"Koji, what are we going to do now? The Rite of Descension is still more than half a month away."
The dishes at the Jade Chamber had been excellent. Even Ningguang was shocked at how much Paimon could eat. Such a small body—was there some dimensional pocket inside?
"You're not going to plow fields?"
"Well, I could… but I just got to Liyue. It's not like I'm so poor I need to plow right away." Lumine shrugged.
She didn't have much money, but Koji did. Spending his Mora didn't bother her.
Koji was speechless. You don't lack money, but you're spending mine.
"Let's go see how Guizhong, our sister of construction, is doing with the house."
…
Guili Plains.
Guizhong and Ping'er studied the blueprints together. Since Guizhong had only just returned, Ping'er didn't want to part with her so soon.
"Oh, benefactor, you're back. Are you in a hurry to move in?" Guizhong asked.
"Mm, 'benefactor'—that's a nice title." Koji was pleased. It reminded him of a certain fox who liked to call people that.
"No rush. Take your time. I don't want a shoddy tofu-dregs project."
"By the way…"
"Guizhong, your authority is control over dust, right?"
"Yes. I don't have Morax's mastery of Geo, but dust is my domain." Guizhong nodded.
Dust fell under Geo, making the God of Dust a kind of lesser Geo Archon.
"Then, collect some limestone and clay…"
Koji planned to build with cement. The high-temperature calcination could be replaced with alchemy. Only the raw materials were needed.
The structure wouldn't use cement everywhere—just the foundations. The building itself would use mortise-and-tenon joints.
Teyvat's architecture, unlike modern styles, relied on clay mixtures, not cement.
"Koji, are you talking about cement?" Lumine asked. She had traveled many worlds, of course she knew it.
Good grief. She didn't know what else to say.
She had observed Teyvat's houses—primitive compared to other worlds, no modern materials.
"I understand."
Guizhong nodded. She used her authority over dust to gather the requested materials.
For her, it was simple.
Soon, a pile of mixed powders appeared before her, blended according to Koji's ratios.
"Now it's my turn."
Koji nodded. As expected of the God of Dust—efficient and precise.
Through alchemy, the raw mixture transformed into cement. Normally, high-temperature kilns were required, but in Teyvat, alchemy sufficed.
"Alchemy… I didn't expect you to know such skills." Ping'er said with wonder.
In this age, few practiced alchemy. The lineage was broken, and only one in a hundred had the talent.
She had heard of a prodigy in Mondstadt—Albedo.
Basic alchemy was one thing. Forbidden-level alchemy, another.
"All done. Next, add sand and water, then mix."
Cement created, Guizhong nodded. She summoned sand. Koji drew water from the river. Together they mixed.
"So this is how it works. Once it hardens, it can be used as building material."
Guizhong observed. Cement's value was clear: for roads, transport would improve dramatically.
In Teyvat, only city streets were paved with stone. Outside, roads turned muddy after rain, hampering movement.
Stone slabs everywhere would be too costly, materials too scarce.
"If we sell this to Ningguang, we could make billions." Lumine mused.
"A hundred billion Mora. Ningguang would pay without hesitation." Koji said firmly.
Cement was revolutionary—for construction, for roads. The profit ceiling was high.
"At that price, yes. It's worth it." Ping'er agreed.
Still, such matters belonged to the Qixing. If adepti meddled in management, resentment would fester. No one wanted their share cut.
"Phew, a hundred billion Mora… at that point, it stops feeling real."
That was Lumine's thought. Money coming too fast had no sense of achievement.
Doing commissions, though tiring, brought satisfaction.
"Then don't use it. Go plow fields yourself." Koji folded his arms, smirking.
"In your dreams. What's yours is mine." Lumine declared boldly.
And Paimon, the golden devourer, burned tens of thousands of Mora each month. Ordinary people couldn't afford her.
"Pfft. You two are amusing." Guizhong laughed.
Youth was a blessing.
But if she knew the truth, Koji would argue: Lumine had traveled countless worlds. Her age rivaled that of gods.
"Indeed. As travelers, meeting a kindred spirit is fortune." Koji nodded.
Lumine agreed. Koji was from another world too, not native. They always had things to talk about.
"Lumine, the Rite is still far. Want to visit other worlds?" Koji suggested.
"You can? Won't that white-haired Overseer stop you?" Lumine blinked.
She knew well how fearsome the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles was. Even she and Aether at their peak couldn't beat Asmoday.
"We won't cross her path."
[Blessing of Dimensions: Dimensional Walker, able to travel across worlds.]
Koji could gain any blessing he wished.
"Alright then. With you, I'll be safe. I'm weak and helpless now."
Lumine shrugged. Anywhere was travel. And she knew her brother was safe.
"I'd love to go! I've never left Teyvat." Guizhong said enviously.
"Finish the house first. I've hidden your aura. Zhongli won't notice." Koji said.
With the Rite approaching, Zhongli's focus would be elsewhere. He wouldn't check here.
"Even better. I'll surprise him. Hehehe."
Ping'er said nothing. A surprise, yes. But more a shock. And maybe utter social death.
(End of Chapter)
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