Inside Albedo's mountain camp, plumes of cooking smoke rose, and the air was filled with a fragrant aroma.
Albedo, the camp's owner, was busy cooking a stew, while Klee watched him with wide, eager eyes as he prepared the delicious meal.
As for Yuto and Shenhe, they curiously observed the camp hidden within the snowy mountains.
Although the conditions were somewhat rudimentary, it was a complete and self-sufficient place.
The camp was filled with various unidentified reagents and materials, as well as all sorts of papers and documents.
Yuto only glanced at them briefly before feeling a bit dizzy and turning away.
It was strange; Yuto recognized every single word on the documents, but when put together, they became as profound and obscure as a heavenly scripture, not a single sentence comprehensible.
Albedo had actually been observing Yuto and Shenhe's reactions.
Upon seeing Yuto's dismissive attitude towards his alchemy notes, he unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, realizing they weren't specifically targeting him.
His alchemy notes, to an outsider, would seem like mere waste paper, but in the eyes of an expert, they were priceless treasures.
Albedo had initially thought Yuto and his companion were ill-intentioned individuals trying to get close to him under the guise of rescuing Klee.
Now, it seemed he had been overly cautious.
Albedo poured Yuto and Shenhe a cup of hot water to warm themselves, and was about to invite them to sit down, but then looked around and realized there were no chairs available.
Albedo: "Oh... my apologies, both of you.
I forgot there aren't that many chairs in the camp.
Please wait a moment."
So Albedo picked up a nearby sketchpad and began drawing rapidly on the paper.
Yuto and Shenhe were both a bit puzzled by Albedo's actions.
Shenhe glanced at Albedo's drawing and saw that he was sketching chairs, so she couldn't help but ask: "Are you drawing chairs?
Wait, can you really use alchemy to manifest a physical object after drawing it?!
Can alchemy even do that?"
Albedo nodded and said: "My drawings can be considered blueprints, and then alchemy is used to bypass the manufacturing process.
It's just a very basic technique.
With enough research and experimentation, such techniques can even be extended to the creation of living organisms."
Look at that, what do you call a genius?
What do you call top-tier humble-bragging?
Albedo truly lives up to his title as Mondstadt's Chief Alchemist.
However, Albedo's technique involuntarily reminded Yuto of a ninja in the Naruto World who also seemed to use a similar ninjutsu, something called the Super Beast Scroll.
That ninja, Sai, hadn't even been born when Yuto died!
Albedo's drawing was both exquisite and swift.
In just two or three minutes, he had created two chairs for Yuto and Shenhe to use.
This magical alchemy, creating something out of nothing, greatly astonished Yuto and Shenhe.
It truly was a convenient ability.
Albedo: "Since both of you saved my sister, you are now my friends.
However, judging by your attire and accents, you're probably not native to Mondstadt, are you?"
Yuto: "Indeed.
I'm from Inazuma, and my beloved is from Liyue.
We're currently on our honeymoon trip.
Seeing the majestic Dragonspine, we decided to visit.
It was certainly worth the trip, as we witnessed breathtaking scenery at the summit."
Albedo: "Is that so?
Then first, I offer my congratulations to both of you.
Mondstadt is the city of freedom and poetry, with simple folk, beautiful surroundings, and spring-like weather all year round.
Choosing Mondstadt as your honeymoon destination is definitely a wise choice.
However, I still want to remind both of you that while Dragonspine is a unique landscape in Mondstadt, compared to other parts of Mondstadt, there are still some dangers hidden within the snowy mountains.
You must proceed with caution.
I recommend you visit Starsnatch Cliff, or Cape Oath for a distant view of the beautiful scenery, or go to Windrise to see the giant sacred tree, or even go boating on Cider Lake."
Yuto: "Thank you, Mr. Albedo.
We'll definitely visit all those places you mentioned when we have the chance."
Klee, sitting nearby, heard Yuto's words and immediately became excited again: "Ah!
Are Brother Yuto and Sister Shenhe going to travel to various places in Mondstadt?
Then can Klee come along?
Please, please!"
Albedo: "Klee!
You'll make your brother and sister uncomfortable.
Don't trouble them.
When Brother Albedo finishes his illustration work, I'll take you to play, alright?"
They were on their honeymoon trip; what kind of sense would it make to have a child as a third wheel?
Besides, entrusting his sister to two strangers he had just met and wasn't familiar with—that didn't seem reliable no matter how he thought about it.
If anything happened to Klee, he wouldn't be able to explain it to Aunt Alice.
Although Klee was lively and active, she was essentially a good child.
Under Albedo's slightly stern tone, she nodded, looking a bit wronged.
Yuto heard Albedo mention the illustrations and suddenly remembered that Albedo seemed to be Xingqiu's exclusive illustrator.
Yuto: "Mr. Albedo, are you busy drawing illustrations?
What are you drawing?"
Albedo nodded: "Yes, I previously collaborated with an author from Liyue named Zhenyu, helping him draw a few illustrations for his novel.
Recently, he suddenly sent me a letter, saying that the editor-in-chief of Inazuma's Yae Publishing House, who publishes his novel, personally came to Liyue to urge him for the manuscript.
So he could only send me a letter, asking me to also speed up my progress."
Ah, so this was also the fault of that mischievous fox!
However, thinking about it, it made perfect sense.
After all, Xingqiu's "chronicles of seiraimaru's sword-seeking" was incredibly popular in Inazuma, and those mischievous foxes were making a fortune.
With such an opportunity to go to Liyue, how could she possibly let Xingqiu off the hook?
Moreover, Xingqiu had, through Yuto, given his contact information to Yae Publishing House.
This wave, then, was purely walking right into a trap.
Yuto said with a surprised expression: "Teacher Zhenyu?
Could it be Teacher Zhenyu, who wrote "chronicles of seiraimaru's sword-seeking"?
Then are you Teacher Calx, who draws the illustrations?
What a coincidence, I also know Teacher Zhenyu.
He's Xingqiu, the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
Ah... no, Teacher Calx, how about this: Klee is lively, adorable, and innocent.
Both Shenhe and I are very fond of her.
If you trust us, we can play with Klee.
Of course, we will be responsible for returning Klee to the Knights of Favonius."
Upon hearing this, Albedo couldn't help but frown, but then he turned to see Klee's expectant eyes, and his heart fell into immense conflict.
Yuto clearly saw what Albedo was conflicted about, so he added: "Teacher Calx, are you worried about our identities?
Hmm... let me think...
Oh, right, I have a very good relationship with Mondstadt's famous Honorary Knight, Lumine and Paimon."
Albedo, after hearing this, thought it over carefully and finally agreed.
He knew Zhenyu, and also knew his pen name, Calx, and was acquainted with the Traveler and Paimon.
Hmm... they should be trustworthy.
Besides, he had placed an alchemical tracking beacon on Klee, which could record and track her location.
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