Following the road through Dihua Marsh, one can see a towering tree in the distance.
The tree wasn't special; it was just exceptionally large. However, what was surprising was that there were many pavilions and buildings nestled within its winding trunk.
This was Wangshu Inn, the largest complex in Dihua Marsh. It provided shelter for the people of Dihua Marsh and served as a resting and resupply point for merchants traveling between Mondstadt and Liyue.
But at this moment, Wangshu Inn lacked its usual prosperity. When Yu Jin and the others entered, the stalls below the inn were devoid of tables and chairs, replaced instead by large tents.
Inside these tents were the people who had fallen unconscious due to the meteor shower.
"So many?" Seeing the numerous people in deep slumber, everyone was quite surprised.
They had initially thought there would only be a few, but looking at them now, there must have been dozens, not to mention this was just in Liyue's Dihua Marsh.
Adding in the unconscious people from Mondstadt, a conservative estimate would be over a hundred.
"It seems this Fated Star shattered quite thoroughly," Yu Jin remarked, seeing the situation.
"Seriously, do stars in the Sky also shatter into pieces like a Slime's shield?" Paimon, seeing the busy inn staff, also felt it was a bit tricky.
Their conversation was not concealed. Hearing their commotion, a man in a gray-black coat with a goatee walked over.
"I am Huai'an, the proprietor of Wangshu Inn." Huai'an cupped his hands to Yu Jin, Fischl, and Mona, then nodded to Lumine and Paimon—it seemed they knew each other.
"Listening to you all... do you have any understanding of this strange phenomenon?" After a brief greeting, Huai'an eagerly asked.
He couldn't help but be anxious; ever since the meteor shower, more and more people had fallen unconscious.
At first, it was just ordinary travelers, but later even the slightly weaker Millelith began to succumb. If he hadn't been skilled in his youth, Huai'an estimated he would have long since been sleeping alongside the people in the tents.
"We are Adventurers' Guild members who came to deal with this matter," Paimon eagerly boasted upon hearing Huai'an's words.
"According to our investigation, as long as the fallen meteors are dealt with, the unconscious people will slowly wake up," Mona gave the delighted Huai'an another surprise.
"Really, that's wonderful!" As expected, Huai'an was very excited to hear that they had a way to wake the unconscious.
But soon, he reacted.
"But if you touch a meteor, you fall unconscious. How can they be cleared?"
"It's much easier if you have a Vision," Mona explained.
Only then did Huai'an notice the details on everyone. Upon seeing Mona and Fischl's Visions, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"In that case, would you mind helping to clear the meteors around here? If they aren't cleared soon, my Wangshu Inn will be completely packed."
Huai'an said, rubbing his forehead; it seemed these unconscious people had indeed kept him very busy.
"Since we accepted the commission, we will definitely help." Yu Jin nodded, then said to the others, "Let's split up. These meteors are scattered everywhere; splitting up will be faster."
Everyone agreed.
Although the meteors from the Sky were fragmented and small, they were easy to find. These Stones from the Sky constantly emitted strong mental fluctuations, making them easy to spot with a little attention.
Picking up a sapphire-like meteor fragment glowing with a faint blue light from the ground, Yu Jin lightly weighed it in his hand.
"Boom!"
A deafening sound of something breaking through the air rang out, and another eye-catching blue streak of light appeared in the Sky.
Clapping his hands, Yu Jin was very satisfied. He felt that this should count as some kind of mending of the Sky.
When should he ask that white-haired woman for his overtime pay?
Just as Yu Jin was thinking this, he discovered a peculiar fellow.
Walking quickly forward, pushing aside the dense bushes, Yu Jin saw a very crude Marionette.
The Marionette's internal joints and wiring were directly exposed, without any covering. There were no decorations on its body either; its wooden form was completely visible, like a child's toy Marionette.
The Marionette turned around, its facial features blurred, making it look quite eerie.
"You are..."
Yu Jin crossed his arms, looking at the Balladeer in front of him with interest. Wasn't this guy digging canals in Liyue? Why did he run all the way here?
And why was he so bare? Could he have been... Yu Jin suddenly felt some pity for the Balladeer. A dignified Harbinger, reduced to such a state.
This was truly... a good death!
Feeling Yu Jin's gaze, the Balladeer couldn't help but shiver. His intuition told him that Yu Jin was definitely thinking something bad.
But now was not the time for conflict. He had painstakingly created this Marionette clone for the Jester's mission.
He absolutely couldn't let Yu Jin discover his identity before the mission was complete!
"Chirp... clack..." The Balladeer humiliatingly imitated the sounds a mechanical Marionette would make.
Amidst the chirping and clacking, he also quietly retreated a few steps, hoping to escape Yu Jin's sight.
Unfortunately, he was destined to fail. Yu Jin instantly appeared behind the Balladeer, blocking his retreat.
Rubbing his chin, Yu Jin considered how to give the Balladeer some personality correction. This guy was really dishonest; if he had just diligently dug the canal, nothing would have happened, but he insisted on running out.
For such an unyielding individual, he couldn't be soft-hearted; he had to taste the flavor of an iron fist!
The Balladeer's back was against Yu Jin, and he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Without thinking, he turned and ran.
"Hehehehe! Run? No one will save you, even if you run to the ends of the earth!"
"Senior!"
No sooner had Yu Jin finished speaking than he heard Lumine and the others' voices.
Considering Paimon and Fischl's mental health, Yu Jin decided it was better to save the Balladeer's personality-correcting punch for later.
Reaching out and grabbing the Balladeer by the neck, Yu Jin waved his hand, tossing the Balladeer's figure next to Lumine and the others.
"What is it?"
"There is a soulless Marionette here?!"
"He didn't fall from the Sky too, did he?"
...The reactions of the others varied. Lumine and Paimon were poking the Balladeer's body with a tree branch, Fischl was telling everyone the Marionette's backstory that no one was listening to, and as for Mona, she was carefully observing the Balladeer's Marionette body, hoping to discern something from it.
"Yu Jin, what is this?" Paimon asked curiously when she saw Yu Jin approach.
"This is..." Yu Jin looked at Balladeer II, who was "playing dead" on the ground. He knew this guy was feigning death.
"This is my newly invented Marionette!"
Yu Jin's eyes darted around, and he thought of a good way to modify the Balladeer. Actually, sometimes personality correction doesn't necessarily require fists.
"Invented by Senior?"
"And just now?"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances, their skepticism almost overflowing. Although Yu Jin was strong and omnipotent in their hearts, a precise thing like a Marionette seemed completely unrelated to Yu Jin.
"Are you looking down on me?" Yu Jin was a little displeased. Why couldn't he invent a Marionette?
Pulling the Balladeer up from the ground, Yu Jin thoughtfully patted the dust off him. Then he walked next to the Balladeer and explained with great seriousness:
"Allow me to formally introduce my newly invented service-type android Marionette! For serving tea and water, chatting and entertaining, greeting guests, and so on—he's your guy!"
"That sounds a lot like Katheryne," Paimon scratched her head, thinking Yu Jin was describing Katheryne exactly.
Isn't that what Katheryne does?
Yu Jin's eyes lit up at her words. He pushed the Balladeer forward and said, "Exactly! This is my newly invented male model of Katheryne!"
"Also known as... Catherine II!"
"..."
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