Though the gods were swift, the attack was so sudden and the distance so great that even Ei could not intervene in time. They could only watch helplessly as La Signora struck the storyteller on stage.
(T/N: This is some bullshit, but I ain't the author.)
Just as everyone was shocked and worried for him, Li Mo showed no fear at the sudden assault. He furrowed his brow, and elemental power rapidly coalesced around him, forming a multicolored barrier.
The next moment, La Signora's attack landed. With a crash, the barrier absorbed the blow. Not only did it defend, but it also repelled La Signora, sending her hurtling back.
Many were stunned. The storyteller was incredibly powerful.
What was more remarkable was that, when she landed, La Signora was unharmed, having regained her balance.
Seeing this, Ei finally decided to stop tolerating La Signora. She reached for Musou Isshin, ready to teach the arrogant Harbinger a lesson and demonstrate the gap between a Harbinger and a god.
But just as she drew the milky‑scented blade, Barbatos reached out and grabbed her arm, firmly pressing her back into her seat.
Ei snapped, "Barbatos, have you forgotten what she did to you? And now you're defending her?"
Though Ei had been meditating in the Plane of Euthymia at the time, news of La Signora's treatment of Barbatos had reached her, and she knew it had been outrageous.
Barbatos quickly explained, "Ei, it's been over a thousand years, but your temper hasn't changed at all. Didn't you hear what was just said?"
Ei was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Barbatos sighed. "My dearest companion—your brother—will be reincarnated in his eleventh life as Rostam, the Deputy Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius five hundred years ago. La Signora's lover. Her fiancé."
Indeed, from the storyteller's words, that much was clear. Even Barbatos was exasperated.
If Ei were to draw her blade and strike down La Signora with the Musou no Hitotachi now—if she "milked" her to death—how would they explain it when Barbatos's companion and Ei's brother appeared before them?
(T/N: I can already feel that the author is going to be "milking" this joke for a long time...)
What could they say? That Ei had accidentally beheaded her own sister‑in‑law? There was no way to explain that.
Hearing this, Ei was jolted awake. She looked at Barbatos, then at La Signora. A chill ran down her spine. If she had actually struck and killed La Signora right there in Wangshu Inn, her brother would never forgive her.
In that moment, Ei's emotions were a whirlwind of fear, confusion, and jealousy. This Fatui Harbinger was her brother's lover? She could not accept it.
But after hearing Barbatos's words, she quietly sheathed Musou Isshin and sat back down, resigned.
Fight all you want. The relationships were too tangled for her to meddle.
Just then, La Signora, who had been knocked back, glared fiercely at Li Mo. "Tell me—where is Rostam's reincarnation? Or I will kill you."
Having failed to subdue him, she no longer concealed her true aim. Though she still had not fully believed in Rostam's reincarnation, doubts were beginning to form.
If Rostam had not been reincarnated, how had that song leaked out? How did the storyteller know about her and Rostam's promise? There were too many mysteries. The only way to uncover the truth was to capture the storyteller.
Hearing her demand, Li Mo dispelled his barrier and looked at her. He composed himself and spoke slowly.
"Lady Rosalyne, I too wish to tell you of Rostam, to reunite you as soon as possible. But until I have told all of Rostam's reincarnations, I cannot say anything more. If you wish to see Knight Rostam, please sit and listen to the story."
It was the only explanation he could give. He had to calm her down for now.
Hearing this, La Signora's alluring brows furrowed tightly. She pulled out the light novel.
"So the stories in this book are all true? All ten previous reincarnations were Rostam's?"
When she first saw the light novel, she had been dismissive, mocking Barbatos for being childish and naive for being moved to tears by such a flimsy tale. It was shameful for a god.
But now, she realized those stories were true. Not only Barbatos's tale, but soon the story of La Signora and Knight Rostam would also appear in these light novels, read by people across Teyvat.
Especially after failing to subdue the storyteller, she finally understood: if she wanted news of her beloved Rostam, she would have to sit quietly and listen to the story. She would have to hear all of Rostam's reincarnations.
With that realization, she turned and looked at the gods in the corner. Barbatos, the three Raiden Shoguns, and the other powerful figures—even they had to listen to reincarnation after reincarnation before they could learn of those bound to them. As a Fatui Harbinger, what right did she have to refuse?
After a moment's thought, she knew it was the only way.
On stage, Li Mo saw the change in her expression and heard the slight softening of her voice. He knew the first step in saving her had succeeded. The next step was to tell those past stories and fully awaken the emotions, the kindness, the innocence that had once belonged to Rosalyne.
He spoke slowly. "Yes—as you can see, all the reincarnations written in that book are what Rostam experienced before he became a Knight of Favonius."
"Next, I will tell the story of Knight Rostam."
"After the tenth life, when Bosacius the yaksha sacrificed himself to protect Liyue, his soul did not enter the underworld. It entered the next cycle of reincarnation."
"In the eleventh life, he returned to the land of Mondstadt and became Rostam, the Deputy Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."
"At the same time, he would pay the price for the mistakes he had made in his fourth life."