He changed Tiwat

Furthermore, the "Sign of Ice" may be of no less value to the Fatui than the remnants of a demon god... Possessing the "Sign of Ice," she might bring countless calamities to Mondstadt, much like the masked "Night Hero."

Yura was slightly dazed.

Ha, how ironic. Less than half a month ago, she had directly mocked that honorary knight for the calamities the "Night Heroes" had brought to Mondstadt, and now it was her turn to be the same.

Moreover... has the Lawrence family finally fallen so low that it has to grovel before the Fools, and even she, the next heir of the Lawrence family, is being offered as a gift to Winter?

Yura put away the royal mask.

"I understand. Let me... think about it carefully."

She is indeed the Knight of Favonius, but her uncle was right about one thing—Lawrence's blood flows in her veins.

She also has a family, and she even shares the surname "Lawrence".

“I won’t stay in Mondstadt for long; you need to make a decision soon,” Schubert said in a deep voice.

Yura nodded slightly.

"Come find me when you've made up your mind. I... I'm temporarily staying near Qingquan Town in a place with beautiful scenery, where you can look up at the brilliant starry sky and look down at the lush green grass."

Schubert went to great lengths to embellish the phrase "sleeping outdoors."

At that moment, Sarah, the owner, walked to the table with a large plate in each hand, like a circus performer.

"Here's what you wanted, Yura, the usual... Honey-glazed carrot and pork stir-fry, and the satisfying salad is included."

Then she placed another plate in front of Schubert, “pickled meat.”

Yura suddenly stood up.

"Hey, Yura, what's wrong with you all of a sudden?" Sarah asked, puzzled.

Yura shook her head. "I have something urgent to attend to."

Sarah put her hands on her hips and scolded, "Even with an urgent mission, you should still eat properly."

The members of the Knights often dine together at the "Deer Hunter's" restaurant. After a while, Sarah started to see herself as an unofficial chef for the Knights' logistics team, and she was very concerned about the knights' dietary health.

"Sorry, I suddenly lost my appetite."

Yura glanced at her uncle again, took out a small purse from her bosom, and stuffed it into Sarah's hand.

"I've already paid. If you'd like to dine here during this time, just put the bill on my tab."

After saying that, Yura left the restaurant without looking back.

Sarah looked at Yura and then at Schubert, her head full of question marks.

Schubert watched Yura leave the restaurant, then expressionlessly picked up his knife and fork and began to enjoy the "pickled meat".

The dishes were authentic, with his favorite sour and savory flavors, the ultimate enjoyment praised by nobles... However, he no longer found the dishes delicious.

"Heh, that's interesting."

Two tables away from the guests, the purple-haired nun exhaled a smoke ring and flicked the cigarette in her hand.

Although nighttime is her working hours, the church is closed during the "Badminton Festival." Moreover, this nun adheres to the principle of "never working overtime," and even her church's official superior, Deacon Talia, cannot force her to work during the holiday.

However, this time she decided to run some errands during the holiday.

One reason was a request from a drinking buddy named Kaiya. She didn't have many friends, and her drinking buddies were probably one of the few she had. Helping a friend certainly doesn't count as working overtime.

As for the second reason, well, she thought that following Yura might reveal something interesting. In this regard, she and Kaia were kindred spirits when it came to their perverse tastes.

The nun raised the hand that held the cigarette and waved it in the air.

"Sarah, the bill, please."

Knight Wood found Han Fulai easily, since Han Fulai was already on his way to the library to find Mona, so the two met on the way.

Upon hearing that the troupe leader had invited him, Han Fulai nodded in agreement without hesitation.

He was thinking that Yura had just gone to the Knights to report on her duties, and should have told Commander Qin about what happened in the snow mountain. It was only natural that Commander Qin would ask him for confirmation, and he might even have to cover for Abedo.

However, none of the excuses he had come up with to cover up Abe's existence were used when he met Qin.

He had barely arrived at the commander's office, and before he could even sit down, he saw Jean suddenly give him the exact same knightly salute that Yura had given him when she came to be his guard that day, which startled him so much that he jumped up.

"Please, Master Qin, what is the reason for this...?"

Even if he came publicly as the Deputy Chief of the Moonlit Pavilion and the de facto ruler of Liyue, Jean, as the acting leader of the guild and the current head of state of Mondstadt, was in fact on the same level as him. But what Jean just did was clearly the courtesy of a lower-ranking knight to a higher-ranking one.

“Deputy Minister Han, I, Jean Gunnhild, would like to request your assistance in my personal capacity.”

Chapter 161 How can one have it all?

"I'm sorry to bother you during your vacation. It's a bit embarrassing to say... but I hope you can help me figure out how to drive the Fatui forces out of Mondstadt." Jean lowered her head slightly, her expression somewhat apologetic.

Qin's Request.jpg

From Qin's perspective, Han Fulai is, after all, a political figure from a neighboring country, and he's here on vacation. Yet now she's asking him to work overtime for her and Mond for free...

