Chapter 26. Aether is coming
The evening session marked the true gathering of heavyweights.
Many of Liyue's most renowned chefs could only attend during this period, and among them was Xiangling of Wanmin Restaurant, along with top chefs from Liuli Pavilion, Xinyue Kiosk, and beyond.
Before the competition even began, Xiangling hurried over with Guoba.
"Hi! Futsu Mitama!"
She waved enthusiastically, and Guoba followed with an excited little gesture of his own. After greeting Futsu Mitama, she respectfully greeted Zhongli and Ningguang as well, both of whom returned her greeting with calm acknowledgment.
"Hi, Xiangling," Futsu Mitama replied, smiling. He genuinely held a good impression of her. After all, during his time in Inazuma, he had often enjoyed her dishes—either through Keqing or Zhongli. It was simple logic: anyone who could cook that well naturally earned goodwill.
"Lulu~" Guoba chirped happily, waving again.
"Sorry, I've been so busy lately—I didn't have time to look for you,"
Xiangling said apologetically. Between managing Wanmin Restaurant and organizing A Bite of Liyue, she had been overwhelmed. If Futsu Mitama hadn't shown up at her restaurant earlier, she might not have even known he had returned.
"It's fine," Futsu Mitama said lightly. Given the situation, it would've been strange if she weren't busy.
Xiangling then turned to Lumine. "This must be the Traveler—we meet again."
Her gaze shifted to Paimon, who was lying on the table, fast asleep. "What happened to her?"
"Just call me Lumine," she replied calmly. Then, glancing at Paimon, she added, "She's sleeping. Don't mind her."
As if to confirm it—
"Zzzzzz~"
Paimon blew a small snot bubble.
Xiangling blinked, slightly surprised. The environment was noisy, filled with clashing aromas from countless dishes—hardly a place where anyone could sleep so peacefully.
But she didn't press further.
She had just returned from the wild and rushed straight here, completely unaware of Hu Tao's culinary "incident."
After a brief exchange, Xiangling returned to her station as the competition began.
Guoba waved one last time before following her.
"I wonder how much Paimon will regret this when she wakes up," Futsu Mitama muttered, unable to suppress a laugh.
He had warned her. Still, he couldn't deny one thing—he was grateful.
If Paimon hadn't taken that bite, one of the four judges would have.
"That's fine," Lumine said calmly. "This is only the preliminary round."
As long as Paimon didn't sleep through the entire event, it wouldn't be a total loss.
"About that."
Ningguang took a sip of tea, her tone measured.
"I've already gathered some information. According to Baizhu, the recovery period ranges from seven to fifteen days."
She paused slightly.
"That is—in typical cases. The longest case involved someone who finished an entire dish. Paimon only took one bite, so she should recover in three to four days."
Three to four days.
Which meant—she would likely miss the entire event.
Lumine fell silent for a moment, then spoke with unusual seriousness.
"In that case—I will taste everything on her behalf. I'll also take photos of every outstanding dish. And I'll record all your evaluations. So she can truly understand what she missed."
Zhongli and Ningguang both looked at her, slightly surprised.
Futsu Mitama, however, stared at Lumine with a strange expression.
Something felt…off.
Where was the composed, rational Traveler? Why did this feel like quiet vengeance?
Still, the competition moved forward.
Dish after dish was presented, and the judges resumed their work.
This time, both Lumine and Futsu Mitama's scores rose again—many dishes deserved eight or nine. The evening session was simply on another level.
Zhongli and Ningguang, however, remained as strict as ever. Earning high marks from them required near perfection.
The atmosphere became intense—almost like a battle among masters.
Every dish brought forth by Xiangling and the other top chefs scored no less than thirty-five.
Soon, the evening session concluded.
Xiangling, along with chefs from Xinyue Kiosk, Liuli Pavilion, and others, successfully advanced to the final round.
Tomorrow—the true competition would begin.
At the same place, the champion would be decided, and that victor would join Xiangling in cooking the rare Primo Geovishap meat.
Unless, of course, Xiangling herself claimed victory. In that case, the runner-up or third place would take her place. After all, Xiangling had spent over half a year preparing for this moment.
Futsu Mitama saw that effort clearly.
And quietly, he decided—at the end of the competition, he would give them a surprise.
As for Paimon—she remained on the table, utterly still, breathing softly.
The kind of sleep that no one could wake her from.
