According to the information Ningguang had gathered, Kamisato Satoru had always avoided clan affairs whenever possible and was famously idle.
Kamisato Ayaka, on the other hand, enjoyed tremendous prestige in Inazuma and served as one of Ayato’s most important supporters.
For two figures of such significance to suddenly appear in Liyue without any official notice was diplomatically sensitive enough that she had no choice but to treat the matter with caution.
"Keqing, what do you make of these two rather special ’tourists’?"
Ningguang turned her head toward the purple-haired young woman whose hairstyle formed two adorable cat-ear-like points.
Keqing’s long legs, wrapped in black stockings, were especially eye-catching beneath the lights. After a moment of thought, she replied, "According to the message Beidou sent back, Mondstadt seems to be their true destination. Liyue is only a stopover, so we still have time to observe them."
"For now, close observation is all we can do. Hopefully, nothing troublesome happens."
Ningguang let out a long breath and gazed thoughtfully into the sea of clouds.
What concerned her most was the upcoming Rite of Descension.
She could only hope these unexpected variables would not disrupt it.
"Mmm... This is the real thing! I feel like I’ve rediscovered the meaning of life!"
Meanwhile, inside Wanmin Restaurant, Kamisato Satoru was devouring Chef Mao’s cooking with the force of a hurricane, utterly lost in bliss.
"...Brother Satoru, are you seriously planning to survive on sweets for every meal?"
Ayaka could not help commenting as she looked at the two plates of Lotus Flower Crisps in front of him, both nearly empty.
Still, since their travel budget was more than generous, she decided to let him indulge himself.
"Chef Mao! Please make me another ten portions of Lotus Flower Crisps and pack them all to go!"
Satoru shouted at the top of his lungs.
There might be plenty of wild fruit along the road to Mondstadt, but he had to make sure his "sugar gauge" remained at a healthy level at all times.
"Coming right up!"
Chef Mao answered and immediately began kneading dough with hands so fast they practically became afterimages.
Satoru stared in amazement at the almost supernatural speed.
For a married man with a family to still possess hand speed that would make even lifelong bachelors ashamed...
Truly one of the great unsolved mysteries of Liyue’s culinary world.
Before long, ten steaming paper packages had been stacked neatly on the table.
Satoru promptly slapped down a heavy pouch of Mora and did not even bother asking for the change.
"Ayaka, here. Help your brother store these ’strategic supplies.’"
"..."
Ayaka immediately felt a wave of helplessness.
So in her brother’s eyes, the Shirasagi Himegimi was basically a walking, refrigerated storage unit.
Despite all the complaints running through her mind, she resigned herself to placing the Lotus Flower Crisps into the separate storage space of her Vision.
"Chef Mao, your cooking really is incredible. We’ll definitely stop by again next time!"
"Haha! Safe travels!"
Wiping away his sweat, Chef Mao proudly added, "Next time, try my daughter Xiangling’s cooking. She’s much more creative than this old man, though sometimes her ingredients can get a little strange."
"Really? Then I’ll definitely have to experience it for myself."
Satoru smiled thoughtfully.
That "Weapon Master" Xiangling, capable of making every cooking pot tremble in fear, was certainly worth meeting.
As long as she did not try to force him to eat something like Slime Condensate mixed with Qingxin.
After bidding farewell to the bustling city, the siblings packed up again and set off along the road leading north toward Mondstadt.
What they failed to notice, however, was a figure standing behind the old-fashioned threshold of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
An extraordinarily handsome man with a calm and elegant bearing silently held a teacup in one hand.
His golden eyes, deep with the weight of countless years, gleamed faintly.
"This aura... carrying the flavor of eternity."
"I wonder what manner of disturbance it will bring to this land."
"Mr. Zhongli! Why did you send another outrageously expensive bill to the Parlor?!"
"Aaaaah! Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is seriously going to go bankrupt at this rate!"
Hu Tao’s furious shout rang out from inside.
Zhongli acted as though he had heard nothing.
He calmly finished the last sip of his tea, picked up an exquisite birdcage containing a thrush, and walked out the door with measured, unhurried steps.
"Osmanthus wine tastes the same as I remember..."
He murmured softly.
With that leisurely demeanor, he looked exactly like some retired aristocratic gentleman enjoying his old age.
At that moment, the Kamisato siblings were already walking through the wilds of Liyue.
"Brother, if we’re going there on foot, how long will it take before we finally see Mondstadt’s gates?"
Ayaka asked curiously.
Satoru walked backward with both hands casually tucked into his pockets.
"We’ll take our time. Probably ten days or so. Might as well enjoy the scenery while we’re crossing the continent."
In truth, if he genuinely wanted to fly there with his sister, it would only take a matter of minutes.
But he had no desire to ruin the atmosphere of their journey.
Their route would take them across the abandoned Guili Plains, over the rugged terrain of Mingyun Village, and finally straight through the infamous Dragonspine.
A route that deliberately chose hardship over convenience.
Naturally, only someone like Kamisato Satoru, who actively sought excitement, would pick it.