The outside world really was lively.
Lingyuan looked at the dazzling array of goods and could not help thinking that.
Liyue Harbor really was nothing like a small rural place such as Qiaoying Village.
After browsing around the shop, Lingyuan picked out a few things she liked. Following the example of other customers, she went to the counter and handed over the small card.
When the clerk saw the card's design, her smile immediately became even brighter.
Lingyuan watched as the clerk swiped the card on a machine, then returned it with both hands.
That was it?
Payment completed?
Lingyuan blinked.
She did not really understand it, but everyone else seemed to do the same thing, so it was probably fine.
Not having to touch Mora at all felt great.
After all, Mora carried Rex Lapis's divine power. It still left her with a lingering psychological shadow from back then, from that god in Chenyu Vale…
Lingyuan shook her head, pushing away those unpleasant memories, and took the card back.
This was shopping time. She did not have the energy to think about random things.
"Customer, you've just spent two thousand seven hundred Mora at our shop and earned two thousand seven hundred Consumption Points."
"Oh. Okay. What are Consumption Points?"
"This is a new promotion for shops under the Tianquan Star. You can use Consumption Points to enter a lottery."
"A lottery?"
"Yes. Every one thousand points gives you one draw. You currently have two chances. If you're lucky, you could win the Grand Prize, a Seaview Villa in Yujing Terrace."
As she spoke, a glimmer of longing appeared in the clerk's eyes.
Ever since the new year, property prices in Yujing Terrace had been climbing day by day.
Especially the new development opened by the Yuheng Star. It had become the most desirable place to live in all of Liyue Harbor.
Unfortunately, it was not something money alone could buy. There were many other conditions.
For most people, this lottery was the best opportunity.
That was why business at the shops had been so good recently.
"A Seaview Villa."
Lingyuan's expression did not change.
She had just arrived in Liyue Harbor and had no concept of housing prices here.
To her, whether it was a golden nest or a silver nest, nothing beat her own little nest.
A Seaview Villa was just a bigger house by the sea, right? You could see Fontaine's ocean just fine from the mountains in Chenyu Vale.
To the clerk, that calm indifference made Lingyuan seem unfathomable.
As expected of someone holding a Liyue Bank card like that. To be so dismissive of a Seaview Villa, her status must be extraordinary…
As a result, the clerk's attitude toward Lingyuan became even more respectful.
Lingyuan was not particularly interested in the Grand Prize, but the lottery itself did pique her curiosity.
A lottery!
A pure test of luck!
And her luck had always been good!
She had to try it!
Besides, the chances did not cost anything extra.
She had gotten two draws just from shopping!
Lingyuan thought for a moment, then asked, "Excuse me, where do I go to draw the lottery?"
The clerk smiled. "You'll need to go to Liyue Bank. Turn right after leaving, and there's a branch not far away. Once you go in, someone will guide you."
Lingyuan nodded. "Got it. Thank you."
"You're welcome. We look forward to your next visit."
Lingyuan left the shop, feeling like the shopping experience had been taken to the next level.
She went to the neighboring store to check on Fujin, who was browsing inside.
"How much longer?"
"What's the rush? Let me look a bit more. We're going to see Herblord, so we should at least bring some gifts."
"Herblord isn't the kind of person who cares about that stuff."
"If it were just us visiting her, sure. But she's in a symbiotic contract with humans now. With outsiders present, we need to observe basic etiquette."
"Fine."
Lingyuan pouted and said nothing more.
Visiting people always came with so many annoying rules.
At first, she had not been a shut-in at all. She had only said that to deal with Ganyu's invitation.
But after staying cooped up for so long, she slowly came to enjoy not going out. Eventually, she truly did not feel like leaving anymore.
Lingyuan accompanied Fujin for another ten or so minutes.
At the counter, Fujin handed over her card.
Lingyuan heard the clerk say with a smile, "Customer, you've just spent thirty-eight thousand Mora and earned thirty-eight thousand Consumption Points."
Fujin grew curious as well. "What are Consumption Points?"
