After Nahida left, Shao Yun spent the day following Dunyarzad, Dehya, and Nilou through the bustling Grand Bazaar, thrown headfirst into an endless cycle of errands and labor.
The entire day passed in a blur—not a single moment of rest.
Shao Yun couldn't even figure out how he ended up as a volunteer; somehow, without realizing it, he was dragged into helping.
First, he became Nilou's personal shopper and porter, weaving through the crowded market streets with arms full of packages and goods.
Then, without pause, he joined Dunyarzad and Dehya in setting up the Zubayr Theater—hauling props, arranging decorations, and doing all manner of chores.
By the time the sun began to set, after a full day of bone-tiring work, the preparations were finally, barely complete.
If it weren't for the endurance granted by his Legend of the East outfit, Shao Yun would have collapsed hours ago.
Still, he forced himself to stay alert and followed the others toward Lambad Tavern.
However, he split off midway, heading toward the Adventurers' Guild.
He knew that as soon as Lumine and Paimon returned, the first place they'd go would be to claim their commission rewards from Katheryne—that was practically guaranteed.
Standing in front of the Guild, Shao Yun immediately spotted Katheryne, who was clutching her neck, her voice sputtering in short, halting bursts.
"Ad astra… abys— welcome to…"
Her once-fluid movements were now rigid and mechanical, as if her body's inner systems had suffered severe malfunction.
The culprit behind this state was none other than Shao Yun himself.
Who could blame him? When Nahida had been eavesdropping on private matters through Katheryne, he'd panicked and grabbed her neck—and in doing so, damaged several internal components.
Looking at the half-broken Katheryne before him, Shao Yun felt a twinge of guilt.
He scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Miss Katheryne… you really look worn out. You've got to take better care of yourself, you know…"
Sure, she did tend to "overwork" Lumine and Paimon, but let's be honest—without her, things would fall apart fast.
He didn't admit he was the one responsible, of course. Explaining would inevitably bring up Nahida, and he couldn't risk that. Sorry, android lady—no human rights for you.
Katheryne gently patted her neck as her damaged parts started whirring again.
After a few moments of effort, she finally managed to speak, though her voice came out strained.
"It's not too serious… just that my neck— some of my internal mechanisms are quite worn. I'll need external assistance to function properly."
"Not only that, but my speech module also seems to be having some minor issues."
Listening to her describe her condition made Shao Yun feel even more awkward.
He rubbed the back of his neck and hesitated. "Uh… do you want me to help with some oiling or something? Might make things move a little smoother."
Katheryne slowly rotated her head and replied, "Thank you for your concern. I've already filed a maintenance request with the Guild. A technician will arrive tonight to handle it."
"By the way, is there anything I can do for you?"
Knowing she'd soon be repaired, Shao Yun nodded. "Actually, yes—could you help me pass on a message to Lumine? Tell her and Paimon to head to Lambad Tavern. There's something important waiting for them there."
Katheryne picked up a pen and paper with stiff motions and carefully wrote down every word he said.
After confirming there were no mistakes, she said, "Understood. I'll make sure your message is delivered."
…
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of Lambad Tavern, Dehya, Dunyarzad, and Nilou were happily chatting.
Just then, Dehya spotted Shao Yun entering and immediately got up to greet him.
She gave his arm a friendly pat and grinned. "Well, look who's back! The young lady and Nilou will be in your care, alright?"
She turned as if to leave.
Seeing this, Shao Yun asked curiously, "Wait, hold on—where are you heading?"
Dehya threw a confident glance over her shoulder, snapped her fingers, and gestured proudly. "I heard you all wanted to meet the Dendro Archon. I've got some connections at the Eremite's Guild—maybe I can pull a few strings for you!"
Shao Yun thought to himself that he'd already spoken directly with Nahida. Even if Dehya tried to help, it wouldn't make much difference.
After all, once you've talked to the Archon herself, there's no point in going through middlemen.
Still, he smiled gratefully and replied, "Alright, thanks for the effort—do your best."
And so, the duty of watching over Dunyarzad and Nilou naturally fell onto Shao Yun's shoulders.
Of course, "watching over" really just meant sitting across from them—hardly a demanding task.
