Chapter 23. Your Highness, Bad News!
Hu Tao left in a rush, leaving Futsu Mitama and the others bewildered, their expressions clearly stunned.
"What's wrong?"
Paimon looked at the dazed group and couldn't help but ask, "Is it really that exaggerated?"
To be honest, she had already heard from Kuki Shinobu about the terrifying legends surrounding Hu Tao. But hearing about it was one thing—seeing Hu Tao's lively demeanor and that bright, cheerful smile made it hard to believe.
Paimon still felt inclined to trust her cooking skills.
After all, she was so cute! There was no way she could make some kind of killer dish—right?!
At the same time, however, Paimon couldn't help but feel curious. If it really was a killer dish, what would it taste like? For a brief moment, she even felt a bit greedy.
"Hmm."
Futsu Mitama, Aila, Shenhe, Kuki Shinobu, Guizhong, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and the others all nodded in unison. Clearly, aside from the Traveler and Paimon—who had never experienced Hu Tao's cooking—everyone present had already witnessed her terrifying side.
The dishes she made were not meant for humans, but for ghosts and gods. Even then, ghosts and gods, knowing the truth, might hesitate to eat Hu Tao's cooking, because in a certain sense, her dishes were truly, utterly terrifying.
Perhaps even a ghost or god, after tasting one, might end up like Yae Miko. A certain old man, Zhongli, for example, wore a complicated expression, seemingly at a loss for words.
"I'm a little scared."
Futsu Mitama glanced at Guizhong, whose lips twitched slightly, and spoke with rare hesitation.
"Can I opt out of being a judge? I'm afraid I won't survive staying on the panel."
One had to know that he had been personally invited by Ningguang and the other Qixing to serve as a judge for A Bite of Liyue. Originally, it was an honor, and he had been looking forward to witnessing the culinary prowess of Liyue's finest chefs. But now—he was genuinely afraid.
As a judge, he would have to taste every contestant's dish—otherwise, there would be no basis for scoring. It was universally acknowledged that if a judge refused to taste a dish and instead criticized it arbitrarily, it would be a grave injustice to both the cuisine and its creator. What if it turned out to be an unparalleled delicacy?
There was, after all, a precedent in Liyue Harbor. A certain culinary master once believed he had already experienced all the finest foods in the world. Then one day, a gourmet presented him with a dish made from foul-smelling beans. Without even tasting it, he immediately dismissed it as worthless, even going so far as to claim it should be classified as trash rather than cuisine.
In the end, Rex Lapis himself appeared, tasted the dish, and offered his evaluation. He acknowledged that while there was room for improvement, the dish still held merit, and he praised its creator, encouraging further refinement.
The outcome for that culinary master was inevitable. Having so carelessly disparaged another's painstaking creation, his reputation was destroyed, and he was ultimately forced to leave Liyue Harbor in disgrace.
Because of that incident, a strict rule was established in all culinary competitions held in Liyue: judges must taste a dish before evaluating it—unless, of course, the ingredients used were something no ordinary person could endure.
Guizhong placed a hand on Futsu Mitama's shoulder and said in an unusually serious tone, "Live!"
"…"
Futsu Mitama fell silent.
"Hahahahaha Just kidding"
Guizhong laughed, her expression softening as she looked at him. "Of course I wouldn't let you die. But if you really don't want to serve as a judge—"
She tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Do you want me to open a back door for you? You can choose whether to taste the dishes—eat if you want, skip if you don't. I still have that much authority. I just need Morax to say a word."
Futsu Mitama shook his head and refused. While Guizhong certainly had the authority to arrange such a thing—and the people of Liyue likely wouldn't object—using that privilege just to avoid tasting Hu Tao's cooking felt…wrong.
More importantly, if Hu Tao were to find out afterward, how saddened would she be?
"Eh?! Guizhong, can you let us participate in A Bite of Liyue?!"
Paimon's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. Clearly, she also wanted to join the event—that had been their purpose in coming here, after all.
"…"
The Traveler, however, looked somewhat speechless. She reached out, grabbed Paimon, and covered her mouth before turning to Guizhong with a calm expression.
"There's no need. Paimon is just craving food—please don't mind her."
One had to possess self-awareness, and the Traveler was exactly that kind of person.
