At Wangshu Inn, seeing the sky growing dark outside, the audience began to leave one by one. They knew today's storytelling was coming to an end.
But some still pressed for answers.
"Storyteller, the little boy in the story did enter the cycle of reincarnation, didn't he?"
"Where was he reincarnated in his next life?"
Facing their questions, Li Mo took a sip of water and said slowly, "Yes, he did enter reincarnation. As for his next life—please come back tomorrow."
With that, he announced that today's storytelling was over and would continue tomorrow.
He stepped down from the stage, said a few words to the innkeeper, and climbed the stairs to his room.
The moment he stepped inside, a system notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! System notification: The story of the Divine Damsel of Devastation you told has resonated deeply with the audience.]
[99% of listeners expressed sorrow, 40% shed tears, 20% wept bitterly.]
[System reward: 2000 Storytelling Points!]
[Ding! System notification: Your story has successfully moved Shenhe, the disciple of the adepti, to tears.]
[System reward: Gacha Ticket x1]
While telling Shenhe's story, Li Mo had been deeply saddened. But now, hearing the system's reward notification, a smile finally appeared on his face.
The reward had arrived. Just like before, it was one gacha ticket.
Li Mo now had two [Wish Fragments]. If he could draw one more, he could combine them into a complete [Wish].
Just the thought made him feel a little excited.
Then, another system notification sounded in his mind.
[Use the gacha ticket to draw now?]
After several draws, Li Mo was quite familiar with the process.
He answered without hesitation, "Draw now."
The moment he spoke, a massive roulette wheel appeared in his mind. Driven by the system's power, it began to spin rapidly.
The pointer swept past each precious prize, slowing gradually.
Slower and slower.
Finally, it stopped on a prize.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained rare items: Wish Fragment x2!]
[Wish Fragment]: Three Wish Fragments can be combined into one true Wish. Current Wish Fragments owned: 4/3.
Two fragments at once.
Though he had not drawn a complete [Wish], Li Mo was still overjoyed. He now had four fragments. He could combine them into a full Wish at any time.
And indeed, the next moment, when the number of fragments exceeded three, another system notification sounded.
[Ding! System notification: The host currently has four Wish Fragments. Combine into a [Wish] now?]
Li Mo did not hesitate. "Combine now."
The next moment, in his mind, three Wish Fragments appeared simultaneously and, under the system's power, began to fuse together.
Three fragments merged into one true Wish.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have consumed three Wish Fragments and successfully combined them into a complete Wish.]
After the fusion succeeded, Li Mo had obtained another Wish.
The first Wish he had received, he had used impulsively to resurrect Makoto. This time, he would keep it for now.
After the draw, there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" Li Mo asked.
A voice came from outside. "Sir, your meal."
It was a server from Wangshu Inn.
Li Mo let out a breath. "Come in. Just put the food on the table."
He was hungry. Seeing the food on the table, his appetite surged. He ate everything.
After finishing, he opened the window. The moonlight tonight was exceptionally bright.
It made him nostalgic.
In that lifetime, he had also waited for little Shenhe under such moonlight.
As he thought about it, he grew more nostalgic for that life. Working at Wanmin Restaurant—the head chef would often make delicious food and let the helpers taste it. Serving tea at the teahouse—every time he worked there, he would see the bird-keeping Zhongli. Searching for Ganyu on Tianheng Mountain—perhaps even now, Ganyu was sleeping in a haystack there.
A strange thought arose in his heart.
He wanted to do those commissions again.
"At this hour, there shouldn't be any commissions left. Even if I can't do them again, just going to look at the notice board should be fine, right?"
Thinking this, Li Mo changed his clothes and left the inn.
Guided by the moonlight, he walked along Liyue's streets, turned a few corners, and finally reached the lonely commission notice board.
Just like in that lifetime, the board was still old and worn.
As he approached, he saw a few commission papers stuck to it.
But before he could read them, a familiar voice, trembling slightly, came from behind him.
"Li Mo—"
"You've finally returned."
The moment he heard that voice, Li Mo's heart trembled.
He slowly turned around and saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure behind him.
It was Shenhe, all grown up.
The moment he saw her, his mind raced, trying to figure out how to greet her, how to explain himself.
After a long pause, all he could say was, "Hello, Miss Shenhe. You must have mistaken me for someone else."
But when she heard this, Shenhe's clear eyes filled with tears.
The next moment, she rushed forward and threw her arms around him, crying into his chest.
"How could I mistake you? I've regained my memories. I remember everything now."
"I know you're Li Mo."
"You've finally returned."
Her voice was firm.
Before hearing the story of the Divine Damsel of Devastation, Shenhe had already suspected that the storyteller was the reincarnation of the boy in the story. The story of the Divine Damsel of Devastation had only confirmed it.
Looking at Shenhe clinging to him, Li Mo could only smile bitterly. There was no hiding it now.
He reached out and gently embraced her soft body.
"Yes—"
"I'm back."