On Liyue's bustling central street,
Jack and Hutao walked hand-in-hand with Qiqi, one on each side.
That being said,
Looking at Hutao's pouting expression, it was clear that even though she was happy Qiqi had forgiven her, Jack's differential treatment made her incredibly jealous.
"I don't care! Why are her shoes so pretty? I want some too! I want some!"
"Hey, lower your voice."
Jack quickly covered Hutao's mouth.
Didn't she see a squad of Qianyan Army approaching them?
While few people recognized him, Jack wanted to properly explore this authentic ancient city of the divine land.
Hutao raised an eyebrow at Jack.
[Hutao: I can give up, but the shoes I want must be remade, and they have to be even prettier than Qiqi's!]
[Jack: Hey! Where did this inexplicable competitiveness come from? You want to compete with a child like Qiqi?]
[Hutao: Wuwuwu, just a second ago you called me little Taotao, and now you're... Hey, wait, you didn't open your mouth, how did I hear you?]
Jack quickly ended the voice channel conversation.
He gave Hutao a guarantee that he would give her an absolutely unforgettable pair of shoes tonight.
Before Hutao could wonder how Jack had acquired the ability to transmit sound secretly, she felt a gust of wind approaching.
The scenery before her eyes changed colors in a blink.
"Wow!"
This miraculous wind successfully diverted Hutao's attention.
"Jack, Jack! Can you teach me this? If I learn this trick, then no matter how far away a client is, our Hall of Wangsheng can arrive immediately! Believe me, such an efficient professional team will become incredibly popular in Liyue!"
Facing Hutao, who was bursting with business ideas, Jack appropriately poured a bucket of cold water on her.
"Is there a possibility that even if you don't implement marketing strategies, your Hall of Wangsheng is still the only professional team in all of Liyue capable of communicating between the living and the dead?"
They already had a monopoly! What more did they need?
"Eh?"
Hutao's already underdeveloped brain stalled.
She recalled that throughout their lineage, it seemed that besides certain Adepti occasionally taking on part-time jobs, only their Hall of Wangsheng would take on such dirty work.
Just then, shouts came from all around.
"——Chop Suey, delicious and affordable!!"
"——Come and taste the craftsmanship of Wanmin Restaurant!"
"——To save, or not to save?"
Is this Chi Hu Rock?
Jack looked around.
Indeed, he saw a massive building situated on the city's inner river.
That adorably ugly green art style made it instantly recognizable as the Adventurers' Guild, spread across the seven nations.
"Since we're here, let's go... check out Wanmin Restaurant."
"Ah? Xiangling isn't even here, and it's not mealtime, why go there?"
Hutao mumbled softly.
But she still obediently followed Jack's steps towards a self-built two-story small restaurant.
"Yo! What can I get for you, sirs? First floor or second floor?"
"No, no, we're not ordering food, we just came to look around."
Jack, making himself at home, pulled Qiqi and Hutao inside.
The layout inside was pretty much the same as in the game.
But the overall area was much larger.
After all, it was a long-established restaurant in the most vibrant area of Liyue, so it wouldn't have survived without some capability.
"How strange, another one who comes to the restaurant without ordering food."
"Hmm?"
Jack heard Chef Mao's muttering and didn't ask further. Instead, he directly used his eyes to replace Nahida's Elemental Skill, scanning Chef Mao's inner thoughts.
[Chef Mao: More and more Fatui have been coming to the shop recently. They don't eat, and the first thing they do is ask for Xiangling. That child Xiangling, really, even Madam Ping doesn't know where the Traveler went, how could she find them... Wait, who is that person next to Hutao?]
Chef Mao turned his head.
And met Jack's gaze.
Jack almost blurted out "Father-in-law."
"Ahem, Chef Mao, long time no see, I've returned to Liyue."
"Is that really you?!"
Chef Mao grabbed Jack's arm in surprise, then quickly retreated a few steps in fear.
"No, no! It might be the Fatui in disguise! I'm telling you, you won't lay a hand on my daughter! I won't tell you where she went!"
"Fatui..."
Hearing this term for the second time,
Jack felt something was seriously wrong.
The strangeness wasn't that the Fatui would appear here.
But given their usual behavior, even Chef Mao had noticed their presence and their attitude was so hostile, yet Chef Mao was standing here perfectly fine.
Since when did the Fatui become so easy to talk to?
Jack glanced at the scowling Chef Mao and figured the other party probably couldn't provide any important information.
Perhaps this afternoon, after taking care of Hutao and Qiqi, he would go home and discuss it directly with Ningguang and Keqing.
They should have more detailed information.
"Alright, since Chef Mao is busy, I won't disturb you. This is a small token of my appreciation; please give these ingredients to Xiangling when she returns."
Jack left a pile of MC World-specific ingredients, then pulled Hutao and Qiqi away.
After the three had walked far away,
Chef Mao gently pinched the beef on the table. After inspecting it, his jaw dropped in shock, unable to close.
"The natural muscle texture is almost perfectly arranged; it's practically super-grade sirloin! Where did the Fatui get such fantastical ingredients?"
Recalling the frozen pork that had been extinct for hundreds of years that Xiangling and the Traveler had brought home before,
Chef Mao began to believe that Jack really was the Traveler.
Then, he slapped his thigh in regret.
"Oh dear! I'm truly getting old and muddled! Now I've messed up the one thing my daughter specifically asked me to do, and she'll be making strange dishes again for a while!"
...
On the way to Jinxiu Pavilion.
Hutao was unusually quiet.
It wasn't until Jack had almost walked past with them that she spoke up to remind him.
"Jack, we're at Splendor Boutique, aren't we?"
"Hmm, already?"
Jack gave an apologetic smile, then led them back.
"What, are you very concerned about Xiangling's safety?"
"How to put it, I am a little concerned, but she is Ping's disciple and a close friend of Yan Fei and others. The Fatui shouldn't do anything to her. I'm thinking about something else."
"What is it?"
Hutao's tone was serious.
Seeing her serious expression, one could tell that if Jack asked for help in the next second, she would make her old father help Jack, even if it meant risking Zhongli's personal safety.
"The Fatui are extensively contacting my previous acquaintances, especially someone like Xiangling who seemingly has no background or support. Their true purpose is probably me, who is behind Xiangling and the others."
"Not long ago, I encountered a team of Fatui in Dragonspine Mountain. I learned from them that at least the Doctor and others among the Fatui have already noticed the anomaly."
"After all these days, it seems they have already pinpointed the source of this anomaly..."
—Clap! Clap! Clap!
A clear voice came from Splendor Boutique.
"Hahaha! As expected of my close friend, to so easily guess our purpose. The man standing behind Miss Lumine, who is unmatched in combat, truly lives up to his reputation!"
A wild Tartaglia appeared!
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