Lumine nodded in realization, then suddenly spotted the key point: "Then what about Xianyun and Ah Ping?"
Xianyun crossed her arms and said: "This Adeptus has always been true to her nature—I won't be as restrained as those two."
Having directly confronted a true phoenix in her immortal crane form was proof enough of Xianyun's bravery.
Combined with her own personality, she indeed wouldn't constrain herself because of Zhongli's or Jun Bai's status.
After all, she researched mechanism techniques—her thinking naturally had to be open and innovative. So while maintaining the proper respect, she could still interact with Zhongli and Jun Bai as equals.
As for the other two Adepti—they were a bit more traditional, with stronger concepts of hierarchy.
However, Xianyun didn't know that Jun Bai had arranged her at this table for another reason.
And that reason... would remain a secret for now.
"As for Ah Ping..." Xianyun pondered while looking at Jun Bai. "Sky Phoenix, this Adeptus also doesn't understand why you arranged Ah Ping to sit with them."
Jun Bai picked up a piece of crispy pork and put it in his mouth, replying calmly: "Ah Ping likes quiet. If you, Guizhong, and I sat together, this table would definitely be the noisiest."
"Mm... that's true."
Xianyun considered herself quite talkative, Guizhong wasn't someone who could stay quiet outside of researching mechanism techniques, and Jun Bai would unconsciously join in whenever an interesting topic came up.
That table would indeed be impossible to keep quiet.
Though Ah Ping might not mind—and probably wouldn't even think anything of it inwardly.
But just because someone doesn't mind doesn't mean you can take their kindness for granted.
Before transmigrating, Jun Bai had gone through a phase of reading female-oriented short stories—he was building up poison resistance.
At the same time, he wanted to see just how outrageous the values in female-oriented stories could get.
The most memorable part was how the male leads always treated the female lead's sacrifices as a matter of course. Most of the time, these men were the ones clinging to the female lead...
Thinking back, Jun Bai felt his poison resistance must have been pretty high to keep reading.
But that experience also served as a reminder: No one is kind to you for no reason. Never take someone's kindness as something you're entitled to.
(Using the story to vent—this watered-down part will be made up later.)
So if a friend doesn't like it, Jun Bai won't say things like "please forgive them."
If they don't like it, then he simply won't arrange it.
Ah Ping likes quiet—so let her sit with Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and the Yakshas.
Zhongli doesn't like seafood—so there won't be any trace of seafood on this table.
Xianyun's true form is a bird—so when cooking, Jun Bai didn't even use bird eggs.
"Then me sitting here seems inappropriate too."
Lumine felt she probably didn't count as Paimon's elder.
Though she was a long-lived being and her age qualified her as an elder, she still had the heart of a young girl.
Aether: Yes, so please stop chasing me around trying to beat me up in the future.
(Aether's movement speed is a bit faster than Lumine's, while Lumine's attack power is higher than Aether's. In typical sibling dynamics, Aether honed his speed while being chased by Lumine.)
The reasoning was solid, so Lumine stopped dwelling on it and began eating.
The elders' table wasn't as sumptuous as the younger generation's or the comrades' tables—it was mainly staple foods.
Understandable—after all, on New Year's Eve dinner, removing seafood and poultry left very limited dish options.
Especially since Jun Bai had only learned home-style cooking from Marchosius—the available dishes were even fewer.
So while the other two tables were enjoying a full imperial feast, the elders' table had:
Dumplings, tangyuan, spring rolls...
Of course, there were still dishes—all Jun Bai's specialties. Zhongli and Guizhong ate quite a lot.
Lumine looked at these two gods and always felt a sense of relief in them.
Xianyun wasn't very interested in the food—instead, she loved the exclusive rice wine brewed by Fengdeng Lou.
In the past, Jun Bai always limited her portions—only during Lantern Rite reunion dinner could she drink freely.
So Lumine saw Xianyun holding the jar and drinking straight from it.
For a moment, Lumine thought Venti had possessed her—the posture was identical.
Speaking of which, with alcohol at an occasion like this—Venti wasn't coming to join the fun?
With his divine status, it shouldn't be hard.
(Windrise—red-faced Venti lying amid a pile of wine jars, hiccuping: "Still sending me wine on New Year—good brother.")
But compared to Venti who couldn't tell real from fake drunkenness once he touched alcohol, Xianyun's alcohol tolerance was better—she stopped at slight tipsiness and began chatting with Jun Mo Li.
Xianyun said: "You mortal are quite interesting. This Adeptus has seen countless mortals, but someone like you who remains unchanged in attitude even after learning Sky Phoenix's identity..."
Jun Mo Li asked puzzled: "Adeptus, have you seen me before?"
Xianyun shook her head: "No—but I've heard Sky Phoenix mention you."
