I opened a shop on the Astral Train

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 22

The moment the Clear Spirit Pill entered his stomach, Zhongli's eyes widened as countless fragments and memories from the past flashed through his mind.

He murmured softly, "In the end... Marcosius... Rhoda... Bosa..."

To Yuri and the others, only half a minute had passed.

But for Zhongli, it felt like an eternity.

Only when Venti called out, "Old Man," did Zhongli snap back to reality. He shook his head, grounding himself.

"Apologies, that was rude."

Welt, Himeko, and the others dismissed his concern.

Zhongli then turned to Yuri, offering a rare, grateful smile.

"Thank you, Yuri."

Yuri smirked.

"You're welcome. Just remember to pay the bill."

Zhongli let out an amused chuckle. "Hahaha, of course. How much is this pill worth?"

Yuri raised two fingers.

"2000 star coins, or 200 Stellar Jade. Venti should've told you the exchange rate between Stellar Jade and star coins, right?"

Zhongli frowned slightly and shook his head. "No."

Yuri sighed. "Venti, why didn't you tell him something this important?"

Venti simply hummed and continued drinking his porridge.

Zhongli patted his robes... empty.

"Yuri, I'll send you the Stellar Jade later, alright?"

Yuri waved it off. "No problem. Now, come on, eat up. I've got something fun to show you all later."

Just as Yuri was inviting everyone to eat, an ether portal suddenly opened in the shop. Kafka and Silver Wolf stepped out.

Silver Wolf looked particularly annoyed, clearly having been dragged away mid-game.

"Ugh, there he is. That's Yuri."

After pointing Yuri out to Kafka, Silver Wolf ignored the situation entirely, plopping down at a booth, crossing his legs, and resuming his game.

Himeko and Welt immediately tensed.

"Star Core Hunter Kafka," Welt said, his voice sharp. "You're on the company's wanted list."

Klee, who had been watching from the side, gasped in excitement.

"Wow~ Big Devil! Big Devil!"

Kafka glanced at Klee—hmm, a very cute little girl—before turning her attention to Himeko, scanning her up and down.

"Himeko, right? Relax. I'm not here to mess with the Express. I just came to buy something from Mr. Yuri."

With that, she pulled out a small box containing Stellar Jade and opened it.

Yuri stood up and gestured to the others.

"Don't worry, keep eating. I'll handle this."

Though Himeko, Welt, and Zhongli continued their meal, they kept a watchful eye on Yuri and Kafka.

Yuri tapped his fingers on the box Kafka had brought and asked, "How much Stellar Jade do you have in here?"

Kafka tilted her head, her gaze playful. "I'm not sure. How about you count?"

She propped her chin on one hand, watching Yuri with an amused smirk.

Yuri raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He placed the Stellar Jade on an exchange scale.

"No need. This thing tells us instantly. The exchange rate between Stellar Jade and star coins is 1 to 100."

Kafka pouted slightly, disappointed that she couldn't tease Yuri.

"Oh? I see. Well then, let your little scale do its work~"

Ten minutes later, Yuri finished converting all the Stellar Jade.

"That's 60,000 star coins."

Kafka weighed the currency in her hand before giving Yuri a sly smile.

"Yuri, [listen to me]—what do you think I should buy?"

Yuri crossed his arms, meeting her gaze evenly. "What do you want?"

Seeing her usual tactics fail, Kafka's interest in him grew.

"Hmm... Are you selling emotions here?"

Yuri blinked. "Emotions? I'd have to check."

He pulled up a search on the touch screen.

The next second, hundreds of products appeared.

Yuri glanced at the list. "Yep. What emotion are you looking for?"

Kafka's eyebrows lifted in genuine surprise. "You actually have that? Alright, what about fear?"

Yuri pulled up several options. "Take a look."

Kafka leaned in, skimming through them.

[Product: Heart Demon]

Description: This item may cause a person's inner demons to resurface.

Price: 1000 Star Coins.

Note: Available in 9 levels. Level 1 starts at 1000, level 9 costs 10,000. Choose accordingly.

---

[Product: Abyss Pass]


Description: Grants access to the Abyss.


Price: 5000 Star Coins.

---

[Product: Strange Invitation]


Description: Use this item to enter peculiar games.


Price: 2000 Star Coins.

Kafka tapped her lips, considering. Then, she looked at Yuri.

"Pick one for me~"

She twirled a lock of her hair, watching his reaction.

Yuri sighed and pointed. "Try the Heart Demon. It forces you to see what you least want to face."

Kafka nodded. "Alright, I trust you."

Yuri took 1,000 star coins from her and bought the lowest-tier Heart Demon.

A dark red energy sphere appeared in his hand, swirling inside a bubble.

He handed it to her. "Just crush it."

Kafka twirled it in her fingers before turning back to Yuri. "Come a little closer, will you? What if I get scared? As the boss, you need to take responsibility for your customers."

Yuri coughed. "Let's keep this professional."

Seeing him flustered, Kafka burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, relax, I was just teasing."

Then, without hesitation, she crushed the Heart Demon.

The moment it shattered, dark red energy surged into her body.

Kafka's smirk froze. Her pupils dilated slightly, a flicker of something unrecognizable flashing across her face.

It lasted only a few seconds before she returned to normal.

For those brief moments, she had truly felt fear.

The emotion she had longed to experience.

She pulled out another 2,000 star coins and slid them to Yuri. "Get me a stronger one."

Yuri raised an eyebrow but complied, purchasing a Level 2 Heart Demon.

Kafka took it, crushed it, and fell into fear once more.

This time, the haunted look lasted longer.

Yuri studied her carefully. "Don't go too high. Choose wisely."

Kafka nodded, still savoring the sensation. "Got it."

---

When Klee saw Yuri's flustered expression, she immediately assumed that Kafka had bullied him.

"Wow~ Big Devil! You're not allowed to bully Brother Yuri~ Bouncing Bomb!"

Standing on her chair, Klee furiously raised a large bouncing bomb and hurled it at Kafka.

Seeing this, Yuri reacted instantly, leaping up and catching the bomb mid-air before it could reach Kafka. He let out a long sigh and rubbed Klee's little head.

"Klee, she didn't bully me."

Realizing her mistake, Klee slipped off her chair, ran over to Kafka, and bowed deeply.

"Big sister, I'm sorry! Klee misunderstood you~ Can you forgive Klee?"

She swayed slightly, looking up at Kafka with wide, apologetic eyes.

Kafka couldn't help but smile at the little girl's cuteness, her lips curving upward.

"Of course~ Sister forgives you. Your name is Klee?"

Klee's expression brightened instantly.

"Yes! My name is Klee! What's your name, big sister?"

Kafka chuckled. "My name is Kafka."

Klee repeated it carefully. "Kafka~ Klee knows! Sister Kafka~"

Yuri walked over, gently patting Klee's head.

"Klee, go eat before your food gets cold."

Obediently, Klee returned to her seat and continued eating.

Since the dining table was too high, both Klee and Hook had to stand on chairs to reach their food. Even sitting down, their eyes barely met the tabletop.

"Hook, that sister is Sister Kafka," Klee said between bites.

Hook swallowed a mouthful of porridge. "Yeah, yeah~ Hook got it. Klee, help me pick up some pickles."

Klee grabbed a piece of sauerkraut with her chopsticks. "Here~ pickled cabbage!"

The two little ones continued chatting and eating, standing on their chairs like miniature adventurers on a grand feast.

Kafka watched them, a rare, genuine smile forming on her lips.

Yuri noticed her expression. "Cute, aren't they?"

Kafka nodded. "Hmm~ quite cute. Are they your daughters?"

Yuri nearly choked on his drink. "What?! My daughters? How would that even work?"

Kafka casually tied up her hair, smirking. "Oh~ I thought they were, since you're so good to them."

Yuri wiped his mouth. "Of course I take care of them. Raising a daughter is the most rewarding thing in the world."

Kafka tilted her head, intrigued. "So, have you ever thought about having one yourself?"

Yuri looked at her with a playful glint in his eyes. "What? Are you volunteering?"

For the first time, Kafka looked slightly flustered.

"You... it's not impossible~" she teased, giving him a knowing look.

Yuri grinned. "Then let's make an appointment?"

Kafka's thoughts momentarily derailed as an amusing scenario formed in her mind. Her face warmed slightly under Yuri's gaze. Suddenly, she snapped out of it, hastily purchasing Level 2 and Level 3 Heart Demons before scurrying back to sit next to Silver Wolf.

Yuri smirked. "Ha. Got her back. Woman, you thought you could win?"

Returning to the dining table, Yuri turned to Himeko. "Himeko, what's the star core reading on Jarilo-VI?"

Himeko activated her equipment, scanning the latest data. Her expression shifted. "The star core's activity is intensifying. It's about to reach a critical point."

Yuri immediately stood up. "Let's go. We're watching this unfold."

Kafka interjected. "Yuri, are you going to check on Kevin and the others?"

Yuri nodded. "Yeah. It's not every day you get to witness an interstellar war."

Kafka thought for a moment before turning to Silver Wolf. "Honey, pull up a live projection from that star."

Silver Wolf, still engrossed in his game, barely glanced up. "Busy."

Kafka sighed.

[Listen to me.]

"Silver, bring up the projection."

Silver Wolf's fingers twitched as if possessed. She stood up, called up a virtual keyboard, and projected the live feed onto the wall.

After finishing, she plopped back into her seat and glared. "Kafka!!! You used Word Spirit on me again!"

Kafka chuckled, covering her mouth. "Honey, you're too focused on your games. It's your fault."

Then, she turned back to Yuri. "Why go all the way there? You can just watch from here."

Yuri considered it. "Fair enough."

Kafka observed the projection, her expression unreadable. This battle was Kevin's chance. If things went as expected, he would gain the strength he needed.

---

[Entering Belobog.]

Kevin, March 7th, Dan Heng, Seele, and Bronya arrived at Everwinter Ridge.

Cocolia raised the Flame Lance high. "Creation Engine! In the name of the Great Guardian, rise!"

The ground trembled. From beneath the frozen soil, a colossal machine awoke, towering above them.

At the same time, waves of Voidrippers surged toward the team.

Kevin drew the Judgment of Shamash. The blade ignited, roaring with power.

[Skyfire—Unsheath!]

With a mighty slash, an inferno erupted, consuming everything in its path. Voidrippers shrieked, disintegrating in the blaze. Only elite entities—Devourer's Shadow and Cosmic Ice—survived the flames.

The Shadow of Erosion raised its scepter, preparing to cast a spell—

[System Alert: Incoming attack detected!]

Before it could complete the incantation, an arrow whistled through the air, knocking the scepter away.

Seele emerged from the shadows, her scythe gleaming. [Fade away with the butterflies, phantoms of the past!]

She lunged. The Shadow of Erosion barely had time to react before Seele's blade struck true. Its form shattered into particles of light.

On the other side, Bronya unleashed a suppressive barrage against a Cosmic Ice creature, pinning it in place.

Dan Heng appeared above it, energy swirling around his spear. [The cave is transformed, the long dream is broken!]

With a swift descent, he drove his spear into the ground. The Cosmic Ice behind him erupted into nothingness.

Kevin turned his gaze to a Windraiser, a formidable virtual soldier standing in his path.

He crouched slightly—

[System Alert: Dash Boost Activated.]

Kevin shot forward like an arrow, closing the distance in a blink. The Windraiser barely registered his movement before the Holy Judgment of Heavenly Fire came crashing down.

[Critical Strike!]

A massive gash tore through the enemy's core. Kevin shouldered his blade as the flames surged within the crack—

And then, the Windraiser exploded into embers, vanishing from existence.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 23

With the combined efforts of the team, the remaining Voidrippers were eliminated one by one.

Cocolia cursed under her breath, then activated the Creation Engine, redirecting its energy towards the battlefield.

A piercing laser fired from the colossal machine's head, sweeping across the frozen landscape towards the group.

Kevin reacted first. [System Alert: Extreme Heat Detected!]

With a mighty swing of the Judgment of Shamash, flames erupted from the blade, colliding with the laser. The clash ignited an explosive shockwave that sent tremors across the battlefield.

---

Kevin, seizing a brief moment while the Creation Engine recalibrated, dashed across the battlefield and leaped onto the machine's arm, sprinting straight for Cocolia.

New waves of Voidrippers emerged from the machine, but March 7th and Bronya had them in their sights.

[System Alert: Target Locked.]

March 7th raised her bow. "Alright, you ugly things, stay down!" [Icebound Shot!]

Bronya fired simultaneously. [Piercing Frost!]

The creatures didn't even have a chance to advance. One by one, they shattered into frozen dust.

Within minutes, Kevin reached Cocolia.

Cocolia snarled and raised her firearm. [System Alert: High-Energy Projectile Incoming!]

Kevin barely managed to block the first shot, but the sheer force sent him staggering. Before he could recover, Cocolia launched a second attack.

[Emergency Dodge Activated!]

Kevin rolled to the side, barely avoiding another direct hit.

Cocolia hovered above, making it near impossible for Kevin to counterattack effectively.

But even the strongest defenses have gaps.

Seizing her moment, Cocolia hurled a Flame Lance with devastating force.

Kevin's vision blurred. His body went numb. Darkness swallowed him whole.

---

When he opened his eyes, Kevin was surrounded by stars.

Floating before him was a Flame Spear, pulsating with immense energy.

As he stepped forward, visions flickered around him—memories of Belobog's Great Guardians, their triumphs, their failures… and Cocolia's fall to desperation.

Hopelessness. No way forward. Darkness at every turn.

Kevin reached the spear, only to find a young girl standing beside it.

She turned to him. "You're here."

Kevin frowned. "Who are you?"

The girl smiled. "Me? I am the consciousness of all Great Guardians."

She sighed, glancing at the fading embers around them.

"The city is crying… The power of Preservation weakens. In the end, we still failed to resist the will of the Star Core."

Kevin clenched his fists. "Then let someone else protect it."

The girl's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly composed herself.

She gestured toward the Flame Spear. "Then take it. Touch the light of Amber."

Kevin reached out. [System Alert: High Energy Detected!]

Flames surged from the spear, forcing him back momentarily. But he steadied himself.

"HAAAH!"

Summoning every ounce of strength, he grasped the spear and wrenched it free.

---

[Returning to Reality.]

Kevin awoke, now holding the Flame Spear in one hand and Heavenly Fire in the other.

With a single spin, he landed gracefully onto the Creation Engine's palm.

March 7, Dan Heng, Seele, and Bronya gasped in relief.

