Upon entering Sumeru City, Paimon said, "Lumine, let's hurry and find Dunyarzad. I bet... she's probably near the Grand Bazaar, the place she showed us around."
The two swiftly made their way to the Grand Bazaar and, as expected, found Dunyarzad there, observing the scene.
"Dunyarzad, we're back!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Dunyarzad turned around, smiling. "Traveler and Paimon! You kept your promise! It's wonderful that you made it back in time to celebrate Lesser Lord Kusanali's birthday with us."
"Looks like we made it just in time," Lumine said.
"Hehe, that's right. Tomorrow is the Sabzeruz Festival. After preparing for so long, I can't help but feel a little nervous."
It was clear that Dunyarzad was both excited and deeply invested in the festival.
"Don't worry~" Paimon chirped. "Lesser Lord Kusanali will definitely feel everyone's sincerity!"
As soon as Paimon finished speaking, a familiar voice called out.
"Paimon's right! Lesser Lord Kusanali will definitely feel our sincerity!"
"Silaya!" Paimon exclaimed in surprise.
Silaya approached with Chu Xi, smiling at Lumine and Paimon.
"Traveler, Paimon, it's been so long!"
"Silaya! What are you doing in Sumeru City? And... Chu Xi?!" Lumine's surprise at seeing Chu Xi was even greater than her surprise at seeing Silaya. After all, Silaya was from Sumeru, and while Vanarana wasn't exactly close to Sumeru City, it was still relatively easy to travel between them.
But Chu Xi was from Liyue! What was she doing here?
"How could I miss such an important day as the Sabzeruz Festival?" Silaya explained. "There's nothing urgent happening in Vanarana right now."
Chu Xi added, "I only arrived in Sumeru a few days ago. I collapsed in Vanarana and was rescued by Mr. Tighnari. Then Silaya brought me here to Sumeru City."
Lumine and Paimon remained curious about how Chu Xi had come to Sumeru alone, why she was here, and the story behind the Vision she now possessed.
They remembered that Chu Xi hadn't had a Vision back in Liyue.
However, considering they had only met her once, asking such personal questions would be presumptuous.
After greeting Lumine and Paimon, Silaya turned to Dunyarzad.
"Dunyarzad, we've completed our mission!"
Dunyarzad smiled warmly at Silaya and Chu Xi. "Thank you, Silaya and Chu Xi!"
Then, turning to the Traveler, she asked, "By the way, Traveler, did you visit Port Ormos? Did you find anything there?"
Paimon: "Of course we went! And we ran into all sorts of trouble..."
Lumine: "Unfortunately, we didn't find any clues about Lesser Lord Kusanali. Instead, the mysteries only deepened..."
Dunyarzad's eyes sparkled with longing. "Ah, I see. It sounds like you've had another enviable adventure... If there's ever a chance, I'd love to..."
Dehya, who had been hiding nearby, spoke up:
"Ah, Miss, if you go to Port Ormos in your condition, it might be more than just a little trouble for me."
Paimon crossed her arms. "Dehya! You were eavesdropping!"
Dehya retorted, "Hey, it's called 'covert protection'! Monitoring all information around my employer is part of my duty."
"Alright, Dehya," Dunyarzad said. "I just said I wish I could go. I'm well aware of my limitations, hehe."
Dunyarzad looked helplessly at her bodyguard. "Tomorrow's the festival. Dehya, relax a little. I've been such a burden on you lately. I'll be fine."
Dehya hesitated. "...Ugh, even if you say so, Miss Dunyarzad, I still..."
"Don't worry, my guardian knight," Dunyarzad reassured her.
The atmosphere between the two women was entirely friendly, with Dunyarzad even seeming to "dote" on Dehya.
"Alright, alright," Dehya relented. "Just for tonight, then. Tomorrow's the real test—plenty of troublemakers will target the festival."
Paimon, standing nearby, had already started yawning.
She and Lumine had been busy all day, and it was now bedtime. A well-behaved Paimon wouldn't stay up late.
Dunyarzad stopped talking. "Traveler, I've prepared rooms for you in advance. Please follow me."
Silaya and Chu Xi trailed behind.
"Hehe, Miss Dunyarzad arranged rooms for us too—right next to yours!" Silaya said.
The beds at Silaya's house were too small; comfortable enough for one person, but cramped for two. Since they were helping out at the Sabzeruz Festival tomorrow, Dunyarzad had thoughtfully provided them with a room.
"Dunyarzad, let us show them to their rooms," Silaya suggested. "You must be tired too. Get some rest so you'll be refreshed for the festival tomorrow!"
Dehya and Lumine readily agreed.
"Alright, then we'll leave it to Silaya and Chu Xi."
As they headed to their resting place, Paimon asked Chu Xi, "By the way, Chu Xi, why did you come to Sumeru alone?"
Chu Xi sighed. Even after so many days, the memory still filled her with sorrow.
"It's like this..."
Chu Xi recounted everything that had happened since she last parted ways with Lumine and Paimon.
Lumine and Paimon listened, their hearts heavy with sympathy.
"So, Chu Xi, you're trying to investigate the Dendro Vision?" Paimon asked.
"Don't worry, Chu Xi," Paimon reassured her. "You're not alone. You have us! We're your good friends."
"Good friends?"
Paimon nodded vigorously. "Yup! Me, Silaya, Lumine, and Dunyarzad—we're all your good friends!"
Chu Xi suddenly flashed a dazzling smile. "Thank you, Paimon!"
"Then what about the Vision on your waist?"
Chu Xi detached the Vision and offered it to Paimon, who immediately waved her hands.
"You should keep such an important thing yourself, Chu Xi!"
Chu Xi withdrew her hand. "Alright," she said.
"I received this Vision on the day I left Liyue Harbor. I know the conditions for obtaining one are incredibly strict, and I still don't understand why I was chosen..."
As Chu Xi recounted the circumstances and her feelings upon receiving her Vision, Lumine grew increasingly puzzled.
When she learned that Chu Xi had only obtained her Vision after Zhongli's departure, Lumine finally understood.
Chen Xiyao's eyes lit up at the sight of Chu Xi, whom she had briefly met in Liyue.
I knew it! she thought. There's no way they'd show that scene earlier if Chu Xi wasn't a major character! She's exactly the kind of beautiful "white moonlight" character I love!
While Chen Xiyao focused on Chu Xi's appearance, viewers in the live stream were discussing other implications.
[So, Gods really can actively grant Visions?]
[Impossible! Didn't Venti and Ei say they couldn't?]
[Zhongli said the same thing, but look at him!]
[I think it might depend on the circumstances. Otherwise, how did Qingge get her Vision at just three years old?]
[It was definitely Zhongli who gave it to her! He didn't have money for her, so he gave her a Vision instead!]
[Regardless, I think it's amazing that Chu Xi got one!]
[But Chu Xi doesn't have white hair! Is Zhongli's "white hair fetish" character trope about to collapse?]