Liyue, Stone Gate.
Lumine stared at the light screen in front of her, her face full of wariness.
"Lumine, this Your Highness guy wouldn't really have a crush on you, would he?"
Paimon didn't ask, it was fine—but now that she did, Lumine suddenly felt a wave of disgust surge from her heels straight to the top of her head.
"Lumine, are you okay?"
Seeing Lumine's uncomfortable expression, Paimon grew a bit worried.
"I-I'm fine!"
Lumine shook her head and took a deep breath.
[Lumine]: @[Your Highness] Don't get any funny ideas. It's impossible between us! (Warning)
[Your Highness]: ...
He was speechless.
Aether was genuinely speechless this time.
But he couldn't exactly say he was Lumine's brother.
His heart felt so tired, so weary.
[Kaeya]: Miss Lumine, really not gonna consider it? (Hu Tao · sly grin)
[Furina]: My friend, anyone with eyes can see that Mr. Gu Chen and Miss Lumine are the perfect match!!
[Charlotte]: @[Lumine] Quick interview: If you had to choose, would it be Mr. Gu Chen or Your Highness?
[Lumine]: I'd pick Gu Chen even with my feet!
[Gu Chen]: (Kaeya · rose-in-mouth heartthrob thief)
[Lumine]: First off, I'm just answering Charlotte's question. Secondly, past life is past life!
[Hu Tao]: Really?
[Lumine]: Totally real!
[Yae Miko]: *Youthful Beauty Secretly Crushes on Hunk but Too Shy to Confess* (Hu Tao · sly grin)
[Raiden Ei]: @[Yae Miko] Editor-in-Chief, I want to read this book right now!
[Xingqiu]: No copies in stock!
[Jean]: Um... I kinda want to read it too! (Excited)
[Lumine]: Heh, fantasy time now, huh?
Lumine laughed out of anger.
"Paimon, you think I'd fall for Gu Chen?" Lumine asked with a string of cold laughs.
Paimon glanced at Lumine's expression and, seeing she was clearly pissed, cautiously replied, "The past-life you definitely liked Gu Chen. But this life... eh, no biggie, just treat him like a random passerby!"
"That's what I think too!"
But could she really just treat him like a random passerby?
Lumine's heart twinged.
Before the videos started, Gu Chen was indeed just a passerby to her.
But now, with the videos progressing, he no longer felt that simple.
Even saying those rejection words made her heart ache a little.
Do I actually like Gu Chen?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
"I'm a Traveler, just a fleeting visitor passing through worlds. Hmph, my heart is free!" Lumine patted her chest to console herself.
Watching Lumine mutter and brainwash herself nonstop, Paimon shook her head and sighed inwardly.
After a while, once Lumine's mood had settled a bit, Paimon changed the subject: "We've already wasted a ton of time on the road these past few days. Should we ask the Liyue folks in the group when the Rite of Descension is? We gotta seize this chance to meet the Geo Archon and ask about your brother!"
"Right!"
Lumine snapped back and nodded vigorously.
[Extraordinary Group Chat]
[Lumine]: Asking the Liyue members in the group—I'm already at Stone Gate. When's the Rite of Descension? Will I make it?
[Yae Miko]: Such a stiff topic change. (Yae Miko · smirk)
[Ningguang]: There's still over half a month left. Normal travel time would get you there, but with the videos holding things up... it's dicey.
[Lumine]: I don't wanna miss this shot. Paimon! We'll watch videos on the go!
[Noelle]: Honorary Knight Senior, please watch your step and stay safe!
[Lumine]: Don't worry! I'm a Traveler—multitasking is no problem!
[Signora]: You mean the Traveler who got pinned down by two debt collectors and couldn't move?
[Lumine]: You suck at talking—why not just shut up?!
Lumine broke.
Her memories were fuzzy, but she was still a woman who could trade blows with gods.
Some mere debt collectors... hmph, wait till this Traveler regains her power—see if you dare talk then!
[Zhongli]: The Rite of Descension is Liyue's grandest rite. Traveler, you must not miss it.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli set down his teacup, deep in thought.
The Traveler Lumine was an indispensable piece in his plans—the entire scheme required her involvement.
If she couldn't arrive in time, the plan would develop flaws and fall apart.
"Her goal is to find her kin, so she'll surely make it to the Rite of Descension beforehand. But these videos..."
Zhongli's gaze fell on the screen.
Just then, in the video, Venti gave everyone directions, pointing them toward Mondstadt's neighbor, Liyue—just in time for the Rite of Descension, where they could meet the Geo Archon!
Seeing this, Gu Chen and Lumine immediately decided to head to Liyue!
Zhongli suddenly felt uneasy, like needles pricking his back.
"My old friend has been exposed... so in the past life, did I make the same choice and carry out this plan?"
For a moment, Zhongli began to worry.
[Yoimiya]: Gu Chen's trio is heading to Liyue! What's next after Liyue? Inazuma? Will I get screen time?! (Xiangling · starry-eyed)
[Tighnari]: Sumeru City is right next to Liyue's Chasm. If they keep going from Liyue, Sumeru would be the priority, right?
[Nahida]: (Excited)
[Furina]: Can we skip straight to Fontaine? Can't wait to see myself!
[Raiden Ei]: (Shenhe · stare)
[Beidou]: If they pick Inazuma, they won't dodge me—only my Alcor can sail through the thunderstorms! (Smug)
[Lumine]: Hold up! Why do Gu Chen and them get this treatment?!!
In the video.
Upon learning Gu Chen and the others were heading to Liyue, Acting Grand Master Jean offered horses to speed their journey.
[Paimon]: Mondstadt has horses?!
[Kaeya]: Think about it—I'm the Cavalry Captain. You don't think I ride people, do you? (LOL)
[Lumine]: @[Jean] Acting Grand Master, I condemn you! Why didn't you send me any?! (Pointing accusingly)
[Jean]: Didn't you say you wanted to trek mountains and rivers, travel ten thousand li, and savor the world's scenery at a leisurely pace? (Confused)
[Lumine]: Did I? (Blank stare)
[Paimon]: Pretty sure that happened.
[Lumine]: Fine, whatever. Wait—why are they going to Dragonspine? Aren't they heading to Liyue?!
In the video.
The trio en route to Liyue spotted the distant Dragonspine and immediately changed course to check it out.
Gu Chen's reasoning: "Since it's a journey, no need to rush. If time runs short, I can just fly us there myself."
"So far—really fly straight there?" Paimon eyed Liyue's distant direction skeptically.
"Of course!"
Gu Chen nodded firmly, then added: "It'll just be tiring. But missing the scenery right in front of us? That'd be a real regret."
"Fine then. Lumine, what do you think?" Paimon turned to Lumine.
Lumine smiled softly. "Just follow his lead."
[Yae Miko]: Miss Lumine, such a sweet smile!
[Nilou]: Past-life Miss Lumine, you HAVE to marry Mr. Gu Chen!!!
[Lumine]: My heart is ice-cold as a blade! Also, what's in Dragonspine? It's freezing to death! @[Gu Chen]
[Gu Chen]: No idea!
Recalling now, there was a quest to head to Dragonspine, collect a Durin Dragon Bone, and craft a handy weapon, right?
Since it was a quest, Gu Chen got it—with his grind-holic personality, he'd never leave a quest dangling on the panel!