Mu Yang Doesn't Want Players to Take Shortcuts, Deciphering is So Much Fun

Lumine finally sorted out her thoughts.

Emotionally speaking.

Compared to the Fatui Executive "Childe."

She was more willing to trust Mu Yang.

After all, in Mondstadt, the Fatui had been constantly causing trouble for her.

Mu Yang, however, was different.

Not only did he tell her news about her brother.

But he also helped her retrieve the Lyre of Winds over a small matter like a glass of juice.

And today, he had even stepped in to protect her.

Moreover, all that Mu Yang had done for her.

Unlike in Mondstadt, he hadn't asked for commissions or anything.

It felt more like concern between friends.

Thinking of this, Lumine's heart warmed.

Finally, Mu Yang told Lumine and Paimon.

To be careful of the Fatui.

They were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Perhaps, the incident of the Geo Archon's demise was related to them.

Paimon stomped her feet in frustration.

"Those Fatui scoundrels really have bad intentions, just like that 'La Signora'!"

Mu Yang feigned surprise.

"You encountered 'La Signora' as well?"

Lumine recounted her experience in front of the Mondstadt Cathedral.

She was still quite indignant.

If it hadn't been for her sneak attack.

She would have beaten her up soundly.

Paimon suddenly remembered something.

"Ah, I forgot all about it after meeting Mu Yang. We came here to find an Immortal!"

Lumine was unconcerned.

"Mu Yang is fine anyway, there's no need to rush."

Hearing Ying's words.

Guinaifen couldn't help but comment.

"Oh no, it feels like Ying has become lovestruck."

"Did you really forget that finding an Immortal has another purpose: to clear your name?"

[I actually forgot too. Anyway, the Geo Archon is gone, so let's just elope with Mu Yang]

[I think that's feasible]

[Plot planner: 6]

[That makes sense. The Geo Archon is gone, so what's the point of finding the culprit? It'll all be for nothing anyway]

[This might be related to Mu Yang's background. Looking at Ying's expression, how could she possibly leave?]

Guinaifen also chimed in.

"That's right. Mu Yang's words were very clear. Given the protagonist's personality."

"She would help him no matter what."

Paimon was speechless at Lumine's statement.

Why was she acting like this?

Paimon reminded Lumine.

"We are still wanted by the Liyue Qixing."

"Mu Yang might be included too, since he ran away with us at the time."

Mu Yang followed Paimon's words.

"I only had information on Guili Plains and Mount Aocang before."

"Now that I've heard you both speak, my thoughts are finally clear."

"It should be my subconscious knowing something happened to the Geo Archon."

"Meaning I need to go to these two places to find Immortals."

Paimon asked Mu Yang.

"Do you remember anything about the Immortals who live here?"

Mu Yang of course shook his head directly.

"No impression."

He knew that when he appeared in the player's field of vision.

He was supposed to play a game character.

It wasn't appropriate to overshadow the main characters too much.

Mu Yang could of course directly knock on Cloud Retainer's grotto-heaven door.

If he did that, Cloud Retainer might rush over directly.

The three of them could meet her without even needing to run through a domain.

But that wouldn't be interesting.

Solving puzzles is so much fun, right?

Let me play the puzzle-solving to the fullest, hahaha.

Lumine said that if he couldn't remember, there was nothing they could do.

They could only check if there were any clues around.

She noticed that where she was sitting, there seemed to be a line of small text.

"There are words here, 'This place borrows from the Archon'?"

Paimon leaned closer to look.

"It's true, there's one here too. Hmm... 'This place is where Guizhong sat'."

Mu Yang: "Mine says 'This place is where Cloud Retainer resides'."

Paimon put her chin in her hand, looking thoughtful.

"'Archon', could it refer to the Geo Archon?"

"'Guizhong'... I don't know what that means, 'Cloud Retainer'..."

"Right! Among the Immortals mentioned by that Moon-Shoring Jade-Bending True Lord, one was called 'Cloud Retainer True Lord'!"

Lumine looked at the teacup on the table.

It seemed to still be in normal use.

There were no spiderwebs or dust.

She picked up the teacup.

