Lin Mo's gaze continued to sweep across the bedroom.
He could still see it.
Beside the wooden table sat a doll, dismantled into scattered pieces.
But it wasn't hard to tell that before it had been taken apart, the craftsmanship must have been exquisite.
Next to this disassembled doll was a new one modeled after him—a rough prototype, still in progress.
Only then did Lin Mo understand.
Why such rumors circulated in the streets.
The clay figures sold at the clay shop were all of the Geo Archon, because the people of Liyue revered him.
It was true that Gan Yu often bought those Geo Archon figures.
Because she wanted a clay figure of Lin Mo.
So she could only disassemble the Archon's figures and try to learn the craft herself.
Though the finished products looked a bit crude.
Each one carried her deep, heartfelt longing.
Feeling the affection filling the room.
Lin Mo gently caressed her cheek and said softly, "From now on, I'll always be here. You won't need dolls to keep you company anymore."
"Lord Lin Mo..."
Gan Yu simply wrapped her arms around his waist.
Her murmured whispers full of attachment: "Seven-four-zero."
Though the longing for Lin Mo sometimes left her heartbroken.
Just seeing his portrait before bed or holding his doll would let her reunite with him in her dreams.
That was how it had been for three thousand years.
Though she'd wake from those fleeting dreams feeling lost and sorrowful.
Her busy work soon pulled her back in, so the sadness never lingered too long.
"Gan Yu?"
Lin Mo suddenly sensed something off.
The Gan Yu in his arms seemed to be holding him even tighter, as if afraid he'd slip away.
When he looked down, he realized.
This girl had dozed off while standing there, clinging to him.
"Gan Yu, you must be exhausted from yesterday," Lin Mo said with a pang of heartache.
He gently lifted her and carried her to the soft couch.
There, he lay beside her, holding her close as they drifted into sleep.
At that moment, the little fox that had been hiding in Lin Mo's collar poked its head out and wriggled free from his collar.
After sniffing his face lightly.
Yae Miko confirmed that Lin Mo was fast asleep.
So she transformed into her human form right beside him.
She couldn't stand his flirtatious ways.
Her plan had been to shift back tonight and have a proper talk with him.
Though good intentions aside.
Yae Miko knew that once she truly reunited with Sasayuri.
She probably wouldn't be able to muster any words of reproach.
But she was desperately eager to see Lin Mo's face when he beheld her in this form.
Because she'd shaped herself after the image he adored most.
She wanted to know what expression he'd make upon seeing her.
Now, gazing at his sleeping face.
She wanted to wake him.
But her heart wouldn't let her.
She knew how grueling Lin Mo's day had been.
Reviving Durin in the mountains.
Fleeing through Liyue.
Then heading north to perform emergency heart surgery on Rosalyne.
"This time, I'll let you off the hook. Rest well," Yae Miko whispered softly.
With that, she shifted back into her little fox form and curled up nearby to sleep.
The bright moon hung high.
In Liyue, at the heart of the Guyun Stone Forest.
A rift from the Abyss quietly tore open.
Several shadowy figures.
After making some arrangements in the domain where Osial was sealed, slipped away unnoticed.
The next day, past nine in the morning.
Well into noon, Lin Mo and Gan Yu were still deep in slumber, undisturbed.
For three thousand years, this was Gan Yu's longest—and most peaceful—sleep.
As for Lin Mo.
Well...
He'd always been one for sleeping in.
Knock knock knock.
"Gan Yu!"
Knock knock knock.
The rapping at the door roused Gan Yu. She rubbed her bleary eyes and slowly woke.
Her first sight was Lin Mo's sleeping face, filling her heart with sweet warmth.
Knock knock knock.
"Gan Yu, it's Keqing!"
The urgent call from outside snapped her fully awake.
She glanced toward the window.
"Oh no—it's this late already!"
"Wait... if anyone finds out Lord Lin Mo is in my room..."
