Ningguang didn't dislike drinking; she just disliked Su Han drinking, because he got drunk after just a few sips.
This rare outing was putting her in a very good mood.
Gradually, the train arrived at the Dawn Winery. Since there was no cargo to load, it only stopped at the station for ten minutes before continuing.
After passing the Dawn Winery and crossing a mountain, they arrived at Springvale.
"Wow! We're at Springvale so fast! Klee hasn't been fish blasting in so long! Big Brother Su Han, will you come fish blasting with me?"
"While I'd love to, Klee, fish blasting isn't allowed in Mondstadt."
"Ah… I remember now. Fish blasting in Mondstadt means solitary confinement…" Klee recalled Acting Grand Master Jean's dark expression and instantly lost her desire to go.
Comparing the two, Liyue seemed so much better.
Over there, Klee wasn't put in solitary confinement, and there were people to play with her.
By the time they arrived in Springvale, it was already noon.
Although the town was small, its springs were famous. It was also a necessary stop on the way to places like Wolvendom, so it had slowly become more prosperous.
And with the opening of the train line today, the small town was packed with people.
"Heavens! Is this the train?"
"It's actually made of steel! This thing is so much faster than a horse-drawn carriage!"
"Of course! Didn't you see the Knights of Favonius's announcement? It only takes just over two hours to get from Springvale to Liyue's Guili Plains!"
"Heavens, that's so fast!"
There were a great many onlookers. Many of the hunters had never seen a product of technology in their entire lives. For them, the horse-drawn carriage was the primary mode of transport. This was their first time hearing of a train, and they were truly shocked.
Sucrose smiled at Su Han. "Well, I'm heading to Mondstadt City first. I'll see you all later!"
"Klee wants to go to Mondstadt, too!"
"Then let's go for a walk as well," Ganyu and Keqing said, exchanging a smile.
Mona also followed behind them, saying she had some business to attend to. One by one, they headed off towards Mondstadt.
As for Ningguang and Shenhe, they stayed with Su Han and found a place to sit down in Springvale.
Walking down the street and looking at the simple, rustic town, Ningguang said in a low voice, "Their development is very far behind, and their economic strength is also much weaker."
"Well, Mondstadt values freedom. Their national strength is naturally no match for ours," Su Han replied. He was already used to Ningguang's so-called "outings."
In her eyes, "going out to play" was actually just an excuse to personally survey Mondstadt's intelligence. The others were the ones who were truly out to relax.
At this time, inside Mondstadt City, a knight delivered the report of Su Han's group's arrival to Jean's desk.
"You're saying the people from Liyue have all come?"
"Yes, Acting Grand Master! Not just them, but Klee and Sucrose have also returned. They've probably just come out to relax."
"I see. Go and ask Miss Lisa to come here. I need to see her."
"Yes, ma'am."
A few minutes later, the Witch of Purple Rose, Lisa, arrived.
"What's the matter, finding me in such a hurry?"
"It's like this: that group from Liyue has arrived. They didn't notify us, so it must have been a last-minute decision to come along with the train's opening. Klee has been in Liyue for a long time now. I want her to stay."
Facing her good friend, she naturally had nothing to hide.
Lisa frowned. "If you want the child to come back, just keep her here. What's the problem? Is there some hidden trouble?"
Looking at the worried Jean, she felt that the matter was definitely not as simple as she was making it out to be.
As expected, it was just as she had feared.
Jean rubbed her temples and sighed. "I think Kaeya was right. During the battle at the Stone Gate canyon, he said that Liyue seemed to be poaching our talent. Sucrose's departure was just the beginning. I didn't pay much attention at first, but recently, especially after Stormterror was defeated by the people from Liyue at Stone Gate, many of our craftsmen and artisans have left Mondstadt."
"They all went to Liyue?"
"Yes," Jean nodded helplessly.
She knew the other side was poaching her people, but what could she do?
Liyue was safe. They could even defeat a dragon disaster! They even had the protection of adepti.
At the same time, the power of their Black Blade unit was a major draw for everyone.
Lisa sighed. "Even if they are poaching, there's nothing we can do. Who told us to be the 'City of Freedom'? They're offering higher pay and better benefits. Only a fool would stay in Mondstadt City. On top of that, the Fatui are running rampant in this country, giving people the feeling that it's unsafe at all times. In contrast, Liyue has basically purged all the Treasure Hoarders and Fatui."
"Regardless, we must pay close attention to these people today. If possible, we shouldn't let Klee leave."
"Mm, I support your decision."
Don't be fooled by how small Klee was; she was one of Mondstadt's indispensable sources of power.
About half an hour later, Keqing and Ganyu followed Klee to the main gate of Mondstadt.
