Paimon sat happily on Lin Mo's other shoulder, swinging her little legs, looking towards Yun Jin with eager anticipation.
Under everyone's gaze,
Yun Jin arrived at the center of the stage.
Just then,
the brilliant lights of the Jade Chamber illuminated the stage in dazzling splendor.
At that very moment,
Yun Jin turned her back to the audience and began to sing in the operatic style.
"Ah —"
"Lament —"
As her practiced vocals rose,
accompanied by Yun Jin's stunning glance back over her shoulder.
"The autumn swan flies alone, a pair hard to find~!"
"The fool's痴resentment and迷nity run wild~!" "All because~"
"That wicked sacrifice predetermined calamity's arrival~!"
"If not for the heroine who stood above the rest, all would have perished~!!" This first, experienced verse
immediately caused subtle shifts in everyone's expressions.
In their minds, a scene unfolded.
In this scene,
a young girl, at a sacrificial rite for a vile beast, bravely drew her sword against the monster, cut it down beneath her blade, and at that moment, ceased...
"The mortal realm is hazy, the immortal缘分 vast~!" "Heaven's threads disperse, the crimson mansion extends an invitation~!"
"Vermilion silk binds severed, the rotten keystone reef~!" "Traces in snow and mud are passed~!!!" "The crane returns, but its elegant form is unseen at the ornate pillar~!"
"Spider silk vainly knots the soul banner fluttering~!" "Cause and effect in the mortal world, vast and indistinct~" "Vanished like smoke—"
As the song ended,
everyone looked past Shenhe's back towards the stage.
In that moment, they all understood.
This segment of opera
spoke precisely of Shenhe's past—becoming a heroine and entering the ranks of the adepti.
And the regret of looking back upon the mortal world, her closest kin no longer there.
Gazing into Shenhe's eyes, a trace of惋惜 inevitably surfaced.
The so-called eternal separation between immortal and mortal.
Is this not exactly what it means?
But just as everyone thought
the opera Yun Jin had brought for everyone should be concluding here,
they saw Yun Jin remain standing on the stage.
She bowed politely to the audience and said, "『The Divine Damsel of Devastation』 should be nearing its end here, but today, I wish to add another stroke to this tale—" "To sing it—"
"For all of you—" "To hear—"
Yun Jin's words
immediately made everyone perk up with rapt attention.
"A lofty tune does not mean none will know it—" "There will always be a kindred spirit to match its pure lyrics—"
"Red tassels flutter, the sword a shooting star—" "Pointing straight to the raging tide to cleanse the sea clear—" This segment
stirred everyone's hearts with fervor and excitement.
All eyes turned to Lin Mo, whose hand was tightly held by Shenhe.
'A lofty tune does not mean none will know it, there will always be a kindred spirit to match its pure lyrics.'
Was this not speaking of Lin Mo, who accompanied Shenhe?
'Red tassels flutter, the sword a shooting star, pointing straight to the raging tide to cleanse the sea clear.'
This fit perfectly with the recent crisis in Liyue that had just transpired.
Shenhe's spear and Lin Mo's sword had jointly resolved that disaster.
And at this moment,
the continuation of 『The Divine Damsel of Devastation』 was nearing its conclusion.
They heard Yun Jin say:
"Back then, the crane returned, to a vast heaven and earth with nothing to rely on." "Departing all alone—"
"Today we meet again, old friends and new fill the hall." "Gathered together at this moment—"
*Clink!*
With a hearty shout from Lin Mo,
he raised his wine cup high above his head.
Following Lin Mo's lead,
slender, fair hands also raised their cups one after another.
And just then,
Ningguang also approached Shenhe with a cup, smiling warmly. "Shenhe, on behalf of Liyue Harbor, I sincerely welcome you."
This was the first time Shenhe had ever felt the sensation of being the center of attention.
Also the first time she had felt so many gazes filled with goodwill.
Simultaneously, it was the first time since bearing the fate of 'Lone Star and Calamitous Sha' that she had been welcomed so solemnly.
She hurriedly picked up her wine cup.
*Ting~*
As her cup gently clinked against Ningguang's.
"Cheers~!"
Following little Paimon's cheerful shout.
"Cheers!!!"
Upon the Jade Chamber,
laughter and cheerful chatter immediately filled the air.
From this day forth,
Shenhe was no longer alone.
She had gained friends from various nations.
All of Liyue Harbor would become her safe haven.
Raising cups in a shared toast also marked the beginning of the banquet.
The entire Jade Chamber was a scene of bustling festivity.
"Qiqi~! The boiled fish with shrimp dumplings is really delicious~! Trust this director's judgment!"
Hu Tao was still 'persecuting' Qiqi.
She picked up a piece of fish coated in chili oil and placed it in Qiqi's bowl.
