After Lumine was dealt with, Shenhe sat back down in her original spot.
Today, as long as she was here, no one would be able to go up the mountain.
Meanwhile, on the mountain, Ryan and Paimon were unaware of what was happening at the Teleport Waypoint. After Ryan had prepared all the lavish dishes according to Paimon's preferences, the two finally sat down together.
A candlelight dinner? For Paimon, that was far less substantial than the rich feast before her.
So Ryan catered to her preferences, not focusing much on the ambiance, but rather on the aroma.
Seeing Paimon almost drooling, it was clear this approach was very successful.
"Golden Shrimp Balls, Tianshu Meat, Lotus Seed Paste, Golden Crab, Squirrel Fish, Matsutake Rolls, Tender Pepper Chicken..."
Paimon recited each dish one by one, wiping her drool several times during the process.
"Alright, the last dish is on the table. Luckily, I used Martial Grand-Aunt's Pyro element power to keep it warm, otherwise, cooking so many dishes alone, the earlier ones would have gotten cold."
Ryan quickly brought the last dish to the stone table.
The stone table was laden with various delicacies, the richness of which was in no way inferior to the feasts the Adepti once held here.
"Hehe, you worked hard, Ryan, but since it's all ready, can we start eating now?"
Paimon rubbed her hands together, asking expectantly.
Although she also wanted to help, Ryan wouldn't let her, saying that a lady as cute as her only needed to wait for dinner.
"Of course, please help yourself."
Ryan handed the chopsticks to Paimon.
"Mmm~"
Paimon immediately and impatiently picked up a Golden Shrimp Ball and stuffed it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out, and she let out a satisfied sound.
"Slow down, slow down, no one's fighting you for it."
Ryan sat next to Paimon, reminding her with a chuckle.
The two happily enjoyed their lavish lunch together.
At the same time, still by the Teleport Waypoint.
Shenhe took out a few Pure Heart and chewed on them, her gaze directed towards the bushes.
In the bushes, Lumine, who had been knocked unconscious for a while, rubbed her forehead and slowly got up.
"Did I get a stiff neck? Where am I... Hmm?"
Lumine hadn't yet recalled the situation when she suddenly felt someone walk in front of her.
"Mmm?!"
Before Lumine could react, Shenhe had already pinched her face with one hand.
'So, so much strength...?!'
Lumine used both hands but found she couldn't budge Shenhe's hand at all.
"Sorry, but please don't disturb my Senior Brother."
Shenhe calmly told Lumine, then pulled out a completely black pill and forcefully shoved it into Lumine's mouth.
"Wuwu?!"
Lumine struggled for a moment, then raised her hand to gather Anemo element power, pushing Shenhe away with a palm.
After pushing Shenhe away, Lumine quickly tried to spit out the pill in her mouth, but found that it had already melted and seeped into her stomach.
During the thirty years that Ryan had taken human form, besides Cloud Retainer, Shenhe was the person who had stayed by his side the longest.
And since the Adepti didn't dare to try Ryan's pills much, Ryan often gave the pills he concocted to Shenhe... except for those that were obviously problematic just from their description and shouldn't be consumed recklessly, such as the "Three-Headed Six-Armed Waste Pill."
Therefore, besides having consumed many pills, which resulted in her physique being different from ordinary people, Shenhe also possessed many pills concocted by Ryan.
The one she gave to Lumine was one of them.
[Sweet Dream Pill (1-star · Rainbow): After consumption, one can immediately fall asleep and experience their most desired sweet dream.]
"Ugh..."
As the medicine's effects gradually took hold, Lumine felt her eyelids growing heavier, and the element power she had gathered in her hands slowly dissipated.
Finally, Lumine fell to the ground with a thud.
Shenhe, who had been sent flying by Lumine's Wind Blade, was unharmed. She walked back, picked Lumine up again, and hid her back in the bushes.
On the mountain peak, Ryan and Paimon had similar appetites, and the lavish lunch was successfully cleared by their combined efforts.
"Burp... Ryan, you actually ate one more piece than me. It seems I lost the eating contest."