"Big sisters, this is the main gate of Mondstadt City! There are lots of Dandelion flowers blooming on both sides. Klee likes them a lot!"
"They are indeed very beautiful. I came here once a few years ago. It seems nothing has changed."
"Mm. Compared to Liyue, this city has a different feel to it."
Ganyu looked left and right and found that there were only four soldiers at the city gate. For such an important place, the security was far too lax. When they entered, the guards barely even checked them, just asking their identities before letting them pass.
"Sister Ganyu, this way! I'll take you to eat!"
"Okay, I'm coming."
At that moment, Klee arrived at the Good Hunter restaurant. She stood on her tiptoes and said to the waitress, Sara, "Big sister, I want four lunches! One of them without meat."
"Huh? Isn't this Klee? You're back!"
"It's Sister Amber! Klee missed you so much!"
Seeing the little sun run towards her, Amber also smiled happily. She turned to the people with Klee and greeted them.
"You must be our friends from Liyue, right? Please, sit down. It's my treat today. Thank you so much for bringing Klee back. Oh, right, I almost forgot to introduce myself. I am Amber, an Outrider of the Knights of Favonius."
"Hello. I am the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing."
"I am Ganyu."
"I am Mona, the chief astrologist of the Jade Chamber."
After the introductions were done, Klee said to Amber, "That's not right. I'm just here on an outing today. I have to go back to Liyue tonight."
"Ah? Why?" Amber was shocked. Klee, who used to love Mondstadt so much, didn't want to stay here now?
Klee thought for a moment and said, "Because in Mondstadt, I can't go fish blasting, and I can't go mountain blasting, and there's no one to play with Klee. And… and I'm always being put in solitary confinement. But in Liyue, no one treats me like that. Klee hates solitary confinement. Being alone in that room is so lonely. And Sister Ningguang in Liyue even gave me lots and lots of materials to make bombs! The Jumpy Dumpties I'm researching now are way more amazing than the old ones!"
Watching Klee get more and more excited as she spoke, Amber didn't know how to respond. Is it just me, or does it really sound like Jean is abusing Klee?
She scratched her head and said with an awkward laugh, "Oh, so that's how it is. Well, let's eat."
Twenty minutes later, Amber appeared in Jean's office and reported what had just happened.
"So that's how it is? This is such a headache."
Klee already had a feeling of rejection towards Mondstadt, or rather, a resentment towards her methods of education, which had extended to Jean herself.
But she was so busy with her official duties, and there was no one in Mondstadt who could teach Klee. When bad things happened, all she could do was put her in solitary confinement. She never thought that after so long, it would leave such a shadow in Klee's heart.
"I'm sorry, Acting Grand Master Jean."
"It's fine. It's not your fault, Amber. Since it's come to this, we'll just have to think of another way."
At this moment, Ganyu, who was walking on the street, said to the two beside her, "It seems the people of Mondstadt want Klee to come back."
"Mm, I sensed it too," Keqing said. "That knight named Amber appeared on purpose. The food on her plate was more than half-full. Based on a normal knight's appetite, that one plate wouldn't have been enough. That can only mean she was following Klee."
Keqing analyzed the situation, her heart filling with even more disappointment for Mondstadt. They want Klee back now, but what were they doing before?
Due to Su Han's long-term influence, even Keqing had come to dislike the leadership of this city-state.
In the streets and alleys, you could see people in Fatui uniforms everywhere. Sometimes, they even appeared more frequently than the Knights of Favonius. How bizarre.
In the woods outside Mondstadt City, a young woman was sitting on a rock, crying.
Su Han and his group happened to be passing by. Beidou looked at her and asked, "Hey, did something happen?"
"I'm sorry, I'm disturbing you. I… it's nothing."
"Since we've met, it must be fate. Go on, tell us. Why are you crying?" Seeing the sad young woman, Ningguang also couldn't help but stop.
Looking at the group of people, who were all dressed in lavish clothes, the young woman told them her sad story.
"I… my name is Ellin. I dream of becoming a true knight, but I don't have a Vision, and I can't even wield elemental power. Even ordinary sword techniques take me a long time to learn. Today, my father told me to stop dreaming of being a knight and to marry our neighbor, Torag. But I don't like him at all!"
Ellin. Isn't this the girl I always run into during my daily commissions? She has a lot of conviction, but it's a pity she doesn't have a Vision.
Su Han suddenly remembered something and smiled at her. "How about this: if you want to become strong and gain everyone's respect, how about you come and be my servant? My name is Su Han. I have a Black Blade unit under my command. I think you should have heard of it."
"What? You are Liyue's National Treasure?!" Ellin was incomparably shocked. She never thought she would actually meet her idol!
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