He changed Tiwat

"Yura-neechan is the best!"

Yura blushed and turned her head away again.

Joseph, who followed behind, bowed again to the group in gratitude: "I really don't know how to thank you all... Thank you, thank you..."

Joel then ran into his father's arms again, and Joseph hoisted Joel onto his shoulders. Joel then happily placed the snow fox on Joseph's head, making it look like the father and son were out with their pet.

In a short period of time, the father and son have already developed a very harmonious relationship.

Although the regret of "amnesia" still stands between the father and son, these are not problems for the family.

Abedo, standing nearby, took out his sketchbook and captured this heartwarming scene. Once the sketch was finished, he would give it to them along with the pocket watch as a gift.

At this moment, President Serius pulled Bennett out of the association's tent.

Upon seeing the group, President Serius patted Bennett hard on the back, seemingly to encourage him.

Bennett scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

He walked up to the group, suddenly bowed deeply, and said, "I am truly grateful to everyone these past two days. Without your help, I might never have been able to leave the snow-capped mountains and reunite with my father and the others. Thank you all so much!"

Amber quickly helped Bennett up: "Don't say that, we're friends now. It's only right for friends to help each other!"

Bennett looked up and stammered, "I just talked with the chairman and Dad for a long time, and we came up with an idea, but... but..."

Amber, mimicking President Serius, gave Bennett a hard slap on the back: "Hey, boys shouldn't mumble when they speak!"

Bennett glanced at Amber, then at Yura beside her, and with a sudden resolve, he clasped his hands together above his head, closed his eyes, and shouted, "I have a request! Miss Amber, and Miss Yura, I would like to ask you to serve as instructors for the Adventurers' Guild!"

"Huh?" Yura raised an eyebrow.

"Instructor?" Amber was also taken aback.

Bennett quickly explained, "Because you two are very strong, and, and you're also very lucky!"

Yura and Amber exchanged bewildered glances. What was all this about? What did the Adventurers' Guild instructors have to do with "luck"?

Seeing their reactions, Bennett realized he hadn't explained himself clearly and was anxious to clarify. However, the more anxious he became, the less he knew how to explain, and his tongue became tied in knots, his face turning bright red.

At this moment, President Serius also walked over, patted Bennett on the head with a hearty laugh, and eased the awkwardness.

“Hahaha… Let me explain. Bennett told us that there were a lot of dangers during this search and rescue operation, and you see, Joseph almost didn’t make it back, right? So our Adventurers’ Guild is planning to hold a summer camp in the snowy mountains.”

"Summer camp?" Amber tilted her head.

"As you all know, the members of our Adventurers' Guild have varying levels of adventure experience. It's very dangerous for inexperienced adventurers to venture into the snow-capped mountains alone in search of a breakthrough. Every year, some adventurers perish in the snow-capped mountains..."

Upon hearing this, Joel hugged Joseph's neck tightly, and Joseph quickly patted his back, comforting him repeatedly.

Guild Master Serius continued, "Therefore, we have learned from our mistakes and believe that we should comprehensively improve the quality of Mondstadt adventurers. This summer camp was established for this purpose. We will make arrangements in advance, with seniors leading juniors and experts accompanying novices. Everyone will enter the snowy mountains together and train in a protected environment, so that adventurers can improve together."

"Bennett also mentioned your outstanding performance in this search and rescue operation. I couldn't help but admire you both; you truly are elite knights of the Knights of Favonius, with exceptional skills that are truly admirable. If you two would be willing to serve as our instructors, the training at this summer camp would be even more effective and would be more motivating for the young men to emulate you two knights. What do you all think?"

Now everyone understood. This summer camp is actually similar to an adventurer training program, and if it can be run well, it will definitely be a good thing.

Han Fulai secretly admired him even more. This Chairman Serius appeared rough and rugged, but in reality, he was shrewd beneath his tough exterior.

During this rescue operation, Serius gathered a group of experienced veteran adventurers who would never normally show their faces. Now that the people have been rescued, he took the opportunity to launch a training program to cultivate fresh blood for the association, and also to have these veteran adventurers pass on their valuable adventure experience to the younger adventurers.

Moreover, his gaze also fell upon the two Knights of Favonius, in addition to the adventurers. Yura and Amber possessed exceptional reconnaissance skills, were highly skilled in wilderness survival, and were also exceptionally capable. They were definitely "experts" in the adventuring environment of the snowy mountains, making them very suitable candidates for instructors.

Moreover, the Adventurers' Guild has been growing too fast lately, somewhat overshadowing the prestige of the Knights. Guild Master Serius, taking advantage of the friendship between Bennett and Amber during their joint adventure, invited the Knights of the Knights to cooperate in training the adventurers, which was also a way of showing goodwill to the Knights.

