The afternoon sun was pleasantly warm.
Thanks to Barbatos' reshaping of Mondstadt's terrain, the region enjoyed a perpetual spring.
The result was a peaceful afternoon—serene, leisurely, and comfortably drowsy.
Since there was no rush to set out, Paimon, her belly full, lay sprawled out on the grass and was moments away from dozing off.
Gu Chen, however, knew perfectly well what his goal in this world was.
He had completed every system task—utterly, thoroughly. Even the system itself had begun urging him to slow down and enjoy life.
So that's exactly what he intended to do: to slow his steps, to truly admire the landscapes of Teyvat, and to spend his long, near-eternal lifespan in peace.
[Transcendent Group Chat]
[Tartaglia]: So… no one's been able to analyze Mr. Gu Chen's combat power yet? (Disappointed)
[Albedo]: No contact, no data. Impossible to analyze.
[Tartaglia]: Ahh, what a shame. I'd love another spar with Mr. Gu Chen! Dancing on the edge of life and death—that's how you break your limits!
[Venti]: Little bro, I advise you not to go looking for pain~ (smirks)
[Tartaglia]: Why not? (Confused)
[Venti]: No reason. Oh right—@[Zhongli], when the Rite of Descension begins, we'll head over to Liyue too. Gu Chen said he's planning to settle there.
[Zhongli]: Is that so? You are most welcome.
[Ningguang]: If it's Mr. Gu Chen—the hero of Liyue's past life—then the present-day Liyue welcomes him as well. I'll personally select a fine estate and gift it to him. I only hope Mr. Gu Chen won't decline.
[La Signora]: Hmph, what a clever way to win hearts. (Scornful)
[Raiden Ei]: @[La Signora] Your crimes have surfaced. Report to the Tenryou Commission's dungeon immediately. (Threat)
[La Signora]: ?
[Raiden Ei]: Don't forget how you threatened the Shogun in the past—using Inazuma's citizens as leverage, sabotaging the government, and promoting Delusions. Sara's already uncovered the Delusion Factory. The evidence is solid. Don't try the "past sins don't apply to this life" excuse—you're not escaping this time! (Threat)
[Yae Miko]: Oh my~ has my dear Ei gotten smarter after watching those past-life videos? (Paimon: Shocked)
[Raiden Ei]: Have you been underestimating me all this time?! (Keqing: Sulking)
[La Signora]: …
[Tartaglia]: Hahaha, sorry! Not laughing at you—it's just too funny! (Arataki Itto: Laughing)
[Heizou]: So it's Tartaglia in the Liyue prison, and La Signora in the Inazuma one? (Amused)
[Tartaglia]: Of course! She schemed way more than I did, even used me as a pawn—why should I be the only one locked up?
[Scaramouche]: Idiot.
[Dottore]: …Honestly, there is something wrong with Tartaglia's brain circuits. La Signora is your colleague!
But Tartaglia didn't see it that way.
Colleague? Then why the hell did you use me?
Sure, the goal had been achieved, but he still felt sour about it.
And it didn't help that he was the only Fatui Harbinger sitting in a cell—it was embarrassing.
If another Harbinger ended up imprisoned, that'd make things feel much more balanced.
[La Signora]: Hmph, Inazuma has no authority to judge me.
[Raiden Ei]: Then I'll come find you myself.
[La Signora]: Don't make me laugh. I'm standing on Liyue soil—what would it mean if one of the Seven crossed borders? Heh.
[Zhongli]: Reasonably speaking, Baal's arrival would indeed cause unnecessary misunderstandings. Still, given the clarity of the evidence, no one would truly misunderstand. I merely advise Fatui not to spread rumors or struggle pointlessly.
[Zhongli]: Also, @[Raiden Ei], I recommend speaking directly with your Empress. Perhaps, with something utterly useless to you, you could easily persuade her to hand La Signora over.
[La Signora]: ?
[Raiden Ei]: I understand.
[Kaeya]: Oh boy, that's it for her! (Venti: Throws confetti)
[Diluc]: Justice served.
[Furina]: What could be "useless" to Baal but worth exchanging for La Signora's punishment?
