Scaring Hu Tao was nearly impossible—unless Lucian hung himself from a crooked tree. That might do it, and maybe even make her cry.
One tear would cost one Lucian.
Furina, naturally, wanted to join the ghost-playing group, claiming her acting skills would make her perfect for scaring others.
Lucian, eavesdropping, saw through her fear. With Little Fufu's personality, how could he pass up the chance to see her scared? He immediately vetoed her proposal.
During the rest of the discussion, Furina didn't miss a chance to sneakily kick Lucian.
"Didn't you say you were off writing your story? Why'd you come back the moment I spoke?"
Arataki Itto also wanted to join the ghost group, claiming he was a ghost.
But everyone knew he was terrified of ghosts. How could they let him off the hook? At least Yae Miko was adamantly against it—she'd wear out a "veto" button if she had one.
Paimon: "Itto, if you're scared, you can hide behind me. I'll protect you~."
Paimon hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation, still teasing Itto, while Lumine nodded along.
Paimon was the type to stay calm until danger struck. Lumine, on the other hand, was just indulging her mischievous side, eager to see Paimon's scared face.
Some eagerly joined the ghost group, while others opted for the adventure group, like Ayaka.
She felt she wasn't suited to scaring people and chose the adventure group instead.
Xiao had no interest in the event. He wasn't good at scaring people, nor would he be scared, and felt his participation would only dampen the mood.
Lucian disagreed, saying Xiao was too modest. With his ability to appear and disappear suddenly, combined with his Yaksha mask, he'd be the most ghost-like figure in the dead of night.
"By universal rationality, a bit of fun wouldn't hurt," Zhongli said.
"…" After a moment of silence, Xiao replied, "Fine, I'll join."
Lucian gave Zhongli a thumbs-up. It was Lucian who had asked Zhongli to persuade Xiao.
Zhongli wasn't escaping either—Lucian couldn't stand his leisurely demeanor.
"What about me? What about me?" Venti raised his hand eagerly. "I want to be in the adventure group too!"
Everyone sweatdropped. You in the adventure group? Who'd scare you? Who could scare you?
With your abilities, standing there, the wind would tell you exactly who's breathing and who isn't.
Venti's proposal was rejected, so he pivoted to the ghost group, only to be vetoed by Lucian again.
Venti slumped, dejected. They weren't letting him play!
Lucian whispered to Venti that there was also a music group—how could a horror game lack BGM?
Venti perked up. This, he loved!
Among the Adepti, Streetward Rambler would participate, but she wouldn't play a ghost or explore. She'd handle the BGM too.
Xianyun was joining as well, but not in person. She planned to create a ghost-scaring contraption, driven by pure competitive spirit, though its purpose was unclear.
With her involvement, the courage test was starting to resemble an escape room, complete with props.
The real challenge came when choosing a venue. It wasn't a lack of options but an abundance of them.
With Lucian's connections across Teyvat, securing a location for such an event was child's play, leaving them spoiled for choice and indecisive.
The top contenders were Wuwang Hill and Chinju Forest—both had the perfect "vibe," one with "ghosts," the other with "monsters."
In the end, they settled on Chinju Forest, as Hu Tao strongly opposed Wuwang Hill.
That area was near the "border." Disturbing actual spirits would be problematic—not for the group, who were skilled enough to handle ghosts, but for the spirits themselves.
Those spirits were on the verge of letting go of worldly attachments. A lively group playing around might rekindle their interest, and if they followed the group and refused to return to the "border," it'd be a hassle.
Thus, Chinju Forest was chosen, especially since the tanuki clan, skilled in transformation, lived there and could join in.
With everything decided, all that remained was preparation.
The preparations didn't require much effort from the group—Raiden Shogun would handle things, thanks to her connections.
Everyone just needed to prepare their scaring props.
During this preparation period, Lucian's book was released first: Teyvat's Story Collection—Akitsu Kimodameshi Night Courage Test.
The book garnered unexpected attention, largely due to its title.
A courage test? It screamed fun and games! Had Shikikan finally decided to write a light, cheerful story for everyone?
Entertainment in Teyvat was scarce, and prophetic books were all the rage.
Lucian's previous two books had left everyone in a melancholic mood, constantly talking about life and death.
Now, it seemed he was writing something entertaining. Great news! No more brooding over life and death.
Lucian's story about Bosacius had not only stirred emotions but also boosted Liyue's economy.
The Yakshas had become a trend in Liyue, and merchants, ever opportunistic, capitalized on it.
Within days, Liyue's market stalls were filled with Yaksha-related merchandise.
Fueled by the story's emotional impact, Liyue's people were eager to spend, and the market even extended overseas, boosting Liyue's economy.
Most of the current merchandise consisted of kites, small dolls, portraits, and "guzi" (small wooden carvings).
These were easy to produce, so they flooded the market quickly.
More was likely to come—Yaksha clothing, masks, and large wooden carvings were inevitable.
While merchants' initial motives were profit-driven, their actions undeniably spread the Yakshas' legacy.
Households bought Yaksha portraits, wore masks during festivals—a form of commemoration.
Many homes already had statues of "Guoba," and now with Yaksha items, things were getting livelier. Some might even have Rex Lapis "dragon-body pillows" in their beds.
No one knew for sure, but Keqing definitely had one.
Zhongli didn't mind these commercial ventures, so merchants had no qualms. In the face of such high profits, talk of "disrespecting the Adepti" was nonsense.
Of course, if Zhongli disapproved, no merchant in Liyue would dare.
But while Liyue's merchants hesitated, Sangonomiya Kokomi had something to say.
She'd prepare a few "Golden God" pillows herself.
"I love Morax, sure, but I love Mora more."
In short, everyone was both pained and delighted. Looking at the illustrations on their walls, they felt both joy and sorrow.
They desperately needed a bright, cheerful story to wash away the sadness.
Lucian's courage test story was just a game, and with Itto involved, it was bound to be a joyful tale. Time to dive in!