Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Kong and Paimon bid farewell to Zhongli, planning to wander around and rejoin them later.

After the three of them were alone there—

Xuan Qing: "It's been so long, and the Seven Stars haven't made any moves yet?"

Xuan Yue: "I guess something got in the way."

Zhongli smiled and said, "Perhaps the time is not yet right?"

Xuanqing: "Seven Stars has received news that the Traveler and his companions have returned from Jueyun. Since they were able to summon so many immortals and are honorary knights of Mondstadt, Seven Stars will definitely have to step forward and explain. The common people can be appeased by leaving messages, but the Traveler has also made connections with the Fools, and they certainly don't want the Traveler to stand on Winter's side. After all, they don't want to bring in a powerful enemy; it's better to be friends."

Xuan Yue: "Oh...so you mean that Qi Xing must be making some moves now, perhaps laying the groundwork for what's to come and trying to win his favor."

Zhongli: "I admire your vision, my old friend. However, it's getting late, so let's order the dishes first."

"Right! Hurry up! We'll miss out on good spots if we're late!" Reminded by Zhongli, Xuan Yue immediately ran forward.

Xuan Qing: "Watch your step! There aren't many people here yet! No need to rush..."

"Haha, Xuan Yue is still so energetic, it's rare to see that..." Zhong Li laughed and then sighed with emotion, but after all, things weren't the same as they used to be...

If you want to buy sweet-scented osmanthus with wine, it doesn't seem like you are a teenager.

------

After Zhongli and the others finished ordering their dishes at Sanwanbugugang, Xuanqing added some fruit for dessert.

Zhongli: "Hmm, we ordered 10 bowls of 'Sweet Fermented Rice Balls,' that should be enough for you."

Xuanqing shook his head helplessly: "You know nothing about Paimon and Xuanyue's appetites. Paimon almost ate all of the Traveler's Mora, and Xuanyue..."

"I...I...I'm just hungry! My stomach always feels empty..." Xuan Yue was a little shy, and her face turned a little red.

Xuan Qing smiled and said, "It's alright. I can afford to raise one Golden Crow, and I can even raise another one. I'm just worried that if you and Paimon keep eating like this, you might eat up Mr. Guest's entire salary for this month."

Xuan Yue: "...Then, I'll eat less and have a late-night snack later..."

Zhongli calmly sipped his tea, while Xuanqing watched him, guessing he was probably considering sending the bill to either the Northern Bank or the Hall of Rebirth.

"Here you go. Since you're treating, you can't be short of money." Xuanqing handed a bag of Mora directly to Zhongli. After all, they were already familiar with each other after the first time.

Zhongli: "Heh, as expected, my old friend can always guess what I'm thinking."

Xuan Qing: "It's easy to guess. In the past, besides account books and memorials, it was all about watching plays, playing with birds, drinking tea, antiques, and art. Now, it's just that Mora has been added to the list."

Xuan Yue: "Ah Qing, aren't you using your eyes in the wrong place? Shouldn't they be used to find the enemy's weaknesses and for interrogation?"

“This is a peaceful era, why all the fighting and killing?” Xuan Qing ruffled his hair. “Right now you’re probably thinking about when Paimon and the others will arrive, when the food will be served, and what to have for supper…”

"Stop, stop, stop! Don't try to guess what I'm thinking without warning..." Xuan Yue, having her thoughts exposed, snuggled into his arms and refused to come out.

"Haha, Xuan Yue is still young, it's good for her to eat more." Zhong Li was in a good mood and began to comfort the little bird: "Li Yue's food and creativity are now flourishing. When you have time, have Xuan Qing take you to Wanmintang nearby to try it. The owner's daughter there has a lot of insight into cooking."

"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Xuan Yue immediately raised her head, looked at Zhong Li, and then turned her gaze to Xuan Qing: "A-Qing~~"

Xuan Qing: "Alright, alright, I'll take you out for a late-night snack. Hmm... the travelers are here, you should sit down quickly, the food is about to be served."

Xuan Qing had barely finished speaking when Paimon arrived at his seat first, saying, "Yay! I got here first!"

Sora: "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Xuan Yue: "We just ordered the food not long ago, so you're not too late."

Paimon flew to Xuan Yue's side and asked curiously, "What did you order? Is there any wine? I've been traveling for so long, and I still don't know what wine tastes like."

Zhongli: "This 'Three Bowls and You're Out of the Port' tavern is nothing like the taverns in Mondstadt. Here, the owner will refuse 'unrefined' things like fruit juice."

Sora said with some anticipation, "So this time, I'm finally going to get a drink?!"

Zhongli smiled slightly and said, "So this time, I ordered sweet fermented rice balls for you."

Seeing their disappointed expressions, Xuan Qing also spoke up: "Alcohol can easily numb the brain, and it's addictive if you drink too much. Moderation is key. You're not old enough to drink yet. The 'Sweet Rice Balls' have a hint of alcohol; just enjoy them for a bit."

Xuan Yue secretly told Paimon, "If you're curious, let's sneak off and buy a bottle. We'll each have half."

Xuan Qing: "Cough cough!"

Xuan Yue, Pai Meng: "!!"

Sora: "You guys are talking too loudly..."

Paimon immediately changed the subject: "Um...you, you guys look, here...there's a storyteller here! The atmosphere is great."

Hearing Paimon's words, Zhongli smiled knowingly. He had to admit Paimon had hit the nail on the head this time: "The so-called 'high praise' for a market restaurant, besides good wine, naturally also requires a good ambiance. But the 'ambiance' mentioned here is different from the 'ambiance' used to describe grand restaurants in the 'Teyvat Travel Guide.'"

