After two months, Mei had more or less gotten used to life at Wangshu Inn. Her daily schedule was pretty simple manning the front counter for Verr Goldet whenever she had other errands to run.
With so much free time on her hands, Mei quickly became familiar with the people around. Sometimes she'd help Yanxiao deliver meals to guests, sometimes she’d sit around chatting with traveling merchants for a good two hours, and sometimes, she’d wander over to Liyue’s Huachau Vale — the place she’d first arrived in this world, still clinging to the hope that she might somehow find a way back to her original one.
Today was just like any other. After munching on a freshly roasted sweet potato from Yanxiao, Mei was strolling along the dirt path from the inn to Huachau Vale.
Morning sunlight streamed through the canopy above, scattering tiny golden flecks on the reddish earth below. The scent of wild chrysanthemums drifted in on the breeze, oddly soothing her nerves.
As she was walking, Mei spotted something strange in the distance — a group of hilichurls that didn’t look... quite right. There was an eerie aura swirling around them, and their movements were oddly aggressive — much more than your typical, “haha let’s swing our clubs around” kind of hilichurl.
She ducked behind a nearby tree and peered around the trunk, narrowing her eyes. Not far from the hilichurls was a crowd of people cheering loudly, seemingly hyping up the figure standing in the center. Mei squinted to get a better look.
There stood a man dressed in ceremonial robes — fancy, but not too flashy — wearing a demonic Yaksha mask over his face. His whole vibe screamed “mysterious sage,” but something about him made Mei raise an eyebrow.
- Mei (thinking): Huh? This guy looks... kinda familiar. Where have I seen him before? Was he in one of Xiao’s quests...?
Just then, the hilichurls rushed the masked man. But instead of flinching, he calmly traced a series of mystical hand signs and flung out a golden talisman covered in glowing red script.
- Masked Man: Reveal!
With a blinding burst of golden light, the hilichurls were blasted away like autumn leaves in a storm. Their bloodlust vanished instantly as they scurried off in a panic.
The crowd went wild.
Watching this, Mei had one of those cartoonish lightbulb moments.
- Mei: No way… That’s gotta be the fake sage dude from Xiao’s story quest! What was his name again...?
- Mei (sighing): Whatever. Probably just another con artist with a flair for drama.
- Mei: Still… I can’t just let them block off the road like this. That’d be bad for the inn’s business.
Putting on her best professional smile, Mei stepped forward and called out to the group.
- Mei: Hello everyone! Is there a reason for this gathering here? If not, may I kindly suggest continuing your visit elsewhere?
The masked man tilted his head smugly.
- Masked Man: Oh? Who’s this unfamiliar young lady? Looking to join our spiritual circle, are we?
- Mei (awkward chuckle): Haha, not quite. I work at Wangshu Inn, actually.
- Masked Man (nodding as if wise and worldly): Ah! I see. For a moment I thought yet another adoring devotee had arrived.
- Mei (thinking): Hmph. Do I look like the bootlicking type to you...?
- Mei (still smiling politely): Well then, if you don't have official business here, might I ask you and your group to continue your visit in another area? I’d be happy to recommend a few scenic spots, if you’d like.
That was apparently the wrong thing to say.
- Devotee 1 (shouting angrily): How dare you speak like that in front of a celestial being?! Do you have any idea who he is?!
- Mei (blinking): Nope. Never heard of him.
- Masked Man (with a long-suffering sigh): Alas… I suppose I must introduce myself again. I am none other than the great Celestial Moonlord, revered by countless followers across the land.
- Mei (flatly): Uh-huh. Got it.
- Mei: Well then, Mr. Celestial Moonlord and friends, please continue your grand pilgrimage somewhere else. The road here needs to stay clear.
- Devotee 2 (sneering): Is your brain fried from overworking? Who dares chase off a divine immortal?! You’ll be cursed!
- Moonlord (smiling graciously): Calm yourselves, friends. I descend from my mountain not for fame or wealth — only to help those in need. Rich or poor, all shall receive my blessings.
He turned to Mei with a self-assured glint in his eye.
- Moonlord: You and I must be fated to meet, young lady. Speak your heart’s desire, and I shall make it so.
- Mei (pouting with disdain): Pass.
That one word sent the crowd into a frenzy of gasps and grumbling. The so-called Moonlord tried to maintain his sage-like air.
- Moonlord: You shouldn’t be so quick to spurn good fortune, young lady. It’s not every day that one encounters a being like me.
- Mei (gritting her teeth, thinking): Deep breaths, Mei. Don’t punch him. Don’t punch him. Be professional...
- Devotee 3 (concerned): Miss, you’d best apologize now. If not, you’ll bring misfortune upon yourself.
- Devotee 4 (snidely): No point. She’s probably just some low-ranking worker. Can’t expect her to understand greatness.
There was a metaphorical snap inside Mei’s mind.
Her patience, stretched thinner than a Liyue rice paper fan, finally gave out.
- Mei (hands on hips, face darkening): If you don’t all get out of here right now, I will call someone to drag you out.
- Devotee 4 (indignant): How dare you!
- Mei (firing back): How don’t I?! I was raised to believe Liyue citizens are taught manners from a young age…
- Mei (each word sharp): But clearly, some people missed that memo.
- Mei (coldly): If you truly respect the adepti, then use your brain when you worship — not just your mouth.
