Will the Next Blade Be Kuike?

Over at the victory celebration.

Ying and Mu Yang arrived together.

Paimon had long since vanished to who knew where to eat.

The others were tactful enough not to disturb the two as they caught up.

Before they met again, Ying had seemed to have a thousand things she wanted to say.

She had even wanted to question Mu Yang about why he had arranged everything so early, as if he were putting his affairs in order.

Yet he had told her none of it.

He clearly did not have to bear all of this alone.

But when Mu Yang truly appeared before her again,

she found herself not knowing where to begin.

In the end, Mu Yang was the first to start a conversation.

"Is everything in Chenyu Vale all right?"

He still cared so much about Chenyu Vale.

Maybe this was what being a straight man was like.

They had already exchanged their thanks on the way to the banquet hall.

Now, the only topics they could probably find were their friends in Liyue.

Ying answered that everything was well.

Mu Yang's efforts had not been in vain.

Chenyu Vale would no longer be threatened by the gods.

She teased, "It's just missing one snowy mountain wonder."

Mu Yang did not mind. "It wasn't as if just anyone could climb it anyway."

The two chatted idly.

As though Mu Yang had never left at all.

This was simply how they got along.

Ying sipped her juice and began telling him amusing stories from the Lantern Rite.

Ten boxes at half price, Cloud Retainer, and Shenhe's changes...

Mu Yang sighed with feeling. Seeing that everyone had not stopped moving forward because of his departure

did not feel bad at all.

Ying asked the question everyone had been concerned about.