Ningguang once said that everyone at Wangshu Inn was her people—clearly, that didn't include the guests.
But in truth, they could count too. After all, guests from all over the world were the best sources of information.
Aside from the bustling guests, a few workers were unloading cargo at the inn's private dock. A middle-aged man, dressed differently from the others, stood on the dock fishing.
Victor Wang's eyes lit up when he saw him.
Jiangxue.
A hidden expert. Victor Wang had once taken a commission related to him and learned that he had abandoned his Vision, yet still possessed the strength to destroy a Ruin Hunter in the blink of an eye… and, by his own words, was quite familiar with the nature of monsters?
Victor Wang was very curious about his true identity, but there was no rush—he planned to stay here for several days.
He had no intention of getting caught up in the excitement of the Rite of Descension. As an outsider dressed this conspicuously, even if ordinary people couldn't tell, he'd certainly be the most eye-catching in Ningguang's eyes. Once it was "The Archon has been slain! Lock down the entire scene!", he'd be among the first suspects.
So, he decided to visit Liyue Harbor only after the commotion had passed.
For now, the priority was to book a room and try some authentic Golden Shrimp Balls and Almond Tofu!
Food orders could be placed through the inn's servers, but room bookings required heading upstairs. While waiting for the elevator, he glanced at the staircase on the other side—broken midway through.
Lumine had likely passed through here, but it hadn't been repaired yet. The elevator was the only option.
"One single room, please."
"How long will you be staying?"
"Five days for now. I'll extend if needed."
"Alright, may I see your identification?"
As she took Victor Wang's Adventurer's Certificate—but before opening it—Verr Goldet smiled. "Let me guess where you're from… Mondstadt, right?"
She answered herself, then opened the certificate. Seeing the Senior Adventurer rank, she looked up at Victor Wang, sizing him up briefly, then flipped to the map section—sure enough, it only showed Mondstadt. That meant he hadn't registered in any other nation yet.
"Your name is quite unique, but I was right after all. I'm from Mondstadt too. Be sure to support your fellow countrywoman's business sometime~"
"I will, if I get the chance."
"Mhm~ That'll be… this much."
It was nearly twice the price of Goth Hotel. With a cat and dog watching, Victor Wang paid the Mora.
"This is your room key. Also, I'm the owner—not the landlady."
"Got it, landlady."
Verr Goldet shook her head in exasperation.
Key in hand, Victor Wang checked out his room first. The window faced southwest, with a clear view of Luhua Pool in the distance.
"What a view."
There were dining tables both in the rooms and upstairs at Wangshu Inn, but nothing beat eating outside.
He ordered the dishes he'd been craving at a spot by the railing. While waiting, he wandered around the outer walkway, taking in the sight of Wuwang Hill, Dragonspine, Guili Plains, Qingyun Peak, and the faint silhouette of Guyun Stone Forest—all drifting in and out of view in the twilight.
It reminded him of a poem: "A tower a hundred feet high, hand reaching for the stars. I dare not speak too loud, for fear of disturbing those in the heavens."
One hundred feet was 33.3 meters—far from reaching the stars. But Wangshu Inn truly was that tall.
The innkeeper, Huai'an, who was also wandering about, praised from behind, "What a poem! Still, compared to the Jade Chamber that soars a thousand feet, our little Wangshu Inn pales in comparison."
"But how many buildings in the world can match the Jade Chamber in height?"
"Hahahaha, you're right!" Flattered without even realizing it, Huai'an beamed.
After a hearty meal, Victor Wang curled up in his room to train his mental focus, then went to bed early.
"Big bro~"
Half-asleep, he heard a voice in his ear and rolled over.
"Big bro~ Big bro~"
Little Wen? No, it didn't sound like his voice...
"Whose kid is running around at midnight instead of sleeping? I'll report you for trespassing!"
"Big bro~ Big bro~ Big bro~" Hearing him respond, the voice grew more excited.
"Ugh, so annoying!"
Victor Wang sat up, lit a candle, and scanned every corner of the room. No one.
"Big bro~ come play with me~"
Then suddenly, a transparent little girl wearing a teal robe and black skirt appeared at the door.
