Within the Misty Canyon tribe, Liang Chuan received a warm and generous welcome.
That evening's banquet table overflowed with Natlan's signature dishes:
The savory "A Moment of Rest", made of bird meat, beast meat, fish, and grain-fruit.
The sweet "Marvelous Sugar", crafted with Pyrocore Blossoms, sugar, jam, and grain-fruit.
And other dishes with names he had never heard before — "Songs of Joy," "Mountains, Seas, and Sky," "Grain-Coated Delight"…
After living like a primitive man in the forest for so long, Liang Chuan nearly cried with joy.
He sat there in pure bliss — this meal was heaven.
To return their hospitality, Liang Chuan discreetly handed each person a Small Vitality Potion.
It wasn't stinginess — he simply couldn't reveal too much, too early.
Even these ten-copper-coin potions were priceless gifts to the tribe.
After all, Teyvat's food didn't actually heal or revive people.
But a vitality potion… once the Natlan Abyss fully erupted, that tiny bottle might save a life.
For Citra Lili, lover of light novels, Liang Chuan even told her a few classic stories from his memory —
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,
The Whisper of Medicine Girl,
A Certain Magical Index…
But isekai stories didn't impress her.
She lived in another world already — nothing about "other worlds" excited her.
Instead, modern and ancient-era stories grabbed her imagination.
She immersed herself so deeply she even fantasized about what she could accomplish if she traveled to Liang Chuan's world.
Liang Chuan solemnly suggested she could start by fortune-telling under a bridge in the modern era — at least she wouldn't starve.
Citra Lili shot him a glare that said she was two seconds from throwing him off the floating pillow.
After hearing just a few story summaries, she instantly became his number-one fan.
If she could, she'd lock Liang Chuan in a small black room, feed him three meals a day, and force him to type the whole story from beginning to end.
If Liang Chuan knew she was already planning such crimes, he would've never opened his mouth.
The Next Morning
At first light, Citra Lili dragged Liang Chuan southeast — toward her grandson's home.
"Liang Chuan! What about the rest of the story? You promised you'd write more last night!"
She stared at him with burning intensity atop her summoned familiar Izpapa.
"Uh… here's what you wanted…"
Liang Chuan handed her a sheet of paper.
Citra Lili glanced at it — and her eyes instantly dimmed into dead fish eyes.
"Liang Chuan! You're brushing me off!
This isn't a continuation — this is just an outline!"
"I told you, those novels aren't written by me!
I only remember the general plot…
How am I supposed to recite every chapter verbatim?!"
Liang Chuan raised his hands helplessly.
"Impossible!
The worldbuilding in those stories — I've lived two hundred years and never heard of anything like them!
They must come from a traveler like you!"
"They are from my world, yes — but that doesn't mean I wrote them…"
"Fine.
Then… can you at least make the plot more detailed?
Not just a page of bullet points?"
"…"
Seeing her pleading expression, Liang Chuan sighed.
"I'll… try."
(In truth, he could just ask the players for the full text. But if Citra Lili fell too deep into the pit of light novels and spent every day hounding him for updates, he might not survive…)
Just as he wrestled with inner regret—
"Grandma? You're here?"
A voice arrived with the breeze.
Izpapa had already flown them to their destination.
"Grandma, is this your friend?"
A young man greeted them warmly.
"I'm Oloren, Grandma's grandson.
I grow cabbages, but I'm not a vegetable seller.
Do you like cabbage, Grandpa?
If you do, I can give you some!"
Being called "Grandpa" made Liang Chuan almost raise both hands and announce: "Grandpa has arrived!"
But he swallowed the impulse.
"You… don't have to call me Grandpa. We're basically the same age."
"You're Grandma's friend. You look like her peer — so you're Grandpa."
"Oloren! How many times have I told you not to do that!"
Citra Lili scolded.
"Just because someone looks around my age doesn't mean they're my generation!
Don't shout 'Grandpa' or 'Uncle' at every passerby!"
"Yes, Grandma…"
But Oloren still looked at Liang Chuan earnestly.
"But this one seems close to you. So he should be Grandpa."
"…Fine. If you insist on calling me Grandpa, I'll… reluctantly accept."
Liang Chuan shrugged.
"Grandpa, Grandma — did you come to see me for something?"
Citra Lili looked toward Liang Chuan, signaling him to explain.
Liang Chuan conveyed his goals in full detail.
Oloren stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"A suitable place to establish a base… I do know a few.
But they're small — for one person.
You want a settlement that can hold thousands, even tens of thousands.
My living spots don't qualify."
"What about large-scale areas?" Liang Chuan asked.
"For a major settlement, plains are best."
Oloren decided.
"Let's head to the plains first.
After that, we'll compare your resource requirements and pick the final spot."
"Plains?"
Liang Chuan frowned.
"But Natlan feels like nothing but mountains. I've been climbing since I got here."
"There are plains. Quite a few, actually — but whether they meet your needs is another matter."
"I know a perfect plain!"
Citra Lili said cheerfully.
"Just head straight west from here. There's a huge flat region!"
"Grandma… that plain…
We probably shouldn't go there."
Oloren's expression stiffened.
"Why? Too many monsters?"
Liang Chuan asked.
"Monsters aren't an issue. We'll wipe them out sooner or later."
"Monsters are only part of it.
The biggest problem is… the Fatui."
Oloren took a deep breath.
"Grandpa… would you like to build your base next door to the Fatui?"
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