Having decided to stay at Wangshu Inn to listen to the stories, Lumine no longer hesitated. After taking her leave of the gods, she led Paimon back to the other corner of the inn where Keqing and the others were seated.
Seeing Lumine and Paimon return, Xiangling asked with concern, "How did it go? Did the Raiden Shogun know anything about your brother?"
Keqing added, "Yes. With all three Electro Archons there, they must have had some information, right?"
During Lumine's previous visit to Liyue, they had become friends. They knew she had been searching for her brother, so they were naturally concerned.
Feeling their care, Lumine replied, "Thank you for your concern. Though the three Electro Archons didn't know where my brother is, they suggested I stay here and listen to the stories. They said the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya might come soon. And maybe the Lesser Lord Kusanali of Sumeru as well."
Just as Ei had said, rather than traveling from nation to nation seeking information from gods, it might be better to wait here. Before long, more powerful figures would likely gather at this inn.
Hearing this, Xiangling's eyes lit up. "That's right! And not just the gods who are coming—the storyteller knows everything. Maybe the next story will be about you."
Lumine: "???"
About her? Impossible. She wasn't from this world—she was a traveler who crossed between worlds. The only reason she and her brother had been separated was an accident. How could a mere storyteller know her story of traversing the worlds?
Just then, Keqing glanced behind Lumine and asked curiously, "What about that Arataki Itto who came with you? Why hasn't he returned?"
Lumine hesitated. "He… had something to take care of. He'll be back soon."
She couldn't exactly say he had provoked the entire table of gods and gone out to get beaten up.
Paimon: "That guy runs fast. He should be fine."
Lumine: "…"
As they chatted, before long, the supposedly "fine" Arataki Itto came scrambling back in, looking thoroughly battered. The moment they saw him, everyone burst out laughing. His red eyes were now ringed with two massive black eyes. His once-neat clothes had holes in the knees, and his chest bore the marks of fists.
Fortunately, for an oni like Itto, these injuries were nothing—they hadn't even broken through his tough hide.
Paimon: "Idiot, I knew you'd end up getting beaten."
Lumine: "At least you're alright."
Looking at Itto's injuries, the marks were clearly all from fists. Xiao had gone easy on him.
Itto panted as he said, "Crazy, they're all crazy! Liyue's kids are way too strong—they hit so hard! I almost lost!"
Itto's greatest pride was his physical strength, the foundation of his sumo skills. But he had never expected any random kid from Liyue to be stronger than him. If he hadn't run fast, he would have lost that round.
Paimon asked skeptically, "You were almost in tears, and you still say you didn't lose?"
Itto laughed. "Ha! Make me cry? No one's been born who can do that."
Paimon: "Then how did you escape?"
In terms of both speed and strength, Itto was no match for Xiao. Escaping was a miracle in itself.
Itto said confidently, "He went crazy for no reason! I hadn't even invited him to join the Arataki Gang, and he started hitting me! I don't fight kids, so I ran! He chased, I ran, and I won… Hahaha, how could that kid outrun me?"
Everyone was speechless. That wasn't winning—Xiao had simply gotten tired of chasing him. But seeing Itto so optimistic, no one had the heart to call him out.
Just then, Qiqi hopped off her chair and shuffled over to Itto on her stiff legs. She pulled a small bottle from somewhere and held it up high.
"This… is… medicine… rub it on your wounds… to heal…"
Qiqi stammered out an incomplete sentence. Seeing the little one, Itto beamed with confidence. "Haha, thanks! If anyone ever bullies you, just call my name. I'll come protect you."
Qiqi said flatly, "Hu Tao, bad. Bullies Qiqi."
Itto blinked. "Hu Tao? Who's that?"
Qiqi pointed at Hu Tao. "Her. Hu Tao. Bad."
Hu Tao: "Ah!"
This was from a long time ago, but Qiqi had finally found her chance to get back at her. The revenge came so suddenly that even the mischievous Hu Tao was caught off guard.
Fortunately, Xiangling quickly said, "Qiqi, don't say that… Hu Tao is our friend now."
Lumine added, "Yes, Itto, Qiqi and Hu Tao are both our friends. Don't do anything rash."
Itto grinned. "Got it. I never do anything rash."
With that, he opened the bottle and applied the medicine around his eyes and knees. The pain vanished instantly.
…
While everyone was chatting and laughing, the ordinary audience members had begun urging the storyteller to continue.
"Storyteller, time for the next reincarnation!"
"The next one should be in Liyue too—we have so many stories!"
"Hey, do you know Lady Ganyu's story?"
"Tell us about the adepti! We have so many."
There were indeed many adepti stories to tell. But on stage, Li Mo slowly set down his teacup and scanned the inn. He saw Xiao had returned to his seat, and the battered Itto was still grinning with confidence. Relieved, he began the next story.
He spoke slowly. "In the thirteenth life, after Hu Tao's grandfather died, he did not enter the underworld. Instead, he entered the cycle of reincarnation once more."
"In the fourteenth life, his name was Kapatcir."