In the evening, on the way back after dinner, Futsu Mitama opened the Chat Group and began to contact Raiden Ei.
[Futsu Mitama: "@Raiden Ei, Ei, could you lend me some tools?"]
[Raiden Ei: "Tools? Do you mean the legendary kitchenware? What do you need it for?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Hmm? Could it be?"]
[Yae Miko: "Little one, you're really showing favoritism. A Liyue event, and you want to take the tools signed out by an Inazuma Archon to give to them to use."]
[Futsu Mitama: "I haven't even said anything, and you all already know what I'm going to do? However, I do think this is a suitable opportunity."]
[Guizhong: "It is indeed suitable; otherwise, why would I agree to host this event?"]
[Zhongli: "…"]
[Azhdaha: "Guizhong, is it really okay to say that out loud?"]
[Keqing: "Ahem, ahem."]
[Guizhong: "Compared to that, don't you think you'd be more curious about what kind of effects dishes made with legendary kitchenware would have?"]
[Guizhong: "For this, I specifically approved this action and even had the Liyue Qixing pay a little more attention, just hoping Futsu Mitama could come and eat and drink well. Hmm And incidentally see what kind of gourmet food the legendary kitchenware can create in the hands of those professional chefs."]
Guizhong's explanation immediately stirred interest within the group, as the discussion shifted from teasing into genuine curiosity about the legendary kitchenware and its potential.
[Raiden Makoto: "Now that you mention it, I'm also a bit curious."]
[Albedo: "Curious too. According to the description, the legendary kitchenware has good potential; it might truly create gourmet food that makes one's eyes light up."]
[Klee: "Klee wants to eat sparkling dishes!!!"]
[Lumine: "Sparkling dishes? That might be a bit difficult."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "No, it's not difficult. For example, when we open the box of serenity—"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "I remember the golden trash the Traveler pulled out."]
[Lumine: "…"]
Raiden Ei then gave a straightforward response, showing no particular attachment to the utensils.
[Raiden Ei: "These cooking utensils are useless to me. If you want them, I will naturally give them to you."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Thank you, Ei. I will make good use of these cooking utensils tomorrow."]
With that, the matter was settled, and anticipation for the next day's event quietly grew among the group members.
[Raiden Makoto: "I don't know why, but I'm a little excited for tomorrow's event. What kind of brilliance will these legendary kitchenwares display in the hands of qualified chefs?"]
[Yae Miko: "Hehehe I'm also very much looking forward to it. If the little one tastes something different, remember to tell us immediately"]
At that moment, a familiar voice reappeared in the Chat Group.
[Venti: "That was a good sleep Good morning, everyone"]
[Venti: "Hmm? It's evening? It seems the dish made by this girl named Hu Tao has quite a kick."]
His sudden return immediately drew attention, especially after several minutes of silence following his earlier tasting.
[Futsu Mitama: "Eh! You're awake?!"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "It seems the Anemo Archon has awakened. Tell us your thoughts after eating."]
Venti then began to give a rather detailed evaluation of Hu Tao's Ghostly March 2.0, speaking at length about his impressions.
[Venti: "It was alright, a commendable taste, not as bad as I imagined. It's just that the flavors were too mixed. It would have been better if it were a little sweeter~ Although I'm not a sweet tooth, in terms of mouthfeel, I couldn't even tell what flavor it was primarily aiming for."]
Seeing Venti safe and able to analyze the dish so clearly, Futsu Mitama felt somewhat stunned.
On one hand, he acknowledged Venti's resilience in being able to withstand and evaluate Hu Tao's cooking in such detail. On the other hand, he couldn't help but admire Hu Tao as well, since her cooking had actually managed to knock out an Archon, even if only temporarily.
If Hu Tao were ever to join the Chat Group, she would likely be extremely surprised to learn about the effects her cooking had produced.
"Since he's awake, that means Paimon should be waking up soon too."
Lumine glanced at Paimon in her hand while speaking. However, Paimon remained completely asleep, her body relaxed, as if the outside world had nothing to do with her. Even being carried did not disturb her rest in the slightest.
Although Lumine had previously thought that Paimon was more peaceful when quiet, as her companion, she still hoped that Paimon would wake up before the official competition began the next day. Otherwise, she would have no choice but to experience the gourmet food alone, which felt somewhat unfortunate.
From the earlier discussions, Lumine had learned that the dishes in the next round would be prepared using the legendary kitchenware borrowed from Raiden Ei.
