Moonlight descended.
Xinyue Pavilion.
Located in Feiyun Slope, this was the only restaurant capable of rivaling Liuli Pavilion—famous for its seafood-based Moon Cuisine.
After several days away, returning once more to Liyue Harbor and gazing at the bustling streets and lively crowds outside the window, Luo Li couldn't help but sigh.
In the end, he was still most comfortable among the mortal world.
Over all these years, the time he had spent wandering Teyvat alone could be counted on one hand.
Gathering his thoughts, his gaze shifted to Shenhe, who had barely taken a few bites.
Just as he remembered—cold and distant like an immortal—she tasted only a single bite of each dish.
The reason was simple: she believed she would eventually return to the mountains. Sampling these delicacies was enough; true sustenance was still wind and dew.
And then Luo Li bluntly shot that idea down.
"Is this what Cloud Retainer taught you?"
Shenhe looked confused.
"What's wrong with it?"
She had long grown accustomed to surviving on morning dew and medicinal herbs—even chewing until only bitterness and astringency remained.
Luo Li fell silent for a moment, then asked,
"Then why can they eat freely?"
"Because immortals are not hindered in cultivation by worldly indulgences," she answered without hesitation.
Luo Li clicked his tongue.
If eating affected cultivation, then that cultivation really was cheap.
"And my master once said I have a senior sister named Ganyu. She eats to calm the heart—mostly vegetarian. Even during banquets, she avoids meat."
"..."
You actually believed that?!
Ganyu eats vegetarian not for cultivation—she does it to lose weight.
Her favorite dish was clearly Adeptus' Temptation.
Luo Li still vividly remembered teasing her by adding animal fat to vegetable dumplings, then watching the qilin girl sniff it out, struggling between saying "this isn't allowed" and drooling while telling him to take it away quickly.
Whatever nonsense Cloud Retainer had fed Shenhe, Luo Li fully approved of her aesthetics—but her teaching methods? Completely unreliable.
Seeing Luo Li stare at her as if she were naïve, Shenhe sensed something was off.
She brushed aside the strange feeling and said,
"Actually, I came to Liyue Harbor for another reason—to find my master."
"A few days ago, I went to Mt. Aocang, but she wasn't there. Later, I learned she had come to Liyue Harbor."
"Did you find her?" Luo Li asked.
Shenhe shook her head.
"Then how do you plan to look?"
"..."
Instead of answering, she glanced at him and asked an unrelated question.
"Are you friends with my master?"
"More or less. Your senior sister Ganyu is my disciple."
Shenhe's eyes widened slightly—clearly surprised.
So this was the person her master often mentioned?!
"I greet you, Martial Uncle."
By seniority, the title was correct—though it didn't quite fit Luo Li's actual identity.
Not dwelling on that, Luo Li pondered briefly.
"If you want to find Cloud Retainer, I can help."
After all, she was his junior by association. Helping her was nothing.
But how was he supposed to mediate between the Qixing and the adepti later…?
Having been away for days, Luo Li had no idea that the Qixing and the adepti had already reconciled—thanks to Raiden Makoto.
He found out soon enough.
Because Fatui agents arrived at Xinyue Pavilion to report recent events in Liyue to Rosalyne.
The most important matter was the adepti arriving together at Liyue Harbor in confrontation—only for a woman to appear, say a few words, and somehow turn hostility into peace.
The Fatui had been hoping for chaos.
And this was it?
Childe was especially disappointed. The waters hadn't been muddied at all—didn't even distract the Qixing.
As a result, their schemes would have to become even more discreet. Liyue was nothing like Mondstadt when it came to tolerance.
After reporting the major developments, the Fatui left quickly.
Luo Li was stunned.
Before leaving, he had told Raiden Makoto not to interfere in Liyue's affairs.
Did she interpret that as "only external threats"?
Indeed, if the conflict was between the adepti and the Qixing, she would absolutely step in to mediate.
"…Fine."
In that case, the promise he'd made to Zhongli could be tossed aside.
Morax? Who's that? Don't know him.
Power transitions didn't have to be so extreme. A smoother handover was clearly possible.
Why make things so tense when harmony was achievable?
In the end, it was always the people of Liyue who suffered.
Convincing himself, Luo Li immediately decided to stab Zhongli in the back—just a little.
Worst case, everyone puts on a show and fools him.
Meanwhile, Zhongli—utterly unaware he was about to be betrayed by friends and former subordinates—was meeting the Traveler again after Ningguang's audience.
Luo Li, now unburdened by hesitation, turned to Shenhe.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you to see your master."
"Thank you, Martial Uncle."
Though her tone remained calm, it was noticeably softer than before.
"But before that," Luo Li continued, "I'll help your master correct your views on food and drink."
"???"
Shenhe tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
With a faint smile, Luo Li waved his hand, summoning a jar of fine wine—Celestial Immortal Drunk clearly written on it.
Shenhe wanted to refuse, but under his firm gaze, she backed down.
Seeing the wine, Rosalyne's heart stirred. Her earlier gloom lifted instantly.
Her eyes moved between the group several times, as if making a decision.
Luo Li had intended to teach Shenhe how to drink—letting her experience the beauty of the mortal world in a hazy daze.
Instead, Rosalyne kept urging him to drink.
More than half the jar went into Luo Li's mouth.
Wine that could fell a god didn't knock him unconscious—but it did leave him half-drunk.
Late into the night, Yun Jin finally couldn't hold on anymore. She excused herself, taking the dizzy Shenhe with her and settling her into a guest room.
That left only Luo Li and Rosalyne in Xinyue Pavilion.
With the interruptions finally gone, the former Princess of the Feather Ball Festival felt satisfied.
Her gaze was hazy—she'd drunk quite a bit herself.
Originally, Rosalyne had planned to naturally deepen their bond over several days: lantern festivals, fireworks, sightseeing—returning to Liyue amid glowing lights and letting things happen naturally.
But Yun Jin and Shenhe had disrupted everything.
Still, at this point, the prepared woman intended to proceed regardless.
"Only the two of us remain."
Meeting the fiery emotion in Rosalyne's eyes, Luo Li's mind cleared slightly.
He finally understood why she had been pushing drinks on him.
Courage? Or fear of rejection?
Either way—he had no intention of pretending to refuse now.
One should live freely and without restraint.
At his level, nothing could bind his true desires.
On the surface, however, he acted as if unaware and nodded calmly.
"Then let's go rest."
"Alright. I'll help you."
The moon hung high, the night deepened—
And this night was far from over.