…Back at their lodging…
Lumine and Paimon were already too impatient to resist, leaping straight into the steaming hot bath, indulging in the warmth and comfort.
Shenhe, a little shy at first, was soon influenced by their enthusiasm, and eventually stepped into the bath as well, joining them.
Shao Yun, meanwhile, sat alone in the next room, brewing himself a pot of rich coffee.
He poured a cup without adding any extras, lifted it, gently swirled the liquid, and muttered to himself with a distant look.
"Ah… three beautiful girls enjoying a fragrant bath, while I can only sit here and brew coffee for myself. What a pity…"
Just as he sank into melancholy, a sudden knock sounded at the door.
Shao Yun froze for a moment, set down his untouched coffee, and looked toward the door in confusion, 'Who could be knocking now? Could it be that Lumine finished bathing, smelling sweet, and came to find me herself? I knew it—there's no way she'd always leave me lonely!'
Excited by the thought, he stood up immediately, rubbing his hands together in anticipation as he hurried to the door.
With joy filling his face, he opened it—only for his smile to vanish instantly when he saw who it was.
"So, it's Yelan…" Shao Yun said with obvious disappointment. "What brings you here?"
Yelan? Damn it, made me get all excited for nothing!
Yelan noticed his face shifting—from eager joy to bland disinterest, and even faint irritation.
Puzzled, she reached up to touch her own cheek, 'Do I have something on my face?'
Finding nothing, she frowned inwardly. 'I don't look that bad… so why's he making that "you disgust me" face? And I haven't even done anything to him recently!'
Yelan pointed toward the table inside the room, asking cautiously, "Hello… may I come in and sit?"
Shao Yun stepped aside to let her in.
After all, he had nothing to feel guilty about. Letting her in wouldn't hurt.
"Come in then. Though… this scene feels oddly familiar."
He thought to himself, 'Last time, didn't I ask Yelan to investigate Yi Xuan and Yi Zhu for me?'
Yelan walked in naturally, taking a seat at the chair by the central table, her eyes falling on the freshly brewed coffee.
Pointing at the cup, she looked at Shao Yun curiously. "Is this coffee from Sumeru?"
Sumeru coffee was famous—Yelan had tried it before, and it was indeed delicious.
After shutting the door, Shao Yun sat across from her and replied, "Ah… well, actually, this isn't made from Sumeru beans. I just used some instant coffee powder."
Yelan's eyes glimmered with curiosity. "Oh? Really? Then… may I try some?"
Shao Yun nodded casually. "Of course. Help yourself."
With his permission, she poured herself a fresh cup, then sat back gracefully, sipping carefully.
The bitterness immediately spread through her mouth, shooting straight to her head.
Her brows knitted, her face tightening with a complicated expression. It felt less like drinking coffee and more like swallowing medicinal decoction from Bubu Pharmacy.
Yet she forced herself to finish the cup.
Setting it down, she looked at Shao Yun in puzzlement. "Well… now I understand why you never said it was from Sumeru.
Sumeru coffee bursts with aroma, but yours… is nothing but bitterness."
Shao Yun, unfazed, smiled and downed his own cup in a single gulp.
After all, his Special Miracle Tonic was far more bitter than this.
"Lumine said the same. My solution is simple—add some milk and sugar, and it tastes much better."
Though still unimpressed, Yelan gave him a polite nod. "Bitter as it is, it's a unique experience. Thank you for sharing it."
Shao Yun put down his cup and asked bluntly, "So, what do you want? Don't tell me you came here to hire me for some troublesome job."
Yelan smiled faintly, pulling out four finely crafted invitations from her sleeve and laying them on the table. "If I truly wished to hire you, I doubt I could afford the price."
She then spoke honestly.
"The truth is, I came to deliver these invitations. With the reconstruction of the Jade Chamber complete, Master Yun from the Yun-Han Opera Troupe will perform her new play The Divine Damsel of Devastation. Lady Ningguang especially invites you to attend."
Shao Yun picked one up with interest, smiling slightly. "So, without this invitation, would Ningguang refuse us entry?"
Yelan quickly waved her hand with a laugh. "Of course not! It's just that life deserves a touch of ceremony. These invitations serve as keepsakes."
That satisfied him.
He liked straightforward people who didn't beat around the bush.
He gathered the remaining three invitations, inhaled deeply, and said, "Very well. I'll accept them, then."
With her task done, Yelan circled back to his earlier remark.
