Bab 235: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [235]
The Sabzeruz Festival drew closer with each sunrise, yet Luo Qing had no word of Lumine or Paimon's arrival in Sumeru.
The uncertainty gnawed at him. If they're late, am I supposed to handle Scaramouche myself?
As much as Luo Qing liked a challenge, the idea of facing Scaramouche felt awkward. If Teyvat's convoluted family tree held, Scaramouche might technically owe him a "dad."
That's too much familial drama, even for me.
Fortunately, his efforts with Azar, the Grand Sage, were proving effective. After several... customized dream scenarios tailored to push his limits, Azar had been left visibly shaken.
The man now walked around with dark circles under his eyes, flinching at the sight of muscular men or broad-shouldered women. Despite his fragile state, Azar still managed to oversee the God Creation Plan. Truly, the man's work ethic was unparalleled.
With the power of Void Authority now fully in Luo Qing's hands, he no longer needed Nahida's assistance to upload data into the Void Terminal. Over the past few days, he had used this newfound freedom to share the healing anime he had once enjoyed in his previous life: Plastic Memories, Angel Beats, and Akame ga Kill, among others.
Thanks to Dori's shrewd marketing and her "Void influencer network," these shows quickly became the talk of the town. Everywhere Luo Qing went, he overheard excited discussions about the emotionally devastating tales.
"This show is amazing! I've cried three times!"
"I can't stop recommending it to everyone I know!"
The popularity paid off in droves. Every anguished viewer contributed frustration points, which Luo Qing collected like a hoarder saving for his next big banner pull.
---
Meanwhile, things with Kamisato Ayaka were progressing smoothly.
Makoto already knew about Ayaka's existence, so when Luo Qing proposed adding a room for her in the house, Makoto hadn't objected. Her only condition was that Luo Qing spend an entire day as her personal... companion.
The new room was finished, and tonight Luo Qing planned to invite Ayaka over for her first visit. Makoto, Theresa, and Ayaka—four people, perfect for a friendly game of mahjong.
What else did you think I meant?
---
That afternoon, Luo Qing went fishing outside Sumeru City, as he often did. Makoto, feeling cooped up at home, decided to join him.
By evening, they returned to the city, Luo Qing proudly carrying several large fish strung at his waist. He walked with exaggerated swagger, making sure everyone could see his impressive catch.
Makoto, however, was unimpressed.
"Do you have to carry them like that? It's embarrassing!"
"Embarrassing? This is a badge of honor for a fisherman!"
"Honor? You look ridiculous. Put them away!"
As they bickered, they headed toward the Grand Bazaar to buy spices for dinner.
Not far behind them, Lumine and her ever-present companion Paimon arrived at the gates of Sumeru City, accompanied by Shenhe and Ganyu.
"This is Sumeru City?" Paimon marveled, her gaze darting between the locals and their Void Terminals.
"Everyone here has one of those Void thingies," she observed. "Oh! I heard the Grand Bazaar has lots of yummy food. Should we grab something to eat before finding a place to stay?"
"That sounds reasonable," Ganyu agreed.
"After all, we'll need our strength to search for Luo Qing tomorrow."
Shenhe nodded silently, her steely gaze fixed on the distant skyline as if willing Luo Qing to appear.
The four of them asked for directions to the Grand Bazaar and began walking.
As they approached the market, Paimon's sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar figure up ahead.
"Wait... isn't that...?"
"Hmm?" Lumine turned to look.
Ahead of them, a man with fish strapped to his waist walked confidently down the street, hand in hand with a purple-haired woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Raiden Shogun.
"Is that... Luo Qing?"
Lumine's heart skipped a beat. If the woman really was Raiden Shogun—or worse, her alter ego—this could spiral into an international incident between Inazuma and Liyue.
"What do we do, Paimon?" Lumine whispered.
"Should we tell Shenhe and Ganyu?"
Paimon hesitated. Her loose tongue had already caused enough trouble by inadvertently dragging the two icy women along. If she alerted them now, it might escalate into a scene straight out of a disaster novel.
"Let's... just keep quiet for now," Lumine decided. "We can talk to Luo Qing in private later."
