Chapter 22. Hu Tao Competes, The Silent Crowd
Just as Hu Tao said, the commotion from moments ago had already drawn attention. The pale golden Geo barrier and the surge of dust were far too conspicuous to ignore, especially within Liyue Harbor. It was only natural that the Millelith would arrive so quickly, and not just them—Keqing and Ningguang also rushed over without delay.
Their expressions were somewhat unusual when they arrived, as if they had already guessed part of the situation but still lacked confirmation. Ningguang stepped forward first, exchanging a few quiet words with Guizhong, while Keqing observed the surroundings, clearly on guard.
Guizhong did not reveal everything. She simply explained that there had been a minor accident involving Abyssal Power and that, to prevent it from spreading, she had sealed the area using her own authority. As for the Geo barrier, she casually attributed it to Zhongli, describing him as someone who had inherited the Archon's legacy even with Geo Vision and was therefore capable of such techniques.
The explanation was reasonable enough.
After all, the Abyssal Power they had just sensed was indeed dangerous. If it had erupted within the harbor, the consequences would not have been minor. Abyssal Power was not something that could simply be "cleared." Even if it appeared to be removed, it could leave a spatial imprint behind, lying dormant until triggered again under the right conditions. Once it reactivated, especially in the absence of the adeptus or Rex Lapis, the resulting destruction would be far beyond ordinary expectations.
Zhongli himself had already made that judgment in an instant—if necessary, he would rather destroy the space entirely than allow the corruption to spread.
Having confirmed that the situation was under control, Ningguang did not press further. She understood the boundaries. If Guizhong was involved, then the matter had already reached a level beyond what the Qixing should interfere with directly. With a brief exchange, she and Keqing withdrew alongside the Millelith, leaving the courtyard to its original occupants.
Hu Tao, however, remained.
Her curiosity was not so easily dismissed.
"So this little box…can trigger Abyssal Power?" she said, stepping forward and looking at the Box of Serenity placed on the table. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a faint glint passing through them.
"Something this dangerous—shouldn't it be used somewhere outside Liyue Harbor?"
Her tone was light, but the meaning was clear. This was not something to be taken lightly.
"This…" Paimon scratched her head awkwardly. "We didn't expect it either."
"And nothing bad happened, right?" she added, trying to sound reassuring, though her voice lacked confidence.
Lumine shook her head slightly, her tone more measured. "Next time, we'll use it somewhere else."
She paused briefly, then added, "From their reactions, Abyssal Power is clearly something serious. If the one just now wasn't her, then things might have been different."
Hu Tao did not ask further. She understood enough to know that there were details being intentionally left unsaid. For someone like her, knowing where to stop was just as important as knowing what to ask.
Futsu Mitama, however, turned his attention elsewhere. He looked at Aila, curiosity evident in his expression. "How did you do that?"
Among everyone present, only she had drawn out something completely different. Others had received ordinary items—cabbages, talismans, fruit, even random objects—but she had directly connected to Black Aila's consciousness.
There had to be a reason.
"It's…a feeling," Aila replied without hesitation. "At that moment, I wanted to know her situation. If she was in danger, then I would be prepared to abandon my [other half]."
Her tone remained calm, but the meaning was absolute.
"Your safety is more important. If her existence becomes a threat to you, then I will eliminate that possibility."
There was no hesitation in her words.
"And as it turned out," she continued, "she responded."
Aila's gaze lowered slightly. "I was a bit annoyed…but obtaining information was more important."
Because of that connection, she was able to learn what was happening beneath The Chasm. The situation there was unstable, and entering recklessly would only lead to being scattered across different spaces. For now, waiting was the only rational choice.
"Only because you were annoyed?" Paimon muttered, looking at the box with a strange expression. Then she crossed her arms and huffed, "I was sincerely hoping for meat. And it gave me cabbages."
Her expression darkened instantly as she recalled the scene.
"Does it not know that I hate cabbages the most?!"
The resentment in her voice was genuine.
At that moment, her impression of the so-called Box of Serenity had already fallen to the very bottom.
Kuki Shinobu lowered her gaze to the talisman in her hand and spoke in a measured tone, as if evaluating it seriously.
"What I got is actually quite good. If it's refined properly, it should still be usable." Her judgment was calm and practical, clearly treating the result as something worth keeping rather than dismissing it outright.
Beside her, Guizhong casually took another bite of the apple she had drawn. The crisp sound echoed softly as she chewed, her expression relaxing.
