| “ | May my zither playing soothe the hearts of the people. | ” |
Bio[]
She's a non-confrontational, good-hearted girl who knows how to make her own decisions and think for herself. Sweet Lotus Seed Soup's zither playing, on one hand, has a soporific effect, and on the other hand, can promote healing. Because of the countless people she harmed while with the Heretics (an evil cult, which she's one of the many victims, but that's just the tip of the iceberg), she hopes to bring help to even more people.
Food Introduction[]
Sweet lotus seed soup is a traditional dessert from the Hunan region of China. It is principally comprised of lotus seeds from the Hunan Dongting Lake area. The lotus seeds are round and white, with a sticky texture and clean flavor. They're placed in a stewed rock sugar water for a sweet, rich texture. After combining with green beans, tremella white fungus, longan and other ingredients, the flavor profile is complete. It is a natural, healthy nutritional supplement.
Other Info[]
How to Acquire[]
Associated Events
Initial Stats[]
 Soul Power
|
1770 |
|---|---|
 Attack
|
60 |
 Defense
|
17 |
 HP
|
520 |
 Crit Rate
|
728 |
 Crit Dmg
|
1481 |
 Atk Spd
|
991 |
Skills[]
| Zither Waves | Basic Skill | |
|---|---|---|
|
Sweet Lotus Seed Soup holds her zither and floats in mid-air, restoring 121 (1573) HP for the two lowest-HP allies, and raising their attack speed by 5% (25%), lasting 3 seconds. | |
| Lotus Splash | Energy Skill | |
|
Sweet Lotus Seed Soup closes her eyes and holds her zither, plucking the strings and giving all allies a 412 (5356) point shield, lasting 5 seconds, and stunning all enemies for 3 seconds. | |
| Super Lotus Splash | Link Skill | |
|
Sweet Lotus Seed Soup closes her eyes and holds her zither, plucking the strings and giving all allies a 495 (6435) point shield, lasting 5 seconds, and stunning all enemies for 3 seconds. | 
|
blue = lvl 1
red = max lvlVoice Lines[]
| JP | CN | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract | It seems the music has guided me hither. I am at your service, Master Attendant. | ||
| Log In | Master Attendant, since you've come all this way, have a seat and listen to me play a tune. | ||
| Ice Arena | To pluck the zither here would indeed be a unique experience. | ||
| Skills | Music can be sharp as a blade. | ||
| Ascend | Only music can express my gratitude for this. | ||
| Fatigue | Apologies... I'm unable to play for you today... | ||
| Recovering | The zither's playing will heal me. Do not worry about that, Master Attendant. | ||
| Team Formation | I will not let down your trust in me, Master Attendant. | ||
| Knockout | My skills are lacking... | ||
| Notice | Master Attendant, I've made a medicinal dish. I'm not sure if it's the sort of thing you're used to eating... | ||
| Idle 1 | Would that one day the songs from my hand reach up to the seventh heaven? | ||
| Idle 2 | I just can't seem to get the hang of this piece... Looks like I'll have to go to Dongtang for some instruction... | ||
| Idle 3 | Where's that cake I left for Master Attendant? Did Persimmon Cake steal it again...?! | ||
| Interaction 1 | I've been practicing a new piece lately. If you wish to hear, Master Attendant, I'd be happy to oblige. | ||
| Interaction 2 | You ask about the crack in the grain of the zither? Rest assured, it's no great impediment. | ||
| Interaction 3 | I once studied a bit of pharmacology. Your little aliment should be within my abilities to treat. | ||
| Pledge | As long as I'm able to grow old with you and my zither, all the travel in the world doesn't interest me. | ||
| Intimacy 1 | If wind blows and rain falls, will you stay here still? | ||
| Intimacy 2 | I haven't seen much of this world, but you certainly strike a chord in me which I have longed to hear. | ||
| Intimacy 3 | That you deign to listen to my zither playing satisfies me to no end. | ||
| Victory | I merely did all that was in my meager capabilities to do. | ||
| Defeat | I have brought disgrace... I will redouble my training efforts. | ||
| Feeding | To receive such kindness from Master Attendant, of course I must return it with a kindness of my own. | ||
Skins
| Winter Lantern | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| ||||||
| Vessel of Dreams, Calming Night, Twelfth Month Frost | |||||||
| Food Souls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Main[]
Sprites[]
Sprite Animations[]
Normal[]
Winter Lantern[]
Other[]
Illustrations[]
|
Contents of this page has been fan-translated by BasilCosmo and may not be completely accurate. Official translations will be added whenever it's available. |
I. Scars
In the dimly lit room, the sound of the zither flowed gently. Beyond the heavy curtains, everything before my eyes was obscured, making the scene seem less real. With the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground, the once slightly noisy room had now fallen into near silence.
