When Lin En returned to the hotel, he was completely exhausted. After completing the assessment, he had taken on some errands and was now utterly worn out.
He only earned 20,000 Mora in one afternoon.
He pushed open the door, and without even taking off his shoes, he plopped down on the bed, buried his face in the pillow, took a long breath, and sighed.
"Bedtime is still the most comfortable!"
Zibai's evaluation form was covered with dense annotations. Although he ultimately received a "pass," he lost a lot of points for details.
Examples include "slow start," "three-second delay in reacting to emergencies," and "failure to promptly check the surrounding environment after combat."
Lin En felt that Zibai was deliberately picking a fight and settling a personal score, but since she had given him half of her Mora, she decided not to argue with him.
How was your day?
Ronava sat on the edge of the bed, holding a glass of water, and handed it to him. Looking at Lin En's limp state, she spoke with a hint of schadenfreude.
"Was it all right?"
"Smoothly."
Lin En took the water glass, took a big gulp, and lay back down.
"It was pretty easy. I just killed a few Hilichurl. I thought there were only a few, but there was a whole bunch in the cave. But it wasn't a big problem; I took care of them in ten seconds."
Ten seconds?
Ronava was somewhat skeptical.
"You have so little confidence in me?"
"It seems you've gotten a lot stronger than before. You used to have to run away from just a few Hilichurl."
How did you know about this?
Lin En remembered that she hadn't told anyone about this, except... Zhongli!
He recounted his encounter with Zibai at the Adventurers' Guild that day, including how he was glared at for calling her "Auntie".
Ronava smiled slightly.
"You called her 'Auntie,' and she didn't try to attack you with a sword?"
"Almost, but I guess it was because of you."
Lin En had to admit that sometimes, Ronava had far more influence than he did.
Outside the window, the entire sky was dyed yellow by the setting sun; it would soon be dark.
" Zhongli should be back by now. I'm going to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"No! I want to go too!"
Lin En jumped right out of bed; he had looked like he was about to die, but now he was full of energy.
Ronava looked him up and down, her expression somewhat complicated.
You were just lying in bed, unable to get up.
"That was just now, you've rested well now."
Lin En patted the wrinkles off her clothes and put her coat back on.
"In case anything important happens over there with Zhongli, I'll need to be there to listen in. Besides, I made some money from the commission, so I'll treat you to dinner later."
The two left the inn and walked along the harbor towards the east of the city.
Liyue Harbor is bustling in the evening. Fishing boats return to port, vendors pack up their stalls, and the aroma of food wafts through the streets and alleys.
Lin En walked beside Ronava, her steps light and brisk, her legs no longer aching and her back no longer hurting.
When they arrived at the entrance of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the door was open, and Hu Tao was sitting in a chair inside, flipping through a booklet.
Ronava knocked on the door, and Hu Tao's voice came from inside.
"Please come in."
The two went inside, Hu Tao closed the booklet and smiled at them.
"Oh, it's you two again. Here to see Zhongli again?"
"Is he back?"
Ronava asked.
"He's back, but he's gone out again. He said he's going to Bubu Pharmacy to get some medicine. You should be able to find him there."
Hu Tao pointed north, as if afraid the two wouldn't know the way.
" Bubu Pharmacy, the pharmacy run by Baizhu, is located at the end of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Sheng Tang Street, not far away."
The two thanked Hu Tao and walked north along the street.
Bubu Pharmacy's storefront wasn't large, with a medicine sign hanging at the entrance. Through the half-open door, you could see that the store was filled with medicine cabinets and bottles and jars. Baizhu was standing behind the counter pounding medicine, while Qiqi sat on a small stool in the corner.
Zhongli sat in a chair by the window, a cup of tea in front of him, looking down at a document. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and glanced at the two people.
"You've arrived?"
He said to close the document.
" Hu Tao already told me you were coming to see me."
They sat down opposite him, Ronava went straight to the point. "How much do you know about Phanes?"
Zhongli picked up the teacup and took a slow, deliberate sip.
" Phanes is indeed in trouble. The invasion of the Abyss has intensified, and the Tsaritsa is preparing to take action. But there's something you might not know."
"What?"
" The Tsaritsa contacted me."
Zhongli put down his teacup and looked out the window into the distance.
"She asked me to tell you that she will take action against Life Ruler in two weeks, but she needs your cooperation."
"Cooperate? Is she crazy? Who's the one who made me like this? What makes her think I'd cooperate?"
Ronava felt like she'd heard a huge joke. She'd previously thought the Tsaritsa had some use, but now that she knew Asmoday's plan, why should she help her?
The coldness in Ronava's tone seemed to lower the temperature of the air in Bubu Pharmacy.
You're right.
Zhongli said.
"She is indeed the culprit who made you this way, so it's only natural that you don't agree."
"..."
Ronava leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, lost in thought.
"But without power, how long can you hold out in the battles to come?"
Ronava remained silent for a few moments, glanced at Lin En beside her, and replied.
"I don't need power now. If I could, I'd like to try living a peaceful life."
So you're planning to leave it at that?
Zhongli glanced at her sideways, surprised by her unexpected response.
"If Heavenly Principles finds out what one of the Four Shades he created is doing now, and is being blamed, aren't you afraid it will implicate him?"
Ronava did not answer.
Lin En suddenly grasped her hand and said firmly.
"I'm not afraid! What kind of bullshit Heavenly Principles? She's mine now. If she dares to come, I'll be the first to blow her up!"
When Lin En said those words, the Bubu Pharmacy fell silent for a moment.
Baizhu stopped pounding the medicine, Qiqi peeked half her head out from behind the pharmacopoeia. Even a medicine cat that was dozing in the corner raised its head and looked over.
Zhongli held his teacup, his gaze falling on the rings on the two men's hands. His expression held a hint of admiration, and a very slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Ronava turned her head to look at Lin En, and the hand he was holding with recoiled slightly.
"... Can't you think before you speak?"
She whispered something, but the tips of her ears turned red.
"I've thought it through. This is what I said after thinking it through. If she really comes, even if I can't beat her, I'll at least curse her out a couple of times before I fight her."
Zhongli put down his teacup and coughed softly.
"Commendable courage."
He said.
"But Heavenly Principles is currently preoccupied with her own problems and doesn't have time to deal with you right now. Once she's finished dealing with the Tsaritsa, if she still has the resources, then you can consider how to 'explode' against her."