[Streamer, check your mail! You'll love this!]
[Surprise in the mail]
[Most generous episode ever]
Parallel Earth
The moment Guinaifen booted up her stream, chat immediately flooded with messages urging her to check her in-game mail. She leaned closer to the screen, pretending to adjust nonexistent glasses.
"Let me see what's going on..."
——————
Mail:
Subject: Lantern Rite...
Sender: Mu Yang
"During the Lantern Rite, I wanted to try making some special pastries. While buying ingredients, I thought of you and Paimon, so I ended up purchasing far more than needed."
"I originally planned to mail these freshly made mooncakes to you. But upon reflection, I realized you've never personally experienced the Lantern Rite."
"Thus, I've decided to invite you to admire the flowers and moon together."
"Same place as before - Chihu Rock."
"The food is prepared, and the tea is a premium-grade immortal tea from my collection. I'll brew it when you arrive."
Attachments:
Mooncake ×10
Premium-Grade Immortal Tea ×10
Intertwined Fate ×10
Acquaint Fate ×10
Fragile Resin ×10
——————
[How many?!]
[Holy shit! 20 pulls?!]
Guinaifen's frown deepened with each line.
Wait, dude?!
Mu Yang sent her mail? With mooncakes? Inviting her back to Liyue for moon viewing?!
He gifted 10 Fragile Resin AND 20 pulls?!!!!
This can't be right—this is Hoyoverse we're talking about!
Before her entire live audience, Guinaifen slapped herself hard across the face.
SMACK—
[???]
[Teacher Gui, don't do this!]
[LMAO same reaction I had this morning]
The slap left her cheek visibly red. True to her "extreme content creator" persona, she didn't hold back.
Rubbing her stinging cheek, she hissed, "Oww—that hurt. Definitely not a dream."
"Because even in my wildest dreams, I'd never imagine Hoyoverse giving away 20 pulls!"
"It's gotta be Mu Yang, hehehe... Mu Yang..."
"Mu Yang, I'm coming to Hoyoverse HQ to rescue you from their servers!"
[She's lost it. No saving her now.]
[Don't go—they've got silver (money)]
["Pink Ball Saint" doesn't even begin to describe Mu Yang's generosity]
[This is straight-up divine behavior]
[Doubt the Mu Sect → Understand the Mu Sect → Join the Mu Sect]
[Streamer, my Serenitea Pot is calling me—gotta log in]
[Ayaka's summoning me back, brb]
...
"Hey! Don't leave me, chat!"
Viewers were already logging in to claim their mail.
Mu Yang's Lantern Rite invitation and rewards instantly trended across all platforms:
#HoyoverseGiving20Pulls YoureNotDreaming
#MuYangLanternRiteMail
#MuYangInvitesYouToMoonViewing
#TeyvatsMostGenerousx10Character—MuYang
...
The most hilarious development was a "leaker" rumor:
According to an unnamed insider, 'Mu Yang'—the account frequently gifting across major streams—is actually a Hoyoverse employee responsible for event/character promotions. The company only intended to give ×1 rewards, but due to his honesty, every item became ×10.
[FatMan&LittleBoy'sOldFriend]: Teyvat's Most Honest Man—Mu Yang
[BathedInSunlight=PressedUnderHim]: LMAO best pun payoff ever!
[QiTingWei:SendASniper]: He's too eager for advancement. As Qi Ting, I approve.
[TheMuSectEndures]: Join the glorious evolution! Those who don't understand the Mu Sect are doomed!
——————
Teyvat
At dawn, a blonde traveler and her white floating companion arrived at Liyue's Chihu Rock.
"So excited, Lumine! It's been forever since we've had Mu Yang's cooking—and new desserts too!"
"Hehehe... mooncakes..."
Lumine side-eyed Paimon. "Control your drool. Have some dignity."
Slurp—
Paimon glanced around. "Where's Mu Yang? Did he forget the time?"
"Pretty sure you're the one who forgot, oh greatest guide?" Lumine crossed her arms.
She pinched Paimon's cheeks. "How does a guide not know the Lantern Rite date?!"
"Mmmff—glglgl..." (indistinct protests)
Lumine sighed. Just yesterday, they'd been completing commissions in Inazuma.
When turning in their last quest, Katheryne handed them a letter.
Inside was Mu Yang's invitation to return for moon viewing during the festival.
Cue instant excitement.
Though the letter didn't specify a date, mentioning "Lantern Rite" implied the main festival day.
Yet when consulting her so-called "Teyvat's Best Guide," all she got was:
"Uh... durr... I dunno?"
Resigned, Lumine decided to return to Liyue immediately after finishing their tasks to avoid missing it.
Paimon fully supported this—just reading "food is prepared" had her salivating.
Hence their current predicament.
Oh well—they were here now.
Their most familiar spot in Chihu Rock was Wanmin Restaurant, so they headed there to ask Xiangling.
Despite the early hour, Wanmin was already open.
"Hi, we're here!"
"Sorry to bother, Xiangling."
Xiangling turned from the stove. "Oh! Lumine! Paimon!"
Chef Mao paused his work. "Well if it isn't you two! Here for breakfast? What'll it be?"
Paimon immediately rattled off an order...
"Coming right up!"
"Hehe, thanks Chef Mao!"
Xiangling approached. "I was just thinking about you two!"
Lumine: "Need help with a commission?"
Xiangling waved her hands. "Nothing that serious!"
"Just wanted your opinion—you saw all the Lantern Rite decorations on the way here, right?"
Both nodded. "So that's what those were for."
Xiangling beamed. "You already know about Lantern Rite? Perfect!"
They exchanged awkward glances—mostly Paimon's fault.
"Actually..."
Lumine explained Mu Yang's invitation was why they'd returned.
Xiangling pondered. "I see. But Lantern Rite isn't a single day—it's the whole season that counts!"
She then gave them a proper introduction:
"Lantern Rite is when we Liyue folk celebrate the autumn moon. Old folks say millennia ago, Adepti would seek enlightenment during this time. Nowadays though? We just eat delicious food, visit friends, and enjoy the moonflowers... simpler and way more fun!"
Paimon vibrated with excitement, declaring this her new favorite festival.
Xiangling laughed. "With your culinary taste, of course you'd love it!"
Lumine smirked. "Good taste? I'll reserve judgment..."
Paimon puffed up indignantly. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!"
Lumine pinched her cheeks again. "Says the guide who can't remember holidays."
"Mmmph—okay okay I surrender..."