"Kevin!" March 7 waved excitedly.

Kevin smirked, then raised the spear high. "Everyone! It's time to finish this!"

Cocolia's eyes widened in horror.

"No! No! Impossible! Why would Qlipoth choose you?!"

Desperate, she merged fully with the Star Core, unleashing a monstrous ice formation.

Kevin reacted instantly, raising the Flame Spear. A protective shield enveloped his allies.

With his other hand, he gripped Heavenly Fire and swung. [System Alert: Impact Detected!]

The flames and ice collided mid-air, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

As the light faded, smoke filled the air.

Suddenly—

Kevin burst from the smoke, Flame Spear aimed directly at Cocolia.

She attempted another attack, but Dan Heng and Seele struck first, forcing her back.

Before she could counter, it was too late. Kevin's spear pierced through her chest.

Cocolia crashed into the ground, a massive crater forming beneath her.

She struggled to rise, but Kevin loomed over her, Heavenly Fire poised for the final strike.

"No… Impossible…!" Cocolia's form flickered, light seeping from her body.

Bronya ran forward, her voice breaking. "Mother!"

Cocolia, in her final moment of clarity, smiled weakly. "You've grown strong, Bronya… You will protect Belobog now…"

The Star Core, sensing defeat, tried to flee—

But then, a voice interrupted. "Wow, so dramatic. I almost cried."

Everyone turned.

Yuri strolled onto the battlefield, Rios at his side.

Bronya turned, confused. "Who are you?"

Yuri smirked. "Yuri. Now, remember to pay me 100 Stellar Jade later."

Before anyone could react, he casually reached out, ripping the Star Core from Cocolia's body and suppressing its energy.

He tossed a glowing potion onto Cocolia. Instantly, her body—on the verge of death—fully recovered.

Kevin's jaw dropped. "What was that?!"

Yuri shrugged. "Elven Water of Life. 10,000 Star Coins per bottle. Wanna buy?"

Kevin's face paled. "TEN THOUSAND?! That's like… 10 Trash Can scratch tickets! No way!"

---

One day had passed since the battle at Everwinter Ridge.

Although Cocolia had regained consciousness, her memories of the time when she was bewitched by the Star Core had completely vanished. She only recalled events from several years ago—before she had chosen to cooperate with it.

After hearing everything from Bronya, Cocolia came to understand the gravity of her mistakes. The realization that she had nearly doomed Belobog weighed heavily on her.

Thus, she chose to step down as Grand Guardian, entrusting the role to Bronya.

She could no longer bear to hold the position—knowing she had almost destroyed Belobog's future with her own hands.

---

[Belobog's Administrative District – Public Square]

After a night's rest, Kevin and March 7th walked leisurely down the street, sipping on milk tea.

As they passed a flower shop, Kevin suddenly stopped, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

"No way!"

March 7th nearly dropped her drink at Kevin's outburst. "What's with you?!"

Kevin grabbed her sleeve, pointing towards a bench. "March! Look at that!"

March 7th followed his gaze and gasped. Right under the bench, gleaming under the soft light, was a shiny wooden treasure chest.

"A treasure chest?! Why is there a treasure chest in the middle of the city?!"

Without hesitation, the two rushed forward and flipped it open.

Inside, five Stellar Jades glowed brightly. As for any additional loot, it seemed someone had already taken them.

Kevin picked up the Stellar Jade, grinning. "There are treasure chests in this city?!"

He looked up at the vast streets of Belobog, his mind racing.

Kevin turned to March 7th—only to find her staring at him with the same realization.

Confirmed by eye contact.

"Let's go! Time to loot!"

The two tore through the streets, hunting for more chests. While most in the Administrative District were simple wooden ones, each one contained five Stellar Jades.

With each find, their excitement only grew.

Eventually, they arrived at a blocked-off commercial street.

Through the iron gates, an exquisite treasure chest sat in plain view.

Kevin's eyes sparkled. Without a word, he drew the Judgment of Shamash, sliced through the gate, and sprinted forward.

The moment they got close, three Flaming Cataclysm Shadows emerged, standing guard.

"Get out of the way!"

Kevin immediately reacted and took these shadow's down with urgency.

March 7th grinned. "Not bad!"

With a single swing of his Judgment of Shamash, Kevin eliminated the final enemy.

Wasting no time, he cracked open the exquisite chest, revealing ten freshly-minted Stellar Jades.

He rubbed his hands together. "Stellar Jade~ Little Stellar Jade~ Come to me~"

Scooping them up, he handed five to March 7th.

March 7th, however, was busy texting on her phone.

Kevin frowned. "Who are you talking to?"

March 7th glanced up. "Dan Heng was asking where we are."

Without warning, Kevin snatched the phone from her hands, stuffed it into his pocket, and threw an arm over her shoulder.

"Forget him! Let's keep looting! We're getting rich today! Hahahaha!"

March 7th considered this for a second—then nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go!"

---

[Administrative District – Mechanical House]

Inside a workshop, Seele, Svarog, and Dan Heng sat around discussing various topics.

Dan Heng casually put away his phone. "They're collecting Stellar Jade."

Seele, who had come to deliver a message from Bronya, immediately sensed something was wrong. Without another word, she bolted from the room.

Svarog and Dan Heng exchanged confused looks.

After a brief moment of contemplation, they simply resumed their conversation about mechanical systems.

---

[Grand Guardian's Office]

This office—once Cocolia's domain—now belonged to Bronya.

As Seele barged in, Bronya was in the middle of discussing her succession ceremony with an official.

Seele burst out, panting. "We have a huge problem! Bronya!"

Seeing her panic, Bronya dismissed the official and turned to her. "Seele, what's wrong?"

Seele took a deep breath. "We need to start collecting Stellar Jade, now!"

Bronya raised an eyebrow. "Why? Isn't that thing basically worthless?"

Then, she remembered—Kevin and the others seemed obsessed with it.

"Wait… do you want to collect some for Kevin and March 7th?"

Seele shook her head. "No! It's Stellar Jade!"

Realizing Bronya didn't know about Yuri, Seele quickly explained everything.

As Bronya processed the flood of information, she froze.

Stellar Jade could be exchanged for Star Coins. Star Coins could be used to buy anything from Yuri.

She suddenly recalled the moment Yuri saved Cocolia—and charged her 100 Stellar Jade for it.

Understanding dawned on her.

Not good! Stellar Jade!

"Guards! Assemble the troops! We need to start collecting Stellar Jade immediately!"

---

[Inside Yuri's Shop]

Yuri and Zhongli sipped tea in quiet contemplation.

A few booths over, Welt stood at a chalkboard, explaining mechanical concepts to Clara, who scribbled notes diligently. She had been coming to the train every morning to study before returning home in the evening.

On the opposite side of the shop, Paimon, Amber, and Ying were devouring food with unmatched enthusiasm.

Ying looked utterly exhausted.

Today, she had helped Kaeya, Lisa, and others clear out the Temple of the Four Winds, finally resolving Mondstadt's crisis.

By the time they returned to the city, evening had fallen, and they were starving.

Ying, having earned 200 Stellar Jades, decided to treat everyone.

Spending 100 Star Coins, she purchased a luxurious seafood platter.

The trio immediately dug in.

Paimon, wielding a tiny hammer designed for cracking open shellfish, worked with relentless determination.

"Hmph! No strength to pry them open, so I'll use force!"

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 24

Yuri and Zhongli were deep in conversation when suddenly, a phone rang.

"Ding-ling-ling~ Ding-ling-ling~"

Yuri pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. "Black Tower" was displayed on the caller ID.

Answering the call, he was immediately met with Black Tower's voice.

"Send me your location. I'm coming to buy something."

And with that, she hung up.

Yuri stared at his screen, raising an eyebrow. "She really does whatever she wants, huh?" But then again, she was a genius. Geniuses operated on their own terms, after all.

With a sigh, Yuri sent his location and returned to his conversation with Zhongli.

Zhongli set his teacup down. "If you're expecting a client, I can return tomorrow."

Yuri waved him off. "No rush. Besides, where were we?"

Zhongli thought for a moment. "We were discussing the concept of rule by man."

"Ah, right." Yuri nodded. "So, what's your take on it?"

Zhongli studied him. "What do you think of human rule?"

Yuri leaned back, recalling the world he had lived in during his past life.

"Human rule has its benefits—it allows people to develop freely, without constraints. But at the same time, it also leads to humans losing themselves, forgetting their original intentions. You've seen those kinds of people, haven't you?"

Zhongli nodded. "Yes. There was once a nation in Teyvat that sought unrestrained progress. But in the end, their ambitions brought disaster upon the land."

Yuri continued. "Exactly. Absolute freedom sounds ideal, but in reality, it invites unchecked greed and chaos. In my homeland, two catastrophic wars nearly wiped out civilization, each claiming tens of millions of lives."

Zhongli listened intently as Yuri went on.

"It wasn't until humanity developed a weapon that could destroy everything, a weapon that guaranteed mutual destruction, that the world found some semblance of stability. And even then, that 'stability' only applied to countries that possessed such weapons. Those without? They were at the mercy of those who did."

Yuri sipped his tea. "Teyvat's gods… They serve a similar role, don't they? Each nation relies on its Archon for protection."

Zhongli's expression shifted. He had his answer.

He had been wrong.

If he relinquished his position as Liyue's god, perhaps nothing would happen for the next hundred years. After all, the current generation of Liyue's Qixing had been personally chosen by him and the Adepti.

But what about the next generation? And the one after that? Who could guarantee that future rulers of Liyue wouldn't fall into corruption?

Yuri set his cup down. "As the saying goes—don't place your fate in someone else's hands."

Zhongli nodded in agreement. "I see. Thank you for your insight."

Yuri smirked. "No problem. It gets boring in here. It's nice to have a good conversation partner."

Just then, the shop's doors swung open.

Yuri turned his head to see Herta striding in, a pink-haired girl following behind her.

"Shopping! Shopping! Shopping! Shopping!"

Herta marched straight to the counter, perched herself on a high stool, placed Stellar Jades onto the exchange scale, and began browsing products on the touchscreen.

Meanwhile, the pink-haired girl was left standing awkwardly behind her.

Himeko, who had been sitting nearby, immediately recognized her.

"Asta."

The girl turned and smiled. "Long time no see, Himeko."

Himeko smiled back. "Are you here to shop too?"

Asta nodded. "Ms. Herta said I could buy anything here, so I figured I'd take a look."

"She wasn't lying," Himeko said with a chuckle.

Yuri approached them. "Himeko, you brought a new customer?"

Asta turned to him. "Hello, my name is Asta ."

Yuri greeted her with a polite smile. "Yuri. I own this place."

Himeko gestured toward him. "Asta, if you don't know what to buy, ask Yuri. He's got everything."

After a moment of thought, Asta asked, "Do you sell battleships?"

Yuri let out a short laugh. "Of course. Come take a look."

He led Asta to the counter, seating her beside Herta. Then, he typed "battleship" into the touchscreen search bar.

Instantly, the screen flooded with options.

The page scroll indicator showed 99+ pages available.

"Take your pick."

Asta's eyes widened with excitement as she scrolled through the list.

Immortal spirit boats. Doomsday warships. Fairy-tale flying castles. Sci-fi Star Destroyers.

As a battleship collector, she was practically vibrating with excitement. She wanted everything.

Yuri, seeing her deep in thought, turned to Herta. "So? What are you buying this time? How's the Qilin Blood research going?"

Herta barely glanced at him. "Still in progress. The composition is ridiculously complex. We haven't cracked all of it yet."

She smirked. "But, we did extract a diluted version. The effects are great—enhances bodily functions, extends human lifespan by around 100 years."

Yuri nodded. "Makes sense. It's Qilin blood. That stuff is pure vitality."

Herta kept scrolling through the shop. "I don't know what I want yet. I'm just browsing."

Yuri crossed his arms. "Take your time. You know how this works. I'll help Asta."

Herta waved him off dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't bother me while I'm shopping."

Zhongli, who had been listening in silence, suddenly spoke up. "Miss Herta. Earlier, you mentioned a potion that extends human lifespan."

Herta turned her gaze toward him, eyes lighting up with interest.

"Oh? You're interesting. Let me take a look at you."

She hopped off her stool, circling around Zhongli like a researcher inspecting a specimen.

"An immortal species, huh? And not just any immortal—thousands of years old. Alive." Her smirk deepened. "Fascinating."

"You want the potion?" she asked.

Zhongli nodded. "Yes. What's the price?"

Herta's smirk grew devious.

"No charge. Talking about money ruins the fun. Let's do research instead."

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Oi. You sound like a shady salesman."

Herta rolled her eyes. "Tsk. I'm asking, not forcing."

Seeing Zhongli's contemplative look, she made a compromise.

"Fine. Give me some of your hair, blood, and skin tissue, and I'll give you 10 bottles of the potion. Deal?"

Zhongli considered it for a moment—then nodded. "Agreed."

His golden eyes flashed as he spoke.

"The contract is made. Anyone who breaks their word shall be buried in stone."

Zhongli and Herta completed their transaction with satisfaction, and Herta carefully collected Zhongli's fur and blood, content with his haul.

In return, Zhongli obtained a byproduct of the Black Tower's research on Qilin's blood—an extraordinary potion capable of extending an ordinary person's lifespan by nearly a hundred years.

After the exchange, Herta leaned back on his stool, returning to his shopping. Zhongli carefully stored the ten bottles of potion, bid farewell to Yuri, Welt, and Himeko, and then stepped through a portal back to Teyvat.

Before leaving, Yuri handed Zhongli a personal portal, a gesture reserved for "big customers." This way, he could conveniently return whenever he needed, and given Liyue's wealth of Stellar Jade, it was a practical arrangement for both sides.

Through the portal, Zhongli arrived back in Teyvat.

The moment his feet touched the ground, his form dissolved into golden light, soaring through the sky toward Liyue Harbor.

Liyue Harbor was bustling as usual, but suddenly, the skies darkened.

"What's going on? Why is it suddenly so dim?"

"I don't know. Quick, let's get home and bring in the laundry—it looks like it's going to rain."

"Wait… doesn't this feel familiar?" One of the citizens hesitated, staring at the sky.

"Now that you mention it… Isn't this exactly how it looks every year when the Rite of Descension begins?"

"Hiss…!!!"

A golden dragon descended from the heavens.

Zhongli, in his true form, enveloped ten bottles of the diluted Qilin Blood potion in divine energy.

"This is a medicine that prolongs life," his voice resounded across the city. "It is a gift for those who have made great contributions to Liyue."

