[In the Seat of Divine Foresight on the Xianzhou, you meet the Trailblazer—and the dragon girl, Bailu.]
[Right now, Bailu is hiding from patrolling Cloud Knights, with the Trailblazer covering for her.]
[Facing the hidden dragon girl, you choose…]
Option 1: Righteous Report.
You immediately report Bailu's location to the Cloud Knights, loudly exposing her hiding spot.
(Reward: Extinguished Core – the heart of a warped abomination from the fissure. Once the source of twisted impulses, now a dead, lightless organ.)
Option 2: Threaten and Exploit.
You walk closer and whisper, "You don't want anyone to know where you are, do you, Bailu?" intending to use this leverage to extract benefits.
(Reward: Bud of Life – a sprout from a seed of Abundance. Wherever it roots, life thickens and flourishes, with even dead land turning lush once more.)
Option 3: Silent Cover.
You pretend not to notice anything, and even casually block the Cloud Knights' view, helping the dragon girl escape. Perhaps befriending such a mysterious figure will prove worthwhile.
(Reward: Ming Dragon Bloodline – the draconic blood of the Vidyadhara.)
"...Hoo."
Kai drew in a quiet breath.
That was… a generous set of rewards.
Even the Vidyadhara dragon bloodline was on the table.
It was almost amusing how, in this world's reflection, Bailu overlapped with the little girl in front of him—Yaoyao. Two different worlds, two different beings, but some strange resonance connected them in the system's eyes.
Reporting her? Useless.
Even if he "sold her out," what would that accomplish? In Liyue terms, Yaoyao being "taken away" by any authority was ridiculous.
To the people of Liyue, she was the ever-smiling girl by Granny Ping's side. And the osmanthus-colored beast Mooncarver had crafted for her—Yuegui—was an outright adeptal artifact. If she were in danger, that alone would protect her.
And here in Liyue Harbor, they weren't even that far from Yujing Terrace.
Threatening her? Equally pointless—and honestly distasteful.
He didn't need to think long.
Option 3 was the only path that made sense.
He mentally made his choice.
"Hello," he replied with a warm smile.
Paimon immediately flitted in, excited.
"Hehe, Kai~, Fischl—you don't know how amazing Yaoyao is!"
"We were just about to find lunch when we saw some Millelith carrying a badly injured adventurer. They were going to take him to Bubu Pharmacy, but when Yaoyao saw him, she immediately used her Dendro Vision to heal him! He stood up almost right away!"
"And that's how we got to know her," Paimon finished proudly.
"Yaoyao said she came from Qingce Village to buy supplies."
"Helping people is only natural," Yaoyao said, hugging her bunny plush a little tighter.
"I go back and forth between Qingce Village and Liyue Harbor a lot, helping the villagers by buying things and delivering them. So if I see anyone in trouble… I try to help if I can."
She tilted her head, looking quietly at Kai.
To her, Kai's aura felt… strange.
There was a faint trace of energy that seemed close to Dendro, but… not quite. It felt like something higher, something more fundamental.
She could sense it through her Vision—like a faint echo of some deeper, rootlike power.
"Yaoyao said there's a lot of good food in Liyue Harbor," Paimon beamed.
"If we don't know what to eat, she can recommend places for us. And since we haven't eaten lunch yet…"
She rubbed her hands together eagerly.
"Perfect time for a food tour!"
"Sure," Kai said easily. He had no objections.
"Then let's gooo!" Paimon cheered.
"Yaoyao, lead the way!"
"Got it."
Yaoyao smiled and turned, walking with light, quick steps at the front.
They followed her through a quieter side street off the main thoroughfare.
Unlike the crowded main road, this alley was calm and peaceful, paved with old blue stone. On each side stood small, traditional shops—tea houses, snack stalls, handmade pastry places. Nothing flashy, but all of them gave off inviting smells.
"Here we are!"
Yaoyao stopped in front of a modest little eatery and turned around, eyes shining with pride.
"It doesn't look like much, but the food is just as good as the biggest restaurants!"
Kai looked up at the sign.
