Chapter 146

Heyu Tea House wasn't very busy in the morning.

Tea drinkers usually came in the afternoon.

The Yunhan Theater troupe also typically performed in the afternoon.

On stage now was only a tea master telling stories, narrating "Rex Lapis and the Yakshas Battle Sea Demons."

"Recent emotions can still be told, but events from thousands of years ago are hard to preserve. After a hundred years of war, the sage returned, but stories of gods and immortals continue to be passed down."

"...At that time, thousands of archons fought over Liyue's land, and demons ran rampant, making people's lives unbearable... So, Rex Lapis led the adepti to save the people from their urgent plight and dire situation... Speaking of Rex Lapis, he was the ancestor of all adepti. He had five Yaksha guardians, each with vast divine powers and extraordinary courage!..."

Xia Zhi listened quietly. The term Yaksha wasn't unfamiliar to him; he had seen brief mentions of it in "Records of Jueyun."

"Yakshas are divine beasts of Liyue, fierce and warlike in nature, taking lives while protecting dharma."

"Though the Yakshas possessed great power, they could not escape karmic debt and were tainted by residual hatred."

Combining the book's records with folk tales, if these were true, it wasn't hard to see that the Yakshas were Liyue's guardians, specifically those in martial roles.

Because of this, their heavy killing led to karmic debt binding them, ultimately meeting unfortunate ends, which is why their traces have vanished now.

All of this couldn't help but make one sigh.

Karmic debt...

Xia Zhi suddenly remembered the [Bodhi Beads] he had obtained before reverting to a save point.

That item's effect could eliminate karmic debt; he wondered if it would work on Yakshas.

While thinking, Xia Zhi picked up his teacup and took a sip.

This taste...

Xia Zhi silently put his teacup back down.

Hard to describe...

He had ordered this cheapest tea before, but back then he thought it just tasted ordinary. That was mainly because he hadn't yet obtained the [Art Appreciation] skill from Rex Lapis, so he wasn't as picky about tea as he was now.

Tea art was also a form of art, and now that he was an Appreciation Master, drinking this cheap tea made him clearly feel how many things weren't done right in its preparation - tea selection, water choice, water temperature, tea washing... Xia Zhi suddenly remembered Hu Tao complaining about how Zhongli always ordered the most expensive tea, and he couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

After listening to some storytelling, the three left Heyu Tea House.

"Boss, where are we going?"

"Let's walk around and buy some good tea leaves."

"Celestial tea from Jueyun!"

"Real celestial tea probably can't be bought in shops here, but we can buy some good tea from Qiaoying Village."

"Qiaoying Village? Where's that?"

"It's a place in northern Liyue bordering Fontaine. Their tea is quite famous."

"Must be expensive."

"Transportation from Qiaoying Village isn't easy, so the price should be quite high. We can buy some to drink and also make tea eggs."

"Tea eggs?"

"A type of marinated egg, quite delicious."

Zhu Zi couldn't help but secretly swallow.

She didn't know when it started, but every time she heard the boss mention a food she'd never heard of, her mouth would instinctively start salivating uncontrollably.

"Then let's go buy tea leaves! And some eggs too!"

"Mm."

The high-end shops were in Feiyun Slope; for ingredients, they needed to go to Chihu Rock.

The three went to the general market, looked around, bought tea leaves and eggs, and also got some flour.

On their way back, they passed by Chunxiang Kiln and saw Ying'er standing at the door soliciting customers.

Zhu Zi greeted her enthusiastically: "Miss Ying'er!"

"Miss Zhu Zi, you all are..."

"We have a day off today, out shopping for groceries!"

"Oh... a day off..."

Then the three left under Ying'er's envious and complicated gaze.

In the afternoon.

The tea eggs were still slowly marinating in the pot, and Shenhe was washing dishes.

Zhu Zi lay on the table, sniffing the aroma wafting from the kitchen, looking somewhat distracted.

Xia Zhi held a cup of hot tea, savoring it carefully.

