Now, in Liyue, at Wangshu Inn, when Li Mo finished telling the story of Rostam's death and Rosalyne's descent into the Crimson Witch of Flames, the audience was already buzzing with discussion.
"I knew it—when Rosalyne learned of Rostam's death, she would completely break down. What a tragedy. Such a beautiful love story ruined."
"How much grief must she have felt to abandon everything and become the Crimson Witch?"
"So even La Signora is a pitiable soul. I suddenly don't dislike her anymore—I actually sympathize with her."
"If only Barbatos had returned sooner—"
"If only Grand Master Arundolyn had reinforced earlier—"
"Sigh, there's nothing to be done. Both Barbatos and Arundolyn did their best. We can't blame them."
"Still, knowing the storyteller's habits, Rostam will likely continue to reincarnate."
"Look at La Signora's expression—she looks terrifying."
"Damn storyteller—"
"Storyteller, promise me, next life, don't break our hearts. Give us a sweet story for once!"
"If you don't tell Rex Lapis's story soon, he's going to get angry—"
The audience chattered about La Signora and Rostam, glancing around—at Barbatos in the corner, who was calmly drinking, and at La Signora in another corner. Her fierce glare and the heat radiating from her body startled them.
At this moment, as La Signora watched the scene of her transformation into the Crimson Witch, it was as if she were reliving those emotions. Pyro energy swirled around her, converging on her body, threatening to replicate that fateful moment within the inn.
Seeing this, all the nearby listeners scrambled from their seats, fleeing from the volatile woman like she was a powder keg.
La Signora's emotions and mind grew more turbulent, her consciousness blurring. Before her eyes, she seemed to see Rostam's figure.
"Useless Barbatos—"
"Give Rostam back to me—"
She muttered, her voice icy and full of resentment.
Just as she was about to erupt again, a warm hand clasped her cold one.
"Rosalyne, wake up—"
"It's in the past—"
"Trust me, Rostam is not dead. He has entered the cycle of reincarnation—he will return soon."
Shenhe, seeing La Signora's fraying mental state, knew the Crimson Witch's power was about to explode again. If left unchecked, it could engulf the entire inn in flames. So she quickly used her adeptal energy to suppress the Pyro within La Signora.
"Miss Hu Tao—Miss Keqing—Captain Beidou—"
"Xiangling—"
"Help me suppress Lady Rosalyne's Pyro energy!"
Without needing to be told, they immediately acted.
Keqing said seriously, "We need to rouse her consciousness. Once she wakes, she can use her Delusion to suppress the flames."
Xiangling: "I'll help."
Hu Tao: "Suppressing Pyro? I'm the best at that. Leave it to me."
Qiqi: "Qiqi wants to help too."
Not only them—even the short Guoba waddled over to La Signora, wanting to assist. But unfortunately, he had long since lost his power and could no longer protect anyone.
With everyone's help, the violent Pyro within La Signora was forcibly suppressed, allowing her to regain clarity. Then, with the aid of her own Delusion, the raging flames gradually subsided.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Hu Tao exhaled. "That was close. If the inn were destroyed and the storyteller couldn't continue, Rostam might never return."
Keqing, who had previously disliked La Signora, set aside her prejudice. "Yes, what matters now is finding out where Rostam is now."
Shenhe added seriously, "According to the storyteller, we'll have to wait until all the stories are told before the final reincarnated Rostam can return."
Not only La Signora was waiting for Rostam—Shenhe too was waiting for Li Mo to reveal his identity and stay with her forever.
Feeling the power and warmth of everyone's hands, La Signora, the Fatui Harbinger, gradually forgot the Tsaritsa's mission. She became fully immersed in the storytelling.
A faint, bitter smile appeared on her face. "Thank you. Don't worry—I won't do anything rash again. I will wait for Rostam to return."
Hu Tao grinned. "That's the spirit. Sitting here listening to stories is far more interesting. I hope the storyteller will tell many more. By the way, whose story will be next? Keqing's, perhaps? I can't wait!"
Seeing Hu Tao teasing about the story, Xiangling was a little displeased. "Hu Tao, how can you laugh at such a moving story? Weren't you moved at all?"
Hu Tao replied, "Of course I was moved. But these stories are so fascinating—endless reincarnation, even overturning our funeral parlor's long-held beliefs. Isn't that interesting?"
Xiangling: "…"
With La Signora's Pyro under control, the crisis was averted. The audience, seeing her calm down, returned to their seats, urging the storyteller to continue.
...
Meanwhile, in another corner, Barbatos, the three Electro sisters, Tartaglia, and Xiao each had different reactions to the eleventh life.
Barbatos drained his cup. "Good thing I didn't listen to Dvalin. If I had actually dealt with La Signora, we'd be in big trouble now."
Ei: "I never thought that even you, a lazy slacker, could feel regret."
Barbatos objected, "Eh heh, this isn't regret. A kind-hearted god like me would never harm a poor, fragile girl. Hey, that's a good line. Miss Yae Miko, write that down. Put it in the next light novel."