With a flick of his claws, ten golden streaks shot out in different directions, each one finding its destined recipient in various key locations across Liyue—Qunyu Pavilion, Yujing Terrace, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Bubu Pharmacy, the Qianyan Army's base, and more.

In the Qunyu Pavilion, Ningguang held the potion in her delicate hands, her expression a rare mixture of surprise and joy.

She hadn't expected such an invaluable gift from the Emperor himself.

Baishi, standing by her side, couldn't hide her admiration. "Congratulations, Lady Ningguang, on receiving such a precious elixir."

There was no jealousy in her tone. To her, Lady Ningguang deserved this more than anyone—after all, she had worked tirelessly to govern Liyue and ensure its prosperity.

At Bubu Pharmacy, Baizhu slumped in his chair, his arms limp at his sides. In one hand, he still clutched an empty potion bottle. His vision was blurred with tears.

For years, his illness had tormented him. Now, it was gone. Just like that.

"It's over…" His voice cracked as he wiped his eyes. "I don't have to suffer anymore."

Qiqi, watching him with her usual detached curiosity, gently tugged on his sleeve.

"Mr. Bai… don't… cry… Qiqi… will stay… with you…"

Baizhu snapped out of his daze, his lips curling into a rare, genuine smile. He reached out and softly patted Qiqi's hat.

"I'm fine, Qiqi. The Emperor granted me a miracle." He took a deep breath, regaining his composure. "Come, we have work to do. There are still many patients waiting for us. We must not let His kindness go to waste."

Qiqi nodded slowly, then trotted off to retrieve the medicine box. Baizhu slung it over his back, took her tiny hand in his, and together they stepped out onto the streets of Liyue, ready to fulfill their duty once more.

Meanwhile, in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao lay sprawled on Zhongli's personal rocking chair, swaying lazily back and forth.

"Ugh, I'm so bored!" she whined, flailing her arms dramatically.

Just then, a golden light flickered in front of her. A potion bottle floated toward her and gently landed in her hands.

Hu Tao blinked, staring at it.

"Hah! Even I got one?!"

She twirled the bottle in her hands with a mischievous grin before carefully tucking it away.

Just as she was about to celebrate further, the front doors creaked open.

"Master, I am back."

Hu Tao's eyes widened. "Zhongli!"

She practically flew off the rocking chair and rushed over, circling around him like an excited child. Her gaze scanned him up and down, checking for any injuries.

"Where have you been these past two days? I wanted to ask you about an ancient burial ritual!" she huffed, hands on her hips.

Zhongli walked past her, settling into his rocking chair with practiced ease. "I was visiting a friend."

"Ohhh, mysterious!" Hu Tao chuckled, then suddenly remembered the potion in her possession. She eagerly pulled it out and waved it in front of him.

"Look, look! The Emperor gave me this super magical elixir! Pretty cool, huh?"

Zhongli raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "I didn't expect the Hall Master to receive one as well. Congratulations."

Pleased with his response, Hu Tao smirked and patted him on the shoulder. "You sure know how to talk, don'tcha?"

She paused, then glanced at the potion thoughtfully.

"Hey… Why don't we split it? The Emperor said one bottle extends your life by a hundred years, right? So if we each drink half, we get fifty years each!"

Before Zhongli could respond, she shoved the bottle into his hands and dashed inside. Moments later, she returned with two cups and excitedly poured the potion into them, ensuring not a single drop was wasted.

She grinned, lifting her glass. "Come on, Zhongli! Let's toast!"

Zhongli smiled as he raised his cup. "Alright. Together."

As they drank, Zhongli discreetly used his divine power to shift the potion entirely into Hu Tao's cup. He swallowed only air, watching with amusement as she downed the liquid.

Hu Tao smacked her lips and burped. "Hiccup! Why do I feel like I drank way more than I should have? This cup wasn't that big…"

She peered suspiciously into the empty glass.

Zhongli chuckled. "Perhaps it's the nature of a miraculous elixir."

Hu Tao thought for a moment. "Maybe… Hah, whatever! So, feeling any different?"

"Master, you are still young. Naturally, you wouldn't notice a change. But I feel a warmth spreading through me."

Hu Tao beamed. "See? Told ya it was a good idea!"

Then she clapped her hands together. "Oh! Come with me to Wuwang Hill tonight! There's a ritual I wanna discuss with you."

Zhongli leaned back, opening his fan. "Alright. Just come get me when it's time."

Satisfied, Hu Tao cheered and skipped off to prepare for the evening.

Zhongli watched her go, an inexplicable warmth filling his heart.

"She truly has grown up." he thought to himself with a quiet smile.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 25

On the streets of Liyue Harbor, Feng Ji, the chief instructor of the Qianyan Army, led his troops in maintaining order.

With Lord Yan's arrival, martial law had been imposed to prevent disturbances. Feng Ji's sharp eyes scanned the crowd, searching for anything amiss.

A sudden gasp from the crowd caught his attention.

"Look! It's the magic medicine bestowed by the Emperor!"

Feng Ji's head snapped up, and his eyes widened as he saw the glowing potion drifting toward him. With steady hands, he caught it and immediately bowed his head in gratitude.

"Thank you, Emperor, for this gift!"

The surrounding Qianyan soldiers cheered for him. As their chief instructor, Feng Ji commanded deep respect—not just as a teacher of combat, but as a warrior who always led from the front. He had earned their loyalty through blood and battle.

"Congratulations, Commander!"

"Boss, you're treating us to a feast now, right?"

"Yeah, Wanmin Hall sounds good!"

Feng Ji laughed heartily. "Of course, we should celebrate! But since we all have different shifts, let's do this—on my next day off, I'll bring food from Wanmin Hall to the barracks, and we'll feast together. How about that?"

His soldiers cheered in agreement. As long as there was good food, they were happy.

Feng Ji looked at the potion in his hand and, without hesitation, downed it in one gulp.

A strange sensation coursed through his body—his skin tingled, his muscles pulsed, and an overwhelming energy surged within him.

Gasps erupted from the crowd.

"Oh my god! It's true! This potion really grants youth! Look at Commander Feng! He looks like a young man again!"

"What?! Are you saying Lord Yan lied to us before?!"

"No, no! I misspoke! I was just too excited!"

Feng Ji examined his hands, noticing how the calluses had softened, his skin appearing younger. A soldier hurriedly handed him a bronze mirror.

Feng Ji peered into it—and was stunned.

He saw his reflection, not as the hardened warrior he had become, but as the seventeen-year-old version of himself.

A miracle, indeed.

Word of Feng Ji's transformation spread like wildfire through Liyue Harbor. This was the first instance of someone publicly drinking the potion, and its effects were undeniable.

The people of Liyue became even more devoted to their home. The impact was immediate—Northland Bank suffered a massive withdrawal crisis. Citizens rushed to take back their Mora, declaring that entrusting their wealth to a foreign bank was disloyal to Liyue.

Upon hearing of this, Ningguang acted swiftly. Before any other merchants could react, she established Liyue Bank—a financial institution owned entirely by Liyue.

The citizens wasted no time transferring their funds. Meanwhile, the Northland Bank staff could only watch helplessly as their business crumbled.

Citizens of Liyue Harbor: "This is necessary!"

Zhongli's potion had done more than extend lives—it had cemented loyalty.

---

Meanwhile, in Belobog, inside Bronya's office…

Bronya sat at her desk, her expression dark with frustration.

"It's over… It's completely over… The Stellar Jade is gone!"

Seele sighed beside her. "It's not all bad. At least we managed to recover a good portion of it."

Just earlier, Bronya and Seele, along with Gepard and Pela, had led a squad of Silvermane Guards to the commercial district.

But they had been too late. By the time they arrived, Kevin and March 7 had already looted half the area.

Empty treasure chests were scattered across the street, the remains of a grand heist.

Even worse—there had been three luxurious treasure chests. One of them had contained a staggering thirty Stellar Jades.

The moment Kevin and March 7th saw the real enforcers arrive, they gave a casual wave, whistled innocently, and ran off.

Kevin & March 7th: "Hehehe! Jackpot!"

Realizing they might actually be in trouble, the two girls disappeared into the crowd, lying low to avoid Bronya's potential wrath.

Gepard, ever the voice of reason, spoke up. "Great Guardian, we did reclaim the district. And we wiped out all the interdimensional monsters in the process."

Bronya exhaled, her frustration easing.

"You're right," she admitted. "Logically speaking, I should be grateful to Kevin and March 7th."

After all, treasure chests were free for the taking. Whoever got to them first had the right to claim them.

And in the process of looting, Kevin and March 7th had also cleared out more than half the monsters.

"Yes," Bronya muttered, composing herself. "Indeed."

She took a deep breath and turned to Geppard and Pela, her gaze firm.

"I have an important task for both of you."

Gepard and Pela straightened, awaiting orders.

"Gepard, after the succession ceremony, you'll lead a squad to recover Stellar Jades. Search every treasure chest. Don't miss a single one."

"Pela, work with the citizens to exchange Stellar Jades. Set a fair price—don't exploit anyone."

Both of them saluted. "Understood."

They departed to carry out their duties, leaving Bronya alone with Seele.

Bronya looked up at her. "Seele, after the ceremony, will you come with me to the Astral Express?"

Seele nodded without hesitation. "Of course. Natasha is also heading out for supplies today. I'll go tell her—we can go together."

Bronya smiled in gratitude. "Thank you."

Seele left the office, and Bronya glanced at the box holding the remaining Stellar Jades.

Luckily, Seele had acted quickly and alerted her in time.

Otherwise, Kevin and March 7th might have walked away with all 800 Stellar Jades.

---

The succession ceremony soon began.

Cocolia took the stage first, explaining the dangers of the Stellaron and her own injuries from battle. She formally announced that she was stepping down, appointing Bronya as the new Supreme Guardian.

Bronya stepped forward and delivered a speech, one that resonated deeply with the people of Belobog.

Her leadership, intelligence, and courage had already won their trust. There was no opposition—only applause and cheers.

Bronya took a moment to thank Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng for their invaluable help.

Meanwhile, the two culprits—Kevin and March 7th—were hiding near a speaker in the city, eavesdropping.

Hearing their names, they grinned and high-fived.

"Hey, we're heroes!"

The ceremony was simple and efficient, just as Bronya preferred. No unnecessary formalities—just a speech and a promise for the future.

---

Inside the train.

Asta had chosen the battleship she wanted to buy, but she didn't have enough Stellar Jade to complete the purchase.

[Product: Galaxy-Class Battleship

Product Introduction: A Galaxy-Class Battleship capable of accommodating one million crew members. Fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and featuring an integrated large-scale star-tier dimensional foil.

Price: 1 million Star Coins.]

Asta turned to Yuri with a pleading look.

"Yuri, I really want this, but I don't have enough Stellar Jade. Can you hold it for me? I'll gather the funds when I get back."

Yuri smiled and nodded. Among all his customers, Asta was probably the only one interested in something like this.

Besides, with enough Star Coins, producing even a hundred of these was no issue.

"Alright, I'll keep it for you. Let's add each other's contact info—just reach out when you're ready to buy."

Overjoyed, Asta quickly pulled out her mobile device and added Yuri's contact details.

"Thank you, Yuri!"

Yuri shook his head dismissively. "Don't mention it."

With that, Asta stepped aside to begin gathering funds. Yuri turned around and took a glance at Herta.

"So, still haven't found what you want to buy?"

Herta shook her head. "I did, but I don't have enough money. Can you give me a discount?"

Yuri spread his hands. "Sorry, small business—I don't sell on credit."

Herta clicked her tongue, giving him an unimpressed look.

"Stingy."

After a moment of consideration, she reached into her pocket and pulled out 10,000 Star Coins to purchase a probe.

[Product: Star Spirit Probe

Product Description: A Protoss "Builder" unit capable of using resources to project materialized buildings.

Price: 10,000 Star Coins.]

Yuri glanced at the small, round probe floating beside Herta, its lights blinking as it scanned its surroundings.

"What are you buying that for?"

Herta patted the probe's smooth, bald head. "I'm going to modify it. I need a mechanical assistant."

The probe chirped in response, looking up at its new master.

Herta hopped off the stool and called over to Asta, who was still standing nearby.

"Asta, let's go back."

Asta snapped out of her thoughts and followed her out of Yuri's shop.

---

The starship carrying Herta, Asta, and the others docked at the Astral Space Station.

Without hesitation, Hertatook the probe straight to her lab.

Asta remained outside the door, only to hear high-pitched, robotic screams shortly after.

"Drip!!!! Drip!!!"

Half an hour later, Herta emerged, carrying what appeared to be the same small probe.

Asta blinked. "Miss Herta… what exactly did you modify? It looks exactly the same."

Herta smirked and patted the probe's head. "Idiot No. 1, store that flowerpot."

Idiot No. 1 was the name she had given the probe—because, well, it only had a head.

Obediently, the probe emitted a beam of light at the flowerpot, which visibly shrank and floated into its body.

Herta explained, "I upgraded its intelligence, added a folding space inside, and installed a shrinking prism that can reduce objects."

Idiot No. 1 gave an excited beep, twirling in the air around Herta.

"This way, I won't have to waste time looking for materials when I run experiments. Idiot No. 1 can collect and store them for me."

Asta was amazed.

What a convenient tool! She wanted one too. She imagined using it to store cosmetics, clothes, jewelry, documents—anything she didn't want to carry around. Just leave it with Idiot No. 1 and retrieve it whenever needed.

Herta noticed Asta's longing gaze and smirked. "Go find Yuri and buy a probe. I'll modify it for you when you get back."

Asta's eyes lit up. "Really? Miss Herta!"

Herta nodded. "Yeah, it's nothing complicated. Now go on—I'm taking Idiot No. 1 with me."

With that, she departed for the starship platform, preparing to visit her main body.

After she left, Astacontacted Himeko, asking her to buy a probe on her behalf. Himeko agreed and made the purchase.

---

Back on the train.

After Herta and Asta had left, Yuri scanned the area and suddenly frowned.

Wait. Why was Silver Wolf still here? Hadn't Kafka already left?

He turned, and sure enough, Silver Wolf had occupied an entire booth. At some point, she had set up a massive screen on the table.

She sat cross-legged on the sofa, a pillow supporting her back, wearing headphones and gripping a controller in her hands, completely immersed in a game.

Muttering to herself, she grinned. "Ha! Take this! Dodge! You little tiger—how ridiculous!"

Yuri walked over, curious. Just as he approached, Silver Wolf slammed her controller onto the table.

"What the hell?! What is this stupid mechanism? I refuse to let some low-level Tiger Vanguard beat me!"

