Chenyu Vale.
That afternoon, Fujin and Lingyuan chatted idly for a while.
It was nothing more than long-buried memories from the past, and inevitably, Herblord came up.
The look on Lingyuan's face immediately darkened.
She still remembered it clearly. When the mad god had gone berserk, Herblord had been cut into several pieces while protecting the humans of Chenyu Vale. Snake blood had dyed the mountains and lakes red…
"Herblord, huh…" Fujin looked at Lingyuan. "She's in Liyue Harbor right now."
"Huh?" Lingyuan froze. "Herblord is still alive?!"
"Of course she's alive." Fujin smiled. "She studied medicine, remember? She's got more ways to save her own life than anyone. It wouldn't be that easy to kill her."
Lingyuan fell silent for a moment, then murmured softly, "That's good."
Fujin glanced at her. "If you're happy, then smile. Don't be so tsundere all the time."
Lingyuan's expression stiffened. She turned her head away. "Shut up."
After chatting for a bit longer, they started feeling thirsty again.
Fujin raised her hand and beckoned to the ancient tea tree, plucking a few leaves.
Using the teapot Ping had given her, she began brewing tea again.
"Want some?"
"That bitter stuff? No way."
"Didn't you drink it this morning?"
"That's because you kept going on about it. Otherwise I wouldn't have."
"Tea's supposed to be a little bitter."
"Hmph."
"Do you like sweet drinks?" Fujin asked.
"What are you plotting now?"
"I heard that a drink shop opened in Liyue Harbor last year. Their specialty juice is really popular."
"Specialty juice?"
"It's called Rainbow Juice. Supposedly, its aroma forms a seven-colored rainbow in the air. The flavor changes with the surrounding temperature and humidity, creating seven dreamy variations. No two cups taste the same."
"!"
"Well? Interested?"
Lingyuan immediately became wary. "Why are you asking this? What are you trying to do?"
Fujin poured herself a cup of tea. "Nothing. Just asking."
Lingyuan thought for a moment. "That's in Liyue Harbor, not Qiaoying Village. Even if I'm interested, it doesn't matter."
Fujin chuckled. "We can go to Liyue Harbor."
Lingyuan rejected it on reflex. "I'm not going!"
"Why not?"
"It's too far!"
"What's so far about it? You can control both water Adeptal Energy and wind Adeptal Energy. With wind buffs, you'd get there in no time."
"That's still exhausting. And Morax is in Liyue Harbor. I don't want to go."
"You're afraid of Rex Lapis?"
"Aren't you? Back then he…"
Memories of the Archon War seemed to surface. Lingyuan's expression grew unpleasant.
To people today, the title might not mean much.
But to those who had lived through the Archon War, it carried a fearsome reputation.
Fujin blinked.
She really was not afraid.
Just last night, she had been at an internet cafe playing games with Rex Lapis and Azhdaha.
She had clung to [Cream Puff] and absolutely destroyed them.
Fujin said, "You didn't know? Rex Lapis has already fallen."
"What?!" Lingyuan exclaimed.
"That was last year. People in Qiaoying Village should've been talking about it too, right?"
"I… I didn't know."
"So how long has it been since you crawled out of that den of yours?"
"…It's not a den!"
"Ha."
"Morax really fell?"
"The Qixing made an official announcement. It shouldn't be fake."
"…"
Lingyuan fell silent again.
She might have feared Morax, but she also had to admit that it was precisely because of his protection that Liyue had been so peaceful all these years, allowing her to sleep comfortably without worry.
Fujin asked, "So? Now you're not scared to go to Liyue Harbor anymore, right?"
Lingyuan immediately put on a tough front. "Who said I was scared? I just think it's far and tiring, that's all!"
Fujin looked at her. "But I want to go. I want to visit Herblord at Bubu Pharmacy. Don't you want to see an old friend?"
Lingyuan hesitated. "I…"
"If you come with me," Fujin continued, "I'll treat you to Rainbow Juice. You've been hiding in your nest this whole time, and if you were so scared of Morax, you probably don't even have Mora on you, do you?"
Lingyuan's expression stiffened. Mora carried Morax's divine power, so she really did not like it very much.
"Juice or not doesn't matter. It's just that you keep begging me. Fine, I'll reluctantly go with you."
Fujin smiled. She did not mind at all. Tsundere were always like this.
"Then let's leave tomorrow. Go back and pack your things first."
"Okay."
Lingyuan turned and left.
Fujin took a sip of tea, a smile forming on her face.