Xianyun sighed: "When Sky Phoenix spoke of you being able to contend with gods, this Adeptus thought he was overpraising you. Now seeing you in person—you truly seem to possess such power."
Hearing this, Zhongli also looked at Jun Mo Li: "Little friend Mo Li, actually at first, Idle Cloud and I thought the same."
He looked out at the starry sky: "In all of Teyvat—even I have never heard of a true mortal contending with a god."
"Even that Pyro Archon needed external power to seize her divine throne."
"Even when I personally inspected the traces of that battle in Qingce Village, I was only half-convinced."
"Now that I've truly met you—I know Jun Bai wasn't exaggerating. You truly possess such power—power not obtained through any external means."
Jun Mo Li raised his tea in place of wine to Zhongli: "Lord Geo Archon flatters me—it's merely the times creating the hero."
"Besides..."
Jun Mo Li patted Jun Bai's shoulder: "If Third Brother hadn't coincidentally come to Qingce Village back then, I might have lived out my life as a blacksmith in Qingce Village like Father."
"The difference from Father is probably that I might have hoped my next generation could inherit this Vision."
Jun Mo Li looked at the dimmed Vision on his body:
"Ancestors and Father both wished to draw the Soaring Firmament Sword—but even though I truly drew it, this Vision remains dim."
Zhongli pondered: "By common reason, an extinguished Vision can only shine again in the hands of someone with the same will."
"This Vision remains dim in little friend Mo Li's hands—which can only mean little friend Mo Li did not inherit your father's wish."
"Yes." Jun Mo Li gave a helpless smile.
After taking a small sip, Lumine noticed something off: "Inherit? Mo Li indeed doesn't seem to have inherited the wish to draw the Soaring Firmament Sword."
"But he himself surpassed that wish, didn't he?"
At these words, everyone's gaze turned to Lumine.
In that moment, Lumine began missing the days when Paimon served as her external vocal organ.
Usually, it was Paimon who received these kinds of stares!
"What Lumine said..." Jun Bai smiled. "Makes a lot of sense."
"Ancestors and Father both wished to draw the sword but couldn't. You had no such wish yet drew it. Isn't that even more impressive?" Guizhong raised her cup to Jun Mo Li.
"Guizhong is right—Jun Mo Li, you deserve a toast from this Adeptus." Xianyun raised her nearly overflowing cup.
"By common reason, your forebears wouldn't feel disappointed that you didn't inherit their wish."
"Rather the opposite—they would feel proud that their wish was fulfilled in your hands."
Zhongli also raised his cup: "For this alone, I toast you with tea in place of wine, little friend."
Seeing everyone raising cups to Jun Mo Li one after another, Lumine felt she should join in—so she raised her cup too: "Contending with gods as a mere mortal—is no small feat."
Jun Bai watched the scene and smiled faintly.
This Vision—it seemed to have been one of Second Brother's unresolved issues. Today was the perfect chance to resolve it.
"If everyone is toasting Second Brother, count me in too—two toasts for saving my life twice." Jun Bai also raised his cup.
One at the waterfall, one against Chi's lingering soul revival.
"Ah? This..." Jun Mo Li felt overwhelmed with favor.
He could interact calmly with Adepti and gods as equals—but Jun Mo Li never felt qualified to receive toasts from Adepti and gods.
Even if he could fight gods, Jun Mo Li still saw himself as just an ordinary person.
"I feel a bit embarrassed." Jun Mo Li poured himself wine. "Speaking of which—I also have something to toast everyone for."
"My little brother here is sensible—but he must have caused quite a bit of trouble for all you seniors. I need to thank you all."
With that, Jun Mo Li clinked cups with everyone—the clink rang clear and crisp.
"I haven't."
After setting down his cup, Jun Bai finally started roasting Jun Mo Li.
Seeing this, Zhongli, Guizhong, and Xianyun all showed knowing smiles.
"You... you guys hurry up and eat! If you don't, the dishes will get cold—finish quickly. We still have to go up to Ziwei Star Palace afterward!" Jun Bai said in embarrassment and anger.
At this, the three who had watched Jun Bai grow up burst into laughter.
Ziwei Star Palace.
The well-fed and well-wined crowd arrived here.
During Lantern Rite—even Ziwei Star Xuanjian and his Yunshang had holidays. So the two had handed over usage rights of Ziwei Star Palace to Jun Bai and gone on break.
Though whether they had usage rights or not seemed irrelevant.
People like Lumine and Paimon who had been here before could stay composed—but for first-timers like Xiangling and Yaoyao, they couldn't even imagine such a massive structure not only flying but doing so without the slightest shake.
"Lumine, Ganyu, Yiya—come with me."
Jun Bai led the three to a room.
Seeing the three puzzled, Jun Bai smiled faintly, then took out the Lantern Rite gifts he had prepared...
Lumine and Ganyu's eyes lit up.
Outside the room.