Yuri pulled off her headphones.

Silver Wolf looked up, irritated. "What do you think you're doing? Hands off my gear!"

Yuri sighed. "Kafka is gone. Why are you still here?"

Silver Wolf stretched and yawned. "Elio said I'm staying here permanently. What, you gonna kick me out?"

Yuri shrugged. "Not really. But why did Elio tell you to stay?"

Silver Wolf picked up her controller, casually leaning back. "No idea. That's just what he said. Oh, by the way, do you have any rooms available? Can I rent one?"

Yuri shook his head. "I don't have any—ask Himeko."

Silver Wolf groaned but got up and left to find Himeko. A short while later, she returned.

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Well? Did you get one?"

She sighed, flopping back onto the sofa. "Nope. She said all the rooms are full. Even Kevin has to share."

She looked around the booth, eyes gleaming. "Hey, can I just rent this space?"

Yuri blinked. "You don't want an actual room? You're just going to live here?"

Silver Wolf nodded. "Back at the base, I sleep on the couch in the living room most of the time anyway. This isn't much different. So, deal?"

Yuri chuckled. "Fine. No rent. Stay if you want."

Grinning, Silver Wolf clapped him on the shoulder. "Now that's loyalty! If you ever need help, just call me—I'll see what I can do."

Then, she summoned her keyboard and began modifying the booth using Ether Editing, settling in like it was home.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 26

At night, in Yuri's shop.

Kevin, March 7th, and Dan Heng returned to the Astral Express through the portal.

The moment Kevin arrived, he sprinted straight to the bar, dragging a large black garbage bag behind him. The sudden movement startled Paimon, who had been pouring drinks.

"Kevin! Why are you running so fast? You scared me!" she yelped.

Kevin chuckled, dropping the heavy bag with a dramatic thud and bowing playfully. "Sorry, sorry, it's urgent."

Paimon took a sip of her drink through a straw. "Urgent? What's the big deal? Need help?"

Kevin waved his hand dismissively. "No, no, I got this."

Without another word, he reached into the bag and pulled out handfuls of Stellar Jade, dumping them onto the exchange scale. The gleaming gems piled up, and the star coins on the other side of the scale quickly overflowed, spilling across the bar counter.

Paimon's eyes widened. So many star coins! How much food could she buy with this? One roasted chicken, two roasted chickens, three roasted chickens…

Behind Kevin, March 7th stood patiently with a smaller bag, waiting her turn to exchange.

Before long, they had converted all their Stellar Jade. In total, the two had earned 50,000 star coins—equivalent to 500 Stellar Jades. That meant each of them had exchanged 250 Stellar Jades for 25,000 star coins.

Kevin, satisfied, dampened his fingers under the bar's faucet and gleefully began counting his star coins one by one.

Just then, Bronya, Seele, and Natasha stepped through the portal—and were immediately met with this scene.

Bronya nearly fainted on the spot.

It wasn't the Stellar Jade itself—those had always been ownerless, fair game for anyone. But… did Kevin really have to carry them in a bag that had "Belobog" printed in bold letters across the front?!

She recognized that bag instantly. It was the same type used for disposing of old documents outside her office—the ones meant for burning.

Where in the world did Kevin even get this bag?!

Before she could say anything, Yuri approached.

"Natasha, Seele, Bronya," he greeted casually.

Natasha smiled. "Sorry to trouble you again, Yuri."

After a brief round of pleasantries, Yuri asked, "Here to shop?"

Bronya nodded and pulled out a box containing Stellar Jade. "Yes. Seele and Natasha told me that I could exchange Stellar Jade for supplies here, so…"

She hesitated for a moment, then remembered something important.

"By the way, last time you treated my mother, I believe you used a potion. That was 100 Stellar Jade, correct?"

Yuri nodded. "Yes, that potion is worth 100 Stellar Jade."

Bronya took out 100 Stellar Jades and handed them to him. "Thank you for saving my mother."

Yuri smiled and turned toward Paimon. "Paimon, come here."

Paimon, still daydreaming about her future feast, snapped out of it and flew over. "What do you need, Yuri?"

"Take Bronya through the shopping process," Yuri instructed.

Paimon frowned. "No way! This is your shop! You help the customers!"

Yuri smirked. "I'll give you a roast chicken."

Paimon, who had started to float away in protest, froze mid-air.

"Two!" she countered, holding up two fingers.

Yuri chuckled. "Deal."

At once, Paimon dropped her drink and flew over to Bronya. "Hello! My name's Paimon. Let me walk you through how to shop here. Trust me, buying things from Yuri is a process. First, you have to exchange the scales…"

Yuri watched as Paimon enthusiastically led Bronya away. He smirked to himself. Paimon was easy to handle.

Still, he thought to himself, he really needed to find a shop assistant. He wanted to step out and explore the world, but he couldn't leave the shop unattended.

After some consideration, he finally decided on the perfect candidate.

It's decided.

Noelle.

He grabbed a sheet of paper, quickly wrote a letter, and sealed it in an envelope.

"Paimon! Paimon!"

Paimon had just finished guiding Bronya and was about to sip her drink when she pouted in frustration. "What now?!"

Yuri placed three "Super Delicious Roast Chickens" on the table. "Take this letter to Jean."

The moment Paimon saw the roasted chicken, her irritation vanished. She grabbed the envelope with a beaming smile. "Alright! Wait here, I'll be right back!"

As soon as Paimon left, Ying walked over from the next booth.

"Yuri, those three roast chickens are for Paimon, right?"

Yuri nodded. "Yeah, why?"

Ying chuckled, picked up all three roast chickens, and strolled toward the next room. Without hesitation, she tore off a drumstick and took a bite.

"Mmm~ Free food always tastes the best!"

Paimon returned moments later and zoomed toward Yuri. "Yuri, I delivered the letter! Now, where's my roast chicken?"

Yuri sipped his tea. "Didn't Ying already take them?"

Paimon froze. "WHAT?!"

Paimon dashed to the next booth and found Ying happily munching away.

"Ying! Let go of my roast chicken!"

Ying swallowed her bite, grinning. "What's wrong with me eating your food? You've eaten plenty of mine before."

Paimon hesitated—she had no argument.

Sighing dramatically, she sat down, grabbed a drumstick, and joined in. "Fine, but I get the last one!"

---

Meanwhile, in Jean's office at the Knights of Favonius headquarters in Mondstadt…

After reading Yuri's letter, Jean called for Noelle.

Noelle arrived promptly. "Captain Jean, you needed me?"

Jean smiled warmly. "Yes, I have a favor to ask."

Hearing that Jean needed her, Noelle instantly straightened up, eyes shining with determination.

Jean chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Don't be so nervous—it's nothing too serious. I just need you to work as a clerk at a friend's shop."

Noelle blinked in confusion. "A… shopkeeper?"

Jean nodded. "Yes, a shopkeeper."

Noelle wasn't entirely sure why Jean was asking her to do this, but she didn't question it. Captain Jean was an exceptional knight, and she was merely an apprentice. Whatever Jean needed, she would do.

Most importantly—Captain Jean needed her! That alone was enough to ignite her fighting spirit.

Jean, seeing her enthusiasm, smiled. "Good. Let's go. I'll take you there now."

With that, Jean led Noelle through the portal, heading straight to Yuri's shop.

---

Bronya's side.

She was browsing the mall, carefully managing her budget of 70,000 Star Coins.

Every item she looked at—machinery, food, weapon schematics—was something Belobog desperately needed. The city was impoverished, lacking even the most basic necessities.

Bronya spotted Clara, who was just getting out of school, and borrowed a piece of draft paper and a pen. She crouched down and began scribbling calculations, doing her best to maximize what she could buy with her limited funds.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the black garbage bag at Kevin's feet.

Regret hit her like a truck.

"I'm short by 500 Stellar Jade! What am I even doing?!"

She sighed, frustrated but resigned, and continued shopping.

---

Just then, a commotion broke out nearby.

"Everyone! Look over here! I'm opening the bucket!"

Bronya turned her head toward the voice and saw Kevin standing in an open space next to a booth. In front of him were ten brand-new trash cans, neatly arranged.

Curious, she frowned. "What is Kevin doing?"

March 7th, who had just finished washing her hands after eating roast chicken, explained, "That's unboxing—a lottery draw."

She gestured toward the trash cans. "Kevin bought these from Yuri. They're scratch-card trash cans, 1,000 Star Coins each. If you're lucky, you can get something way more valuable than what you paid."

Bronya raised an eyebrow. "There's something like that?"

Inside the store, everyone's attention was now fixed on Kevin.

The two little ones, Klee and Hook, stopped playing and ran up to Kevin, standing in a row to watch.

"Big Bro Kevin, what are you doing?" Klee asked curiously.

Kevin smirked. "I'm drawing a lottery. You two should step back—the light might be too bright. I don't want it to hurt your eyes."

Hearing that, the two obediently took a few steps back but still stood on their toes, peering into the trash cans with wide, excited eyes.

Kevin clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the cans before lighting three sticks of incense and praying.

March 7th stared at him, unimpressed. "Kevin, stop with the superstitions. It won't change your luck."

Dan Heng nodded. "If it's meant to be, it'll happen. If it's not, you won't get it no matter how hard you try."

Before Kevin could respond, Ying chimed in with a smirk. "You guys don't get it. There's a metaphysical aspect to the lottery."

Kevin shot her a thumbs-up. "A true comrade!"

Ying folded her arms. "Kevin, trust me. Go for ten draws at once—at least that way, there's a guaranteed hit."

Kevin didn't hesitate. "Alright, ten in a row!"

The moment he made the draw, the entire store exploded in golden light. Klee and Hook, caught in the glow, quickly covered their eyes.

As the light faded, everyone leaned in to check the results.

Kevin grabbed Yuri's sleeve, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Yuri, help me check if I hit anything big!"

Yuri examined the contents and burst into laughter.

"Three Musang King durians, three cans of Super Herring Pro Max, one regular samurai sword, a 10-ton delivery card for high-quality rice, one Manchu-Han banquet set meal, and… one laptop."

Yuri laughed even harder. "Hahahaha! Kevin, you might wanna stop now. That's a total loss! Hahahaha!"

Kevin collapsed onto the floor, looking utterly devastated. "Noooooo!!!"

March 7th shook her head in sympathy. "See? I told you this was a waste of money, but you wouldn't listen. Now you just threw away 10,000 Star Coins."

She picked up a Musang King durian and turned to Yuri. "Hey, is this durian any good?"

Yuri nodded. "Of course. This is top-tier durian—the best you can get."

March 7th's eyes gleamed. She remembered the durian she had once eaten at Natasha's clinic and licked her lips unconsciously.

"Seele! Lend me your knife! Let's eat some durian!"

Seele, always ready for food, grabbed her scythe and followed March 7th into the kitchen.

March 7th placed the durian on the chopping board, and with a few swift cuts, Seele split it open.

Klee and Hook scurried over, climbing up the kitchen counter in excitement.

Klee peered curiously at the fruit. "March 7th, what's this?"

March 7th placed a piece of the golden pulp onto a plate. "This is durian! Don't lean on the counter—come over and try it!"

The two little ones eagerly took their portions.

Klee sniffed it and immediately pinched her nose. "It's rotten! Don't eat it, Hook!"

Just then, Yuri walked over with two more durians in his arms. "Klee, that's just how durian smells. Try it—it's really good."

Klee hesitated, staring at the fruit, conflicted. But when she saw Hook munching happily, she finally gathered the courage to take a small bite.

Her eyes lit up. "It's delicious!"

Yuri chuckled, ruffling Klee's hair. "If you like it, eat as much as you want."

He cut open the remaining durians, and together, he and March 7th distributed the pieces to everyone.

After they finished, Klee grabbed a plate and ran over to Kevin, holding it out like an offering. "Kevin, eat some durian! It's really yummy!"

Kevin, still mourning his lost Stellar Jade, felt a little better seeing Klee's bright smile.

"Thanks, Klee."

She grinned. "Kevin won't be sad anymore after eating something delicious! Mama says if you smile more, good things will come!"

Kevin chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Alright, alright. I'm not sad anymore."

Then, with newfound determination, Kevin stood up and slammed another 10,000 Star Coins onto the counter. "I refuse to accept this! I WILL hit the jackpot today!"

Everyone, still eating durian, turned to watch the spectacle unfold in front of them.

March 7th took another bite and nudged Seele. "Wanna bet Kevin sinks again?"

Seele licked her fingers. "No need. Didn't he just fail miserably?"


Welt let out a long sigh. "It seems I'll need to have a talk with Kevin about gambling addiction."

Meanwhile, Klee and Hook continued cheering Kevin on.

"Go, Kevin! You're the best!"

"Show 'em what the Star Honor Team can do! Let the Mole Gang's might be known!"

Kevin patted Klee's head and prepared for another draw.

Once again, the entire store erupted in light.

This time, everyone was ready—sunglasses were slipped on in advance.

March 7th even made sure Seele, Natasha, and Bronya had their own.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 27

A flash of light streaked through the room, and Yuri's jaw nearly hit the floor. His sunglasses slipped off his face and clattered onto the ground.

"No way… What kind of luck do you even have?!"

Kevin looked at the ten items that had materialized on the ground. Five of them were Musang King durians, but the other five were unfamiliar to him.

"Well? Did I hit the jackpot?" Kevin asked, tilting his head.

Yuri nodded in disbelief, picking up a small object that looked like a propeller.

"This is called a Bamboo Dragonfly. Put it on your head, and it'll let you fly freely just by thinking about it."

Kevin wasted no time, sticking the Bamboo Dragonfly onto his head. The tiny propeller started to spin, and within seconds, he lifted off the ground, floating effortlessly in midair.

Kevin grinned, waving his arms as if he were swimming. "Haha! This is amazing!"

March 7th watched in awe, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Kevin! Let me try it too!"

Laughing, Kevin landed and handed her the Bamboo Dragonfly.

Himeko and Welt, who had been silently watching, were at a loss for words. Something so small could make a person fly? Just like that?

Kevin returned to Yuri, who was now holding a glass-encased sphere of energy.

"Take a good look at this," Yuri said, presenting it to the group.

Welt's eyes widened. "Is that… the core of a star? I've never seen one this stable before."

Yuri nodded. "Bingo. This is a star core. But unlike most, this one is completely stable and can be directly implanted into the human body."

He turned back to Kevin with a smirk. "Congratulations, Kevin. You're about to get a major power-up."

Kevin's eyes lit up. "Oh wow! A stable star core that can be implanted?! That's insane!"

