Staying on Yujing Terrace, one could only see the same scenery day after day.
To wield judgment as swift as lightning, one needed vast experience.
As one of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing was a true woman of action.
If she deemed something valuable or necessary, she would always see to it personally.
For example, in recent days—
she had traveled across the whole of Liyue,
committing the terrain and landscapes to memory.
Since Liyue Harbor was the heart of Liyue,
it naturally held greater importance.
Even though Keqing had already conducted a survey there just yesterday,
she was preparing to do it again today to confirm the accuracy of her notes.
Such was her attitude toward her work.
Along the way, Keqing carefully observed her surroundings,
nodding inwardly as she confirmed that everything matched her records from yesterday.
But as she passed by a narrow alley, she suddenly halted.
Her sharp gaze fell upon a shop tucked away at the side.
"Solace Book House? If I remember correctly… there wasn't such a shop here before."
A faint crease appeared on Keqing's beautiful face.
She trusted her memory—
she might forget small trivialities,
but a store of this scale would never escape her notice.
Especially since it was hidden away in such an out-of-the-way alley.
The peculiarity of it made it even more conspicuous.
There was only one explanation.
This store had appeared just yesterday.
For a shop to spring into existence overnight,
with not a soul noticing…
it was anything but normal.
And the name—"Solace" ("Worry-relieving")—
sounded unusual in itself.
"Worry-relieving, huh?"
Keqing's lips curved into a faint smile.
Her interest was piqued.
Pausing her survey plans, she stepped inside.
The moment she crossed the threshold, her expression hardened.
"Something's wrong!"
Behind her was no longer the dingy alley—
but an unfamiliar street.
Through the windows of the store,
the scenery and architecture were nothing like Liyue.
Realization dawned:
she had entered a most unusual place.
Yet as a member of the Qixing,
Keqing did not panic.
Instead, she scrutinized the shop with sharp eyes.
The interior was far more spacious than the exterior suggested,
further confirming that this shop was anything but ordinary.
And what puzzled her even more were the strange illustrations plastered across the walls,
along with peculiar little figurines placed everywhere.
This didn't resemble a bookstore at all.
In Liyue's bookstores, only books lined the shelves.
Here was something entirely different.
Momentarily bewildered,
Keqing's eyes fell upon a man and woman standing behind the counter.
She could not help but ask:
"This is Solace Book House?"
"An esteemed guest indeed—who would've thought the first to arrive would be her?"
Han Feng was slightly taken aback at the sight of Keqing.
Just then, Noelle stepped forward with a polite smile.
"Welcome, Miss Keqing. Would you like to read a manga?"
Having once visited Liyue, Noelle had seen the famed Qixing member before.
Thus, the moment Keqing entered, she recognized her.
At the same time, she marveled inwardly:
Boss Han really is amazing! Even someone from Liyue could appear here in Mondstadt!
"You know me? And… what is manga?"
Keqing's vigilance eased a little at Noelle's courteous manner.
"I once had the honor of seeing you during my trip to Liyue. As for manga—it's a kind of book, with more pictures and fewer words."
"…You've been to Liyue?"
Keqing instantly seized upon the key point.
So her suspicion was correct—
this wasn't Liyue.
If not Liyue, then where was it?
Sensing her doubt, Noelle patiently explained:
"This place is Mondstadt. When Miss Keqing stepped into Solace Book House in Liyue, you were brought here.
But don't worry—once you leave, you'll return to where you came from."
"I see!"
The explanation clicked.
It was when she entered that some mysterious force transported her here.
No wonder the outside scenery was so unlike Liyue.
So this was Mondstadt—
and it did match the descriptions she had heard before.
"Since it's Mondstadt, there's no need to worry."
Keqing exhaled in relief.
At least it wasn't an enemy ambush.
But even knowing the truth, her heart held a newfound respect.
To transport someone without her detecting it—
such power was not within reach of ordinary people.
The one behind this manga shop…
was surely a master.
With that in mind,
Keqing had no intention of leaving just yet.
If the shop went to such lengths to bring her here,
it must have a purpose.
"Could it be because of this so-called 'manga'?"
Her thoughts stirred, and she asked,
"How does one read these manga?"
"100,000 Mora per person. And you can only read once per day."
Noelle replied smoothly.
She deliberately avoided embellishing the details—
after all, this was one of the Liyue Qixing!
How could she possibly be unable to afford 100,000 Mora?
As Noelle expected,
Keqing hardly batted an eye at the price.
As a noble's daughter, she never had to worry about money—
unlike a certain other woman with her peculiar obsession with wealth.
But that didn't mean she would waste money.
100,000 Mora for a single book, and only once?
Ridiculous!
Were it not for the shop's extraordinary nature,
she might have summoned the Millelith on the spot.
This was price-gouging and market disruption!
Sensing her hesitation, Noelle added:
"Reading manga here allows you to obtain a random reward from within the story.
It could be a simple item, a skill, or even powerful strength."
"What? You mean… rewards from reading manga?"
Keqing's eyes widened, her composure slipping—
her face filled with disbelief.
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