At that moment, Lambad himself came over to their table with a polite smile. "How's the menu looking? If you're unsure, I could recommend some of our best dishes."
Dunyarzad glanced down at the menu, which she had already carefully marked. After reviewing her choices, she nodded with satisfaction.
She then handed the menu to Lambad and said softly, "Everything's selected. Please prepare these dishes—but if possible, could you delay cooking a bit? We still have friends on their way."
Before Lambad could answer, Shao Yun quickly waved his hand.
"No need for that. Just prepare and serve as usual."
Dunyarzad blinked, slightly worried.
"Are you sure?" she asked kindly. "If the dishes sit too long, they'll lose their flavor. It'd be a shame for them to go cold."
Shao Yun smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry—there's no need to wait. Just go ahead."
After all, Paimon's culinary radar was second to none.
Once the food was ready, she'd come flying in like a bee chasing honey, dragging Lumine right along with her.
You could doubt many things—but never Paimon's nose or stomach.
…
Sure enough, just as Lambad set the freshly cooked dishes on the table, the tavern doors creaked open. Two familiar figures appeared —
Lumine, dressed in a sharp cowgirl outfit, and the ever-bubbly Paimon.
Paimon's eyes darted across the tavern the instant she entered. When she spotted Shao Yun, she waved excitedly and shouted, "Shao Yun! We're here!"
Her attention was quickly stolen by the steaming plates of food on the table.
Her big round eyes grew even wider—if Paimon's eyes could eat, that table would've been cleared in seconds.
"Wow! So much delicious food! We came at the perfect time!"
Shao Yun wasn't the least bit surprised—everything was going exactly as planned.
He greeted them warmly. "Hahaha, you arrived just in time—the food's only just been served."
Then he stood and gestured toward his new acquaintances.
First, he motioned to the graceful woman beside him. "This is Miss Dunyarzad, the treasured daughter of Mr. Shahzaman."
Dunyarzad smiled gently, offering a polite wave. "A pleasure to meet you both. Welcome to Sumeru."
Next, Shao Yun turned to the red-haired dancer. "And this is Nilou—the star performer of the Zubayr Theater."
Nilou blushed faintly at the compliment, laughing softly. "Oh, please, you're flattering me far too much. Calling me the 'best dancer' is… quite the exaggeration."
After the introductions, Shao Yun looked at Lumine and added thoughtfully, "There's also a girl named Dehya, but she just stepped out for a bit. You'll meet her soon."
Then came Paimon's turn to introduce herself.
"Hi everyone! I'm Paimon, and this is Lumine!" she said cheerfully, waving at the group.
Just then, Dehya returned—her expression practically announcing that she'd uncovered something important.
"Hey, I'm back!" she said brightly. "I went to ask around and actually got some good info."
When she noticed Lumine and Paimon, she immediately greeted them with a warm smile.
Then, taking in the lively scene, she chuckled. "Well, looks like I missed a lot of fun, huh? Catch me up!"
Dunyarzad patted the empty chair beside her, motioning for Dehya to sit.
Once Dehya had settled, she said softly, "Perfect timing, Dehya. You didn't miss anything important. Lumine and Paimon just arrived."
"Now then, about the Dendro Archon—judging by your expression, I assume you've got good news?"
Before she could even finish, Paimon let out an excited gasp.
"The Archon's information? Really?!" she cried, eyes sparkling with delight.
After all, that was fast!
Dehya smiled and nodded confidently. "Of course it's real. I just had a chat with old man Asfand from the Eremite's Guild, and he shared some rather interesting intel."
Paimon leaned in eagerly. "Wow, really?! What did you find out, Dehya?"
Dehya stroked her chin thoughtfully, pausing for effect.
"Hmm… let me think. According to the old man, not long ago the Akademiya lost a very important artifact—one that might be linked to a god."
"The matter's so serious that even the Grand Sage took it personally. They've dispatched Matras to hunt for clues, and even mobilized the Eremites to assist."
"I remember Asfand's exact words—'The lost item is connected to the Void and Knowledge, and somehow, to the divine.'"
"Oh, and he said it might've already found its way to Port Ormos. If you can track it down, it could be the key to meeting the Dendro Archon herself."