Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

Kamisato Yashiki, tea room.

The traveler knelt on the tatami mat, waiting for Ms. Kamisato to change and greet him.

Predictably, my legs and feet will feel sore and numb when I stand up.

After giving his report, Thomas sat down next to the traveler. Out of courtesy, the usually talkative Thomas remained silent and waited quietly.

Ayaka Kamisato didn't keep the traveler waiting for long.

Footsteps could be heard from the tea room to the inner room; the sound of wooden clogs clicking rhythmically on the wooden floor.

A person's character can often be discerned from their footsteps; the person approaching must be a dignified and serene noble lady.

The footsteps stopped at the wooden door, and the maid knelt down to open the door for her mistress.

She wore a light blue kimono with touches of pale pink. The layers of clothing looked somewhat heavy on her slender frame, and the overly long hem of the garment lay on the ground, requiring a maid to follow behind and tidy it up.

The unfolded fan obscured the girl's face, her light blue hair was neatly styled.

I've heard that this kind of attire is the highest form of etiquette for entertaining distinguished guests.

The maids took their seats, and apart from one maid guarding the door, the rest of the people, including Thomas, left.

Ms. Kamisato, the shaman, slowly closed her fan, revealing her face. Her snow-white skin was adorned with light makeup, and the scent of cherry blossoms wafted throughout the room from her.

Upon their first meeting, the young woman seemed somewhat shy, initially lowering her eyes before raising them to meet the traveler's gaze: "I am Ayaka Kamisato, a member of the Inatsuma Society. The tales of heroes have traveled to Inatsuma on the distant winds. I have just heard of your deeds and am deeply inspired by them. I always strive to emulate you and bring blessings and peace to the people of Inatsuma. I am delighted to meet you today. However, this meeting has been rather hasty, and I ask for your forgiveness for any shortcomings in my etiquette."

The other person's words reminded the traveler of the babbling brook in Yingxiang Mountain, where the shadows of trees fell on the clear water, dispelling some of his illness.

"Liyue merchant, Wang Sheng Tang, Lu Ren. Miss Shen Li, you flatter me. I am merely an ordinary Liyue merchant. Merchants travel the world for nothing more than 'wealth,' not as noble as the legends portray. Legends are often exaggerated and unrealistic, so please don't take them seriously," the traveler replied.

“Hero, you are too modest. A person supported by the people of both countries is by no means an ordinary person. You need not worry. Linghua only wishes to have tea and chat with you, and has no other intentions. Please just call me Linghua. You are an honored guest, so there is no need for honorifics.” After saying this, Linghua began to brew tea.

"Alright. I also ask that Ayaka not to call me a hero. It would be boring if we were both too rigid in our etiquette while we were having tea and chatting." It would be quite tiring to keep talking like this.

“The Englishman is right. Please have some tea.” Ayaka placed a teacup in front of the traveler. “Could you tell me about what happened before you left Liyue?”

"Alright, let's start from when I was just an idle mountain village woman," the traveler said without batting an eye, beginning the story she had just made up.

She was a peasant woman from the mountains, an unemployed woman. Her parents, unable to bear the burden, sent her to Liyue Harbor to seek refuge with distant relatives. With the help of these relatives, she found a respectable job as a ritual attendant at the Hall of Rebirth.

She, who once thought she would only waste her time, witnessed countless life-and-death separations in her work, gradually came to understand the meaning of life and began to take it seriously. From an illiterate peasant woman, she became the deputy head of the Hall of Rebirth, and also gained the approval of the gods, obtaining the Eye of the Geo Element.

Finally, to repay the master's kindness and fulfill his dream, he embarked on a journey to six countries to open branch temples.

The classic Hollywood three-act structure, a universal narrative formula.

It was despicable, but fortunately, Ayaka listened with great interest, so the outcome was still good.

Returning from the shrine and having chatted for so long, the traveler's exhaustion and incessant coughing reminded him that he was still sick.

"Ahem, excuse me for leaving early today. I've caught a cold and am feeling weak. We can talk later." The traveler took a sip of tea to suppress the cough that kept rising from his throat.

"I'm sorry, I forgot the time for a moment. Please wait a moment, the doctor will be here soon. Strange, I clearly sent someone to fetch the doctor, why hasn't he arrived yet?" Linghua gestured to the maid guarding the door to urge him.

The maid understood Linghua's meaning and withdrew.

"It's just a cold, there's no need to call a doctor." The traveler originally planned to make the first contact and leave today, and also get a free trial with the Kamisato family's doctor.

They had been talking for an hour, which was not a short time. Establishing contact with the Kamisato family could not be done overnight; it could be done slowly. However, an hour later, the doctor still hadn't arrived.

Could it be that the doctor's residence is actually not close to the Kamisato Yashiki?

“Even a cold should be taken seriously. Seeing a doctor will put your mind at ease. After all, health is the most important thing, and you can’t be careless. Dr. Mikami is an expert in pharmacology and one of the top doctors in Inazuma. He lives here, and he hasn’t come for so long. He probably forgot about it while studying the prescription. I’ve already sent someone to invite him again, and he should be here in a few minutes at the latest.” Ayaka picked up the teapot and filled the traveler’s teacup.

"Cough cough... Okay." I hope that Dr. Mikami, whom Ayaka mentioned, won't prescribe anything bitter and hard, but rather something sweet.

Having missed the designated time to take the medicine, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me.

"Kamisato Residence is a bit far from Inatsuma Castle. If you don't mind, you can rest here for the night." Ayaka also noticed that the person in front of her was getting worse and worse.

"Don't worry, cough cough... I have a way to get back to Inazuma Castle right away, and I'll show you around sometime." The traveler felt his face stiffen and had some difficulty smiling.

Behind him, the sound of footsteps approaching from outside gave the traveler a glimmer of hope for victory.

The doctor is finally arriving.

"Ayaka, are there any guests today?" A voice as gentle as moonlight shattered the traveler's hopes.

Huh? Aren't you a doctor?

"Brother, this is Miss Lu Ren," Ayaka introduced the traveler to the person who entered the room.

"I apologize for the sudden visit. I am... uh..." The traveler knew that the visitor must be Ayato Kamisato, but due to dizziness, she reacted instinctively.

This reaction couldn't be more appropriate than another chance encounter with someone you don't know well.

The traveler was surprised not by the chance encounter, but by the sudden darkness before his eyes after he stood up, and the weakness in his leg muscles making it seem as if he could not support his entire body.

“Oh, Miss Lu Ren, we’ve met before. I didn’t expect it to be so soon…” Ayato Kamisato’s words were only halfway through when he saw the traveler in front of him collapse limply.

"Lu Ren!" Linghua was too late to reach the traveler's side. She jumped up in alarm and rushed over. She only breathed a sigh of relief when her brother caught the traveler safely before she could reach him.

Before losing consciousness, the traveler vaguely heard a few words of conversation.

"My forehead feels very hot. Where is Dr. Mikami?"

"I have already sent someone to invite them."

"How long?"

"I went to ask for it about an hour ago."

"Is his residence far from the teahouse? Ayaka, the Kamisato family should get a new doctor."