She understood the situation clearly. Futsu Mitama had been appointed as a judge partly because he was the group leader of the Chat Group, and partly due to his close ties with Liyue's Adeptus and his many contributions. Even Acting Grand Master Jean had mentioned that he had done significant work in Liyue and was highly regarded by the Liyue Qixing.
"That's not a big problem."
Guizhong looked at Lumine, pursed her lips, and chuckled. "If you truly wish to become judges, I can say a few words. However, before that, you'll need to pass a few assessments—nothing complicated. Just taste a few dishes and give your evaluation."
To be honest, Guizhong was quite curious about Lumine and Paimon. Futsu Mitama had always invited people one by one; he had never brought in two at once. Moreover, these two were anything but ordinary. Lumine was a Descender, and also the blood relative of the Abyss Order's Prince. As for Paimon, even Guizhong couldn't see through her, and Zhongli had offered no hints. Because of this, she treated them with a normal attitude. The judging matter itself was trivial—merely a small event she had organized. As long as she informed the Liyue Qixing, there would be no issues.
As for their identities, she could casually assign one—Honorary Knight of Mondstadt, friend of the next Raiden Shogun, or a new acquaintance of the God of Dust. Any of these would suffice, and none would raise problems, since all of them were true.
"Yay!!!"
Paimon was instantly overjoyed. Seeing her reaction, Futsu Mitama suddenly had an idea and spoke seriously. "This is a good opportunity, Traveler. Why not agree?"
"?" Lumine was about to refuse again, but with Futsu Mitama saying that, she hesitated. They had come to Liyue precisely to participate in a gourmet event. Refusing once was acceptable, but refusing again might seem ungrateful toward both Futsu Mitama and Guizhong.
"Then— thank you very much." In the end, Lumine could only express her gratitude, unable to do anything about Paimon's gluttony.
Just like that, the matter was settled between Futsu Mitama and Guizhong.
Afterward, Guizhong prepared to leave, mentioning that she was heading to Mt. Aocang to find Cloud Retainer. Before departing, she asked Aila and Shenhe whether they wished to go with her. Cloud Retainer had instructed them earlier to return to Mt. Aocang to receive a new inheritance.
Half a year had already passed, and both Aila and Shenhe had advanced rapidly. What they had initially learned was now somewhat outdated. As their master, Cloud Retainer believed it was time to teach them new techniques.
As an Adeptus who had survived the Archon War, she possessed vast knowledge and countless treasures, yet over thousands of years, very few had been able to fully inherit her teachings.
Now that Aila and Shenhe had shown such exceptional talent, Guizhong felt genuinely happy for her old friend. Since they wouldn't be heading to The Chasm anytime soon, the two of them agreed without hesitation.
Thus, Guizhong, Aila, and Shenhe temporarily left Liyue Harbor for Mt. Aocang—to learn, to improve, and to prepare themselves before eventually heading to The Chasm. If anything arose, they could always communicate through the Chat Group.
"What are your plans next?"
After they departed, Futsu Mitama turned to Lumine and Paimon, asking about their next steps.
"Plans? Not really." Paimon shook her head and replied, "We're planning to explore Liyue Harbor and prepare for our next place to stay."
"Residence?" Futsu Mitama raised an eyebrow and looked at Lumine. "You still need to find one?"
Lumine nodded. "Yes. We still have enough mora to stay in Liyue Harbor for a while."
As she said this, she couldn't help but feel emotional. There had been a time when she and Paimon had no mora at all, forced to sleep outside the city. Those days were truly filled with hardship.
"In that case, why not stay here?"
Kuki Shinobu spoke up, looking at Lumine.
"Futsu Mitama's house is quite large. Staying here would save you a lot of mora. Accommodation in Liyue Harbor is far more expensive than in Mondstadt or Inazuma."
Having traveled through all three nations, Kuki Shinobu was well aware of the differences. Among them, Liyue Harbor had the highest lodging costs. While the quality matched the price, it was still undeniably expensive.
She also knew roughly how much mora Lumine and Paimon had. Tens of thousands of mora wouldn't last long in Liyue—perhaps half a month at most when accounting for daily expenses.
As someone who had previously frightened them, she offered this suggestion partly out of consideration.