Slowly, I lifted my hands from the zither's strings, cradled my instrument in my arms, and stepped outside. A few black-robed figures stood guard by the door. I nodded to them in acknowledgment before turning to leave. As I watched them step into the room, I couldn’t suppress a faint sigh of unease.
The evening sun bathed the narrow path in warm, golden light, casting dappled patterns upon the ground. But I had no heart to appreciate the scenery.
Unknowingly, I found myself at the courtyard gate. A faint glow flickered from within the house.
At this hour, the Master Attendant would normally not have returned yet…
Regardless, I decided to prepare dinner for her first. It had been a long time since I last cooked for her, and even longer since we had shared a meal together. With that thought, my heart finally felt a little lighter.
Yet, when everything was carefully prepared, I realized that the Master Attendant had locked herself in her room.
"Master Attendant, dinner is ready. I even made the pastries you mentioned a few days ago."
I knocked gently on the door and called out. But after waiting for a while, there was no response.
"Master Attendant!" I tried again.
Could she be resting… or had she fallen ill?
Just as I was speculating—with a soft creak, the door was pushed open. The next moment, I noticed her slightly swollen, red eyes, and my concern deepened.
"Master Attendant… your eyes…"
She forced a smile, but her voice was tinged with hoarseness.
"I just took a nap. My eyes felt dry, so I rubbed them a little. It's nothing, don’t worry about it."
"Come on, let’s eat. It’s been a while since I last had a meal personally made by you, Sweet Lotus Seed Soup."
With that, she walked past me and headed toward the dining area. Her explanation left no room for argument, but I still couldn’t shake the unease in my heart—the way she looked at me held traces of avoidance.
And that excuse… was an obvious and clumsy lie.
II. Ruthless and Tyrannical
The cool night breeze slipped through the cracks of the window, causing the candle flame to flicker ever so slightly. The room was silent. Leaning against the table, my thoughts wavered like the unsteady flame. I had not been here for long, but the Master Attendant had already spent a great deal of time in this place called the Holy Church.
Like me, she was also a musician. Before coming here, she had been raised by an elderly zither master. From a young age, she trained under his guidance, and with her exceptional talent, she gained a small reputation even in her youth.
But then, one day, her master unknowingly offended someone from the Holy Church. These arrogant people sought trouble for the master and disciple pair, and at first glance, they had already taken a liking to the Master Attendant—both for her delicate beauty and her remarkable skill with the zither.
No matter how desperately the old master tried to stop them, the Master Attendant ultimately chose to follow the people of the Holy Church—if only to protect her teacher. Those who called themselves "lords" reveled in their power, indulging in drunken pleasures and unchecked debauchery.
The Master Attendant was forced to play the zither for their amusement, but the songs she played were nothing more than the frivolous tunes of pleasure houses, ones she had always disdained. From then on, her music was tainted. She was reduced to the lowest rank of zither players, living in humiliation. It was only after I was summoned that her situation improved—if only slightly.
Perhaps it was because of my music’s hypnotic abilities. Once they discovered this, those people suddenly changed their attitude. No longer looking at me with disdain, they instead smiled and ordered me to use my zither to control and subdue other Food Souls.