Based on what Kuki Shinobu and Sangonomiya Kokomi had explained, these tools could enhance the quality of dishes and might even produce unusual effects, though the specifics were still unknown since no formal testing had been conducted.
Out of curiosity, Lumine had asked why Raiden Ei did not use the legendary kitchenware herself.
This question had immediately put Kuki Shinobu and Sangonomiya Kokomi in an awkward position, as neither dared to answer directly. Futsu Mitama, trying to suppress his laughter, explained that Raiden Ei had no skill in cooking at all, and if she were forced to cook, the result would likely be something unimaginable.
Because of this, even Raiden Makoto and Yae Miko chose not to continue the topic, seemingly to avoid provoking Raiden Ei into attempting to cook out of pride.
As they continued chatting, the group gradually returned to Futsu Mitama's residence, maintaining a relaxed and casual atmosphere along the way.
However, hidden in the shadows, a figure was silently observing them.
Aether stood at a distance, his gaze fixed on Futsu Mitama and Lumine as they walked side by side, talking and laughing. His expression revealed no obvious emotion, but the oppressive aura surrounding him caused the two Abyss Order subordinates behind him to tremble slightly.
He had always warned against entering Liyue Harbor, knowing that their concealment methods were insignificant in front of the Geo Archon. If the Archon chose to pay attention, it would only take a moment to expose them. Under normal circumstances, he would never have taken such a risk.
Yet this time, he had come personally.
His attention remained on Lumine, and every time she smiled or spoke casually with Futsu Mitama, the atmosphere around him seemed to grow heavier, though he did not outwardly react.
After observing for some time, Aether had already formed his own judgment. Regardless of intention, Futsu Mitama had grown far too close to his sister. The fact that they were now living under the same roof only reinforced this conclusion.
If not for this, he would not have entered Liyue Harbor so directly. He knew very well that he was already on Morax's watchlist, and that entering this place would inevitably come at a cost. Even so, as her brother, he could not ignore what he had learned.
The reports about cohabitation, casual conversation, shared meals, and increasing familiarity were not things he could simply dismiss.
Aether's gaze settled on Futsu Mitama, a faint and complex emotion surfacing within it. Whether it was dissatisfaction, vigilance, or something deeper, even he did not attempt to define it clearly.
In the end, only one thought remained steady in his mind.
Lumine was his sister, and no matter the circumstances, he would not allow anything to happen to her so easily.
Although Aether had experienced countless things on the continent of Teyvat, the way he looked at his sister had never changed, and the sense of responsibility he carried for her had only deepened over time.
"Your Highness, Prince—have you noticed anything?"
An Abyss Lector disguised as a human stood slightly behind Aether and spoke cautiously. He had originally intended to refer to Futsu Mitama as a "dog of the gods," but after a brief pause, he corrected himself mid-sentence. If His Highness's blood relative truly had a close relationship with that person, then speaking so carelessly would be no different from insulting His Highness himself.
Enjou, standing nearby, remained silent, his expression uneasy. His gaze moved subtly across the surroundings, as if searching for something unseen. Ever since they entered Liyue Harbor, he had felt an indistinct sense of being watched, a quiet pressure that never fully left.
After all, this was Liyue Harbor—the domain of Rex Lapis.
As a scholar, Enjou had no desire to come here. Compared to this place, he was far more interested in the ancient secrets of Enkanomiya beneath Watatsumi Island. However, he had no choice. His Highness had come personally, and as a subordinate, he could only follow.
Originally, the Prince had only intended to observe his blood relative from afar. But the situation had grown increasingly complicated. Neither Lumine nor Futsu Mitama showed any intention of leaving Liyue Harbor, and the longer this continued, the greater the risk became.
After the previous incident, when the Three Archons had broken into the Abyss, the Abyss Order had suffered greatly. Even now, many members had not fully recovered, and their forces were still stretched thin dealing with various tasks. Their ultimate enemy had never been The Seven Archons, but rather the Heavenly Principles. Because of this, they could not afford unnecessary conflict.
Even so, the Prince had still chosen to come.
Enjou understood the reason well enough. If there was even a chance that his sister would be taken away, then no risk would be considered too great.
Still, knowing this did not ease his anxiety. The Geo Archon was not someone to be taken lightly. The attacks he had unleashed in the Abyss had left a deep impression on all who had witnessed them. Even those far from the battlefield had felt their overwhelming force.