"This—"
Lumine hesitated. Her brother had once attacked Futsu Mitama and even dragged him into the Abyss. Although she didn't fully understand what the Abyss was, she knew it was a place so dangerous that even three Archons would need to intervene. That alone spoke volumes about the harm caused.
Even if Futsu Mitama claimed it had been the Abyss Order's conspiracy against Barbatos, and that he was merely caught in the crossfire, Lumine still felt guilty. After all, it had been her brother's actions.
"It's fine."
Futsu Mitama noticed her hesitation and spoke calmly. "If you're willing, you can stay as long as you like. This house was meant as temporary lodging for group members anyway—a place for everyone to settle. There's no need to feel awkward. If I ever need your help in the future, just don't refuse."
Originally, he had intended to make this house his permanent residence in Liyue. Unfortunately, a certain neighbor had been far too "enthusiastic." Now he understood why the previous owner had sold it so cheaply. Everything had its reason.
"Alright."
Seeing his sincerity, Lumine nodded in agreement. She looked at him with genuine gratitude.
"Mhm mhm mhm!" Paimon nodded repeatedly, patting her chest. "We will! The Traveler and I will definitely handle things smoothly for you! You can rest assured!"
Hearing this, Lumine felt a bit helpless.
What did she mean by "we"? Clearly, I did all the work, while Paimon acted as a mascot—being cute, mischievous, and occasionally causing her trouble.
Still, Lumine said nothing, only revealing a subtle expression.
Sangonomiya Kokomi watched the scene, covering her lips as she chuckled softly. A thought suddenly crossed her mind.
What if the Abyss Order's Prince found out that his sister was staying in Futsu Mitama's house?
Wouldn't he be extremely concerned?
After all, she was his only blood relative in this world. And on the surface, Futsu Mitama and that Prince were not on good terms. Though not outright enemies, there was still a grudge.
If it were her, and she learned that an enemy had taken in her sibling, she would undoubtedly assume hostile intent. In such a situation, even she might not make the most rational decision.
Kokomi couldn't help but imagine that, upon learning this, that Prince might even picture his sister suffering unimaginable torment. In that case, she only hoped he wouldn't overreact and launch an attack on Liyue Harbor in anger—that would complicate matters greatly.
However, what she didn't know was that Abyss Order intelligence agents were already secretly monitoring Futsu Mitama's residence. This was His Highness's direct order: they were to report the status of his blood relative immediately. Her safety was paramount.
Under normal circumstances, such personnel would never engage in obvious surveillance. They would instead infiltrate places like the Ministry of Civil Affairs to gather valuable intelligence. But this was a direct order. Even at the risk of exposure, they had to carry it out.
A full day and night passed.
When Futsu Mitama and Lumine emerged again, chatting and laughing together, the observing agent felt his heart tremble. Without hesitation, he immediately sent the report back:
"Prince! This is bad! Your blood relative has moved into Futsu Mitama's residence—this lackey of the Archon! The two of them appear to have grown even closer!"
—
Futsu Mitama spent the past few days in Liyue Harbor engaging in in-depth discussions with Lumine. Because she was the Traveler, he was deeply curious about the experiences she and her brother had encountered across different worlds.
In response, Lumine spoke of several worlds they had visited—some with technological civilizations similar to Futsu Mitama's previous life, others resembling medieval eras, and some infused with elements of magic.
In those worlds, she and her brother had always been together, relying on and supporting one another as siblings. However, they never stayed long in any single world, only residing for a time before moving on. With their immense lifespan and strength, they were rarely troubled by the powerful figures of those worlds.
But everything changed when they arrived in Teyvat and encountered a mysterious Archon. After that, there was no continuation—only separation. They were left behind by that unknown deity.
Lumine then uploaded an image of that Archon from her memory into the Chat Group.
This immediately caused the various Archons to fall into deep contemplation. The figure was far too familiar—they recognized her instantly. She was one of the Shades of the Heavenly Principles, in a sense a spokesperson of the Heavenly Principles, and also the one who had descended upon Khaenri'ah.
However, according to the Anemo Archon Barbatos, that specific Unknown God had fallen into a deep slumber five hundred years ago for reasons unknown. As for her current state, even he did not know. To learn more, they might need to consult the "old man" in Liyue.
Naturally, that "old man" referred to the Geo Archon, Morax.
Because of this, Lumine asked Futsu Mitama about Morax's whereabouts. As the successor of the Geo Archon, he should have some knowledge.
