Dehya officially joined the team.
By the time they were nearing Aaru Village, her relationship with Mu Yang had evolved from employer and employee to friends.
This was inevitable.
Pyro users are generally warm and outgoing.
Mu Yang had showered her with praise and was generous with his money.
If she could land a couple more jobs like this, Dehya would be over the moon.
How could she not want to build a good relationship with Mu Yang?
As they approached Aaru Village, Dehya once again warned Mu Yang and the others.
Once they entered the village, they'd better follow the rules she mentioned earlier.
Don't upset Candace.
Mu Yang wasn't worried.
He thought her words were just meant to scare Layla.
But looking at Layla, she didn't seem very afraid either.
Upon asking, he learned that when Layla had come to observe the stars with the Akademiya, she had met Candace.
Candace had helped them and was a good person.
That settled it, then. The pack beasts were left outside the village, and the group walked into Aaru Village.
Along the way, the villagers showed great fondness for Dehya but were wary of Mu Yang and the others.
Fortunately, Layla, as a featured character in the Character Popularity System, had the privilege of not wearing the ugly Akademiya uniform.
If they had immediately pegged her as someone from the Akademiya, their wariness might have turned into hostility.
Mu Yang sensed the village's atmosphere.
To respect Layla's feelings, he didn't plan to stay long.
He'd meet Candace and then leave.
At the village chief's house, Dehya walked straight in. "Yo, Candace."
Seeing Dehya return, Candace was surprised. "Why are you back?"
As close friends, Candace knew Dehya had gone to serve as Dunyarzad's bodyguard.
She instinctively looked behind Dehya.
The young lady was afflicted with Eleazar; surely Dehya wouldn't bring her to the desert for a vacation.
"Took a day off to take a job," Dehya said with a smile, then gestured for Mu Yang and the others to come in. "This is my employer, Mu Yang."
Mu Yang nodded in greeting. "Hello, Miss Candace."
Dehya continued the introductions. "These two behind me are astrology enthusiasts, Mona and Layla."
"Hello."
"…Hello, Miss Candace. Thank you for your help last time."
It took Candace a moment to recall.
She had once given directions to a group of scholars, and this girl had been among them.
After the introductions, Candace asked Mu Yang the purpose of his visit.
"Doing business."
"There's no issue with doing business, as long as you follow Aaru Village's rules. I welcome you."
Candace glanced behind Mu Yang—nothing was there.
She frowned and asked, "What kind of business does Mr. Mu Yang plan to do?"
Mu Yang displayed his 'Adeptus connection,' flipping his hand to reveal:
Toys, wine, sparkling water, raw materials, accessories, cosmetics, ointments…
Mona and Layla were already used to this and weren't fazed.
They exchanged a smile and glanced at Dehya and Candace.
The two women's eyes widened in shock.
What kind of treasure bag was this?
On the way, Dehya had been puzzled.
As a merchant, why did Mu Yang only have a few small bags on the pack beasts?
And they were on Mona and Layla's beast, no less.
She had assumed Mu Yang was dealing in something like information.
Now, her eyes were truly opened.
All his goods were on him.
Dehya asked, "Mu Yang, can I buy these too?"
"Of course."
So, Dehya naturally began picking out cosmetics.
Mona and Layla also came over, each grabbing a bottle of sparkling water to drink.
Meanwhile, Mu Yang and Candace went to an inner room to discuss business.
In the past, merchants brought single types of goods—silks, fabrics, raw materials, and so on.
Besides Aaru Village, they'd sell to other tribes as well.
Their goods weren't unique, nor did they have potential for secondary sales.
Now, seeing the array of novel items Mu Yang brought, Candace had an idea.
She thought:
Mu Yang could use Aaru Village as a base, with the village handling sales on his behalf.
Aaru Village was the largest settlement in the area.
Candace knew what the desert people needed.
She also knew how to set prices.
Both sides could benefit.
Initially, Candace thought this would be a tough negotiation.
Mu Yang wouldn't just give Aaru Village a cut for no reason.
He'd likely calculate everything carefully and haggle.
To her surprise, Mu Yang agreed immediately.
Of course, Mu Yang agreed. He had only planned to take a look.
If Candace was willing to join in, that was even better.
Not only that, Mu Yang made a suggestion:
Start a delivery service to the various tribes.
This idea lit up Candace's eyes.
As the village's guardian, she knew what was missing here.
It lacked vitality and energy.
There was no hope for advancement.
Ever since trade opened up, many young people thought the outside world was dazzling.
They chose to leave their homeland to seek their fortunes.
It was far better than staying in the village, watching giant crocodiles bare their teeth.
This was why the previous guardian opposed opening trade.
Those old traditionalists thought keeping the youth here would preserve the purest bloodline of the Red King.
Candace disagreed. This village needed fresh water, needed vitality.
She and the village chief had reached a consensus: for the future of the residents, the village needed change.
In the end, the persuasiveness of weapons silenced all doubts.
Now, Candace faced the issue of losing young people.
The former guardians constantly challenged her.
Mu Yang's proposal could solve this problem.
As long as they had work and wages, and turned Aaru Village into a hub, the issue would be resolved in no time.
The two finished their discussion and came out of the inner room.
Dehya was holding accessories, wanting to put them on Candace.
If Candace liked them, Dehya would buy them as a gift.
Naturally, Candace declined.
With so many new friends watching, she had to maintain her dignity as a guardian.
At night, Candace escorted the group to an oasis near Aaru Village.
This was the spot where Mona and Layla would observe the stars.
The two were already eager to get started.
They took out the new equipment they'd bought from Dori, speaking in professional jargon.
Mu Yang, Dehya, and Candace, of course, couldn't understand a word of it.
The three laymen decided to start a fire nearby.
Eating grilled meat was far more practical than stargazing…
———
A few days later, in Sumeru City.
The team was down two members.
Dehya had returned early.
She cashed out the money Mu Yang gave her, donated it to the orphanage, and went back to being the young lady's personal bodyguard.
Mona took a ship straight to Fontaine.
She planned to loop back to Mondstadt's Cider Lake from there.
Layla softly bid farewell to Mu Yang.
"This picture, I'll treasure it. Goodbye, Mr. Mu Yang…"
Though they'd spent a few days together, the girl was still shy.
But it was already great progress.
That night, Layla wrote about this wondrous journey in her diary.
She then stared at the picture on her desk, lost in thought.
In the picture, five people sat around a campfire under a brilliant night sky, eating grilled meat, laughing, and talking.
At some point, Layla fell asleep at the desk, murmuring in her sleep.
"That story Mr. Mu Yang told…"
Another 'Layla' awakened, a smile curling her lips.
"Not bad. Not once did I need to step in…"
———
The next day, Mu Yang went to Dori's base to check on the sales of her gadgets, planning to return to Liyue afterward.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he opened the door, he collided with a green-haired girl.
Running into Collei in Sumeru City was surprising enough for Mu Yang.
What shocked him even more was the voice echoing endlessly in his mind:
"The world… forgets me…"