"This isn't bad either," she remarked lightly. "Quite refreshing."
Zhongli, however, held the colorful gemstone in his hand with a somewhat thoughtful look. The object itself had no immediate practical use, yet even he could not determine its origin. Its texture and structure did not match anything native to Teyvat, which made it unusual. If it were to be sold purely based on appearance, it would likely fetch a high price—perhaps a million mora at minimum. If collectors became interested, the value could easily rise further. Still, to him, it remained… an item of uncertain worth.
Futsu Mitama chose not to comment on his own result.
The faint scent of gunpowder from the chest wrap lingered subtly, and the thought that had passed through his mind when opening the box—"ten pulls for a wife"—was something he absolutely had no intention of saying aloud. Instead, he silently decided that when he returned to Inazuma, he might casually ask Yoimiya whether she had lost anything recently. Just a casual question, nothing more.
"There's only one chance left," Lumine said, looking down at the box with a slightly complicated expression. Then she turned toward Hu Tao, who had just arrived, and asked, "Do you want to try?"
"Eh?" Hu Tao immediately brightened, placing her hands on her hips with a confident grin. "You've got good judgment! Leave this to me!"
Without hesitation, she stepped forward and opened the box.
A golden light flashed—
And then…
Nothing.
No item. No object.
Just a faint, drifting mass of air.
"?"
A question mark seemed to appear above Hu Tao's head.
The others stared at the box in silence, unable to immediately process what they had just seen. The golden light had been real, the activation had clearly occurred—yet the result was simply… air.
Futsu Mitama also paused slightly, his expression rare in its confusion. Even he could not immediately explain what had just happened.
Hu Tao frowned, narrowing her eyes at the box. "Something's off."
Her intuition told her that this was not normal. For a brief moment, she even suspected that the box was targeting her specifically—but she had no evidence, and the thought passed quickly.
Lumine, meanwhile, looked at the box with a subtle expression. "That was the tenth attempt," she said. "Which means it's temporarily unusable."
She hesitated slightly, then added, "But, how do I carry something like this?"
As a Traveler, she was accustomed to moving lightly. Her storage space could hold essential items (meaning limited space)—her weapon, some materials, mora—but something of this size was different. Carrying it would be inconvenient, yet abandoning it was not an option either.
Futsu Mitama glanced at her and said calmly, "If you don't mind, you can leave it with me. When you need it, just let me know. I can send it back to you."
Lumine thought for a moment, then nodded. She trusted him enough to make that decision without hesitation. The box had originated from the Chat Group—if anything happened to it, then so be it.
With a casual motion, Futsu Mitama raised his hand. A faint flash of lightning flickered, and the box disappeared, stored directly within his exclusive group folder.
With that, the matter was settled.
"Ah, right." Hu Tao seemed to have completely moved on from the incident. She looked at Futsu Mitama and the others, her expression bright again. "When did you all come back? Why didn't you tell me? If I had known, I would have prepared a feast to welcome you!"
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere shifted.
Almost everyone present froze for a brief second.
Even Guizhong and Zhongli showed subtle changes in expression. The memory of Hu Tao's cooking was not something easily forgotten. It was not that her dishes looked bad—on the contrary, they often appeared perfectly normal. That was precisely what made them terrifying.
Futsu Mitama responded immediately, his tone firm. "No need. We've already eaten."
"I've eaten," Aila added at once, nodding seriously.
Kuki Shinobu smoothly intervened, her tone natural as she redirected the conversation. "By the way, isn't there a gourmet event happening in Liyue recently? Hu Tao, do you know about it?"
The shift was seamless.
"Oh! That!" Hu Tao's attention was instantly drawn away. She placed her hands on her hips again, looking extremely pleased. "Of course, I know! I've already signed up!"
Her voice carried clear excitement. "All the chefs in Liyue are participating. It's a pity that chefs from other nations aren't joining, but even so, the competition will be intense."
"At least from what I know, very few people can match Xiangling. She's an incredibly strong opponent."
As she spoke, she suddenly slapped her forehead. "Ah! I almost forgot!"
Without warning, she grabbed Zhongli's arm. "Consultant, come with me! There's an order from Qingce Village! We need to go now!"
"Talking made me forget!"
Zhongli had no time to respond before being pulled away.
The two figures quickly disappeared from sight, leaving the courtyard in sudden quiet.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested for some advanced chapters, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens