156: Dadaupa Valley Hilichurl: Arminus!

Leaving Childe, Zhongli and his group arrived at their first stop: Jiecuihang, which, to put it plainly, was a shop for gambling on raw stone.

They sought to purchase a crate of Noctilucous Jade from the shop owner, Shitou. This was a type of stone similar to a night-luminescent pearl; once crafted into an object, it could emit a beautiful, faint glow at night, and the same applied when burned with the pyro element.

The two sides went through a series of brilliant exchanges, including but not limited to:

"I want all the stones here."

"I didn't bring any Mora."

"Then we will only buy one kind."

"Boss, cut some samples so we can inspect the goods."

"The boss's craftsmanship is amazing; the stones cut are thinner than insect wings."

"What about paying later? Oh, there's money provided by Childe."

"Et cetera, et cetera."

Finally, under the tutelage of Zhongli's high-class knowledge, they successfully obtained three pieces... hmm, three slices... three sheets of stone.

"Stingy, so stingy. Boss, you must get food stuck in your teeth every day when you eat; you'll be the death of yourself with that stinginess."

Afterward, Zhongli suggested finding a place to conduct a Burning test. Paimon said that was simple: "Just set a fire, wouldn't that work?"

Lumine carefully held up the three stone sheets for Paimon to see, and Paimon fell silent.

"They'll turn to ash if you burn them."

Zhongli's knowledge came into play again. He said: "While we burn them with the pyro element, we can wrap them in the hydro element to protect them. This way, the stones won't be damaged."

Lumine had a sudden realization and looked thoughtful, then tentatively asked: "You mean, boiling them, right?"

Zhongli: ...

"Precisely."

Lumine immediately pointed a finger: "Then let's go to Wanmin Restaurant to boil them."

"Absolutely not." Zhongli hurriedly stopped her: "These stones will react to Elemental Power. If there is an Elemental Power riot, I fear it might harm innocent bystanders."

Lumine and Paimon fell into deep thought. Then, Paimon slapped her forehead: "Hey! I have a plan! In Mondstadt's Dadaupa Gorge, when we went with Huo Xi and Amber to slaught... to suppress the Hilichurl tribe last time, wasn't there a giant pot there? Let's take that one to use! That way, we won't harm any innocent bystanders!"

This suggestion was unanimously agreed upon by everyone.

Afterward, the group discussed how to get to Dadaupa Gorge. This time, Lumine had an idea: "Let's just hitch a ride!"

"Oh?" Zhongli looked over curiously: "Hitch a ride where?"

...

"So, I am that ride?"

In Guili Plains, beneath a large tree, Hu Tao, Keqing, Huo Xi, Lumine, Paimon, and Zhongli sat in a circle drinking tea.

Originally, Huo Xi had come out for some air—oh no, to rest. Then, for some reason, Keqing kept thinking about that scene between Ganyu and Huo Xi last time. Worried that her good comrade would be stolen away, she secretly followed him out to check. Hu Tao, fearing her good consultant would be stolen by Keqing, also followed.

Only Ganyu remained calm and composed in the tent, sipping tea.

"Huo Xi has already been turned to my side. As long as I increase the time they spend together, Huo Xi will be able to advise Keqing more. And as long as I invite Huo Xi out for heart-to-hearts regularly, I can keep track of the situation."

"Perfect!"

Then, the three who had run out—Huo Xi and the others—encountered Lumine and her group. After talking, they realized they had come to press-gang them into labor.

After hearing their plan, Huo Xi felt a twinge of toothache.

He wanted to shout on behalf of the Hilichurls: "How can you be so selfish!"

Moreover, this Lumine treated him like a private car, making him teleport them to Dadaupa Gorge.

Just as he was about to retort, he saw Lumine stand up slightly and then sit down firmly.

Her eyes conveyed three words: "If you don't agree, just wait for tonight."

Huo Xi: ...

The six of them teleported together to the Teleport Waypoint in Dadaupa Gorge; Zhongli, Keqing, and Hu Tao were greatly amazed.

Zhongli's expression was calm as a still lake, but he acted very shocked: "I never imagined there would be such a divine miracle in this world!"

Huo Xi guessed that he probably knew techniques like shrinking the ground to an inch, so he wasn't particularly surprised.

Keqing's eyes were shining with golden light; she felt she had struck gold. This was her good comrade, after all!

Hu Tao's brows, however, were tightly furrowed.

She reached out with her small hand and pinched Huo Xi's waist, pulled his ear, and whispered: "If you have this skill, why didn't you use it when we went out to loot treasure chests? Do you just want to touch my thigh?"

Huo Xi: ...

Seeing Huo Xi not speaking, Hu Tao laughed in anger.

"You're like the Lord of Geo telling a lie—not even the rock is solid anymore."

Huo Xi, Hu Tao, and Keqing didn't follow, staying behind to play wits, while Lumine's group headed straight for the giant pot in Dadaupa Gorge.

The Hilichurls here were quite creative; they built a giant stove and stuffed it with a pile of Pyro Slimes and Flaming Flowers, making them constantly roast the giant pot.

Lumine was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see the Pyro Slimes suffer.

In no time, the Hilichurls were sliced up by the meat-grinder Lumine. Paimon and Zhongli finished the test in the giant pot; the answer was that the third stone had the highest brightness and best quality.

"Alright, let's go back and find Huo Xi and the others... Eh? What's that?" Paimon was mid-sentence when she felt a cyan streak of light flash by in her peripheral vision.

Prompted by Paimon, Lumine and Zhongli looked over as well. Not far away, a woman wearing a white divine outfit, with a noticeable curve at her chest, a white dress, and bare feet, was floating in the air, constantly experimenting with her Anemo Element skills.

But the three of them found this figure increasingly familiar the more they looked.

...

Venti swore he would never cross-dress again.

Moreover, this wasn't just cross-dressing; it was a bona fide sex change.

Venti's current identity had already been exposed among the high-ranking officials of Mondstadt. If he were to casually turn into a woman in front of the public, even someone as carefree as him would care, to some extent, about the gazes of others.

So he swore he would never cross-dress again.

"It's a good thing there's no one in Dadaupa Gorge, otherwise I'd really be afraid of being seen."

Venti, oh no, Wendy used the Anemo Element to cut through a few boulders, feeling the abundant power within her body. It had to be said that, now that he hadn't been crowned again as the Anemo Archon, the "skin" Huo Xi had given her truly solved the problem of her insufficient power.

Moreover, she could feel that there was still a vast amount of power in this body that she hadn't yet tapped into!

Wendy felt very comfortable. She suddenly felt that occasionally turning into this wasn't bad either, so she happily flew in the air, spinning around, until she saw three familiar figures.

Lumine, Paimon, and a man she absolutely did not want to see at this moment were staring straight at her.

That's Morax, right? How could it be anyone but Morax? Why would Morax suddenly appear in Mondstadt?

Wendy let the wind carry her down slowly, finally stopping with her toes hovering ten centimeters above the ground.

Zhongli wanted to speak but hesitated, then hesitated again. Finally, he asked: "Are you Venti?"

"I am his sister."

"Huh?"

This single sentence stunned Zhongli completely.

Wendy ignored Zhongli's reaction and continued: "I am his sister. My name is Wendy."

Zhongli: ...

Zhongli weighed his words and said slowly: "Then, Miss Wendy, if you see your brother, please pass on a message for me. Tell him that Zhongli, a consultant of the WangSheng Funeral Parlor, will treat him to a drink when he has time next."

"I will." Wendy was cold and aloof. She said a few simple words, then stopped speaking. She glanced at Lumine and Paimon, who were holding back laughter so hard they were about to squat on the ground. She clenched her fists, said goodbye, and turned to fly away.

But just as she flew into the forest, she heard a burst of uproarious laughter behind her.

"Hahahaha, hahahaha!!!"

Wendy flew back quickly, only to see Lumine and Paimon, with serious and earnest expressions, holding the three stone sheets in front of Zhongli, making a selection.

"It's this one, right? I remember it being this one."

"This one, this is number three."

Hearing the wind, the three of them turned their heads simultaneously to look at Wendy.

"Miss Wendy, is there anything else?"

Wendy's gaze darted between the three of them, then she pursed her lips and flew away again.

But as soon as she entered the forest, another burst of uproarious laughter came from behind her.

Even for an old-timer of a thousand years, veins were bulging on Wendy's forehead. She thought of that culprit again.

...

Zhongli sighed as he watched Wendy's back: "That was Mr. Venti himself, right? I feel like you all seem to recognize him in this state. He is such a free-spirited person; no matter what he encounters, he always just smiles with an 'Ehe' and lets bygones be bygones. How did he... who could have adjusted him into this state?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a roar echoed from the forest: "Huo Xi!!!!!!!"

Zhongli: ...

Alright, I think I know.