"Otherwise, what? These guys are so weak. You really think this is some epic, grueling battle?"
Tartaglia glanced at Gu Sanqiu, raising an eyebrow. "By the way, the way you Liyue people think of 'leisurely outings' seems a bit different from mine."
"Smart man."
Gu Sanqiu snapped his fingers. "For us, a leisurely outing means calling up your friends, bringing along some good food and fun stuff, and heading to a beautiful spot for a party. Simple as that."
"I see. I'm not sure I get that kind of relaxation."
Tartaglia slung the bundle of arrows over his shoulder. "You had me gather all this—are we using it as currency?"
"Pretty much. Even though these things have already been partially refined, they're still a valuable resource."
Gu Sanqiu gazed ahead, spotting a faint trail of smoke in the distance.
"We're almost there. What we've collected should be enough to get by. If you want to buy anything extra, you'll have to do it with your own skills."
"Why didn't we just go with 'skills' from the start? It's not like either of us is strapped for cash."
"You don't get it."
Gu shook his head. "The Qixing know that every year, a bunch of people gather around the Pyro Regisvine. But do you know why they don't intervene?"
"The reason is simple: these people clear out all the monsters and Treasure Hoarders along the way, just like cleaning up a map. In a way, they're helping maintain public order."
"And even if the Qixing were to get their hands on what's inside, it wouldn't be of much use to them. Plus, these folks help clean up the problems that the Millelith couldn't fully address. So, year after year, the Qixing turn a blind eye to it."
"This is the basic 'capital' we'll be using there. It's also part of the official data they record."
"They look at the numbers from random years and average them out. If they see that the resources collected are declining and that incidents involving Treasure Hoarders or monster attacks are increasing, then the Qixing might step in—or even put a stop to the whole thing."
"Got it. Mutual benefit, huh?"
"Exactly."
Gu nodded. "Over time, this has become an unspoken rule. No one's dumb enough to try and hog everything for themselves. Anyone who tries would get beaten up and thrown out."
"There was a year when some younger factions tried to compete during an internal power shift. The Treasure Hoarders were so scared they went into hiding, and you couldn't even find Hilichurls in the wild."
"That's such a weird system. Or are Liyue people really all that polite? If I had the strength, I'd monopolize everything—grab all the benefits for myself and worry about the rest later."
"Yeah, emotionally, I'd love to believe that all Liyue people are polite and ethical. But logically, I know that's not realistic."
"As for why they 'behave' or 'play nice'…"
Gu Sanqiu raised his thumb, pointing it at himself with a smile at Tartaglia.
"It's because the ones who set the rules are the biggest, baddest enforcers."
"Wow."
Tartaglia looked at Gu Sanqiu, his expression blank. "With power like that, why doesn't your family just overthrow the Qixing and take control of Liyue themselves?"
"I don't need to be in charge. I already enjoy all the perks of a king's life without having to deal with the daily grind. Isn't that an even better deal?"
Gu laughed heartily. "The Fengxiang Clan has never been interested in ruling the world. In peaceful times, living as idle, wealthy landowners is our ultimate goal."
"You've really got it all figured out."
Tartaglia noticed figures in the distance, signaling the end of their private conversation.
The distinct calls of Liyue's merchants echoed across the open plain, giving Tartaglia his first real taste of Liyue's local culture.
"Don't worry. Feel free to explore. We're still a ways from the Pyro Regisvine's location. They could set off a bomb here, and it wouldn't disturb that thing."
Gu Sanqiu meandered through the market, his eyes lighting up as he spotted something.
Target acquired—an errand boy!
"Douyun!"
"Huh?"
Douyun, who had met Gu once before in Minlin, turned around and was pleasantly surprised to see him.
"Boss! You're here?"
"What's this about 'boss'?"
Gu Sanqiu walked over. "So, you looking to buy something?"
"No, no, I'm just browsing. I came along with the elders from my sect to broaden my horizons. My meager skills don't really cut it."
Gu Sanqiu understood immediately. This kid's broke.
"Hey, hey, tell me—what exactly are all these people doing here?" Tartaglia interrupted.
"Foreigner?"
Douyun paused, confused. "Wait, is this person a fellow cultivator? But I haven't heard of any sects recruiting foreigners…"
"He's with me. Doesn't hang around your Minlin crowd much."
Gu pulled out a pouch of Mora and casually took two arrows, one white and one green, from Tartaglia's quiver.
"I'm giving you a chance. Explain to this foreigner what we're all gathering here for, and these are yours."
"Thank you, boss!"
Douyun, knowing this was a rare opportunity, wasted no time and began explaining the gathering's origins to Tartaglia.
The Pyro Regisvine was once considered a scourge, a threat to humanity's survival.
At the end of every year, the Pyro Regisvine would absorb enough heat from the ley lines and prepare to hibernate—or evolve. This attracted countless opportunists looking to exploit it.
The chaos escalated until the Fengxiang Clan and several major sects stepped in to mediate, resulting in the rules that are still followed today.
Elders fight, juniors spar, and the Qixing oversee it all. The winner is determined by a point system.
If unaffiliated individuals want to participate, they can register under a sect or go solo. If they perform well, they'll be rewarded in the end.
"Stop, stop, I get the basics. What I want to know is why all of you travel from all over to target the Pyro Regisvine. What are you trying to get from it?"
Tartaglia's brow furrowed. "I know Liyue has a thing for using strange plants as medicine, but are you telling me the Pyro Regisvine's leaves or branches are valuable herbs?"
"No. The legend says that when the Pyro Regisvine goes into hibernation, parts of its body—like dead skin or other waste—are shed. You could think of it like a snake shedding its skin."
Douyun explained carefully. "Those shed parts are what we're after."
"And on top of that, the excess fire energy it accumulates will condense and remain in a 'fruit' form. That's the most precious prize."
"It's called the Everflame Seed."
"That's what everyone's really here for—the ultimate treasure."
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T/N: HA! You thought it was only going to be one chapter but it was two!
If there are any mistakes let me know!
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