"Right, right, I also think this path is more interesting!"
Xavier had now triggered his passive 'Isolated and Helpless' and could only place his last hope on Zhongli.
Zhongli pondered for a moment before saying, "From a universally rational perspective…"
"I don't care about your universal or rational, but Hall Master advises you to think carefully before speaking."
Hu Tao had a mischievous smile, practically writing 'threat' on her face.
"From a universally rational perspective, it's better for the minority to obey the majority." Zhongli immediately changed his stance.
Xavier understood that this small path was definitely going to be taken today.
And A-Mao, who had been coaxed and tricked into coming along, certainly couldn't be counted on to take a side.
"Alright, alright, but you absolutely must not get separated. This is such a big mountain, I won't be able to find you then."
Xavier could only choose to compromise in the end, following them as they grandly entered the mountain path.
The path was just as Xavier had thought—not easy to walk at all. After walking halfway, he found it was full of dead branches and thorns.
"Sister Yoimiya, Klee found a treasure!" Klee suddenly discovered a very smooth stone.
Yoimiya picked it up and looked at it from all angles, exclaiming, "Wow, this stone is so round, it looks like it's been carefully polished!"
Xavier glanced at it and said, "This kind of stone is usually used by old men to play with; it really has been carefully polished."
"You really are…" Yoimiya said, hands on her hips, "You need to protect a child's innocence, understand?!"
As expected of the Children's King, she always knew how to take care of children.
Unfortunately, Xavier was not in the mood for that now, as his head was already aching.
Hu Tao was like a monkey returning home once she entered the mountain, incredibly excited.
"Oh ya, oh ya ya!"
"What's over there? It looks like wild fruit!"
"Furina, come quickly, I found something fun!"
It was bad enough that she was running around everywhere herself, but she had to call Furina too.
"Xavier, I think I need to make something clear."
Balladeer, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke, "They are very likely to get separated, so when that happens, I don't want you to bother me, including but not limited to finding people."
Xavier thought he was truly inexplicable but was too lazy to argue with him.
But to Xavier's despair, in the blink of an eye, Hu Tao and Furina were gone!
"No, where did Zhongli go again?"
If those two ran off, he could still accept it, but how did Zhongli also disappear?
It was just climbing a mountain and shooting video footage; did it have to be so difficult?
Balladeer had a cold smirk on his lips, his expression seeming to say, "See? What did I tell you?"
Although that expression was very punchable, Xavier no longer had the time to care.
"Yoimiya, Klee, where are they?"
Xavier hurriedly asked the two who were squatting nearby, studying some unknown plant.
Both looked up simultaneously and shook their heads at the same time, "We don't know~"
Xavier held his forehead; his head was throbbing.
"Oh, Xavier, don't be anxious!"
Yoimiya came over and patted his shoulder, comforting him, "Anyway, we're going to the mountaintop over there, so why don't we go wait for them first!"
At this point, Xavier felt this was the only solution.
Looking at the winding path, Xavier sighed.
He kept a close eye on Yoimiya and Klee; these two couldn't be lost.
Although the journey was rough, it was undeniable that walking the mountain path was much quieter and more interesting.
At least his precious Klee had fun today, and that was enough.
"Wow! It's so high here!"
Upon reaching the summit, Klee spread her arms and ran towards the viewing platform.
"No wonder Xavier, you wanted to come here to shoot videos; it's so expansive!"
Yoimiya put her hand on her forehead and looked around.
"You've arrived."
Zhongli's voice came from nearby at some unknown moment, like a ghost.
Xavier saw his leisurely demeanor and guessed he had arrived even earlier than him.
"Strange, why haven't I seen Hall Master and Ms. Furina?" Zhongli looked around but didn't see the two of them.
Xavier said somewhat helplessly, "I was about to ask, why aren't you all together?"
No sooner had he spoken than two figures emerged from a place with no discernible path.
"I'll never walk with Hu Tao again…"
Furina was covered in dead branches and leaves, and she no longer looked as refined as before.
Hu Tao, on the other hand, was laughing even harder.
"Haha, Furina, it seems you still need to exercise!"
"Hall Master often finds clients in the mountains; this kind of path is nothing!"
Pulling the vines off her body, Furina's heart was filled with only two words: regret.
Xavier felt very fortunate because no one was missing.
"This beautiful weather, this expansive view, Hall Master feels like reciting another poem!"
Hu Tao stood on the viewing platform, her poetic inspiration overflowing.
"Weather good, weather grand, a flock of crows caw in the land!"
"You look at me, I look at you, playing together, it's truly true!"
Hu Tao performed as consistently as ever.
Zhongli took the lead in flattering her, "Hall Master is indeed Hall Master; truly full of talent."
"Klee is so envious of Sister Hu Tao; Klee also wants to be able to recite poems~"
Klee's small eyes were filled with admiration, completely unable to distinguish what made a good poem.
"It's really not easy for Hu Tao to always create poems that match our mood."
Xavier felt that what Yoimiya said was full of emotional intelligence.
Low emotional intelligence: What kind of poem is that? It's a mess.
High emotional intelligence: It's really not easy.
"Heh, if the standard for judging poetry has fallen to this, then the civilization of Teyvat should not exist."
Balladeer knew how to ruin people's moods, insulting them in a roundabout way.
Hu Tao didn't react much, just waved her hand, "Oh, you wouldn't understand. This is culture unique to Liyue!"
"Alright, alright, let's talk about poetry later. Let's shoot the video first, and then we'll go eat together!" Xavier immediately changed the subject.
Upon hearing about food, everyone indeed forgot all about poetry.
Xavier took out his equipment, searched for suitable scenes, and then directed Zhongli's movements.
Everything was ready, but as Xavier picked up the camera, the sky suddenly changed.
It had been clear and sunny, but then dark clouds appeared in the distance and steadily approached.
Balladeer, however, was very smart and found a pavilion where they could shelter from the rain.
"This… it won't rain, will it?" Looking at the dark clouds getting closer and closer, Furina couldn't help but say.
No sooner had she spoken than the rain began to fall.
As the raindrops fell, Hu Tao started complaining, "Furina, you must be a jinx!"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't talk nonsense! I certainly don't want it to rain; my clothes will get wet!"
The few of them were in a hurry, looking for a place to shelter from the rain.
Now, only Xavier and Zhongli remained in the heavy rain.
Xavier gave an awkward smile and said, "So… are we still filming?"
"No matter, continue."
Rainwater reflected a faint glow as it fell on Zhongli's body.
Xavier thought that this kind of footage might even have more selling points than clear skies!
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