After hearing Ningguang's question, Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances. After a brief interaction, Paimon stepped forward first.
"Ningguang, we want to go to Inazuma. Do you have any connections or ways to help us get there?"
"To Inazuma!" Ningguang suddenly remembered. Paimon's reminder made her realize that the Traveler and her companion had a close relationship with the Divine Lord. Now that the Divine Lord had gone to Inazuma, it was only natural for them to follow.
"Yes, I do have a way. Although Inazuma is currently under lockdown due to the Sakoku Decree, there are still people in Liyue who can brave the thunderstorm and reach Ritou on the frontlines."
"That's great! Traveler, we can go find Yun Fan now!" Paimon rubbed her hands together excitedly, her little face beaming with joy. Even the usually stoic Lumine couldn't help but smile, clearly happy. "Please, Miss Ningguang, help us."
"You're too kind." Ningguang smiled and nodded. "In Liyue, there's a renowned captain named Beidou, known as the 'Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean.' She and her crew, the Crux Fleet, have braved Inazuma's thunderstorm multiple times to deliver supplies and trade goods."
"Coincidentally, she's recently organizing a competition called the 'Crux Clash.' You might want to participate. Rumor has it that the prize is a Vision that has lost its light."
"Huh? A Vision can be a prize?" Paimon blinked her eyes innocently, curious.
Hearing this, Ningguang shook her head. "It's just a Vision without an owner. Without its master, it has lost its light. Unless someone can reignite it, it's nothing more than a beautiful trinket."
"I see..." Paimon lowered her head, disappointed. If it were something anyone could use, she would have wanted Lumine to win it for her. That way, she could also wield elemental power.
"But how does this relate to going to Inazuma?" Paimon scratched her silver-white hair, puzzled. Hearing Paimon's question, Lumine rolled her eyes.
"You little dummy, we can participate in the competition! We just need to ask Captain Beidou to exchange the Vision prize for a ticket to Inazuma."
"Ohhh, I see!" Paimon suddenly understood. Why hadn't she thought of that? Was it because she didn't read enough?
"Ningguang, thank you for your help." Lumine stood up and thanked Ningguang.
"You're too kind, Miss Lumine. You're a friend of Liyue and a companion of the Divine Lord. This is the least I can do. Besides, I haven't really helped much. It's up to you to secure the ticket." Ningguang waved it off casually. As she said, she hadn't done much, just offered a suggestion.
"No, if it weren't for your reminder, how would we have known about the 'Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean'? I'll remember this kindness." Lumine's words were firm and resolute, leaving no room for doubt.
"Hehe, then I thank you, Traveler." Ningguang couldn't help but take a closer look at Lumine. She hadn't known much about the Traveler before, but now she saw that she was indeed someone worth befriending.
"It's getting late. Why don't you two stay at the Jade Chamber for the night? You can also try the dishes prepared by our specially hired chef. Tomorrow, I'll have Baiwen take you to meet Captain Beidou."
"Well... then we'll trouble you, Ningguang." After some thought, Lumine finally gave in to Paimon's pleading expression and reluctantly agreed.
"No trouble at all. Baiwen, prepare a guest room."
...
In the backyard of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Nahida, who had just finished a day of studying, dragged her tired body past the area, planning to return to her room for a good night's sleep. But as she passed behind Griseo, she was drawn to the content of the painting.
Curious, Nahida peeked over and saw a building on Griseo's canvas that she had never seen before. Although she was weak, she was still the God of Wisdom. If she hadn't seen this architectural style before, it either meant Griseo had created it, or it didn't belong to Teyvat.
Beneath the building were thirteen handsome men and beautiful women, dressed in attire unlike anything seen in Teyvat.
A silver-haired youth slurping noodles, a pink-haired girl with a mischievous smile, a green-haired woman pouting, a gentle man smiling with his eyes closed, a kind-hearted nun...
All of this stirred Nahida's curiosity, and she couldn't help but ask, "Sister Griseo, are these people in your painting your friends?"
Hearing Nahida's question, Griseo's brush paused. She carefully examined the painting, then after a long silence, she spoke seriously.
"They are not my friends."
"Huh?" Nahida was taken aback, not expecting Griseo to answer this way. But if they weren't friends, why would she paint them?
Before Nahida could ponder further, Griseo continued, "They are my family. My eternal family, the people I love and am closest to."
"This is Mother Aponia, this is Kosma, this is Elysia, this is Mobius..." Griseo introduced each person in the painting to Nahida, though a hint of sadness flickered in her eyes.
"Sister Griseo..." Sensing this, Nahida reached out with her short arms and hugged Griseo from behind, wanting to comfort her.
"I'm fine, Nahida." Griseo shook her head and gently moved Nahida's arms away. "I'm not lonely now because I have a new family, don't I? And Yun Fan promised me that he would take me back to my original world to save the brothers and sisters I love."
"Yun Fan... Sister Griseo, what kind of person is Yun Fan?"
Hearing Griseo mention Yun Fan, Nahida's heart was filled with mixed emotions. The Divine Lord of Liyue was someone she found hard to understand. In her five hundred years of existence, he was the only person she felt she couldn't fully comprehend.
"Yun Fan... I don't know, but..." At this point, a rare smile appeared on Griseo's delicate face. "He's a very gentle person."