When Ryou carried Keqing out of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ganyu froze on the spot.
Now she understood what those sounds had been. Those two had been messing around inside the ministry. And that odd smell earlier… she finally got it. It was—
"You said they'd already gone home," Yanfei said, turning to Ganyu.
"Don't ask me. I don't know," Ganyu snapped, looking away. Shameful images flashed through her mind, and her face burned even hotter.
"Ganyu, what's with you…?" Yanfei stared at her crimson cheeks, completely lost. It was just Ryou and Keqing leaving—why was she reacting like this?
Ryou stepped forward with Keqing on his back. "Keqing wasn't feeling well today, so I stayed with her for a bit. If there's nothing else, we'll head home."
"Oh." Yanfei nodded and watched them go.
Ganyu lowered her gaze and muttered, "Those two have no fear at all. Yujing Terrace of all places… how could they do that there?"
…
"This is your fault," Keqing hissed, pinching the soft skin at Ryou's waist, her whole face still bright red. "Yanfei might not have noticed, but Ganyu definitely did."
"Easy," Ryou warned, glancing back at her. "Pinch me again and I'll make you regret it when we get home."
Keqing's grip loosened instantly. "O-Okay… I won't touch you." She clung tighter around his neck, voice small. "Can we just… go home and rest, alright?"
"No," Ryou said flatly, facing forward again.
"You're awful," Keqing muttered, then pinched him once more out of spite.
Ryou laughed, hitched her higher on his back, and kept walking.
When they reached home, Ryou set her down. But he'd barely straightened up when he sensed someone approaching from behind.
"Who's there?" he called, turning.
"It's me." Tabibito stepped into view.
Keqing's brows knit the moment she saw her.
If you had something to say, you could've said it in broad daylight. Why show up at my house in the middle of the night? Are you sure you're here for business… and not to steal my husband?
Tabibito caught the suspicion in Keqing's eyes and shot her a glare.
What are you staring at? I'm here for something serious. What's with that look?
Hmph. Enjoy it while you can. Once your husband leaves with me, you'll have plenty of time to cry.
"Ryou," Tabibito said, turning to him. "I saw someone in the city today."
"Who?" Ryou asked.
"La Signora," Tabibito said.
"La Signora?"
That genuinely surprised Ryou. Both La Signora and Childe were wanted now—Liyue Harbor wasn't exactly safe for them.
Aether alone was proof of how desperate people could get. The man had asked for nothing but a cup of water, and some old fellow had drugged him on the spot. Five million Mora was more than enough to make people do reckless things—and once word spread that a bounty like that existed, half the city would be hunting.
If La Signora was really in Liyue Harbor, she should've been dragged to the Ministry of Civil Affairs already. Even if no one could catch her, the news should've reached the ministry.
Ryou looked at Tabibito. "Tell me exactly what happened."
"Let's go inside," Keqing said quickly, scanning the area. "Walls have ears."
Ryou nodded. "Alright."
In the main hall, Tabibito got straight to it. "Paimon and I left the Adventurers' Guild today. We were planning to head out of the city to investigate the Fatui."
She continued, "When we passed the Ministry of Civil Affairs, I noticed a pair of eyes watching from inside the Northland Bank. It's been sealed, so that stood out. I waited and watched, and I'm sure it was La Signora inside."
"I didn't feel confident going in alone," Tabibito added, "so I came to tell you first."
Ryou's eyes narrowed. "Hiding in plain sight… clever. If Childe showed up in Liyue Harbor before, he probably used some route to slip back in too. Chances are he went to the Northland Bank first."
He glanced toward the door. "I'll call people over, then we'll move. We'll bring a small team and take her in."
"I'm coming with you," Keqing said immediately, tense all over.
The last time Ryou went up against the Fatui, she'd worried sick. La Signora was a Harbinger—her strength wasn't something you could joke about. Tabibito was strong, sure, but Ryou was still a normal person. No matter what tricks he had, he wasn't stronger than a Harbinger.
And beyond that… letting Ryou go off with Tabibito alone made Keqing's skin crawl.
"Keqing," Ryou said, frowning.
She still hadn't fully recovered from earlier. Taking her out again wasn't a good idea. Ryou knew she was worried about him—worried about Tabibito too—but this wasn't the time to be reckless.
"No," Keqing said firmly, staring him down. "I'm going."
"Sit for a moment," Ryou said. "I'll be right back."
He took the opening and slipped into his pocket world.
Ryou pulled out a bottle of spiritual energy juice. He pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall into it, then wrapped it with spiritual energy until it fully fused.
The juice changed instantly—its colour deepened into something dreamy and unreal, beautiful in a way that also felt unsettling.
[Dreamlike Juice]
[Quality: Supreme]
[Description: Infused with blood, the two reinforce each other. Because the blood is extraordinary, the juice has gained a mysterious effect.]
[Effect: Instantly restores all injuries upon consumption. Drinking it again within seven days will not trigger this effect.]
Ryou's eyes lit up.
Instantly restoring all injuries—this was practically a miracle medicine. The seven-day limit was a shame, but even with that restriction, it was more than enough.
He repeated the process and prepared ten cups, then packed them away and left the pocket world.
Back in the hall, he handed one to Keqing. "Keqing, drink this."
"Okay." Keqing took it without hesitation and swallowed it down.
A moment later, she felt the soreness and aching in her body start to fade—rapidly, like it was being wiped clean.
Before, even a small movement came with a sharp, tearing discomfort. She'd pushed through it only because her body was strong enough to keep moving naturally. But now that pain simply… vanished.
Strength surged back into her limbs. She felt better than she had in days.
Keqing set the cup down and looked at Ryou. "This… isn't it something precious?"
"No," Ryou said, shaking his head. "Not compared to you being safe."
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I know I can't talk you out of coming. So this is the only way I can feel at ease letting you come with me."
"Ryou, I…" Keqing's chest tightened. She could tell this wasn't ordinary.
"Don't overthink it," Ryou murmured, holding her a little closer.
Keqing nodded softly. "Mm."
Tabibito stared. "Tabibito, wasn't that just a cup of juice?"
Paimon leaned close to Tabibito's ear and whispered, "Why is Keqing so worked up over it?"
"No idea," Tabibito murmured, shaking her head.
But she could tell it wasn't simple.
Earlier, sitting in the hall, Tabibito had noticed Keqing moving strangely—subtle stiffness, a slight strain in her expression. She was probably injured. That would explain why Ryou had stayed with her so late.
And after drinking the juice, Keqing's presence changed. The lingering discomfort vanished. She looked fully restored—sharp, steady, back at her best.
Seeing their curiosity, Ryou spoke plainly. "That juice restores all injuries. That's why she reacted like that."
He tightened his arm around Keqing and looked between them. "Alright. Let's move. This time, we catch La Signora and bring her back."
"Got it," Tabibito said, nodding.
But the words "restores all injuries" hit her like a shock.
Something like that shouldn't exist. She'd asked Albedo once—out of pure curiosity—whether any potion could fully restore someone's injuries. Albedo had only shaken his head and told her it wasn't possible. Even if something came close, there would always be a cost.
Yet Ryou had handed it to Keqing without hesitation. That meant it was safe. At the very least, it had no obvious side effects.
Tabibito couldn't help feeling jealous.
This man was too good. If she'd met him earlier, she would've made her move before Keqing ever got the chance.
Still… being late didn't matter.
I'll take him anyway, Tabibito thought. A man like this shouldn't be wasted on Keqing. One day, he'll be mine.
[End of chapter]
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