By the time the three of them arrived at Wangshu Inn, it was already close to dinner. Kael ordered an entire table full of dishes.
Grilled Tiger Fish, Rice Buns, Fragrant Stir-Fried Chicken, Crystal Shrimp, Chilled Mint Salad, Crab Roe Tofu, Golden Shrimp Balls, Almond Tofu…
Of them, Almond Tofu and Golden Shrimp Balls were the inn's signature dishes.
Kael sampled each plate carefully.
No wonder Verr Goldet's cook, Yanxiao, ranked among Liyue's top chefs. His skills lived up to the reputation.
But… only up to that.
Overall, the dishes were more traditional than inspired.
Everything was prepared strictly according to classic methods, with little creativity or surprise.
Nothing like Xiangling's cooking, which always had a spark of something new that caught you off guard—in the best way.
Both Yanxiao and Xiangling were skilled. But there was a clear gap between them, and an even bigger one compared to Kael's own cooking.
After living with Kael for some time, Mona had changed as well.
She was no longer the poor astrologist who could happily devour a bowl of plain noodles and act like it was a feast.
If the old her saw such a luxurious spread, she would've lit up like fireworks.
Now?
She only felt… normal.
Winning someone's heart starts with their stomach—Mona embodied that saying perfectly.
And after tasting Yanxiao's cooking, her resolve to stay by Kael's side only grew stronger.
Once they finished eating, the two girls headed to the inn's bathhouse together.
Kael made his way to the highest platform of Wangshu Inn to walk off the meal.
This was the best viewing spot in the entire inn.
Liyue's countless mountain shapes, clouds drifting lightly across the sky, and forests rolling like soft waves under the sunset made the landscape even more stunning.
As time ticked by, the sunlight slowly weakened. The sunset scene looked as flawless as a scripted ending to a perfect story.
Suddenly, Kael felt something stir inside the Serenitea Pot linked to his consciousness.
He checked inside the pot and found Little Gold spinning in frantic circles on the grass, radiating a massive surge of energy.
Every few seconds, it would raise its tiny upper body and let out a faint dragon call toward the sky, as if shouting for Kael.
Just watching it was enough to tell how anxious it was.
Huh?
What happened?
Little Gold's behavior left Kael completely confused. He had no choice but to open the Serenitea Pot and enter it himself.
The moment he stepped inside, the little dragon bolted toward him at high speed, circling him even more frantically.
It paused only long enough to point its snout upward before looping around again.
So… it wanted to leave the pot. It wanted out.
Kael hesitated.
They were already deep in Liyue's territory. There were plenty of people here.
Anyone who saw this little golden dragon would immediately notice what Xiangling had—how much it looked like a miniature Rex Lapis.
But the dragon only grew more agitated. Kael had no way of stopping it.
He finally scooped it into his hands and carried it out of the pot.
The moment they reappeared on the inn's rooftop terrace, Little Gold shot out of his grip and blasted toward the roof in a blur.
!!!
Kael had only ever seen it lounging lazily on the ground inside the pot, sprawled out and sunbathing.
This was the first time he'd seen it take to the air.
It could fly?!
Kael hurriedly looked toward the direction it flew—only to realize someone was standing on the rooftop.
A young man with teal hair and sharp eyes reached out in a flash, catching the little dragon mid-flight.
His expression turned instantly stunned.
"A god?"
Why would a god appear at Wangshu Inn?
Even though this one was tiny, and its energy wasn't that strong, he could sense something disturbingly familiar from it.
Why did it feel… so much like him?
The instant the little dragon was caught, its anxious expression melted into pure relief.
Xiao felt it immediately—his karmic debt, the pain that had tormented him for centuries without end, was flowing into this creature.
And for the first time… the crushing agony eased.
This little "god" could absorb his karmic debt?!
Kael recognized the person holding Little Gold—Xiao.
Seeing Xiao gripping the dragon so tightly, Kael panicked. He activated Anemo energy and flew to the opposite side of the roof.
"Hello. Could you return my pet?"
"Your pet?"
Xiao felt the karmic flow slowing. The little dragon let out a satisfied burp, and Xiao's eyes narrowed sharply at Kael.
"You keep a god as a pet?"
Countless thoughts flooded his mind.
If this creature survived by consuming karmic debt… where did its food normally come from?
If it had appeared earlier… then his family…
---
Kael noticed the little dragon's burp as well and immediately understood.
So that was why it had been so desperate—it sensed Xiao's energy.
Judging by the swollen little belly, it must've gorged itself.
The only thing on Xiao that Little Gold could've eaten… was karmic debt.
---
Kael was stunned too. He never imagined the little guy could even digest something that terrifying.
He had experienced karmic debt firsthand in Life Simulation. He knew how corrupt, dark, and mind-breaking it was.
But outwardly, Kael remained calm. He extended his hand toward Xiao.
"I'm not sure if it's a god. But it is the pet I brought from another world. Please give it back."
Xiao stared at the dragon in his hand, reluctant.
Karmic debt had tortured him for nearly a thousand years.
His body was overflowing with it, and he'd never found a way to purge it.
This was the first time he'd ever seen a method that actually worked…
His grip tightened. He looked Kael dead in the eye.
"Is this god for sale?"