Zhongli shook his head lightly. "The flower called Silk Flower—its petals are an excellent fiber material, often used to weave brocade. Yet its fragrance is also refined and elegant, especially suited for solemn occasions where one offers worship to adepti and gods."
"And here we go again… Zhongli's 'upper-class knowledge' lesson."
Paimon stared solemnly at Zhongli as he spoke with effortless confidence.
How did Zhongli do it—so easily rattling off what they needed… and even the knowledge behind it?
"There's no need to go into more detail for now," Zhongli continued. "Let's follow me to a merchant's shop first and purchase the materials."
With that, Zhongli led Lumine and the others to a storefront on one of Liyue Harbor's streets.
"I was wondering why I heard magpies calling early this morning—turns out it's Mr. Zhongli."
The shop owner was arranging flowers. The moment he saw Zhongli, he stood up with a broad smile and hurried over. "Mr. Zhongli! What can I get you today?"
"We need Silk Flowers," Paimon blurted out without thinking.
The owner chuckled. "Silk Flowers? Of course we have them. Which variety do you want?"
"Uh…"
Paimon scratched her head. "Which variety? J-just… the best kind? Wait, there are different kinds of Silk Flowers?!"
"Hmph. A clueless foreigner asking that kind of question…"
The owner shook his head, then looked at Zhongli. "Mr. Zhongli, you tell me."
Zhongli nodded. "Golden House Hides a Beauty, Shady Mountain Brocade, and Ethereal Adeptal Fate—please bring one stalk of each for us to examine."
"Haha—Mr. Zhongli truly is an expert."
The owner laughed heartily. Then he glanced at Paimon and grinned. "Is this little flying thing your new servant, Mr. Zhongli? Servants shouldn't interrupt before their master speaks."
"Grrr—!"
Paimon's face twisted, and she looked ready to charge over and argue—only for Lumine to grab her in a panic.
"Don't start trouble, Paimon."
A moment later, the owner returned, placing the three kinds of Silk Flowers in front of Zhongli. "Here you are, Mr. Zhongli. Take a look—pick whichever you want."
Zhongli nodded. "Indeed. Depending on environment and lineage, Silk Flowers can show different traits… These are all good. Very fresh."
Then he began examining them carefully.
"For instance, this one: lush branches and leaves, with stamens like Golden House Hides a Beauty. Evergreen leaves—often grown in regions with complex waterways."
"And in shaded or damp lands, Silk Flowers tend to develop larger petals and denser stamens—rich fragrance, truly a 'clustered brocade.'"
"As for this last type—proud and cool, with sparse branch-leaf-flower spacing. Its scent is faint when blooming, but extremely enduring. The ancients discovered it by chance while climbing mountains in search of immortals."
"However, with Liyue's changing geography, most wild Silk Flowers have long since vanished. Now they largely rely on artificial cultivation…"
The owner took a deep breath, astonished. "Sir, you really are an expert. Even I didn't know there were so many details…"
"So… which one do we choose?" Paimon asked curiously.
"I'll take them all."
"Again?!"
Paimon's eyes bulged. "Even if they're not as pricey as Noctilucous Jade, three Silk Flowers still cost a lot of Mora!"
Zhongli chuckled. "When you watch an opera, you order the most famous performer. When you keep a bird, you buy the finest thrush—such is life."
"But buying three types this time isn't just my 'life philosophy.'"
"You see, according to tradition, if each variety is made into perfumed balm and offered before the Seven's statues, the Geo Archon will choose for himself."
"Of course, many archaic customs and overly complicated traditions have gradually been simplified."
"But this is the only Rite of Parting in 3,700 years for one of the Seven."
"We should still follow tradition and offer each balm in turn."
"So that's why!"
Paimon's expression turned understanding.
Let the Geo Archon choose… which basically meant: let Zhongli choose.
"…Ahem. Guests, sorry to interrupt."