Because of my so-called "contributions" to the Holy Church, the Master Attendant was granted a certain level of status—but at the same time, she also became an object of suspicion. Luckily, they remained unaware of one crucial fact: beyond hypnotism, my music also carried the power to heal. Using this small ability, I did all I could to treat the Food Souls who had suffered grave injuries under their control.
The Master Attendant is a kind person. And the Holy Church, using such despicable methods to harm my innocent companions, is utterly reprehensible. I do not know what these humans ultimately seek to gain. But seeing my companions in agony, watching them struggle in pain, and even sink into despair—I could not simply stand by and do nothing—even if it meant risking unknown consequences.
Perhaps I had been too focused on helping my companions. I had failed to notice the one most important to me—the Master Attendant. It wasn’t until our conversation earlier that I finally realized—her suffering had never truly lessened.
"It’s those lords!"
"……"
"Since when has this been happening?"
"I… I’m fine…"
"It’s my fault for not realizing sooner…"
Taking the medicinal ointment, I carefully treated the wounds on her arms. The white bandages gradually covered the shocking scars—both fresh and old. Only then did the tight grip around my heart ease slightly.
Had I not made this discovery today, I might never have fully understood—those so-called "lords," who usually did nothing but indulge in pleasure, were capable of such cruelty.
What started as casual commands and condescending gestures had escalated—to humiliation, to beatings, to torment.
One moment of displeasure, one failed expectation, one drunken stupor—any of these became an excuse for their violent whims.
III. Dark and Gloomy
Late at night, the faint sound of sobbing echoed through the room once more. I hesitated before the door, my mind in turmoil. Even separated by a wall, the suppressed sorrow still struck me like raindrops falling relentlessly upon my heart.
This had been going on for some time now, and it seemed to be getting worse with each passing day. Yet, Master Attendant kept her door tightly shut, shutting everyone out—including me. Perhaps she didn’t want me to see her like this, or perhaps she simply didn’t want to trouble me…
But no matter the reason, I couldn’t stop worrying about her. Even so, all I could do was prepare medicinal soup for her each day, using the excuse of being unwell myself to evade orders and tasks, hoping that it would bring her some relief. But in the end, it all collapsed. I recalled a story I had once read.
A child, replacing cotton with heavy stones, stuffed them into a cloth doll’s body. The doll, unable to bear the weight, eventually burst apart and was discarded in a silent corner.
That day, I caught a faint scent of blood. Fortunately, I forced open the door in time and saved the frail Master Attendant. I hadn’t expected her tears to have already soaked through her clothes. With the last of her strength, she kept repeating the same words.
“I want to leave… I want to leave…”
Hearing her trembling, despairing voice, I made up my mind.
I had to help her escape this prison—no matter what it cost.
I did my best to comfort Master Attendant, vowing to her that I would see this through. The only thing keeping her going was the belief that escape was possible.
“…Have you really made up your mind?”
Calamus Wine furrowed her brows, looking at us with deep concern.
“Yes. I can’t bear to see Master Attendant suppress her pain like this any longer…”
“But you know as well as I do how difficult it is to escape from here.”
“If you’re branded a traitor, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
“As long as Master Attendant is no longer trapped, I don’t care about the consequences.”
“You… sigh, I knew you’d say that. In that case, count me in.”
“Thank you, Calamus Wine… but given your situation, you shouldn’t get involved.”
“At this point, I can’t just stand by and watch. And stop trying to scare me with ‘those people.’”
“By the way, how is the medicine I prepared last time? Is the musician getting used to it? I’ve refined the formula again—this one should be gentler on the palate. Here.”
Calamus Wine spoke with mock irritation, handing me a few carefully wrapped packets of medicinal herbs. Her unwavering determination left me momentarily speechless.
Calamus Wine was the first—and only—friend I had made within the Holy Church. Like her Master Attendant, she was known as a poison doctor. Rumor had it that while she was highly skilled in medicine, she was particularly fond of studying and using poisons, which made others wary of her.
Initially, our paths never crossed. Until one day, she caught me trying to treat an injured Food Soul. To my surprise, she didn’t report me. Instead, she bluntly criticized my poor medical skills without holding back, and in the end, she even stepped in to help. I can still remember her exasperated yet earnest tone as if it were yesterday.