Her lips curved playfully. "Still… if I really did want your help, how much Mora would it cost me?"
Shao Yun raised his brows. "Oh? So, you actually need my help?"
Yelan nodded, holding up one slender finger with a smile. "Yes. In fact, there are two matters."
She extended another finger, showing two in total.
"Of course, I could handle them alone… but with someone like you, it would be much easier."
Shao Yun thought, 'So… she wants to pay just to slack off, huh? Figures. Whether it's Mondstadt's drunk bard or Inazuma's sly fox, everyone's the same.'
He shrugged. "Oh? What sort of commissions? Let's hear them."
Yelan hesitated for a moment but then decided to speak.
"Can you keep it secret? Even if you leaked it, I couldn't really punish you… but it would cause serious problems for Liyue."
Shao Yun nodded. "Fine. I'll keep it secret—as long as it doesn't endanger Lumine or Paimon."
"Of course not," Yelan reassured. "Liyue is your ally."
Shao Yun leaned back. "Then tell me."
Yelan began with the first matter.
"Do you know the old fisherman near Liyue Harbor, Uncle Tian?"
Instantly, Shao Yun pictured a white-haired elder with a fishing rod. "Yes, the Tianquan Star of the Liyue Qixing, right?"
Yelan smiled faintly. "Correct. Uncle Tian is considering retirement, and he needs a successor. With your experience, I thought you'd be an excellent evaluator."
"But he hasn't made it official—just mentioned your name in passing."
Shao Yun thought, 'Isn't this just her story quest? That guy Zhiyi was suspicious…'
He ignored the thought and asked, "And the second matter?"
Yelan continued.
"The second concerns the Chasm. Mining operations are resuming there—you've heard, haven't you?"
Shao Yun nodded. "Yes, I saw the paperwork from Huishan Hall before."
"You… saw Huishan Hall's documents?" Yelan asked, startled.
Shao Yun explained how, before leaving for Inazuma, he had idly read through some papers while waiting for Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu.
Yelan twitched at the thought. 'He just casually browses classified documents? Only this guy would dare…'
Suppressing her disbelief, she cleared her throat. "Well… in any case, this isn't official Liyue business—it's personal."
"Personal?" Shao Yun asked.
"Yes," Yelan replied. "It goes back five hundred years, when dark beasts suddenly appeared in Liyue. Under Rex Lapis' command, the Millelith fought desperately near the Chasm. Victory only came because someone lured away hordes of beasts. But no one ever knew who."
"My ancestors fought there. One died, the other returned insane. I want to uncover who that person was."
"The Chasm is dangerous—both a battlefield and a mine. I can manage alone, but with your skill, it would be far easier."
She folded her hands under her chin, watching him intently. "So? Are you interested? If you agree, I'll prepare generous payment."
Shao Yun nodded slowly. 'So, one is her story quest, the other is the Archon Quest—Perilous Trail.'
Yelan tilted her head. "So, you'll accept?"
Shao Yun rubbed his chin. "As for Uncle Tian and the Qixing succession—I'll pass. Liyue's high officials don't need me meddling."
A strange conversation suddenly echoed in his mind…
…
「"Tell me Arthur… are you for James or for England?"」
「"We're country folk Sean. We don't care for politics."」
「"My father always said—not caring about politics is politics."」
「"That Old World nonsense won't work here."」
「"Because there's no prejudice? No hatred? Most despise even us Irish. You can't escape politics!"」
「"I hate everyone equally."」
…
Shaking his head to clear the thoughts, Shao Yun said, "As for the Chasm—I'll need to discuss with Lumine first. It's not my decision alone."
After all, he didn't want to interrupt her chest-hunting adventures.
Yelan nodded. "Very well. After the Jade Chamber is rebuilt, give your reply to Ningguang—I'll hear of it and contact you."
She poured herself another bitter cup, then glanced at him. "Want one too?"
Watching her pour with his own supplies, Shao Yun nodded without hesitation.
She handed him a cup, raising hers sincerely. "Then… to a future of pleasant cooperation?"
He looked at her cup, hesitated briefly, then raised his own and replied softly, "Hopefully so."
They drank together. Yelan's brows furrowed at the bitterness, but Shao Yun felt a warmth rise in his chest, already used to the taste.
Setting his cup down upside-down, Shao Yun said calmly, "But as I said—I listen to Lumine."
Yelan froze, her cup half-raised, then smiled gracefully despite the awkwardness. "You really know how to ruin the mood…"