Among the "life utilities" my system hands out via lottery are all kinds of medicines.
The wound-healing type is… a bit overpowered: pop one and your injuries knit instantly with no scars, your state snaps back to peak.
I pinched Yelan's chin, slipped a pill into her mouth. It melted on her tongue; in the next heartbeat every wound vanished.
I glanced around and used the Qiankun Mirror to rewind the terrain I'd damaged back to its original state.
One flick of my hand and a telekinetic cocoon rose around Yelan, sealing her in. The orb then drifted after me like a floating Paimon.
Only then did I retract the large outer barrier.
"Mm?" Zhongli, who'd been waiting, lifted a brow and strolled over as I emerged.
Up close, he spoke evenly. "I've long heard of your name, Su Xuan. May I ask your purpose in coming to Liyue…?"
As I'd guessed, Venti had briefed him while "borrowing" wine. And per that briefing, I'd seen through Zhongli's identity at a glance, so he dropped the act and spoke plainly.
"Travel brought me this way. As for what you just saw—I was playing a game with my person." I smiled. First meeting, strangely congenial. "Don't worry. Since she's mine, I won't take her life."
"I see." Zhongli's gaze flicked to the glowing sphere floating behind me. That must be the Total Affairs Office girl sealed inside.
He couldn't see through it, but if I'd said so, he wouldn't press.
…Though he did wonder why I'd called Liyue's intel ace "mine."
He started to speculate; I cut him off with a tug at my mouth. "No need to overthink it. I bear Liyue no malice. If someone picks a fight in earnest, though, I won't let it slide.
"Do what you need to do. Treat me as a passing traveler."
He took the hint—and likely understood that I knew about his plan to retire. Out of courtesy he asked, "If you have time, might I host a meal in Liyue Harbor to welcome you?"
"Just call me Su Xuan, Rex Lapis. As for dinner—another time. I really do have things to handle now."
I tipped my chin toward the telekinetic orb and waved. "We'll speak later. Bye."
I lifted off toward a distant ravine with Yelan in tow.
Zhongli stood thinking for a long while.
According to Barbatos, I'd helped with Dvalin at the Acting Grand Master's request. I knew who the god was, but preferred not to entangle with him—yet I didn't refuse a mortal's plea.
"A kind young man, as Barbatos said?" he murmured. "Perhaps the Qixing already reached him in Mondstadt…"
If so, and if their rapport was positive, then whether he "died" or truly returned to the ley, there'd be little to worry about.
Wangshu Inn.
Fed and happy, Lumine and Paimon wandered out. Dusk deepened; the rain had stopped, merchants were out on the decks again.
The distant barrier over Dihua Marsh had already vanished—but Su Xuan never showed up at the inn.
"Lumine, Boss ditched us," Paimon spread her hands. "What now?"
"We already said—head to Liyue Harbor and wait." Lumine planted her fists on her hips.
It was hard for her to find him, but with telekinetic lock-on it was easy for him to find them. Just follow directions, go to the harbor, do their own thing; when the boss wanted them, he'd appear.
"Y'know," Paimon mused, "we're kinda like Liyue's Geo Archon now…"
Lumine blinked. "Meaning?"
"Freeloaders," Paimon said, perfectly sincere.
"…"
Please. Boss is probably busy seven-in, seven-out right now. He hardly needs us.
A certain wild cave in Liyue.
Yelan jolted awake from a nightmare, both hands flying to her thighs. "Hah—still there. Just a dream."
"What's wrong—dream of me sawing your legs off?" a voice asked lazily.
She flinched hard and looked over. I was seated nearby, watching her with amused eyes.
"Uh." She shook her head, checked the wounds she remembered—and found them gone. Obviously my work.
Just as she'd judged: declare your stance and intent openly, and I wouldn't kill a diary holder out of hand.
She let out a long breath. "After that 'game,' I realized…it wasn't about danger or not. My failure was decided from the start.
"Looking back…that suffocating despair wasn't actually fun."
I ignored her self-talk and turned aside to jot my thoughts.
While Yelan was out, I finally figured why she came to me for a different flavor of feeling.
It's tied to her own strength.
The gods of Teyvat don't meddle much in mortal affairs; as long as you don't go too far, rulers won't over-interfere.
With Prince Abyss's actions unclear, the visible headache for most nations is the Fatui.
Rosalyne: "???"