At the time, I was too stunned to react, but slowly, I realized—she wasn’t as ruthless as the rumors claimed. We truly became acquainted by chance. That day, I had unknowingly wandered into a secluded place—a garden filled with all sorts of strange medicinal herbs. Despite the variety, everything was meticulously arranged, a testament to the owner’s care.
Besides music, I had a keen interest in herbal medicine, though my knowledge barely scratched the surface. Amid the sea of herbs, I could only recognize a handful, but I was still drawn deeper into the garden. Suddenly, my eyes landed on a particular vibrant green plant. Unable to resist, I reached out to touch its leaves—only to be interrupted by a familiar voice.
“You’d best be careful. If this one pricks your finger, your hand will go numb for an entire day.”
Startled, I halted midair, turning to see Calamus Wine approaching with arms crossed, exuding an unhurried confidence.
“Ah, so it’s you—the one who secretly saved those Food Souls last time. What, here to steal my herbs now?”
Her brows arched slightly, her expression lively yet not sharp—like a whistle sounding in the summer breeze, refreshing and clear. But I could tell she held no hostility.
From that day forward, I often visited the garden, learning medicine and herbal remedies from her. She never tired of explaining the intricate art of healing, and through those lessons, we grew close. Her passion for medicine far surpassed mine, and her frank, straightforward personality made her easy to get along with. And, she was the only Food Soul within the Holy Church who was willing to address my Master Attendant as “Musician.”
To me, Calamus Wine was like a blazing fire breaking through endless darkness, her warmth illuminating those around her. We continued our secret efforts to treat the wounded Food Souls. Even though, to the Holy Church, they were nothing more than “test subjects” captured for cruel experiments.
Perhaps we couldn’t take away all their suffering. But at the very least, we could lessen it.
IV. Recast
We began searching for and planning a route that would allow us to escape successfully. It was only then that I truly realized how vast the Holy Church was. Like a colossal palace isolated from the outside world, its structure was intricate and labyrinthine.
Some people stood atop their desires, indifferent to the fact that they were merely prisoners within an invisible cage built of blood and wealth. But just as all our preparations were nearing completion, failure struck us like a crushing stone.
Here, every action was under the Church’s watchful eye—inescapable. Like a tightly woven net, it had already ensnared each of us, or perhaps, people like us, binding us until death. In the end, our plan was discovered, and both the Attendant and I were imprisoned. I could only comfort the Attendant again and again, yet she did not cry anymore.
Instead, she became like a broken, dangling puppet, numbly allowing those people to tear her apart. At that moment, I clearly saw the final glimmer in her eyes extinguish completely. A pitch-dark cage, never touched by sunlight, filled with boundless sins and blood.
That was the first time I truly came into contact with a secret of the Holy Church—though perhaps it could not even be called a secret. Coldness and torment—those were the only impressions I had of this place. The long nights were unbearable, and I had no way of knowing how much time had passed before the men in black returned. They told me:
“That woman killed herself in prison. But don’t be too sad—you won’t be sad for long. Soon, you’ll become just like those other test subjects. Hahahahaha—”
Suic…ide…?
De…ath…
The Attendant… she… is dead…?
The sudden news left my mind utterly blank. As if mocking my foolish resistance, they continued:
“What? You still want to see her one last time—?”
“If you kneel, we might just consider it—hahahaha—!”
The moment my knees touched the icy, solid ground, their laughter grew louder. But at that moment, nothing mattered more to me than the Attendant’s death. The frail woman lay in the corner, her body surrounded only by bloodstains that had yet to dry.
Staggering into the cell, I knelt beside her and gently held her hands—hands that should have been peacefully playing the zither, but were now covered in wounds and scars. Tears fell uncontrollably.
If only I had made up my mind sooner, could I have prevented this from happening…?
In the end, I was not strong enough to stop those people from tormenting her as they pleased… before I could think further, a faint noise came from behind me, followed by the sound of several people collapsing. Footsteps approached. I immediately shielded the Attendant behind me, only to see the newcomer remove their hood. When I saw the familiar face beneath it, I froze in shock.
