Madam Xiao didn't keep them long. After a brief conversation, she let them go.
Yelan had originally planned to investigate The Chasm that day, but after what happened to Shen Luolun, she approved herself an indefinite leave of absence. Using the physical description he had given her, she set about sending people to investigate the mysterious woman's origins and whereabouts.
As for a certain someone's house, it was sealed off for the time being, and no one was allowed inside.
Shen Luolun protested.
He thought Yelan was making a mountain out of a molehill.
How could someone harm him after he had saved her?
There were still more good people than bad in the world.
Besides, how could a white-haired young lady in black stockings possibly be a bad person?
Yelan sneered and gave him a hard flick on the forehead, telling him to wake up that lust-addled brain of his.
One must always be on guard against others!
The mysterious woman had a complicated background, was seemingly being hunted, and was exceptionally good at hiding. She probably wasn't a kind or easy person to deal with.
To put it plainly:
Perhaps he had acted like a gentleman, helping someone in need, but what if the other party judged a gentleman's heart by a villain's own?
Don't forget, a certain someone couldn't wait for everyone to know he had 200 million in bride price.
Plenty of people repaid kindness with malice, murdering for money.
With a certain someone's trash-tier fighting ability, if something really happened, he wouldn't even be able to run away.
So they had to be cautious.
Until they found the mysterious woman or confirmed that Shen Luolun hadn't gotten himself into serious trouble because of her, Yelan had him stay at the Ye residence and go out as little as possible.
Shen Luolun pulled a gloomy little cat face.
He had wanted to go traveling and have some fun.
He had been feeling a little pent-up lately and desperately needed to relieve some stress.
(A certain Brother Liangkun approves ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)✧)
He could be a shut-in after he finished spending the money.
Though he was extremely reluctant, Shen Luolun knew Yelan meant well and was looking out for him. Unable to refuse, he had no choice but to agree.
Of course, he definitely wasn't obeying because the consequences of refusing would be terrible.
It was only for a while, anyway.
It would be over in the blink of an eye.
Wait?
How long was a while?
Had he forgotten to ask her?
Watching the woman walk away, Shen Luolun pondered.
It shouldn't... be long, right?
Snezhnaya.
Lumine emerged from the Adventurers' Guild after just finishing her daily commissions.
She stretched, in a good mood.
Another 60 Primogems earned for the day.
(^ω^).
Progress toward becoming a rich lady +1.
Not far away, Paimon waved at her.
"Traveler, Traveler, there's a letter for you!"
A letter for me?
Hearing Paimon, Lumine looked puzzled.
Paimon handed her the letter, and she opened it.
It was from Xiangling.
Its contents were roughly as follows:
Liyue's Moonchase Festival was only a few days away, and the Cuisine Machine Test was about to begin. Xiangling wanted to invite her and Paimon to take part and sample some new specialty dishes while they were there.
"Traveler, who wrote you the letter? What does it say?" Paimon asked curiously.
"It's from Xiangling. The Moonchase Festival is coming, and she wants us to go take part in the Cuisine Machine Test."
"The Cuisine Machine Test?"
Paimon took little steps in the air, her face full of anticipation.
"Doesn't that mean there'll be lots and lots of tasty food?"
"Mm, definitely." Lumine nodded.
"Yay!" Paimon spun around excitedly.
Celestia's signature move. (Thumbs up)
"Paimon, don't get too excited yet. All sorts of people will be taking part in the Cuisine Machine Test, so there could be dark cuisine, like nine-turn intestine, stargazy pie..."
"Stop, stop, stop! Traveler, don't say any more. You're scaring me."
Hearing about those dark dishes, Paimon couldn't help getting goosebumps and rubbed her arms repeatedly.
Although she had never tried them, she had heard all about their fearsome reputations.
One witch's guide to traveling Teyvat mentioned them:
Nine-turn intestine was said to retain some of the intestine's original flavor, but in fact it simply hadn't been cleaned properly. There was still fresh poop left inside!
Stargazy pie had a lovely name, but it was actually made by throwing raw fish into scalding egg mixture so they would struggle to breathe upward. Once baked, it created a bizarre scene of fish heads pointing skyward, all drenched in a mysterious dark purple sauce. It was extremely dangerous!
Paimon loved good food, but she didn't love eating shit.
Such deranged dark cuisine shouldn't exist in this world at all!
Lumine laughed.
"After all, it's a cooking competition. With everyone putting their heads together, there's bound to be some innovation. Whether the dishes they come up with are to people's liking is another matter."
"Ah~ If nobody likes it, then what's the point of creating the dish? Normal, tasty food is the way to go, right?"
"But how would you know whether every dish tastes good, Paimon? You can only draw a conclusion after tasting it."
"If you eat something that tastes awful, Paimon, you'll just have to accept your bad luck."
Just like nine-turn intestine, the most unbeatable open scheme.
Even knowing there was poop inside, if you didn't eat it, you couldn't eliminate your opponent. If you did, you'd fallen for their scheme.
At that moment, you faced the most important decision of your life: willingly eat shit, or admit against your conscience that shit tasted good.
"Come on, Traveler, you've made me a lot less excited."
Paimon stomped her foot and looked at her with a displeased little face.
"I'm just telling the truth."
"Do you still want to take part, Paimon?"
Lumine asked.
"...Yes, of course I do!"
After hesitating for a moment, Paimon plucked up her courage.
"I believe in the Cuisine Machine Test. Everyone will make delicious food, and even if there is dark cuisine, there'll definitely be way more delicious dishes than dark ones!"
"Besides, wherever you go, Traveler, I'll go too. Hehe!"
Lumine was deeply touched.
Even knowing she might have to eat shit, Paimon would still follow her without hesitation.
Paimon, I acknowledge your resolve!
As expected of my best companion!
(∗ᵒ̶̶̷̀ω˂̶́∗)੭₎₎̊₊♡
Paimon: Please don't say such terrifying things, hey!
In a dark corner somewhere.
A middle-aged man in a leather coat quietly slipped into an old, shabby-looking food stall.
In the middle of the stall, a square-faced, middle-aged man who appeared to be the cook was chopping vegetables. He glanced at the man in the leather coat.
"What would you like to eat?"
The man didn't order. He fixed him with a piercing gaze.
"Once renowned throughout the world, the thirty-eighth-generation inheritor of Tang Family Cuisine-Tang Hao!"
The middle-aged man's pupils contracted, and his cleaver paused as he chopped meat.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
How many years had it been since anyone had called him by that name?
The last time, it had been an enemy...
In an instant, a murderous aura filled the dimly lit food stall, as though a primordial beast were awakening inside.
The man's expression changed drastically.
The man before him was perfectly ordinary, yet in an instant he seemed to transform into a deadly weapon, a bone-piercing chill sweeping over his entire body.
He couldn't help swallowing.
"I mean no harm. I've been looking for you for a long time. I came this time only to ask you to come out of retirement."
"Come out of retirement?"
The man was taken aback, then shook his head.
"I haven't been a big brother for many years. Go back, Afa."
???
What are you talking about? Who asked you to be a big brother?
And I'm not Afa!
The man roared inwardly, but he wasn't surprised by the refusal. He seemed to have anticipated it.
He slowly took something out.
The sight of it jolted Tang Hao, the human-shaped beast.
His tiger-like eyes reddened, the tough man showing a tender side.
His fierce appearance was gone.