Lumine's playful little look made Ye Xi want to laugh a little.
Still, he chose to play along.
He clapped his hands, drawing the girls' gazes over to him.
"Time to go. The ship's about to reach Liyue Harbor."
"If you all don't head out soon, those Millelith and the fleet crew are going to start worrying."
Hearing this, Beidou felt rather reluctant to leave.
Yae Miko liked it here — and how could she not like it too?
When she was out sailing, the idle hours spent anchored at sea to catch fish, or waiting around at port to load and unload cargo, were terribly boring.
Usually all she could do aboard ship was let the sea breeze blow, drink some wine, and space out.
If at times like those she could come to this Serenitea Pot's hot spring, soak in the water and sip a little wine — wouldn't that be just blissful?
Although that was what she thought, she was, after all, an outsider here.
And so, these thoughts she simply kept hidden in her heart.
"Alright, let's go, let's go!"
Beidou said, and then followed Ningguang, Keqing, and the others out of the courtyard.
Ye Xi looked back at the pink-furred fox and feigned puzzlement: "Come on, Miko, let's go."
"Master~ tonight I'd like to stay here, may I~?"
"You're not allowed to refuse~"
That one cry of 'Master,' along with the soft, sweet voice that followed, made Ye Xi go weak in the knees.
No wonder they say foxes understand best how to seduce a man.
This display of utter coquettishness — who could possibly withstand it!?
What does it mean to say 'with Yae for a wife, even goji berries can't cure you'?
If one had a little wife like this, then even with abundant vigor and vitality, he'd probably be unable to withstand her merciless 'irrigation.'
He gave a dry cough and said, "If that's what you want, then suit yourself."
Yae Miko hurriedly nodded: "Perfect timing — I heard from the little one that this residence of yours was only just finished."
"As a shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine, let me help drive off any evil spirits for you, Master."
Ye Xi couldn't care less about the excuse Yae Miko had come up with.
Driving off evil spirits, or wanting to stay over — either way, it made no difference.
The house was this big; it wasn't as though there wasn't room!
"Then you stay and look after the place. I'm heading back to Liyue Harbor."
With that, he followed Ningguang and the others and walked out through the portal.
Watching Ye Xi's departing figure, Yae Miko murmured to herself: "Look after the place, hm~ What a simple little order."
.....
By the time they returned to the ship, it had already docked at the port of Liyue Harbor.
The Millelith were searching high and low for any sign of Ningguang, and were in quite a state of alarm.
"What in the world were you all doing — how could you go and lose Lady Ningguang and Lady Keqing when everything was perfectly fine!"
"How am I supposed to explain this to the rest of the Qixing!"
Instructor Feng Yan was frantic with worry.
He'd led his men to comb through every corner of the ship, yet found not a trace of Ningguang and the others.
This had him absolutely beside himself.
He was a hair's breadth from jumping into the sea to look for them!
Several of his subordinates were in a panic as well.
Just at that moment, Ningguang came walking up from belowdecks.
"What's all this commotion?"
The instant he heard that voice, Feng Yan whipped his head around, and seeing Ningguang and Keqing both safe and sound, he nearly sat down on the ground in his agitation.
"Lady Ningguang!"
"You! Where did you go! This humble subordinate was nearly frightened to death by you!"
Ningguang spoke: "With Ye Xi present, along with several Adepti, what could possibly happen to us?"
"There's no need to make such a fuss."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Feng Yan hurriedly nodded.
He'd forgotten that the Adepti were present too.
Only, what caught him a little off guard was that Ningguang had actually mentioned Ye Xi.
'With Ye Xi at my side.'
Those words sounded quite thought-provoking.
The other Millelith subordinates all fell to whispering among themselves as well.
"Did you hear that? Lady Ningguang already has Master Ye Xi's name on the tip of her tongue!"
"I'm growing more and more curious — just what is this Master Ye Xi's background! He's on such familiar terms with the Adepti!"
"Right! From the way Lady Ningguang put it, it's as though this Master Ye Xi is quite the fighter!"
"No way — could it be that his combat skills are formidable too!?"
"Shh— enough! Didn't the Instructor say no discussing it!"
"Oh, oh...."
Under a glare from Instructor Feng Yan, everyone hurriedly hushed up.
Seeing that the ship had already docked, Ningguang gave the order: "Feng Yan, have everyone disperse. We're going ashore."
Because the colossal ship had returned to port, those onlookers out for a spectacle had gathered back around once more.
After all, with such an enormous vessel right before their eyes, anyone who laid eyes on it would find it a marvel and feel awestruck!
It was no different from an aircraft carrier in the real world docking at the edge of a beach, with not a single person there to stop anyone.
How could it not draw a crowd of gawkers?
Upon receiving Ningguang's instructions, the Millelith hurried off the ship to help maintain order.
At this moment, Ye Xi was at the stern, seeing off the three Adepti.