The stare-off that followed could’ve shattered stone. After a moment of silence, the Moonlord — clearly sensing the tide was turning — raised his hand.
- Moonlord: Very well, we’ll leave it at that. I have more pressing matters to attend to. Farewell, dear believers.
The crowd mumbled in agreement and slowly dispersed, muttering under their breaths.
- Mei (still fuming, waving them off): Shoo shoo. The farther the better.
- Mei (muttering): Seriously. Should’ve checked my horoscope before leaving the inn today.
- Mei: Is this the "dark side of customer service" people talk about?
She paused.
- Mei: Wait a sec… Wasn’t that thing he used to blast the hilichurls a page from the Forbidden Exorcist’s Manual?
- Mei (a little regretful): Okay… Maybe I was a tiny bit too aggressive?
- Mei (gasps, horrified): What if they complain to Verr Goldet?! What if I get kicked out of the inn?!
Before she could spiral further, a cheerful clap rang out behind her.
A silver-haired man with emerald eyes stepped out from behind a tree, clapping slowly with an amused smile.
- Mysterious Man (clapping): Haha, I wasn’t expecting the inn to have someone quite so bold.
- Mysterious Man (grinning): It’s rare to meet someone so direct — especially in a field where diplomacy is everything.
- Mei (thinking): Huh? Who’s this guy? Did I ever see him in the game before...?
- Mei: Uhm... may I ask who you are?
- Mysterious Man: Ah, pardon me. My name is Elzer — chairman of the Mondstadt Wine Tasting Association.
- Mei: Ohh! So that’s who you are.
- Mei (thinking): Oh right, I remember now! He’s the steward at the Dawn Winery, works under Mr. Diluc.
- Mei (thinking): But wait... In the game, he just wanders around Mondstadt. What’s he doing in Liyue all of a sudden?
Seeing her fall into a thoughtful silence, Elzer simply smiled with a kind, gentlemanly air — as if patiently waiting for her to introduce herself. Feeling slightly awkward, Mei snapped back to reality.
- Mei: Ah! I’m Mei. Hehe… As you can see, I’m currently working at the inn over there.
- Elzer: I’ve heard that the locals here deeply revere the adepti. But I must admit, your actions today were quite... different from what I expected.
- Elzer: Aren’t you afraid it might bring trouble your way?
- Mei: Not really. I mean, that guy didn’t give off any divine vibes at all. If you ask me, he’s just a smooth-talking scammer.
- Elzer (smiling knowingly): Haha. You have sharp eyes, Miss Mei.
- Elzer: It’s a pleasure to meet someone as brave as you.
- Elzer: But alas, I have a pressing matter to attend to. I hope we can speak again sometime.
- Mei (cheerfully): Sure! Take care, mister.
Elzer gave a polite nod and turned to leave. Mei watched him go, a thoughtful look on her face.
- Mei: Well, if he says I did the right thing... I guess I did?
- Mei: Sigh… If only everyone I met could be that polite.
With that, she turned back toward Wangshu Inn, walking beneath the golden twilight — but there was still a tiny sliver of worry in her heart.
- Mei (thinking): Ughhh… please don’t let me get kicked out over this…
That evening, everyone gathered around the dinner table as usual. Just as Mei was popping a slice of meat into her bowl, Verr Goldet suddenly spoke, her voice calm but clear.
- Verr Goldet: Lately, there have been reports of an adeptus frequently appearing in the same area where Mei once drove off a ghost.
Mei froze mid-chew. The rice she’d just put in her mouth felt like it had turned into a rock. She darted her eyes around the table and internally screamed.
- Mei (thinking): Seriously?! Why couldn’t she ask this during a quiet moment — why now, when everyone is here?!
- Huai’an (thinking aloud): You mean… the Conqueror of Demons?
- Verr Goldet (smiling faintly): Exactly. Quite the coincidence, isn’t it, Mei?
- Mei (forcing a smile, voice strained): Haha… Yes, ma’am. Quite the... coincidence.
- Yanxiao (tilting his head curiously): Wait, so when you were exorcising that ghost… you really didn’t meet the Conqueror of Demons?
Mei dodged the question with the grace of a seasoned diplomat.
- Mei: Wow, the food’s really good today! I can’t stop eating!
- Yanxiao (pouting at being ignored): Of course it’s good. I poured my heart and soul into making it!
- Verr Goldet (placing more food into Mei’s bowl): Then have some more.
- Huai’an (cheerfully): Exactly! Eat up, no need to hold back!
- Mei (grinning nervously, cheeks slightly flushed): Hehe, thank you, boss. Thank you very much.
The dinner resumed its usual warmth and laughter. A while later, after things had quieted down, Huai’an suddenly let out a dramatic cough and turned to Verr Goldet, mock-pouting.
- Huai’an: I was only gone for a month to restock goods… and you already forgot all about me?
Verr Goldet sighed, but a tiny smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Without a word, she placed a piece of meat into his bowl, a silent gesture of apology.
Yanxiao, watching this, gave a theatrical shiver and silently picked up a piece of vegetable. Who knows what was running through his head?
- Mei (chuckling): Haha, poor guy. Here, I’ll get you a bite.
She actually reached out and placed a piece of meat into Yanxiao’s bowl, her expression full of sincerity — leaving the poor cook utterly baffled.
- Yanxiao: ...
- Mei (relieved, thinking): Whew… Looks like the boss still doesn’t know about that whole mess. I might be safe… for now.