Listening to Albedo's account, Lin Mo fell into deep thought.
Across the entire continent of Teyvat, aside from Rhinedottir, was there anyone else who could accomplish such a thing?
The Fatui Harbinger known as " Il Dottore" from Snezhnaya probably could. But that fellow was in Snezhnaya.
Even if he did appear on Dragonspine, he certainly wouldn't be kind enough to help Albedo improve his device. It would be a miracle if he didn't take it back to Snezhnaya for analysis and research.
" Any news from Durin's side? "
Lin Mo couldn't help but ask curiously.
Albedo shook his head. " Durin lives quite far away.
He's at the mountain peak, I'm at the foot. We rarely meet in daily life. "
" Hmm... That makes sense,"
Lin Mo nodded inwardly.
If Durin were still a homunculus, it might be different. But the current Durin was a massive Starcrystal Silver Dragon. If he frequently visited Albedo's lab, he'd probably trigger avalanches all the time.
Since Albedo's information only went this far, it inevitably led Lin Mo to ponder further.
If it really was Rhinedottir who had returned, why hadn't she met with Albedo? If it wasn't Rhinedottir, then who could it possibly be?
These swirling doubts caused Lin Mo to turn his gaze toward the distant horizon, in the direction of the Crimson Sky Veil shrouding the mountain.
Yae Miko, standing beside him, said thoughtfully, " Since you have so many questions in your heart, why not go and unravel them yourself? "
Hearing Yae Miko's words, Lin Mo turned to look at her.
He gave a slight nod.
" If you're going to the mountain, take me along too. "
At that moment, Eula's voice reached Lin Mo's ears.
Lin Mo looked back.
He saw Eula, her cheeks slightly flushed, her gaze somewhat unfocused, looking about seven or eight parts drunk.
Lin Mo couldn't help but smile wryly. " Eula, I'm going to the mountain on business.
You're drunk, you should rest. "
" You've never taken a dip in the icy waters with me... "
Eula's beautiful eyes held a trace of melancholy, her voice tinged with complaint.
It made Lin Mo feel a pang of guilt.
Yes...
Thinking about it, in this lifetime, he had been so busy rushing between nations that he hadn't accompanied Eula to do the things she enjoyed.
Lin Mo took Eula's hand and smiled. " Time is tight.
We'll be setting off soon. "
" Achoo~"
Eula gave a soft sneeze.
Her drunken, dazed appearance, looking utterly muddled, made Lin Mo feel a bit worried.
Yae Miko seemed to notice the concern in Lin Mo's eyes and reminded him with a smile, " Holders of a Cryo Vision don't catch colds. Don't worry.
"
" Hmm... Right.
" Lin Mo nodded.
Holding Eula's hand, he looked at Yae Miko and asked with a smile, " Shall we set off now then? "
" Whatever Lord Sasayuri wishes~" Yae Miko nodded with a smile.
Unexpectedly, Paimon from the side also eagerly stepped forward to join in. " Paimon wants to go to the mountain too~"
" Huh? "
Lin Mo was taken aback.
He instinctively glanced toward the banquet.
At that moment, Lumine was drinking with Cloud Retainer.
Seeing her slightly flushed cheeks, it was clear she was also a bit tipsy.
" Huh? Don't you need to look after Lumine?
" Lin Mo asked curiously.
Lin Mo's reminder made Paimon hesitate.
She looked toward Lumine, who was clinking cups and drinking at the banquet, and muttered discontentedly in a small voice, " But... you promised Paimon... you'd make Tricolor Dango for Paimon over the next few days~"
" Alright, alright~"
Lin Mo affectionately ruffled her little head. " Lumine has everyone looking after her, no need to worry.
"
" Then can Paimon go to the mountain too~"
Paimon immediately cheered up.
" You may. "
Lin Mo nodded with a smile.
At the same time, he looked at Yae Miko, signaling they could depart.
