"Very good!"
Not long after, Miss Ying'er stepped out of the kitchen looking satisfied. Lumine came out with her as well.
Ying'er instructed, "The front-end work is done. Next, we'll go to the crafting bench."
"Liyue's alchemy workshop has crafting benches that anyone can use. We'll borrow elemental power to condense the essential oil."
"Huh?!"
Hearing that, Lumine widened her eyes. "We're still not done? Weren't we already making the perfumed balm just now?"
"Hehe, little one—perfumed balm isn't that easy to make."
Ying'er shook her head with a laugh. "You have to use the crafting bench. After we synthesize higher-quality essential oil, I'll blend it, and only then can it slowly solidify into balm. Did you think balm was something you could just whip up?"
"Ah… that makes sense."
Paimon scratched her head. "If it needs the crafting bench, then yeah—sounds totally reasonable."
So Lumine and Paimon moved quickly.
Seeing that, Kairo and Zhongli didn't follow. They stayed at Wanmin Restaurant, continuing to drink afternoon tea.
Barbara and Fischl also got acquainted with Xiangling pretty quickly.
And as Lumine and Paimon left—
Text appeared before Kairo's eyes.
[Faced with the slacking Qingque, you chose to pretend you didn't see.]
[Congratulations, you obtained Option 2's reward: Qingque's Path-power branch skill — "Joy of Solo Play." (After use, you can draw two "Jade" tiles from the void and play them.)]
In the next instant—
A familiar, vast power surged like a tidal wave, sweeping through Kairo's limbs and bones!
—Humm!!
It was as if an invisible halo emerged from the void, slowly circling around him.
A strange rhythm of "the Way of the board" intertwined with Path power and sank into the deepest parts of his soul.
Kairo felt his consciousness enter a mysterious state.
A golden chessboard slowly formed in his mind.
Each piece shone like a star.
Across the board, faint traces of fate seemed to flow—an ability to control the situation and glimpse the future gradually gathering within him.
Kairo's palm tightened slightly. His fingers lifted on instinct.
In that split second, Kairo clearly sensed—
He could summon a mysterious "Jade tile" board from the void at any time, draw two tiles from it, and use them to influence the situation around him—
Like a player commanding the game, relying on fortune to drop pieces that could change destiny.
A faint smile rose in his heart.
The Path's gifts truly never disappointed him.
But then, Kairo paused.
Now wasn't the time to test it.
After all, he was still in Wanmin.
Zhongli, Xiangling, Ying'er… all of them were right here.
If he suddenly summoned a chessboard in front of everyone and drew two tiles out of thin air, it would shock the room on the spot—and invite unnecessary suspicion.
Besides, he hadn't truly tested this Path skill yet.
If it displayed something abnormal in public—or drew the attention of Liyue's people—it would be far too showy.
Thinking that, Kairo let out a quiet breath, a deeper contemplation flashing in his eyes.
"...Looks like I'll have to test it tonight."
His fingertips lightly rubbed the teacup. His face remained calm, but he'd already decided.
When it was late and quiet, he'd try this brand-new Path power in his room.
To see the true mystery of "Joy of Solo Play"—
Jade falls to the board; the game is set—everything under control.
"Hm?"
Zhongli, mid-tea, noticed Kairo's subtle movements and looked over in mild surprise.
What was that sudden motion about?
But the next second, Zhongli shook his head and didn't think further.
Elsewhere—
Heaven and earth stretched vast; clouds churned like an endless sea.
Jueyun Karst.
As Liyue's land of adeptal seclusion, it was wrapped year-round in thick clouds and mist.
Mountain peaks towered into the sky, half-hidden and half-revealed—like a realm of immortals.
Far from mortal clamor, everything here carried a mysterious, ancient flavor. In the coils of cloud and fog, it felt as if unknown powers lay concealed.
Childe stood on the blue-stone steps of Jueyun Karst, panting.
Dust clung all over him. His clothes were disheveled; his hair at the temples was mussed—wretched and battered.
He had fled all the way from Liyue Harbor, enduring countless pursuits.
Even outside the city, the Millelith blockade made movement difficult.
The Fatui's power in Liyue had been uprooted, leaving him unable to take a single step freely.
Now, alone, every retreat had been cut off.
The only thing he could do was gamble.
Seek shelter from the adepti—
And at the same time, make use of them.
After all, his mission still wasn't complete.
Childe took a deep breath and lifted his hand, taking out a Sigil of Permission.
The ancient talisman gave off a faint adeptal glow. Its runes were intricate and profound, carrying an aura that did not belong to the mortal world.
It trembled lightly between his fingers, as if sensing something.
Then—a blue-gold beam of light flared up, shooting straight into the sky!
