"Burp~ Lumine, your cooking skills have really improved. This Sweet Madame is delicious."
Paimon wiped the oil from her mouth with her sleeve, smacking her little lips in recollection. Who knew that watching Xiangling cook a few times would improve Lumine's skills so much? Maybe she should get Lumine to work at Wanmin Restaurant. That way, her cooking might get even better. Paimon fell into deep thought.
Su Bai casually broke a twig to pick his teeth. Lumine's skills had indeed improved. Even Shenhe, who had been in solitary cultivation, ate quite a few Sweet Madames. That alone proved how delicious Lumine's cooking was.
"Well, Sister Shenhe, I'll be going now. I'll come back to Mt. Aocang to see you after I'm done."
Looking up at the sun about to set, Su Bai silently calculated the time. If they didn't leave soon, they might not make it to the Jade Chamber to find Ningguang. That would mean Lumine's wanted status wouldn't be cleared until tomorrow.
"Here, take these talismans. Be safe."
Shenhe took out several talismans she had drawn and stuffed them into Su Bai's hands. Many were high-level talismans, some of which even Su Bai had difficulty drawing.
Su Bai didn't stand on ceremony. He and Shenhe didn't need to. Seeing Su Bai accept her talismans, Shenhe's eyes narrowed slightly. Then, taking advantage of Su Bai's distraction, she grabbed his fluffy tail.
The sensation nearly made Su Bai jump out of his skin. Seeing Shenhe's satisfied expression, he grabbed Lumine and ran down the mountain. Damn it, when did Shenhe learn to be mischievous from Cloud Retainer?
---
In Jueyun Karst, Su Bai told Lumine and Paimon about the Tianquan they had seen. When they heard that Ningguang's wealth was rivaling that of nations, Paimon nearly drooled.
"Do you see that floating island up there? That's where Ningguang lives. It's the famous Jade Chamber of Liyue."
"Those who have set foot on the Jade Chamber are people Ningguang favors. Many noble houses send people specifically to watch the Jade Chamber. If someone receives an invitation from Ningguang, these houses will use any means to recruit that person."
"The ridiculous part is they don't realize those 'recruits' are just pawns Ningguang planted."
Su Bai smiled slyly. Using those pawns, Ningguang had gathered evidence of crimes committed by many noble houses. To this day, some still don't know who betrayed them.
"Wow, what an impressive woman. Should we prepare some kind of gift when we visit her?"
"If we make the Tianquan happy, and she gives us a lot of Mora, should we accept or refuse?"
"Whatever. Lumine, let's go prepare a gift!"
With that, Paimon flew up high and looked around, searching for something worthwhile nearby. Lumine held her forehead and sighed. Paimon was too naive. Giving a random gift wouldn't make the Tianquan shower them with Mora.
"Last night I dreamt of an extremely noble dessert—Slime Condensate Frosting."
"I've decided! We'll give the Tianquan Slime Condensate Frosting. A wealthy woman like Ningguang will definitely love it."
Paimon planted her hands on her hips proudly and announced her decision. Slime Condensate Frosting? Hearing that Paimon had dreamed of it, Su Bai felt some anticipation. Paimon might slack off in other areas, but when it came to food, she was an expert.
"Paimon, you dreamed of this dessert, but there's no recipe. How am I supposed to make it?"
"Just cook with the feeling of 'bam!' Let's go gather ingredients. I feel it—riches and fortune await us!"
Watching Paimon lost in her fantasy, Lumine had no idea where to start. Su Bai could only shrug—he didn't know either. He could give advice on eating, but cooking? He'd rather just cast an illusion on Lumine. In the world of illusions, even eating a plain bun could taste like a delicacy.
Under Lumine's pleading gaze, Su Bai used his adeptal perception to help them find a Slime rich in Hydro energy. This Slime was even rounder than the usual large ones. The Slime condensate it dropped was the best possible raw material for Slime Condensate Frosting.
"Now we just need some Sweet Flowers. Su Bai, do you know where to find particularly good ones?"
"Sweet Flowers are everywhere. Why do you want especially good ones, Paimon?"
"This dish determines whether we'll have riches and fortune. Of course we need to be careful."
Su Bai's fox ears twitched. He didn't have the energy to tease Paimon. If he heard correctly, someone nearby was calling for help. The air also carried a sweet fragrance. If he brought some to Ganyu, she would probably be quite happy.
Pushing aside the grass blocking their view, they saw a caged, unlucky soul in a camp. Nearby, a few Treasure Hoarders were searching around.
Acting on the principle of drawing their swords to help when injustice occurs, Lumine charged in with her sword and quickly drove off the Treasure Hoarders.
Paimon used a key to free the unlucky man from the cage. After learning he had been imprisoned because he and the Treasure Hoarders had explored the same ruins, Su Bai didn't ask further. There were many undiscovered ruins in Liyue, and plenty of people used "archaeology" as an excuse to explore them.
"Thank you, sir, and thank you, adeptus, for saving me. Otherwise, I'd have rotted in that cage. When the Treasure Hoarders were in a good mood, they would prune those pots of Sweet Flowers. When they were in a bad mood, they would prune me..."
At the man's thanks, anticipation lit up Paimon's face. But the little foodie still had principles. Instead of asking for a reward directly, she said earnestly:
"Small favor~ small favor~ Please don't thank us too much."
The man understood the hint. He immediately gave them the pots of thriving Sweet Flowers. After some token refusals from Paimon, he shoved all the pots into Paimon and Lumine's hands.
He also recommended a shop called Mingxing Jewelry. According to him, they had a beautiful box there that would impress anyone as a gift.
He also proudly said that if they mentioned his name at Mingxing Jewelry, the owner, Xingxi, would give them a discount.