" Shouldn't we say goodbye to everyone? "
Yae Miko asked gently.
" No need. "
Lin Mo shook his head and looked at Albedo. " Albedo, after we leave, could you let everyone know for me?
I'm going to the mountain and will be back soon. "
" Yes, I will convey the message for you, Father. "
Albedo nodded.
Gorou, standing nearby, seeing Lin Mo about to depart, clenched his fist excitedly and cheered, " Lord Lin Mo! Do your best!
You must create Lady Hina! "
After bidding brief farewells to Gorou and Albedo, Lin Mo, along with Yae Miko, Eula, and Paimon, quietly left the banquet grounds.
In a secluded spot, Yae Miko once again transformed into her kitsune form, carrying everyone as she tread upon the clouds, heading toward Dragonspine.
Eula, nestled in Lin Mo's arms, lulled by the cool night breeze, had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Paimon, however, seemed full of energy.
She was currently sitting on Lin Mo's shoulder, staring at him with rapt attention.
Lin Mo couldn't help but ask curiously, " Is there something dirty on my face? Why do you keep staring at me?
"
" Because... Paimon has something she wants to ask the Diplomatic Envoy~"
Paimon said with a serious expression.
" Huh? If you have something to ask, just ask.
" Lin Mo replied instinctively.
" Diplomatic Envoy... what do you think... what kind of existence is Paimon? "
...
Paimon's question immediately plunged Lin Mo into contemplation.
When he first started playing *Genshin Impact*, Lin Mo had thought Paimon was a special creature created through bio-alchemy.
But...
After truly arriving in Teyvat, Lin Mo was quite certain Paimon was *not* a creature created by bio-alchemy!
Even Rhinedottir's " Gold"-level bio-alchemy likely couldn't create a being like Paimon.
Why?
Creating a new " Paimon" wasn't actually the hard part.
The difficulty lay in the fact that a Paimon created through bio-alchemy would require the power of the ley lines as energy to sustain its vitality.
Take the homunculus Albedo, for example.
The reason Albedo resided permanently on Dragonspine was precisely because the mountain possessed abundant ley line energy.
But the source of power for the Paimon before him was unknown. She wasn't like Albedo, who needed ley line energy to maintain her existence.
Therefore, in Lin Mo's view, Paimon definitely wasn't a creature born of bio-alchemy.
If anything...
Paimon seemed more akin to god-created beings like " The Balladeer," "
The Raiden Shogun," or " The Divine Priestess. "
Yet Lin Mo was quite sure Paimon was " The Daystar," an existence on the same level as the Three Moon Goddesses.
So what kind of supreme being would have the qualifications to create Paimon?
At that moment, Paimon, watching the deep-in-thought Lin Mo, spoke up on her own:
" After meeting Timaeus... Sucrose...
Albedo... "
" Paimon thought she might be a life created by some great master of bio-alchemy. "
" But after meeting the Diplomatic Envoy, and learning that the Diplomatic Envoy is the greatest bio-alchemist under the heavens... "
" So Paimon also learned a bit about bio-alchemy knowledge. "
" Since Paimon doesn't need to absorb ley line power, Paimon is sure she wasn't created by that Lady Rhinedottir. "
"Paimon... started to doubt her own existence..."
"What kind of life is Paimon, really~"
" Recently, while thinking about this question... "
"Paimon discovered... she seems to have grasped a very strange power."
"It feels... like this power could help the Diplomatic Envoy."
"So this time, Paimon quietly left the Traveler and snuck off to the mountain with the Diplomatic Envoy"
"was because Paimon wanted the Diplomatic Envoy to see this strange power Paimon has grasped~"
" Huh? "
Lin Mo was startled. " A strange power?
"
" Yes~ Does the Diplomatic Envoy want to help Paimon take a look~"
Paimon's eager expression clearly showed she couldn't wait to demonstrate her power before Lin Mo.
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T/N:
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