Dream Awakening

Mu Yang explained the whole sequence of events.

For the people of Chenyu Vale,

Fujin had chosen to preside over the Dragon Casting Ceremony.

The price she paid was:

losing the ability to remain active on land for extended periods.

Everyone present was moved by this.

They, too, had given much for the people of Guili Plains and Liyue Harbor.

They understood what that feeling was like.

And Fujin was not only Mu Yang's friend.

She was also their friend.

How could they possibly remain indifferent?

After Mu Yang finished telling them about Fujin,

he asked A Ping,

"Can you make a small Serenitea Pot filled entirely with flowing water?"

"That way, the few of us can continue traveling with her."

In truth, this idea

had come to Mu Yang from the Serenitea Pot within the Serenitea Pot.

Since she could not leave water for too long,

then she could simply remain in the water at all times.

As for traveling,

Mu Yang and the others could handle that.

After hearing Fujin's story,

A Ping had been grieving for her.

Fujin had always been someone who could never sit still.

She liked new things

and longed to see the world beyond.

When they had gathered at Mount Aocang before,

she had even said she would visit Guili Plains when she had time.

But there was scarcely any water around Guili Plains.

She likely would not be able to make the trip...

Now that Mu Yang had said this,

A Ping's eyes immediately lit up.

"Good, good, good. This is a wonderful idea."

Morax nodded in approval as well.

Guizhong asked,

"What style should this Serenitea Pot take?"

A Ping glanced at the tea set on the table.

"How about using this teacup? I recall that she loves tea dearly."

And so the matter was settled.

Morax used his authority

to carve an exquisite teacup.

Then A Ping used the power of the Serenitea Pot

to transform that exquisite teacup.

Guizhong helped as well.

Within the transformed teacup

was a tiny Serenitea Pot.

The clear spring inside the cup would never run dry,

making it perfectly suited as a temporary dwelling.

It could hold the reflections of sun and moon,

and it could hold a swimming fish as well...

The finished product far exceeded Mu Yang's expectations.

He expressed his gratitude to Morax, A Ping, and Guizhong.

The three of them all felt that Mu Yang was being a little too solemn.

"Do not dwell on it. This is simply what friends ought to do."

"That's right. We're happy to be of help."

"Make sure she comes to visit soon. Guili Plains will definitely give her a shock."

Mu Yang was so moved that he could not speak.

Afterward, he stayed there for several more days.

He even bought many things for the three of them at the market.

Only then did he part ways with A Ping and the others

and set off on the journey back.

However, he still had to visit Mount Aocang first.

Mu Yang used his Lightness Skill to skim over Mount Aocang's summit.

With a dragonfly-touching-water landing, he came down beside little Ganyu.

At that moment, little Ganyu was hugging a mechanical Great Windmill and playing with it.

When she saw Mu Yang arrive, she ran inside to call Cloud Retainer.

Cloud Retainer had put a great deal of care into this as well.

She had made many delicate mechanisms.

They came in all sorts of forms.

There were koi, lion-like beasts, White Snakes, cranes...

In short, she had turned everyone she knew into little mechanical creations.

One truly had to admire her exquisite craftsmanship.

Their outward appearance gave no indication that they were mechanisms at all.

With these little toys to keep her company,

Lingyuan likely would no longer fear loneliness.

"Thank you, Cloud Retainer."

The tsundere adeptus turned her head away.

"Hmph. What use is merely saying thank you?"

"Come visit more often when you have time, understand?"

Mu Yang could only say yes, yes, yes.

Then he bid farewell to Cloud Retainer and little Ganyu

and sped toward Chenyu Vale.

Mu Yang was extremely happy now.

At the thought of the expressions they would make upon receiving their gifts,

the corners of his mouth unconsciously rose.

The group gathered at Ancient Tea Tree Slope.

"What is it, Mu Yang? Why did you suddenly call us here?"

Fujin teased him.

"I know. You must have gone to spar with someone and gotten sent back with your tail between your legs."

