Pulling Cards

"Whoosh!"

With a rush of wind, the yellow flag pinned a swarm of mosquitoes firmly to the ground.

"Damn it! You dared bite me before I became a Soul Master! And you still dare bite me after I became one! Then I became a Soul Master for nothing!"

Wei Lin, his head covered in welts, flashed the flag in his hand and sent a swarm of mosquitoes into reincarnation.

"Aha definitely did this. Otherwise, with my presence, how could any mosquitoes possibly come bite me?"

Wei Lin secretly dumped an extra-large pot of blame on Aha and declared that there was no need to thank him.

(Aha: Aha has really lost face~ Next time I'll send more striped mosquitoes ヽ(*≧ω≦)ﾉ)

Wei Lin planted the Wu Ji Apricot Yellow Flag in the ground, and an orange-yellow barrier spread out.

"Finally, some peace and quiet."

Lying back down in his lounge chair, he began studying the banners and the shop.

"Just as I thought, the pink-orb banners are combined."

The currently featured characters were...???

"Lumine? Belle? And... Stelle? Wait, system... what kind of international joke are you playing? Aren't those three given out at the start? And now you want me to spend pink orbs pulling for them? Are you messing with me?"

Wei Lin protested! Even old Mi gave away five-star characters for free, yet this system made him pull for the protagonists. It was even more blackhearted than old Mi!

"Ding~ My lord, we already gave you a five-star character, and he was raised straight to level 60."

"When did you give me..."

Wei Lin's voice trailed off, and he pointed at himself in disbelief.

"Ding~ My lord isn't so stupid after all~~~"

Wei Lin: "...I chirp chirp chirp chirp (interstellar civilization language)..."

Wei Lin lay in his lounge chair with a resigned expression. In truth, there was nothing else he could do.

He could only pull, then.

Looking at the three people on the banner panel, Wei Lin gently brushed his finger over Lumine's banner. After all, Genshin Impact was what had brought him down the rabbit hole.

"In that case, I choose you!"

As the pink orbs went in, starlight shimmered across Xingbao's banner.

(Lumine: ...

Belle: ...)

Wei Lin had no choice, he said. Who didn't know their little raccoon could tank, fight, and provide support?

That was the beauty of strength.

Although, with his current strength as a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, he could be called the strongest beneath the gods. After all, no matter how suppressed the Five Directional Flags were, they were still the Five Directional Flags.

But... who could resist a two-and-a-half-year-old Stellaron spirit who loved rummaging through trash cans?

For some reason, Wei Lin kept feeling two resentful gazes fixed on him, sending a chill down his back.

"Strange. Who's thinking about me? Why do I have such a bad feeling?"

(Lumine: Just wait until I get out. You're going to get it.

Belle: Boo-hoo~ He didn't pay me the slightest bit of attention~~~ Sob sob ｡ﾟ(ﾟ´ω`ﾟ)ﾟ｡)

As the starlight fell, there was one purple and nine blues.

"Ding~"

As the starlight fell, ten figures appeared.

"Congratulations, my lord. You pulled a four-star character, Spring Woven From Jade, Lan Yan, and beginner Soul Master NPCs ×9 (Soul Emperor / according to my lord's current realm)."

"Spring Woven From Jade, Lan Yan

Martial Soul: Moonweaver's Dawn

Weapon: Oathsworn Eye

Artifacts: Viridescent Venerer (attack sands / attack goblet / attack circlet)

Constellation: Hirundo

Soul Power: 31 (purple, purple, black)

Soul Skills: Swallow-Wisp Pinion Dance

Moonlit Dash

Lustrous Moonbeam, Cometh the Binding Talisman

Favorability: 10"

"Hello, I'm Lan Yan of the Chenyu Vale Artisans' Guild. It's nice to meet you—or should I say... long time no see."

As the meteors fell, a black-haired girl slowly walked out. Seeing Wei Lin's stunned expression, she leaned forward slightly.

"Lin, long time no see~"

Wei Lin blinked and looked at the girl watching him curiously. Hardly daring to believe it, he reached out, only to hesitate just before he touched her.

Lan Yan reached out, took his retreating hand, and placed it against her plump cheek.

"It's really Lan Yan~ A living Lan Yan, not... Lan Yan... behind a screen..."

Wei Lin said nothing, simply pulling Lan Yan into his arms.

Lan Yan gently rested her head against him.

Tears spilled out uncontrollably, and quiet sobs gradually turned into wails. Lan Yan let it all out.

People always said that two-dimensional characters were fictional, but... were they... really fictional?

To Wei Lin, they were companions, partners who had accompanied him through long stretches of time. After long hours at work, they alone could make him feel that his time belonged to him, that his life belonged to him.

Lan Yan petulantly wiped her tears on Wei Lin's clothes.

"Keep pulling, partner. Everyone's waiting for you. This time, you can't abandon us again, okay~?"

Wei Lin nodded firmly.

"This time, I won't."

Wei Lin didn't think about why Lan Yan knew him or knew that he was the person in front of the screen. Some things were better not examined too closely.

That went for Lan Yan, and for Wei Lin too.

Of course, when in doubt, dump the blame on Aha.

(Aha: Aha has really lost face.)

The second ten-pull gave him two purples and eight blues.

The purple lights fell.

"Benny's Adventure Team! Assemble! Lin! Let me join your adventure team again!"

"I'm Xiangling, a chef from Liyue. Lin, without me traveling with you, have you been eating properly?"

Two figures walked out.

One was a "six-star" Pyro Archon, the other a master chef from Liyue.

"Long time no see, both of you. This time, would you be willing to travel with me again?"

Xiangling pouted, her voice full of anger.

"Ever since you started playing the Lunar team, you tossed me into storage ages ago. But... since you've invited me so sincerely, I'll take care of your meals and off-field damage once again!"

Bennett scratched his head.

"Trial by Fire, Bennett

Martial Soul: Fateful Flames of Revival

Weapon: Aquila Favonia

Artifacts: Noblesse Oblige (energy recharge sands / HP goblet / healing circlet)

Constellation: Rota Calamitas

Soul Power: 31 (purple, purple, black)

Soul Skills: Passion Overload

Fantastic Voyage

Fearnaught

Favorability: 10"

"Exquisite Delicacy, Xiangling

Martial Soul: Guoba (Marchosius)

Weapon: Dragon's Bane

Artifacts: Crimson Witch (energy recharge sands / Pyro damage goblet / critical rate circlet)

Constellation: Trulla

Soul Power: 31 (purple, purple, black)

Soul Skills: Guoba Attack

Pyronado

Jueyun Chili

Favorability: 10"

When Wei Lin saw Xiangling's panel, he silently gave her a thumbs-up.

Good grief, she probably was the only one with a god as her Martial Soul. Of the Abyss's three most versatile characters, he had already pulled two.

Bennett silently edged away. After all, Wei Lin's luck with pulls had been dreadful back then, reaching hard pity every time. Though Bennett knew his bad luck had no effect around Wei Lin, still... what if it did?

"Last ten-pull, let's go!"

The golden light of the meteor finally descended, and the pink orbs were completely used up.

"I choose you! My! Stellaron spirit!"

Wei Lin pointed one hand at the sky, looking like a proud little peacock.

Golden light flashed.

One gold, nine blues.

The next second, an oversized golden trash can fell from above.

Wei Lin: "???"

"Boom!"

As the rumble sounded, only a single hand remained visible beneath the golden trash can.

"I... chirp chirp chirp!"