He eagerly took the star core, examining it with fascination.

"Go ahead," Yuri instructed. "Just crush the glass."

Kevin didn't hesitate. He squeezed the sphere, and the fragile glass casing shattered instantly. The star core shot forward, merging directly into Kevin's body. It settled near his original star core, radiating a gentle energy.

Himeko watched anxiously. Even though Yuri had assured them there was no risk, a star core was still known as the "cancer of all worlds."

"Kevin, are you alright? Do you feel anything strange?" she asked, her tone full of concern.

Kevin put his hands on his hips and grinned. "Nope! Actually, I feel a whole lot stronger."

Himeko let out a relieved sigh. "That's good to hear."

As for the remaining three items, they consisted of a storage ring, a high-grade elven essence, and a voucher for 100 tons of premium rice.

After some thought, Kevin decided to sell both the 10-ton rice voucher he had obtained earlier and the 100-ton voucher to Bronya for a cheap price of 500 star coins.

"I don't really need these, so better to sell them to someone who does," Kevin reasoned.

As for the five Musang King durians, Kevin generously waved his hand. "Alright, everyone gets a share!"

Paimon clapped her hands excitedly. Next to Kevin himself, she was undoubtedly the happiest whenever he unboxed something. After all, anything edible meant she could have a taste too.

---

Meanwhile, Klee had been watching Kevin fly around with the Bamboo Dragonfly. Her eyes shone with excitement.

She tugged on the hem of Yuri's coat. "Big brother Yuri~ Klee wants to open a box too!"

Yuri, never one to refuse Klee, immediately agreed. "Alright."

He purchased a scratch-off lottery ticket from the system and placed it in front of her.

Everyone gathered around, eager to see what Klee would get.

Standing on tiptoe, Klee grabbed the lid of the trash can-themed lottery box. "Alright, here we go!"

With a dramatic flick of her wrist, she peeled it open and clasped her hands together. "Klee wants a reward that lets her fly and play with Klee!"

A golden light flashed, and an enormous plush-like creature appeared—a "Dodoco" the size of a person, complete with a pair of feathery white wings.

Klee gasped in delight. "Wow! It's a flying Dodoco!"

The Dodoco waddled over, scooped Klee up with its tiny arms, and placed her on top of its head.

"Dodoco, and Hook! Hook is also a good friend!" Klee giggled.

As if understanding her words, Dodoco turned and gently lifted Hook onto its back as well.

Then, with a powerful flap of its wings, it took off, soaring around the shop with the two girls riding happily on top.

Just then, Jean entered the shop alongside Noelle—just in time to see the scene unfold.

Jean blinked. "Is that… a flying Dodoco?"

Klee spotted Jean and directed Dodoco to land in front of her.

"Master Jean~" she called out cheerfully.

Sliding down Dodoco like it was a slide, Klee landed right into Jean's arms.

Jean caught her effortlessly and sighed, tapping her forehead. "Klee! Be careful!"

Klee rubbed her forehead and grinned. "I know, Master Jean!"

Jean turned to look at the giant Dodoco, who waved at her with an innocent smile.

There was no doubt—this was definitely something Yuri had given to Klee.

After all, everyone present knew that Yuri absolutely doted on Klee, Hook, and Clara.

Simply put, Yuri was a total "daughter slave."

Yuri had no shame in admitting it. Raising kids was the greatest joy in the universe.

Klee beamed. "Master Jean, can I take Dodoco home?"

Jean considered it for a moment. The Knights had been busy lately. Today, she and Ying had finally found and repaired the Holy Lyre, and tomorrow they'd be heading off to rescue Dvalin.

She wouldn't have much time to keep an eye on Klee.

Having Dodoco around to accompany her might not be a bad idea.

Jean nodded. "Alright."

Klee cheered and grabbed Hook's hand. "Hook! Let's go play at the Knights' headquarters!"

Hook eagerly agreed. She had visited Mondstadt once before with Yuri and had been enchanted by its beauty.

With that, Dodoco carried Klee and Hook through the portal, vanishing into the night.

Only then did Jean turn her attention back to Yuri.

"Yuri, this is Noelle."

Noelle stood straight, giving a polite knightly salute. "Hello, Mr. Yuri. I'm Noelle, reporting for duty as a clerk under Captain Jean's orders."

Yuri looked at the serious young knight and smiled. "Hello, Noelle. Don't be nervous. Let's go over your job and benefits first."

"Your working hours will be from 8 AM to 6 PM, with a two-hour break at noon. You'll be responsible for assisting customers. I'll have Paimon walk you through the process later."

"As for salary, it's 5,000 star coins per month. Meals are included, but accommodation isn't. Does that sound fair?"

Noelle immediately shook her head. "No, no, no! Noelle doesn't need a salary! This is my knightly duty!"

Yuri chuckled and turned to Jean. "What do you think?"

Jean didn't hesitate. "She's taking it."

She repeated Yuri's offer before Noelle could argue again.

After all, it was only right to be paid for one's work. Noelle was simply too selfless—always helping others for free in Mondstadt, which had only led to people relying on her too much.

This time, Jean would make sure she was properly compensated.

---

Seeing that Jean had spoken, Noelle had no choice but to agree.

"O-okay..."

Yuri nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, then you'll start working tomorrow. It's getting late now, so go back and get some rest. See you then."

With that, everyone in the store dispersed.

Bronya, Seele, and Natasha returned to Belobog through the portal, pleased with their purchases.

Jean, Ying, Noelle, and Paimon headed back to Teyvat.

The Astral Express crew retreated to their rooms for the night.

March 7th stretched lazily. "Ahhh~ Now that I think about it, nothing beats sleeping in my own bed."

Kevin, finishing the last bite of durian, let out a content burp. "Walk, walk, sleep, sleep."

Kevin turned toward March 7th's room, ready to follow.

March 7th immediately stopped him. "Kevin! Don't you dare come in smelling like that! You reek of durian!"

Kevin smirked and made a face. "Lululu, I want in, I want in."

He darted toward March 7th's room, and she bolted after him. "Kevin! Get back here!"

Himeko, Welt, and Dan Heng watched the scene unfold and exchanged amused glances before heading to their own quarters.

Meanwhile, Yuri washed up and got some rest.

---

Belobog


Back in Belobog, Bronya immediately got to work. She stacked bundles of Star Coins onto the shimmering bubbles covering her purchases. As soon as the transactions were complete, the bubbles popped, and a massive influx of supplies poured out.

Gepard, who had been waiting with the Silvermane Guards, stepped forward to oversee the distribution.

Rice, vegetables, flour, fruits, meat, mining equipment, industrial machinery—an overwhelming number of goods materialized.

Thankfully, the mechanical settlement was well-prepared. Bronya quickly found Svarog and requested a battalion of mechs to assist with transport.

Finally, she pulled out the high-quality rice redemption card she had bought from Kevin. The moment she tore it apart, a magic circle formed in her hands, and an endless cascade of rice flowed from it.

Seele, thinking fast, grabbed a set of bags to collect the rice before it scattered everywhere.

After two intense hours, every last supply had been moved to the warehouse.

Bronya exhaled, relieved.

With this shipment, Belobog's struggles would ease considerably. They had fought both hunger and the horrors of the Fragmentum for so long, but now, at least the hunger part was solved.

The warehouse was secured under Gepard's personal command, and martial law was enacted around it.

Bronya then made her way to the recently reclaimed Commercial Street.

It was worth noting that most of the residents from the Underworld had been relocated here. The living conditions down there had been far too harsh, and with proper housing now available, they had moved up without hesitation.

Now, only the miners and Svarog's mechanical settlement remained in the Underworld. Svarog, ever the steadfast guardian, had chosen to remain behind, standing watch over the portal.

As Bronya walked through the street, she observed families gathered around makeshift stoves, iron pots bubbling with fresh rice.

One particular family of three caught her attention. Their voices carried through the cold air.

"Dad, this rice smells amazing!"

"It does, doesn't it? Eat as much as you like."

"Dad, this place is really nice! I saw a monster today!"

"Hah, that wasn't a monster—that was a bus. I'll take you on one tomorrow."

"Really?!"

"Alright, alright, you two settle down and eat. Then it's off to bed."

"Yes, ma'am!"

The three huddled together, savoring their warm meal. It was just white rice porridge, but in this unforgiving land, it was a luxury. The warmth from the food seemed to reach their hearts as well.

Bronya continued her walk, seeing the same scene repeat all around her. Families were no longer just surviving—they were looking forward to tomorrow.

Before, their only hope was to make it through another day. Now, they had dreams.

Save up some money. Buy furniture for their homes.

Get new clothes for their spouses and children.

Maybe even pursue long-lost aspirations.

A small smile crept onto Bronya's face as she whispered to herself, "This is good."

With newfound determination, she turned and walked away, her posture straighter, her steps more resolute.

---

Mondstadt - Knights of Favonius Headquarters

Ying and Paimon waved goodbye to Jean and Noelle. "See you tomorrow, Captain Jean! Noelle!"

The two made their way to a small garden just below the Knights' headquarters, where Ying's off-road RV was parked.

Jean had assigned this garden to Ying as her personal living space, and she had made it feel like home. A wooden fence wrapped around the area, vines climbing along it, sprouting colorful flowers.

A cobblestone path led from the entrance to the RV, flanked by neatly arranged flower beds. A small bench sat along the path, perfect for quiet moments of reflection.

Ying and Paimon pushed open the fence and stepped inside.

The RV had undergone quite a transformation since she first bought it. The walls were decorated with photos, a vase sat atop the table, and little touches of home were everywhere.

After a short break, they began their nightly routine.

"Ying, pass me the towel," Paimon called from the sink.

Ying handed it over, then dried her own hair before collapsing onto the upper bunk.

Since Paimon didn't take up much space, they shared the top bunk, while the lower one had been converted into a small living room, complete with a table and bookshelf.

Ying lay on her back, gazing out the window.

The moonlight reflected off Cider Lake, casting a serene glow.

Soon, Paimon finished up. "Ying, what are we having for dinner?"

Ying shot her a look. "You just ate a mountain of durian and roasted chicken. You're still hungry?"

Paimon folded her arms. "That was just a snack. Not a meal."

Ying sighed. "We've only got instant noodles left. Take it or leave it."

"Instant noodles it is!" Paimon cheered, grabbing two cups from the fridge. "Ying, you want one?"

"Yeah, why not?"

The two set up a small dining area outside, each with a cup of steaming noodles, chatting as they ate.

"Ying, how about some yummy chicken tomorrow?"

"We have to track down Dvalin tomorrow. Did you forget?"

"Oh… Right. Then the day after?"

Ying smirked. "We'll see."

---

Knights of Favonius Headquarters

Noelle had gone to rest, and Jean made her way to Klee's room.

She pushed the door open gently, peering inside. Klee and Hook were curled up in Dodoco's embrace, fast asleep.

Dodo turned to Jean and smiled.

Jean stepped forward, carefully tucking the little ones in. She brushed a few stray locks from Klee's face before silently retreating, closing the door behind her.

Back in her office, she stretched and exhaled.

Tomorrow, they had to visit Dvalin. Tonight, she would rest—no paperwork, no obligations. Just a peaceful night's sleep before the challenges ahead.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 28

Venti, Jean, Diluc, Paimon, and Ying were gathered within Jean's office, chatting amongst themselves.

Soon enough, Yuri, Welt, Kevin, and March 7th stepped into the room.

"Good morning, everyone," Yuri greeted, waving casually.

Paimon waved back. "Good morning, Yuri, Kevin, March, and Mr. Welt!"

Jean and the others exchanged greetings as well before they got down to business.

Yesterday, Ying had mentioned to Yuri that they would go see Dvalin today. Now that Noelle had arrived, Yuri didn't have to stay at the shop and could finally step outside for a bit.

So, he decided to join the group on their mission to find Dvalin.

"Shall we set off now?" Yuri asked.

Diluc, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up. "Let's go. The sooner we finish, the better."

The group set out eastward, passing through Windrise before arriving at Starfell Cliff.

To an outsider, they didn't look like a battle-ready squad but rather a group of friends out for a casual stroll.

Kevin, Ying, March 7th, and Paimon played along the way—splashing in the water to catch fish, kicking slimes around like footballs.

Kevin, especially, was having the time of his life. At one point, he kicked a wind slime too hard, triggering an explosion that sent him tumbling onto the ground.

At Starfell Cliff, Venti took out the Holy Lyre and played a tune, successfully luring Dvalin to their location.

"Barbatos! Have you come with them to hunt me?!" Dvalin roared.

Venti tried to reason with him. "No, that's not—"

Before he could finish, an Abyss Mage appeared above Dvalin, whispering into his ear.

"Poor dragon, he has abandoned you… Embrace the deep…"

Before the Abyss Mage could say another word, Yuri suddenly appeared behind it, grabbing it by the collar.

The moment Yuri's hand made contact, the mage's shield shattered.

With a single motion, Yuri slammed the Abyss Mage to the ground.

Dvalin, startled, prepared to attack Yuri.

Yuri narrowed his eyes. "What are you looking at?"

Dvalin flared his wings. "What are YOU looking at?!"

Yuri smirked. "Oh, you've got some fire in you! Alright, let's see what's wrong with you!"

In an instant, Yuri appeared before Dvalin and landed a powerful punch. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air.

Dvalin barely registered what had happened before he felt himself crash to the ground.

He struggled to rise, only to find a gray-haired boy grinning at him with a massive greatsword pressed against his neck.

"Hey, don't move," Kevin said casually, flames flickering along the blade.

Feeling the searing heat from the weapon, Dvalin hesitated before ultimately surrendering.

Yuri landed gracefully and dusted off his hands. "Alright, my part's done. Time for the next act."

Venti nudged Ying, snapping her out of her trance. "Ying, stop watching. It's your turn now."

Ying rushed forward and began hacking away at the corrupted stinger with her sword.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The stinger was tougher than she expected, and it took her quite a while to cut through even half of it.

Sweating and breathing heavily, she paused for a moment to rest.

Meanwhile, Kevin, March 7th, and Paimon were busy catching crabs nearby, completely unbothered by the ongoing battle.

Yuri, Welt, and Diluc had even set up a tea table and were calmly sipping tea.

Jean and Venti stood off to the side, chatting idly.

Paimon sat next to them, munching on a bag of fries.

Ying wiped her forehead. "Why am I the only one working?!"

She took a deep breath, readying herself to continue, when suddenly, the air around them distorted.

Dark portals opened up, and a horde of Hilichurls and Abyss Mages poured out.

