There's a saying in Liyue: "When two people from the same hometown meet abroad, tears will flow like a river."
Unfortunately, Ji Ming was not crying.
He was being bear-hugged in the middle of Mondstadt's main street by a buzz-cut Liyue youth who was loudly calling him—
"Uncle Ji!"
The entire street stared.
Uncle. Ji.
Ji Ming almost had a stroke.
He had no siblings, no cousins, no relatives—he'd grown up alone.
So where in the abyss did a nephew suddenly come from?
Ji Ming patted the kid's back like a benevolent elder.
"Ahem. Nephew, get up first."
Whether or not it was true, better claim the advantage first.
Once dragged aside, Ji Ming sized the kid up.
Plain clothes. No Vision. No weapons.
Definitely harmless.
The youth sniffed, wiping his face with his sleeve.
"Uncle Ji, I finally found you! My dad wrote to say he had a sworn brother back home—told me to find you when I returned to Liyue so you could… you know, arrange a job for me!"
Arrange a job?
Ji Ming was a full-time unemployed drifter.
What was he supposed to do, take him along to wander the streets professionally?
Ji Ming squinted.
"And your dad is…?"
The kid puffed his chest.
"He Da Li!"
Ah.
The prison warden.
Old He.
That tracked.
A year ago, Ji Ming had ended up in jail (long story), bet drinks with the warden, and whoever lost would be the other's little brother.
Old He lost.
So yes.
Technically.
This kid calling him "Uncle" was…
…uncomfortably legitimate.
Ji Ming sighed deeply and draped an arm over his shoulders.
"Good lad. But how did you recognize me?"
"Dad said Uncle Ji always looks like a delinquent, so I just looked for the guy who seemed the least trustworthy. I yelled once to test, and—boom! You turned around!"
Ji Ming:
"…Is that so?"
He was going to throw Old He's wine jug into the sea when he got home.
But there were more pressing concerns.
The kid's eyes fell to Ji Ming's waist—and the glowing Anemo Vision.
"Uncle Ji… I also want a Vision."
Ji Ming placed a hand on his shoulder, expression grave.
"Then call me godfather."
The kid immediately knelt:
"Godfather! Please accept your disciple!"
"Good. Now go to the Cathedral and scream 'Barbatos! Grant me strength!' Real loud. Full sincerity. Might work."
The kid sprinted off.
Ji Ming dusted his hands.
Problem solved.
(Or relocated. Close enough.)
He resumed haggling over Jueyun Chilis—Barbara had requested them for another one of her mysterious beverages.
Ji Ming had already suffered once.
He wasn't asking questions.
He was just passing coin for peppers when a gloved hand settled lightly on his shoulder.
A smooth, lazy voice followed:
"I heard you shared dinner with our Acting Grand Master last night. Quite impressive. I'm curious if that's true?"
Ji Ming turned his head.
A handsome man, dark skin, blue hair, one eye covered.
The smile was relaxed.
The gaze behind it was not.
Kaeya Alberich.
Captain of the Knights of Favonius' Cavalry Unit.
Ji Ming smiled back just as lazily.
"So you're Captain Kaeya. I've heard of you."
Kaeya raised a brow.
"Oh? I'm flattered. And you are…?"
"I'm Hu Ming. Hu as in 'nonsense.' I talk nonsense very well."
Kaeya paused for two seconds.
Then, gently:
"…A moment ago the market guards said your name was Ji Ming."
Ji Ming did not blink.
"Well, I took my wife's surname. I'm a very progressive man."
Silence.
Even the fruit vendor froze mid-copper count.
Kaeya stared.
Ji Ming stared back.
A single Anemo crystal wind-chime somewhere in the plaza clinked politely.
Kaeya's smile sharpened just a hair.
"…Interesting."
Ji Ming snapped back just as sweetly:
"I get told that often."
Both men continued smiling.
Both men were now 100% certain the other was trouble.
Advance Chapters available on P@treon
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