Paimon said to the air, "Then let's listen to what he's saying!"

Zhongli: "No rush, the food will be served soon. We can eat and listen here."

Paimon: "Okay!"

—The content of the storytelling—

Tian Tiezui: "As you all know, there are celestial palaces and misty palaces above our port."

Tian Tiezui: "What does it mean to have connections to the highest levels? Look at this, this is what it means to have connections to the highest levels. This is the 'connected to the highest levels' property that Lord Ningguang has acquired."

Tian Tiezui: "On that clear, sunny day, you looked down from the deck outside the palace gate—"

Tian Tiezui: "Amazing! That's the scenery of most of Liyue Harbor..."

It is said that whenever Lady Ningguang has an important event

You absolutely must visit the "Qunyu Pavilion".

He dismissed everyone else and only brought three trusted confidants.

What are you doing with three trusted confidants?

It turned out they were supposed to be organizing intelligence on the side.

Data processing

Summary sheets were posted on the wall

The more you post, the more there are!

But before these white walls were covered

Lady Ningguang will surely be able to make a decision.

After the decision was made

She would crush all the documents.

Whoosh—the scraps of paper were scattered out the window.

Good guy

swaying

It's like a sudden blizzard.

The writing on the scrap of paper

In the eyes of all merchants in Liyue

Just like ink stains in the snow.

garish!

A poem praises it:

"Fluttering and falling, like snow dust falling from the clouds."

The characters are arranged in a dense yet sparse manner, each one as precious as a rare gem.

In the blink of an eye, the landscape is swallowed up.

Everyone knows that divine authority is supreme.

-----

Tian Tiezui: "Just think about it, although this thing is just scraps of paper, how precious is the 'thinking process' that Lord Ningguang used to make decisions?"

Tian Tiezui: "If you can grab one or two more, the benefits that Lady Ningguang slips through her fingers will give you one or two more points than your competitors..."

Xuan Qing: ...Hmph...

Xuan Yue glanced at Xuan Qing; his attitude suggested he understood something.

“Ningguang, ‘Tianquan’…I’ve been hearing that name a lot lately. The people of Liyue are talking about her, the ‘Fatren’ hate her, she’s also the one who hid the ‘Ancestor’s Manifestation,’ and we even saw her once at the ‘Invocation Ceremony’…” Paimon continued into the void, “I wonder what kind of person she really is?”

Just then, a voice came from the rooftop: "Finally found you, 'The One Who Returned from the Cloud Realm'."

Xuan Yue transmitted her voice: (Little Gan Yu!)

Xuanqing (head down): ...

Zhongli sighed, but said nothing...

Paimon and Kong reacted immediately upon hearing Gan Yu's words, getting up to run away.

“Please wait a moment. I am not a member of the Thousand Rock Army, nor am I a constable here to arrest you,” Gan Yu hurriedly said, her gaze fixed on Paimon and the Traveler, oblivious to Xuan Yue’s presence. “But I am indeed an envoy of the Liyue Seven Stars—I am Gan Yu, secretary of the Moonlit Pavilion, and I have come to see you.”

Empty: "Messenger?"

Kong and Paimon stopped in their tracks, wanting to hear what the envoy had to say.

Gan Yu: "To be precise, my main job is as a secretary responsible for the entire 'Seven Stars,' but this temporary role is as Miss Ningguang's special envoy."

"Wow, Ningguang's... messenger has arrived!" Paimon was quite excited as soon as he heard Ningguang's story.

Gan Yu: "A person returning from Jueyun... Please forgive my lack of proper etiquette, as I am currently in the common world. But this letter I bring is an invitation formally drafted by Miss Ningguang in her capacity as 'Tianquan.' It invites you to that 'Palace in the Heavens.'"

Paimon: "You mean...an invitation?"

Gan Yu: Yes. This is what Miss Ningguang said: "Please invite him." "I want to see him." "At Qunyu Pavilion, I will accompany him to cut the intricate undercurrents one by one." After Gan Yu finished speaking, she disappeared.

Paimon: "That envoy who called himself Ganyu disappeared after saying those few words... But it's unbelievable that we actually received an invitation from the 'Liyue Seven Stars'." Sora nodded, but the three on Xuan Yue's side helplessly communicated telepathically.

Xuan Yue: (Has Xiao Gan Yu forgotten something?)

Xuan Qing: (The invitation included additional conditions; after all, not just anyone can go up. Gan Yu probably forgot the code...)

Zhong Li: (Very likely, Gan Yu has been working overtime almost every night since she started working at "Yuehaiting", she must be busy with work, I forgot to mention...)

Xuanqing: (Seriously, none of them are sleeping...) Here, Xuanqing specifically pointed to the little birds on Dihua Isle...

Xuan Yue's "inner thoughts" (￣ー￣): (You're pretty much the same... Demon gods don't need to sleep, so you can act with impunity...)

Kong and Paimon were completely unaware of the telepathic communication between the three.

Kong: "So, Zhongli, where should we meet tomorrow?"

Zhongli: "Hehe... very few people are fortunate enough to be invited to the 'Jade Pavilion'. After you return from the Jade Pavilion, our next meeting place will be Dihua Isle."

Paimon: "Okay, then..."

Xuan Qing: "Aren't you going to eat? There are still a few bowls of 'Sweet Rice Balls' here. We can go to Qunyu Pavilion tomorrow morning; there's no need to rush."

Paimon, upon seeing this, quickly said, "Yes, yes, Qingyue is right. Let's set off again tomorrow."

Kong: "I think you're just craving those few bowls..."