"Isn't that Miss Keqing? And Mu Yang? What are you two discussing?"

Mu Yang turned to see Xiangling approaching, carrying large and small bags of ingredients.

Beside her were Chongyun, helping her carry things, and Guoba.

Hearing the voice, Keqing immediately stopped her "huffing and puffing" over the Rex Lapis figurines.

But the scene had already been witnessed.

"Are these... wooden carvings of Rex Lapis?" Xiangling took a closer look at the items in Keqing's hands and smiled knowingly.

"Miss Keqing still loves Rex Lapis so much."

The catgirl could barely hold it together. "Xiangling, how do you also—"

Guoba raised a hand. "Rua! ♪~"

"Even Guoba?!"

Keqing turned to Chongyun in despair, her eyes almost pleading.

Surely not everyone knew about her hobby of collecting Rex Lapis merchandise!

The honest boy Chongyun did not disappoint. He nodded firmly.

At this point, Keqing completely lost her composure. "I thought I was hiding it well..."

Mu Yang felt he had seen enough amusing expressions from the cat-eared girl.

He reminded her, "The dock work."

Keqing immediately switched to work mode. Holding the two figurines, she bid farewell to Mu Yang and the others and swiftly left the scene.

Xiangling watched her retreating figure. "Miss Keqing is as decisive as ever."

Chongyun nudged Xiangling, wanting her to introduce Mu Yang.

The problem was, Xiangling didn't know much about Mu Yang either.

They had only met for the first time last night.

Aside from the fact that he was "a friend of Miss Ganyu," she knew nothing else.

Mu Yang broke the awkward silence himself. "Just call me Mu Yang," he said to Chongyun.

Then he raised a hand, making the ingredients float in the air behind them.

Both Xiangling and Chongyun were startled.

"What is this?!" Chongyun was even more shocked than Xiangling.

He hadn't seen Mu Yang use any talismans, nor had he sensed any energy fluctuations.

"Adeptal arts." Of course, Mu Yang was just making it up.

"Ah, so that's how it is…" Only then did Chongyun realize he hadn't introduced himself.

"Ah, I almost forgot. I'm Chongyun. It's an honor to meet an Adeptus."

Mu Yang shook Chongyun's outstretched hand, pretending to subtly check his pulse.

"A Tianheng exorcist with a Pure Yang constitution. You... are quite talented."

Xiangling laughed. "As expected of an Adeptus—figured it out at a glance."

"♪♪~"

Chongyun scratched his head, slightly embarrassed.

"You flatter me, Adeptus. Talent or not... because of this constitution, I've never even seen an evil spirit in my life..."

As they walked and chatted, they soon arrived at Wanmin Restaurant.

Along the way, Xiangling didn't ask what Mu Yang and Keqing had been discussing earlier.

Instead, Chongyun kept asking Mu Yang about slaying demons and evil spirits.

Mu Yang answered casually, but Chongyun listened with great enthusiasm.

When they set down the ingredients, Mu Yang had the system sort them for Xiangling.

Xiangling smiled and thanked the two. "Thanks for your help, you two. Hehe."

"♪~"

Chongyun: "No problem. I was just passing by during my morning training anyway. Besides, most of the work was done by Adeptus Mu Yang."

"Don't say that! By the way, are either of you busy later?"

Xiangling's smile suddenly seemed a little mischievous.

"If you're free, let me cook something special as a reward!"

Mu Yang glanced at the corner of the table, where a pile of "ingredients" even the system couldn't categorize lay.

Chongyun, having known Xiangling for years, recognized that smile immediately.

His body's survival instincts screamed at him—"RUN! DON'T EAT IT!"

"Uh, actually, I promised Xingqiu I'd help him organize his old book warehouse today."

Mu Yang chimed in, "Xingqiu of the Guhua Clan?"

Chongyun rubbed his chin. "I think he does have that title... his father sent him there..."

"Wait, Adeptus Mu Yang, you know Xingqiu too?" Chongyun was shocked. Damn you, Xingqiu! You kept this from me?

Mu Yang shook his head. "Never met. But I do have some business with him."

Chongyun grabbed Mu Yang. "Perfect, I'll take you to him then."

Right now, he just wanted to get as far away from Xiangling as possible to avoid becoming a test subject for her latest "creative" dish.

Mu Yang turned and nodded farewell to Xiangling and Guoba.

The two then headed toward the Feiyun Commerce Guild.

Behind them, Xiangling muttered, "Ugh, today's idea was so interesting too... Guess I'll have to find Xinyan instead."

——————

Only after leaving Wanmin Restaurant did Chongyun finally relax.

"Phew... Almost got dragged into taste-testing again."

Chongyun admitted to Mu Yang that he hadn't actually made plans with Xingqiu today.

He just didn't want to try Xiangling's latest experimental dish, so he lied—but the part about taking Mu Yang to see Xingqiu was true.

"Those things you couldn't even categorize earlier? That's probably what we would've had to eat..."

Everyone knew Wanmin Restaurant often introduced bold new dishes that surprised and delighted.

But few knew of the sacrifices made by Chongyun, Xingqiu, Hu Tao, and Xinyan as taste-testers.

Yun Jin had only escaped this fate because of her profession.

As Liyue's premier opera star, Xiangling wouldn't dare risk her voice or figure.

"We're here. Even though we didn't have plans, Xingqiu is probably at home reading."

The two arrived at the Feiyun Commerce Guild.

Chongyun walked in familiarly—no one stopped him.

Mu Yang followed, having sheathed his sword to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Carrying a weapon into someone else's home was just asking for misunderstandings.

Chongyun suddenly quickened his pace to catch up to a servant. "An Su—"

The servant, An Su, turned. "Oh, Chongyun. Here to see Young Master Xingqiu again?"

"Yeah, need to talk to him about something. Is he in his room?"

An Su replied, "Young Master Xingqiu left early this morning, but he didn't say where he was going."

"Ugh, of course... But I think I know where he might be. Thanks, An Su."

"Mm."

An Su went back to his duties.

Chongyun returned to Mu Yang and explained that Xingqiu wasn't home.

However, he was probably at the old book warehouse he'd mentioned earlier.

Mu Yang nodded. "Thanks for leading the way."

"No problem at all, hehe."

Chongyun wasn't the least bit bothered—this just meant more time to hear Mu Yang's demon-slaying stories.

He loved these kinds of supernatural tales, especially firsthand accounts.

Way more authentic than anything Tea Master Liu Su could spin!

Of course, Chongyun had no idea these stories were all stitched together by Mu Yang.

Lol.

...