If a conflict were to break out here, within Liyue Harbor itself, then the outcome would be obvious. Perhaps only His Highness would be able to leave alive.
Enjou was not afraid of death, but he was unwilling to die meaninglessly, without completing the research he had devoted himself to.
"It's nothing. Let's go."
Aether spoke calmly, though he had already noticed certain things. He understood that lingering any longer would only increase the risk. If they did not leave now, it might become difficult to leave at all.
He had already made up his mind. When the opportunity arose—when either Futsu Mitama or his sister left Liyue Harbor—he would find a moment to speak with them directly.
With that thought, Aether turned, intending to lead his subordinates away through a secluded path.
"Old friend, won't you stay for a cup of tea?"
Zhongli's voice sounded without warning, calm and steady, yet carrying an authority that left no room for refusal.
In the next moment, Zhongli appeared beside them, as if he had always been there. His expression was composed, his gaze resting quietly on the three figures before him.
'As expected.'
Aether sighed inwardly. He had anticipated this outcome the moment he chose to enter Liyue Harbor.
Entering this place had never been a wise decision. In the past, when he came as a Traveler, things were different. Now, however, he stood here as the Prince of the Abyss Order, and that identity alone was enough for Morax to take notice.
"Your Highness!"
The Abyss Lector reacted instantly, stepping forward without hesitation. The sense of danger he felt from Zhongli was overwhelming, and his first instinct was to release his power and create an opening for Aether to escape.
"Stop!"
Enjou's voice came sharply, filled with urgency. He reached out to halt the Lector, his expression tense. "Don't act recklessly! If you release your power here—"
Before he could finish speaking, an immense force descended upon them.
A vast and oppressive divine presence pressed down from above, leaving no room for resistance. Enjou and the Abyss Lector were forced to their knees, their bodies unable to withstand the weight of Zhongli's aura.
Even among Archons, there were differences.
And Zhongli should be stood at the very pinnacle in this generation.
For him, suppressing the two of them required no effort at all.
Toward Aether, however, his demeanor remained restrained.
The Abyss Order, on the other hand, was a different matter entirely. Their minds were unpredictable, and even if they appeared calm, there was no guarantee they would not act irrationally.
Before any conversation could proceed, it was only natural to remove potential disturbances.
"You've come."
Aether raised his head and slowly lowered his hood, revealing his golden hair. His gaze met Zhongli's without hesitation.
"I've come."
Zhongli returned the look, and for a brief moment, a trace of emotion—something akin to nostalgia—flickered in his eyes.
At that time, Zhongli had witnessed his journey. As for what he ultimately saw at the end of that journey, and why he chose to join the Abyss Order, he knew fragments of the truth, but none of it concerned him directly.
As long as his plans did not involve Liyue, he had no intention of interfering. Avoiding unnecessary trouble had always been his preferred approach, though now, that very trouble had come to him of its own accord.
Even so, Zhongli had no intention of avoiding it. Liyue Harbor was not a place where anyone could come and go freely without consequence.
"What is it about?" Zhongli looked at Aether calmly, his tone steady and measured.
"You have come here, and I doubt it is merely to see Futsu Mitama and your sister. State your purpose. If you do not, then you should not expect to leave easily today."
At this moment, the surroundings had grown completely quiet.
Aether glanced around briefly. He understood that even if he were to draw his sword and engage Zhongli here, the battle would not endanger Liyue Harbor itself.
Long ago, Morax had already transformed this place into an absolute sanctuary. Any entity of sufficient power that intruded into Liyue Harbor would be forcibly drawn into a separate space, one crafted specifically to contain such conflicts.
Because of this, Aether did not act rashly. If he attacked now, he would be treated as a true enemy, and although he might be able to escape, his subordinates would not survive.
"Should I call you Morax, or Zhongli?" Aether asked slowly, his gaze fixed on the man before him.
"A name is merely a title," Zhongli replied indifferently. Whether he was called Morax or Zhongli made no difference to him. What mattered was not the name, but the intent behind Aether's presence here.
He did not believe Aether had entered Liyue Harbor solely for the sake of his sister. If that had been the case, there had been countless opportunities earlier to approach her, whether in Mondstadt or before she entered Liyue. The fact that he had waited until now suggested otherwise, and Zhongli naturally assumed there was another motive.
As for what that motive might be, he intended to make Aether reveal it himself.
