Zhongli glanced at the rapidly approaching Millelith soldiers, then turned his head to Shao Yun, frowning slightly, as if contemplating something profound.
"By the way, that Prometheus you mentioned earlier… which nation was he from?"
Shao Yun blinked slowly, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk. He gave Zhongli a half-smile and said offhandedly, "I made that up. You believe it?"
Zhongli paused, then chuckled softly, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
"I don't believe it…"
Just then, the Millelith had fully surrounded them.
Their captain, Hua Qing, was a tall and imposing man with an air of authority.
Upon seeing the carnage, his eyes widened in shock as he looked at Shao Yun and Zhongli. His brows furrowed deeply, as if trying to piece together a complex puzzle.
"You lot!" Hua Qing's voice was stern. "What happened here?"
His gaze shifted rapidly between the two men, searching for clues.
Shao Yun stood calmly amid the disarray, unfazed by Captain Hua Qing's interrogation.
He turned slightly and gently patted Lumine and Paimon on the shoulders.
"You two can wake up now."
His tone was devoid of emotion, as if he were stating something trivial.
Lumine and Paimon slowly opened their eyes, lowering their hands from their ears. When they saw the scene before them, their pupils shrank sharply.
Terror filled Paimon's eyes as she pointed at the three corpses, voice trembling. "This… this…"
Shao Yun, unfazed, shrugged and said lightly, "Don't worry. Our kind Millelith friends will take care of the bodies."
Captain Hua Qing scowled, his tone tinged with anger as he stared at Shao Yun.
"You owe me a proper explanation! What on earth happened here?"
Shao Yun gave him a cool glance and then walked over to Huang Mazi's corpse. He nudged it with the tip of his boot, as if checking for signs of life.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shao Yun's lips curled into a mocking smile. "These three Treasure Hoarders tried to attack us. I defended myself. And you Millelith showed up late. If I hadn't had some skill, we'd be the ones lying dead."
Hua Qing's face flushed red with anger at Shao Yun's tone, but before he could respond, Shao Yun cut him off.
"If that's all, we'll be leaving. We've got other things to do."
As Shao Yun moved to leave, Hua Qing raised his massive glaive, the metal glinting coldly, and stepped in front of him with resolute eyes.
"You're not going anywhere. We need to investigate thoroughly before anyone leaves."
Shao Yun sighed softly, a weariness and irritation flashing in his eyes. He shook his head and replied coolly, "We're not the ones handling corpses."
Hua Qing locked eyes with Shao Yun and said firmly, "But this time is different. There's too much suspicion. If anything is overlooked, the consequences will be dire."
Shao Yun's expression darkened slightly at the implied accusation. He stared back at Hua Qing, displeasure evident in his tone.
"Are you accusing me of lying? You think I murdered innocent people, changed their clothes, and staged the scene?"
Hua Qing flinched slightly at Shao Yun's intensity. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
"Who knows…"
Before the tension could escalate further, a firm female voice rang out.
"Stop. What's all this commotion?"
A girl with twin purple buns strode over.
Keqing had arrived—perhaps a bit earlier than expected.
Her sudden appearance was like a splash of cold spring water, instantly diffusing the impending conflict.
Upon hearing her voice, Hua Qing immediately straightened up, setting aside his earlier arrogance. "Lady Keqing, we've identified four suspects in a murder case."
Shao Yun, furious, snapped back harshly, "Open your damn eyes. These three are clearly Treasure Hoarders!"
Keqing didn't respond immediately. She walked over to the bodies, examining them closely. Her sharp gaze quickly found a Treasure Hoarder insignia on one of the corpses.
She stood up, turned to Shao Yun, and said firmly, "They are indeed members of the Treasure Hoarders. Not innocent Liyue citizens."
Shao Yun felt some of the tension in his body ease. He asked, "Since that's settled, may we leave now?"
Keqing didn't answer directly. She handed the insignia to a nearby Millelith soldier, then approached Shao Yun, studying him from head to toe.
"And who are the four of you?"
Shao Yun took a deep breath and composed himself before answering. "My name is Shao Yun." He then gestured to his companions. "This is guest consultant Zhongli of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, that's Lumine, and that's Paimon."
