Liyue's Buddha's Temptation was a dish strikingly similar to Fo Tiao Qiang from Reisen Riou's homeland, made by simmering carefully selected ingredients in rich broth over low heat.
The dish was a symphony of flavors—meat carried the fragrance of vegetables, while vegetables held the savory depth of meat. Poultry tasted of the sea, and seafood bore the essence of mountain delicacies.
Not just the dish, but the soup was the star—thick, tawny, rich yet not greasy. Wine and myriad aromas blended, wafting through the air, tender but not mushy, leaving an endless aftertaste.
In Liyue, this dish required a three-month reservation due to the time-consuming preparation of ingredients. But for Reisen—master chef, youkai, and scientist—quickening the process was no issue. Pure tech and grit.
His culinary skills were unmatched. Besides the slow-simmered Buddha's Temptation, Reisen whipped up classic Liyue dishes and snacks, like Almond Tofu, said to be a favorite of Liyue's Conqueror of Demons, and Prosperous Peace, a Lantern Rite specialty.
Knowing foxes big and small would show up, he included fried tofu dishes. Liyue's tofu recipes differed from Inazuma's—Reisen wondered if the foxes would like the Liyue twist.
To cater to Raiden Ei's sweet tooth, he made Liyue-style desserts, plus some from his homeland as a personal touch. The cultures were close enough, their dessert philosophies nearly identical. Even if someone noticed these "new" sweets, Reisen could just say they were from his hometown. Ei wouldn't mind.
Timing it perfectly, Reisen had just started cooking when Raiden Makoto and Ei entered his Serenitea Pot-like space, trailed by a crowd—some familiar, some new faces.
"You guys raiding the pantry?" Reisen grumbled, eyeing the food portions.
"Heh, we're here to mooch," Yae Saiguu teased. "Meet Kamisato Harunosuke and Asarai Shrine's A-Hibiki—promising kids. My picks for the Shadowchaser Trio."
Reisen nodded. "Aren't there three? Where's the last one?"
"The third's Kombumaru, but Takayoshi keeps saying no. Shame," Saiguu huffed. "You two, this is Reisen Shrine's first master. Pay respects."
The teens bowed. Reisen tossed them each a Solidified Thunder Elixir to shoo them off.
"I knew Reisen had a stash of those," Kagei Tengu's voice called from behind, Kombumaru in tow.
"Don't talk nonsense, Takayoshi," Reisen groaned. "Solidifying Thunder Elixirs takes rare materials, like solid ley line energy crystals…"
"Stingy," Kagei Tengu shot back. "You bragged about your crystal stock when you plucked my feathers for that fan."
Ei's expression twitched. She knew Reisen's ley line crystal stash—warehouses overflowing, spilling onto the floor. She debated exposing his fib.
Solid ley line crystals were alchemical hard currency, less valuable than Mora but popular. A standard small crystal was worth 110,000 Mora; a large one, nine small crystals, about 1 million Mora.
Ei knew Reisen's non-standard crystals were a fortune, though she also knew he hoarded them for a reason. His memories warned of future ley line pollution, so stockpiling pure energy now was smart.
Amid the chatter, everyone got acquainted. Besides Saiguu's duo, Chiyo and Reisen Anko brought their own tagalongs—apparently a trend.
"What's with all the plus-ones? Ingredients are running low," Reisen whispered to Ei.
"No clue," Ei muttered, annoyed. More people meant fewer sweets for her. "Probably Sister's idea."
Reisen added some cold dishes to stretch the feast. It was tight, but manageable—not enough for Mondstadt, Sumeru, or Inazuma dishes, though. His Liyue herbs and veggies were wiped out.
He plopped next to Ei, scooping up Yae Miko into his lap, and dug into the food and soup.
Over chatter, he learned Makoto planned a Shogunate martial tournament, offering a Mist-Cutter katana and Thunderstring Harp as prizes. She'd invited everyone to bring promising youths to scout Inazuma's talent.
"So, folks, this is Inazuma's finest blade and bow. Want 'em? Step up at the tournament!" Ei declared to the young samurai and spellcasters.
Reisen marveled. The kids' eyes practically sparked. Was Makoto's hype that effective?
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