Paimon sat on the stone stool, holding her bulging stomach, too full to move.
"No, no, no, that's not how you calculate it, Paimon. You're so small, yet you ate almost as much as me. If we calculate by body proportion, you should be the winner."
Ryan waved his hand.
"Hehe, that's right too."
Paimon agreed with Ryan's statement, happily nodding her head.
The two chatted and rested like this, and it was a while before they felt less full.
During this time, Ryan collected all the pots, bowls, and utensils from the table, planning to wash them later.
Then Ryan tidied up the area to avoid leaving any food waste.
"Let's go, Paimon, I still have a place I want to show you."
"Mhm, mhm."
Afterward, Ryan took Paimon down Aozang Mountain together.
As the two descended the mountain, Shenhe also hid in the bushes, next to Lumine who was sound asleep having a sweet dream, watching the two descend the mountain.
After descending Aozang Mountain, Ryan led Paimon through Huaguang Stone Forest.
They encountered many monsters along the way, but with Ryan's current abilities, even without inviting an Adeptus to possess him, he could easily handle ordinary monsters.
In this way, the two arrived at the foot of Hulao Mountain.
There was a huge Fulong Tree here, and the two arrived in front of it.
"What a strange tree. What are those blue structures on it?"
It was Paimon's first time seeing the Fulong Tree, and she looked curiously at the blue marks on the tree.
"Perhaps... blood?"
Ryan was a little unsure.
"This is where one of my Martial Grand-Aunts rests. Today, under the witness of Martial Grand-Aunt, I will present the surprise I prepared for you."
Ryan then explained this to Paimon.
Of course, the actual situation was that there was no one here, so there was no need to worry about being disturbed.
After all, if they were on Aozang Mountain, his master would always be watching.
"Hehe~ Actually, no need for surprises. Although I don't know why you're so good to Paimon, Paimon was already very happy with that lavish feast earlier."
Hearing Ryan's words, Paimon happily shook her head and flew in front of Ryan.
"No, no, if a surprise is already prepared and not used, wouldn't it be a waste?"
Hearing Paimon's words, Ryan chuckled and shook his head.
"Eh? Alright... Huh?"
Paimon nodded, but before she could finish speaking, Ryan had gently taken one of her small hands.
"Do you know, Paimon, the moment I first saw you, I knew you were the most special existence in all of Teyvat. If I were to miss you, I'm afraid I would never find an existence as special as you in Teyvat, even if I searched my entire life."
"Every frown and smile of yours tugs at my heartstrings, haunting my dreams. I think I can't leave you anymore..."
"Could I ask you... to accept my feelings?"
Ryan held one of Paimon's small hands, speaking to her tenderly.
"Eh?"
"Ehh—?!"
However, Paimon's eyes widened.
"I, I, I... No, no, Paimon isn't that old yet..."
Then Paimon frantically pulled her hand back.
"It's okay, I'm willing to wait for you."
Ryan said gently.
"I, I..."
A flustered Paimon couldn't give Ryan an answer.
"Then, then I'll go back to the Traveler first. She, she'll definitely be angry if she finds out I snuck out..."
Paimon, unable to give an answer, could only say this.
"Is that so? But if you go back now, she'll definitely be angry. How about we prepare a gift for her?"
Seeing that Paimon didn't give an answer, Ryan wasn't disappointed but immediately offered a suggestion.
"Ryan, you... Then what kind of gift should I prepare?"
Seeing how much Ryan cared about her, Paimon asked, feeling a little touched.
"How about this, I'll concoct a pill for the Traveler that increases combat power. You take it back and give it to her, saying that it's a gift you specially asked me to concoct for her. That way, she definitely won't be angry, right?"
Ryan suggested this to Paimon.
Paimon's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded her head.
Then Ryan directly pulled out the star swallowing cauldron and the pre-prepared medicinal ingredients.
"Little Paimon, help me put the ingredients into the furnace, just like last time when we were identifying the noctilucous jade."
Ryan sat cross-legged in front of the alchemy furnace and reminded Paimon.
"Oh, oh, okay, leave it to me!"
...