A flicker of surprise crossed Keqing's eyes as she listened.
"You're the one who single-handedly held off the Abyss army attacking Mondstadt, captured the Treasure Hoarder leader 'Stormterror Bandit,' and took down the entire Mondstadt Fatui unit? That Shao Yun?"
The atmosphere grew tense, heavy enough to feel. Even the stoic Millelith gasped softly in disbelief.
Shao Yun stood in their midst, calm and composed, unaffected by the stir around him.
When Keqing's words reached him, he merely smiled faintly and replied, "I thought you were going to say, 'Ah, so you're the one Ningguang invited to the Jade Chamber.'"
Keqing shook her head slightly, eyes sharp and resolute.
"I judge people by their strength. Empty fame means nothing to me."
Her conviction carried weight, commanding respect.
Shao Yun sighed softly, voice modest. "I'm not that strong," he said, shaking his head. "Lumine's the real powerhouse—the golden-haired traveler who battled dragons. She's far stronger than I am."
Keqing turned her gaze to Lumine, admiration in her eyes.
Then she looked back at Shao Yun and introduced herself. "Enough about that. I'm Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing."
Shao Yun nodded, his expression steady and respectful.
"Nice to meet you, Lady Keqing," he said. "So, may we leave?"
Keqing's sharp gaze drifted back to the scattered Treasure Hoarder corpses. There was something in her eyes—uncertainty, suspicion.
"Tell me… what exactly were you doing here?"
Shao Yun began his explanation.
"We accepted a commission from a girl named Qiqi. She's looking for a legendary creature called the cocogoat."
He lightly nudged one of the corpses with his foot and continued, "But clearly, we failed. So now we're heading back to report to the client."
Keqing frowned slightly, deep in thought. After a moment, she nodded and said, "Very well. You may leave."
The four of them—Shao Yun, Lumine, Paimon, and Zhongli—departed.
Afterward, Keqing's well-trained Millelith cleaned up the scene.
Keqing noticed that the eyes of two Treasure Hoarders had been cleanly shot through—lethal precision. Her brows furrowed. She began to grasp the brutal efficiency of the battle.
What shocked her most was Huang Mazi. He lay still, impaled by an enormous bolt from the Guizhong Ballista. It had pinned him completely to the ground.
She drew in a sharp breath and looked to the once-destroyed, now fully repaired, Guizhong Ballista.
Its mechanisms gleamed coldly in the sun, emanating raw strength and grandeur.
"The Guizhong Ballista… it's been repaired?"
…
The group returned to Bubu Pharmacy. The setting sun's glow filtered through the windows, illuminating their tired and slightly disheartened faces. They sat around a table, recounting their quest for the cocogoat to Qiqi.
After hearing everything, Qiqi looked disappointed. She sighed softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. "You didn't find the cocogoat? I knew it might be just a legend… but… it still makes me sad…"
Seeing Qiqi's downcast expression, Paimon felt a twinge of emotion. She asked curiously, "Qiqi, what is a cocogoat anyway? Is it some kind of goat?"
Qiqi furrowed her brow and began flipping through her notebook. Her fingers slid over the yellowed pages as if searching for an answer. After a while, she muttered, "Cocogoat milk is very tasty… so it must be a semi-adepti beast."
She turned to a page about coconut milk and pointed to a line. "Look. It says right here—cocogoat milk… coconut milk."
Paimon scratched her head, looking puzzled. "Wait, so… is it cocogoat milk, or just… coconut milk?"
Qiqi looked up, eyes flashing with determination.
"Just 'coconut milk.'"
Shao Yun turned to Lumine and the floating Paimon, and muttered under his breath, "If I remember correctly, coconut milk is a drink made by mixing coconut juice and coconut flesh, right?"
His voice was quiet, but enough for them to hear.
Lumine nodded, covering her face with a helpless smile. "You're not wrong, Shao Yun."
Shao Yun turned to Paimon, noting the awkward expression on her face. "Paimon, go explain it to Qiqi."
Paimon's eyes widened in shock. "Why me?" she exclaimed, confused.