If Commander Qin heard about this, she would definitely give it her full support, and might even assign a special team of knights to help...

No wonder the Adventurers' Guild in Mondstadt is so well-run... This Guild Master Serius truly lives up to his reputation as a legendary adventurer; his business acumen alone is probably on par with the Seven Stars of Liyue.

Chapter 153 The Touchstone of the Lucky Ones

After President Serius explained the situation, Amber readily agreed.

“That’s great! I’m happy to help!” She then turned to look at Yura. “Yura, what about you?”

Yura had obviously also thought of the subtle competitive relationship between the Knights and the Adventurers' Guild. She thought about it for a moment and then nodded.

"Hmm... As long as Guild Master Serius has made arrangements with the Knights, I have no objections. I'll come to participate after I finish my mission."

The task she was referring to was, of course, to protect Han Fulai—she was already prepared to resign from the task once she returned to Mondstadt.

Anyway, this Deputy Minister Han doesn't need any protection; it doesn't matter who's his bodyguard, so it's better to stay with Amber. Of course, the main reason is that she's still furious about Han Fulai and Abedo lying to her. She doesn't want to be with someone who has so many secrets and whom she doesn't trust.

Bennett breathed a huge sigh of relief: "Phew, that's great! I was worried you guys wouldn't want to team up with me..."

"Team up with you...?" Amber and Yura were both surprised.

“Yes, because I also applied to be an instructor at this summer camp.” Bennett puffed out his chest slightly, looking a little proud. “As you all know, I’ve had terrible luck—but the guild leader told me that his sister, Yuxia, taught him a Liyue proverb, ‘When things are at their worst, they start to turn around.’ Sometimes, when your luck is at its worst, it’s actually a good thing.”

"For example, all sorts of unexpected situations that you wouldn't encounter in regular training could very well happen around me... like an avalanche. So if we think about it the other way around, isn't this perfect for training new adventurers to handle unexpected events? If they can overcome even the difficulties they encounter when teaming up with me, then ordinary adventures will be a piece of cake, right? That's what you call turning a bad thing into a good thing!"

Bennett gave a thumbs-up, making his signature "thumbs up" gesture.

“Miss Amber and Miss Yura accompanied me all the way down the mountain. They were able to handle any unexpected situations calmly, making them the best teammate choices! With you two as my team and instructors, I don’t have to worry about encountering any unexpected situations caused by my bad luck!”

Amber and Yura exchanged a glance, both seeing the word "regret" on each other's faces.

It's a pity they just agreed to be instructors for Guild Master Serius, and immediately going back on their word would really damage the reputation of knights—but if you ask the two of them if they want to team up with Bennett and experience that miraculous misfortune again? Of course they do…

The two said in unison, "We can be instructors, but let's skip forming a team."

Bennett burst into tears on the spot.

President Serius patted Bennett on the shoulder: "Young people always have to experience being dumped... Come and cry in your old man's arms..."

Having finished sketching the Joseph family, Abedo turned the page and began sketching Bennett.

Han Fulai commented from the side: "...What a touching ending."

Later, the Mondstadt Adventurers' Association developed the snow mountain summer and winter camps into regular training programs, with new adventurers in Mondstadt participating in two training sessions each year.

—And the snow mountain survival training led by Instructor Bennett has become a well-known "high-luck test" among the new adventurers.

Those who survive Bennett's training program without getting injured in any accidents will be awarded the title of "Lucky One," making them highly sought after in their future adventures and popular choices for adventurers to invite them to join their teams.

In some ways, this "Lucky One" title is more valuable than the quest completion record in the Adventurer's Handbook. It's practically a "diploma" for Mondstadt adventurers. Many veteran adventurers even come to train for it, just to try and obtain this "Lucky One's" "hidden achievement"... and Bennett is privately known as the "touchstone of the Lucky One."

The next day, Han Fulai and Yura boarded the Knights' carriage again, and Risser carried them back to Mondstadt.

Abedo and Amber remained at the camp for the time being. The official reason was that Joseph's injuries hadn't fully healed, and he still walked with a limp. Moreover, he needed to go to the alchemy workshop for further treatment upon returning to the city, so it was most appropriate for them to accompany him. As for the real reason, it was naturally Abedo's responsibility to look after his brother, while Amber wanted to play with Joel a little longer.

Looking back, their trip to the snow-capped mountains lasted only two days, but their experiences were nothing short of spectacular: rescuing missing adventurers, distinguishing between the real and fake Abedo, preventing the dragon Dulin from reviving, purifying the Corrupted Sword... They were more than worthy of being turned into poems and sung by bards.