A weathered wooden board hung above the door, carved in flowing script with three characters: Ji Wei Xuan.
No loud decorations. No waiter shouting to pull customers in. The menu was simply posted beside the door.
But the aroma drifting out from inside was rich and comforting.
Paimon sniffed deeply, eyes going bright.
"Smells so good…"
"Of course!" Yaoyao grinned.
She led the way inside.
The interior was small, with only five or six wooden tables, but everything was tidy. A few old paintings hung on the walls, adding a relaxed, lived-in charm.
Behind the counter sat an elderly man with white hair and beard, slowly sorting ledger books.
When he saw Yaoyao, he smiled.
"Back again, little one? Brought friends this time?"
"Mm!"
Yaoyao nodded vigorously.
"Grandpa, same as always—give us a table full of your best dishes!"
The old man chuckled.
"Sit, sit."
He disappeared into the back kitchen. Soon, the sound of chopping echoed out, followed by the scent of food hitting hot oil.
Before long, steaming plates began to arrive.
The dishes weren't plated fancy like those at the great restaurants, but each one looked hearty and lovingly prepared.
Paimon couldn't hold back. She grabbed a piece of braised pork and popped it into her mouth.
Her eyes went round.
"Wah—this is amazing! Maybe even better than Wanmin Restaurant!"
Kai tried a bite and quickly understood.
These weren't refined banquet dishes. They were true Liyue home cooking—simple, rich with flavor, and full of warmth.
Every mouthful tasted like someone's childhood.
"These are all traditional home-style recipes," Yaoyao explained while eating.
"There are a lot of old masters like this in Liyue. Their shops aren't big, so they're not famous like the big places—but the flavor is really special."
"No wonder it's so good…" Paimon sighed, cheeks stuffed.
"Liyue really hides food in every corner…"
They ate until they were full, leaning back in their chairs with matching looks of satisfaction.
Yaoyao picked up a teapot and poured each of them a cup of fragrant Pu'er tea.
"By the way," Paimon said suddenly, "are you heading back already this afternoon? Not staying longer?"
"Mm."
Yaoyao nodded lightly.
"This time I came mainly to buy medicine ingredients and supplies for Qingce Village. I've already finished that, so I have to go back."
"So fast…" Paimon muttered.
"Liyue is so big. Don't you want to stay and explore?"
Yaoyao tilted her head.
"I'm used to it. I come to Liyue a lot, and every time it's just finish the job and go home. There's still a lot to do in the village."
She paused, then added with a serious tone:
"Granny says: when you take on a responsibility, you have to see it through. You can't let yourself get lost in the city and forget the people who depend on you."
"Mmm…"
Paimon stroked her chin.
"That… actually sounds pretty wise."
"Your Granny knows what she's talking about."
"What about the Rite of Descension?" she suddenly asked. "Aren't you going to watch tomorrow?"
"Nope."
Yaoyao shook her head.
"It happens every year, and it's always more or less the same. The ceremony itself keeps getting shorter."
"Really…"
Paimon scratched her head.
"You'd think something that only happens once a year would be a huge deal…"
"It's important, but people get used to it," Yaoyao said with a little smile.
"Once every year, year after year. For most folks, the main impact is on the merchants. For everyone else… it doesn't change their daily lives much."
"After a while, people stop feeling excited. The ones who care the most are the business people waiting on contracts."
"Ahh, got it…"
Paimon nodded, enlightened.
"Okay then—when you're done with stuff in Qingce, come back and play with us again!"
"We'll be in Liyue for a while."
"Of course!"
Yaoyao's eyes curved into happy crescents.
"And if you ever have time, you should visit Qingce Village too. If you get lost, just ask anyone. Everyone there knows me."
"Deal!"
They clinked teacups in place of a handshake.
Just then, new lines flickered into Kai's vision.
[You chose to silently cover for the dragon girl.]
[You have successfully befriended her. Congratulations on receiving the Option 3 reward: Ming Dragon Bloodline.]
[Would you like to extract and fuse this reward immediately?]
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
So he could store the reward instead of using it right away.
He decided not to rush.
With something as transformative as a draconic bloodline, it was best to plan the timing.