She had finally managed to talk Lingyuan into it.
Being able to control both water and wind Adeptal Energy made Lingyuan perfect for long-distance travel.
With her along, Fujin could save a lot of effort.
As for packing, her own abode was cold and empty. There was nothing to prepare.
Fujin took out her phone and began reading the tutoring materials [Cream Puff] had sent her that morning.
---
Late at night.
Since Fujin had already been pulled into the Dream world by Xia Zhi the night before, she entered the Dream World smoothly on her own this time.
She played games with Cloud Retainer and Ping, casually mentioning her plan to go to Liyue Harbor with Lingyuan.
"I've stayed submerged in the waters of Chenyu Vale for years," Fujin said. "I don't know much about the outside world. Lingyuan's the same. All she does is sleep in her nest. She doesn't even know what major events have happened in Liyue Harbor."
Cloud Retainer looked at her. "So?"
"So give me a travel guide already," Fujin said seriously. "Hurry up and tell me where the good food and fun places are in Liyue Harbor."
Cloud Retainer turned to Ping. "Ask Ping about that. She's lived on Yujing Terrace all these years, so she knows far more than I do. I only go once a year for her birthday, stay a few days, then head back to Jueyun Karst. I don't know Liyue that well. If you were going to Mondstadt, I could help."
Fujin looked at Ping. "Grandma, give me some advice."
Ping replied calmly, "No advice. Once you get there, buy a map from a street vendor and follow the recommended spots."
Fujin looked skeptical. "A street map? Is that reliable?"
Ping glanced at her. "Liyue is the most prosperous of the Seven Nations. Countless travelers visit every year. The official systems for tourism are already well established. Just follow them."
Fujin nodded thoughtfully. "I see… but tourist spots usually have plenty of traps, right?"
Ping clicked her tongue. "Aren't you always bragging about how smart you are? You won't fall for something that obvious, will you?"
Ping was clearly waiting to watch her make mistakes. Fujin clicked her tongue in return. "Fine, forget it."
Cloud Retainer was kinder. "You can eat at Wanmin Restaurant. Chef Mao's cooking is decent. Xinyue Kiosk and Liuli Pavilion are fine too, but they're expensive and crowded. I wouldn't really recommend them."
Fujin nodded. "Mm, I was also planning to try the juice from Mr. Xia's shop."
Cloud Retainer nodded. "You mean Rainbow Juice? That's worth trying. It's not expensive either…"
She went on to mention several old shops she remembered fondly, and Fujin eagerly wrote them all down.
Ping listened quietly, then suddenly asked, "After you finish touring Liyue, what do you plan to do?"
Fujin looked up. "Plan?"
"You finally have the chance to go out," Ping said. "You're not going to just head straight back to Chenyu Vale after sightseeing, are you?"
Fujin tapped her lips with a finger. "I do want to see more of the outside world, but Lingyuan is hard to say. She's incredibly lazy… we'll see when the time comes."
Ping studied her eyes for a moment, then casually looked away. "I see."
Fujin's gaze flickered slightly.
She was not sure whether Ping had guessed her true thoughts.
Liyue Harbor was only the beginning.
Her main goal was to see Herblord.
After that, she wanted to go to Inazuma.
Fujin subtly glanced toward a small room not far away, where Mr. Xia was teaching Xia Ying how to play the guqin.
She could not help recalling the music she had heard last night. Her heart fluttered again for no reason.
It really sounded so good.
Of course, Mr. Xia himself was not the point.
She had heard from Yae Miko in the group chat that this year's Summer Festival in Inazuma would be very special.
She just wanted to experience some foreign culture.
As for good food and fun places, those were just bonuses.
After all, no matter how good the food at Wanmin Restaurant, Xinyue Kiosk, or Liuli Pavilion was, it could not compare to [Gods' Temptation].
Fujin turned her head and looked at Cloud Retainer beside her.
Cloud Retainer was still wracking her brain, trying to recall more hidden gems to recommend. "I remember there's a place near the harbor…"
Compared to mischievous Ping, Cloud Retainer was truly kind.
Having such a good friend, she really wanted to be together for a lifetime… no, forever.
Her thoughts drifted to the tutoring materials [Cream Puff] had sent her.
They vividly described intimate scenes of close friends being together.
Fujin's mind wandered briefly. She smiled and nodded. "Ah, okay. I'll definitely check it out."
----
Join my Patreon for early access to 100+ chapters: Patreon.com/rivyura