Although Xiao felt that Yuto was being disrespectful to the Gods, he was slandering a God from Mondstadt within Liyue's territory. As an Adeptus of Liyue, why should he interfere?
However, if what Yuto said was true, then this God from Mondstadt sounded rather unconventional, quite similar to Lord Rex Lapis's behavior... At this moment, a scene appeared in Xiao's mind: a mature man in a luxurious uniform strolling through the streets of Liyue, walking his bird, admiring flowers, listening to music, sipping tea, and appraising antiques.
Xiao struggled to push these images out of his mind. No, no, Lord Rex Lapis's actions must have some hidden, profound meaning.
"Oh, right, if Adeptus Xiao truly doesn't have time, he can set up a banquet here during Liyue's Lantern Rite Festival."
"Why?"
"The God of Wind loves lively occasions because they bring delicious food and fine wine. Every year during Liyue's Lantern Rite Festival, he comes to Liyue to freeload food and drink. Lord Rex Lapis is also aware of this."
"The Lantern Rite Festival..." Xiao actually detested the Lantern Rite Festival. He felt it was merely a time when humans filled Liyue Harbor with glowing trash. Moreover, on the night of the Lantern Rite Festival, the Gods suppressed by Lord Rex Lapis throughout Liyue would, in a semi-conscious state, unleash an abnormal surge of resentment and remnants, creating a massive workload for Xiao, requiring him to perform the Bane of All Evil through an entire night of slaughter.
However, after the slaughter ended, seeing Liyue Harbor preserved in peace through his efforts, and the people's lit lanterns illuminating the night sky and nearby sea, a special, inexplicable emotion would rise in Xiao's heart.
"Then... what's the second condition?"
"The second condition is to wait for the right moment. The dangerous place is fraught with peril. You need to wait for a few reliable companions to go with you. Don't rush to refuse; even at your peak, there will be times when you are powerless.
You go fulfill the first condition first. As for the second condition, I will tell you when the time is right. Just wait patiently. Bosacius is already dead, so waiting a bit longer won't make any difference. Alright, that's all. I should leave now. Qiqi, let's go."
After speaking, Yuto took Qiqi's hand and went downstairs, leaving Xiao alone. Although he wanted to try and make them stay, he couldn't find an excuse at the moment. In that brief lapse, Yuto and Qiqi's figures had already disappeared from the top floor.
Xiao looked at the plate of almond tofu, which had long since cooled, on the table. After much thought, he finally sat down and ate the entire almond tofu, bite by bite.
Hmm, even completely cooled almond tofu still had the same taste, just like the "beautiful dream" it once was.
The manager, Philogeotes, who had been observing from the shadows, watched Yuto and Qiqi's movements. The moment she saw them go downstairs, she instantly put on her usual welcoming smile. As Yuto and Qiqi passed the front desk, the manager bowed to them: "Welcome again next time."
After Yuto and Qiqi's figures departed, Philogeotes merely gave a look, and Huai'an, the shopkeeper standing by, dashed up to the top floor. However, the top floor was already empty, with only an empty plate remaining on the table.
Huai'an quickly searched the top floor for suspicious places and clues, but besides the empty plate, he found nothing. He could only take the empty plate downstairs to explain to his wife.
After listening to her husband's explanation, Philogeotes, taking advantage of the free time and using the front desk as a cover, wrote a note, tucked it into a carrier pigeon's pouch, and released it.
The direction the carrier pigeon flew was towards the Jade Chamber.
The carrier pigeon flew over Guili Plains, crossed Mt. Tianheng, passed through Liyue Harbor, and arrived directly at the Jade Chamber high in the sky, finally landing in a pavilion within the Jade Chamber. A dedicated staff member skillfully retrieved the note from the pigeon's leg pouch and then released the pigeon.
The staff member jogged to hand the note to Baiwen, one of Tianquan Ningguang's three secretaries. Upon seeing the style of the note, Baiwen knew it was intelligence from Wangsheng Inn and immediately handed the note to Ningguang.
After reading it, Ningguang couldn't help but frown. The note contained only a few simple lines: An unknown young man, accompanied by Bubu Pharmacy's herbalist Qiqi, brought a plate of almond tofu to the top floor and stayed for fifty minutes. Please verify the young man's identity. Following this were descriptions of the unknown young man's height, build, hair, clothing, and other features.
Wangsheng Inn is a property under Tianquan Ningguang. As employees of Wangsheng Inn, the shopkeeper and even the manager are naturally Ningguang's people. They all know that the top floor of the inn is reserved exclusively for the Vigilant Yaksha. It can be said that Wangsheng Inn exists solely to facilitate Xiao's demon-slaying activities.
Wangsheng Inn provides Xiao with intelligence on demons throughout Liyue, and then Xiao goes to slay them. Their cooperation is very pleasant. It can be said that it is precisely because of the Vigilant Yaksha's existence that Liyue's territory can now enjoy a largely harmonious and stable situation.
It is also because of the Vigilant Yaksha's existence that Ningguang dared to deploy only a small number of Millelith to maintain order in such an important place as Wangsheng Inn. As for the main force of the Millelith, they are still stationed in the Golden House, The Chasm, and Liyue City.
Therefore, anything concerning the Vigilant Yaksha is never a small matter, let alone the fact that an unknown person stayed on the top floor for nearly an hour. Such a thing hasn't happened in years and must be reported to Ningguang.
After reading the note, Ningguang handed it to Baixiao and ordered: "Give this note to Yanshang Teahouse and have them investigate the person mentioned on the note. I want all his information."
"Yes." Baixiao quietly withdrew. Ningguang sat in her chair, a look of melancholy on her face, thinking: What's going on today? In the morning, Ganyu requested leave and salary. In the afternoon, the Vigilant Yaksha had a secret meeting with a mysterious person for an hour. Did these Adepti and Adeptal Beasts coordinate for today? Could this also be Cloud Retainer's doing?
At this moment, a certain Adeptal Bird, who was cultivating in her abode, suddenly sneezed for no reason, forcibly interrupting her meditation. Cloud Retainer opened her eyes in confusion, carefully checked her entire body, but found no abnormalities.
"Strange? Is someone talking about me?"
"Master, what's wrong?" At this moment, a tall, well-built, white-haired woman with a cold expression appeared before the Adeptal Bird.
"Shenhe, this Adeptus is fine. I merely sensed some malice just now. Since my cultivation has been broken, this Adeptus will go find an old friend to divine a hexagram. Since this Adeptus will not be in the abode, you need not attend to this Adeptus. You may descend the mountain and experience the mortal world for a while."
After speaking, without waiting for Shenhe's reply, Cloud Retainer soared into the sky and flew out of the abode.
Shenhe was speechless. Suddenly feeling hungry, she also left the abode, preparing to pick some Qingxin nearby to fill her stomach. However, after searching the nearby mountains for a long time, let alone Qingxin, she couldn't even find a single Berry.
This was truly strange. She had seen many Qingxin on Mt. Aocang before, so how could they all be gone at once?
Shenhe is not yet an Adeptus and still needs food to sate her hunger. But there was no food on Mt. Aocang, and just drinking water wouldn't fill her up. Did she really have to go down the mountain?
Shenhe stood on the high mountain, looking down at Liyue Harbor in the distance, and made up her mind. Since she had to go down the mountain, she might as well go to a more distant place.
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