"Boss, now that Xiangling is away, Wanmin Restaurant shouldn't be as crowded as before, right?"

"Mm."

"So will we eat at home or go to Wanmin Restaurant?"

"Either is fine. If you don't want to get up early to buy groceries, we can go to Wanmin Restaurant..."

"No, no, no! Boss! I love getting up early!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Then we'll eat at home."

"Okay!"

"Tomorrow morning you can buy some milk. I plan to make egg tarts."

"Egg tarts!"

Although she didn't know what egg tarts were, Zhu Zi couldn't help but swallow again, quickly agreeing.

"I'll remember to buy milk!"

Xia Zhi nodded and took another sip of tea.

As expected of Qiaoying Village's good tea, though expensive, the taste was much better than the morning's tea.

Yesterday he made French fries and ketchup, tomorrow egg tarts, so as the main dish of the set, fried chicken could be made too.

Hmm, perhaps on Thursday. He could have Zhu Zi buy two chickens from the market, then make a family bucket.

After a while, Shenhe finished washing dishes and came out of the kitchen. She sat down and naturally poured herself a cup of tea, drinking quietly.

Zhu Zi sniffed and couldn't help asking, "Boss, how long do the tea eggs need to cook?"

"If you want to eat now, you can scoop one out to try. But they'll taste better if marinated longer."

"Then I'll wait a bit more!"

"Bring the mahjong set over, let's play for a while."

"Okay!... Speaking of which, Miss Ganyu's mahjong luck is really good."

"Maybe all adepti beasts have good luck."

"Next time we should take her to Jade Mystery, have her help us pick two stones. We're sure to get good jade!"

"Good idea."

"Boss, Miss Shenhe, do your clothes fit well?"

"Quite well (Mm), how about yours?"

"Very well-fitting. Miss Ganyu has a good eye, and the clothes are very nice."

"Yes."

"She doesn't seem at all like the big shot I imagined."

"What are big shots like in Inazuma?"

"I've never seen them up close. Sometimes I'd see them passing on the street, with some samurai following, carrying swords. They looked fierce."

"Is public security not good?"

"I heard it's a bit chaotic outside the city, but it's okay inside."

"Are there any fun festivals in Inazuma?"

"There's the Summer Festival! It's very lively, with fireworks at night. There's a 'Naganohara Fireworks Shop' in the city, I remember their fireworks were especially beautiful!..."

Zhu Zi enthusiastically talked about interesting things that happened when she visited the Summer Festival each year, arousing some interest in Xia Zhi.

Unfortunately, Inazuma was currently in a state of "sakoku," not welcoming outsiders.

When the "sakoku decree" is lifted, they could travel to Inazuma and experience the grand spectacle of the Summer Festival.

After playing mahjong for two hours, the tea eggs were about done. When scooped out, they had enticing tea-colored patterns.

"Mm... delicious!"

"We used Qiaoying Village's finest tea leaves after all. The cost of tea and spices in here is enough to buy many eggs."

"Boss, can this marinade be used for other things?"

"Of course."

"Then we can marinate something else, so it's not wasted."

"Let me think. Tonight we can make braised meat rice, stewed until it's melt-in-your-mouth tender, with a side of crisp pickles to cut the greasiness."

"!"

"If so, we can start preparing the stewed meat now, let it simmer slowly in the pot, ready to eat by evening."

"I'll go tend the fire!"

--

Meanwhile, the Millelith were posting new notices on various bulletin boards around Liyue Harbor, with people shouting loudly nearby:

"Lady Ningguang is preparing to rebuild the Jade Chamber! Urgently need many workers and materials! Location is the abandoned mine outside the Golden House! Interested parties can go directly! Food and lodging provided! Excellent compensation!"

"Additionally, Lady Ningguang is offering high prices for Sunset Vermillionites and Wonder Cores! The first person to find them will also get a chance to ask Lady Ningguang one question!"

Liyue Harbor was immediately abuzz with excitement.

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