left Wanyan bewildered.

"We're here now. Once we go in, you'll understand everything."

Jiang Ning stepped toward the summit.

Wanyan stared blankly at the palace gates ahead. The truth she'd long awaited now felt like an approaching disaster.

The gates no longer seemed to lead to truth, but rather a beast's bloody maw ready to devour her.

Instinctively, she had an ominous feeling.

But her trust in the Salt God, her inherited records, and hatred for Morax drove her to follow.

The palace hall was empty of furniture or decoration, as if something had cleared it completely.

Only salt crystals covered the ground, along with various salt statues.

They seemed to be fleeing something, death pursuing them, their expressions full of terror and pain.

"This- this is..."

Wanyan couldn't believe what she saw.

In the center of the hall was a salt statue frozen in a stabbing motion, as if killing someone.

As Wanyan's pupils shook, Jiang Ning slowly spoke:

"Salt God Havria - you were right about one thing. She was indeed merciful. But contrary to your ancestral records, Havria's power wasn't strong; it was extremely weak."

"In peaceful times, Havria would have been a good ruler, a benevolent lord. Her salt powers were excellent for trade, enriching her people."

"But in the chaos of the Archon War, this was original sin."

"A wealthy domain, convenient powers, and a weak ruler - to other gods, this was prime meat."

"Havria's territory shrank with each concession, until only Domain of Salt remained."

"Her people, unable to watch their god suffer humiliation after defeat, along with warmongers dissatisfied with their peaceful deity, led by the king, assassinated their god, giving her a 'dignified' exit."

"That's the truth."

Jiang Ning felt no sympathy for Havria - in those times, weakness was original sin. He only felt disappointment at her lack of fight.

And contempt for her people.

A dignified exit... being killed by your own people would nail you to the gods' pillar of shame. If not for the neighboring god being overthrown by Barbatos and his people, they'd probably be on that pillar too.

As for those warmongers... hah, Havria gave you prosperous lives and divine protection, but you killed your loving god because she wasn't as strong as others, using it as a credential to serve other gods?

Good riddance.

"No- impossible, you must be lying! You're Morax's follower, you're lying! This must be Morax ambushing the Salt God, and her followers trying to avenge her, then being killed by Morax!"

Wanyan's expression had become twisted. She clutched her head, face full of disbelief.

"Besides, you said the Salt God was merciful - she couldn't have harmed her people!"

Like clutching at the last straw, Wanyan shouted her objections, as if volume would add conviction.

Jiang Ning laughed: "Look, fool others if you must, but don't fool yourself."

"If Rex Lapis killed this person, why did everyone turn to salt statues?"

"The Salt God wouldn't harm her people, but when a god dies, the released energy isn't something ordinary people can survive."

"Those who assassinated the Salt God never dreamed their actions would bring retribution."

"I don't believe it! You're lying!"

Wanyan's emotions were extremely unstable, eyes bloodshot, breathing heavily.

"Then look at this - it bears your Salt God's power and your former priest's writing... We couldn't fake this, and Liyue isn't so despicable. History is history - only beasts try to change it."

Jiang Ning said dismissively.

The scroll was within reach, its energy matching the Salt God's other remnants. Though Wanyan hadn't read it, she partly believed its authenticity.

She reached out, touched the scroll, then pulled back as if burned, but finally grabbed it and began reading.

She was like a gambler betting their last chips, facing suicide with loss.

As she read, Wanyan's breathing steadied, her eyes shifting from madness to deadness.

She aged ten years in moments, falling to her knees, still holding the scroll, muttering:

"Impossible... impossible..."

Jiang Ning, showing no mercy to such people, delivered the final blow:

"You wanted to take these back to reveal the 'truth,' right? Even worship them as holy relics."

"The vessel is indeed from the Salt God's power, but that broken ruler - given to her people, then used as a tool to kill her..."

[Congratulations Host on completing the mission. Wanyan has fallen into despair. Distributing reward...]

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