The group slowly made their way back to Liyue Harbor.
The moment they arrived, the locals greeted them warmly.
Bosacius and Menogias waved back with practiced ease.
Looks like her big brothers had already gotten used to mortal life.
And the people of Liyue Harbor didn't seem surprised to see them at all. That was a good sign.
"Second Brother, you've integrated pretty quickly during my absence." Bonanus said curiously.
"Haha, humans aren't that hard to get along with. At least for me." Menogias chuckled. Sometimes he would even get asked for autographs by fans while walking down the street.
After all, a handsome and gentle adeptus was hard not to like.
"We have our little sister to thank for that. In the past, we never dared get too close to mortals."
"After all, ordinary people couldn't handle that strange power." Bosacius walked up beside her.
"Big Brother Bosacius, you've said that so many times already."
Bonanus covered her mouth and laughed. During the time before she left for Mondstadt, Bosacius would bring it up constantly.
"Haha, it's all thanks to you, little sister. Of course your big brother has to mention it often." Bosacius said seriously, rubbing the back of his head with a laugh.
"He'll probably forget once he gets his hands on some food." Menogias joked.
Xiao closed his eyes and muttered flatly, "Glutton. You'll get fat one day."
Hearing that, Bonanus, whose hand was still being held by Xiao, grinned slyly. She slipped her paw free, crossed her arms, and pretended to look upset.
"Alatus, I seem to recall you calling me a glutton too. Are you implying I'll get fat as well?"
"Ah, I'm sorry." Xiao apologized immediately. Seeing his unchanged expression, Bonanus couldn't help but laugh again.
Seeing Xiao apologize so quickly, Bosacius rubbed his forehead. Playing favorites much?
"Haha, Bosacius, you can't win against them. Sometimes keeping quiet saves face." Menogias patted his shoulder with a smile.
"Oh, my heart is shattered into a million pieces."
Bosacius clutched his chest, putting on a pained expression. His acting was so good it almost seemed real.
"Don't worry, Big Brother Bosacius. I'll glue it back together for you." Bonanus chimed in naturally.
"You really are your big brother's little jacket."
Bosacius laughed again. Joking around with family was always fun. He loved this feeling.
"Oh, Big Brother Bosacius, did anything interesting happen while I was away?" Bonanus changed the subject curiously.
"Interesting? Not really. Aside from drinking with Alatus and Menogias, I just went to Wanmin Restaurant for food." Bosacius rubbed his chin, thinking.
"As for guarding duties, just clearing out the usual troublemaking monsters. Nothing special."
"But I do remember one time I invited Alatus for a sparring match, and I caught him off guard because he was spacing out." Bosacius recalled seriously.
"Oh, I remember that too. Alatus wasn't paying attention at all." Menogias nodded.
Thankfully, Bosacius hadn't been using a real weapon. Otherwise, Alatus would have been in trouble.
"What? Alatus, you..." Bonanus looked at him in surprise. If it was just a friendly spar, Xiao wouldn't have gotten hit easily.
She concluded that her little brother must have had something on his mind.
"Something on your mind? Tell your sister." Bonanus nudged Xiao with her elbow, looking curious.
Xiao didn't hide anything. He shrugged casually.
"Of course I was worried about whether you would recover safely. I thought about you every day."
Bonanus didn't think much of it. They were family, after all. It was only natural to miss each other.
"You're such a good little brother!" Bonanus patted his soft head, like she was petting a big dog.
"Enough, Sister Bonanus. Stop treating me like a child. I've told you many times." Xiao caught her paw gently, looking exasperated.
His sister could be so dense sometimes. He had made his feelings so obvious, yet she still looked at him cluelessly. What a headache.
"Hahaha, Alatus, you have to be patient. Little sister's head doesn't always work that fast." Bosacius laughed heartily.
Menogias nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean by that, Big Brother Bosacius? And why are you nodding, Second Brother? I'm very smart!" Bonanus said seriously.
Of course, her definition of smart definitely didn't include studying.
Being smart wasn't just about good grades!
"Yes, yes, little sister is the smartest." Bosacius said, barely holding back a smile.
"Big Brother Bosacius, you're so insincere!" Bonanus pouted.
"Second Brother... look at him!" She turned to Menogias for help.
Menogias just shrugged helplessly and winked with a smile, as if to say, "Since you're so smart, surely you can fight back?"
"You!" Bonanus bit her lower lip. Were all her brothers just ganging up on her?
"Alatus, what do you think?" Bonanus crossed her paws and looked at him seriously.
"Um... Sister Bonanus is the smartest in all of Teyvat." Seeing the spotlight turned on him, Xiao covered his face, thought for a moment, and gave a stiff compliment.
"Ugh, you're all so insincere. My heart is shattered now too~"
Bonanus mimicked Bosacius's heart-clutching pose, looking devastated.
Seeing her act, the other three burst out laughing. With laughter and cheer, they slowly made their way down Liyue's stone streets.
Heading toward Wanmin Restaurant.
...
Arriving at Wanmin Restaurant
"It's been so long since I've been here! Business is still as good as ever!" Bonanus looked at the bustling restaurant. As expected of Xiangling.
"Of course. The head chef here comes up with new dishes every day." Menogias smiled.
"I just hope she doesn't use me as a taste tester again. Last time I told her not to put Slime in my food, but she did it anyway..." Xiao shook his head.
"I wonder if Xiangling has come up with anything new." Bosacius said eagerly. He couldn't wait to try the new dishes.
"We won't know until we go inside. Let's go." Menogias nodded.