Time slipped by quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was already six in the afternoon.
Lu Heng, accompanied by Shenhe, joined Zhongli as they made their way to Yujing Terrace, near the majestic Yiyan Hall. Next to the hall was the ascending platform that led to the Jade Chamber. The three of them didn't need any secret codes—just their presence was enough to grant them passage.
Before they could board, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Wait up!"
Big Bro Lu! Zhongli! Hold on for us!"
Lu Heng turned to see Lumine and Paimon hurrying toward them.
When they finally caught up, Paimon let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "Phew! We made it just in time for this 'ride'!"
Lumine, catching her breath, greeted the trio with a smile.
"Hey, isn't this the big-shot streamer?" Lu Heng teased with a grin. "So, how's the livestreaming life treating you?"
"Not bad at all!" Lumine replied, flashing a confident smile. "I'm pretty quick at adapting."
And she wasn't wrong. Lu Heng had seen her livestreams—her knack for creating entertaining moments was undeniable. She was a natural-born streamer. But off-camera, Lumine was a quieter, more reserved version of herself, her eyes sparkling with a gentle warmth as she spoke.
"By the way," she said, her tone light, "Ningguang didn't assign specific seats or anything, right? If there's room, mind if we join you guys?"
"No objections here," Zhongli said with a shake of his head.
Lu Heng chuckled. "I didn't bring any plus-ones, so it's just us for now. No idea how many others will show up, though."
"It shouldn't be too crowded," Zhongli mused. "This banquet is likely the one from the game's storyline. Besides, we already had a victory feast at noon. Tonight's gathering should be more intimate."
"No big deal," Lu Heng said with a wave of his hand. "If it gets tight, we'll just squeeze in. The more, the merrier, right?"
"Sweet!" Paimon clapped her hands. "I was worried about sitting with strangers, but with you guys, it's way more relaxed!"
Though Paimon had once been a bit intimidated by Lu Heng, she'd warmed up to him over time. Sitting with familiar faces was far preferable to awkward small talk with strangers.
"Let's head up and keep chatting," Lu Heng suggested.
They stepped onto the platform, a kind of floating elevator that carried them toward the Jade Chamber. Lumine and Paimon exchanged a few words with Shenhe, who seemed intrigued by the two future friends she'd only just met.
As they arrived at the Jade Chamber, Baiwen, one of Ningguang's assistants, hurried over to greet them.
"My deepest apologies!" Baiwen said, bowing slightly. "Lady Ningguang is caught up with some last-minute arrangements and couldn't come to welcome you personally. I hope you'll forgive the oversight."
"No worries," Lu Heng said casually. "Just show us where to sit."
"Of course, right this way!"
The Jade Chamber was vast, its sprawling layout practically a small palace in the sky. When Ningguang had it built, she'd reserved a large open area, which now hosted a stage where members of the Yun-Han Opera Troupe were bustling about, preparing for the evening's performance. In front of the stage, a handful of large round tables were arranged—fewer than five in total. Each table could comfortably seat twelve people.
Baiwen led them to a central table, and as they settled in, Zhongli asked, "Who else will be joining us tonight?"
"Lady Ganyu, Lady Yuheng Keqing, Captain Beidou, some representatives from the Millelith, Lady Ningguang's key business partners, and two distinguished guests from Inazuma," Baiwen replied. "We also invited the Vigilant Yaksha, but, well… you know how he is."
Zhongli let out a soft chuckle. Xiao, freed from his karmic burdens, still wasn't one for social gatherings. Unless Zhongli himself or someone as persistent as Hu Tao dragged him along, Xiao would never show up to something like this.
"No matter," Zhongli said with a smile. "It's enough that he was invited."
"Guests from Inazuma?" Paimon perked up, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes," Baiwen nodded. "It was a fortunate coincidence, so Lady Ningguang invited them to experience the atmosphere of Liyue."
"They must be important figures in Inazuma, right?" Lumine asked thoughtfully.
"Indeed," Baiwen confirmed. "They are Yae Miko, the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, and Gorou, the general of Watatsumi Island."
"Oh!" Paimon's eyes lit up. "Those two! They're like old friends from the game!"
Even though they'd never met in person, the familiar names brought a sense of comfort.
"So it's them," Lu Heng said, nodding. He'd known Yae Miko and Gorou were in Liyue Harbor but had expected to meet them at his shop, not at a Jade Chamber banquet.
As they chatted, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of twilight. More guests began to arrive, taking seats at nearby tables and exchanging greetings with those they knew.
