At the entrance of Wangshu Inn, Arataki Itto was miserable.
He had slipped out secretly precisely because he didn't want to cry in front of others, didn't want Hu Tao, Paimon, Lumine, and the others to see him grieving in secret.
But he never expected that even after slipping out of the inn, someone would still see his red eyes and the faint glimmer of tears at the corners.
And the ones who saw him were Shinobu and Yoimiya.
Even though he was sad inside, he had to force a smile and act like he was perfectly happy.
He was completely done.
Beside him, watching Itto's somewhat awkward behavior, Kuki Shinobu and Yoimiya were both very confused.
This simple-minded guy.
He was usually so optimistic, always laughing loudly. What was wrong with him now?
Yoimiya smiled. "Let's go inside now! I heard tomorrow is Liyue's Lantern Rite. Before that, I need to find a good buyer for all those fireworks!"
This time, Yoimiya hadn't come to Liyue to listen to stories.
She had heard that the Lantern Rite was approaching and that many, many fireworks would be needed for the celebration. So she had brought a great many fireworks with her.
Not only that, to expand into Liyue's fireworks market, she was also going to open a "Naganohara Fireworks" branch in Liyue.
That way, she could earn even more Mora.
Just thinking about it made her very happy.
Itto blinked. "You! First you competed with this great one for the title of king of kids in Inazuma, and now that you're in Liyue, you want to use those little firework toys to trick kids?"
Yoimiya said a little displeased, "What do you mean by trick? I run an honest business! Besides, I'm not a kid anymore. I don't want to be some king of kids!"
Itto: "Ah? You're not a kid? Fine, let this great one compare... You're this much shorter than me, and you still say you're not a kid?"
Yoimiya: "..."
She was speechless.
If they judged who was a kid by Itto's method, there wouldn't be many adults left in all of Inazuma.
The two of them went back and forth.
As they talked, they had already entered the inn.
The moment the three of them entered side by side, they immediately attracted the attention of many audience members.
"Look, isn't that the Arataki Itto who just disappeared?"
"Where did he go to cry?"
"He looks pretty normal. Like a strong king of kids. He shouldn't have cried, right?"
"His eyes are red at the corners. And he says he didn't cry!"
"Hey, who are those two girls standing next to the street thug? Are they also oni from Inazuma?"
"Are you blind? They're clearly human!"
"I recognize the one with green hair and a mask. She used to be a student at Liyue's legal academy. I think she was Miss Yanfei's classmate. Why is she standing with a street thug?"
"Are they friends?"
"That ninja with the mask is also from Inazuma, right?"
"Look, they're coming in. They're heading to Yuheng Keqing's table!"
When the audience saw the three of them, some immediately recognized Kuki Shinobu as the Inazuman student who had once studied at the legal academy.
But they were all unfamiliar with the fireworks shop owner, Yoimiya.
As the audience discussed among themselves, in a corner of the inn, Arataki Itto confidently led Kuki Shinobu and Yoimiya over, intending to introduce them to Hu Tao, Keqing, and the others.
But before they arrived, Yoimiya suddenly asked in confusion, "Mr. Arataki Itto, you seem pretty familiar with these guests. They all seem to be talking about you!"
"What red oni, what blue oni!"
"What's going on? You really weren't crying just now, were you?"
Itto laughed loudly. "Of course not! This great one never cries!"
Yoimiya looked around the inn. "Where are we going now? The whole inn is full. There's no place to sit! Hey, that corner over there seems to have empty seats!"
"Ah, it's the Raiden Shogun?"
"So she's here listening to stories too!"
Itto: "Ahem, that's not our spot. Our spot is over here!"
With that, Itto led Kuki Shinobu and the curious Yoimiya toward Hu Tao's table.
Seeing Itto return, Paimon said excitedly, "Cow Herder, you're finally back!"
Xiangling: "Hey, Mr. Arataki Itto, who are these two?"
Apart from Paimon and Lumine, everyone else looked at Kuki Shinobu and Yoimiya behind Itto with curious eyes.
The one dressed as a ninja must be the Arataki Gang's second-in-command, Kuki Shinobu.
Then who was the other one?
Hearing this, Itto was about to introduce the two of them, but Kuki Shinobu spoke first.
"My name is Kuki Shinobu, second-in-command of the Arataki Gang—"
Yoimiya also said, "Hello, everyone. My name is Yoimiya, and I'm the current owner of... the Arataki Gang—no, the Naganohara Fireworks!"
"If you want to buy fireworks, you can contact me anytime!"
Hu Tao smiled. "Fireworks? If we combine fireworks with funerals, hehe, I've thought of a new funeral package!"
Xiangling quickly said, "Tomorrow is the Lantern Rite. We should need a lot of fireworks, right?"
Keqing said seriously, "We do need a lot of fireworks."
Not only that.
For special reasons, many of the fireworks that had been ordered earlier couldn't be delivered on time. The current supply of fireworks was completely insufficient.
Nowhere near enough for the Lantern Rite.
Keqing thought for a moment. "Miss Yoimiya, if I order fireworks now, when can I receive them?"
Yoimiya immediately said happily, "You want to place an order? If you order now, they can be delivered immediately... because on this trip to Liyue, I brought a great many fireworks. They're all stored at the docks!"
"I can deliver them anytime!"
She hadn't expected someone to want to buy fireworks as soon as she arrived in Liyue.
She just didn't know how many fireworks this young lady wanted to buy.
Hearing this, Keqing was also delighted. "May I ask how many fireworks you brought?"
Yoimiya spread both arms and gestured in the air. "Boxes this big. Ten boxes of fireworks. Enough to hold a large celebration!"
Keqing waved her hand grandly. "I'll take them all! This Lantern Rite needs a great many fireworks!"
Yoimiya was startled. "Ah, ten big boxes of fireworks, and you really want them all?"
Keqing: "That's right!"
Yoimiya said happily, "Then please pay the deposit first!"
So many fireworks; even just the deposit would cost a large sum of Mora.
Hearing the word "deposit," Keqing paused for a moment. Her expression immediately turned awkward.
Though she was one of the Liyue Qixing and held great power, when it came to wealth, she was quite strapped.
Otherwise, her beloved "Lustrous Crescent" wouldn't have been taken by Ningguang.
Keqing thought for a moment. "I want to pay the deposit now too, but I don't know where Ningguang is. For now, I don't have enough Mora."