The clerk was about to explain.
But Lingyuan could not wait any longer. "I know. I'll explain later. Let's go."
"Hey, wait…"
Lingyuan grabbed Fujin and pulled her out of the shop, heading straight for the Liyue Bank branch the clerk had mentioned.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"You're the one who's too slow!"
"We're out having fun, not doing a mission. There's no need to rush… This isn't the way to Bubu Pharmacy, is it?"
"No. We're going to draw the lottery. Those points we just got can be used for it."
"Tch. I thought you were eager to see Herblord. So it's just this?"
"I heard the Grand Prize is a Seaview Villa in Yujing Terrace."
"What?"
Fujin immediately perked up and grabbed Lingyuan's hand, running toward it.
"Hey!"
"You don't get it! Property prices in Yujing Terrace are insanely high right now! That Seaview Villa would cost at least ten million Mora!"
"How much?!"
Lingyuan's eyes widened.
Chenyu Vale was great, but staying in Yujing Terrace once in a while did not sound bad at all.
---
At the entrance of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Charlotte looked at the three little girls clustered around her and asked, "Yaoyao, did you tell your master?"
"I did!" Yaoyao nodded vigorously. "Yaoyao already told Master!"
"Xia Lin, what about you? Did you talk to your dad?"
"Papa said it's okay."
"And Klee..."
"Klee told Big Brother already too!" Klee chimed in proudly.
Charlotte nodded in satisfaction. "Good. As long as everyone's informed, we're all set. Let's head out!"
The three girls' faces lit up with anticipation. "Mm!"
Just like last time, when they'd gone down to Araumi to see that massive war machine buried underground, they unfolded their Wind Gliders and leapt from Mt. Yougou, gliding all the way down until their feet finally touched the ground.
There was a faint rustling in the nearby bushes.
Charlotte turned her head, casually lifting her Kamera and caught the perfect shot of a fox poking its head out curiously from the foliage.
Startled by the sudden flash, the little fox let out a soft yip before darting back into the undergrowth, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
"There are so many foxes here!" Klee exclaimed. "Last time when everyone went into the city together, Klee saw lots of foxes too!"
Charlotte smiled. "That was probably because Lady Yae was around last time. They were drawn to her."
"Big Sister Yae!"
"When I was wandering around the city yesterday," Charlotte continued, "I heard people saying that the wild foxes here won't show themselves twice to travelers they have no connection with."
"Really?"
"I'm not sure either," Charlotte admitted. "But if it's a legend that's been passed down for so long, there's probably some truth to it. Alright—pack away your Wind Gliders. We're heading into the city."
"Okay!"
They crossed Byakko Plain and entered Inazuma City, then followed the upward slope from Hanamizaka. Before long, the Adventurers' Guild came into view.
As always, Katheryne stood behind the counter, serving as the receptionist.
Charlotte first helped Yaoyao and Xia Lin register as adventurers, then submitted applications for all three girls to join the Magical Girl Adventure Team she had founded.
Once everything was processed, Katheryne said, "Your adventure team also has two pending membership applications from the Mondstadt branch. Would you like to review them now?"
Charlotte nodded. "Yes, let's take care of them now."
As expected, they were applications from Noelle and Amber. Charlotte approved both without hesitation.
That left only Collei, who hadn't joined yet. Judging by the message she'd sent in the group chat earlier, she'd probably need a few more days.
After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, Charlotte led the three girls into the shopping streets.
They didn't see Arataki Itto anywhere, nor any other members of the Arataki Gang.
Most likely because the Tenryou Commission's arrest order hadn't been lifted yet.
No big deal. Charlotte had asked Mona to divine her fortune that morning.
Mona had told her that she was guaranteed to run into something interesting today.
If that was the case, then all they needed to do was wander around.
"I'll take you to go see Sister Yoimiya," Charlotte said. "We'll hang out with her."
"Okay!"
"Klee, you have to behave later. No playing with fire, alright?"
"Mhm!"
"I'll send Yoimiya a message first and see if she's busy…"
----
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