Paimon, floating slightly above the group, whispered, "Why do I feel like our table's getting all the attention?"
"It's definitely not because of you," Lumine quipped.
"Hey, we're not live right now!" Paimon huffed, stomping her tiny foot in the air. "They're all looking at Shenhe."
"Me?" Shenhe tilted her head, puzzled.
"Well, duh," Paimon said, spreading her hands. "You're basically the star of this banquet! When Lumine got knocked out by that Fatui Harbinger, you swooped in and saved the day. You were so cool, so dependable!"
Lumine groaned, rubbing her forehead. "I don't get it. In Mondstadt, I got knocked out by a debtor. In Liyue, that Harbinger's elemental blast took me out. In Inazuma, I fell into Scaramouche's trap and passed out again… Am I, like, prone to fainting or something?!"
Lu Heng leaned back, smirking. "Hard to say."
"Huh?" Lumine caught the shift in his tone, her eyes narrowing. "Wait, are you saying I'm gonna faint again in the future?"
"Well, that's just how our Traveler rolls," Paimon teased, shrugging. "Young and spry, but when trouble hits, it's lights out!"
"We're not live right now!" Lumine shot back, shaking her head. "No, seriously, I need to step up my game. I'll turn these moments into lessons. Next time something like that happens, I'll be ready to handle it."
Lu Heng chuckled but didn't say anything. Lumine was an odd mix—sharp as a tack one moment, adorably clueless the next. Still, with her [Game Mode] powers, if she was still fainting left and right, there'd be no saving her.
Their conversation was interrupted by a boisterous voice from afar.
"Hey! You all got here early!"
Beidou strode over, her larger-than-life presence impossible to miss. She clasped her hands in a respectful gesture toward Lu Heng and Zhongli before turning to the others. "Shenhe, Traveler, Paimon! Good to see you!"
"This is Beidou, captain of the Crux Fleet," Lu Heng said, introducing her to Shenhe.
"Just call me Beidou," she said with a grin.
"Nice to meet you, Beidou," Shenhe replied politely.
"Where's Kazuha?" Lu Heng asked.
"That guy?" Beidou shook her head. "He's off handling business with Hailong and the crew. The fleet's grown, and we've got a ton of cargo to manage."
"Bet you made a pretty penny this trip, huh?" Lu Heng teased.
"Not bad, not bad," Beidou said, her smile widening. Running a fleet was grueling, but the profits were undeniable. The Crux was unmatched in long-distance voyages, and their reputation brought in plenty of business.
"Oh, by the way," Beidou added, her tone turning serious. "Can I ask you for a favor? I've seen people pull stuff like yachts from those card draws. If you ever come across someone pulling a warship or a cargo ship, could you let me know?"
"No problem," Lu Heng said with a laugh. "That's an easy one."
"Thanks!" Beidou said, clasping her hands again.
As the evening progressed, the sun sank fully behind the mountains, and the moon rose alongside a scattering of stars. A cool breeze swept across the Jade Chamber, a welcome relief as Liyue edged into summer.
"Sorry, am I late?" Keqing's voice cut through as she hurried over. "Mr. Zhongli, Mr. Lu!"
"Not at all," Zhongli said with a shake of his head.
"Fresh off work?" Lu Heng asked.
"Not quite," Keqing replied, shaking her head.
"Not quite?" Lu Heng raised an eyebrow, glancing at Zhongli. "No wonder you were so eager to retire. Look at all this work piling up!"
"It's not Mr. Zhongli's fault," Keqing said quickly. "It's our lack of endurance."
Lu Heng could only marvel. Keqing was a workaholic through and through. While she didn't log as many overtime hours as Ganyu, her intensity was unmatched. Known as the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing was all about efficiency. Many of her subordinates couldn't handle the pace and quit within months. But Keqing wasn't one to exploit others—she pushed herself just as hard.
Despite her privileged background, Keqing had once worked alongside laborers to understand their needs firsthand. The image of a refined noblewoman sweating it out on a construction site was almost unthinkable, but that was Keqing—dedicated, practical, and unafraid to get her hands dirty. Her rise to Yuheng wasn't just due to her progressive ideas; it was her tireless work ethic and commitment to reform.
"Let's not dwell on that," Keqing said, brushing the topic aside. She turned to Shenhe, her expression serious. "On behalf of Liyue, I want to thank you, Shenhe. Just as we honor the Traveler's contributions, we will never overlook a hero's deeds, no matter how fate may differ."