"Look, there are signs of recent use. This should be where 'Cloud Retainer True Lord' and other Immortals had a meal together."

"What do you think, Mu Yang?"

Lumine saw that Mu Yang seemed a bit spaced out.

"Mu Yang, are you okay? Did you remember something?"

Mu Yang finally snapped back to reality.

"I'm fine, I remembered some scenes, but they're not very clear."

"Your guess is correct, someone held a gathering here."

Lumine put down the teacup.

She comforted Mu Yang.

"Don't force yourself if you can't remember, it's okay."

"You sit here and rest, we'll go look around."

Mu Yang accepted Lumine's kind offer.

He sat on the stone stool to rest.

Watching Lumine and Paimon search for clues around them.

It wasn't acting just now.

It was real.

Lumine's constitution is too special!

Was the lie he just told about to come true so quickly?

Lumine and Paimon walked a little further away.

The two of them discussed in hushed tones.

"Mu Yang's condition seems a bit poor right now, so let's not disturb him for the time being."

"Mhm."

Lumine looked at her companion.

"What do you think, Paimon?"

Paimon might not be very useful usually.

But when it came to food-related matters, her intelligence would always regain its dominance.

"If this is a place where Immortals gather for meals, then let's make some delicacies that Immortals enjoy."

"Perhaps that will attract the attention of this 'Cloud Retainer'?"

[Paimon's most useful episode]

[She only uses her brain when it's about food]

[Emergency Food, after all]

Lumine also felt that this method made some sense.

However, there were still some issues.

"What delicious food would Immortals want to eat?"

This also stumped Paimon.

"Hmm... Honey-glazed carrots with fried meat?"

Lumine crossed her arms.

"That's something you like to eat, Paimon."

Paimon chuckled, "Hehe... Let's look around nearby, maybe someone else has made offerings here before."

"Hopefully, they'll leave us some reference."

Guinaifen, controlling Lumine's character, roamed around the campsite.

She found a few pages of recipes and some ingredients.

After preparing the food, she didn't immediately make the offering.

Instead, she suddenly acted out.

She maneuvered the character closer to Mu Yang.

"Hey everyone, let me share a trick."

"From this spot, if you look up from a different angle, you can see Mu Yang's..."

"Then, we'll do this..."

[OMG, streamer is insane]

[Xiao Guizi is so cringe]

[Sudden attack?]

[This is too outrageous, I've screenshotted it]

[The official servers will fix this overnight, it's too cringe]

Guinaifen laughed, "You guys can pretend all you want in the comments."

"You're probably secretly logging into your accounts on your phones right now, ready to come here."

[Oh no, she predicted it]

[I'm honest, I just want to see Mu Yang's body]

[What's wrong with taking a look?]

[can can need]

Meanwhile, in Teyvat.

Lumine certainly wouldn't have a sudden episode like the Fourth Calamity.

She followed the traces around.

And found the first place where cooking was done.

After gathering the materials, She took the recipe from the ground—

Jade Broth.

Afterward, Lumine walked a few more steps to the side.

She discovered a second cooking spot.

This place was a mess.

It seemed the person who cooked here was very careless.

Flour was scattered everywhere.

There was another piece of paper on the ground.

Lumine picked it up.

There were footprints on it.

Disgust.

She wrote down the recipe for Mora Meat.

Then she threw the paper away.

Afterward, she walked a large circle around the outer perimeter of Mount Aocang.

She found a third cooking spot.

This place was much cleaner than the previous one.

"This place seems more like where one would offer sacrifices to an Immortal."

Paimon nodded in agreement.

"I think so too."

Lumine gently patted Paimon's head.

"It seems Paimon guessed correctly this time."

"Hehe, as long as it's related to food, I feel like my mind is very sharp."

Paimon flipped through the neatly organized box.

"Matsutake mushrooms, and some beast meat."

"Look, there's another recipe here."

Lumine took it and looked.

Matsutake Meat Rolls.

"These should be the only three spots. Let's try making all three dishes."

Lumine hummed in agreement.

She started a fire and began cooking.

Mu Yang also came over to help.

The three of them worked together to prepare the three delicious dishes.

They were offered on the table where they had just sat.

Then, they heard the sound of a stone door opening.