"Good idea," Paimon agreed.
However, before they could put their plan into action, Luo Qing and Makoto stopped to talk.
"I think that stall over there had the spices we need," Makoto said, gesturing to a nearby vendor.
"So, we're skipping the Bazaar?"
"Yes. And don't even think about sneaking off to watch the dancers again!"
"I never did that!" Luo Qing protested, turning around in exasperation.
Their eyes met.
Time seemed to freeze.
Shenhe and Ganyu stopped dead in their tracks, their gazes locking onto the scene before them.
Luo Qing. A woman. Hand in hand. Laughing.
The shock hit like a tidal wave.
"Luo Qing..." Shenhe's voice was quiet, but trembling with unrestrained emotion.
"Luo... Qing..." Ganyu's usually soft voice was filled with an edge of disbelief.
Ding!
[Frustration Points from Luo Qing +10]
---
Meanwhile, at Port Ormos
A merchant ship from Inazuma docked gracefully in the bustling port.
A striking woman in a dark violet kimono disembarked, her elegant features and cool demeanor turning heads as she passed.
Workers paused mid-task to admire her beauty, though none dared approach her.
Standing at the edge of the dock, she gazed toward Sumeru's towering trees and murmured to herself.
"Calm yourself," she said softly. "When we find Luo Qing, I'll let you meet him. But remember, this is Sumeru. Behave yourself."
There was no response, yet she seemed to argue with an unseen presence.
"What do you mean, I'm eager to see him too?"
"You're imagining things. I'm only here because of you—stop putting words in my mouth!"
Her voice grew quieter.
"I... didn't say I wasn't looking forward to it..."
---
T/N: LMAO PERFECT PLACE FOR A CLIFFHANGER
Thank you for reading this chapter!
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Bab 236: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [236]
At the entrance of the Grand Bazaar
Luo Qing's heart was a tangled mess of emotions like never before.
Facing the two dazzling figures before him, he found himself at a loss for how to respond. Turning his head slightly, he cast a glance at Lumine and Paimon, the apparent culprits, standing off to the side and refusing to approach.
Across from him, Ganyu stood with a shy, somewhat awkward demeanor, her eyes soft yet filled with unease. Beside her, Shenhe gripped her polearm tightly, her brow furrowed as if she were far from pleased.
The two groups stood there in silence.
Though the sounds of street vendors hawking their goods and passersby's conversations filled the air, to Luo Qing, the world had never felt so still.
"Luo Qing, it's been... a while," Ganyu finally broke the silence, her voice soft and gentle but tinged with a trace of melancholy.
For some reason, seeing Luo Qing holding another woman's hand so intimately—like an old married couple—left her with an inexplicable hollow feeling, as if something precious had been stolen from her.
"It has been a while," Luo Qing replied politely. But before he could say more, Shenhe raised her polearm and, in an instant, pointed it directly at his face.
"Luo Qing, who is she?" Shenhe demanded coldly, her voice loud and commanding enough to draw the attention of nearby passersby.
The sight of two stunning women confronting a man in the street, one with a weapon, caused a ripple of excitement among onlookers.
What a spectacle!
"Luo Qing, you asked me to live with you in Liyue, and I did. Why did you leave without saying a word?" Shenhe demanded. "Even Senior Sister has been waiting for you to return, yet you…"
The flood of questions quickly helped the gathered onlookers piece the story together.
So, this Luo Qing guy had apparently wooed both of these sisters back in Liyue, then ghosted them, leaving them pining for him.
And now, here he was, sweet-talking another woman—so much so that they'd even kissed!
What a scumbag.
Seeing the three breathtaking women standing there, many of the nearby men couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and indignation.
Each of these women was a stunning beauty—how had Luo Qing managed to juggle three of them?
This guy is the worst.
[+1 Frustration Points from Luo Qing]
Casting a glance at the crowd of rubberneckers, Luo Qing's frustration only deepened. In a calm but firm tone, he said, "All of you, go about your business and forget everything you've seen here."
