Genshin Impact: I, the Winter's Executor, am forced to work.

“Mr. Zhongli has an excellent eye as always. Although this treasure was made by my family’s new craftsman, he put a lot of effort into it. He said that if someone can appreciate the value of this item, he will give it to the connoisseur for free.”

Master Xingxi was quite pleased. After all, most people only saw the beauty of the porcelain, and the maker had a very eccentric temperament. He wouldn't sell it to people who didn't know how to appreciate it, and he would give it away for free to those who did. It was better to sell it quickly and not take up any space.

"Hmm..." Zhongli rubbed his chin, lost in deep thought.

“If this item is properly preserved, it will certainly be extraordinary in the future. Moreover, if there is indeed a craftsman with such skill, he deserves praise. How about this, I will take the liberty of deciding whether to sell it to you for three million Mora?

Xingxi's eyes lit up when she heard this.

"There's such a nice... oh no, thank you for appreciating this item. Since that's the case, I can't refuse. May I ask if you'll accept cash or...?"

Zhong Li shook his head: "Just send the bill to the Northern Bank."

"Oh, Mr. Zhongli, it's not gentlemanly to increase the financial burden on the Northern Bank behind the CEO's back." The young master patted Zhongli's shoulder lightly, his tone slightly teasing.

"It is you."

"?"

Don't you have anything to say to me?

"Mr. Zhongli has been away for a while recently. Is there something important going on?"

The young master decided to stop being passive and took the initiative to ask a question.

"As usual, I am just an idle person. When I go out, I only seek out a table of delicious food and a cup of tea, nothing more."

Zhongli turned to Xingxi and said, "Please deliver the porcelain to the Hall of Rebirth."

"Okay, Mr. Zhongli, don't worry."

"..."

I spent my money from the Northern Bank to buy it and send it to the Hall of Rebirth.

D'Artagnan stood there, mouth slightly agape, in astonishment.

"I wonder what business you have with me, young master?" Zhongli asked calmly, without the slightest embarrassment.

"..."

Would you believe me if I said I was here to invite you to dinner?

"This isn't a good place to chat. It's lunchtime, so why don't we go to Wanmin Hall for lunch and talk?"

"..."

No, if I keep treating him to meals, music, and bird walks every day, when will the mission make any progress? If this continues, won't he just see me as a sucker?

"Haha, Mr. Zhongli, you flatter me. Of course I would like to dine with you, but my companions in Mondstadt haven't sent me any news lately, so I'm a little worried. I might have to leave Liyue in a couple of days."

I'd like to see what you have to say. If you only treat your companions as tools to spend money, I'll teach them a lesson even if we're on Liyue's territory.

While it's unlikely that the partner would be deceived, what if Zhongli couldn't bring them corresponding benefits?

"I see, you miss Brother Qin."

Zhong Li raised the corners of her mouth.

Although this "young master" is a straightforward martial artist at heart, he cares quite a bit about Brother Qin. These days, he has been diligently doing things for me that Brother Qin finds boring, just as Brother Qin asked.

They're even now using leaving as a pretext to test us.

Even though it's full of flaws, it still deserves praise.

No wonder they sent him to help me.

Since that's the case, I can confidently ask him to help me with some things.

Similarly, I hope that Brother Qin can achieve something in Mondstadt.

"It has been a while since I last saw Brother Qin. Would you be so kind as to chat with me more about him at Wanmin Hall? I would also like to hear more about Brother Qin's demeanor."

The young master's eyes lit up, and he put his arm around Zhongli's shoulder, his angry tone completely dissipating.

Not bad, you're pretty savvy.

"Let's go! It's on me!"

Chapter 155 Hehe... I'm not coming out anymore.

"Qin Ye, you really enjoy making friends?" Paimon hadn't given up on testing his sugar daddy.

"Making friends? I wouldn't say that. It depends on how you define it. If talking or going out with someone makes you friends, then I do like making friends."

Qin Ye's answer seemed casual, leaving Paimon somewhat puzzled.

Does having a acquaintance mean you're friends?

"of course."

The man walked at the back of the group with a smile, neither refuting nor explaining.

His relationships with most people are based on mutual interests or intertwined with emotions, such as hatred or gratitude.

For him, true friends must share the same ideals and have similar feelings.

So it mainly depends on personal understanding.

