"I really wonder what Acting Grand Master Jean and the others would think if they found out about this," Lora sighed helplessly.
"I think Acting Grand Master Jean and the others probably wouldn't acknowledge it," Paimon added.
"Now, now, don't put it like that. I haven't had much income lately..." Venti said with a smile, showing no awareness whatsoever of how awkward it would be if the Knights of Favonius learned what he had done.
Scamming people? That was something Venti did. What did it have to do with Barbatos, the Anemo Archon?
Lora turned to Dvorak at the side and asked, "And what about you, Mr. Dvorak? Who did you come to Liyue to find? I have a decent network. Maybe I can help."
"That would be far too much trouble for you!" Hearing Lora's words, Dvorak hurriedly thanked her first, then explained why he had come to Liyue.
"Oh... You're looking for an adeptus who saved your ancestor?" Lora nodded thoughtfully.
"Right! Lora, you should know who it is, shouldn't you?" Paimon chimed in, staring at her with curiosity, hoping she would give an answer. It was not just her. Even Yaoyao and Lumine were looking at Lora, waiting for her reply.
"A transcendent melody, a fairy by the lake..." Lora folded her arms, lightly tapped her fingers, and said slowly, "Come on. Let's eat first. By the time Lantern Rite comes, you might know."
"Huh? Why?" Paimon looked at her in confusion.
Lora said, "Everything comes down to fate. What you're meant to know, you'll know when the time comes."
Since Lora was unwilling to say more, Lumine understood that there were probably still many twists to the story, so she did not keep pressing. Instead, she said to Dvorak, "Then... Mr. Dvorak, you probably don't have anywhere to stay in Liyue yet, right? Why don't you come have dinner with us?"
"Wouldn't I be imposing?" Dvorak asked.
Lora shook her head. "Not at all. This is fate too."
At Lora's invitation, Dvorak went with them to Xianyun's home.
When they arrived, Lora noticed the spotless courtyard, along with all kinds of invention equipment placed neatly by the entrance. Judging from the setup, Xianyun really did seem ready to flee Liyue at any moment.
"Yoo-hoo, Xianyun, I'm back!" Lora called toward the house.
Inside, Xianyun, who had been speaking with Zhongli, jolted and quickly ran outside. When she saw Lora carrying bags of all sizes, the corner of her mouth twitched. She suppressed her shock and said, "You... actually came?"
"Ping'er invited me so warmly. How could I not come?" Lora smiled and set the things aside.
Xianyun straightened up, and Lora continued, "Don't worry. I'm not here to deal with you today. I brought someone for you."
"Uh... Anemo... Venti?" Xianyun looked at Venti, then at Lora. Her eyes seemed to ask, Did you bring me the Anemo Archon?
Lora continued, "Ignore Venti. He's just tagging along. The important one is Mr. Dvorak."
Venti smiled and shifted aside, joining Zhongli.
"Mr. Dvorak?" Xianyun looked at the Fontainian man in front of her in confusion, not knowing why Lora had brought him here specifically.
Yaoyao said from the side, "Senior Xianyun, Mr. Dvorak came to Liyue to find a female adeptus!"
"Oh? A female adeptus?" Hearing Yaoyao's words, Xianyun asked, "What sort of female adeptus?"
Dvorak then described what had happened to his ancestor, before adding, "I don't know what that female adeptus looks like, but I truly want to find her, trace the story back to its source, and seek out the original music!"
"I see..." Xianyun looked as if she had suddenly understood everything. She continued, "It is already late today. Stay here and have dinner first. As for the adeptus you are searching for, if fate allows it, you will meet her again."
"Huh? Why is even Xianyun saying that?" Paimon froze for a moment, looking strangely at Xianyun and Lora.
Lumine whispered, "I think Mr. Dvorak has already had plenty of fate. There are three gods, one adeptus, and an adeptus' disciple in this room..."
After hearing Xianyun's words, Dvorak was somewhat disappointed, but he quickly adjusted his mood. He was a smart man. He could tell that no one in this room was ordinary, and he understood the meaning behind her words.
Just then, however, the front door was kicked open with a bang, and Zhongyue walked in from outside carrying a stick of candied hawthorn.
Xianyun immediately asked, "Didn't you take the key with you when you went out today?"
"I'm used to kicking it open!" Zhongyue replied.
Nahida and Scaramouche followed Zhongyue inside and greeted everyone.
"You must be Xianyun, the adeptus. Hello, I'm Nahida. It's an honor to meet you." Nahida looked at Xianyun and greeted her with a smile.
The corner of Xianyun's mouth twitched, and she looked at Lora beside her.
Lora hurriedly said, "Too early! It's not time yet!"
"Ah... Is the timing wrong?" Nahida blinked and quickly realized what she meant. "Sorry. Then let's continue on the day of Lantern Rite."
Xianyun: "..."
She had to leave! She absolutely had to!
Lora gently patted Xianyun on the shoulder and said, "Don't even think about running."
Lantern Rite had not arrived yet, so this was only an ordinary dinner. Because Dvorak was present, everyone behaved properly at the table and did not reveal anything unusual. However, he had long since realized that everyone here was anything but ordinary.
After dinner, Dvorak said goodbye and left.
The four gods sat at one table with Zhongyue, whispering among themselves, while Yaoyao and Paimon clung to Xianyun and kept asking her what was going on with the female adeptus Dvorak was looking for. Xianyun glanced at the five old-timers chatting nearby, sighed, and slowly told them the story of the past.
"...So the one who saved Dvorak's ancestor was Madame Ping?" After listening to Xianyun's account, Paimon was shocked. "But didn't Dvorak say it was a very beautiful female adeptus?"
"An adeptus can alter their appearance at will. I am a crane myself, after all," Xianyun said.
"That's true..." Paimon scratched her head.
Xianyun continued, "That is why I said it all depends on fate. If Streetward Rambler does not wish for Mr. Dvorak to know, then no matter how long he searches, it will be useless. Now that you know the one he is looking for is Streetward Rambler, are you going to tell her?"