Bathed in the warm, gentle light of the afternoon sun, Adrian leisurely guided his donkey cart through the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor.
Shenhe, ever cold and aloof, disliked the noise and crowds; she had already returned to the shop halfway.
Adrian threaded through various storefronts, buying supplies one after another.
Before long, the donkey cart was piled high, so full that the donkey—whom he had intentionally named Planner—let out sharp, disgruntled cries, clearly protesting the excessive weight.
As for why he chose such a strange name… well, that was "accidental on purpose."
Adrian, however, simply said that the surrounding noise was too loud, and he needed to "carefully distinguish sounds first."
Naturally, Planner still had to keep walking—after all, the only way it could eat was by relying on Adrian.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and painted the sky with brilliant streaks of orange-red, Adrian guided the supply-laden cart through the back entrance of Immortal Rites, the funeral shop.
The moment he stepped inside, a group of children rushed toward him.
These children were special—some could not hear, some could not speak, and some suffered from both.
Yet their faces lit up with joy as they surrounded Adrian, signing excitedly to show how many paper offerings they had folded today.
Adrian retrieved a pack of colorful lollipops and a bag of Mora from the cart, handing them out one by one.
The children who received their treats hopped away cheerfully toward their small rooms.
Not far away, Shenhe watched him quietly.
For some reason, she felt that at this moment… he radiated an inexplicable warmth that drew her gaze.
When he finished, Adrian kept one last lollipop and approached her, offering it silently.
She accepted it out of habit, still without a word—yet a faint, barely perceptible ripple flickered across her eyes.
Then she turned and disappeared into her room.
Adrian didn't think much of it. He went back to the cart and carried in the vegetables he had purchased.
Before long, the kitchen rang with the clatter of pots and pans.
Soon, he served two dishes and a soup, their aroma filling the air.
He placed them neatly on the table, then fetched a jug of fine liquor from the cellar.
Knowing Shenhe rarely partook in worldly meals, he sat alone at the table and prepared to eat.
Suddenly—
"Creak!"
The door was pushed open with great force.
A burly, rugged man strode inside, voice booming:
"Ah, Adrian! What a coincidence! My stomach was just growling—
and you're already starting dinner! Hah! Truly embarrassing for me!"
His shameless expression suggested he felt absolutely no embarrassment at all.
Without waiting for permission, he marched straight to the table, plopped down heavily onto a chair, grabbed the liquor, and filled himself a full cup.
Adrian sighed and teased him:
"Li Shui, that's not a coincidence. You come at this exact time every single day."
Li Shui paid it no mind. He lifted his cup and downed it in one gulp, letting out an exaggerated sigh of satisfaction:
"Good wine! Strong and smooth—wonderful!"
Adrian chuckled.
"If you like this liquor so much, how about this—I send you ten jars every month, and you teach me some of your immortal arts. Deal?"
Li Shui set down his cup, visibly helpless.
"It's not that I don't want to teach you. Your talent is simply too poor.
You spent over two years under your master, swallowed who-knows-how-many spirit pills, and barely managed to reach the Qi Refining stage.
If nothing unexpected happens, you'll probably be stuck—"
He froze mid-sentence.
"…You reached mid-stage Qi Refining?"
Then came another sigh:
"Even so, that's your limit. Your talent is still garbage.
Your senior sister Shenhe spent a single day cultivating and leapt straight past Qi Refining into Foundation Establishment.
You might as well give up early and enjoy a wealthy life."
Adrian refilled his cup and calmly asked:
"Then, Li Shui… what must I do to learn your immortal techniques?"
The immortal glanced at the wine jug Adrian refused to let go of, and finally relented:
"Foundation Establishment.
As long as you successfully build your foundation… I will teach you the Ninth-Heaven Thunder Invocation."
Adrian's eyes lit up.
He had always yearned for mighty thunder arts that could shake the heavens.
"Deal!"
The two continued eating and drinking, chatting about everything under the sun.
Most of the time, Li Shui bragged vividly about his "glorious exploits" during the Archon War, waving his chopsticks like weapons.
Because Adrian had just secured the promise of thunder arts, he humored him far more enthusiastically than usual—sometimes gasping in awe, sometimes nodding solemnly.
Li Shui became even more animated.
They talked until the bright moon climbed high, casting silver light across the courtyard.
Only then did Li Shui leave, pleased and slightly drunk.
Adrian cleaned the dishes, tidied the table, washed everything thoroughly, then returned to his small room.
After a quick wash that rinsed away the fatigue and the smell of wine,
he finally lay down in his humble bedroom—
just a bed, a desk, and a few chairs.
Simple, but enough.