Cross through Teyvat, and you'll become stronger by taking the hits!

"Teleport."

Lu Li immediately activated his skill upon jumping off the Jade Pavilion, initiating a teleportation process as he fell.

The Jade Pavilion was also high enough that even after Lu Li completed the three-second guidance, he was still a considerable distance from the ground.

After the guidance was completed, Lu Li's body was instantly enveloped by a sphere made of energy.

Then, targeting the fluorescent light, the sphere slowly rose upwards.

Falling from a height, one can only fall about fifty meters in three seconds, while teleportation will reach the target location within five seconds. Therefore, the upward flight speed is only ten meters per second, which is not very fast.

As Ying looked down, Lu Li slowly flew back and stopped beside her in surprise before the sphere disappeared.

"Ahem, traveler, don't talk nonsense. Little Pigeon is my boss. How could I dare to have any improper thoughts?"

Landing next to Ying, Lu Li coughed awkwardly.

"Oh ho? You're addressing me so intimately already, and you still say it's not true?"

Noticing Lu Li's embarrassment, Ying crossed her arms and gave a mischievous smile.

"Hehe, it seems you two are having a very pleasant chat."

Just as Lu Li was becoming even more embarrassed, Ning Guang's soft laughter suddenly rang out from the side, followed by the clattering sound of high heels.

"Miss Ningguang, you've come at the right time. I have something I'd like to ask you for help with."

Upon seeing Ningguang approach, Lu Li immediately changed the subject from Ying.

"Oh, why don't you tell me? If it's within my power, Ningguang will do her best to help."

Ningguang wasn't curious about what they had just been discussing, and politely responded after hearing Lu Li's words.

"It's like this, my friend Zhi Dong and I have been staying at Wang Sheng Tang for the past few days, but it's not really appropriate to keep bothering Master Hu, so we'd like to find a place to stay."

"However, it would be best if I could stay near the Hall of Rebirth for the convenience of visiting others in the future. But I just returned to Liyue and don't have any connections, so I would like to ask Miss Ningguang for help inquiring about it."

Lu Li explained to Ning Guang.

He had thought about this ever since he returned to Liyue, but the plan was temporarily shelved. He intended to do it after the Summoning Ceremony, and now is just the right time.

After all, Lu Li found it quite troublesome to go out and inquire about where houses were for sale on his own.

"So you wanted to buy a property. That's not a difficult request."

"However, there aren't many houses in that area. The nearest one has already been bought by the young masters of the Liu and Yun families. If you're not in a hurry, I can negotiate with the owners for you. If that doesn't work out, I can help you find another house nearby. Would that be alright?"

Upon hearing Lu Li's request, Ning Guang nodded knowingly and told him what she knew.

"Of course, no problem, but if it's too expensive, I might..."

Lu Li nodded, then said somewhat awkwardly.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the alley where the Hall of Rebirth is located is remote. Even though it's remote, it's still Feiyun Slope, a location second only to Yujingtai, and it's considered to be extremely valuable.

"Don't worry, I'll help you negotiate a satisfactory price as a personal thank you gift. After all, without you, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to keep my Jade Pavilion."

Before Lu Li could finish speaking, Ning Guang interrupted him with a light laugh.

Aside from this matter, Lu Li had no other requests for Ning Guang's help, so he thanked her.

After waiting a while longer, Columbia and Paimon had finished eating.

Although Columbia's appetite couldn't match Paimon's, the two of them still managed to finish all the food on the table, and Paimon's belly was visibly bulging.

Although Colombian was not quite that exaggerated, she still had to cover her slightly protruding belly when walking.

She doesn't usually eat this much, but with Paimon stealing her food, she couldn't resist.

"Lu Li, I'm so sleepy, let's go back..."

Colombia, who had eaten too much, started to feel sleepy and leaned close to Lu Li, making a suggestion.

"Yeah, yeah, hiccup... Traveler, let's go back too..."