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Great. Isn't this that ghost girl? Technically part of the main story too… and I can't just banish her yet.
"Big bro~ come play with me~"
To preserve his sleep, Victor Wang had to relent. "What do you want to play?"
["Wow! Master, you're not just talking to yourself now—you're talking to thin air!"]
"Big bro~ come play with me~"
"You don't see her?"
["Huh? See what?"]
"Big bro~ come play with me~"
"A ghost."
["Don't scare me! Where? Where's the ghost?!"]
"Come play with me! Come play with me! Come play with me!" The ghost girl grew upset.
"Okay, okay! What do you want to play?"
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Sweet Flowers~"
"I'll make one for you, but you have to let me sleep after that."
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Sweet Flowers~"
No choice. He got up and headed downstairs to gather Sweet Flowers.
It took about ten minutes around Wangshu Inn to collect enough flowers. All the while, the ghost girl followed, repeating her request over and over.
"Hold on a sec."
Victor Wang sat on the bridge rail beside the inn and wove an admittedly ugly Sweet Flower crown.
"Here." He handed the crown to the ghost girl, who didn't move.
He stood up, walked over, and gently placed it on her head—only for it to pass straight through and fall to the ground.
"Uh…"
She lifted her foot and stomped it into a mash.
"?"
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Silk Flowers~"
"I'll make you another one, but seriously, no more interruptions after this, okay?"
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Silk Flowers~"
Luckily, there were plenty of Silk Flowers nearby. Victor quickly gathered enough, then spent a few more minutes weaving a nicer crown than the first.
"Here it comes."
He offered it again. She didn't take it, so he placed it on her head—only for the crown to pass through again.
"Hey now, don't do this…"
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Glaze Lilies~"
"Now that's impossible. By the time I find those, it'll be dawn."
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Glaze Lilies~"
For a split second, Victor Wang considered taking off his mask and scaring the ghost away.
But what if she ran off and told Lumine that there was a creepy, cloaked guy haunting Wangshu Inn? He'd be doomed.
He took a deep breath. "Kids shouldn't be out this late. Go home and sleep, okay?"
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Glaze Lilies~"
Victor mimicked her tone. "Big bro's going back to sleep now~ You should go too~"
He pulled out his pocket watch—already midnight—and waved it in front of her. "See how late it is? Time to go!"
The ghost girl irritably tried to slap the watch away. In that instant, Victor quickly slipped the Silk Flower crown onto her now-solid head.
"Hahaha, sneak attack while the ghost is distracted~"
The girl grabbed the crown, hurled it into Bishui River, and vanished.
Seeing the floating crown get tossed into the river, Little Wen finally gasped, ["Whoa! There was a ghost!"]
"She's already gone."
As Victor Wang rode the elevator upstairs, someone with green hair peeked out from the top floor…
Yanxiao had just finished her shift.
"Working so late, Master Yan? That's rough."
Yanxiao waved a hand. "Comes with overtime. Not rough at all."
Even though he had said goodbye to Earth, Victor Wang felt a sudden pang hearing that.
"Hey, why are you still up this late?"
Victor glanced around, then whispered, "Master Yan, I just saw a ghost…"
"There's no such thing as ghosts."
"There are!"
"I don't believe it." Yanxiao brushed it off and walked away.
"You'll believe it eventually."
…
"I want a flower crown~ I want a flower crown~"
"Again?!" Victor Wang didn't want to deal with her anymore.
"I want a flower crown~ I want a flower crown~"
"Stupid little ghost… really need to teach you a lesson."
Groggy, Victor Wang turned over to face the doorway—and found a blood-drenched little girl in a red dress, her face hollow-eyed, staring down at him.
"I want a flower crown~ A crown made of Blood Orchids~"
"Holy sh—!" He shot upright, breathing hard, heart racing. Glanced at the door. No one there.
Checked his pocket watch. 2:30 AM.
"So, it was a dream… Right? It was just a dream, right?"
This time, he finally slept until he naturally woke up.
"First thing in the morning, I open my window—and my mood's just trash…"