"Excuse me, do you need any assistance?"
A Knight of Favonius approached Su Bai and the others from a distance. To reach Liyue as quickly as possible, they had chosen to cut across the wilderness rather than follow the main road. This unusual route had attracted inquiries from several knights along the way.
"Oh, nothing. We're just taking a shortcut. Wait... you're Godwin?"
Su Bai frowned when he recognized the approaching figure. He hadn't expected to run into him here. Godwin also hadn't anticipated meeting someone who knew him. Out of habit, he gave Su Bai a knight's salute, but Su Bai sidestepped it.
"You and I are not familiar, nor am I a member of the Knights. You don't need to salute me."
"If there is anything I need help with, I hope that the next time I come to Mondstadt, I'll meet you within the city rather than out in the wilds."
"You should know that there is a girl in Mondstadt constantly worrying about you. Besides, the Knights are currently short-handed. If you return now, you might even avoid punishment."
"I've said my piece. Think it over, Klee and Paimon, let's go."
Taking Klee's small hand, Su Bai headed toward Liyue. Lumine glanced at Godwin, who had fallen into deep thought. She had heard Su Bai mention Glory's story. She hadn't expected to encounter the other protagonist here today. Remembering Glory spending her days praying for Godwin, Lumine, usually sparing with words, added her own thoughts.
"Go back. Explain things properly to Glory. Two people who love each other will surely find a happy ending."
With that, Lumine followed Su Bai. Watching their retreating figures, Godwin's eyes grew distant. Memories of his moments with Glory flooded back. Should he really return to Mondstadt? Would Glory accept him as he was now? Could the Knights forgive him?
"Ehe~ Would this knight like to hear my latest ballad? Perhaps it might help you find your way."
A young bard in a green hat had somehow appeared behind Godwin. Though he typically disliked bards, Godwin found himself nodding almost involuntarily at the invitation.
"Hehe, the finest bard in all the land is about to play~ Payment in advance: one apple."
---
Time is invisible and intangible. Before you realize it, it has already slipped away. By taking shortcuts and having Su Bai enhance their speed with Anemo, they had reached the border between Liyue and Mondstadt in just one morning.
"I never expected Yae Miko to give us gifts. How incredible."
Even as they were about to leave Mondstadt, Paimon still couldn't quite believe that Yae Miko had given her a pink omamori. In her memory, Yae Miko was nothing but a troublemaker who always pinched her chubby cheeks, even if her cooking was delicious.
Lumine also had a pink omamori hanging from her waist. Paimon's mention of it made her feel a little uneasy. Yae Miko had given her a gift, yet she had nothing to offer in return.
Next time they met, she could help Yae Miko with some problems. Lumine remembered Yae Miko mentioning some trouble in Inazuma. Silently, she resolved to help—exactly the outcome Yae Miko had hoped for.
"Come on, little Paimon. No need to look so surprised all the time. Sister Miko isn't stingy."
Su Bai held Klee's small hand while mentally going over the fine wines and grapes stored in his Vision's subspace. Diluc had arranged for these to be brought from the Dawn Winery overnight when he learned Su Bai was leaving.
When Venti saw the cart full of wine, he insisted on traveling to Liyue with them. Charles quickly put an end to that by threatening to deduct his wages. Awkwardly, Barbara happened to pass by at that moment. As a devout follower of the Anemo Archon, she even offered a special prayer for Venti.
"Ahead lies the Stone Gate, the boundary between Liyue and Mondstadt. Once we pass through, we've truly entered Liyue."
Looking up at the towering Stone Gate, Klee, just steps away from the border, let out an excited cry. She broke free from Su Bai's hand and ran forward.
"Klee will be the first to cross! Hehe."
"Hey, little Klee, don't go running off!"
Paimon, who had been bribed with a meal to serve as Klee's second guardian in Liyue, quickly sped up to follow her. Su Bai and Lumine exchanged glances and ran after them, both worried the little ones might get lost.
The moment Lumine set foot on Liyue's soil, she felt the difference from Mondstadt. If Mondstadt's wind symbolized unrestrained freedom, then Liyue's wind carried an indescribable solemnity. The source of this solemnity was likely what Su Bai had repeatedly mentioned along the way: contracts.
For Su Bai, who loved basking in the sun, Liyue's sunlight was the most noteworthy. This comfortable sunlight felt like a refreshing cup of delicate tea or sweet, creamy milk—irresistible in its appeal.
Paimon hovered in the air, looking into the distance, and couldn't help but exclaim at the beautiful scenery. The gentle sunlight, the colorful clouds lying over the distant mountains, the clusters of villages built into the slopes, the wisps of smoke rising from rooftops—all of it made little Paimon hungry again, even though she'd just eaten lunch.
"Lumine, do you have anything to eat? I'm so hungry."
"Didn't we just eat lunch? How are you hungry again?"
Lumine felt a headache coming on. Paimon had developed a habit of snacking during her days at Su Bai's place thanks to Yae Miko's cooking. This only made Lumine's already thin wallet even thinner. She had even secretly calculated that if Paimon kept eating like this, she'd be bankrupt in three days, and then both of them would be living on air.
"Alright, alright, Paimon. Just hold on a little longer. When we reach Wangshu Inn, I'll treat you to something good."
"The chef there, Yanxiao, is one of the best in Liyue's culinary world. His cooking will have you biting your tongue."
Su Bai pinched Paimon's chubby cheek. Lumine shot him a glance. She couldn't understand why Su Bai was so indulgent with little Paimon. Didn't he see that she, a youthful beauty, also needed some care?
"By the way, this is your first time in Liyue, right? Let me introduce you to it. I'm not boasting, but Liyue is the most prosperous nation among the seven. Once you visit Liyue Harbor, you'll truly feel it."
Su Bai's words filled the group with anticipation for this journey. Klee looked forward to making new friends in Liyue. Lumine hoped to find clues about her brother. As for Paimon, she eagerly awaited tasting all the delicious foods she'd never had before.