Even Paimon could tell that the person in front of her claiming to be the disciple of the Qingce Sword Immortal was lying, to the point she was speechless.
The Qingce Sword Immortal had already passed away three thousand years ago—how could there still be his disciple in the world now?
Of course, it was also possible that this person had reappeared from the ley lines, but that still didn't add up.
To claim to be the successor of the Qingce Sword Immortal proved that this person was at least from Qingce Village three thousand years ago—possibly even having met the Sword Immortal himself.
But the problem was, the Sword Immortal and Jun Bai were sworn brothers!
If he really was the Sword Immortal's disciple, then it would be natural for him to have seen Jun Bai as a child.
After all, the Sword Immortal wasn't that old when he left.
Yet now this self-proclaimed disciple of the Sword Immortal didn't even recognize Yiya and even called her "heroine"?
That alone was enough to prove he was lying.
It couldn't be that the disciple only studied under the master for a day or two and left without ever meeting the master's sworn brother?
Would that even count as master and disciple?
So in Lumine and Paimon's eyes, Dongfang Yueming's words were full of holes.
Yiya... only paid attention when Dongfang Yueming mentioned the Qingce Sword Immortal.
"So you claim to be the second best in the world—does that mean the number one is…"
"Of course it's this little one's master—that pride of Qingce Village, the number one swordsman in the world, granted the name of Adeptus by the Lord of Geo: the Qingce Sword Immortal!"
Dongfang Yueming picked up Paimon's words, puffing out his chest as if he really were the disciple of the Qingce Sword Immortal.
Lumine's eyes darted around; unusually, she decided to prank him a bit:
"Oh? You're the disciple of the Qingce Sword Immortal? Then surely you must know his real name, right?"
Dongfang Yueming's expression froze.
"Or perhaps you've seen what he looked like in person?"
Dongfang Yueming broke out in cold sweat.
"Since you're the Sword Immortal's disciple, surely you can demonstrate his signature ultimate technique?"
Dongfang Yueming took two steps back, his face ashen.
[This level and he's trying to lie? Three questions and the mask is off.]
[When it comes to lying, Xuanjian and Yunshang's skills are still rising—those two can just spout anything.]
[I kind of suspect the protagonist is possessed by Stelle—the three questions earlier had total Stelle energy.]
—Reality
Stelle jumped up from her chair: "Who said that? How does that resemble me! Watch out or I'll sue you for slander!"
"My speaking level is way higher than that!"
[So that's where the focus is?]
[I talk to you about the city gate tower, you talk to me about the hip bone axis—horizontal couplet: truly Stelle.]
Yueming: "Uh… I'll tell the truth. I am the Qingce Sword Immortal's disciple, that's correct—but I self-proclaimed it."
Yueming: "I've never met the Sword Immortal, so naturally I don't know his signature ultimate technique, though I really want to learn it—or rather, no one in Liyue doesn't want to learn it."
Paimon: "So you were lying earlier."
Lumine: "Lying isn't a good habit. Yiya, don't learn from him."
Yiya: "Yiya!" (Got it!)
[Ah! That little salute motion—Yiya is so cute! Thanks to Boss Jun for sending out this character!]
[From seeing Jun Bai as a kid, you know Yiya must have been very obedient—she wouldn't lie like this guy.]
Yueming: "This is just me having no choice. When wandering the jianghu, you need an identity others don't dare provoke."
Yueming: "Saying you're connected to an Adeptus—people might not believe it. Connected to the Lord of Geo? I wouldn't believe it myself, let alone expect others to."
Yueming: "For ordinary people, the Millelith's deterrence isn't enough. So I thought of borrowing my fellow villager's name."
Paimon: "Borrowing?"
Lumine: "So you have to borrow someone else's name?"
Yueming: "Miss, didn't you see earlier? My strength is... passable at best."
Yueming: "In the Archon War now, the danger isn't just monsters—there are people too. If I want to live, this is the only way."
Yueming: "As long as I have a backer, those who want to act against me will naturally have to think twice."
Lumine: "Out in the world, identity is something you give yourself?"
[As expected of Stelle—when choosing dialogue options, she always picks the one with the most entertainment value.]
[Is this what a natural talent looks like? A height effort alone can never reach in a lifetime.]
[Am I the only one focused on Dongfang Yueming? I think he's a bit pitiful.]
[Maybe you're overthinking, or maybe you've understood what the writer wants everyone to get.]
[Dongfang Yueming looks only 18, yet he already understands the principle of survival in war—where do you think he learned that?]
[People teach people, they don't learn; events teach people, and they learn in one go. So...]
"Fine, fine, fine—even an NPC pushing the plot can cast a shadow over my mood here."
Stelle looked at the comments section and rolled her eyes furiously: "I didn't even notice this detail at first."
[ Kafka: Because little Stelle, you simply can't imagine this kind of thing~]
"Mom!" Seeing her mother appear in the comments, Stelle instantly felt betrayed.
But she couldn't deny it.
After all, it was Kafka.
Yueming: "Saying it that way isn't wrong either. I'm very weak, so I can only protect myself this way."
Yueming: "Against monsters I can still run, but against people—without some backing, all that awaits is betrayal."
Lumine: (Lingya said before that during the Archon War, mortals had no place to stand—only by attaching to gods could they survive. Is Dongfang Yueming that kind of person?)
Lumine: "Isn't Qingce Village protected by Rex Lapis? In a home blessed by a god, there shouldn't be any danger to life, right?"
Yueming: "That's what they say, but…"
—Teyvat
Dongfang Yueming gave a bitter smile: "But when you're young, you're always arrogant and proud, thinking you can make a name for yourself."
He sighed: "Only when I came out did I realize how insignificant I am. If I didn't have a knack for lying, I might not have even made it back."
"Even though you say that, your acting is actually pretty bad," Paimon said. "Surprisingly, someone would believe what you say."
"Because most people don't know about the Qingce Sword Immortal." Dongfang Yueming replied. "I only learned from a friend in the Millelith that such a ruthless figure appeared in my hometown."
"Huh? People who don't know would still be afraid?" Lumine asked puzzled.
"For big famous names, outsiders can easily check and find out I'm lying. But if I use the Qingce Sword Immortal's name, most people hearing 'number one in the world' will hesitate."
"If they hesitate, they'll go check the corresponding information—at that point, they'll learn about my fellow villager."
"After all, he's just not famous—not that there's no information circulating outside."
Dongfang Yueming smiled as if relaxed: "As long as they know the information, I'm safe."
Paimon asked: "Then what if someone doesn't listen to your reasons and just attacks you directly?"
"Then I guess I'm out of luck."
Dongfang Yueming said it lightly, but how could someone bad at acting use lies to escape from truly vicious people?
Every lie was just gambling with his life.
This was the way the weak and unsupported survived during the Archon War.