"My young friend, this ship has truly been an eye-opener for us."
"We're grateful for your hospitality. Do come visit my abode someday, and I'll be sure to entertain you well!"
"Don't forget your promise to this Adeptus — my Ah-He will be waiting for you within the abode."
Ye Xi nodded again and again: "Understood. I'll have an even bigger ship in the future — once it's finished, you several Adepti are welcome to come visit."
"You're too kind, young friend. Well then, off we go—"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three Adepti transformed into streaming light and shot straight from the ship into the heavens.
Seeing the divine crane and divine deer in the sky, the onlookers on the shore let out another round of astonished exclamations.
"There really are Adepti!"
"Did you see that? They really did fly up from the ship! There are immortals aboard that ship!"
"My heavens! May the Adepti protect us!"
"Seeing Adepti twice in one day — this year I'm really going to strike it rich!"
"All I want to know is, just who is this gentleman who built this colossal ship!"
"..."
This was likewise the thing the surrounding crowd was most curious about!
Many of the latecomers hadn't witnessed the scene of Ye Xi using the Abyss Core to build the ship at all.
But hearing everyone discussing it, they wanted to catch a glimpse of Ye Xi's distinguished face.
Among them was one honest, simple-looking figure.
Someone beside him couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Chef Mao? It's the middle of the day — why aren't you off cooking, instead of coming here to join the fun?"
"That's right — once I'm done joining in the fun here, I still mean to head over to your Wanmin Restaurant for a good feast! Don't you go letting us go hungry once we get there!"
"Exactly, exactly. I've got work to do this afternoon — I can't be on an empty stomach!"
This honest, simple-looking middle-aged fellow was none other than Xiangling's father, and also the proprietor of Wanmin Restaurant.
Hearing the joking voices around him, Chef Mao turned his head to look.
Only then did he realize that the people beside him were all teahouse patrons from Three Bowls Drunk.
They often listened to storytelling over there, and then went to Wanmin Restaurant for lunch at midday.
Over time, they'd become regulars!
Seeing they were regulars, Chef Mao laughed heartily: "Rest easy, rest easy! Our Xiangling is busy at work back there!"
"Me, I just came out to buy a few groceries and join in the fun along the way!"
"If you few want a meal, whenever you come to Wanmin Restaurant, there'll always be a piping-hot dish waiting for you!"
"Speaking of which, I hear the owner of this ship is some remarkable person?"
As he went on talking, Chef Mao started gossiping.
The people beside him nodded again and again.
"That's right — I hear he's a very young gentleman, with two of the Qixing ladies accompanying him!"
"To be honest, I only just got here too, but the rumors do say so!"
"I heard from my nephew who works at Yuehai Pavilion that he's a wealthy merchant magnate from abroad!"
"Is that true or not?"
"I figure they'll be disembarking shortly — we'll be able to see for ourselves then!"
"I'd quite like to get a look at this gentleman's true face!"
"....."
Just as everyone was chattering away.
Aboard the ship.
After seeing off the Adepti, Ye Xi came back to rejoin Ningguang, Keqing, and the others.
It had to be said, this ship really was long!
Walking from the stern to the midsection was indeed quite a distance.
"Ye Xi, it's already mealtime now — how about we go to Xinyue Kiosk?"
Having gone out for a stroll, the whole morning had slipped by.
By now, everyone was feeling a bit hungry.
So Ningguang took the initiative to propose dining at Xinyue Kiosk.
Hearing this, Ye Xi spoke up: "If we're going to eat, let's go to Wanmin Restaurant instead. The food they make there tastes quite good."
"Eh!? But..."
Ningguang wanted to say that Wanmin Restaurant was crowded with all sorts of prying eyes — not private enough.
However, Keqing stopped her, chiming in agreement right in front of Ye Xi: "Sure, let's go to Wanmin Restaurant then!"
"The food there is cheap and delicious!"
The moment she heard Ye Xi proactively suggest going to Wanmin Restaurant, Keqing immediately guessed that Ye Xi wanted to go find Xiangling.
If she could play matchmaker and bring Xiangling together with him, then later bring her home — wouldn't they get to eat a grand feast every single day!
Seeing Ningguang's face full of puzzlement, Keqing leaned in beside Ningguang's ear and explained.
"You mean Xiangling, the little cook from Wanmin Restaurant?"
Ningguang was a little surprised to hear it — she'd never expected that Ye Xi and Xiangling would have crossed paths too.
As she recalled, Yelan had only mentioned before that Ye Xi and Zhongli had once gone to Wanmin Restaurant for a meal.
Could it have been at that time?
Keqing said softly: "Bring Xiangling home, and all three of our daily meals will be taken care of!"
"It's not as if you don't know Xiangling's culinary skill!"
"For the sake of everyone's gastronomic delight, we simply must find a way to help Ye Xi carry Xiangling home!"
.....
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