"Huh? What did you say?"
Xiao looked at Bonanus's expectant face, tilting his head in confusion.
Afraid he'd misheard what Bonanus just said, he needed to hear it again.
Seeing this, Bonanus stepped forward, put her mouth close to Xiao's ear, took a deep breath, gathered her energy, and then said loudly:
"I said, give me a piggyback ride!"
Hearing this, Xiao couldn't help but cover his ears. Why did she have to shout so loudly? His ears were going deaf!
But then, Xiao immediately realized: Bonanus was asking for a piggyback ride? That had never happened before...
"This..."
Xiao wore a slightly troubled expression. Outwardly calm as an old dog, inwardly he was in a panic—th-this... Bonanus-jie is actually making this kind of request?
Isn't this just giving herself away on the spot?
Seeing Xiao's conflicted look, Bonanus couldn't help but pout. Just a piggyback ride and he makes such a face? If she asked for kisses, hugs, and being lifted high, wouldn't he look utterly despairing?
"If you're not willing, then forget it." Bonanus shook her head silently, wearing a disappointed expression, her tone tinged with regret.
Seeing this, Xiao immediately grew anxious, but he didn't know what to say. After all, when facing someone you like, one's mind often goes blank.
"Let go already! I won't go to the Hilichurl camp. I'm leaving, leaving."
Seizing the moment while Xiao was stunned, Bonanus hurriedly broke free from his grip, rubbing her slightly reddened upper arm, silently grumbling to herself.
'Really, couldn't you be a bit gentler? So much strength—if it were an ordinary person, their arm would probably be crushed.'
But Bonanus didn't dwell on this too much. It was just a pity; she'd thought she could get a piggyback ride from Xiao.
But seeing his conflicted expression, she decided to forget it. After all, she didn't want to do anything that would make Xiao uncomfortable.
Thinking this, she somewhat helplessly stroked her chin. Regardless, the debt to the System had to be repaid. That thing was basically a loan shark.
Maybe... when she got back, she could find Big Brother? Wait until he wasn't paying attention and siphon some karmic debt from him?
That method seemed feasible! Big Brother was kind of a goof. Maybe when he's asleep, she could drain all the karmic debt from him. It wasn't impossible.
Big Brother had been fighting on battlefields for a long time; the karmic debt clinging to him couldn't be counted on fingers and toes. It'd be a disservice if it weren't at least a hundred thousand.
"Hehe..." Thinking this, Bonanus couldn't help but giggle foolishly. A hundred thousand people's worth of karmic debt! She was about to live the life of a wealthy woman!
Bosacius: 'Is there a chance that if I bore that much karmic debt, I'd go insane?'
Slurp!
Gulping down her drool, Bonanus's eyes crinkled into crescent moons in her fantasy. The System had mentioned something before about the karmic debt limit upgrade mechanism.
It seemed each upgrade increased the limit by ten thousand, but each upgrade required fifty thousand karmic debt.
Just as she was walking while thoughtfully stroking her chin, a sudden, warm sensation lifted her up.
She felt her legs leave the ground, her whole body as if flying. It was so abrupt that Bonanus was completely dumbfounded.
The one picking her up was Xiao. After a moment of hesitation, Xiao had decided to fulfill Bonanus's request.
But it was a carry, not a piggyback. Piggyback rides were boring. Carrying her directly was more practical. Actually, Xiao just wanted to take Bonanus back now.
To prevent her from doing anything else unexpected.
No matter how embarrassing, he would grit his teeth and endure it. It was just a carry. With his speed, they'd be back soon.
By the time Bonanus processed what was happening, a flush crept all over her body. Goodness, was the progress this fast? She wasn't prepared!
She quietly enjoyed Xiao's princess carry, somewhat shyly burying her face into his chest. She didn't dare look into his eyes, afraid the eye contact would be awkward.
"Hey... Alatus? Can you put me down?"
Bonanus said softly. She felt wind whipping past—Xiao must be carrying her at high speed.
A piggyback ride would have been one thing, but this was a princess carry! Anyone would be shy, right?
"Wasn't this Sister Bonanus's request? Why ask to be put down now?"
As Xiao said this, a faint, inexplicable smile touched his lips. No particular meaning, just a smile.
"But I only asked for a piggyback!"
Hearing this, Xiao simply shook his head slightly. Wearing a perfectly serious expression, he explained:
"I once read a book. Though my memory is hazy, I still recall some of its contents."
Xiao tilted his head slightly, thinking. In that case, he'd just pin this on some book he'd read long ago.
"It seemed to say that for women, carrying them allows for greater speed."
As an Adeptus, Xiao's comprehension wasn't that of a fool. So, this explanation was just a random excuse he'd come up with.
But this utterly absurd excuse... Bonanus actually believed it. People often say big-chested women have no brains, but Bonanus...
It must be said, she not only lacked in the chest department, but her head wasn't all that sharp either.
"Alatus! What kind of understanding is that?! And what kind of books have you been reading?!"
Bonanus frowned as she asked. Could it be Xiao had read those... adult books? Oh no! Her Xiao wasn't pure anymore!
"I don't know. It was a long time ago. I've mostly forgotten."
Xiao once again brushed it off with a random excuse. As the Conqueror of Demons, his memory, while not on par with Morax's, was certainly not that poor.
"Alright then." Bonanus nodded slightly, feeling like a worried mother afraid her child had seen something inappropriate.
"By the way, where are you taking me?"
Hearing this, Xiao glanced south and said quietly:
"Dihua Marsh. Wangshu Inn."
"Ah? That's so far!"
Wangshu Inn was the central structure in the Dihua Marsh region of Liyue, built atop towering stone pillars. It was Liyue's first landmark building.
Dihua Marsh was also the necessary route from Mondstadt to Liyue, as this area was relatively safe. Of course, for merchant ships, that was another matter.
Travelers passing by Wangshu Inn would stop to rest for a while and sample the dishes—merchants from Mondstadt, scholars from Sumeru, and Fatui from Snezhnaya.
There were also local poets, bodyguards... Wangshu Inn was constructed within an enormous tree, one even taller than some mountains.
The architectural style was quaint, exuding a strong traditional atmosphere. They had a mechanical wooden elevator, so climbing stairs wasn't necessary.
Beside the great tree were small docks for boats to moor and supplies to be delivered.
Actually, the most important was Wangshu Inn's signature chef, "Smiley Yanxiao." His culinary skills were famous even in chef circles.
His dishes were delicious, leaving a lasting impression with just one bite. Though compared to Xiangling, he was slightly inferior—his ability to create innovative dishes was a bit weaker.
The plains around Wangshu Inn had vast quantities of Sweet Flowers—not just one or two, but entire fields, large and beautiful.
The Conqueror of Demons, Xiao, during his rest periods, often stayed on the very top of Wangshu Inn, gazing at the sun or moon in the sky, silent for long stretches.
And now, the Conqueror of Demons Xiao was sprinting at full speed, carrying his future wife, destination: Wangshu Inn.
"Sister Bonanus, we're almost there."