Finally, an Abyss Herald emerged.

"This dragon's fate is to return to the Abyss! Accept the will of the Abyss!"

Kevin, March 7th, Ying, Diluc, and Jean immediately sprang into action.

A dozen Abyss Mages fired a barrage of colorful magic projectiles.

Kevin slammed his spear into the ground, creating a shockwave that erected a powerful shield around the group.

Then, he drew the Heavenly Fire Holy Slayer and activated its greatsword form.

"Skyfire! Unsheath!"

A massive wave of flames surged forth, incinerating everything in its path—Abyss Mages included.

March 7th loosed a massive ice arrow into the sky. It exploded mid-air, showering the battlefield with countless icicles.

Diluc's greatsword flared with wind and fire. "Dawn! Judgment!"

A fire phoenix surged forward, clearing a path through the enemy ranks.

Jean, having mastered the "Wind Spirit Art," unleashed a razor-sharp wind blade over ten meters long, cutting down anything in its path.

Ying, her power nearly restored, fought with radiant wings spread behind her, charging straight through the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Yuri and Welt leisurely continued sipping their tea.

Venti kept an eye on Dvalin to ensure he didn't try to flee.

Yuri took another sip. "Tsk. So many monsters. Why do they keep coming? Is Dvalin really that charming?"

Venti shrugged. "Dvalin is pretty strong, don't you think?"

Yuri smirked. "Yeah. At least he survived my punch."

Welt and Venti exchanged glances. They knew Yuri's strength rivaled that of a Messenger. It was impressive that Dvalin had taken his attack without dying.

---

Back on the battlefield, Kevin and the others continued pushing forward, forcing the Abyss Herald into a corner.

Just as Ying was about to land the finishing blow, a black sword slash suddenly forced her back.

She steadied herself and turned toward the attacker—her eyes widened in shock.

"Brother?!"

Standing before her was her twin brother, Aether.

Aether glanced at her. "Ying, long time no see."

Ying's heart sank. "Brother… why are you with the Abyss?"

Aether's gaze hardened. "Because they are my companions. The Seven are my enemies. Celestia is my enemy. I still have unfinished business with the Heavenly Principles."

Ying reached out. "Brother, let's go home together!"

For a moment, Aether's expression softened. "Home… Anywhere you are is home."

He exhaled. "I have already walked this path. When your journey is complete, you will understand my reasons. I will be waiting for you at the end of your journey."

He turned to the Abyss Herald. "This mission is a failure. We're leaving."

As Aether began to open a portal, Kevin suddenly sprinted forward.

"Skyfire! Unsheath!"

Before Aether could react, Kevin knocked him out with a single strike.

Without hesitation, Kevin pulled out a rope and tied him up.

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere. I don't care about your riddles. Ying is my friend, and I won't let her run around searching for you anymore."

He gave Ying a thumbs-up. "Ying, mission complete! Found your brother!"

Ying stared at Aether, bound and unconscious, before slowly returning the thumbs-up.

---

More than an hour later.

Aether slowly regained consciousness, his vision hazy. As his eyes focused, he was met with the sight of Ying, Kevin, and March 7th staring down at him with smirks on their faces.

Kevin, holding a suspiciously labeled can, chuckled. "Hey, you're finally awake."

Aether's eyes darted to the logo on the can, and his expression instantly darkened. He knew what this was.

"You… What are you planning?"

Ying dipped a brush into ink. "Talk. What are the Abyss Order's next plans?"

Aether turned his head away defiantly. "Don't waste your time. I won't say a word."

March 7th grinned as she spread durian shells from yesterday's feast onto the ground. "Then let's get started!"

Kevin and Ying each grabbed one of Aether's arms, their grins widening as they lifted him up.

Aether immediately realized what was about to happen.

They're going to make me kneel on durians?!

Hah! I am a prince! Why would I fear a mere fruit?!

The moment his knees made contact, a sharp crunch echoed in the air.

"Ngh—!"

Aether gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You passed the first test so easily? Let's see how you handle this!"

Without another word, he opened the can of fermented herrings.

A putrid stench filled the air immediately, making even Kevin—who was closest—almost gag.

"Ugh! That smell is—too strong!" Kevin pinched his nose.

March 7th and Ying also covered their noses in disgust.

Aether, however, was hit hardest. His face turned pale, his stomach churned, and he struggled against his restraints as the overwhelming stench assaulted his senses.

Kevin smirked and brought the can closer to Aether's nose.

Aether's face turned green. He struggled harder. "No—get that thing away from me!"

But Ying and March 7th held him down firmly.

Finally, Aether couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Ugh—!"

The three girls immediately recoiled, covering their mouths and noses in horror.

Ying scoffed. "Seriously? A grown man can't handle a little herring? How embarrassing."

Aether, still catching his breath, glared at her. "Stupid sister! If you're so tough, then try it yourself! Without pinching your nose!"

Ying narrowed her eyes. "Oh? You still have the nerve to talk back?"

She turned to March 7th. "March, bring the next one."

March 7th grinned and pulled out another can of fresh herring, cracking it open. The stench redoubled, and Aether visibly shuddered.

"Now," Ying said sweetly, "are you going to talk? Or should I… feed you?"

Aether's face contorted in horror. The smell alone was unbearable—eating it would be pure torture.

"Stop! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

Ying smirked. "Now that's more like it."

---

An Hour Later

Seated on Dvalin's back, Ying wielded an edgeless training sword, playfully jabbing it toward Aether.

"Come on! Work harder!"

Aether sighed, resigned to his fate. How did things come to this?

With another sigh, he raised his own edgeless sword and began hacking away at the stinger on Dvalin's back.

Ying watched him work, arms crossed. She had decided Aether needed to experience a bit of "suffering" himself.

Oh, you're going to run around with the Abyss while I was left wandering Teyvat alone?

Do you know what I went through?!

She thought back to when she had first awoken—picking sunsetias to stave off hunger, drinking river water for lack of anything else, and only managing to eat meat because she had been lucky enough to find a sword in a treasure chest.

Aether chopped off another chunk of the corrupted stinger. He glanced at his progress, then at the seemingly endless task ahead, and felt his soul leave his body.

He wanted to quit.

As if sensing his thoughts, Ying suddenly slapped his back with the training sword.

"What are you standing around for?! Keep working!"

Aether's body tensed. He was done with this. He was going to throw the sword away—

But then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ying pulling another can of herring from behind her back.

Aether inhaled sharply. Not again…

With newfound determination (or fear), he continued hacking away at the stinger.

---

Yuri, Welt, Jean, Diluc, and Venti sat at a distance, sipping tea and enjoying the spectacle.

Jean looked uneasy. "Um… Should we intervene? This seems… a bit cruel."

Yuri smiled. "Nah, they're just siblings being siblings."

He took a sip of tea before adding, "There's an old saying where I come from—when there's no external threat, siblings are each other's worst enemies. But when there is a real threat, they're each other's greatest allies."

Jean thought about it and nodded. That made sense.

The group continued drinking tea and chatting as the sun set.

---

By the time the sky turned golden, Aether had finally finished clearing the stingers.

Exhausted, he collapsed onto the grass, staring blankly at the sky.

Ying approached and handed him a bottle of water. "Here."

Aether sat up, unscrewed the cap, and took a deep drink. He instantly felt better.

Ying watched him carefully before speaking. "Do you still see me as your sister? You can't handle all of this alone. If you're going to fight that woman, you have to call me."

Aether opened his mouth to refuse. He couldn't drag Ying into this.

But before he could speak, Ying cut him off.

"It's settled. If I find out you went off alone, I'll make you eat another round of today's meal."

Aether paled and quickly nodded. "Okay, okay, I promise."

Ying grinned, satisfied. "Good. Now go back to your Abyss duties or whatever. I'm going home to rest."

Aether sighed and stood up, opening a portal to leave. "Take care, Ying."

Just then, Kevin appeared, greatsword in hand.

"You still think you're leaving? Skyfire—"

Before he could finish, Ying grabbed his arm and quickly explained the situation.

Kevin frowned but relented, sheathing his weapon.

Aether sighed in relief. Why does Ying have such violent friends?

Without wasting another second, he stepped into the portal and vanished.

Yuri glanced at the time. "Well, it's about time to cook."

But then, he looked around. Their current location was quite scenic—perfect for a gathering.

A thought struck him. Why not turn this into a party?

"Alright! I'll cook, and we'll have a feast right here!"

The idea was met with instant enthusiasm. Even Jean, who had a mountain of paperwork waiting for her, chose to stay.

Dvalin's recovery was definitely worth celebrating.

Kevin took on the task of running to the Honkai world to invite more guests.

Meanwhile, Venti headed back to Mondstadt to pick up Klee and Hook—and inform Lisa and the others.

The stage was set for a grand night.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 29

More than an hour later, everyone gathered at Starfell Cliff.

The night sky was scattered with stars, and a bonfire crackled warmly at the center of the gathering. Laughter and chatter filled the air as friends played and shared stories.

Yuri stood by the grill, a fan in one hand and skewers in the other, carefully tending to the flames. The aroma of sizzling meat, seasoned with salt, cumin, and chili powder, wafted through the air.

Noelle helped diligently, adding charcoal and skewering ingredients.

"Noelle, how was your first day?" Yuri asked with a smile.

Noelle hesitated for a moment. "It was… easy. Almost too easy. I'm not used to that."

Yuri chuckled. "There aren't many customers yet, but once more people start showing up, you'll be plenty busy."

Noelle nodded with determination. "I'll be ready!"

The lamb skewers were nearly done. Yuri turned to the crowd and called out, "The skewers are ready! Come grab some!"

A sudden gust of wind heralded Venti's arrival.

"Oho, Yuri! Hand me some! I need something to pair with the wine while I chat with the old man."

Yuri smirked and handed over half the plate. "Try not to steal all the good ones."

Venti chuckled, thanked him, and made his way over to a small wooden table where Zhongli and Welt sat, deep in conversation.

Welt and Zhongli had hit it off surprisingly well—both enjoyed thoughtful discussions over a good drink.

Venti placed the skewers down. "Come on, drinking without food is boring. You have to admit, Yuri's cooking is top-notch."

Welt nodded. "That's true. Ever since Yuri joined the train, we've practically stopped eating anywhere else. Sometimes, the conductor cooks, but Yuri's meals are the highlight."

Zhongli set down his wine glass. "Oh? Yuri wasn't always on the Astral Express?"

Welt nodded and began recounting the story of how they had met Yuri and how he ended up joining them.

Meanwhile, near the bonfire, Klee, Hook, and Diona rushed toward the grill. Diona had been brought along by Venti when he went to pick up Klee and Hook.

However, Venti had immediately regretted it. He had completely forgotten about his allergy to cat fur and had spent a solid five minutes sneezing uncontrollably upon landing.

Klee and Hook, however, were unfazed.

"Brother Yuri! Klee wants to eat!"

"Yuri! Hook wants meat!"

Having known Yuri for a while now, both children were completely at ease with him. Diona, on the other hand, was more reserved, having only met him recently.

Yuri handed each of them a plate with three skewers. "Here you go. If you want more, just come back."

"Thank you!" The trio ran off happily, plates in hand, and sat by the bonfire to eat.

Kevin, Ying, March 7th, Eula, Amber, and Seele arrived next.

Ying had rallied the girls into a post-dinner Hilichurl raid for some easy Stellar Jade. Everyone was brimming with fighting spirit.

"With Amber's navigation skills, we can't lose!" March 7th cheered, full of enthusiasm.

Not far away, Diluc and Dan Heng were deep in conversation, which surprised Yuri. He hadn't expected those two to hit it off.

Lisa had set up a small coffee table where she, Jean, Bronya, and Natasha sat, discussing government matters.

Meanwhile, Clara sat with Himeko, eagerly absorbing mechanical knowledge. Determined to become a great scientist, she had been studying daily. Thanks to her dedication, she had already improved significantly in mechanical repair and had even modified a medical robot capable of treating minor injuries.

As the party continued, everyone found their place—except for Kaeya, who ended up helping Yuri at the grill.

Yuri flipped a skewer. "Didn't expect you to be the helpful type, Kaeya."

Kaeya smirked. "I didn't either. But here I am."

Just as Yuri was about to take a break, a familiar iron bucket flew toward him.

"Yuri! More food! Another bucket of pork chops!"

Yuri turned to see Paimon hovering impatiently, clutching an empty iron bucket.

He sighed. "Did you already finish the first one?"

He had prepared an entire bucket of grilled pork chops just for Paimon, knowing her insatiable appetite. Yet, here she was, asking for more.

With no choice, Yuri pulled out another twenty pork chops and set them on the grill.

Kaeya carried a plate full of assorted skewers to the main dining table by the bonfire. "Alright, everyone! More skewers are ready!"

The group eagerly gathered around.

Venti, feeling particularly cheerful from the drinks, pulled out his lyre and began playing a lighthearted ballad. The melody drifted through the air, blending with the warmth of the fire and the quiet murmurs of conversation.

Yuri looked around, making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. His gaze landed on Himeko and Clara, still deep in their lesson.

Taking a box filled with assorted skewers, he approached them. "Take a break. Eat something. Studying is important, but so is enjoying the moment."

Clara looked up, then smiled as she accepted the food. "Thank you, Brother Yuri."

Himeko chuckled. "Appreciate it."

Yuri waved off their thanks and turned his attention elsewhere.

That's when he remembered something—his current task required him to serve twenty different guests, and he was just a few short.

The next stop on the Express would be Xianzhou, where he could meet new customers.

"Himeko, when are we heading to the next stop?" Yuri asked.

Himeko thought for a moment. "We usually stop for a few days, so we'll set off in about three days."

She then smiled. "Our next stop is Pinoconi, also known as the Star of Festivals. It's a fantastic place for a bit of fun. You'll love it."

Yuri grinned. "Sounds like a blast."

However, he knew that wasn't quite true. The train was actually scheduled to head toward Xianzhou, influenced by Kafka's plans. Things were bound to get complicated soon.

Clara, overhearing their conversation, suddenly looked sad. "Brother Yuri, Sister Himeko… you're leaving? Clara doesn't want to say goodbye."

Yuri let out a soft laugh and ruffled her hair. "Silly. You have a portal at home, remember? You can visit the train anytime you want."

Clara blinked, then smiled, realizing she had completely forgotten. "Oh! That's right! Clara forgot."

Yuri smirked. "See? No need to be sad."

The three of them continued chatting as they ate their skewers.

