"Heh heh."
"Haha."
"Uh?"
Chongyun looked at Gu Sanqiu and Xingqiu, who had suddenly started laughing for no apparent reason, and he couldn't help but feel like he didn't quite fit in. Even though they were all gathered together, there was this lingering sense of exclusion that made him feel out of place.
"Alright, stop overthinking it," Gu Sanqiu shrugged. "I'm really not all that interested in your Fatui gear. If I wanted to get my hands on it, I'd just do it myself."
Liyue's thousands of years of history wasn't just for show, after all.
Even if those thousands of years didn't include specific knowledge about Fatui equipment, there was always someone like him—someone with a questionable existence. Forget about the gear from the Fatui's vanguard, if it came to it, he could bring in a wave of iron and steel from the east. Who knows, maybe even with a cute little girl carrying a backpack!
"Come to think of it, that does seem to make sense..." Tartaglia's face shifted in realization. "Wait a minute—you two were just messing with me for fun, weren't you?!"
(╬￣皿￣)
"That's not entirely accurate," Xingqiu said with a calm smile. "As Liyueans, we were merely considering the safety of your faction and offering our advice. Shouldn't you be grateful?"
Gu Sanqiu nodded. "Exactly. On a smaller scale, we're just causing a bit of a headache for Liyue's authorities. On a larger scale, we're practically committing treason by aiding a foreign power. We'd be cursed by all the people of Liyue."
"We're taking on immense pressure and risks to give you advice, and instead of showing a little gratitude, you accuse us of teasing you. That's quite unfair."
"Alright, alright! I can't out-talk the two of you." Tartaglia raised his hands in mock surrender. "But now, about that thing called the Everlasting Flame—don't you two have any interest in it?"
"Since we've run into Sanqiu here, there's no need for a gift, right? It saves us a lot of money and connections—why not take advantage of that?" Xingqiu smiled.
"As for me, I don't care about that thing either. I'm just here to have a look around and put a little pressure on the others." Gu Sanqiu added with a nonchalant grin. "The world is full of rare treasures, but you don't need to claim everything you see. I'm just treating this as a leisurely outing."
"Do what you want, then." Tartaglia's eyes glinted with the spark of battle. "I've stretched my legs enough today. But next time—let's find a place and have a proper fight!"
Chongyun blinked and glanced at himself. "Wait, is he talking to me?"
"Yup," Gu Sanqiu nodded. "He's talking to you, eager for a rematch when the time comes."
"Oh, I see. Well, it might be hard to arrange that. I don't stay in one place for long, so finding me could be a bit tricky."
Xingqiu facepalmed. His friend had many good qualities, but natural airhead was definitely a dominant trait.
No, it wasn't just a little airheadedness—it was extremely airheaded!
With that innocent face, he now understood why so many girls were crazy about Chongyun.
Darn it, why do I feel jealous all of a sudden?
"No worries," Tartaglia grinned coldly. "I know you don't leave Liyue often. If I have to, I'll camp outside your house and wait for you. Even if you shut yourself indoors all day, I'll just have the Liyue Qixing invite you out to fight me!"
ヽ(ー_ー)ノ
"Please come to my house in the evening," Chongyun offered sincerely, "and I'll make sure to host you properly."
"Don't listen to him," Xingqiu added with a playful wave of his fan. "Once night falls, the doors to the Fengxiang Clan open. Ghosts and spirits are welcome, but mortals best stay away. It's an old rule, and everyone who's broken it… well, they're no longer alive."
Gu Sanqiu shot a look at Xingqiu, knowing he was getting back at Chongyun for the earlier teasing.
You sneaky little...
True love, huh?
Can't you two just get married already?
---
In the carriage, enjoying specialty treats imported by the Feiyun Commerce Guild, with a teacup worth a fortune in his hand, Tartaglia felt a sudden sense of tranquility.
So this is the cultured, wealthy lifestyle of Liyue. It sure beats the gaudy nouveau riche I've dealt with before.
Those types would drink Mondstadt's dandelion wine with heavy dishes, accompanied by garish performances, all while showing off. The scene always left a bad taste in Tartaglia's mouth.
But here, the elegant decor, the fine seating, and the delicate tea and pastries, along with the antique teacups—everything was perfectly balanced and refined.
"Hmph," Gu Sanqiu glanced at the teacup. "You're serving me tea in this, with white tea from Qingce Village's elders? You must be asking for a favor."
"Aww, come on, old friends meeting like this! What's wrong with sharing something nice? Don't think I'm just some battle-crazed fool," Xingqiu retorted.
"I'll give you one chance to rephrase that."
Xingqiu choked for a moment, then rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. There is something I'd like to ask of you, and it's something only you or one other person in all of Liyue can handle."
"You know what Chongyun has in his bag, right?"
Gu Sanqiu nodded. He had to admit, Xingqiu's ideas were often ridiculous, but somehow, they worked.
"After we found it was effective, I went back to the family library and dug up more records. But I realized our collection on this subject is somewhat lacking."
"So, you want to borrow some books from my place? You've always had free access. Why get all formal now?"
Gu Sanqiu waved dismissively. "Come over in the morning. Just don't show up at night like some idiot."
"No, no, that's not it. I'm talking about a particular text I remember seeing at your place."
"'The Lord of Stone, with his spear of rock, sealed away evil and filled the sea. Thus was Guyun born,'" Xingqiu recited with a serious expression.
"Chongyun's trinkets may be effective for now, but they're only temporary measures. They're not a long-term solution."
"Not to mention," he continued, "there aren't many girls out there who'd be thrilled to date a guy carrying a bag full of cursed objects."
"So, I have a bold idea."
Seeing Xingqiu's face light up with excitement, Gu Sanqiu couldn't help but twitch.
"No. You don't. You don't have any idea."
But he already knew exactly what Xingqiu was going to say.
"I want you to come with us to Guyun Stone Forest... to find a fragment of a fallen god!"
---
If there are any mistakes let me know!
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