"Don't rush to call me your master. Taste my cooking carefully first, then give me your verdict."
Lin Yi served up a bowl of rice that had already gone cold.
But once the Mapo Tofu spread over the rice and its aroma wafted up, even cold rice became incredibly delicious!
Lin Yi quietly watched Xiangling wolf down the food, taking a small bite of his own cooking.
It tasted good, certainly, but the spicy red grass was hotter than he had expected.
Xiangling, however, showed no reaction at all and quickly polished off all three dishes.
Even Guoba, who wanted a taste beside her, was ignored.
Once she had eaten and drunk her fill, Xiangling voiced her doubts.
"Is food this delicious really from a recipe shared among the gods?"
"Of course. This is only a tiny fraction of God's Recipe. The variety of ingredients currently available in Liyue is limited. Once we develop deeper economic and trade ties with the outside world, we'll be able to obtain more ingredients and make even more delicious food."
It was as though a whole new world had opened up to Xiangling, filling her with boundless anticipation for new dishes.
Just three Sichuan dishes had already conquered her taste buds. What would happen once the food industry developed further?
With Xiangling confirmed as a member of his exploration team, food and drink along the way would naturally be no problem.
Then came the day of their departure.
To avoid drawing too much attention, Lin Yi chose to leave when no one was around.
Despite getting up very early, the thought of exploring the continent of Teyvat left Lin Yi full of energy.
Xiangling had been waiting for quite some time, having temporarily left Guoba in Yanfei's care.
As for Keqing, she rolled her eyes at Lin Yi before reluctantly boarding the merchant caravan's carriage.
Lin Yi remained at the crossroads, seemingly waiting for something.
"Lord Geo Archon, it's getting late. We should leave. If we wait any longer, the people of Liyue will start getting up. It wouldn't be good if someone spotted us."
"Sorry for the trouble, caravan leader. Please wait just a little longer. I refuse to believe she really won't come!"
He waited until the sun had fully risen, but Ningguang still failed to appear.
"We only just got married. This should be the time for us to enjoy being together. Is she really comfortable letting me leave just like this?"
A hint of disappointment appeared on Lin Yi's face.
"Lord Geo Archon, it's time to go..."
"Coming. Let's set off."
The night before, Lin Yi had even deliberately reminded Ningguang that he would be leaving early.
Yet now, as sunlight gradually pierced the hazy mist, that familiar figure still never appeared.
Though he said nothing, his expression grew visibly colder.
As the caravan set off.
Inside the Jade Chamber, Ningguang toyed with a golden hourglass. Documents lay scattered across her desk, reflecting her somewhat irritable mood.
The sunlight outside the window snuffed out the candlelight, yet only added to her melancholy.
"Lady Ningguang, Lord Lin Yi has already departed."
"I know... Go back to your work."
Her secretary tactfully said nothing more.
Usually, it was the Geo Archon, Lin Yi, who took the initiative to speak with Ningguang. Although he had told her in advance last night, judging by their usual way of interacting.
Lin Yi should still have come to say goodbye that morning.
Their marriage existed only on the surface. Who would flatter herself by going out to see him off?
Ningguang believed she would never do such a thing.
Yet when she heard that Lin Yi had already left, she lost control of her strength for a moment, squeezing a crack into the golden hourglass in her hand.
It was as though she was waiting for something, waiting for a legitimate excuse.
Just then, Ganyu pushed open the door and walked in.
"Miss Ningguang, have you seen Keqing? I heard she forgot to tell me something important."
Keqing was currently with the caravan delivering goods to the Wangshu Inn, ensuring Lin Yi's safety.
The moment Ganyu spoke, Ningguang saw her opportunity.
She actually rose to her feet with a touch of excitement.
"So Keqing forgot something. As it happens, I'm taking a break right now. I'll go ask her for you."
"There's no need, Miss Ningguang. I was only asking whether Keqing had been here. I can go find her myself."
Ningguang handled countless affairs every day, with millions at stake every minute. Ganyu had not wanted to trouble her.
But judging from Miss Ningguang's expression, she seemed to care a great deal about this matter.
"You've been working hard lately. Take a proper break today. I'll ask Keqing myself."
She gave Ganyu no further chance to decline.
Ningguang hurried out of the Jade Chamber, hoping only that the merchant caravan would move a little more slowly, that Lin Yi would leave a little more slowly.
On the streets of Liyue, a golden afterimage could be seen racing through the crowds.
A closer look revealed Ningguang, hurrying along as though something momentous had happened.
She quickly reached the entrance to Liyue, but the traces of Lin Yi's presence that had lingered there were already gone.
On the endless road before her, she could not even tell which distant black speck was Lin Yi.
"Lin Yi, damn it... Were you really in such a hurry to leave? Couldn't you have waited a little longer, even just one minute?"
As a merchant, how could Ningguang not understand the value of a minute?
One minute could earn her a great deal of money, and it was also enough to easily wipe out a Hilichurl camp.
Yet that same minute could also bring an indescribable stab of pain to the heart.
As though something was drifting farther and farther away.
Should I chase after him, or stop here?
Inside the carriage, Lin Yi was lounging leisurely with a blade of grass dangling from his mouth when he felt the carriage brake abruptly.
He immediately frowned.
"What's going on? Who dares spoil this god's fun?"
Looking ahead, he saw a familiar figure blocking the caravan amid the rising dust.
When he took a closer look, he realized it was his wife, Ningguang, standing against the sunlight!
Before Lin Yi could react, Ningguang slowly approached.
Lin Yi thought she had come to make up for not saying goodbye. You didn't say goodbye before I left, and you're only coming now? Too late!
Just as Lin Yi was about to play hard to get, he saw Ningguang walk straight to the carriage behind him without so much as glancing his way.
She asked Keqing inside for the information Ganyu needed.
After explaining it, Keqing noticed how exhausted Ningguang was and channeled elemental energy to suppress her fatigue.
"Miss Ningguang, such a minor piece of information wasn't worth your traveling all this way. This was indeed an oversight on my part. I'm sorry for the trouble."
"I'll pass your information along. If there's nothing else, I'll head back."
After their exchange, Ningguang turned to leave. Forget speaking to Lin Yi-she did not even seem inclined to look at him.
Lin Yi said nothing, but noticed that Ningguang's left ankle was slightly red and swollen.
Damn it, it's at least half an hour's walk from Liyue to here. Did that silly girl Ningguang really run all this way just to exchange a few words with Ningguang?
No, even if you're heartless, I can't be.
Before you continue