The owner asked hesitantly, curiosity winning out. "Are you… offering these flowers to Rex Lapis?"
"That's not wrong," Paimon said.
The owner sighed. "You should've said so earlier. After the Rite of Descension, I also heard… bad news."
He shook his head. "No need to say inauspicious words. I've been worried too—worried the news was true."
"If this is for Rex Lapis… then I won't charge you. Just take this as my small token of respect."
"R-really?" Paimon gaped. "But these flowers cost plenty of Mora!"
The owner smiled. "Without Rex Lapis, folks like me wouldn't even have a place to live."
"And if it wasn't for the poem Rex Lapis once inscribed… how would these treasured Silk Flowers ever have become so valuable?"
"Wow…"
Paimon couldn't help marveling. "So much of Liyue's culture… it feels like the gods themselves once personally cared for it in certain eras."
Liyue's backbone truly was something.
Zhongli nodded lightly. "In any case, thank you. You've helped us greatly."
"It's nothing—just a small gesture."
The owner personally escorted Zhongli out of the flower shop.
"So we have the flowers," Paimon said, eyeing the Silk Flowers in Zhongli's hand. "But how do we make the perfumed balm?"
"It would be best to find someone experienced in making incense," Zhongli said softly. "But among those I know, almost no one personally boils balm by hand."
"So you'll have to ask around in the city—perhaps young ladies from ordinary households."
He looked at Lumine and Paimon. "You two are better suited for that."
And Barbara and Fischl were here too.
Kairo spoke up calmly. "Just go to Miss Ying'er at Scent of Spring. Her handmade perfumed balm has been popular in Liyue for a long time. Many young ladies commission her to make it. I've heard her custom batches are even better than what's sold on the market."
"Hmm?"
Zhongli paused.
Even he didn't know that.
Yet Kairo—newly arrived in Liyue—did.
"Great!"
Paimon and Lumine lit up. "That'll save us a ton of time!"
"Then let's go to Scent of Spring."
"Zhongli, you know where it is, right?"
Zhongli nodded. "Mm."
So they headed for Scent of Spring.
But as they arrived, they saw Miss Ying'er standing at the entrance.
And what startled Paimon and the others was—
Acting Grand Master Jean was here too.
Miss Ying'er was even petting the Snow Lion.
The next second, the Snow Lion sensed Kairo's presence.
It spun around and lunged toward him, its fluffy body hitting with a hefty thump as it buried itself in his arms. It nuzzled his waist and abdomen enthusiastically with its huge head, tail wagging like a propeller, ears twitching—like a child reunited after a long separation.
"Awwooo—!"
The Snow Lion let out a satisfied rumble, amber eyes half-lidded, as if saying: Finally! My master!
Kairo laughed and rubbed its head, then ran his hand down its silky fur.
Its snow-white coat was as soft as a cloud, gleaming faintly in the sunlight.
"Looks like you've had a pretty good few days," Kairo said softly.
The Snow Lion squinted happily and pressed in closer.
Miss Ying'er covered her mouth, surprised. "Young master, you're the Snow Lion's owner?"
She'd been petting it and wondering whose companion it was. She'd asked Acting Grand Master Jean and learned it wasn't Jean's—it was Kairo's.
And now the Snow Lion had literally launched itself into Kairo's arms.
That proved it.
Then Miss Ying'er noticed Zhongli.
She froze slightly, then looked at him in surprise. "Mr. Zhongli…? What brings you here?"
Her gaze swept over Barbara, Fischl, and Lumine, and her eyes brightened.
What beautiful girls.
Meanwhile, Jean's warm, slightly surprised voice followed right after.
"Barbara? Fischl?"
Jean rubbed her temple. "So you two were traveling with the Traveler."
Then she turned to Kairo apologetically. "These past two days… I borrowed your Snow Lion. I'm sorry."
Her tone was sincere. After all, the Snow Lion wasn't native to Liyue—it was Kairo's partner.