“Chrysanthemum Wine…?”
“…I’m sorry… I came too late…”
Before she even finished speaking, a sharp pain struck my neck. In a daze, I glimpsed the glint of silver as a needle flashed in her hand.
When I awoke, I found myself in a completely unfamiliar room. Upon closer inspection, the décor did not resemble that of the Holy Church. Rubbing my throbbing head, I struggled to recall everything clearly.
The last thing I remembered before losing consciousness… was it Chrysanthemum Wine who brought me here?
Just as I was about to get up and explore my surroundings, a woman dressed in yellow robes entered the room.
“Miss Zither, are you feeling better?”
She chuckled.
“I know you must have many questions, but don’t worry—I will answer them all in time.”
Though she smiled warmly, carrying herself with grace, I sensed an indescribable danger from her. Beyond that, there was something vaguely familiar about her… after a brief exchange, I finally learned her identity—she was Chicken Strip Soup, the newly appointed Holy Maiden of the Holy Church.
Despite the widespread rumors about her seizing power, I never paid heed to idle gossip, so I felt little turmoil over the matter. At this moment, the only thing weighing on my heart was the fate of the Attendant and Chrysanthemum Wine.
“Miss Zither, all you need to do now is focus on resting. I will visit you again soon. There are some things you will come to understand in due time.”
And so, I remained within this courtyard for the time being. Just as Chicken Strip Soup had said, for now, this place was the safest refuge I had.
Not long after, Chicken Strip Soup visited again. She was still composed and elegant, carrying an air of innate confidence and allure. If one let their guard down even slightly, it would be all too easy to fall into her grasp.
I collected my thoughts. It seemed Chicken Soup bore no hostility toward me—otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of tending to me. But I still didn’t know her true purpose. Or rather, what conditions she intended to propose in exchange for this conversation. What worried me more was Chrysanthemum Wine.
What connection did she have with Chicken Strip Soup…?
A vague unease crept over me, but I forced myself to maintain a calm expression, careful not to let her read my thoughts too easily. Yet our conversation progressed far more smoothly than I had expected. It was only then that I finally understood—Chicken Strip Soup and Chrysanthemum Wine had worked together to save the Attendant and me.
That silver needle from Chrysanthemum Wine had merely been used to render me unconscious so I could be passed off as the Attendant’s corpse, allowing me to escape unnoticed. To the outside world, the traitor “Sweet Lotus Seed Soup” had already been executed.
After that, Chicken Strip Soup merely had to use her authority as the Saintess to safely smuggle us out of the Holy Church. I couldn’t help but be astonished at the extent of the Holy Maiden’s power. It was so great that she, like those high-ranking figures, could decide a person’s life or death with ease. But what truly caught me off guard were the next words she spoke.
“I only ask for one thing from you, Miss Zither—establish the Ink Pavilion for me… and eradicate the Holy Church.”
“…Holy Maiden, you mean…?!”
“Is this not what you’ve always wanted, Miss Zither?”
“I…”
“When you saved those Food Souls, did you not think of anything?”
“You may be able to rescue them momentarily, but the Holy Church will never stop hunting them. There will always be more victims.”
“Miss Zither, take your time. There’s no rush—I have plenty of time to wait for your answer.”
Like a serpent lazily flicking its tongue, her words wrapped around me, relentless and unwavering, determined to unearth the deepest desires within me. I shuddered involuntarily, lifting my gaze—only to meet her piercing stare. Her eyes were like an unfathomable abyss. I knew there was danger hidden within them, yet they lured me in, tempting me to fall.
Even after she left, I found myself unable to fully regain my composure. Just as she said, all I could do for them was offer meager, fleeting aid. And there would always be more victims.
Was my compassion for my kin the only reason I acted?
Or was it guilt over my own involvement—however unintended—that drove me?
If I could do nothing more for them now… perhaps I could at least prevent this from happening again.
