"Oh, right, that gentleman asked me to tell you that he's waiting for you at Angel's Share." Amber suddenly smacked her forehead and said to Lumine and Paimon.
Paimon looked a little puzzled. "We've already finished dealing with everything. Does Jun Bai still have something else to talk to us about?"
Lumine thought for a moment and said, "It's probably about the reward."
"Oh! If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. Jun Bai hired you for help with one million Mora as payment."
"And introducing the Anemo Archon and the Geo Archon," Lumine added.
Hearing this, Amber exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? That gentleman can actually introduce Lord Barbatos?"
Paimon laughed, "After all, Jun Bai is a god."
"Paimon!" Lumine glared at the emergency food.
"Ah? Ah!" Paimon panicked and flailed her hands. "It's nothing, I was just talking nonsense just now!"
It was true that Jun Bai had told the two of them his real identity, but that didn't mean Lumine and Paimon could spread it around without his permission.
Although Paimon tried her best to salvage the situation, unfortunately Amber had already heard and remembered it.
"God…" Amber pondered, then suddenly realized, "Could it be Lord Phenex, the God of Nirvana?"
"Done for." Paimon instantly looked like she was about to cry. "I accidentally let it slip. Jun Bai won't hold a grudge against me, right?"
"Jun Bai probably won't mind this too much…"
Lumine thought about it and then added, "Of course, if Jun Bai really comes to settle accounts with you, I'll use that one million Mora to set up a feast of delicious food for you, so you can go on your way with peace of mind."
"Uh… you do have some conscience. Remember to add two extra plates of Sweet Flower Stuffed Chicken," Paimon sighed.
Lumine looked at Amber. "Does Amber also know about Jun Bai? Well, perhaps I should say Phenex."
Amber nodded. "Lord Phenex's fame in Mondstadt is second only to Lord Barbatos and the High Tower Lone King."
"The former is the current guardian god of Mondstadt, while the latter was the nightmare of the old Mondstadt ruling period. And Lord Phenex was both an old friend of Lord Barbatos and an opponent who helped end the tyrant's rule."
"These are things that the residents of Mondstadt City have heard since they were young."
"Oh~" Paimon recovered from her low mood. "Speaking of which, after you and Master Diluc learned Jun Bai's identity, your attitudes changed completely."
"After all, Lord Phenex is the great benefactor of all Mondstadt," Amber smiled. "When you meet Lord Phenex later, thank him on behalf of me no, on behalf of Mondstadt."
"This is the second favor Mondstadt owes Him."
"Alright, then Amber, see you later," Paimon said.
Lumine nodded in greeting. "See you later."
Since Jun Bai was still waiting at Angel's Share, Lumine did not suggest helping Amber clean up the battlefield as in the original plot. Instead, she took Paimon and walked into Mondstadt City.
The two entered Mondstadt City and headed straight for Angel's Share.
Angel's Share.
Jun Bai sat in front of the tavern door, taking small sips of Apple Cider.
"Jun Bai, we're here." Paimon waved at Jun Bai.
"You're here? Please sit." Jun Bai gestured to the seat opposite him.
Lumine sat down across from Jun Bai and said, "Amber asked me to express Mondstadt's gratitude to you. This is the second time you've saved Mondstadt from danger."
"Oh? My identity was seen through?" Jun Bai asked, puzzled.
"Uh, sorry, Jun Bai. It was me who accidentally let it slip," Paimon scratched her head guiltily.
"So it was because of you." Jun Bai looked at Paimon meaningfully.
That meaningful gaze made Paimon feel scared.
"Remember to prepare two extra Sweet Flower Stuffed Chickens for my last supper," Paimon whispered in Lumine's ear.
"I can hear you."
Paimon immediately shut up.
Seeing Paimon's nervous appearance, Jun Bai suddenly smiled. "Alright, I'm not joking. I wouldn't get angry over something like this."
As he spoke, he poured two glasses of Sunset Fruit Juice for the two of them.
Paimon's expression relaxed. "I almost thought I was about to eat my last meal in life."
"Am I such a scary person? Are you that afraid of me?" Jun Bai asked, his expression gentle and natural, looking just like a good-looking young man.
In any case, Lumine found it hard to imagine that this was the god who had single-handedly dealt with the monster army not long ago.
Paimon perked up and asked like she was interrogating a criminal, "Speaking of which, I want to ask why did you lie? You clearly have your full strength now, yet you told us your power is not as good as it was a thousand years ago."
"I've only been awake from Nirvana for less than ten years. My strength really isn't as good as it was a thousand years ago. That wasn't a lie," Jun Bai refuted. "The current me, let alone compared to a thousand years ago even the weakest god during the Archon War could defeat me."
Paimon didn't believe it. "Then how do you explain dealing with those monsters in one move?"
"..." Jun Bai stroked his chin in thought.
"If it involves your secret, it's fine if you don't say it," Lumine said understandingly.
"It's not a secret. I was just thinking about how to explain it in a way you can understand."
"Every god has an inborn authority within their body. I am the God of Nirvana and possess the authority of Nirvana, which can be understood as being reborn from death."
"Oh! So that means you can bring the dead back to life?" Paimon said in shock.
Jun Bai coughed twice. "That can't be done yet. I can only perform Nirvana on myself, and after Nirvana, I still have to gradually recover my strength."
"That's still very powerful. It's basically an immortal body," Paimon said enviously.
Jun Bai smiled. "My authority allows me to be reborn from death, so naturally it can also do the opposite."
He suddenly reached out and said to Lumine and Paimon, who were about to show shocked expressions, "Don't get shocked yet. Let me finish speaking."
"Just like how Nirvana only works on me alone, the ability to go from life to death also has limitations. I have no way to apply this ability to true living beings."
"The monsters summoned by the Abyss Order have no lack of strength, but in the end they are only recreations of leylines, not true living beings."
"So, I didn't directly confront the army's power. It's just that my ability happens to counter the opponent."
Lumine suddenly understood. "So..."
"Mhm. My current strength is exactly what you saw."
Lumine nodded, but she still felt something was a bit off.
Although she had indeed seen Jun Bai use his full power, she didn't seem to have seen that relaxed, at-ease expression on Jun Bai's face change.
"Alright, now that everything has been resolved, let's not waste time on these digressions. Let's get straight to the main topic."
"As for introducing the Anemo Archon and the Geo Archon, you've already met Venti. As for the Geo Archon..."
"In not too long, it will be Liyue's annual Rite of Descension. At that time, I will take you to meet the Rex Lapis."
"Finally, here is one million Mora."
Jun Bai took out a money pouch and pushed it in front of Lumine.