Gan Yu was suddenly at a complete loss.
"Gan Yu, are you in there?"
"Gan Yu?"
Keqing's anxious prodding only muddled Gan Yu's thoughts further.
Just then, the knocking woke Lin Mo too. He opened his eyes slowly.
"Hm... Keqing?"
Lin Mo recognized her voice immediately.
He could only imagine.
After vanishing all night.
Only to turn up in Gan Yu's quarters the next morning.
What kind of reaction would Keqing have?
Even with their close bond, she couldn't help but flip out, right?
"Gan Yu, don't mention I'm here. Just say you were exhausted and overslept."
Lin Mo said quickly.
In the next instant.
A puff of white smoke rose.
Lin Mo used an Inazuman ninjutsu to transform into a pillow.
This sight made Yae Miko realize something.
Sasayuri's reincarnation had been to Inazuma!
But she hadn't come looking for her!
The realization hit her like a bolt.
She nearly wanted to sink her teeth into that pillow and demand answers.
But watching Gan Yu anxiously get up and head for the bedroom door.
Yae Miko knew now wasn't the time to confront Lin Mo.
Click.
With that, Gan Yu opened the door.
Keqing stood there.
Beside her were Eula, Amber, Yanfei, and Klee.
Seeing Gan Yu with her eyes still heavy from sleep.
Keqing couldn't help but ask curiously, "Gan Yu, why didn't you head to the Jade Chamber? And why did it take so long to open the door?"
"I... I was too tired yesterday and overslept..."
Gan Yu replied cautiously.
"Overslept?" Keqing grew even more puzzled.
In her memory, Gan Yu was never late.
The one exception had been just five minutes during the Rite of Descension.
"Um, I... I was up all night posting those missing persons notices. It wore me out." Gan Yu wasn't good at lying.
She couldn't even meet Keqing's eyes as she spoke.
"Speaking of which, have you heard anything about that?" Keqing pressed again.
Gan Yu shook her head gently.
Then, curiously, she asked, "Everyone, you all came looking for me so urgently—what's going on?"
"Yes, there is something."
Keqing nodded.
She glanced back at her companions and said, "With the help of these fine knights yesterday, preparations for the Rite of Descension wrapped up quickly. Ningguang has something to discuss with you."
"Huh? Weren't you all... sightseeing in Liyue yesterday?"
Gan Yu asked in surprise.
"Yes, that's right."
Keqing nodded. "But our enthusiastic Honorary Knight, once the misunderstanding was cleared up, wanted to lend a hand to Liyue too."
"And with everyone's assistance."
"The preliminary work for the Rite of Descension is basically all set now."
"But Lady Ningguang noticed you and Mr. Modun were both missing all day, so she sent us to check on you. If you were in your quarters, we were to bring you to the Jade Chamber for the meeting."
Transformed into a pillow, Lin Mo listened in stunned silence.
The Rite of Descension?
Wasn't that supposed to take days?
How had it finished so fast?
"Damn it!"
Lin Mo realized what was happening.
Because last night, he'd spent so much time with Zhongli that he'd missed the "Farewell, Archaic Body" plotline.
Not just Zhongli.
Gan Yu too.
Between posting notices and sharing that midnight snack with him, he hadn't caught her scene.
And now, with Eula and the others pitching in.
The "Farewell, Archaic Body" arc must have either skipped a ton of details or rushed straight through.
Which meant the next chapter, "The Approaching Star."
Tartaglia was about to unleash the ancient god Osial!
Sudden plot acceleration.
Was this really okay?
Lin Mo couldn't help but wonder.
"Alright then, let's head out."
At that moment, Gan Yu nodded.
She was about to follow Keqing and the others back to the Jade Chamber to finalize Rite of Descension details.
"Hey! It's the little fox that follows Brother Gan Yu!"
As Gan Yu stepped out of the room.
Klee spotted Yae Miko yawning beside the pillow at a glance.
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T/N:
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