The clinking wine glasses swayed gently as they touched.
Lisa maintained her elegance, taking a small sip before setting her glass down with a smile. "What are Yellow Hair Aunt's movements like now?"
"She's turned back toward Mondstadt again." Su Xuan looked exasperated. "She probably worried at first that I'd harm her."
"Heading back to Mondstadt?" Lisa's expression shifted slightly, a sudden note of regret in her voice. "I don't think that's a good thing."
Su Xuan blinked. "Isn't it good to have someone who can come save you all?"
A murmur rose in his mind.
The witch before him had likely set her sights on him.
"What I mean is, it's not a good thing for *you*." Lisa smiled seductively, her eyes like silk. "If you were the only one in Mondstadt who could resolve all this, I'm sure Jean would give everything she has."
Su Xuan's eyes widened a bit.
From Lisa's words, it felt like this woman was ready to sell Jean out.
Seeing Su Xuan's expression change, Lisa quickly changed the subject. "But I can't meddle too much in Mondstadt's affairs."
"Let's get to the point of why I invited you to my place for a drink."
"I want to ask—what price do I need to pay for you to grant me eternal life?"
[This is beyond my expectations.]
[At first, I thought Lisa sought me out to help Mondstadt resolve their current crisis.]
[Who would've thought she just wants to use the Qiankun Mirror's power to reverse her fate and gain immortality.]
[Genius ideas are always so out of left field, huh?]
Knights of Favonius.
Jean's brows furrowed.
For a moment, she didn't know how to express her feelings.
Thanks to the diary's reminder, Jean finally understood the reason behind Lisa's perpetual laziness.
Laziness was Lisa's way of resisting her fate.
As Lisa's friend, Jean naturally didn't want her life to slip away so quickly, but...
Hearing Su Xuan say Lisa was only in it for herself and not Mondstadt still stung a little.
Still, she chose to understand Lisa.
After all, she was Mondstadt's Acting Grand Master, Jean Gunnhildr. Even if Mondstadt faced disaster, it was she, Jean Gunnhildr, who had to step up.
If Lisa could really negotiate with Su Xuan, Jean hoped more than anything that he could help reverse her fate.
As for Mondstadt's issues, she'd wait for Lisa's news, then pay Su Xuan a personal visit.
"Aww, talk like that really hurts my feelings," Lisa said in an utterly aggrieved tone. "I'm clearly thinking of you."
"People only think to ask for help when they're in trouble. And when they need help, everything falls into place naturally."
During the three days and nights Su Xuan's diary went silent, Lisa had investigated her Diary Replica thoroughly.
She discovered that several others in Mondstadt had Su Xuan's Diary Replicas, just like her.
They shared one thing in common: they were all girls.
Lisa had analyzed this bizarre situation alone several times afterward.
While flipping through the diary, she recalled what Su Xuan had mentioned about the rules for distributing Visions.
Suddenly, it clicked for her.
The Diary Replicas were just like Visions, and we holders were like Vision bearers.
She wasn't sure if Su Xuan had distributed them or if some other entity had, but the main goal was clearly to get us to connect with Su Xuan by any means necessary.
As for why all the Diary Replica holders were girls...
As Teyvat Continent's Mondstadt Wagon Queen, Lisa instantly understood everything.
Especially after those three days and nights Su Xuan spent alone with Raiden Ei before vanishing.
In Lisa's eyes, a being who knew the secrets of the exalted gods and could casually subdue Raiden Ei—what "academic discussion" did he need with her?
A man and a woman alone like that? More like they researched positions for three days straight.
Su Xuan not publicizing these things in the diary just showed he respected us Diary Replica holders.
Of course, that was only if we didn't veer off track.
"You know my principles. I know full well that every gift of fate comes with a clearly marked price."
"Like the Diary Replicas we've received now—while we enjoy the secrets you reveal, don't we also bear some price we have to pay?"
"For instance, now that we know the power you possess, do you need to test our resistance and endurance?"
"In short, I don't think you'll pretend not to see or just leave us be."
Su Xuan, mid-sip of his wine, froze with the glass in midair.
[Good thing I hadn't taken that sip yet.]
[If I'd heard Lisa's words right while drinking, I'd have spat it out on the spot.]
[Most people might not know, but Teyvat Continent has three legendary Wagon Kings.]
[Mondstadt Witch Wagon, Liyue Little Bird Wagon, Inazuma Pink-Haired Fox Wagon.]
[Talking to them leaves you totally lost, no clue how to respond.]
[Right now, I feel like I got kidnapped onto the Witch Wagon before I even got started.]
[Lisa, the once-in-two-centuries genius witch of Sumeru, lives up to her name.]
All the women: "???"
Wagon Queen? What was a Wagon Queen?
Lisa was a bit baffled too, unsure why Su Xuan called her the Witch Wagon.
But his inner monologue proved he got her point perfectly.
"Ahem!" Su Xuan cleared his throat and said slowly, "People sometimes miss out on a lot of fun by being too clever."
Lisa feigned a sigh. "You already mentioned it at Angel's Share—my talents and gifts come at the cost of my life slipping away."
"But I don't want to face a withered, shriveled me so soon. Even in death, I want to stay elegant."
"That's why I sought you out. Any good ideas that won't harm my life or forcibly wreck my brain structure?"
As she spoke, Lisa stood, circled behind Su Xuan, leaned in close to his ear, and whispered with a soft laugh:
"What if there's a way to stir and churn it all out—drawing every bit of knowledge from my mind as I slowly turn into a ditz?"
Su Xuan: "!?"
[What a sinner!]
[The Witch Wagon's wheels just rolled right over my face.]
All the women: "???"
Has Su Xuan had too much to drink? Why's he spouting total nonsense now?