For now, Luo Li decided not to tell Guangdai about Asase Hibiki.
If reality did not match his expectations, raising her hopes only to crush them again would be cruel.
Guangdai took some time to regain her composure.
"Since you're leaving… where are you going?" she asked quietly. "I'm coming with you."
After five centuries drifting with the Thousand-Gated Vessel, sealing her heart away from the world, she had long grown weary of solitude.
She knew she couldn't stop him from leaving.
So she would follow instead.
Luo Li understood the anxiety behind her insistence and did not refuse.
After a brief pause, he replied, "There are two friends of mine currently on Ritou. If you don't wish to remain here, come with me to meet them."
Guangdai agreed immediately.
Even if it meant sitting under a tree doing nothing—
As long as she was beside him, it was enough.
They settled on the plan. Guangdai prepared the vessel for temporary closure and packed what she needed.
Ritou
Only a few days had passed.
Yet when Luo Li returned, he immediately sensed something was different.
Ritou had always been oppressive.
Now, layered over that was tension.
An undercurrent of unease.
Without knowing why, Luo Li located Lumine and Paimon through Kurisu.
The two were crouched under a maple tree in full "self-reflection mode."
When they saw him—
It was as if salvation had descended.
"Mr. Luo Li! You're finally back!"
Paimon nearly sparkled with relief.
In her mind, if Luo Li was here, any problem could be solved.
He looked at them, amused.
"And what exactly happened to you two?"
Lumine was about to explain everything when she noticed the elegant woman standing behind him.
"…Who's that?" Paimon asked instinctively.
"The master of the Thousand-Gated Vessel. My former student. You can call her Guangdai."
"She's the legendary Tengu?!"
Paimon immediately forgot her worries.
She circled Guangdai curiously.
Aside from being breathtakingly beautiful, she looked… surprisingly human.
"So, Miss Guangdai," Paimon asked brightly, "is it true your vessel has tons of treasure?"
Guangdai glanced subtly at Luo Li.
Was this another disciple?
He shook his head slightly.
She relaxed—though she didn't consciously understand why.
Then she smiled faintly.
"The Tengu clan has accumulated treasures for a thousand years. Most of them are within my vessel. Since you are Teacher's friends, you are welcome to visit and select one or two items as a gift."
Paimon's eyes turned into Mora symbols.
"Now that's generosity!"
Compared to Mondstadt and Liyue's so-called important figures…
This was real wealth.
Lumine didn't even have time to decline before Paimon accepted enthusiastically.
Guangdai found their interaction amusing.
She could see why Luo Li traveled with them.
"Now," Luo Li said lightly, "why were you two looking so troubled earlier?"
The pair slumped again.
They exchanged glances, silently pushing responsibility onto each other.
Eventually, as always, Paimon became the "external vocal organ."
She recounted everything:
Threatening Werner
Befriending the Kanjou Commission
The clever psychological trap they planned for Keijiro
And finally…
Harrison's disastrous impulsive attack
To Luo Li's surprise, the strategy itself wasn't bad.
It had flaws, certainly.
But expecting to find a corruption ledger hidden under a seaside rock was unrealistic.
In reality, such matters were never so simple.
"You've grown quite a bit," he said approvingly.
The praise visibly lifted their spirits.
Then they immediately looked at him expectantly.
"So… what do we do now?" Lumine asked. "Do you have a better idea?"
Luo Li smiled.
"What a coincidence."
"I can help."
"But in exchange, you must agree to one condition."
Lumine and Paimon froze.
Why did this feel like jumping from one pit straight into another?
Seeing their wary expressions, he chuckled.
"Relax. My request isn't difficult. In fact, it aligns perfectly with your own goals."
That line alone made Lumine nervous.
But then he added—
"You want to meet the Raiden Shogun, don't you? I can give you a push."
Lumine's eyes sharpened instantly.
She didn't doubt him.
Everything pointed to Luo Li being a deeply respected figure from Inazuma's past.
Perhaps even acquainted with the Electro Archon.
If he said he could arrange a meeting—
The probability of success was near absolute.
After a moment of thought, she nodded.
"…Alright. I agree."
"A wise choice."
Luo Li smiled faintly.
He did intend to use Lumine as a catalyst—to draw Ei's attention.
But he had no intention of disrupting her journey outright.
Guidance.
Not interference.
Five hundred years had passed.
He was in no hurry now.