The day after their conversation, Mona said her farewells early in the morning to a stubborn little girl who was still in bed and refused to get up—not even to see her one last time before they parted. In high spirits, and with a truly staggering fortune that could rival the wealth of a nation, she set off for Mondstadt.
After leaving Wangshu Inn, Mona followed the main road north through Dihua Marsh, soon reaching the mountain path at Stone Gate. Its winding stone steps climbed steeply up the rugged terrain.
As the name suggested, "Stone Gate" meant a gate made of stone.
From Stone Gate, continuing south would take you into Liyue, while heading north would take you to Mondstadt, the free land of "wind and dandelions"!
This naturally formed chasm was like Liyue's land gateway, standing firm at the border between the two nations.
It had taken Mona a full three days and three nights to travel from Wangshu Inn to Stone Gate!
That was with her quick pace and the occasional use of short-range Water Elemental teleportation, too. If she had traveled like an ordinary merchant caravan, the journey from Wangshu Inn to Stone Gate would have taken at least ten days. With a large load of goods and wagons, it would have taken even longer.
But either way, after spending two nights camping outdoors, tonight Mona would finally be spared the dew and cold wind of the night.
Because she had spotted what looked like a large teahouse up ahead on the mountain path.
There probably weren't any inns around here, but if she could sit in a shelter for the night, enjoy a big bowl of hot soup, and wait for daybreak, that would be pretty pleasant.
"Hello!"
"Old sir!"
"May I ask..."
"What are