At his words, the bystanders' eyes suddenly went blank for a moment. Then, as if nothing had happened, they each returned to their tasks, ceasing to pay attention to Luo Qing's group.
"Shenhe, listen to me—" Luo Qing began, but the woman by his side interrupted him.
"Let me handle this," she said.
"Huh?" Luo Qing was momentarily stunned, but before he could process her words, she had released his wrist and stepped forward.
Replacing Luo Qing, the woman now stood calmly before Shenhe's polearm.
"Well, what's meant to come will come," she murmured to herself as she looked at the two icy sisters from Liyue.
Shenhe tightened her grip on her weapon. "Who are you?" she demanded coldly. For reasons she didn't fully understand, she felt hostility toward any woman who shared such intimacy with Luo Qing—except her Senior Sister.
"Who am I?" The woman chuckled softly, brushing a hand across her face.
In the next moment, her features began to shift before their very eyes—her bones and eyes morphing into an entirely new visage.
Ganyu, Lumine, and Paimon all widened their eyes in shock.
Ganyu was especially stunned. The transformed face bore a striking resemblance to the Electro Archon of Inazuma.
"You're..."
"Allow me to introduce myself," the woman said with a faint smile. Her presence suddenly exuded an undeniable aura of authority, causing Shenhe's polearm to tremble slightly.
"My name is Raiden Makoto. Or, if you prefer, you may call me Baal."
Her words sent shockwaves through Lumine and Paimon, who knew the truth.
Makoto... wasn't she supposed to have perished five hundred years ago in Khaenri'ah?
How could she suddenly be alive—and so intimately close to Luo Qing that they looked like a married couple?
"I've heard a lot about you two from Luo Qing," Makoto continued, her voice warm but with a subtle undertone that felt like a claim of sovereignty. "He said you're dear friends of his from Liyue. Why don't you join us at our home for dinner tonight?"
Home?
Both Ganyu and Shenhe were struck by her choice of words.
Luo Qing... when did he become yours?!
While Ganyu nervously bit her lip, too overwhelmed by Makoto's presence to respond, Shenhe refused to back down. Raising her polearm again, she demanded, "What is your relationship with Luo Qing?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Makoto said, smiling as she gently pushed Shenhe's weapon aside with a finger.
Looking Shenhe in the eye, she asked softly, "You like Luo Qing too, don't you?"
"I…" Shenhe's cheeks flushed a deep red, and her voice faltered.
Seizing the moment, Makoto leaned in close and whispered into her ear, "If you keep being so forceful, you'll only make things harder for Luo Qing. He might even start to lose his affection for you."
"..."
"Why not listen to me? Put the weapon down, alright?"
Without waiting for a response, Makoto raised her hand and gently pressed Shenhe's polearm downward.
"Much better," Makoto said with a radiant smile before turning to Ganyu. "Ganyu, dear, it's been such a long time! Tonight, we must catch up properly, alright?"
"You..."
Makoto's words and tone stirred something deep in Ganyu's memories—reminders of the Archons' gatherings long ago.
"Come now," Makoto said warmly, taking both Shenhe's and Ganyu's hands. "See that giant fish on Luo Qing's back? That's dinner. Whatever questions you have, we can discuss them over a good meal, alright?"
Makoto's infectious charm left the two women no room to refuse. After exchanging glances, Ganyu nodded hesitantly. "Then... we'll trouble you for tonight."
"Wonderful!" Makoto beamed.
She turned toward Lumine and Paimon, her gaze suddenly tinged with complexity. "You two should join us as well. What do you think?"
"Uh…" Lumine and Paimon froze, clearly caught off guard.
"W-We have other things to take care of!" Paimon stammered, gulping nervously.
"Y-Yeah, maybe next time. Enjoy that fish without us!"
---
Thank you for reading this chapter!
Wise-Senpai leads the way, sharing stories that inspire and connect us all. Your support is like the encouragement of a loyal companion, pushing this journey forward and lighting the path ahead.
If you'd like to support Wise-Senpai, you can visit:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Every contribution strengthens our resolve, paving the way for the stories yet to come!
Let's continue to explore these worlds together!
-Mash Kyrielight 💜
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