Even Madame Ping Had to Face Physical Punishment

[Gorou: As expected of Her Excellency Sangonomiya!]

[Yae Miko: Let's hear it. See if you're thinking what I'm thinking.]

[Lisa: Actually, I noticed it too.]

[Amber: Stop keeping us in suspense! Even narrowing three choices down to two would help.]

[Sangonomiya Kokomi: We can rule out five times the price. Given Xingqiu's habits and style, and his remark about giving as good as he gets, this must relate to Mao Cai Gong trying to buy Chang the Ninth's cor lapis for thirty percent of its value at the beginning of the story.]

[Yae Miko: Seven times and three times are both plausible answers, and both fit.]

[Lisa: We've ruled out the wrong answer. It's down to two choices, so go ahead, everyone.]

"Ding-everyone has selected an answer."

The livestream resumed. Nobody wanted to be punished.

Xingqiu: "How about three times the market price?"

Mao Cai Gong: "You're taking advantage of my predicament! You've gone too far!"

[Arataki Itto: Ah-why only three times? It should've been seven times!]

[Paimon: Exactly, exactly! I picked seven times too.]

[Amber: You're all way too greedy.]

[Xingqiu: Actually, seven times would have been better.]

[Chongyun: Three times is more reasonable. A chivalrous hero should show mercy when he can. Teaching Mao Cai Gong a lesson is enough.]

Xingqiu: "So, are you buying or not?"

Mao Cai Gong looked crestfallen, like a deflated balloon. "Ugh, fine, fine, fine. I'll get the money. I'll get the money!"

Xingqiu: "Thank you for choosing the Feiyun Commerce Guild. We look forward to your continued patronage."

Mao Cai Gong slunk away, wearing the same expression as some of those who had answered incorrectly.

[Kuki Shinobu: Boss, I told you to pick three times. Why did you pick seven? You deserve this.]

[Kamisato Ayato: Actually, I picked seven times too.]

[Lisa: Luckily, I managed to restrain myself.]

[Yae Miko: The answer clearly leaned toward three times. You're all so naughty.]

[Kujou Sara: I... I picked seven times too. Damn it!]

[Ei: @Yae Miko, what happens to those who picked seven times? I picked seven times.]

[Kujou Sara: Wonderful! I picked seven times too.]

[Thoma: The Shogun got it wrong too?]

[Yae Miko: Hahahaha! Ei really did get it wrong. This is too funny. You'll be punished.]

"It's starting! So many people are getting punished. They've started running!"

"If we're comparing how many people got punished, Liyue definitely has the most!"

"Mondstadt has plenty too. At least a thousand-no, two thousand people are running."

"Heh, only two thousand? Liyue has at least three thousand."

"Hey, hey, you're even competing over this?"

In the regular livestream room, the ten thousand randomly selected viewers began their punishment. Seventy percent had answered incorrectly.

Among them were-

Thirdie: "Hahaha! This old lady sure is unlucky. She has to run ten laps."

Secondie: "Old lady, can you handle ten laps? It'll probably be next month by the time you finish."

Madame Ping: "Young people these days really have no manners."

Thirdie and Secondie were running as punishment when they spotted Madame Ping doing the same and began mocking her, especially when they saw her stooped over her cane.

Walking those ten laps would take quite a while.

Secondie and Thirdie picked up their pace. As strong, sturdy dockworkers, they could just about finish their ten punishment laps in three hours.

Liyue Harbor was hardly small, after all.

But just as they rounded a corner-

Madame Ping appeared ahead of them, walking slowly with her cane.

Thirdie: "What's going on? How did this old lady get ahead of us?"

Madame Ping merely gave a faint smile.

The two pushed harder and sped up again. When they reached another corner and rounded it-

Madame Ping was once again ten meters ahead of them.

Secondie: "What's going on? Is this old lady one of a set of triplets?"

Madame Ping: "Young men, you'll have to try harder."

Secondie and Thirdie sprinted onward, running faster until they were panting with exhaustion. They rounded another corner. Surely this time she couldn't...

Ten meters ahead of them, Madame Ping rose from a chair. "I've rested for two minutes. Time to start running again. If you answer incorrectly, you must accept the punishment. That is the contract."

Secondie and Thirdie sat on the ground, utterly exhausted. "What's going on? What's going on?"

The livestream footage continued.

Xingqiu asked Lumine and Paimon to return the book.

Xingqiu: "Once the deed is done, depart without a backward glance, concealing both your deeds and your name. That is a true chivalrous hero."

"Ding-the final question of this livestream quiz: how well did Xingqiu's novel sell in Liyue?"

[Xingqiu: Pfft-!!!!]

Xingqiu had thought it was over, only to cough up blood.

"1: It was a bestseller in Liyue."

"2: It sold fairly well and had a loyal readership."

"3: Sales were rather dismal."

"4: Nobody showed any interest."

"5: It was never published in Liyue at all."

"Fifty people in the regular livestream room may buzz in. A correct answer earns a reward of fifty thousand Mora. An incorrect answer means no food for five days, only water."

"Two people in the Elite Livestream Room may buzz in. Xingqiu may not buzz in or be selected."

[Amber: Isn't this a free point? Didn't Yae Miko already reveal the answer just now?]