Boom—!!
In an instant, the cloud sea of Jueyun Karst roiled. A vast, overwhelming pressure swept out.
The mountaintop seemed covered by an invisible force.
Cloud and mist condensed into a massive vortex. Above, golden light flickered like the descent of a heavenly being.
Humm—
A low, distant sound rang out, as if piercing space itself—awakening from ancient years.
Then, within the churning cloud sea, a grand, towering figure slowly appeared.
Its hooves were light, as if it walked upon clouds.
Its golden mane gleamed in the morning light.
Its enormous antlers blazed like divine fire, radiant as pillars that held up the sky.
Its gaze was deep, filled with wisdom and majesty. Its form was upright and dignified, radiating an ineffable adeptal aura.
As it descended, the surrounding mist seemed to part, revealing the verdant, vast scenery of Jueyun Karst.
One of Liyue's Three Eyes and Five Illuminated Adepti—
Moon Carver.
"Who are you, and why do you trespass upon Jueyun Karst?"
Moon Carver's voice was low and authoritative, echoing across the peak.
Each word seemed to carry the binding force of heaven-and-earth law, making Childe's heart jolt hard.
Childe pressed his lips together, forcing down his surprise. With both hands, he respectfully presented the Sigil of Permission, raising it high to show sincerity.
Moon Carver lowered its head slightly.
Its antlers shimmered; its gaze fell upon the talisman, a complicated look appearing between its brows.
"A Sigil of Permission… long have I not seen such a thing. So mortals still possess remnants of it?"
Its tone held a trace of nostalgia—like recalling the past, or wondering why a mortal would hold such an object.
Moon Carver slowly raised its eyes. Sharp as a blade, the gaze cut through the talisman to Childe himself.
"I am one of the Three Eyes and Five Illuminated Adepti, Moon Carver. Traveler—state your purpose!"
As that line fell, even the wind and clouds seemed to still.
Childe drew a deep breath, meeting those golden eyes head-on. The corner of his mouth lifted into a steady, meaningful smile.
He'd gambled right.
With this Sigil, he could meet an adeptus.
And he didn't need to worry about his true identity being seen through.
"I came to seek justice from the adepti."
Childe exhaled, then delivered the speech he'd prepared—painting himself as wronged to the extreme, describing his "misery" in vivid detail.
"…Outrageous…"
"…OUTRAGEOUS!!!"
After hearing him out, Moon Carver's expression turned furious, its voice thundering:
"The Liyue Qixing… truly disappoint!"
"At the Rite of Descension, how could there be an assassination attempt upon the Lord of Geo…?"
"And after the Lord of Geo was attacked… how could suspicion be pushed onto mere mortals who came to watch?!"
"Traveler, your grievance of being framed as an assassin—I now understand it."
"My heart already has a judgment. Yet my sole decision may err; I must inform the other adepti."
"Go. Take your Sigil of Permission and deliver my words."
"Adeptus, I have no way to go."
Childe gave a bitter smile. "Look at my condition. If I'm to seek other adepti, I don't even know where to find them. And trekking over mountains consumes a mortal's strength."
"This is not something time can wait for."
"If I delay, that would be a sin."
"The Liyue Qixing must already be handling the aftermath. The adepti absolutely cannot let the Qixing seize this chance to destroy evidence and cover their tracks."
"…Very well."
Moon Carver frowned, then spoke deeply:
"Mountain Shaper and Cloud Retainer often dwell here, yet you may not have the fortune to encounter them. I will seek them myself."
"There is also the Conqueror of Demons, the Guardian Yaksha. Go to Wangshu Inn—you may find his trail."
"You can first go to Wangshu Inn and seek assistance."
"Then thank you, Adeptus."
Childe drew a deep breath and bowed. "My petty justice is not worth concern—the Lord of Geo's matter is what truly matters."
"Indeed."
Moon Carver nodded, then turned and left.
"Success."
Watching Moon Carver depart, Childe breathed out and narrowed his eyes.
Moon Carver didn't consider Childe's personal grievance important. Instead, it deemed the Qixing's performance disappointing—going so far as to infer the Qixing might be the true masterminds, harming a god in order to seize control of Liyue.
"Liyue…"
Thinking of what he'd suffered in Liyue, Childe's face darkened.
That man… what exactly was he?
How could mere words influence Childe's own mouth?
Hypnosis?
Even hypnosis shouldn't be this exaggerated.
And that was with Childe's strong will.
If someone with weaker will faced it… wouldn't they be slaughtered at will?
At that thought, Childe's fear of Kairo deepened even further.
As for Wangshu Inn—he wasn't going.
But the fact that Wangshu Inn had an adeptus stationed there was important intel he could report back.