Futsu Mitama merely shrugged. He didn't know either—only that the Geo Archon was somewhere within Liyue Harbor. If nothing unexpected occurred, he might appear at the upcoming A Bite of Liyue event.
This answer surprised Lumine. She hadn't expected the Geo Archon to attend such an occasion, and her anticipation quietly grew.
Before long, ten days passed, and the highly anticipated A Bite of Liyue officially began.
Today marked the preliminary round. Hundreds of contestants had gathered, all renowned culinary masters. Their focus was on a rare ingredient—the meat of the Primo Geovishap, a creature that had disappeared half a year ago. Its flesh was said to rival that of an Adeptus beast.
Rumor had it that Xiangling, the genius chef of Wanmin Restaurant, had already devised several methods of preparing it. Even so, such a precious ingredient could not be limited to just a handful of approaches. By bringing it forward, she also hoped to see how other masters would utilize the Primo Geovishap's meat in their own creations.
Futsu Mitama brought Lumine and Paimon to the venue, where they began tasting and evaluating the dishes.
"Eh?! Zhongli?! Why are you here?!"
Arriving at the venue, Paimon looked at Zhongli, who was already seated on the judges' panel, and was visibly shocked. She hadn't expected to see him there at all.
Seated beside Zhongli was Tianquan Ningguang, representing the Liyue Qixing. Including Futsu Mitama, Lumine, and Paimon—who functioned more like a mascot—there were five judges in total. Of course, despite the number, there were only four seats, with Lumine and Paimon sharing one. This arrangement didn't surprise them much, as Guizhong had already explained it beforehand.
Although Paimon had been a little dissatisfied at first, she ultimately accepted it, knowing that there had originally only been three judges. It was only through Futsu Mitama and Guizhong's suggestion that the Liyue Qixing agreed to add another.
Still, she hadn't expected Zhongli to be here. Wasn't he supposed to be very busy recently?
For some reason, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business had been booming lately. Hu Tao had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, sometimes even working to the point of exhaustion. On more than one occasion, she had absentmindedly wandered into Futsu Mitama's house instead of returning to the parlor, clearly worn out.
And yet, on such a busy day, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant, Mr. Zhongli, had come here to serve as a judge?
In Paimon's opinion, the only ones doing real work at the parlor were Hu Tao and Zhongli. But Zhongli himself didn't seem particularly reliable—he was always finding ways to relax, whether it was listening to music, admiring antiques, or enjoying good food.
More often than not, he was either eating or on his way to eat.
And someone else was usually paying for it.
That fact alone had once made Paimon extremely envious. She had even wanted to take Zhongli's place at the table. Unfortunately, she knew that wasn't possible. People invited Zhongli for a reason. If she went instead, she would probably just eat everything without contributing anything in return.
"By request."
Zhongli's eyes carried a trace of helplessness. Originally, he wasn't supposed to be here, but due to Guizhong's insistence, he had been pulled in to taste the dishes.
It was said that a minor incident had occurred with the Azhdaha Mech, prompting Guizhong to head to Guyun Stone Forest alongside Cloud Retainer. As a result, she couldn't attend as a judge.
The original judge had been Guizhong herself, as she had wanted to sample the current state of Liyue's cuisine. But with the situation at Guyun Stone Forest taking priority, she had no choice but to leave.
Zhongli, in turn, had been "invited" to take her place.
With his reputation in Liyue Harbor, no one could object. After all, Mr. Zhongli of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was known for his broad knowledge. Even in areas he claimed to "only understand a little," he could easily convince others with his reasoning.
Thus, Ningguang had raised no objections to his appointment.
"By request?" Paimon scratched her head, then sighed as she looked at Zhongli's expression. "Sounds like you've got it rough, Zhongli. But it's fine! There's going to be tons of delicious food today!"
She puffed out her chest, trying to cheer him up.
"So stay positive! What's that saying again? Only happiness and good food must never be let down~"
Zhongli smiled faintly, nodding, but said nothing further.
Meanwhile, Lumine observed Zhongli and Ningguang with a hint of suspicion. Futsu Mitama had previously mentioned that Rex Lapis would likely appear at this event. That meant one of the two could very well be him.