Unfortunately, many of the inside stories are destined to remain secrets forever.

Yura seemed more silent than when she arrived. If Yura was "reserved" on the way here, she was probably "unwilling to talk" now.

When Han Fulai saw Yura like this, he knew that his favorability towards Yura was probably below that of a stranger.

He had originally intended to ask Yura about her "Ice Mark," but now he naturally didn't want to risk that. Anyway, he had Mona and Abedo as sources of information about the Lawrence family, so he didn't need to pin his hopes on Yura alone.

As always, Riise was very talkative, and on the way back he was already imagining the grand scene of the "Badminton Festival": "It's a good thing you didn't stay out for long, so you can make it back in time for the opening of the 'Badminton Festival'. It would be a real shame to miss it."

"Hmm? Does the Knights hold an 'opening ceremony' or something when the event starts?" Han Fulai asked with great interest.

In China, television stations usually put on some kind of gala to celebrate traditional festivals, and various sports meets also have an opening ceremony performance. In most cases, viewers who are not interested in sports are mainly watching for the opening ceremony. When people discuss their impressions of a certain sports meet, the topic mostly focuses on their evaluation of the performances in the opening ceremony.

Risser, lost in thought, said, "'Opening Ceremony'... Hmm, actually everyone's hoping that Director Qin will come out and dance or something... Someone as beautiful as Director Qin would definitely dance better than anyone else..."

—Yura snorted loudly upon hearing this, though it was unclear which of Reese's words she was unhappy with.

Risser tactfully changed the subject: "Haha, but Grand Master Qin refuses to participate in these kinds of events... She's a very serious person at heart. The Knights' annual routine is basically just the Grand Master announcing the start of the festival celebration. If you ask me, the real 'opening ceremony' is Miss Barbara's concert!"

“Oh…that’s definitely not to be missed.” Han Fulai nodded repeatedly.

He'd known this Mondstadt idol for a long time. This time, not only would he get to hear Barbara perform live, but he might even be able to shout "Barbara, go for it!" along with the fans in the audience, experiencing what it's like to cheer in another world. Of course, he had to participate in this kind of event.

“And also…” Risser, who was driving, turned around and gave Han Fulai a knowing smile, and pulled out a colorful piece of paper from his pocket. “Actually, I’m also a member of the fan club.”

Han Fulai glanced at it and noticed that the words "Barbara Fan Support Club" seemed to be printed on the piece of paper.

"This is a 'handshake ticket.' You can use it to shake hands with Ms. Barbara after the concert! If Vice Minister Han doesn't mind... I can give you one for free!"

"Tsk." Yura's gaze towards them had turned into disdain.

Chapter 154 The Night Before the Badminton Festival

On the evening of June 15th, Han Fulai returned to Mondstadt.

Once Risser and Yura arrived in the city, they returned to the Knights to report. Han Fulai also planned to go to the Knights' headquarters library to find Mona, but he wasn't in a hurry to go now.

Since it's a rare opportunity to participate in a Mondstadt celebration, I should definitely soak up the festive atmosphere.

Before he came, Zhongli told him that the "Badminton Festival" was a grand annual festival in Mondstadt, with feasts, wine, poetry, music, flowers, and ceremonies lasting for fifteen days... and now he could see it for himself.

As Zhongli said, the whole town is now immersed in a free and interesting world of light and shadow.

Although the "Badminton Festival" doesn't officially start until tomorrow, everyone is already eagerly anticipating it.

If you ask Han Fulai, a veteran office worker, which day of his vacation is the happiest, he will answer: "The night before the vacation is the happiest."

The same applies to holidays.

The city of Mondstadt was bustling with activity on the eve of the "Badminton Festival," with colorful flags hanging at the door of every house and festive wreaths adorning the doors.

These days, no one wants to stay at home, and the usually empty streets of Mondstadt are unusually crowded. Even if you bump into someone's shoulder or step on someone's foot, it doesn't matter. Everyone has an irrepressible smile on their face at the thought of a happy tomorrow coming, and they don't care about such trivial matters at all.

There were noticeably more tourists dressed in Liyue and Fontaine colors than usual. Han Fulai even saw a couple dressed in Fatui uniforms take off their masks and hoods, holding hands and mingling in the crowd.

Although he didn't recognize them, Yura would definitely recognize them if she were there. These two were Mikhail and Lyudmila, who always idly chatted and loafed around outside the "Goethe Hotel"... Well, even the Fools have their festivals and romances...

Unlike Liyue Harbor, the lights in Mondstadt were not as dazzling, which made Han Fulai, who was used to the street scene of Scarlet Cloud Slope, feel a little disappointed. However, the unique and vibrant atmosphere of Mondstadt completely made up for this small difference.