Well...
Actually, Hu Tao meant well.
After all, spicy food can accelerate blood circulation and boost metabolism.
But Qiqi stared blankly at the fish in her bowl: "Qiqi... is under a curse from an evil god, cannot eat food that makes the body hot..."
"Right, right, right... yes, the evil god's curse, very serious indeed."
Hu Tao wore an expression of feigned disdain.
Her gaze was fixed intently on Qiqi, clearly wanting to watch her eat it.
Sayu, watching Hu Tao 'persecute' Qiqi, couldn't help but mumble, "That big sister from Liyue is so strange~" Hu Tao happened to overhear Sayu's mutter.
She replied with a look of pride, "Hey~! Why use 'strange' to describe me~? Should at least be 'innocent and lively, unconventional'~!"
...
Meanwhile, at the Mondstadt table.
"Hate Mondstadt crabs~! Hate all crabs~!"
Klee looked at the crab on the table, grumbling discontentedly, "Klee wants to go play~" Not sit at the table slowly picking shells~"
"Then Klee can eat the other dishes first~"
Albedo said gently, "I'll take care of shell-picking for you."
Hearing this, Klee immediately beamed a sunny smile: "Hehe~ Albedo哥哥 is the best~!"
At the same time, at the Liyue table.
"Huh? Ganyu, why aren't you eating?" Keqing asked with concern.
Ganyu looked at the table laden with sumptuous dishes, her eyes full of struggle: "These dishes... look very delicious, but..."
"No... I can't..."
Ganyu shook her head pitifully: "Last time Lord Lin Mo said the same thing, after that late-night snack... I... I felt like I gained a lot of weight..."
"Come, repeat after me~"
"Ah— One... Two... Three... Ah— Ah—"
Yae Miko had long since changed back to her human form.
Now, she was using chopsticks to hold a piece of agedashi tofu, bringing it to Lin Mo's lips.
This intimate gesture instantly attracted numerous幽怨 gazes.
Lin Mo didn't even need to look to know.
These gazes all seemed to convey one meaning: If you dare eat the tofu Miko is feeding you, you're done for~
Lin Mo quickly grabbed a nearby stick of tri-colored dango, stuffing it into his mouth in big bites. With puffed cheeks, he said, "Mmm... I... I prefer sweets more~"
"Ah~! My tri-colored dango~!"
Paimon immediately made a woeful face.
Because that stick of dango was originally placed in front of Paimon, saved by her to eat last.
Unexpectedly, Lin Mo had eaten two in one bite.
Seeing Paimon's aggrieved look, Lin Mo quickly smiled and offered the stick with its one remaining dango to her: "Look Paimon, I saved one for you~"
Paimon immediately turned her face away,生气道:
"The suspect, Foreign Envoy, just now while eating the tri-colored dango, ate two himself~ Only gave the victim Paimon one~!"
"Severely violated Paimon Law Article Thirty-Seven~!"
"Fairness and Justice~!"
Lin Mo looked at Paimon's adorable act, pretending to be serious as he asked, "Then may I ask how Lord Paimon intends to handle this matter?"
Hearing this, Paimon immediately broke into a smile, saying happily, "Of course punish you to make lots and lots of tri-colored dango for Paimon~! Hehe~!"
"No problem~"
Lin Mo agreed readily, smiling, "For the next few days, I'll make tri-colored dango for you every day, okay~?"
"Hmph~!"
Paimon looked triumphant: "Seeing as the Foreign Envoy is so sincere, Paimon will graciously forgive you~"
Lin Mo smiled slightly.
He was about to go to other tables to see if he could snag a few more sticks of dango for Paimon.
But the next moment, Lin Mo suddenly realized something.
Where was Lumine?
Lin Mo curiously asked Paimon, "Paimon, have you seen Lumine?"
"Mmm... Isn't the Traveler right over there?"
Paimon pointed into the distance towards the Jade Chamber's viewing platform.
There, Lumine stood by the railing, gazing out at the Sea of Clouds under the night sky.
"Huh?"
Lin Mo was somewhat puzzled.
Why, in this moment of merrymaking, would Lumine be alone on the viewing platform looking at the scenery? Had she drunk too much?
"I'll go check on her."
With that, Lin Mo got up and walked towards the viewing platform.
"I want to come with you~!" Paimon hurriedly followed.
After Lin Mo left his seat, Yae Miko also rose from hers and followed behind Lin Mo.
"No, no... Having lost the power of an Archon, my alcohol tolerance... *hic*~" Venti looked at the cups Diluc and Kaeya were raising again, waving his hands in a fluster.
Just then, he saw Lin Mo heading towards the viewing platform.
He too quickly got up from his seat and followed along.
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T/N:
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