Mu Yang explained the whole story from beginning to end.
Fujin, for the sake of the people of Chenyu Vale,
chose to preside over the Toulong Ceremony.
The price she paid was:
losing the ability to remain on land for extended periods.
This moved everyone present.
They, too, had sacrificed much for the people of Guili Assembly and Liyue Harbor.
They understood what such a feeling was like.
And Fujin was not only Mu Yang's dear friend—
she was also their dear friend.
How could they remain indifferent?
After Mu Yang finished speaking of Fujin's plight,
he asked Ping.
"Could you create a small pocket realm entirely filled with water?"
"That way, the few of us could take her on long journeys again."
Truthfully, this idea
ca to Mu Yang after recalling the pocket realms within the Serenitea Pot.
If she couldn't stay away from water for too long,
then she could simply remain in water at all tis.
As for the traveling itself,
Mu Yang and the others would handle that.
Originally, after hearing about Fujin's situation,
Ping had been feeling sorrowful for her.
Because Fujin had always been soone who couldn't stay still.
She loved new things,
yearned to see the wider world.
Back when they had gathered at Mt. Aocang,
she had even said she would visit Guili Assembly when she had the ti.
But Guili Plains had almost no bodies of water.
It seed such a visit would be impossible...
Now, hearing Mu Yang's suggestion,
Ping's eyes instantly brightened.
"Good, good! That's a wonderful idea."
Morax also nodded in approval.
Guizhong asked,
"And the design of the pocket realm?"
Ping glanced at the tea set on the table.
"How about using this teacup? I recall she loves tea dearly."
And so it was decided.
Morax wielded his divine authority,
carving an exquisite teacup.
Then, Ping used the power of pocket realms
to refine this delicate teacup.
Guizhong also lent her aid.
Once the transformation was complete,
the teacup now housed a small pocket realm within.
The clear spring inside the cup would never dry,
making it a perfect temporary dwelling.
It could hold the reflections of the sun and moon,
as well as a single swimming fish...
The final product far exceeded Mu Yang's expectations.
He expressed his gratitude to Morax, Ping, and Guizhong.
The others felt Mu Yang was being overly solemn.
"Do not trouble yourself over it. This is only natural between friends."
"Indeed, we're happy to have been of help."
"Make sure to visit soon! Guili Assembly will surely amaze her."
Mu Yang was so moved he couldn't speak.
Afterward, he lingered for a few more days,
even buying many things for the three of them at the market.
Only then did he bid farewell to Ping and the others,
embarking on his journey back.
However, he had to stop by Mt. Aocang first.
Mu Yang soared over the peak of Mt. Aocang with his lightfoot technique,
landing lightly beside little Ganyu.
At the mont, little Ganyu was playing with a chanical pinwheel.
Seeing Mu Yang arrive, she ran inside to call for Cloud Retainer.
Cloud Retainer had also put in great effort.
She had crafted many intricate chanisms,
each with a different design—
koi, lion beasts, white snakes, cranes...
In short, she had recreated all their acquaintances as little automatons.
One couldn't help but admire her masterful craftsmanship.
At a glance, they didn't even look like machinery.
With these little toys as companions,
Lingyuan surely wouldn't feel lonely anymore.
"Thank you, Cloud Retainer."
The proud adeptus turned her head away.
"Hmph, re words of thanks are aningless."
"Co visit more often in the future, understood?"
Mu Yang quickly agreed.
Then, he said his goodbyes to Cloud Retainer and little Ganyu,
speeding off toward Chenyu Vale.
Mu Yang was in high spirits now.
Just imagining their expressions when they received their gifts,
his lips curled into an unconscious smile.
——————
The group gathered at the Ancient Tea Tree Slope.
"What's the matter, Mu Yang? Calling us here so suddenly."
Fujin teased.
"I know—you must've gone looking for a fight and got beaten black and blue, right?"
Lingyuan added,
"So now you're here seeking comfort from us?"
Mu Yang pretended to be annoyed.
"Such terrible friends! Look at Yaojun here."
"Now compare yourselves to her."
"Fine, I'll just give your gifts to Yaojun instead."
The three spoke in unison: "Gifts?"
Fujin laughed again.
"Ohhh~ So you prepared surprises for us earlier."
"And now you're returning the favor, right?"
Mu Yang snorted.
"Well, you're not getting any."
Fujin hurriedly ran over to massage Mu Yang's shoulders.
"Co on, Mu Yang, Big Brother Mu?"
"I was just joking! With your swordsmanship, who could possibly be your match?"
Lingyuan scoffed at Fujin's sudden change in attitude.
"Hmph, how shaless."
Mu Yang raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? So you're very brave, Lingyuan?"
With that, he released all the chanisms Cloud Retainer had made.
The area instantly beca lively.
The exquisite little toys entranced Lingyuan.
Mu Yang didn't forget to tease her.
"Lingyuan, these were originally ant for you too."
He shook his head in mock regret.
"What a sha. Now we'll just have to split them among ourselves."
Lingyuan imdiately panicked.
A person must learn to bend when necessary—
and so must a lion beast.
She promptly copied Fujin's fawning act.
Fujin curled her lip,
mimicking Lingyuan in an exaggerated tone:
"Hmph~ How shaless~"
"Hahahaha..."
Of course, this was all just playful banter between friends.
Lingyuan ran off to play with the little chanisms.
Mu Yang then took out the stone slabs inscribed with dical knowledge and handed them to Yaojun,
along with various books he had picked up from the market.
Yaojun accepted them happily.
"Thank you. It seems you put real thought into this."
"Of course."
Fujin leaned in.
"What about mine? Where's mine?"
"Yours is here, of course."
Mu Yang produced the exquisite teacup.
Fujin cradled it in her hands,
unable to put it down.
The craftsmanship ca from the most fastidious man in Liyue.
Even just its appearance alone made it a flawless gift.
Not to ntion its additional functions.
"Place the teacup on the table first, then channel adeptal energy into it."
Fujin did as Mu Yang instructed,
setting it down and infusing it with her power.
"Wait, this is..."
Fujin sensed the pocket realm within the teacup.
Without hesitation, she transford into her true form and leaped inside.
"Wahooo—!"
The commotion drew Lingyuan back over.
Yaojun, standing nearby, was utterly stunned.
Such a marvelous item!
They all understood what this ant.
It ant they could travel the mountains and rivers together again, just like before.
Fujin poked her head out.
"Thank you, Mu Yang. This gift... it's truly priceless."
"It wasn't my doing alone."
Mu Yang recounted his experiences at Mt. Aocang and Guili Assembly.
The others were deeply moved.
"Seems we'll have to visit Guili Assembly after all. We must thank Ping and the others in person."
Lingyuan held the teacup carefully.
"When the ti cos, I'll carry you like this."
"I bet you'll complain halfway and dump the responsibility on soone else."
"That's you. I'd never do such a thing."
Yaojun, watching the two bicker,
began sensibly planning their itinerary.
"First, we'll visit Mt. Aocang to see Cloud Retainer and little Ganyu."
"Then, we'll tour Guili Assembly before heading to Liyue Harbor."
Fujin and Lingyuan started chanting excitedly.
"Mt. Aocang! Guili Assembly! Liyue Harbor!"
Mu Yang laughed from the heart,
shouting along without a care for appearances.
"Mt. Aocang! Guili Assembly! Liyue Harbor!"
...
Yet this ti, the transition
did not take him to the mont of their travels as he had expected.
When Mu Yang opened his eyes again,
he saw the interior of Wangshu Inn.
He had awoken.
User Comments
0 comments from readers