Conqueror of Demons…
Liyue truly had many adepti.
By Moon Carver's words, that made four already.
Thankfully, these adepti lived far outside Liyue Harbor.
If they stayed by the Lord of Geo's side, Childe wouldn't have had any room to act at all.
"Hah…"
Childe let out a long breath. Time to leave.
He still needed to see what hidden channels and secret contacts hadn't been disturbed yet.
With something this big happening in Liyue, the Qixing would take control of the board—but he could still use various covert lines to learn the situation.
With that thought, Childe also turned and left.
At this same moment—
Inside Liyue Harbor.
In Wanmin Restaurant.
Lumine and Paimon returned quickly, handing the essential oil they'd synthesized at the crafting bench to Miss Ying'er.
"Mmm, very nice Silk Flower essential oil."
Ying'er smiled. "Then what remains… is the most crucial part."
"I'll pour it into water and simmer it over low heat until almost all the water evaporates."
"The heat control matters a lot. Too high and the fragrance will be affected."
"Please pay attention and control the flame—this is the last step."
"Make sure the Silk Flower's juices… not a single drop wasted."
"Okay."
Following Ying'er's instruction, Lumine returned to the stove with her.
Not long after, the perfumed balm was produced.
"Mm. All three kinds of balm are completed smoothly."
Ying'er looked satisfied. "Assistant, you did well."
"And that also means…"
She smiled, voice meaningful. "…You're someone willing to work hard for feelings. That's rare."
Paimon and Lumine both: "…?"
Ying'er continued, introducing them:
"This first balm—sweet and dreamy. Little girls love it most."
"The second smells luxurious and commanding—favored by rich young ladies."
"The last has a gentle scent that lingers for ages—like dim sky-light and misty haze. Mature women love it most."
"Remember: don't use the wrong one in the wrong situation."
"Mhm!" "Mhm!"
Paimon and Lumine nodded hard.
Then they left the kitchen and found Zhongli.
Zhongli led everyone back to Yujing Terrace, offering the balms one by one before the Statue of The Seven there.
"Hm?"
When Paimon saw Zhongli offer the third balm first, her eyes widened.
"Zhongli! That one's for mature big sisters! Why do you like that one so much?!"
"No."
Zhongli shook his head lightly and corrected her. "Mature people… like it."
Paimon's face turned suspicious.
Really?
In her opinion… Zhongli probably liked mature big sisters.
And she wasn't the only one thinking that.
Lumine thought it too, and glanced at Zhongli with a strange expression.
Zhongli: "..."
He went silent for a moment, then spoke up.
"Two tasks are done. Next… I hope you two can borrow the Cleansing Bell for me."
"The Cleansing Bell? What's that?" Paimon asked curiously.
"The one who keeps it now is a friend of mine—Granny Ping."
Zhongli said, "She's near Yujing Terrace. Ask her, and she'll know."
"Huh?!"
Paimon's eyes went wide. "Zhongli, is your friend also an adeptus?!"
Someone Zhongli called "friend" should be an adeptus, right?
"You two are adepti too, aren't you?"
Zhongli chuckled softly, and both Paimon and Lumine froze.
Right…
That made sense too.
So Zhongli's meaning was: Granny Ping isn't an adeptus?
Lumine hesitated. "Mr. Zhongli, aren't you coming with us this time?"
"Mm. There are reasons I can't show my face. I'll have to trouble you two."
Paimon looked even more shocked. "Eh… why are you suddenly acting so mysterious?!"
"Once you have the Cleansing Bell, meet us here again," Zhongli said.
"Alright…"
Paimon and Lumine nodded.
But unexpectedly, Kairo didn't go either.
"I'll wait here with Mr. Zhongli," Kairo said with a smile to Barbara and Fischl. "If you want to go, you can go with them."
Barbara and Fischl's eyes lit up, and they followed Lumine and Paimon immediately.
They liked running around.
Watching the four girls leave, Kairo fell into thought.
Would meeting Granny Ping trigger system options?
Probably not.
Zhongli's "friend" would correspond to Jing Yuan's "friend"—and in the Luofu, there weren't many like that.
Yukong had already appeared—corresponding to Keqing.
Fu Xuan was even more outrageous—she'd corresponded to Ningguang.
And the Luofu had also shown Jingliu before.
So who would Jingliu correspond to?
Kairo ran through everyone in Liyue in his head and still couldn't see Jingliu's "shadow" anywhere.
"Kairo," Zhongli said with a mild smile, noticing his thoughts. "What are you thinking? You can tell me."
"Nothing."
Kairo shook his head. "Just thinking… these are things you could do yourself, yet you keep involving the Traveler."
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