Yingda:
"Mister~" She raised her brows.
"I don't know… what price must be paid to revive Fanan and Minu?"
The sixth-tier Resurrection Staff had been traded for one personal favor from the Emperor.
That was why she herself had been resurrected.
But what about the other three?
What would it cost for them?
Especially her eldest brother—
Even Mister had admitted his case was complicated.
She could never afford it.
Taro:
"I'm not some black-hearted merchant."
"Relax. If I'm willing, the price is very light."
Seeing Yingda's worried expression, Taro couldn't help but smile.
This girl really was endearing.
Debts of gratitude are like this—
pile up enough, and they can never be fully repaid.
So what could she do? Nothing.
To Zhongli, the adepti, and Yingda, resurrection was a miracle.
But for him, it was nothing more than spending a tiny bit of mana.
As long as they showed the right attitude—
and as long as he was in the mood—
a token price was more than enough.
As for his earlier contract with Zhongli…
Taro had given him a treasure too valuable.
Zhongli, as the God of Contracts, could not accept something without an equal exchange.
So he insisted on drafting an extremely formal contract.
That first deal had been almost absurdly serious,
the conditions so generous that it left the adepti thinking resurrection always required a steep price.
In truth… once you got close to Taro, it was nothing more than a word.
Yingda:
"Really? The price is light…?"
She tilted her head in confusion.
But hadn't the Emperor said otherwise?
Taro:
"Alright then."
He raised two fingers.
"You'll be my personal assistant and secretary for two years. That's the price."
"If you're willing—"
Yingda:
"Of course I am!"
Before he even finished, she stood abruptly and raised her hand to swear:
"Mister, you are willing to grant a miracle and save me and my siblings. Let alone two years—even my entire life will be at your command, without complaint.
I swear: if I break my word, may I suffer punishment for it! Let the Emperor be witness!"
Approved.
The faint sound of a divine thread whispered by her ear.
The vow was sealed.
Taro blinked in surprise.
She had actually made it that formal?
Then again—this was Liyue, land of the God of Contracts.
Here, vows weren't empty words; with Rex Lapis watching, no one dared break them.
(Besides Barbatos, of course…)
To violate a vow here was to invite death.
Yingda:
"Mister, for the rest of my life, please take care of me."
Now officially recognized by the Emperor, she felt relieved.
She was indeed his "assistant and secretary."
For life, in fact—and she accepted it gladly.
She would have to seek advice from Ganyu later.
After all, she had no secretarial experience.
But Ganyu had been the secretary of Yuehai Pavilion for over two thousand years—
surely she had plenty to teach.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Herulia:
"Boss, I'm back! I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"
She appeared at the entrance, smiling sweetly, holding a basket of groceries.
Yingda caught the odd glance Herulia gave her.
She quickly turned her eyes away, busying herself with boiling water for tea.
Herulia smirked, stepping in lightly.
"Starting lunch already?"
Taro was surprised at the basket filled with ingredients.
His innkeeper really was efficient.
Herulia:
"Since I didn't know what flavors Boss likes, I bought a variety.
For lunch, I'll make matsutake meat rolls, crab-roe tofu, moon-egg, shredded trio in sauce, and lotus-seed soup.
For the main dish, a Four-Harmony Stew.
Oh right—Boss, what kind of food do you usually prefer?
I'll note it down now so I can study cooking further."
Taro:
"I'm not picky. As long as it's edible and tastes good, that's enough."
In his old world, plain nutrient gruel was all commoners could hope for.
Good food was a dream.
Now he was surrounded by delicacies—
but he had only been in Liyue a few days and hadn't formed any strong preferences yet.
Herulia nodded firmly.
"Leave it to me. I'll make sure Boss is satisfied."
If Boss didn't know his tastes, then she would learn every dish from Liyue and even neighboring nations.
Three meals a day, never the same.
Eventually, he'd find the one he loved most.
After all—she had all the time in the world.
Before heading to the kitchen, Herulia cast a sidelong glance at Yingda, who was concentrating on making tea.
A little mouse in the house, hmm? She'd have to keep an eye on that.
Herulia:
"Boss, I'll start cooking now. Lunch will be ready soon."
She left with a smile.
Yingda quietly poured a cup of tea and offered it to Taro.
Yingda:
"Mister, here's your tea."
Taro:
"Good! This is the life."
He sighed in contentment.
The only thing missing was a courtyard to lie in and bask in the sun.
A pity.
(End of Chapter)
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