Paimon, who could barely fly, agreed.

"In that case, I'll have someone escort a few of them down. Be careful on the way."

"By the way, Lord Lu Li, don't forget to bring those medicinal herbs."

Ningguang also bid farewell to the group and gave Lu Li a friendly reminder.

And so, Lu Li carried a large bag of packaged medicinal herbs on his back, and with the secretary sent by Ning Guang to escort them down, the floating stone platform became even more crowded.

So Lu Li raised his hand, and another rock ridge appeared on the stone platform, perfectly symmetrical on the left and right.

"The Emperor asked me to investigate a human trafficking case from ten years ago, is it because of him...?"

"It's quite rare for a child to disappear without a trace in Liyue Harbor over the centuries."

Ningguang watched as Lu Li and the others returned to Yujingtai on the floating stone platform, and murmured to herself.

……

After descending from Yujingtai, Lu Li bid farewell to Ying and Paimeng.

Compared to Lu Li, who lives in the Hall of Rebirth, Ying and Pai Meng, who have not yet obtained the Dust Song Pot, can only stay at the White Horse Inn.

After saying goodbye to them, Lu Li took Columbia back to the Hall of Rebirth.

On the way, Columbia, feeling sleepy from eating too much, unconsciously leaned closer to Lu Li and finally rested her head on his shoulder.

"...?!"

Lu Li paused, and the two of them stopped on the bustling street of Feiyun Slope.

It was only a short time after nightfall, and Feiyunpo was still brightly lit and bustling with activity.

A young couple strolling hand in hand through the night market happened to walk past them, smiling and nodding at them.

"Hmm...why have you stopped?"

After Lu Li stopped, Columbia raised her head in confusion.

"Ahem, I was just worried you might fall asleep and hurt yourself. Let's go quickly."

Lu Li coughed awkwardly, and seeing that Columbia had woken up, he immediately took her and continued on his way.

"Lu Li, do you want to be an executive officer?"

Awakened, Columbia followed Lu Li, but was no longer as sleepy as before. After leaving the busiest area, she suddenly asked a question.

"Me? If it were before, I would have really wanted to be an executive officer, but I don't feel anything for it now, since I've already left the Fatui."

Although he didn't know why Columbia asked that question, Lu Li still answered.

He used to be determined to fight his way up in the Winter Solstice, and becoming the Executor was naturally his ultimate goal, since the next step up would be the Commander and the God of Ice.

"Hmm... So, do you want to become a god?"

Lu Li's answer made Columbia ponder for a moment before she continued to ask questions.

"Huh? Why would I become a god for no reason? Little Pigeon, why are you suddenly asking me these questions?"

Lu Li tilted his head in confusion, completely unprepared for why Colombia would ask those two questions.

"If you become a god, then I, as the executor, can also take your heart."

"And vice versa, because these are the heart of God."

Columbia said with a smile.

"..."

Good heavens! This isn't in the book! She figured it out herself!

Lu Li stood there stunned, his mouth slightly open but unable to utter a word.

He never imagined that Columbia had reached such a level of mastery.

"It seems Lu Li really likes it."

Seeing Lu Li standing there dumbfounded, Columbia nodded firmly.

After a long while, Lu Li finally came to his senses, looked at Columbia seriously, and then made a firm decision.

"Little dove, if I were now a god, guess which way my heart is?"

Lu Li suddenly pointed to the center of his chest and asked Columbia a question.

"Well……"

"left."

Columbia used the lunar torque to sense the origin of Lu Li's pulse.

"No, it's on your end."

Lu Li answered smugly, her face slightly flushed, though it wasn't very noticeable under the night light.

This was the first time he had launched a counterattack against Colombia.

"As expected, Lu Li really likes this language; he wouldn't have admitted it before."

Seeing Lu Li's expression, Columbia nodded firmly, her smile unchanged.

Lu Li: "..."

……