Chapter 146

Takumi took Xiangling directly onto the road and headed towards Shimen at full speed.

There were no cars along the way, so Takumi drove very fast.

When they got hungry, the two stopped, and Xiangling quickly prepared a simple meal. After eating, they continued their journey.

As the sun began to set in the afternoon, they arrived at Shimen. The town had already been built and was brightly lit, indicating that electricity had also been connected. Some establishments, like hotels, were already open.

The establishment of hotels here was primarily supported by Ningguang's investment, with people from Qingce Village managing them. The revenue generated was directly linked to the wages of those managing the businesses. The more they earned, the higher their wages. Because of this, many people chose to work here.

There were also places selling elemental crystals, which played a significant role in energy consumption. A new elemental crystal, once used for about twenty cycles, would be depleted and require replacement. This meant that every visitor had to replace their energy crystal here; otherwise, their vehicles wouldn't function. This guaranteed steady business for the post station, except for those with a Vision. People with a Vision who owned a vehicle could power them directly, granting them preferential treatment.

Takumi and Xiangling spent the night in Shimen. The next morning, after having lunch, they continued their journey. 

Passing through Shimen, they drove along a lake road for over an hour before approaching the border of Dawn Winery. Upon arrival, Takumi considered stopping but decided against it, thinking that Master Diluc might not be there. 

After passing Dawn Winery, the road suddenly ended. The construction teams had only built the road up to this point, leaving the remaining paths as simple dirt roads. 

Due to the Wind Dragon's attacks, the surrounding areas had become more dangerous, with an increase in monster activity. As Takumi's car moved forward, a group of Hilichurls suddenly charged at them with weapons in hand.

Seeing this, Takumi frowned.

"Xiangling, sit tight!"

Hearing Takumi's words, Xiangling quickly nodded and gripped the car's armrest tightly.

Takumi then slammed on the accelerator. The vehicle rammed into the attacking Hilichurls, sending them flying into nearby trees. One by one, the creatures turned to ashes and merged into the ley lines, leaving behind a few scattered masks and items.

Takumi remained unfazed and simply pressed harder on the accelerator, driving straight into the forest. If any monsters attempted to block the road, he would activate the vehicle's weapons and blast them aside.

Looking at the chaotic surroundings, Takumi sighed. The situation in Mondstadt was indeed dire, explaining why the road construction had stopped. Shaking his head, he focused on moving forward towards Springvale.

As they neared Springvale, they found the town fenced off with guards patrolling the perimeter. When the guards saw Takumi's vehicle approaching, they immediately became alert. However, they quickly realized that they had seen similar vehicles before—those from Liyue.

Master Diluc owned one and frequently passed through Springvale, though his was a different color. Seeing this, they assumed that Takumi's car belonged to someone from Liyue.

The people of Mondstadt had discussed importing such vehicles from Liyue, but due to the ongoing dragon calamity, those plans had been delayed. 

After several months of chaos, it had been a long time since anyone had arrived from Liyue. 

Takumi slowly stopped the car in front of the barricade and stepped out.

Seeing him emerge, the guards relaxed slightly and lowered their weapons.

"Sir, who are you?"

Hearing the inquiry, Takumi introduced himself.

"I'm Takumi, from Liyue. Can we enter? We were invited by Acting Grandmaster Jean to assist with the dragon calamity."

The guards were momentarily stunned but quickly reacted.

"We'll remove the barricades."

They promptly signaled their comrades to clear the road. Seeing this, Takumi returned to the car and drove into Springvale.

Upon entering, Takumi was in no rush to proceed to Mondstadt. Instead, he wanted to gather information on the dragon calamity's current status.

Approaching a local villager, Takumi asked, "Sir, could you tell me about the current state of the dragon calamity? Has it been resolved?"

The villager did not hesitate to share the latest updates.

"Captain Jean has taken a team to Stormterror's Lair. Some time ago, the Wind Dragon attacked Mondstadt, but a Traveler managed to drive it away. Now, they're working on the final steps to resolve the crisis."

"Recently, the Knights of Favonius also discovered traces of the Abyss Order. They've attempted to attack Mondstadt but have been repelled. We're currently awaiting Captain Jean's report. If all goes well, we should have news by tonight."

Hearing this, Takumi nodded.

"So I arrived late. It sounds like Mondstadt will soon restore order."

He then turned to Xiangling. "By the way, weren't you planning to buy meat? These folks here should be able to help you negotiate."

Xiangling's eyes immediately lit up, and the nearby villagers looked at her curiously.

"You want to buy meat?"

Realizing their interest, the villagers perked up.

Xiangling grinned and introduced herself.

"Hello, everyone! I'm Xiangling from Liyue's Wanmin Restaurant. I'd like to check out the pork available here. If possible, I'd love to arrange a long-term supply agreement."

Upon hearing this, the villagers' eyes sparkled with excitement.

So that was the reason for her visit?

Takumi then added, "I also know Diona. So, uncles, if possible, please offer her a fair deal. Xiangling purchases a lot of meat daily and would be a reliable buyer."

Though Takumi had yet to meet Diona personally, he casually mentioned her name, knowing it would help smooth negotiations.

Upon hearing Diona's name, the villagers' expressions softened even more, looking at Takumi with newfound warmth.