Surprisingly, even in the wilds of Mondstadt, no monsters appeared to interrupt the gathering. It was as if the world itself had decided to let them enjoy this night in peace.

---

It was getting late.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they sat on the ground, chatting leisurely. The once duo of little ones—Klee and Hook—had now grown into a trio with Diona, all three curled up on Dodoko, sleeping soundly.

Kevin glanced at Venti and Zhongli, a thought suddenly surfacing in his mind.

"Zhongli, you're a god too, aren't you?"

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone turned their eyes to Zhongli.

Especially the people from Mondstadt, their faces painted with shock.

Kaeya spread his hands, his voice laced with disbelief. "Hey, hey, hey, no way. Mr. Zhongli, a god?"

Qiqi and Diluc, already aware of Venti's true identity as the Anemo Archon, had long suspected Zhongli's. He was from Liyue, and Venti casually called him an old man. Who else could he be? It had to be Morax, the Geo Archon.

Lisa studied both Venti and Zhongli, deep in thought. She had long suspected Venti's identity. From Ying, she had learned that Venti could communicate with the Wind Dragon, Dvalin—one of the Four Winds. That alone had been enough for her to guess his connection to Barbatos.

It seemed her assumption had been right all along.

Venti was indeed the Anemo Archon, which only made it clearer who Zhongli was.

"I see," Lisa murmured, bowing slightly. "I greet Your Majesty, the Wind God, and Your Majesty, the Rock God."

Amber, Eula, and Kaeya stood there, stunned.

No way! These two were really gods? Unbelievable.

Zhongli sighed, his voice calm and measured. "No need for such formality. I am merely an ordinary consultant now. Zhongli is just fine."

Venti chuckled, his usual grin in place. "Oh my, I'd much rather you all call me Venti. Being a god and all… just remember it once in a while."

Yuri smiled. "We all come from different places, but here, we're friends, aren't we? Come, let's have a drink together!"

Raising his glass, he looked around, waiting.

The people of Mondstadt considered it for a moment before grinning and lifting their own glasses.

"To friendship!"

"To friendship!"

After that, they rested for a while before going their separate ways.

Kevin, March 7th, Amber, Eula, Ying, and Paimon gathered their weapons and set out toward a nearby Hilichurl tribe.

Meanwhile, Diluc, Kaeya, and the others busied themselves clearing out the remnants of the Abyss Order. Ever since their failure to corrupt Dvalin, most of the Abyss Order's forces had withdrawn from Mondstadt.

---

Even though it was late at night, Liyue Harbor was still alive with lights.

Zhongli returned to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, carrying a small bundle of skewers. Yuri had grilled so much food earlier that no one could finish it all, so everyone took a little with them when the gathering ended.

Pushing open the doors to the funeral parlor, Zhongli spotted Hu Tao fast asleep in a rocking chair in the courtyard.

He walked closer, taking a brief look before sighing and shaking his head. "Sleeping here again? You'll catch a cold."

With a gentle motion, he used his divine power to lift her up and carry her back inside, laying her down carefully before covering her with a blanket.

Almost immediately, Hu Tao kicked it away, sprawling out in a starfish pose.

It was summer, after all, and the heat was relentless.

After setting the skewers on a table in her room, Zhongli retired to his own quarters for the night.

---

Early the next morning, Zhongli sat in the courtyard, leisurely sipping tea.

Next to him stood an electric fan, something he had purchased from Yuri. The summer heat was particularly strong today, making it difficult to enjoy tea properly. He had asked Yuri if there was a way to cool down, and thus, the fan was now part of the scene.

The door to Hu Tao's room suddenly flew open.

"Ding ding ding ding! This Hall Master is fully resurrected!" Hu Tao announced, bursting into the courtyard with energy to spare.

She was still holding the skewers Zhongli had left for her the night before.

Spotting Zhongli, she ran over. "Good morning, Guest~"

Zhongli gave a slight nod, pouring her a cup of tea without a word.

Seeing this, Hu Tao took the teacup, downed it in one go, and slammed it onto the table with enthusiasm. "Ah~! Delicious! Another!"

Zhongli was well accustomed to her disregard for proper tea-drinking etiquette. At first, he had attempted to teach her how to properly savor the flavors, but Hu Tao had no interest in such things. To her, tea was just another drink—best consumed in large, refreshing gulps.

As she chewed on her skewer, Hu Tao suddenly noticed the electric fan beside Zhongli, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.

She hopped off her stool and walked over to the fan, peering at it from different angles.

Then, without hesitation, she leaned in close, inspecting the device with fascination. This thing could make wind? So cool!

Zhongli answered simply, "I got it from a friend."

Hu Tao swallowed her bite and grinned. "That the same friend you had dinner with yesterday? Your friend's pretty impressive, huh? They've got all sorts of rare stuff."

Without waiting for a response, she pulled a small stool up in front of the fan and plopped down, basking in the cool air.

Zhongli observed her for a moment, a thought forming in his mind.

Maybe it was time to take her to visit Yuri.

Hu Tao had grown up, and it was about time she expanded her horizons. Besides, the people Yuri surrounded himself with—Kevin, March 7, Dan Heng, and Ying—were all exceptional individuals in their own ways.

After a moment's consideration, Zhongli made up his mind. Liyue had yet to fully benefit from Yuri's knowledge, much like Mondstadt already had. Under the guidance of Jean and others, the Knights of Favonius had already started practicing the "Wind Spirit Technique" and learning to better harness their elemental abilities.

Liyue, with its vast population and greater pool of talent, would no doubt advance even faster.

"Master, do you have anything planned for today?" Hu Tao asked, her voice slightly muffled by the wind as she tilted her face toward the fan.

"No," she added, before he could reply. "Why?"

Zhongli rose slowly to his feet. "Since you have no plans, I will take you somewhere."

Hu Tao perked up, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Ooh? Where are we going, Guest?"

Though she had no idea where he intended to take her, she hopped to his side, ready to follow along.

After all, if it was with Zhongli, it was bound to be interesting.

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 30

Zhongli used his magical powers and brought Hu Tao to the pond at the entrance of Liuyun Cave.

Zhongli had placed the portal that Yuri gave him here in Liuyun. This place was secluded, and with Cloud Retainer watching over it, there was little chance of trouble. He had also left some of his own magical power here as an additional safeguard.

Hu Tao looked around curiously and tugged at Zhongli's sleeve.

"Wow, you're amazing, Zhongli! You brought me so far in such a short time!"

Zhongli didn't respond but instead walked toward the portal.

"Master, this way."

Hu Tao, who had been using her staff to poke at a frog, quickly followed.

Before stepping through, she picked up the frog that had just flipped over and turned it back again.

Hu Tao reached the portal and stared at it curiously.

"Wow! Why is there a door here? It looks so out of place."

She kicked at the portal but found it completely immovable.

Zhongli opened the door.

"Let's go, Hall Master. The destination is just beyond."

As they stepped through, Hu Tao's vision briefly darkened. When her sight returned, she found herself in a strange new place.

The décor was unfamiliar, completely different from Liyue.

And… was that a star outside the window?

At the long dining table in the center of the room, several people were having breakfast. When they saw Zhongli, they greeted him casually.

Zhongli nodded in response.

To his surprise, the room was unusually crowded today.

Yuri, Welt, Dan Heng, Himeko, Pom-Pom, Kevin, March 7th, Ying, Paimon, Amber, Eula, Noelle, Venti, and the three little ones were all present.

From the kitchen, Yuri called out, "Hey, Zhongli, you're late today! You were the first one here two days ago."

Zhongli gave a calm reply. "I brought my Hall Master with me. She took some time."

Hearing this, Hu Tao waved excitedly.

"Hello, everyone~ My name is Hu Tao!"

Himeko smiled warmly.

"Hello, Hu Tao, I'm Himeko. Come, sit here. You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? It's a great time to eat together."

Hu Tao grinned.

"No need~ I already ate! The skewers my guest brought me last night, hehe.

Oh, wait—you're the friends Zhongli mentioned, right? You had a party last night."

Himeko thought for a moment. "Yeah, that's right. But come have some porridge anyway. Something greasy so early in the morning isn't great for you."

She ladled a bowl of porridge and set it on the seat beside her.

Seeing this, Hu Tao walked over and sat down.

Himeko also placed a small dish of pickles next to her. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll take care of these three little ones first."

Hu Tao followed Himeko's gaze and saw three adorable little girls perched on stools, happily eating.

"Okay, okay, thanks for the porridge! You go ahead and take care of them—I can handle myself."

Himeko chuckled before returning to the children.

Hu Tao took a sip of porridge, nibbling on some pickles. Instantly, she felt refreshed.

She then noticed March 7th sitting beside her.

"Hey, friend! What's your name?"

March 7th turned sluggishly toward her. "Hey, Hu Tao. I'm March 7… a very tired traveler."

Hu Tao took note of the dark circles under her eyes. "Did you stay up late? You look exhausted."

March 7th yawned and nodded. "Yeah, we spent the whole night fighting the Hilichurl tribe to earn Stellar Jade. I'm so sleepy…"

Hu Tao tilted her head in confusion. "What do you need Stellar Jade for?"

March 7th blinked in surprise. "Zhongli didn't tell you? You can trade Stellar Jade for Star Coins, and Star Coins let you buy items from all across the worlds from Yuri.

If you don't know about the myriad worlds, think of them as many, many different places."

Hu Tao was astonished. Stellar Jade could be used like that? She had always just used it for skipping stones or throwing at birds.

March 7th pointed to Yuri.

"That's Yuri. If you want to buy something, he's the guy to see."

Hu Tao took note of Yuri's appearance and nodded.

"Got it. Thanks for the info."

March 7th waved it off. "No problem. Ugh… I'm so sleepy! I need to sleep!"

Hu Tao blinked. "Then… why don't you just go to bed?"

March 7th groaned and pulled out a handful of Stellar Jade.

"We just got back and haven't exchanged it for Star Coins yet. Plus, we've been starving all morning. We gotta eat first. I can't sleep when I'm hungry."

Hu Tao nodded in understanding. She always ate before sleeping, even when she came back from Wuwang Hill exhausted. Sleeping on an empty stomach was miserable.

As she ate, she chatted with Kevin and the others, quickly becoming friends.

When she heard about the snowball fight planned for tomorrow, she excitedly insisted on joining in.

From their conversation, she also learned that she wasn't in Teyvat anymore. She was aboard a train traveling through the universe.

Ying took the time to explain what the universe was.

Teyvat was merely one planet. The universe was made up of countless planets.

Hu Tao was amazed. The train could travel between worlds? If she didn't have Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to manage, she'd love to join the crew.

As everyone enjoyed their meal, a loud banging suddenly came from a private booth nearby.

"Wahahahahaha!!!"

Everyone turned to look.

Silver Wolf stood with her hands on her hips, laughing triumphantly. The dark circles under her eyes were severe, but her expression was brimming with energy and excitement.

Yuri rolled his eyes. "What are you doing so early in the morning? Could you at least open the door gently?"

Silver Wolf scoffed. "Hmph! I won't argue with you!"

She scanned the room and grinned in satisfaction. "Perfect. Everyone's looking. Now listen up!"

She took a dramatic pose.

"The invincible Silver Wolf has finally completed 'Elden Warrior!' Show your applause!"

Kevin was the first to clap enthusiastically. "Good! Good! Good!"

Seeing him, everyone else started clapping too.

Why? No one really knew. But when one person clapped, it felt right to follow along.

Hu Tao clapped along but leaned toward Ying. "What's happening?"

Ying, half-asleep, yawned. "No idea. Just clap and it'll be over soon. Everyone's doing it."

Hu Tao thought for a moment.

"You know what? That makes sense."

---

Silver Wolf looked at Yuri, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She wanted to test the effect of the immobilization spell she had earned from "Elden Warrior"

Yuri calmly picked up a piece of pickle and popped it into his mouth, utterly unbothered by what she had just said.

Silver Wolf was stunned.

No way. No way! Did I just spend all that effort completing "Elden Warrior" for nothing?

She felt utterly betrayed. God knows how long she had struggled to clear that game. She had sacrificed sleep, food, and sanity—only to get a dud reward?

Seeing her expression of existential despair, Yuri chuckled. "Maybe you're just using it on the wrong target?"

Silver Wolf blinked. Oh. Right. The game had mentioned that the spell only worked on those below the rank of Commander.

Scanning the room, she locked onto Kevin.

"Kevin, I'm sorry! Freeze!"

The next second, Kevin actually froze in place—but only for a few seconds before shaking it off.

Silver Wolf's eyes sparkled with joy.

Yes! The great Silver Wolf can finally fight back against that evil Kafka!

With a villainous grin, she cackled, baring her fangs.

"Hehehehe! Kafka, my dear Kafka! Next time you come around, the great Silver Wolf will be ready for revenge! Wahahahaha!"

Klee, watching from the side, tugged on Yuri's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Yuri, is this sister… sick?"

Yuri chuckled. "Well, she's certainly a bit… special. That's why Klee needs to eat well and stay healthy, okay?"

Klee glanced at the still-cackling Silver Wolf and shuddered. "Klee understands!"

Ignoring Silver Wolf's antics, everyone resumed their breakfast.

---

About ten minutes later, breakfast wrapped up, and everyone dispersed to their respective activities.

March 7, Amber, and the rest of last night's Stellar Jade grinders all went home to catch up on sleep.

Meanwhile, Yuri, Zhongli, Walter, and Dan Heng gathered around the coffee table, preparing tea, setting up a chessboard, and settling in for a relaxed game.

Venti strolled over to the bar, grabbed a bottle of wine, and began drinking. With the whole Dvalin mess resolved, he could finally kick back.

Himeko took Clara to her lessons.

The three little ones—Klee, Hook, and the newcomer Diona—explored the train excitedly.

Diona, however, had one major grievance: the bar.

Every time she passed it, she shot it a glare so fierce one might think she was planning to burn it to the ground.

Noelle accompanied Hu Tao on a shopping trip.

Earlier, March 7 had overheard Hu Tao talking about wanting to go shopping, so she had generously lent her 5,000 Star Coins.

Hu Tao now stood in front of the bar's massive display screen, eyes sparkling at the sheer number of products.

"Whoa! A flying motorcycle? It actually flies?! So cool!"

"This handheld fan is adorable! Everyone else has a fan, so I want one too!"

"Wait… there are exorcism spells for sale here? I'll take one!"