[Yae Miko]: Take a guess~
[Furina]: If I could guess, I wouldn't be asking!
[Alhaitham]: A Gnosis.
[Jean]: What?! A Gnosis?!
[Collei]: U-um, I never quite understood—why did Fatui seem to collect the Gnoses so easily? Mr. Venti just… let them take it. Mr. Zhongli used this for his own ends and retired. But in Inazuma, they never got Raiden Shogun's Gnosis, right?
[Heizou]: Who said they didn't?
[Collei]: Eh?! (Silent shock)
Wait—did they actually get it? But the videos never showed that scene!
[Lisa]: That must've been when Lumine fainted in the Delusion Factory. Gu Chen took her away—but when she woke up, she saw Lady Yae instead.
[Yae Miko]: The Electro Gnosis is indeed in my possession~
[Kamisato Ayaka]: The High Priestess doesn't seem to have any reason to hand it over.
[Yae Miko]: At first, I didn't. But you forget—during Gu Chen's battle with the Shogun, the Grand Narukami Shrine was surrounded by Fatui forces.
[Tartaglia]: So they distracted Lady Yae on purpose—to force her to surrender the Gnosis so she could rush to the battlefield?!
[Yae Miko]: That's my guess. Otherwise, I'd never have given it up, even if it's useless to both Ei and me. It is, after all, her sister's relic.
[Nilou]: Then why give it away at all? (Keqing: Confused)
[Zhongli]: That… would be inconvenient to explain.
[Ganyu]: Gods always have their reasons.
[Raiden Ei]: Enough. @[La Signora], your orders will arrive soon. Prepare for imprisonment.
[La Signora]: …Fine.
[Zhongli]: @[Ningguang], summon the Qixing later—I have something to discuss.
[Ningguang]: Understood.
A day later.
Liyue.
The Yujing Terrace was vast in reality.
Though little stood upon it besides the Jade Chamber Hall, its symbolic importance was immense.
Beyond its moon-gate stretched the district where Liyue's elite truly lived.
There stood the Yuehai Pavilion, the administrative office of the Qixing and workplace of Ganyu and the secretaries—
as well as the residences of magnates like Master Mao and other merchant princes.
Now, Liyue's most powerful woman stood smiling, extending a scroll of parchment.
"Mr. Gu Chen, welcome to Liyue. This is the deed to your estate. Should any issue arise, contact me through Yuehai Pavilion. I sincerely hope your life here meets all your expectations."
Gu Chen accepted the land deed, inwardly impressed.
No wonder she's the Tianquan Star.
Politics aside, her way of doing things was far superior to others—
an obvious gesture of goodwill, yet done with elegance that made it feel natural rather than manipulative.
The estate she gifted him was worth billions of mora, its gardens more like a private park.
Such decisiveness—he couldn't help but admire it.
He smiled. "Then my thanks, Lady Ningguang. Should any problem prove too troublesome, feel free to come to me. My martial skills are… not inferior to back then."
Ningguang's smile deepened.
Two old foxes exchanging courtesy—they both understood perfectly.
Her gaze flicked toward Lumine, and she teased, "Traveler, I'll be waiting for your wedding banquet."
"Hehe~" Lumine giggled foolishly.
She was so easy to fluster, it was adorable.
"Then I'll take my leave," Ningguang said gracefully, departing.
Watching her go, Paimon looked around the grand courtyard and gasped, "As expected of Liyue's richest woman—so generous!"
"Everything has its price," Gu Chen chuckled.
He didn't elaborate further.
It was a fair trade, but in truth, Gu Chen had come out ahead.
The location alone—overlooking half of Liyue Harbor—was worth more than words.
Not to mention, Ningguang had even prepared a Hero's Gratitude Fund from Liyue's previous life: fifty million mora.
But the number itself wasn't what mattered—
It was a gesture from the Liyue of the past, repaying its hero.
"Alright, let's get familiar with our new home. The Rite of Descension's in a few days—we'll have the retired Geo Archon over for tea." Gu Chen smiled.
"Yay!"
Paimon immediately began flitting about, exploring every corner.
Lumine followed Gu Chen, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.
He'd just said our home.
Her cheeks turned pink.