"Hmm... what a strange person. But what are we doing wandering around here aimlessly? It's all bare, we can hardly see a soul in sight."

"Salaries will be paid as usual."

"Hehe, then there's no problem."

Qin Ye's journey is actually very casual, since you can meet that person anywhere outside Mondstadt, so as long as you are with the traveler, it is easy to meet the trigger conditions.

Ying suddenly drew her bladeless sword and held it out in front of Qin Ye, saying, "Wait a moment."

Following the direction she was wary of, she saw a camp filled with Hilichurls.

"What is that? Why are Hilichurls like an army?" Paimon's voice was also filled with surprise.

Within the camp, smaller Hilichurls, such as the melee Hilichurls and the charging Hilichurls, stood at the front of the group, while the larger Thunder Axe and Fire Axe stood at the back. There were even three Hilichurls of different types.

And the commander is...

"Abyss Mage..." Qin Ye muttered to himself.

It's not surprising that they would appear here.

He pulled his hat brim down a little and turned his gaze to Ying beside him.

How do I fool her?

"This is the first time I've seen a Hilichurl being commanded," Qin Ye said, his tone unusually serious.

“This is the first time we’ve seen this before…” Paimon was waiting for the travelers’ choice. After all, if Ying didn’t intend to fight, even if Qin Ye ordered them to go and try, they certainly wouldn’t agree.

"Qin Ye, do you understand what I'm thinking?" Ying turned to ask.

"If you want to ask me about their purpose... with such a large-scale attack, given the number of Hilichurls in Mondstadt, there are probably many similar situations happening in various corners right now. The only thing I can guess is that they want to take advantage of the absence of the main force of the Knights of Favonius to attack Mondstadt."

He gave an awkward smile and gestured for Ying not to be nervous.

"Of course, this is just speculation."

"But it's not impossible." Ying still held onto a sliver of hope, wanting to erase such an unreliable idea from her mind.

But now it's probably not that simple.

"You are the employer, so you should make the decision. First of all, with so many Hilichurls, a real fight might be no different from suicide."

"I am aware of this, therefore..."

Qin Ye pretended to back away, slowly lifting his feet as if he wanted to leave the area.

Luminous has only learned one elemental power. If I don't intervene, she will have to protect me and fight against nearly a hundred Hilichurls. She might win by a narrow margin, but it certainly won't be easy.

"My suggestion is to retreat and then report to the Knights of Favonius," Qin Ye immediately suggested.

"A wise choice."

However, just as the two of them were about to retreat, no one noticed that Qin Ye slightly raised his finger, and a bolt of purple lightning pierced the Abyss Mage's shield, completely drawing his attention.

The Abyss Mage muttered in an obscure and incomprehensible tone, raising his staff and pointing it directly at Ying and Qin Ye.

"Oh no! How did we get discovered?!" Paimon looked around, completely baffled.

"Retreat!" Qin Ye's shout was filled with fear, despair, and panic.

"It's too late." Ying raised her bladeless sword and extended it towards the Hilichurl King that had soared into the sky, observing when it would land.

She quickly turned around and, just as the attack landed, scooped Qin Ye up and leaped into the air.

At the same time, the other Hilichurls arrived and surrounded the group.

"Remember to give me a raise," Ying said, leaving behind only these words.

"You don't need to protect me. If things get really bad, I can use the Evil Eye to buy some time, and besides..."

He reached into his backpack and pulled out an adorable sphere about the size of a human head: "Klee gave me the rest of her Power Up units."

"..."

Ying and Paimon instinctively moved a little further away.

"In short, I'll create an opening in the formation first, and you and Paimon can take the opportunity to escape. I'll be there shortly after."

“But the traveler…” Paimon wanted to persuade the other person, but was stopped by a firm look in his eyes.

"I'll count to three... then follow me as I rush out, and I'll cover the rear."

"three."

"two."

"one!"

Qin Ye grabbed Paimon and followed behind Ying calmly, casually tossing the Bouncing Bomb into the Hilichurls.

Soon, the small Hilichurls were blasted into the sky like trash.

"Hmm... that's so much material, it's a pity we can't go back and collect it." Paimon looked a little tearful, as if he had missed out on a fortune.

Just as Ying said, Qin Ye and Paimeng successfully escaped from the formation.