"Very well," Aether said after a brief pause, his tone calm but direct. "Then I will call you Zhongli. As for why I came to Liyue Harbor, it is indeed because of my sister."
Zhongli raised an eyebrow slightly but did not interrupt, signaling for him to continue.
"She is still young," Aether went on, his voice steady,
"and she does not understand many things. She still holds goodwill toward this world. Because of matters involving me and the Abyss Order, I was concerned that she might face unfair treatment, so I came to see for myself."
This was his explanation, simple and direct. Not many people knew his true identity, but Futsu Mitama was one of them. Aether could not be certain how Futsu Mitama viewed him, and considering that the Abyss Order had attempted to kill him more than once, it was only natural for him to worry that such hostility might extend to his sister.
Thus, he chose to come personally.
"You should already be aware," Zhongli said calmly, crossing his arms as he looked at Aether,
"that Futsu Mitama does not harbor such intentions. He treats your sister, Lumine, quite well. Even knowing that you are her brother, he interacts with her in a normal and respectful manner."
From Zhongli's perspective, Futsu Mitama's attitude toward Lumine was indeed appropriate, even if it carried a subtle peculiarity. Lumine was not responsible for Aether's actions, and there was no reason for her to bear the consequences of her brother's choices. While this principle was simple, few could truly uphold it in practice, and for that reason, Zhongli held a certain level of appreciation for Futsu Mitama.
"I know he treats her well," Aether replied, his gaze sharpening slightly.
"That is precisely why I am here. I want to know whether he has developed feelings for Lumine."
He spoke without hesitation, laying his concern bare.
"This is important to me. Otherwise, I would not have taken the risk of entering Liyue Harbor."
Zhongli fell silent for a moment. He had not expected Aether to be so direct.
"Lumine is still inexperienced," Aether continued, his tone growing more serious.
"I do not know whether Futsu Mitama is sincere, but they have not known each other long, and they are already living together. Is that appropriate? If this continues—"
He did not finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
The thought alone was enough to trouble him. The idea of returning one day and seeing Lumine standing beside Futsu Mitama in a completely different relationship was something he found difficult to accept. That was why he had come—to see for himself how far things had progressed.
"They are merely friends."
Zhongli shook his head slightly, finding Aether's imagination somewhat excessive. From what he had observed, there was no such relationship between them. Futsu Mitama, despite being surrounded by capable women such as Kuki Shinobu and Aila, had shown no inclination toward such matters.
"Friends?" Aether frowned. "What kind of friends live together like that?"
He clearly did not accept the explanation.
Zhongli let out a quiet breath before answering patiently. "Futsu Mitama is only eighteen years old. As for you and your sister—your ages are hardly a secret. By Liyue's standards, if anything were to happen between them, it would be your sister who is older."
Aether fell silent.
As travelers who had crossed countless worlds, both he and Lumine possessed lifespans far beyond ordinary humans. Even without accounting for their periods of slumber, Lumine was undoubtedly older than Futsu Mitama.
The point was difficult to refute.
"Furthermore," Zhongli continued, "Futsu Mitama's potential has already been recognized by myself, the Raiden Shogun, and the Anemo Archon. His future achievements may very well surpass ours. You understand what that implies."
Aether's expression grew more complicated. With Zhongli explaining things so thoroughly, the situation seemed—different from what he had imagined.
Still, one detail lingered in his mind.
Eighteen?
The information he had received had suggested nineteen.
He dismissed the thought quickly, though the slight discrepancy left him momentarily uncertain.
Seeing Aether's silence, Zhongli understood that his explanation had taken effect. He did not press further. From his perspective, this had never been a significant issue, only a misunderstanding born from concern.
After all, anyone in Aether's position might reach similar conclusions. Seeing someone close to an "enemy" naturally invited suspicion, and beyond that, the thought of personal intentions was almost inevitable.
"Ahem…"
Aether cleared his throat, breaking the brief silence. "Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, I am willing to leave Liyue Harbor."
Zhongli smiled faintly, his tone unhurried. "Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, then it is time to discuss the compensation required for your unauthorized entry into Liyue Harbor."
His meaning was clear.
While Liyue Harbor welcomed guests from all nations, Aether was not counted among them.
Five hundred years ago, perhaps.
Now, no longer.
Aether let out a quiet sigh, his expression turning somewhat helpless. However, when he chose to enter Liyue Harbor, he had already prepared himself for this outcome.
Otherwise, there would have been no way for him and his subordinates to leave unharmed.
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