Grey accepted the Mint Raspberry tea handed over by Arkz. He had only intended to take a polite sip or two, but unexpectedly, the more he drank, the more he enjoyed it, finishing the entire cup.
Grey: "Mr. Arkz, this tea of yours is truly delicious. Could you pour this old man another cup?"
Arkz smiled: "Old sir, there's no need to be so polite. I have plenty of tea here."
Seeing the usually knowledgeable old Captain taking such a liking to a simple cup of tea, the clever team members quietly picked up their cups, while the teammates whose minds hadn't caught up were still watching the show.
The first sip of tea brought a rich, sweet-and-sour tang of Raspberry, followed by a refreshing coolness like a spring breeze caressing the face, as if even the fatigue in their minds was blown away.
Taking another sip, their initially restless hearts grew calm. The sound of firewood Burning in the nearby bonfire became distinctly clear, and the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs by their ears became pleasant. It was as if the world between heaven and earth had begun to breathe.
Inhale, exhale.
It wasn't until the tea in the cup was empty that they realized the sound they had been hearing was their own breathing.
Looking at their teammates one by one lifting their cups and gulping down the tea, even the dullest person knew this tea was a good thing.
Fortunately, whether it was Captain Grey's overwhelming pressure or the calming ability of the Mint Raspberry tea itself, although they all desperately craved the tea, they did not fight over it. Instead, they took one cup each, distributed fairly.
Arkz sat by the bonfire, sipping his tea while chatting with the Patrol Team members beside him, enjoying himself immensely.
At this moment, the wooden figure beside him also shuffled over, shamelessly finding a teacup from somewhere and placing it in front of Arkz.
The wooden person wants tea too?
Arkz waved his hand, telling the wooden figure to pour its own.
He watched the wooden figure carefully avoid the bonfire and then approach the old Captain Grey to ask for tea, unable to help but marvel.
This wooden person was originally just something he shaped using the Dendro Element to help with chores and odd jobs. Although it possessed a certain degree of intelligence, it was only comparable to a kitten or puppy.
Unexpectedly, today this strange wooden person had appeared, not only possessing such high intelligence but also being able to act independently, free from Arkz's control.
Is this wooden person about to become a spirit?
On the Teyvat continent, it wasn't just animals that could become spirits; some inanimate objects could also transform into yokai under fortuitous circumstances.
Just like in the original plot, the spirit Hanyuda Chizuru, who traveled in Inazuma, was a Tsukumogami whose main body was a battledore used for playing Hanetsuki.
Arkz examined the wooden figure's current state and found that it could maintain its operation by absorbing Elemental Power. Not only Arkz's Dendro Element, but other items rich in Elemental Power could also serve as its food.
Furthermore, this wooden person did not have to obey Arkz's commands like other wooden figures. It obeyed Arkz's orders only instinctively; it hadn't realized yet that it could defy him.
And why did only this wooden person gain intelligence and become a spirit while the others did not? Was it because of the fear these hunters held towards this wooden figure?
Just as Arkz was contemplating, the nearby Patrol Team had already finished drinking the large pot of Mint Raspberry water Arkz had boiled.
The fatigue in their bodies from long patrols, and the tension in their nerves from constantly guarding against monsters suddenly emerging from the darkness, quietly dissipated in the leisurely tea-drinking atmosphere on Arkz's farm.
The Patrol Team members felt as if they had just taken a hot spring bath, their bodies warm all over, not feeling the cold even when the night wind blew on them.
Mentally, they were full of vigor, their minds completely clear. Even problems that usually confused them could now be easily understood. If they were given a set of practice questions right then, they would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Grey took the last bit of tea into his mouth. Unlike the young men who only knew how to gulp it down, the knowledgeable Grey could better appreciate the preciousness of this seemingly simple tea.
He had once tasted top-grade tea leaves his son, who worked for the Knights of Favonius, had spent a fortune buying from Liyue. It was mellow and rich, leaving a lingering fragrance, yet it couldn't compare to this ordinary-looking bowl of tea before him.
Never mind the miraculous effects of this tea in refreshing the mind and dispelling fatigue—based on the taste alone, if this farmer set up a tea stall, he could sit back and watch large sums of Mora eagerly pour into his pocket.
Reluctantly setting down his teacup, Grey knew it was time to leave.
The night was deep. If Arkz hadn't sincerely invited them, Grey wouldn't have wanted to disturb the rest of this allogene.
After all, his team members were only startled; if they learned a lesson from this, they could also protect their lives when facing monsters.
Grey: "Mr. Arkz, it's getting late, we should take our leave. There are still some places where monsters frequently appear that we haven't patrolled. If we are late, it would be disastrous if monsters sneaked into Springvale."
Arkz nodded understandingly: "Since that's the case, I won't keep you any longer."
When Grey turned around, he found his team members had already consciously washed the teacups and the pot used for boiling the tea, arranging them neatly to the side. He nodded with satisfaction.
He said lightly: "They still have some sense."
Arkz smiled, not exposing the old man's slight pride. Arkz also greatly admired these young men who dared to fight monsters to protect their homeland.
With a strict and responsible captain like Grey, the members of this Patrol Team were all outstanding young men.
The outstanding ones, with another year or two of training, could pass the assessment of the Knights of Favonius and become official and glorious Knights of Favonius.
As they were leaving, Arkz pulled the old man Grey aside and stated his request.
Arkz: "Old sir, I need to ask you for a favor."
Grey grumbled: "I knew your tea wasn't free. Go ahead, as long as I can help, I will do my best to assist you."
Although he said that, in reality, even if Arkz hadn't treated them to tea, Grey would still be very willing to help. After all, the character of an allogene in Teyvat is very steadfast; there have never been any rumors of an allogene failing to repay a kindness.
Arkz explained: "These wooden figures were originally summoned by me using Elemental Power, temporarily to guard the premises. They were supposed to automatically dissipate once my Elemental Power faded."
Saying that, Arkz waved his hand and called over that unique wooden figure.
"Who knew this fellow somehow turned into a spirit and gained intelligence at some point."
Grey: "A spirit? An inanimate object gaining intelligence, that is quite rare."
"I heard that in Inazuma, there used to be many spirits. Inanimate objects mostly become spirits because they absorb human emotions to gain sentience."
Grey couldn't help but touch the pipe at his waist. When he was thinking, he had the habit of lighting a cigarette, but he immediately withdrew his hand, instead stroking the stubble on his chin.
"Hmm, my beard has grown again. I'll shave it when I get back."
Arkz: "So I suspect Amu gained intelligence because of the emotions of the Patrol Team members."
Grey pondered for a moment: "What you said is certainly possible. Those few fellows were almost scared into wetting themselves just now; how could their emotions not be intense!"
"But you've said all that—what exactly do you want me to do?"
Arkz: "I hope Amu can join the Patrol Team!"