I'll keep it for now, he thought.
The reward was his, and it wasn't going anywhere.
After resting a while longer, they paid and left the small restaurant.
Then they escorted Yaoyao to Liyue's main gate.
She adjusted the bamboo basket on her back, face bright with that same gentle smile.
"All right, I should be going."
She gave the straps a small pat.
"This trip to Liyue was really fun. Next time, you have to visit Qingce Village."
Paimon folded her arms, grinning.
"Hehe, don't forget what you promised!"
"I won't."
Yaoyao shook her head.
"Next time I come to Liyue, I'll find you again for sure."
Kai watched her fondly.
So young, but already shouldering so much responsibility with a smile.
She wasn't just a child of Liyue—she was one of its quiet pillars.
"Be careful on the road," he said.
"I will!"
Yaoyao waved, then walked away, light steps tapping against the stone.
The golden bells on her hair swayed and chimed as she moved, the sound gradually fading with her silhouette.
The three stood at the gate, watching until she vanished from sight.
Then, from outside the city, a familiar figure strode in.
"Hey, it's Zhongli!"
Paimon spotted him first and waved energetically.
"Zhongli, what a coincidence!"
Zhongli, in his usual dark robe, moved with steady, unhurried steps. His calm presence seemed unaffected by the liveliness of the harbor.
He smiled faintly when he saw them.
"So, you've met that child as well."
"Huh?" Paimon blinked.
"You know Yaoyao too?"
Zhongli nodded.
"She is the disciple of Streetward Rambler, and has studied in Qingce Village for many years. Gentle in nature, well liked by the villagers."
Paimon's eyes lit up.
"Streetward Rambler? Sounds like a big deal."
Zhongli chuckled softly.
"She is one of Liyue's adepti. It is only natural that her disciple would be… special."
Then he turned his gaze to Ying and Paimon.
"How do you find Liyue?"
"It's beautiful," Ying answered.
"Very unique. Completely different from Mondstadt."
"It's amazing!" Paimon added, flailing her arms for emphasis.
"There's food everywhere, the streets are fun, the people are interesting… It doesn't have Mondstadt's freedom, but the bustling streets and warmth here are really something else."
Zhongli nodded slowly.
"Liyue, as it is today, stands upon a thousand years of storms and struggle."
He paused, then said:
"Even so, what you've seen so far is only a fraction of it."
"Eh?" Paimon tilted her head.
"You mean… there's more we haven't seen?"
Zhongli's eyes glinted with quiet amusement.
"Soon, you will witness a very different side of Liyue."
"The Rite of Descension?" Kai said lightly.
"The events that follow it," Zhongli confirmed.
Paimon rubbed her chin.
"Now I'm curious…"
"You'll understand tomorrow," Zhongli said.
Ying nodded slightly, a quiet sense of anticipation stirring.
At that moment, another set of lines appeared before Kai.
[Facing Jing Yuan's goodwill, you chose to accept it calmly.]
[At his invitation, you toured Luofu, gathered information, and forged a decent cooperative relationship with him.]
[Congratulations. You receive Option 1's reward: Thunder Attribute.]
[Upon fusion, your Path of Trailblazing gains a lightning aspect. From now on, your attacks will carry an elemental attribute.]
As the words faded, a torrent of power surged into Kai's body.
It was like a thunderstorm being poured directly into his veins.
A wild, crackling energy raced through him, coiling around his heart and spine. For a moment, his entire body felt like it was humming with barely contained lightning.
His muscles tightened involuntarily, a tremor running through him as if every drop of blood was boiling.
The sensation was not pain—more like metal being thrust into a forge. Harsh, intense, but purposeful.
Deep in his bones, a tingling spread, like something old and dormant was being awakened. Every meridian felt as though it was being reforged, hardened, and expanded.
The storm raged inside him for several heartbeats… then slowly settled.
A faint, electric numbness lingered under his skin, like distant thunder that could be summoned at will.
Kai exhaled, eyes narrowing slightly.
So from now on… my blows will carry lightning, too.
The path ahead had just become, once again, a little broader.
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