Shenhe blinked, caught off guard, and glanced at Lu Heng. Her clear eyes seemed to ask for guidance.
"Just say what's on your mind," Lu Heng encouraged.
Shenhe nodded, turning back to Keqing. "You're too kind."
"Not at all," Zhongli interjected. "Even Millelith soldiers are rewarded for their merits. As someone outside the system, Shenhe, you deserve recognition all the more."
In Liyue's earliest days, under Morax's rule, rewards and punishments were always clear. It was a tradition that endured. A hero's actions couldn't be ignored, no matter their reasons for stepping in.
"Alright," Shenhe said, accepting the sentiment with a nod. It wasn't a bad thing, so she'd take it in stride.
The conversation shifted to the Inazuman guests, and soon enough, Ganyu arrived, escorting Yae Miko and Gorou.
"Lumine," Paimon whispered, nudging her. "There's the wise and beautiful Yae Miko! Aren't you going to ask for that talisman?"
Lumine rolled her eyes.
Ganyu introduced the pair. "This is Mr. Zhongli, the human form of the Geo Archon."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zhongli," Yae Miko said with a respectful nod. Though she was a close confidante of the Raiden Shogun, her status was still beneath that of a god, and she showed due reverence to the eldest of the Archons.
"And to you as well," Zhongli replied graciously.
Ganyu gestured to Lu Heng. "This is Mr. Lu Heng, the owner of the card shop."
The order of introductions was deliberate—honoring the hierarchy of Liyue's key figures before the foreign guests.
"Mr. Lu, I've heard much about you," Yae Miko said, her demeanor poised and elegant, befitting the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"We'll chat more later," Lu Heng said with a nod.
After the introductions, Yae Miko and Gorou took their seats.
"Why so quiet, Lumine?" Beidou teased. "Didn't Yae Miko watch your entire livestream the other day?"
"What?!" Lumine's face flushed with panic.
It was that mortifying feeling of being caught talking behind someone's back.
"There's a story here?" Keqing asked, intrigued. She was too busy to keep up with such things.
"Oh, it's a classic," Beidou said with a mischievous grin, mimicking Lumine's voice. "'If Lady Yae Miko gives me a talisman, lets me touch her ears, and transforms into her fox form for a hug, I'd even marry Ayaka!'"
"I remember that one," Lu Heng added, nodding. "Wanting it all, huh?"
"That was just for the show!" Lumine protested, her face burning.
And to make matters worse, the person in question was sitting right there!
Yae Miko smiled, unfazed. "Since you're such a fan, I'll make you an even finer talisman."
"Really? Thank you!" Lumine said, seizing the opportunity to salvage her dignity.
"I want one too!" Paimon chimed in, raising her hand.
"Of course," Yae Miko agreed.
"Got one for me?" Beidou asked with a grin.
"Plenty to go around," Yae Miko replied. "In Inazuma, our talismans are like Liyue's charms—symbols of good fortune and protection. Consider them a token of goodwill. I'll make some for everyone."
Lu Heng smirked to himself. That was Yae Miko's charm at work. Her words were carefully chosen—she clarified that the talismans were symbolic, not divine blessings, ensuring no one, especially Zhongli or himself, would feel slighted. At the same time, she was laying the groundwork for future connections. A small gift like a talisman was thoughtful but inexpensive, unlikely to be discarded. Each time someone saw it, they'd think of her. It was a subtle, brilliant way to build rapport.
Yae Miko was no Raiden Shogun, whose threat lay in raw power. The Electro Archon was straightforward, almost naive, despite her centuries of seclusion. Yae Miko, on the other hand, rarely flexed her strength but wielded her cunning like a blade.
Lu Heng glanced at Lumine, who met his eyes with a sweet smile. "What's up?" she asked.
"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head.
Soon, Ningguang arrived with Yun Jin in tow. The two were deep in conversation, but Yun Jin quickly greeted the group before heading to the stage to prepare.
As the performance was about to begin, Ningguang addressed the gathering. "Tonight, Liyue writes another page in its history. The purpose of this banquet needs no explanation. Please, enjoy the performance of The Divine Damsel of Devastation by Yun Jin."
Right on cue, the stage lit up under the night sky. The performance of The Divine Damsel of Devastation unfolded, a breathtaking recreation of the story from the game.
Shenhe watched Yun Jin on stage, her heart stirring. The atmosphere was lively, the people warm and admiring, especially toward her. She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling a faint flutter.
"Wine or juice?" Lu Heng's voice broke her reverie.
"Wine," Shenhe replied firmly.
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T/N:
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