Kaeya wasn't actually pretending to sleep. Instead, like a student secretly reading during class, he kept the book on his lap and continued.
Since Diluc thinks the "Darknight Hero" sounds tacky, Paimon will give you a new nickname—The Righteous Man!
Even Kaia couldn't help but praise this nickname. Paimon really gets it.
"Each one more childish than the last..." Diluc sighed helplessly, though he wasn't actually angry.
Just a couple of nicknames—if they enjoy it, let them have their fun.
The following content was about the Traveler, the ultimate tool person, successfully helping Diluc deceive the Knights of Favonius. Nothing worth mentioning there.
Shifting the perspective back to Xiangling, she was currently experiencing just how useful the Traveler could be.
They could fight, cook, and even use Elemental Sight to help find ingredients.
Whether it was gathering ingredients in domains or during the subsequent cooking showdown, the Traveler's contributions were indispensable.
Truly first-rate—practically impossible to put down.
"Lumine, Paimon, come by Wanmin Restaurant when you're free! I'll treat you to something delicious!" Xiangling said.
Lumine nodded and then asked, "Does Lucian have any favorite dishes?"
"You're really interested in cooking, huh? Come on, I'll teach you when we get to Liyue," Xiangling replied.
Lumine nodded again, and the two set off on the road to Liyue.
Then, they ran into Charlotte.
It had been many days since Charlotte left Fontaine for Mondstadt, and now she happened to cross paths with the Traveler and her group.
"Is that Lumine and Paimon?" Charlotte recognized Lumine at a glance.
No helping it—a little blonde girl with a white floating companion was just too eye-catching.
"Who are you?" Lumine was puzzled. She didn't know Charlotte.
"Hello, hello! I'm Charlotte. I'd like to interview you—mind if I tag along for a bit?"
Xiangling and Lumine naturally didn't refuse. They were quite curious about this reporter who had covered Lucian.
Meanwhile, The Knave was still on horseback, rushing over.
Elsewhere, Jean was glaring furiously at Klee—because she had read [Lupus Minor Chapter].
Though most people's first thought upon seeing a red-haired girl who looked like she was on fire would be Amber, Jean knew this was definitely Klee.
"Klee... Klee didn't do anything today!" Klee waved her little hands in a panic.
Seeing Jean still staring at her, Klee pitifully pressed her fingertips together, puffing out her little lips in an adorable pout.
"Yesterday, there was some fish-blasting... Wuwuwu, Klee will go report to the confinement room now."
With that, Klee obediently turned to leave, heading straight for solitary confinement.
It was clear that Klee had a strong sense of self-discipline.
However, Jean grabbed Klee's tiny backpack.
"Klee! You even set the mountain on fire?!" Jean was both exasperated and furious.
After disciplining Klee, she still had to send people to Springvale to prevent conflicts with the wolf packs.
"You know the consequences, don't you, Kle—e—?!"
"Wahhh—! Klee knows she was wrong!" Klee flailed her little arms, her short legs nearly lifting off the ground.
But Jean held on tight, refusing to let go. It seemed Klee wasn't getting away this time.
Now, shifting from Mondstadt to Liyue.
At this moment, Lucian was in Liyue, eating with Hu Tao and Zhongli.
Childe was also there—he was footing the bill.
"So, when exactly is our agreement going to happen?" Tartaglia asked, watching the trio feast like there was no tomorrow.
"Don't rush," Lucian said.
Yeah, don't rush. Let me enjoy a few more free meals.
Though Lucian wasn't short on money now, food just tasted better when someone else paid.
How could Tartaglia not be impatient? His hands were practically itching for a fight—he wanted to flip the table and brawl with Lucian right then and there.
But remembering his mission, he held back. He couldn't cause trouble in Liyue just yet.
"So, you gathered us here just for a meal?" Tartaglia asked.
"Of course not!" Lucian immediately refuted. "After this, I'm planning to catch one of Yun Jin's operas!"
"..." Tartaglia was speechless.
Lucian, have you lost the plot? he thought. After all the future spoilers you leaked, making us Fatui so unwelcome everywhere, you still expect us to treat you to food and entertainment? Do you even know what the word 'underworld' means?!
But alas, the Tsaritsa had given her orders. He had to endure it!
"You're the best, Lucian! Thinking of this humble director when there's free stuff involved," Hu Tao said with a grin.
"By universal reasoning, Yun Jin's operas are indeed not to be missed," Zhongli agreed.
"But surely Young Master Lucian didn't call us here just for this?"
"As expected of Brother Zhongli—truly perceptive," Lucian chuckled, still pretending not to know Zhongli's true identity in front of others.
"But let's not talk business yet. Having fun is what matters most—today's expenses are on [Childe]!"
Lucian had no qualms about exploiting Tartaglia. After all, fighting him later would inevitably lead to some injuries—consider this an advance payment for medical expenses.
What? You say Tartaglia would get hurt too?
Well, I'll just write his Story Quest later to boost his reputation. That'll make up for it.
Hu Tao circled behind Lucian, leaning in close. Her pale arms reached around from behind, and her black-nail-polished fingers dangled an absurdly long receipt in front of him.
"Hehe Lucain is the best! But this humble director has a few more bills here. How about we 'whoosh' them all onto the tab?" Hu Tao even added sound effects.
Lucian couldn't resist this. Though there was no softness pressing against his back, her fragrance was intoxicating.
"Done! Childe's paying!"
"..." Tartaglia fell silent.
For the Tsaritsa's mission... Fine, I'll pay.
Though it's my money, at least let me be the one to say it?
Using my funds under your name?
Wait—no, it's not my money. It's the funds provided by The Rooster. Never mind then. Do whatever you want.
Zhongli glanced at the bill—most of it was probably his. Having the Fatui foot the bill wasn't a bad idea.
Lucian had come to Liyue this time to confirm something: Did Guizhong still have remnants of consciousness?
If Guizhong's spirit or enough remnants of her divine power remained, then with the system's puppet, "revival" might be possible.
The only issue was that puppets capable of bearing an Archon's power were a bit pricey—Lucian couldn't afford one yet.
This kind of revival might result in reduced power and fragmented memories due to Guizhong's incomplete consciousness, but those were minor issues.
After the group finished watching the opera, Hu Tao and Tartaglia left first, leaving only Zhongli and Lucian behind.
"Young Lucian, may we speak now?" Zhongli asked as they walked through Liyue's streets.
"Perhaps... I have a way to revive Guizhong," Lucian declared, dropping a bombshell.
He explained to Zhongli that he had found a miraculous tool that might make Guizhong's revival possible.
However, this tool couldn't be used just yet—this meeting was to first discuss its feasibility.
Zhongli studied Lucian intently. Even a millennia-old boulder like him couldn't hide his surprise.
Could my old friend truly return? Could I share another cup of osmanthus wine with her?
As for where Lucian's vague "miraculous tool" came from, Zhongli didn't press.
Everyone had their secrets. If Lucian didn't wish to speak of it, Zhongli wouldn't pry.
As he had once said, Lucian bore no ill will toward this world—some things were best left alone.
But if Lucian ever did harbor malice… then the Geo Archon's stone spears might have to seal away another old friend.
After discussing the feasibility, they found the success rate was surprisingly high.
When Guizhong died, the Five Yakshas arrived immediately and sealed her remains, preventing her divine remnants from dispersing.
Now, those remnants could serve as the foundation for her "revival."
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Zhongli: About Guizhong
"I thought I could only seek my old friend in memories... Now, that cup of osmanthus wine from the past may yet be shared again."