"Tonight, we'll trick Paimon into meeting some online friends," Gu Chen whispered.
"Eh?" Lumine blinked.
Why send Paimon out… unless—
Her face turned crimson. Her heart fluttered with shy, nervous excitement.
[Group Chat]
[Zhongli]: Congratulations on your new home, @[Gu Chen].
[Venti]: Ehe~ I haven't even found a place to stay in Liyue yet! Crashing at Wangshu Inn for now. @[Xiao] Buy me some wine!
[Xiao]: …
[Gu Chen]: Fair point. I'm settled now—come by anytime for tea.
[Gu Chen sent a group red packet]
[Zhongli received 100 mora.]
[Venti received 85 mora.]
[Gu Chen]: Not much, just sharing the joy.
[Itto]: Thanks, boss! Tonight I can afford extra steamed buns! (Hu Tao: Cute pose)
[Zhongli]: Many thanks, and may you soon be blessed with a child and a hundred years of harmony.
[Venti]: The bridge tunnels of Mondstadt are cold and windy… every night I curl up there, clutching a stale bun someone discarded, praying it'll fill my stomach. Then—miracle!—a red packet appeared in the chat! I clicked fast—85 mora! Enough for a hot bath and a warm bed. Tears filled my eyes. Thank you, generous benefactor @[Gu Chen]!
[Jean]: …
[Barbara]: …
[Lisa]: …
[Diluc]: …
[Noelle]: W-wait, Lord Venti's life is that tragic?! (Collei: stunned)
[Kaeya]: Oh, I see. The great Anemo Archon wants to roleplay, huh? Fine. Next time I grab a red packet, I'll make sure my gratitude radiates through the screen. (Laughing emoji)
[Furina]: See? I told you this chat group teaches valuable things! (Confident)
[Neuvillette]: You'd best not learn that kind of thing.
[Zhongli]: (Covers face) If it's Venti… this explains everything.
There was a fine line between anonymity and freedom, but for Venti, both meant the same thing—
he was always, unapologetically himself.
After some lighthearted banter, Gu Chen called out,
"Paimon!"
"Coming, coming!"
She drifted over lazily.
"I've spoken with Xiangling—tonight you can eat all you want at Wanmin Restaurant. Don't worry about mora."
"Huh? Just me? What about you two?" Paimon asked, puzzled.
Though happy, she wasn't used to Gu Chen and Lumine going off without her.
"Paimon, you don't want to be a third wheel on someone's date, do you?" Lumine said softly.
Paimon froze, glanced between them, then nodded sagely.
"I see how it is. Fine—but when you have kids, don't make me babysit!"
"?!" Lumine's face went scarlet.
Gu Chen waved frantically. "Go on! What nonsense are you saying!"
"Don't think Paimon doesn't understand!" she huffed proudly, then flew off.
Gu Chen exhaled. "Sometimes she's a little too clever."
Lumine nodded, blushing. "I wonder where she even learned those things… maybe she found some questionable books in the Knights' library?"
"Could be." Gu Chen chuckled.
Night.
As lanterns lit the harbor, Gu Chen handed Paimon over to Xiangling.
"Miss Xiangling, I'll leave her in your care."
"No problem!" Xiangling grinned.
Watching him hurry away, she blinked. "Why the rush? It's like he's trying to get rid of you."
"You don't get it," Paimon sighed, crossing her tiny arms like a seasoned auntie. "New couples hate having a third wheel around. Let them have their date—I'll just enjoy my meal."
"Oh~" Xiangling smiled knowingly. "Then eat as much as you like, but don't waste anything!"
"Relax! Paimon never wastes food! I eat everything!"
Pocketing Gu Chen's generous mora allowance, Paimon cheerfully fluttered toward the kitchen.
Meanwhile, back at Gu Chen's residence—
Tonight was destined to be unforgettable.
It was the night of a girl's ascension ceremony.
A milestone that needed no explanation.
Though Gu Chen appeared calm on the surface, his hands were trembling ever so slightly—afraid of rushing, afraid of ruining the moment.
Fortunately, the teachers from his countless past lives had imparted all the necessary knowledge.
He began the night's "ceremony" with practiced precision.
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