After much deliberation, Hu Tao made her purchases:

• A Flying Motorcycle (Smart Version): Equipped with flight capabilities, automatic navigation, and fingerprint recognition. Cost: 4,000 Star Coins.
• Five Handheld Solar-Powered Fans in different designs. One hour of sunlight charges them for an entire day. Cost: 10 Star Coins each.
• A Book on Exorcism Techniques containing various rituals and techniques. Cost: 800 Star Coins.

After her spree, she had 150 Star Coins left for later.

Eager to test her new ride, Hu Tao rushed into the portal and returned to Teyvat.

The moment she landed, she threw down 4,000 Star Coins, shattering the bubble encasing the flying motorcycle.

It materialized before her in all its glory.

Hu Tao hopped onto it, vibrating with excitement. The motorcycle's intelligent system activated.

**"New user detected. No valid driver's license found. Initiating novice tutorial.

Reminder: Reckless driving will make your loved ones cry."**

Undeterred, Hu Tao began the tutorial. At first, she wobbled awkwardly, but she quickly got the hang of it.

"Xiangling! Here I come!"

---

Back at the shop, Yuri realized something.

"Wait a second… the three little ones haven't gone shopping yet. And if I take them… I'll complete one of my tasks!"

Feeling pleased with himself, he turned to them. "Alright, 100 Star Coins each! Go buy whatever you want."

The three little ones cheered and bolted toward the bar.

However, upon arrival, they faced a problem—they couldn't reach the display screen.

Hook, ever the problem-solver, smirked. "Klee, Diona, let's stack up!"

She patted her shoulder. "Diona, stand on my shoulders."

Diona giggled to herself assisting.

Hook crossed her arms. "That's what I said. Diaona. Right, Klee?"

Klee nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! It's Diaona! You didn't say it wrong~"

Diona hung her head in defeat. "Forget it… let's just buy our stuff."

Following Hook's plan, Diona climbed onto her shoulders while Klee perched atop Diona's head.

The three girls giggled in delight, browsing the goods with newfound ease.

In no time, they completed their shopping:

• Diona bought bizarre ingredients that looked utterly disgusting. She planned to use them for making cocktails.
  (There was no way ingredients from another world could make good drinks. Impossible! She would prove it! Mondstadt's wine industry was doomed!)
• Hook loaded up on snacks to share with the Mole Party once she returned to Belobog.
• Klee found some interesting gadgets but ultimately picked up a few explosives—because, of course, she did.

Tomorrow, Yuri planned to take the three little ones to explore the Belobog Glacier.

Even the train crew was excited for the trip.

Afterward, they would all take a couple of days to restock supplies before heading off to their next destination.

---

[System Notification]

[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully entertained 20 different customers! Reward: Lottery Shop unlocked!]

 

[CloudyWorld]

Chapter 31

[System Notice: Preparing to place a lottery shop. Please evacuate the store to avoid accidental injury!]


[System Notice: Preparing to place a lottery shop. Please evacuate the store to avoid accidental injury!]


[System Notice: Preparing to place a lottery shop. Please evacuate the store to avoid accidental injury!]

Hearing the announcement, Yuri quickly gathered everyone. "Alright, everyone, let's step out for a bit. My shop is about to undergo an upgrade."

Without hesitation, everyone stood up and made their way toward the observation car. The three little ones ran the fastest, their tiny footsteps clattering across the floor as they bolted ahead.

Soon, they were all in the observation car.

Silver Wolf, who had been peacefully napping in her "box," now sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, looking thoroughly annoyed.

"I was sleeping so well, and you woke me up just for some remodeling? Ugh, this is seriously affecting Silver Wolf's rest!"

Welt looked over at Yuri, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "Yuri, you just said your shop is about to be upgraded?"

Yuri, who was currently communicating with the system, nodded with a smile. "Yep. Something fun is being added. But I won't spoil it—just wait and see."

Welt and the others exchanged intrigued glances but chose not to interrupt Yuri while he focused on his system interactions.

[System Notice: The store is undergoing renovations. The host can expand the store for 5,000 Star Coins. Would you like to proceed?]

Yuri paused for a moment and asked mentally, "How much space will be added?"

[System Notice: The store will expand fivefold, including 3 booths, 1 lounge area, 1 reception room, 1 host-exclusive lounge, and 1 library.]

Yuri wasn't too concerned about the booths and additional spaces.

But the private lounge? That hit him right in the heart.

Up until now, he and Dan Heng had been sleeping on the floor in the information room.

"Upgrade it. Now!" Yuri ordered without hesitation.

[System Notice: 5,000 Star Coins deducted. Store expansion will be completed in one hour.]

With the system handling the upgrades, Yuri turned back to chat with the others.

---

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, an hour had gone by.

[System Notice: Store upgrade complete. The host may now return to the store. Wishing you a prosperous business!]

Yuri grinned at the notification. "Alright, everyone, the upgrade is done. Let's go check it out."

Welt and the others, brimming with curiosity, followed him back inside.

---

Upon entering, everyone was stunned.

"This… this place got huge!"

The store still retained its original layout: a kitchen, a small bar, three booths, and the long dining table in the middle.

But now, a massive new area had been added to the right.

At the center of this new section was an enormous lounge area, capable of seating dozens of people. Sofas of various shapes and designs were scattered throughout: rabbits, whales, lions, tigers, noodle bowls, gold ingots, thrones—even a lazy beanbag shaped like a trash can.

The moment Klee, Hook, and Diona saw the animal-shaped sofas, their eyes lit up.

"Wow! This place is amazing!"

Giggling, the three little ones rushed over and began hopping between sofas, playing and laughing as they bounced around.

Yuri called out, "Be careful!"

The three little ones responded with a quick "Oh!" before continuing their antics.

Yuri and the others continued their tour.

Next to the lounge area was the newly added lottery shop, complete with 3 booths and a large display screen showcasing various artworks on the walls.

The lottery shop itself was simple: five rows of benches with 25 seats, a machine for purchasing tickets, and a massive screen displaying the grand prize.

This issue's grand prize:

[Space Jump Ability]

• Description: Allows the user to consume stamina to perform short-range space jumps. Maximum jump distance: 1,000 meters per use.
• Value: 100,000 Star Coins

Everyone's interest piqued immediately.

A space-related ability? Any power linked to space was bound to be useful.

Yuri glanced at the ticket price—1,000 Star Coins per ticket.

Without hesitation, he bought one. Welt, Zhongli, and a few others followed suit.

"Might as well try our luck," Welt mused.

After purchasing their tickets, they moved on to another newly added section—a grand reception room.

The reception room exuded elegance. A massive floor-to-ceiling window allowed natural light to stream in. Near the window was a coffee table adorned with a beautifully crafted tea set, surrounded by lush bamboo and flowers.

On the left side of the entrance, a small private cinema with just five seats was neatly tucked away.

Zhongli and Welt instantly fell in love with the place.

The two exchanged glances and, without a word, claimed seats in the reception room, clearly planning to stay there indefinitely.

Yuri sighed. "Wow, they're really making themselves at home."

Turning to Dan Heng, Yuri asked, "What about you?"

Dan Heng thought for a moment. "I'll check out the library. Looks like there's one next door."

With that, he left for the newly added library.

Yuri, on the other hand, made his way to his private lounge.

Located behind the small bar, his new room was spacious—about 60 square meters. Inside, there was only a sofa, a dining table, a wardrobe, and a two-meter bed.

"Looks like I'll need to buy some furniture later," Yuri muttered, already planning the décor.

Meanwhile, Silver Wolf had already returned to her "box," curled up on the sofa with a blanket pulled over her head.

---

Time flew by.

Before anyone knew it, night had fallen.

---

Kevin slowly blinked awake, groggy from sleep. Checking the time, he realized it was already close to 7 PM.

"Wait… I slept the entire day?!"

He leaped out of bed, hastily got dressed, and hurried toward Yuri's shop.

Still half-asleep, he pushed open the door—only to freeze in place.

His drowsiness instantly vanished as he stared at the transformed store in shock.

"Wait… Did I walk into the wrong place?"

Confused, he shut the door and double-checked.

Nope. This was definitely the right location.

Pushing the door open again, he took another look inside.

"No! What the hell happened?! I just took a nap, and now the whole store looks completely different?!"

Silver Wolf, who was eating at the bar, glanced up lazily. "You're not imagining things. That bastard Yuri remodeled the shop while you were out cold."

Kevin let out an exaggerated sigh. "Damn it, I can't leave for a second without the whole place changing!"

---

Kevin wandered into the sofa lounge area and was immediately stunned.

"This place is huge!"

His eyes suddenly sparkled as he spotted something irresistible.

"Hiss!!! What is this?! What is this?! A perfect sofa like this exists in the world?!"

Without hesitation, Kevin dashed over and flopped onto the trash can-shaped lazy sofa.

"Ah~ This feels amazing."

He sank into the plush cushions, pure bliss written all over his face.

After a moment of relaxation, he shifted slightly and noticed the lottery shop not far away.

"Lottery shop? What's this?"

Curious, he got up and wandered inside.

"A lottery, huh? Let's see what's going on here."

Kevin examined the setup, quickly getting interested. With a confident smirk, he waved his hand and bought ten lottery tickets.

"Hehe! This time, I'm definitely winning big!"

Checking the draw date, he saw there were still two days left. With that, he pocketed his tickets and returned to the lounge area to rest.

Before long, March 7th, Ying, Amber, Eula, and the others arrived, settling into the newly expanded space.

Kaeya sat at the small bar, sipping his drink alone.

At this point, everyone had started treating Yuri's shop like their personal entertainment venue.

---

Meanwhile, in Liyue Harbor…

Hu Tao soared off Tianheng Mountain on her flying motorcycle.

"Wuhu~ The Hall Master is back!"

She had flown all the way from Jueyunjian, cutting her usual half-day journey down to just half an hour.

Had she traveled on foot, the mountainous terrain would have made the trip unbearably long.

She zipped through the skies, heading straight for Yujing Terrace—but the moment she arrived, she alarmed the Qianyan Army.

"Who goes there?!"

A squad of Qianyan soldiers immediately surrounded her, weapons at the ready.

Hu Tao quickly threw up her hands in surrender.

"I surrender~! Don't hit me~!"

The soldiers hesitated, then relaxed upon recognizing her.

"Master Hu? Oh, it's you."

Hu Tao was well known in Liyue Harbor—after all, she used to roam the streets every day, advertising Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's 'set meals.'

Despite her odd behavior, the people of Liyue had great affection for her. She might have been eccentric, but she had a kind heart, often helping travelers fend off monsters in the wild.

One of the soldiers sighed. "Master Hu, that was dangerous. Please don't pull stunts like that again. What if something went wrong?"

Hu Tao gave a sheepish grin and a deep bow. "Sorry, sorry, I'll be more careful next time. You guys carry on—I'm off!"

Waving goodbye, she revved up her flying motorcycle and sped toward Wanmin Restaurant.

As she cruised through the streets of Liyue Harbor, heads turned in amazement.

"Look! What is that?!"

"Isn't that Master Hu? What's she riding? It moves on its own!"

"Could this be some kind of new mount in Liyue? Which shop is selling it?"

"No idea, but it looks incredible. Let's find out where she got it!"

Hu Tao ignored the murmurs, focusing on maneuvering carefully through the streets to avoid accidents.

Soon, she arrived at Wanmin Restaurant.

Standing up on her motorcycle, she peeked into the kitchen window.

Inside, Xiangling was busy at the stove, skillfully preparing dishes, while Guoba diligently kept the fire burning.

A mischievous glint flickered in Hu Tao's eyes.

"Hehe~"

She took a deep breath and shouted.

"Xiangling!"

Then, she ducked under the window, completely out of sight.

Xiangling turned her head. "Huh? Who called me?"

She glanced around, even lifting the curtain at the doorway to check outside.

Nothing.

"Guoba, did you hear someone call me?"

Guoba, still tending the fire, shook his head and shrugged.

Xiangling frowned. "Weird… Maybe I imagined it?"

Shrugging, she went back to cooking.

Hu Tao peeked up from the windowsill again.

Hehe~ She didn't notice. Time for round two.

"Xiangling!"

Once again, Xiangling whirled around—still seeing nothing.

"Who is it?!"

Even Guoba perked up, scanning the area.

Xiangling checked outside again. Customers were still peacefully eating their meals.

Confused, she sighed and turned back—only to come face to face with a grinning ghost mask.

"WAAAHHHH!!!"

Hu Tao had leaped up, baring her fangs like a phantom.

Xiangling screamed, jumping nearly a meter into the air.

When she landed, she saw Hu Tao laughing uncontrollably.

Fuming, she stomped her foot. "Hu Tao! You scared me again! I'm not playing with you anymore!"

Still giggling, Hu Tao scratched the back of her head and pulled out a bear-shaped handheld fan.

"Okay, okay, forgive me. Here, I brought you a gift."

Xiangling crossed her arms. "Hmph. What's this?"

Hu Tao pressed the switch.

The fan whirred to life, sending a gentle, cooling breeze across Xiangling's face.

Xiangling blinked, instantly refreshed.

"Whoa! Hu Tao, where did you get this?!"

Hu Tao handed it to her. "So, do you forgive me now? It's called a handheld fan—it can blow air all on its own."

Xiangling eagerly held the fan to her face. The summer heat in the kitchen was unbearable—this was exactly what she needed!

"This is amazing! Thank you, Hu Tao! But you still haven't told me where you got it."

Hu Tao smirked and waved her closer. "Come here, I'll tell you…"

The two whispered excitedly for a while before Xiangling leaned back, staring in disbelief.

"Wait, you're telling me you went to another world?! Isn't that a little… far-fetched?"

Hu Tao nodded enthusiastically. "I know, right? But it's true! That fan in your hands? Bought it from there.

By the way, I still owe someone money. Are you free later? Let's go find some Stellar Jade."

Xiangling considered it. "Actually, Xingqiu, Chongyun, and I were planning a trip to Dihua Marsh this afternoon. You should come with us."

Hu Tao lit up. "Xingqiu and Chongyun too? Perfect! It's a plan!"

With that, she climbed over the windowsill and hopped back onto her flying motorcycle.

Xiangling blinked in confusion. "Uh… Why didn't you just use the door? It's like you're sneaking off after committing a crime."

She walked over for a closer look—and froze.

"What is this thing?!"

Hu Tao chuckled, twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle roared to life.

"This is a flying motorcycle. It can fly. I'll pick you up later. Bye~!"

Before Xiangling could respond, Hu Tao released the brakes and soared into the sky.

Xiangling stood there, mouth agape, watching her vanish into the clouds.

"Did I… did I just see a flying motorcycle?"

Xiangling sighed before muttering to herself about wanting her own motorcycle.