The third life: Worth it

Xiu Yuan was somewhat taken aback, but he still wore a faint smile as he gently stroked her long, silvery-white hair.

It took quite a while for Shenhe to regain her composure.

Then she finished the rest of her tomato and egg noodles, even drinking every last drop of the broth.

Xiu Yuan was a little surprised to see this.

"Did you like it, Shenhe?" Xiu Yuan asked.

"Yes... it was delicious. Thank you."

"You're welcome. As long as you like it, I'll make tomato and egg noodles for you every day."

"Really?" Shenhe looked at Xiu Yuan with eyes full of anticipation.

"Of course."

"You're so kind."

Xiu Yuan finished all the food on the table as well.

He was so full that he could barely walk, so he stayed in the restaurant to rest.

Bang!

Not far away, a burly, heavily bearded man slammed the table and stood up.

"Are you saying I'm trying to dine and dash?" he roared furiously.

The waiter frantically waved his hands. "No, no, that's not what I meant."

"Then what do you mean?!" the burly man demanded, narrowing his eyes.

"But you... really haven't paid any Mora..."

"And you're saying that isn't accusing me of dining and dashing?! I paid you the Mora! You pocketed it instead of giving it to the owner!"

"I didn't... I didn't do that..."

The waiter was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. His face flushed red with distress, and he had no idea what to do.

Hearing the commotion, the owner hurried over as well.

"Sir, may I ask what happened?" he asked with an appeasing smile.

"This fellow here! I paid him the Mora, but now he says I haven't and wants me to pay again! Are you trying to accuse me of dining and dashing?!"

"I didn't... boss, I didn't..."

The waiter was already too flustered to know what to do. All he could do was repeat those unconvincing words.

At that moment, Shenhe stood and walked over. Xiu Yuan followed close behind without trying to stop her.

Boom!!!!

Without another word, Shenhe sent the burly, bearded man flying with a single palm strike.

The astonishing sight left everyone wide-eyed and speechless.

"Ugh..." The burly man had never expected a woman like her to possess such terrifying strength. Clutching his chest in pain, he propped up his upper body and opened his eyes with an agonized expression.

"Witch! The White-Haired Witch!!!"

This time, once he got a clear look at Shenhe, he was so frightened that he scrambled to his feet and fled.

But the crafty Xiu Yuan stood off to the side like an ordinary bystander and quietly stuck his right foot into the man's path.

The burly, bearded man tripped and fell again.

Holding a spear, Shenhe walked toward him one step at a time.

"I was wrong! I was wrong! I shouldn't have tried to dine and dash! I shouldn't have falsely accused him! Spare my life!"

Feeling Shenhe's intense killing intent, the burly, bearded man was scared out of his wits and immediately admitted his wrongdoing.

"Wait."

Shenhe was just about to end his life when Xiu Yuan stopped her.

Shenhe paused for a moment, then immediately stayed her hand.

A short while later, Acting Grand Master Jean arrived with quite a few people.

"What a coincidence. We meet again, you two cultivators."

Seeing Xiu Yuan and Shenhe, Jean spoke with a friendly smile.

"It's been a while, Acting Grand Master Jean," Xiu Yuan replied.

"Mm." Shenhe responded as coldly as ever.

"What happened here?" Acting Grand Master Jean asked, looking at the subdued, burly, bearded man.

After Xiu Yuan briefly explained the situation, Acting Grand Master Jean checked with the restaurant staff to confirm what had happened and why.

"Thank you for stepping in to help," Acting Grand Master Jean said with a faint smile.

"You're welcome."

"Is this your first time in Mondstadt?"

"Yes, we only arrived in Mondstadt today."

"How about this? As a token of my gratitude, I'll show you what makes Mondstadt special."

Acting Grand Master Jean volunteered to serve as Xiu Yuan and Shenhe's guide.

"Then sorry for the trouble," Xiu Yuan said, readily accepting.

"There's something I don't understand," Shenhe suddenly said, having remained silent until now.

"What is it?" Xiu Yuan asked.

"I don't quite understand why everyone chooses to reason with people who deliberately cause trouble like this. We could simply eliminate such evildoers once and for all. Why go to so much trouble?"

Acting Grand Master Jean and the knights were particularly surprised by Shenhe's question.

Naturally, Xiu Yuan was the calmest of them all.

"Because people are complicated. What if he really had paid, but the waiter was so busy that he forgot? If we killed him outright, wouldn't he have died unjustly?"

Xiu Yuan patiently explained it to her, even giving her an example.

Hearing this, Shenhe lowered her head slightly in thought.

Little by little, Shenhe was gradually becoming familiar with the rules of human society.

"Take him away. Come find me if anything comes up," Acting Grand Master Jean told the knights beside her.

"Yes!" they answered in unison.

After responding, everyone returned to their duties.

"Come on. Let me show you around Mondstadt."

"Thank you for taking the trouble," Xiu Yuan said gratefully.

"It's no trouble at all."

Under Acting Grand Master Jean's guidance, they visited all sorts of places. Shenhe was like a child, unfamiliar with everything and asking questions about it all.

Xiu Yuan was more like Shenhe's father. No matter how basic something was, he would patiently explain it to her.

After each explanation, Shenhe would look thoughtful.

When night fell, Acting Grand Master Jean arranged for them to stay at an inn.

"Shenhe, I need to go out and meet someone. I won't be back for a little while."

"All right. Go ahead. I'll meditate quietly and wait for you to return."

"All right."

Acting Grand Master Jean had arranged two rooms for them, but Xiu Yuan knew Shenhe would definitely come looking for him.

If he went out without telling her, Shenhe might anxiously search everywhere for him.

Mondstadt was so large, and Shenhe was unfamiliar with the place. She certainly wouldn't be able to find Xiu Yuan on her own.

Then Shenhe would cause trouble, because she knew Acting Grand Master Jean would appear if she did. She could then ask Acting Grand Master Jean to find Xiu Yuan.

Knowing Shenhe's personality, Xiu Yuan suspected she would definitely do that.

So it was better to let her know beforehand.

After all, Shenhe wasn't a child who needed someone beside her twenty-four hours a day.

"Tell me, what do you need help with?"

Acting Grand Master Jean, who was waiting at the inn's entrance, said this when she saw Xiu Yuan approaching.

Xiu Yuan went with Acting Grand Master Jean to a secluded spot, then told her what he had in mind.

"Sorry for the trouble," Xiu Yuan said, bowing slightly.

"Is doing this really worth it?"

"It is," he affirmed, earnest and solemn.

"All right..."

After Acting Grand Master Jean agreed, Xiu Yuan hurried straight to a winery and bought several bottles of fine cider.

Following his memories, he came to a grassy plain.

A large tree stood on that plain.

An unreliable fellow could often be found sitting in that tree.

The bard, Venti.

The Anemo Archon who did nothing but slack off every day.

"Here, just as I thought." Seeing that familiar figure upon his arrival, Xiu Yuan murmured with a faint smile.