Borrowing it without permission was indeed impolite.
Before Kairo could respond, Paimon waved frantically, shocked. "Huh? Acting Grand Master Jean, why did you borrow the Snow Lion?"
Jean smiled gently. "You know I've been helping Liyue maintain order. Some merchant caravans were causing issues, and some Fatui were trying to flee the city… or transfer funds."
"The Snow Lion is very capable. It can intimidate troublemakers, so… I borrowed it temporarily."
"As expected of Acting Grand Master Jean," Lumine said with a smile. "Even when you borrow a lion, it's to help people."
Kairo scratched the Snow Lion's head; it nuzzled his palm, as if insisting: I behaved!
Kairo chuckled. "It's fine. If the Snow Lion could help, that's good."
Jean let out a small breath of relief. "You're truly kind. Sorry to trouble you."
Kairo only smiled and said nothing more.
Barbara was already his.
And since Jean was Barbara's sister, helping her when it was within his ability wasn't a big deal.
Jean looked at them again. "So—why are you all here?"
Paimon grinned. "Hehe, we're here to ask Miss Ying'er to make perfumed balm."
"Miss Ying'er! We want to use these three Silk Flowers to make three portions of balm."
"Eh~ Making three at once…"
Ying'er blinked, then covered her mouth and giggled. "Such a big appetite for someone so young, hehe."
"Huh?" Paimon scratched her head.
Lumine hurriedly explained, "We're offering them to Rex Lapis…"
Ying'er chuckled softly. "A convenient excuse in a hurry? Even for a god, you wouldn't need so many varieties. Too many holes in that story…"
"But since you've come, I'll help you."
"Come be my assistant. While we're boiling the balm, you'll have to focus all your attention on me~"
"So… who's coming?"
Ying'er's gaze curved with amusement—drifting toward Kairo.
Lumine hesitated, then stepped forward. "I will."
"Mm. Fine."
Ying'er looked a bit disappointed, but nodded. "Then let's go to Wanmin Restaurant. Their stove fire is excellent. And if we run into Xiangling—and have her Pyro help—it'll be even easier."
"Xiangling…"
Kairo's mind stirred.
He'd almost forgotten about that girl.
Let's see what kind of system options she triggers.
"Wanmin Restaurant? Perfect—none of us have eaten lunch yet," Paimon said, rubbing her hands. "It's almost noon! Let's eat at Wanmin too—how about it?"
"I've heard Wanmin is cheap and delicious—a people's restaurant that doesn't lose to Xinyue Kiosk or Liuli Pavilion!"
"Sure," Lumine said, eyes bright. She glanced at the sky. It really was about noon.
So the group headed to Wanmin.
Jean didn't come—she borrowed the Snow Lion again and continued maintaining order.
Not long after, they arrived at Wanmin.
The moment they stepped inside, they heard the lively clack-clack of spatulas from the kitchen. Spices and fresh ingredients drifted out through the wooden doorway, instantly making mouths water.
"Eh?!"
A sturdy middle-aged man in a chef's outfit poked his head out of the kitchen, long-handled wok spatula in hand, smiling brightly.
It was Wanmin's head chef—Chef Mao.
He wiped the grease from his hands and hurried over, delighted. "Mr. Zhongli?! What brings you here?"
Wanmin had many customers, but Zhongli was the most "special" one.
He had refined taste, and every time he came he would unhurriedly comment on the dishes—sometimes even revealing hints of Liyue's millennia-long culinary culture in his words. Chef Mao had always admired that.
But Zhongli didn't come often—and usually alone.
Bringing this many people today was unexpected.
"Miss Ying'er?"
At that moment, another surprised voice rang out.
Xiangling arrived from the back door, carrying Guoba. When she saw Ying'er, she froze.
And Kairo, seeing Xiangling, narrowed his eyes.
Just as expected—
Lines of text appeared before him.
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