Paimon crossed her arms, dissatisfied: "Jun Bai really loves playing mysterious—not even letting me see. I'm Lumine and Yiya's best partner."
"Little Paimon."
Yaoyao ran over energetically.
"It's Yaoyao! Something up?"
Paimon really liked this little one—she was as adorable as Yiya.
"The fireworks show is about to start—Yaoyao came to take you out."
"There's a fireworks show too?"
Of course—after the New Year's Eve dinner, the fireworks show was the real highlight of New Year's Eve. The spectacle wouldn't lose to the Xiao Lantern Festival.
Paimon followed Yaoyao to the platform outside Ziwei Star Palace.
A shooting star launched from Guili Assembly toward the sky at that moment, exploding in the night.
Brilliant fireworks bloomed in the air, illuminating the night sky.
From now on, fireworks would continue blooming over Guili Assembly's night sky until the midnight bell tolled.
Fireworks after fireworks bloomed above Guili Assembly, lighting up the already star-speckled night sky—filling the brilliant darkness with all kinds of colors.
"So pretty!" Paimon exclaimed.
The colors of the fireworks constantly changed on her little face, reflecting the shifts in the night sky.
"Paimon—sorry to keep you waiting."
Lumine's voice came from behind Paimon.
"Finally out—I was about to..."
Paimon had really intended to lecture Lumine—then turned around and immediately widened her eyes with a gasp.
"Sister Ganyu looks so pretty."
Yaoyao's exclamation drew everyone's attention to the three walking out of the room.
Lumine smiled, her hair adorned not only with her original Teyvat accessories but also a golden hairpin that matched her hair color perfectly.
(I know it's a flower, but worn in the hair—it counts as a hair accessory.)
Her originally pure white dress had been changed to a deep red robe in Liyue style.
Light gold threads wove phoenixes across the fabric—wings spread from left to right, appearing on the chest of the robe.
Her fair wrists extended from wide sleeves—the robe was loose, but a waist cincher solved the issue, outlining the girl's slender willow waist.
The skirt hem swayed with Lumine's steps, revealing crimson high heels beneath.
Ganyu was also in new attire.
Also modified by Jun Bai from hanfu—but unlike Lumine's Han dynasty style, Ganyu's new outfit was modified from Song dynasty style.
Crimson long robe cinched at the waist, showcasing Ganyu's graceful figure.
The sleeves were semi-transparent light red gauze—the girl's arms faintly visible through them. Petal-like cuffs revealed slender fingertips.
The ankle-length skirt was cut low, exposing ankles and dark red high heels.
Yiya's new look was relatively simple.
Her snow-white long hair tied into a bun like Yaoyao's, wearing a pure white cotton-padded jacket over a fiery red horse coat, with a dark red waist sash.
Jun Bai had originally prepared cotton pants—but Yiya felt they restricted movement, so they were swapped for the sash.
Now she truly looked like a daughter.
The new looks of the three earned everyone's envy—Guizhong tried acting cute to get new clothes from Jun Bai.
Jun Bai directly rejected her with "don't envy the younger generation."
Fireworks bloomed in the night sky—this year was nearing its end.
"Jun Bai, thank you for the gift—it's beautiful."
Lumine came over with Paimon to thank him.
"I'm glad you like it." Jun Bai smiled. "Then let's go back to this morning's topic—about the definition of family."
"Paimon—apologize." Lumine decisively sold out Paimon.
"Sorry!" Paimon decisively admitted fault.
Fortunately Teyvat didn't have the custom of bearing thorns to beg forgiveness—otherwise Paimon would have offered her most sincere apology that way.
"I don't mean to hold you accountable."
"I just suddenly had some feelings. Today, I realized my definition of family was a bit narrow."
"Second Brother and I have no blood relation—but does that mean we're not family?"
"If that's the case—can't I decide for myself who my family is?"
Lumine suddenly realized something: "Could it be..."
Jun Bai nodded and smiled: "Everyone sitting with us today—are the family I recognize."
"Of course—you're not."
Lumine instinctively breathed a sigh of relief—but suddenly realized there was nothing relieving about this.
"Second Brother goes without saying—Zhongli and Guizhong raised me and introduced me to this world. And Idle Cloud..."
"When I was grieving Second Brother's death, it was Marchosius and Idle Cloud who comforted me—as friends and elders."
"They are all very important to me."
Jun Bai suddenly pointed at the sky—fireworks exploded, revealing the stars in the night:
"Gods are born with power—Adepti live long but cannot walk alongside mortals."
"So gods and Adepti are like stars in the sky—emitting light themselves, yet lonely and unreachable. Thus their light is faint and hard to see."
"But stars connected together become constellations."
"The brilliance of constellations can be seen from every corner of Teyvat."
"A lone star shines dimly—many stars together blaze brightly."
"I cannot choose the fact that as a god I was born alone—but I can choose my own family."