Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Chapter 173 The Lantern After a Year (6)

"Hey! It's you guys!"

Kong and Paimon had barely entered Wanmintang when they bumped into Xiangling, who was serving dishes: "Please find seats and order first. Sorry, there are too many people right now, and I have a lot of things to do, so I don't have time to catch up..."

"Xiangling—! The shrimp balls and stir-fried shrimp for table 32 are ready—!"

"Coming, coming!" Xiangling gave them an apologetic smile and then quickly ran off to help.

"Sigh, there are so many people." Paimon sighed helplessly. "Let's find some seats, otherwise..."

There are no seats available.

"Yes, otherwise there wouldn't be any seats available."

“I mean…” Kong pointed to the tables inside, which were already full of customers, and said, “There are no seats left.”

"Ah...ah?!!" Paimon snapped out of his daze and realized that the place was indeed packed with people.

There isn't a single empty table!

“Ah…” (╥﹏╥) Paimon rubbed his stomach, somewhat disappointed.

"How about... we go out for a walk, buy some snacks to tide us over, and then come back for a proper meal later..." Kong suggested, which made Paimon less discouraged.

"Okay, then..."

"Hey! Traveler, Paimon—!" A passionate voice, as fiery as a flame, came from not far away, interrupting their conversation.

“That voice…” Paimon immediately turned to look at the source of the voice. He had peach blossom eyes, wore a hood, and had a plum blossom stuck in the brim of his hat.

"It's a walnut!"

Seeing Paimon, an acquaintance, seemed very happy, and Sora naturally knew why. Half of it was because he was genuinely happy, and the other half... for Paimon, it meant he had food to eat.

Hu Tao, on the other hand, was very frank: "I spotted a golden head in the crowd from afar. The person who came must be rich and powerful. So, I came to meet him."

"You're either rich or noble...you're implying something," Kong said jokingly, with a hint of teasing.

"What? What are you talking about?" Paimon shook his head, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Haha, you are a hero who dared to fight against the demon god and saved Liyue from danger, so how can you not be a noble person?" Hu Tao crossed her arms and pretended to be deep in thought. "As for rich people... there is no one else with golden hair like you except Jin Xuan."

"Oh... so that's what you meant by 'either rich or noble.' That's quite fitting..."

Looking back on Xuan Yue's various actions, his extravagant spending was truly astonishing.

Sora: "Are you eating alone?"

"No, I brought Lao Meng along too. He's been saving up a seat over there." Hu Tao pointed to a round table not far away, then suddenly remembered something: "Oh dear, I almost forgot. I've seen you standing here for quite a while. Why don't you come and sit with us and have some fun?"

"This...this is too much trouble." Paimon was overjoyed, but still declined.

Kong (=^▽^=): "I'll accept your offer."

Walnut: "Don't give me that."

Hu Tao led them to sit down, and her employee Lao Meng also nodded and greeted them.

While waiting for the food, we chatted.

Paimon: "Huh? Why isn't Zhongli with you?"

"He's been dragged away by Jin Xuan again. I'm used to it." Hu Tao spread her hands, looking helpless. "Anyway, with Jin Xuan around, he won't starve. But I'm already starving, so I came over to eat first."

"Look how lucky I am! There were seats available when I arrived, hehe. I got a free seat."

"Jin Xuan?! He's back!" Paimon's face showed a mixture of surprise, astonishment, and bewilderment.

Even Kong was somewhat surprised by Xuan Yue's arrival, but upon reflection, he felt it was quite reasonable. After all, Li Yue was his territory, his hometown, and the people he cared about, missed, and longed for were all here.

For him, the Lantern Festival was more than just a festival; it was perfectly reasonable for him to make a special trip back from Mount Sumeru.

“Oh no… that thing Grandpa Qingyue asked us to do…” Paimon whispered in Kong’s ear about the thing Xuanqing asked them to do. He was afraid that he would suddenly run into Xuanyue and let it slip.

"Hmm? What's wrong? Are you surprised that Jin Xuan is back for the festival? But thinking about it... he's such a busy man, always running around, I haven't seen him for months. His sudden appearance is indeed quite a surprise." Hu Tao said, then added regretfully, "It's a pity the Lantern Festival is coming soon, business is slow..."

"Look at all the vibrant flowers and lush greenery around here, look at the bustling business with its overflowing crowds. It's a real shame that our 'Rebirth Hall' is still so deserted..."

(It would be a miracle if this were lively...) Paimon was speechless.

(No wonder it's Walnut; even at a time like this, she doesn't forget about business.) Kong smiled obsequiously, only daring to keep those words to himself.

"Oh, by the way. I've booked a private room at Xinyuexuan on the day of the Lantern Festival. It's perfect for a gathering of family and friends. Would you like to come?"

Wow, there's a feast!

"Ahem." Kong coughed softly, pulling Paimon back from being almost lured away by the food: "Sorry, Walnut, we have other missions this year for the Lantern Festival, so we probably won't be able to participate."

"I see... Alright, alright. Then it seems I'll have to bring you along next time at the Lantern Festival. I wonder if Zhongli's message has reached you yet. I was planning to invite Jin Xuan and his brother to have a meal together."

Hu Tao showed no sign of disappointment, remaining as relaxed as ever. However, when the topic turned to her guest, she seemed to have a lot to say and didn't seem to have high hopes.

Paimon was about to say something when she met Kong's disapproving gaze and withdrew her question. Anyway, Kong's cooking skills certainly wouldn't leave her hungry.

As for the two main characters in the topic, they are currently chatting about the past in the Abyss of Layered Rocks.

Xuan Yue reached out and patted Zhong Li on the shoulder, comforting him, "You've had it tough too, you've really worked hard."

"It's all in the past. 'Wear and Wear' is the curse she cast, and no living being in Teyvat can escape it, not just me." Zhongli's tone was calm, it was hard to tell whether he had come to terms with it or... had simply gotten used to it.

"Then take me to see him tomorrow." Xuan Yue said, handing the lantern she had already finished to Zhong Li, "He originally had a share of this lantern too..."

"...The Dragon King wouldn't refuse even this small request, would he..."

"Okay, okay, I'll give it to you. Don't talk to me like that, it gives me goosebumps."

"Haha, if Morax is a piece of wood, then you're a stone. You two are a perfect match."

"Why don't you mention Xuan Qing? He's a stone too!"

"How can you compare to him? Aqing has me, what do you have?"

"I have...I have...I have Morax! Who doesn't have the best partner?"

"snort!"

"snort-!"

……

"Haha, I wonder if we'll end up arguing after just a few words when we meet, just like before." Xuan Yue scratched her head a little embarrassedly. "By the way, what you wrote in your letter back then... is it true?"

"Hehe." Zhongli simply smiled slightly. "Don't be impatient, there are still a few days until the Lantern Festival..."