Lingyuan added,

"So you called us here to comfort you?"

Mu Yang pretended to be annoyed.

"These are what you call bad friends! Look at Medicine Master."

"Then look at the two of you."

"Forget it. I'll just give your gifts to Medicine Master too."

The three spoke in unison. "Gifts?"

Fujin laughed again.

"Oh~ So we prepared a surprise for you before."

"And now you want to return the favor, right?"

Mu Yang snorted.

"Either way, you don't get one anymore."

Fujin hurried over and began massaging Mu Yang's shoulders.

"Don't be like that, Mu Yang, Big Brother Mu?"

"I was just talking nonsense. With your swordsmanship, how could anyone possibly be your match?"

Lingyuan scoffed at Fujin's shameless change of attitude.

"Hmph. Is that all the pride you have?"

Mu Yang remarked that, by that logic, Lingyuan was very brave, then?

As he spoke, he brought out all the mechanisms Cloud Retainer had made.

The surroundings instantly became lively.

Lingyuan was utterly captivated by the exquisite little toys.

Mu Yang did not forget to remind her,

"Lingyuan, you were supposed to have a share of these too."

Mu Yang shook his head regretfully.

"What a pity. Now only the rest of us can divide them up."

How could Lingyuan accept that?

One had to know when to bend and when to stand tall.

The same went for lion-like beasts.

She immediately copied Fujin and changed her attitude.

Fujin curled her lips.

In an affected voice, she mimicked Lingyuan. "Hmph~ Is that all the pride you have~"

"HAHAHAHA..."

Naturally, this was merely friendly teasing between companions.

Lingyuan took the little mechanisms and went off to play.

Mu Yang then took out the stone tablets recording medical knowledge and gave them to Medicine Master.

Naturally, there were also all kinds of books he had picked up at the market.

Medicine Master happily accepted them.

"Thank you. It seems you really put thought into this."

"Of course."

Fujin leaned closer.

"What about mine? What about mine?"

"Of course I didn't forget yours."

Mu Yang took out the exquisite teacup.

Fujin held it in her palms,

unable to put it down.

This carving had come from the hand of the most particular person in all of Liyue.

Its appearance alone was enough to make it a perfect gift.

Not to mention that it had other functions.

"Place this teacup on the table first, then pour Mortal Power into it."

Fujin did as Mu Yang instructed.

She placed it on the table

and then infused it with Mortal Power.

"Wait, this is..."

Fujin sensed the teacup's Serenitea Pot power.

She immediately assumed her true form and leaped inside.

"Wahoo--!"

The commotion drew Lingyuan over as well.

Medicine Master, standing nearby, had already been left dumbfounded.

Such an incredible thing existed!

They all knew what this meant.

It meant they could once again travel the world together as they had before.

Fujin poked her head out.

"Thank you, Mu Yang. This gift is truly far too precious..."

"This wasn't my achievement alone."

Mu Yang told them all about his experiences at Mount Aocang and Guili Plains.

They were deeply moved as well.

"Looks like we have no choice but to visit Guili Plains. We'll have to thank A-Ping and the others in person."

Lingyuan cradled her teacup.

"When the time comes, I'll set off with you just like this."

"I bet you'll find it troublesome halfway through and give up."

"That's you. I'd never do that."

Medicine Master watched the two bicker.

Then, with remarkable reliability, began planning the journey.

"First, we'll go to Mount Aocang to find Cloud Retainer and little Ganyu."

"Then we'll visit Guili Plains, and finally set out for Liyue Harbor."

Fujin and Lingyuan began cheering.

"Mount Aocang, Guili Plains, Liyue Harbor!"

Mu Yang smiled from the bottom of his heart.

Throwing all concern for his image aside, he shouted along with them.

"Mount Aocang, Guili Plains, Liyue Harbor!"

Yet this time, the transition

did not take him to the point in time when they were traveling as he had expected.

When Mu Yang opened his eyes again,

he saw a room at Wangshu Inn.

He had awakened.