The true key to everything lay in the Holy Church—the root of all sin. Right now, I was still far too weak to oppose it. But if I could build the Ink Pavilion, as Chicken Strip Soup suggested, and gather enough strength… perhaps we would stand a chance.
Yet why would she, after attaining the high position of Holy Maiden, turn against the Holy Church?
I could only guess that she saw it as nothing more than an obstacle in her path. Behind her enchanting smile, a deeper scheme was no doubt brewing. I had no way of knowing what it was—only that I had to tread even more carefully.
I understood that, as I was now, I lacked the power to take on this battle alone. For now, my only choice was to cooperate with her.
It was the only way to fight back.
V. Sweet Lotus Seed Soup
A light drizzle veiled the air, mist curling like smoke. Sweet Lotus Seed Soup knelt and placed a white chrysanthemum before two gravestones, the hem of her blue dress brushing against the damp soil. She didn’t seem to mind, instead lowering herself further to gently sweep away fallen petals and drifting willow fluff from the gravestones.
Not far away, Dongtang stood under a willow tree, holding an umbrella, silently waiting.
“It’s all in the past now… You don’t need to blame yourself anymore.”
“I know… I just feel wistful. In the end, Master Attendant never got to see the old zither master one last time before passing away…”
“Perhaps… being laid to rest beside him is the best ending they could have hoped for.”
“The rain is stopping soon. Let’s go.”
“Not staying a little longer? I thought you still had a lot you wanted to say to them.”
“It’s alright. It’s been so long… I’m sure they already know.”
Sweet Lotus Seed Soup smiled faintly, her eyes carrying a soft warmth. After handling the funeral arrangements for Master Attendant, she had begun searching for the old zither master.
Fortunately, he was still living in that same small town. But in his weary, aged eyes, the memories of old friends had long since faded away, dissolving into silent tears. When the zither master, too, passed away, Sweet Lotus Seed Soup fulfilled Master Attendant’s final wish—burying the two together, so that they, who had been like father and daughter, could reunite in their last moments.
By the time they returned to the Ink Pavilion, the skies had cleared, the spring breeze dispelling the lingering mist. Inside the courtyard, hurried footsteps sounded. Almond Tofu came running out anxiously, but upon seeing them, her expression turned to relief and joy.
“Wah—Dongtang-jie[1]! Sweet Lotus Seed Soup-jie! You’re finally back!”
“Slow down, Little Almond. Did something happen?”
“There’s a badly injured sister inside! Chrysanthemum Wine-jie saved her, but her wounds are really serious! Dongtang-jie, you weren’t here, and I… I couldn’t help her… I got so worried… I was about to go find Calamus Wine-jie…”
“Don’t worry. If Chrysanthemum Wine brought her back, she’s most likely a Food Soul—she won’t fall so easily.”
“Mm, I should be able to help. But just in case, let’s still ask Calamus Wine to come.”
As Dongtang and Sweet Lotus Seed Soup spoke, they hurried into the room. On the bed lay a woman, covered in blood. Beneath her tattered clothing, her body was riddled with wounds, some still wet from the rain, making the injuries appear even more severe. Her eyes were tightly shut, her expression pained, her long black hair accentuating the pallor of her face.
Yet, in her hand, she clutched a firearm, fingers wrapped around it as if still standing guard. Sweet Lotus Seed Soup stepped forward to examine her, while Chrysanthemum Wine stood by the window, her expression complicated.
“I was a step too late. That city… there were Fallen Angel corpses, but also traces of a cult. But more than that… it looked like a battlefield of humans.”
“The Fallen Angel… it seems she took care of it. The cultists… likely escaped in the chaos. As for the others… those who could run, ran. Those who couldn’t… are dead.”
—Thud!
A sudden noise broke the tense silence as an object slipped from the woman’s body and landed on the floor. Dongtang swept aside the bloodstains with a flick of her sleeve, then softly read the words engraved on it.
“Kung Pao…”
Notes
- ↑ In Chinese, the suffix "jie" (姐) means "older sister" or can be used as a respectful term of address for a woman slightly older than the speaker.