She looked at Ningguang first. There was nothing particularly dangerous about her aura, and from any angle, she didn't resemble the Geo Archon. Instead, she reminded Lumine more of someone like Acting Grand Master Jean.
As for Zhongli—from the very first moment she met him, she had sensed something extraordinary.
Connecting the dots between Zhongli and Guizhong, Lumine felt as though she had uncovered something—but she chose to remain silent.
After all, in the Chat Group, Azhdaha often spoke about how close he was to Rex Lapis. Everyone would respond enthusiastically, yet Zhongli had always remained silent, never even sending a single emoji.
That alone was suspicious.
Lumine felt she was close to the truth, but without confirmation, she decided to wait for the right moment to ask him directly.
"Everyone, please take your seats."
Ningguang judged that the timing was appropriate and invited Futsu Mitama, Lumine, and Paimon to sit down.
With the judges assembled, the competition was about to begin.
One of Ningguang's secretaries stepped forward and explained the rules. Within two hours, a hundred chefs would prepare their signature dishes. Culinary competitions weren't about flashy techniques—flavor was the top priority. However, presentation could earn additional points if it stood out.
Naturally, any form of tampering or violation of Liyue's laws would result in immediate arrest by the Millelith.
Due to the large number of participants, the preliminaries were divided into three sessions: morning, noon, and evening. Only fifty out of the hundred chefs would advance.
After outlining the rules, the secretary cleared her throat and began the introductions.
"First, Lumine and Paimon. Lumine is an Honorary Knight from Mondstadt, and Paimon is her companion. They have traveled across many regions and experienced a wide variety of cuisines. They will provide fair and balanced evaluations."
Seated above, Lumine and Paimon waved to the crowd. Below, the audience murmured among themselves, clearly unfamiliar with them. This was only natural—while they were well-known in Mondstadt, they had yet to establish any reputation in Liyue.
"The second is Mr. Zhongli of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"I believe everyone here is familiar with him. Mr. Zhongli is a renowned connoisseur of cuisine. He can discern a dish's quality, even the precise balance of its seasoning, with a single taste."
At the mention of Zhongli, the crowd erupted into discussion. Many chefs' eyes lit up with excitement. Having received praise from him before, they felt confident in their abilities.
Others, however, grew uneasy. With Zhongli present, any attempt at deception or shortcuts would undoubtedly be exposed.
Visitors from other regions, unfamiliar with his reputation, quickly learned of his feats from those around them.
"And next, Tianquan Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing."
"There is no need for much introduction. However, what many may not know is that Ningguang is also a gourmet who has tasted rare delicacies from across the Seven Nations. Earning a high score from her will not be easy."
Indeed, no further explanation was necessary. Ningguang's status and wealth were well known. She had dined on countless rare dishes, often invited by merchants seeking opportunities. Many had spent fortunes preparing elaborate meals just to gain her favor.
With such experience, her standards were naturally high.
At this point, the crowd grew even more curious. Who could possibly be the final judge, placed after Ningguang?
The secretary smiled mysteriously.
"For the last judge, you should all be aware that a major event recently occurred in Inazuma, correct?"
Some were confused, but most immediately realized what she was referring to—the lifting of the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree, as well as the appointment of a successor to the Raiden Shogun.
"That's right."
"Our final judge is the next Raiden Shogun of Inazuma, the candidate for the next Electro Archon—Futsu Mitama."
"He has come to Liyue as a guest. The main ingredient for this competition—the meat of the Primo Geovishap—was personally obtained by him and given to Chef Xiangling of Wanmin Restaurant."
"And here is a small secret—Futsu Mitama has also inherited the legacy of the Geo Archon."
The entire venue erupted into an uproar.
All eyes turned toward Futsu Mitama.
He, meanwhile, cast a subtle glance at Ningguang, suspecting this arrangement was her doing.
"Hmm~ this was the Archon's arrangement."
Ningguang covered her lips with a faint smile as she met his gaze. "Last night, the Archon appeared to me in a dream and said it was time to reveal that you possess his legacy."
"Though I do not know his intentions, I believe there must be a deeper reason."
Under normal circumstances, she would never have dared to make such a declaration. It risked provoking the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma and causing dissatisfaction from Futsu Mitama.
But since the Archon himself had spoken, she simply followed his will.
After all, when a god acts, there is always a reason—one only needs to carry it out.
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