Yet Yelan can go toe-to-toe with No. 9, 'The Regrator' Pantalone.
She even stole the exotic beast-hide cloak he meant to gift the Tsaritsa—those sleeve-trails on her cape.
She knew Ningguang before the latter became Tianquan, and helped her ascend early.
'A woman of a thousand faces'—ubiquitous and untraceable.
Disguises flawlessly, dances through storms, nudges outcomes, slips away before the end.
For someone like that to chase a bigger thrill… the only targets left are Fatui top brass.
But her heart puts Liyue's interests first; sparking diplomatic disaster is off the table.
So she came to me—a traveler with no factional ties—to bring her a fresh jolt.
She also believed I'm reasonable: she stated her intent up front, not as disrespect or provocation, but as a request to discuss.
Liyue's ladies finally exhaled. If I'd acknowledged it as a private, mutual agreement, it wouldn't implicate Liyue.
Ningguang's shoulders dropped.
Yelan smiled after reading. "You really do know us."
I glanced back. "Not exactly. I know your tendencies, not your moves. People are living things; countless factors bend real actions."
She nodded. "True. Still… thanks for letting me feel that suffocating despair."
My eyes narrowed, smiling. "Miss Yelan, I think you're misunderstanding."
"?"
"Like I said—once I caught you, your life belongs to me." I leaned against the wall, arms folded. "You got your 'thrill.' Now it's my turn.
"For example, I'm interested in interrogation. I'd like to experience what it's like to conduct one."
"Try imagining what happens next."
A cold gulp crawled down her throat. In her nightmare, my telekinesis had ripped her legs off. Was he actually going to—
"But in the diary you—" she managed a brittle smile.
Surely he wouldn't—
"Oh, you mean the diary? Understanding your choice doesn't mean I'll do exactly what I wrote.
"Maybe I just wanted other diary holders not to panic. Right?"
"!?"
The undertow surged up under her ribs. She realized she couldn't use the diary to predict him. The queen who always guided outcomes suddenly found herself at sea.
"What… are you going to do?" she stammered—nervous, and, because of the uncertainty, faintly excited.
"I'm deciding how to break you. Flesh-pain's useless on someone addicted to it." I hummed, then grinned. "Got it. I've got a pile of random drugs in storage.
"Maybe you're the perfect test case."
He produced a syringe of clear liquid.
"This one induces full-body heat," he said.
"!?"
Living on Teyvat's dark edge, Yelan knew exactly what that implied.
Such drugs existed—playthings for rotten nobles. She'd never heard of using one for interrogation.
"With your status," she snapped, "how can you touch the toys of those degenerate lords?"
I blinked. "Theirs are short-acting. This is different. Three to five shots and your brain's functions degrade.
"After that, you'll only crave one thing. You won't be able to form other thoughts.
"In other words—your life is ruined."
"What!?"
An invisible force yanked her off the ground. She floated before me, limbs pinned in telekinetic stocks.
Worse—besides the one in my hand, four or five more syringes hung in the air.
He was going to turn her into an idiot in one go.
Panic detonated; she thrashed uselessly. It was like being set into a wall—she couldn't move an inch.
"W—wait— I was wrong—I shouldn't have asked for something so stupid—"
"Please. Let me go."
She didn't want to become a fool with only one thought. Better a clean death than that.
"Too late to beg," I said, and all the needles drove into her pale arm.
Her eyes contracted; her face went slack—it's over. Completely over.
She waited… and waited… and nothing happened.
"Uh… what…?"
"Hm." I frowned. "Past the expiration date?"
I checked them, flipped one in my fingers, then smiled. "Ah. Sorry. Just saline."
"…"
So the bad man was pranking her with terror.
But she couldn't deny it—the spike of "life is finished" had sent a clean, intoxicating rush through her skull. Her cheeks flushed hot.
"However… this time I'm serious."
He now held a single pill.
"What's that?" Her mouth had gone dry.
"A tablet that flushes every impurity from the body," I said. "Leaves you feeling light. No negative effects."
"…?"
"Sounds… good?" she asked warily.
"It is," I nodded. "But—"
"In Mondstadt I held it back, worried they couldn't handle the initial pain."
"You're different. You don't fear pain—you chase it."
"Two birds, one stone. You'll be my first trial."
"!?"
"It causes agonizing pain?" She stared.
"The pill doesn't," I said. "Afterward I will."
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