Holding the sweet lotus seed pods given by Yaoyao and returning to that cozy shack, Lovia's mood was like the thousands of lights lighting up Liyue Harbor at night, instantly brightened.
"A knowledgeable old scholar? An adeptus?" As she peeled the lotus seeds, she mulled over Yaoyao's words, feeling incredibly excited. "It seems everyone's expectations for Mr. Lovia are quite high... I've always been writing about the Rex Lapis; it's indeed time to expand my business scope."
An "unofficial history" of the adepti... This idea was like a firework being lit in her mind.
As a (self-proclaimed) brilliant transmigrator and former fanfiction writer who knew all the "official history" of Teyvat, orchestrating... no, rigorously researching the "unknown little stories" of the adepti was as natural as breathing to her.
"Which adeptus should I write about?" She sat cross-legged on the cushion, her tail unconsciously tapping the floor behind her. "Cloud Retainer? She's good at chatting and loves inventing. I could write that she's actually a closeted shut-in, and her inventions are all just to make it easier to stay in Mt. Aocang and follow comic books? Or Streetward Rambler—write about how she became obsessed with dancing after retirement, leading the old ladies of Liyue Harbor to win the championship of Teyvat's first 'Seven Archons Sun Cup' square dancing competition?"
Ideas popped up one after another, each filled with the "meme-fic" vibe she was so familiar with. But ultimately, one figure solidified in her mind.
That upright figure who remained hidden on the top floor of Wangshu Inn year-round.
"Adeptus Xiao..." Lovia murmured to herself, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably.
This Guardian Yaksha, the Conqueror of Demons, was a tragic hero in official records and public perception—aloof, taciturn, and burdened by karma.
Powerful, lonely, awe-inspiring yet heart-wrenching.
But what was on Lovia's mind was something else entirely.
"He always has that 'keep away' look, seemingly uninterested in anything except the Rex Lapis's orders and slaying monsters... But!" She suddenly clapped her hands, inspiration gushing out like a spring. "The more he's like that, the better the gap moe!"
She immediately pulled out paper and pen, a few drops of ink splashing out in her haste.
"karma is indeed terrifying; that's the tone of official history. But in my, Lovia's, 'research,' perhaps there are more 'down-to-earth' troubles bothering our great Conqueror of Demons?" She chuckled, her pen tip moving swiftly across the paper.
The title was the first to leap onto the paper: "The Guardian Yaksha's Troubles: karma Isn't as Scary as Insomnia."
"Mhm! Perfect!" She was very satisfied with her title.
The subsequent creative process was, for Lovia, like flowing water and moving clouds—smooth and exhilarating.
Thus, she made full use of her specialties as a meme-fic writer from her past life and her informational advantage as a transmigrator.
"Always staying so high up on the top floor of Wangshu Inn, the view is nice, but with the wind so strong at night, the windows must be rattling loudly, right? How can a light-sleeping Yaksha stand it?" Lovia bit her pen holder and giggled.
"Slaying demons at night is hard work, and he'd want to catch up on sleep during the day, but the voices of the mortals downstairs are too noisy. At night, the croaking of frogs and chirping of birds in Dihua Marsh rise and fall—ribbit, coo, and all that—it's simply natural noise pollution! And the Conqueror of Demons' hearing is countless times sharper than an ordinary person's..."
"The inn's chef, Smiley Yanxiao, is skilled, but he occasionally creates new dishes, and the scent wafts up... Hmm, maybe there are times when it doesn't suit an adeptus's palate? Or maybe he smells the fragrance of almond tofu in the middle of the night and is too hungry to sleep?" (Even though adepti might not need to eat, what if?)
"And then there's that Traveler who always likes to climb up to deliver almond tofu or harass Adeptus Xiao, sometimes even running over in the middle of the night to give the window a 'thud' and then shouting, 'Adeptus Xiao, I found a treasure chest!' 'Adeptus Xiao, help me fight a Pure Water Spirit?'..."
"The resentment from interrupted sleep might accumulate even faster than karma!"
The more Lovia thought about it, the more amused she became, her pen moving like the wind.
She depicted a Yaksha adeptus who was severely sleep-deprived due to various mundane matters. In her writing, the torment of karma became a mere backdrop, while the real daily troubles were dark circles, neurasthenia, and an extreme longing for a quiet environment.
She even fabricated a hilarious plot point where Xiao secretly asked Baizhu for a sedative prescription, and another where he tried to use an adeptal art to block out noise but accidentally silenced the entire area, leading others to believe it was haunted.
She wrote without any psychological burden. After all, she knew that Xiao was inherently kind and dutiful. This harmless "unofficial history" wouldn't truly tarnish his image; instead... well, maybe it would make everyone feel this adeptus was more approachable?
"Mhm, let's add a bit more about his resentment toward those noisy ducks in Dihua Marsh... Perfect!" Lovia made the final stroke with satisfaction and blew the ink dry.
She could almost see the scene after the new book hit the market, with the readers in Liyue Harbor dumbfounded and then erupting into even greater heated discussions.
"A reclusive adeptus? A consultant who knows everything from past to present? Hmph, they'll never guess in a million years that Mr. Lovia is actually a super-genius Melusine who can perceive everyone's subtle troubles!" Lovia wagged her tail proudly, carefully tucked away the new manuscript, and prepared to visit the Sanyu Bookstore again sometime.
Watching people continue to argue endlessly over her new "research" would definitely be infinitely fun!
As for what if the person involved found out... Lovia took a bite of a Crab, making a crunching sound.
"It's fine, Melusines run fast!" she thought optimistically, her sapphire-blue eyes showing no fear, only the excitement and anticipation of a successful prank.