If Liyue Harbor gives people a feeling of "prosperity", then Mondstadt gives people a feeling of "enthusiasm".

Almost every short distance you walk, you'll see bards playing their lyre on the street, telling legendary tales from ancient times or not so ancient. Their lyre cases and hats on the ground contain not only mora (music) tips from tourists, but also candy from children, fruit from housewives, and of course, bottles of wine.

After all, this is a "city-state of poetry and wine".

Although the "buffet" event doesn't start until tomorrow, many celebratory stalls have already opened today, especially the wine stalls... all the finest wines from Mondstadt's major wineries have gathered in the city today, and are being offered to everyone in unlimited quantities.

The piles of barrels stacked up like small mountains by the roadside are quite a sight. If all sorts of craft beers and fruit wines were poured into the lake, it might really turn "Fruit Wine Lake" into a true fruit wine lake.

As soon as Han Fulai stepped onto the main street of Mondstadt, he found himself with beer and "Mondstadt grilled fish," a free gift from a roadside stall.

Many tourists held the kind of "barrel-shaped wine glasses" found in bars, enjoying the night view of Mondstadt while drinking heartily.

The night view isn't the only thing worth appreciating; the food is also a must.

The streets and alleys of the city are filled with mouthwatering aromas. For Mondstadt's restaurant owners, this is the perfect opportunity of the year to build their reputation, with each shop showcasing its signature dishes in an effort to achieve both high sales and positive word-of-mouth.

Interestingly, food and alcohol appear to be part of the entertainment during the "Badminton Festival".

Perhaps because of Barbatos's bounty, the people of Mondstadt never have to worry about food, so there are no admonitions like "Every grain of rice on the plate is the result of hard work." The festival features many games and activities using food and wine as props.

Han Fulai saw a street stall offering a "glass-balancing challenge": challengers had to imitate bartenders, balancing full glasses of liquor on their heads and hands for one minute without spilling a drop. Successful participants received a free night of drinks at the bar, while those who failed had to drink the liquor they were balancing on their heads.

For the drunkards of Mondstadt, this was a challenge where winning or losing wouldn't be a loss.

The challenge is divided into various levels of difficulty, such as increasing the number of glasses, standing on only one leg, etc. According to the owner, the record holder for this challenge is Amber, who balanced six glasses of beer on her head and hopped around the venue on one leg, winning a week's worth of free drinks. To this day, no one has been able to break the record.

Because Amber was underage last year, she exchanged all the invitations for apple cider. But this year Amber is old enough to drink, so who knows, maybe she'll become the new Mondstadt wine connoisseur after winning those invitations?

The most popular street sport is "Stacking High".

The so-called "building tower" does not refer to the festive finale dish that Han Fulai enjoyed at the Morning Light Winery, but rather to an activity similar to "building a poker tower".

The restaurant set up a competition venue with long tables and a variety of ingredients. Participants needed to buy tickets to enter and used the various ingredients provided at the stall to stack the food as high as possible. Whoever could stack the food higher than the best record in previous years could enjoy all the dishes in the restaurant for free during the "Badminton Festival".

Many contestants were already scratching their heads in front of the long table. Many of their "towers" were barely half a person's height before they were already teetering on the verge of collapse. Some of their "towers" had already collapsed, and they were frantically picking up the food on the ground. The best record in recent years was held by Diluc, whose "tower" was said to be the same height as him.

Many spectators outside the arena were shouting and offering "advice" to the contestants, but just like a bad chess player on the street who can never offer any good moves, their "advice" only made the tower collapse faster...

The Fools couple he'd just spotted were now in the arena—Mikhail and Lyudmila. These two were practically there to flaunt their affection; they were helping each other out, their tower barely built, yet their hands had touched countless times, and they were sharing all sorts of sickeningly sweet, lovey-dovey gazes…

Han Fulai couldn't help but think of Ke Qing—Ke Qing was an architectural expert. If he could bring her to the competition, wouldn't they dominate the field?

Unfortunately, for some reason, the Emperor only allowed him to come... Without using divine power to cheat, his performance was probably only slightly better than the other contestants.

If I had come with Ah Qing, I wouldn't have been subjected to this display of affection by the Fools...

Hmm... If I bring A-Qing along, I should also bring A-He. Well, it wouldn't make sense not to bring Ning-Guang... Wait, why am I competing with the Fools over showing off our love?

Han Fulai suddenly realized that strolling through the festival alone was actually a bit lonely.

Chapter 155 Yura's New Mission

"Wow! Big brother, I'm sorry."

A child bumped into Han Fulai's leg while his back was turned and quickly apologized to him.