The players all saw Mu Yang's weakened state.
In the final scene, even his hand's form was nearly dissipating.
Mu Yang uttered a cryptic line before re-condensing his right hand.
When he returned to Lumine and Shenhe, he was once again the flawless Mu Yang.
Lumine asked, "What's wrong, Mu Yang? You were gone for a while."
"Nothing. Let's eat."
— — — — — —
The livestream audience was losing it, absolutely frantic.
Mu Yang had already seemed off in the morning.
After a trip out, everyone was hit hard by Shenhe's story.
Who would've thought there'd be an extra stab in the evening?
Guinaifen couldn't take it. "What's with this nonstop barrage of pain?"
"Is this really the vibe right before the Lantern Rite?!"
[Mu Yang's still Mu Yang, never showing anything's wrong in front of friends.]
[What did that line even mean?]
[It didn't sound like he was talking about the threat in the sea—more like his own time is running out.]
[Can't deal. Yang, can the Lantern Rite really not handle you?]
[Sometimes, I wish he wouldn't keep everything bottled up.]
[Seriously, he's making it tough for us analysis video makers.]
In Silver Wolf's livestream,
Silver Wolf frowned. "They're not setting up Mu Yang to be a stepping stone for Shenhe to unleash her power, are they?"
"HoYo, that's a bit too obvious."
Silver Wolf was confident in her analysis.
The current plot was heading in that direction.
The deliberate emphasis on Mu Yang's weakness, paired with Shenhe's uncertainty about how to use her power—
if her Master got injured in the upcoming battle, wouldn't it be natural for Shenhe's seal to break?
The players were buzzing with theories.
Some felt sorry for Mu Yang, some were worried about Shenhe, some were excited for the plot, and some wanted to see Ningguang toss another Jade Chamber...
Thankfully, the quest was continuous, so they didn't have to wait two days to play on.
— — — — — —
On Teyvat's side,
after eating, Shenhe asked her Master to evaluate her performance today.
This time, Mu Yang didn't give vague answers.
After praising Shenhe, he didn't comment on whether she was suited to stay in Liyue Harbor.
Instead, he asked directly, "Shenhe, do you want to stay in Liyue Harbor?"
Shenhe was taken aback. She hadn't decided yet and had planned to rely on her Master's evaluation to make her choice.
She didn't expect him to turn the question back on her.
To stay in Liyue Harbor and reintegrate into human society—
Shenhe asked herself, Am I ready?
Clearly, there were still many details she hadn't sorted out.
But her Master wasn't asking if she was ready—he was asking if she liked it, if she wanted to stay in Liyue Harbor.
Shenhe looked at Lumine and Paimon, who were smiling at her—her new friends.
The first people to treat her as a friend.
Then she looked at Mu Yang, her Master.
Today, she had also met Yun Jin and Beidou...
None of these people treated her as a lofty Adeptus.
Nor did they distance themselves because of her status.
This was very important to Shenhe.
Because she wasn't a true Adeptus, and years from now, she would surely pass away.
Deep in her heart, she craved this feeling.
But that feeling had always been suppressed by the red ropes, hard to notice.
Until now, when it began to stir...
"I want to stay in Liyue Harbor, Master."
The other three nodded in satisfaction.
Lumine smiled at her. "Looking forward to working with you, Shenhe."
"Yes, looking forward to working with you."
[Master Mu Yang's getting another free worker (lol).]
[You caught that? Exploiting his own disciple!]
[Big chess moves from ol' Yang, don't you get it?]
Two days later,
at the construction site, Baiwen and Yun Jin were already waiting.
Under Baiwen's guidance, the group ascended to the Jade Chamber.
In those two days, Ningguang had integrated the [Thousand Marvel Core] and [Adeptus Talisman] into the Jade Chamber's control core.
With that, the Jade Chamber's reconstruction was complete.
Once the chains were removed, it would soar into the sky.
As soon as they arrived on the Jade Chamber, Ningguang came to greet them.
If not for their help, the Jade Chamber's reconstruction wouldn't have progressed so quickly.
Naturally, Ningguang had to come fulfill her promises.
First, she addressed Yun Jin.
"I've heard a bit about Mr. Yun's intentions. You're looking for a suitable stage for your new opera, correct?"
Yun Jin nodded. "Yes, do you have any suggestions, Miss Ningguang?"
Ningguang pointed to a reserved spot, perfect for setting up a stage.
"Since it's a grand new opera prepared by Mr. Yun, it must carry significant weight. Why not hold the premiere on this newly rebuilt Jade Chamber? What do you think?"
The Jade Chamber was at a high altitude, offering a view of the mountains below.
From such heights, one could feel the vigor of the wind and observe the ways of the world.
Ningguang was confident. "I believe there's no stage in the world more fitting for your performance."
[Ningguang's business acumen is unmatched. With Yun Jin's reputation, she's not losing out at all.]
[What a sly fox, she even reserved the stage spot.]
[Brilliant move—prestigious, and Zhongli and Mu Yang would love to hear it. Total win.]
[Actually, Yun Jin wasn't really 'asking'—she wanted the chance to perform on the Jade Chamber. Both sides are clever and just didn't say it outright.]
[What if the Jade Chamber vanishes in a flash?]
[Jade Chamber, third edition!]
Yun Jin thought the proposal was excellent and appropriate, agreeing on the spot.
"Thank you, Miss Ningguang. I'll prepare the opera props later, and I'd trouble you to bring them up to the Jade Chamber."
Ningguang smiled faintly. "A renowned opera deserves such treatment. No need for formalities."
With the matter settled, Yun Jin left the Jade Chamber to prepare.
Before leaving, she reminded Lumine, Paimon, Shenhe, and Mu Yang to come to the performance.
After Yun Jin left,
Ningguang turned to Lumine. "I don't know if you've changed your mind these past few days. If you have a question, you can still ask."
"But I'll say upfront, if it's about your brother's whereabouts, don't waste the question—I don't know."
Since Ningguang had already made it clear she didn't know,
Lumine wouldn't bother asking.
Before these few days, aside from her brother, she hadn't had anything to ask Ningguang.
But now, she did.
Everyone seemed to be preparing for some kind of danger threatening Liyue.
Yet she was kept in the dark. Now was the time to get answers.
Lumine asked Ningguang, "What kind of danger are you preparing to face?"
Ningguang told Lumine, "Once the Jade Chamber takes flight, you'll know."
Paimon rubbed her hands. "My turn! If it were before, I might've asked Miss Ningguang how to do business."
"But now, no need. If I'm out of money or food, I can just find Mu Yang..."
The camera cut to Mu Yang.
Mu Yang: ...
[BYD, Paimon's too real.]
[That's her true face.]
[Tonight's dinner: Paimon, 18 dishes.]