Everyone was chatting casually, not really focused on one topic.
Inside the villa, Miko and Makoto were still talking about the events of the past years.
Miko didn't tell Makoto how chaotic Inazuma had become—she didn't want Makoto to worry about such troubles immediately after being revived.
At the very least, this time should belong solely to Miko and Makoto.
Makoto was smart; she guessed that Inazuma's situation wasn't great, but she didn't want to spoil the reunion, so she didn't bring it up herself.
The two chatted about everything under the sun—from Miko's daily meals, to how often she ate fried tofu,
to how well Narukami Shrine was being managed, then to Yae Hall and light novels…
Even when Miko had grown taller, she happily told Makoto about it.
Makoto was Ei's older sister, but in many ways, she was also Miko's older sister.
She didn't want Makoto to miss any of her moments.
In the garden,
Yae rested her chin on her hands, glancing back at the villa, and whispered:
"When do you think Miko and Makoto will finish talking?"
"Hard to say."
Ningguang shook her head.
"Makoto had been dead for five hundred years. Miko's feelings toward her are clear to all of us. There's a lot they want to talk about."
"They could probably talk a whole day and night."
Yae nodded half-heartedly, murmuring:
"Makoto… is exactly like Ei, but she seems much easier to talk to than Ei. She's such a gentle person."
Thinking back on how they had been chased before, Yae's urge to complain flared again.
"They're sisters, look exactly alike, so why are their personalities so different?!"
"Ei went crazy chasing us, cutting down so many of my Lich Barrier shields, and Makoto… just seems like the caring older-sister type!"
Ryen chuckled dryly, teasing:
"You and Aether are still siblings, right? Did you ever imagine Aether would become the Prince of the Abyss Order, wholeheartedly trying to overthrow the Seven Nations?"
Yae was at a loss for words, muttering sheepishly after a moment:
"Who cares about him! That unreliable brother! What kind of brother hides from his own sister?!"
Everyone laughed and let the topic go.
Ryen turned to look at Zhongli, who seemed to be in a very good mood.
Perhaps seeing Makoto revived reminded him that Guizhong could also be revived.
Ryen pursed his lips.
"Then can you tell us more about your love life?" Ryen asked.
The smile on Zhongli's face faded; he replied calmly, "I've never had one. How can I talk about it?"
Ryen rolled his eyes and grumbled, "We'll talk about that after Guizhong is revived! Your rock-hard head will never wake up to feelings in this lifetime."
"Even if the wear has warped you, the part of your mind that concerns emotions is firmer than the laws of decay themselves."
Hearing Ryen's teasing, Zhongli paused a moment, then said: "By general principles, I no longer worry about wear; my erosion has greatly eased. And if the wear does become severe, I could always use the Totem of Undying to end myself and restore my condition. I should thank you for that."
Ryen snorted, then cheerfully pinched Ganyu's cheek. "So don't expect to enjoy romance this life. From now on you'll just watch me with my wife and children, enjoying family bliss!"
At this everyone grew a little bashful.
Zhongli glanced at Ryen and spoke quietly, "Now, on to serious matters. If things are clear tomorrow, I need you to come with me—along with Venti."
Ryen raised an eyebrow. "Azhdaha?"
Zhongli nodded and sighed, "He has long been tormented by erosion; that's not good. Although the means I'll take are extreme… they can permanently solve Azhdaha's problem. Azhdaha is powerful—if he comes into this world and receives blessings, he can not only guard our base but also be formidable when we oppose the Celestia. In short, it's best to resolve Azhdaha's erosion quickly."
Ryen nodded. "If you're sure, tomorrow works. I was planning to check out the Final Plateau anyway—though when we go isn't critical."
"Don't tell me you want me to fight him? If I throw down, his soul shard might not remain," Ryen joked.
Zhongli thought of Ryen delivering a single punch to Azhdaha and his mouth twitched. Letting Ryen kill Azhdaha wouldn't just risk Azhdaha's soul shard—it could cause a level-12 quake in Liyue. Unless absolutely necessary, Ryen mustn't be allowed to fling punches across Teyvat.
Putting down his teacup, Zhongli said softly, "I want you as the last insurance. If I can't fully subdue Azhdaha, I wish for you to finish him with the drawn-sword technique—not with a fist. Tomorrow, Venti will coordinate with the Adepti to restrain Azhdaha; I will act personally. If all goes well, it should be resolved quickly. The most troublesome part is that, after subduing him, we must hang the Totem of Undying on him to be absolutely safe. If anything goes wrong, there will still be soul fragments left that can be taken into this world."
~~----------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters:
[email protected] / Dreamer20