Shao Yun glanced at her round body and stubby limbs, grinning. "I just feel like… you and Qiqi are kinda alike in some ways…" He didn't finish before Paimon realized what he meant, and her face turned sour.
"Shao Yun! Don't always bring up my height! I'm nothing like Qiqi!"
…
In the end, Paimon gave in. With flailing arms, she began explaining to Qiqi.
"Coconut milk is a creamy white liquid extracted from coconuts. After being processed and mixed with sugar and other ingredients, it becomes the sweet, smooth coconut milk we often drink—not cocogoat milk."
After hearing this, a ripple of clarity passed through Qiqi's usually vacant eyes. She lowered her head, quietly contemplating this newfound knowledge. After a long pause, she murmured, "So coconut milk… is like that…"
Her voice held wonder, curiosity, and a touch of enlightened joy.
Paimon looked at her and sighed. "Qiqi's deep in thought again…"
Shao Yun raised his hands in mock surrender. "Let her process it. She probably needs time. Let's just wait for Doctor Baizhu to get back before we shop."
Just as he finished speaking, before the air could even settle, a clear voice rang out from behind them—like spring water striking stone.
"Was someone looking for me?"
Shao Yun blinked, turning to see a refined young man enter with elegant steps. He had emerald-green hair, and at his waist hung a Dendro Vision.
Around his slender neck was a snake, its scales shimmering in the sunlight like a decorative jewel.
Shao Yun's pupils contracted slightly, excitement bubbling inside.
Where's my small-animal arrow? That snake's a three-star pelt!
The snake around Baizhu's neck seemed to sense Shao Yun's gaze. It lifted its head, flicked its tongue, and its cold eyes swept over him.
"Are you looking at me?"
Then, sensing the surrounding chill, it mumbled in confusion, "Huh? Why is it so cold today…"
Baizhu gently patted the snake's head and soothed it. "Changsheng, don't be naughty."
He turned to the group, a warm smile on his face.
"I'm Baizhu, owner of Bubu Pharmacy. Welcome, esteemed guests. How may I assist you?"
Zhongli stepped forward as the spokesperson for the group, his voice deep and steady. "May I ask if you carry Everlasting Incense?"
Baizhu smiled and nodded. "Everlasting Incense? Of course. It's our prized treasure—long-lasting and top-quality. But…" He paused and raised three fingers. "Three million Mora."
At that, Paimon's eyes bulged like copper bells. Her voice trembled with disbelief. "Three million Mora?!"
Shao Yun, standing beside her, remained calm. He nodded as if expecting it and said lightly, "We'll take it. Send the bill to the Northland Bank."
Baizhu's brows knit slightly, eyes betraying some surprise and hesitation.
So… a tab?
"I'm sorry. If it were ordinary medicine, a tab would be fine—lives are at stake, after all. But Everlasting Incense… isn't medicine."
Paimon grew anxious seeing Baizhu's reluctance.
She turned to Lumine, hoping for an idea.
Lumine thought briefly, then said, "If we can't charge it to a tab, then we'll need help from Childe."
"Right! Let's go find him!" Paimon grabbed Lumine and was about to dash out.
Hopefully he shows up like Cao Cao—speak of him, and he appears…
And just then, a familiar figure appeared at the door of Bubu Pharmacy. Childe entered with a cheerful smile and a spring in his step.
"What a coincidence—you're all here."
Shao Yun blinked, eyes widening in disbelief.
My mouth is too powerful. More accurate than a genie's wish.
He instinctively slapped his own lips and then waved awkwardly, forcing a grin. "Hello, Cao Cao."
Childe frowned, puzzled. "What?"
Shao Yun hurried over, excitement leaking into his voice. "Nothing. It just means… you've got a chance to prove your worth."
Childe looked even more confused, trying to figure out what Shao Yun meant.
Shao Yun pointed to Baizhu and said, "We need to buy Everlasting Incense. It's three million Mora. You're paying."
Childe's eyes widened briefly.
He looked at the other three, who nodded in agreement. Scratching his head, he gave a wry smile.
"Looks like… I showed up at just the right time."