Han Fulai was stunned for a moment.

After a brief moment of shock, Han Fulai was overjoyed.

Qin said she was asking for his help in a personal capacity... Isn't this a huge favor that's been handed to her? And the enemy is the Fool Clan, even if you don't want my help, I'd still want to get involved, okay?

Furthermore, Jean's identity is not simply that of the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.

She is also the heir to the powerful Gunnhildr family, a noble family in Mondstadt, a paragon of knighthood who possesses both the honors of "Lion Fang Knight" and "Dandelion Knight," the daughter of Cardinal Simon Page of the Church of Favonius, a "Chosen One" with the Eye of God, and the only person in Mondstadt who can be a "theocrat."

Moreover, despite his illustrious lineage, Qin has no aristocratic airs and sets an example by serving the people, earning him the deep affection of the Mondstadt people and the reputation of "go to Qin when you're in trouble."

It's safe to say that Jean's buffs have been stacked to such an extent that even female-oriented novels rarely dare to exaggerate like this... To say that she is the future of Mondstadt is not an exaggeration at all!

If Liyue historians were to record Jean's biography, her generation would likely have to be upgraded from the "Grunhild House" to the "Grunhild Chronicles," and the writing would have to be quite lengthy—

"Qin was born with divine spirit, frail yet valiant, with a beautiful appearance that inspired many. He served as a knight in his youth and gained a reputation for his refined skills as he grew older. When Qin became the captain of the guild, even officials of low rank and commoners who came to pay their respects treated him with the utmost respect, and he would sit down and converse with them with ease. Having been a man of high rank for generations, he was the object of everyone's admiration, and with his sincere devotion and humility, guests flocked to his court. Thus, the Monde proverb says: 'If things don't go well, go to Qin.'"

To be able to establish a personal relationship with this ensemble leader is an opportunity that you couldn't ask for more.

Now that the negotiations on business cooperation between the two countries and the rollout of the Liyue currency system have ended after the "Badminton Festival," wouldn't they be in a very strong position?

Translate this into what "surprise" means. This is what a surprise is!

Yes, you must agree!

Han Fulai was overjoyed, already imagining how he would humbly (or boastfully) tell Ningguang and Keqing that he had "made a small contribution while traveling" when he returned to Liyue.

However, he still maintained a troubled expression: "Even just out of my personal respect for you, Master Qin, I would be happy to do my part. It's just that my abilities are limited, and I may not actually be of any help to you..."

Well, let's express our attitude first, whether we can actually help is another matter. For us civil servants, nothing else matters but having the best attitude.

“I understand it’s presumptuous to make such a request so suddenly, but Ningguang… Tianquan once wrote to me mentioning your speech at the Seven Stars Conference…” Jean carefully chose her words, “You once questioned the Seven Stars present: ‘Why do the people of Liyue have to be mindful of the whims of the Winterborn on the land of Liyue? Why can the Winterborn travel thousands of miles to support the bullies of Liyue?’… As a Mondstadt native, I deeply empathize with these words.”

"You once said: 'Traversing ten thousand miles north and south, when will the thunder roar?' I also hope that Mondstadt will one day no longer be coerced and controlled by the Fools."

Upon hearing Qin's words, Han Fulai was surprised once again.

So... Ningguang had already made contact with Jean? He couldn't help but admire Ningguang's early planning and skillful tactics; she truly deserved to be the woman determined to cast the shadow of the Jade Pavilion over Teyvat.

Han Fulai thought for a moment and smiled, “I didn’t know that Commander Qin was also acquainted with Sister Ningguang. To be honest, Commander Qin, Lady Ningguang is my sworn sister. So, Commander Qin and I have actually been friends for a long time.”

Qin's face lit up with joy: "So, Vice Minister Han is willing to help?"

Han Fulai nodded: "It is my duty."

Qin nodded: "Then... let's start with the most pressing matter at hand, the conspiracy between the Lawrence family and the Fools..."

Yura walked out of the "Deer Hunter" restaurant, looking lost.

She was originally ordered to investigate what secrets her uncle was plotting with the Fools, but little did she know that what the Fools wanted was her...

What should she do now?

Admittedly, as a Knight of Favonius, all she needed to do was faithfully perform her duties, reporting the information she had gathered to Jean, leaving it to the acting Grand Master to judge. Presumably, once she reported the situation, Jean would know that the other party was after the "Mark of Ice" on her, and would order her to retreat and protect her properly.

This way, she wouldn't have to make any more choices.

But Yura can't do that now.

Because it concerns her family, she cannot stand idly by.

Yura occupies a very awkward position in Mondstadt. The Mondstadt people regard her as a descendant of sinners and a foreign noble who has restored the kingdom; while the Lawrence family regards her as an unfilial descendant and a traitor who has disobeyed the family. She is "neither here nor there," which perfectly describes her situation.

Yura, however, was unwilling to give up either way.

What she wanted was to restore the Lawrence family's glory through her own efforts—to live up to Mond and Lawrence's expectations.

But is there a way to have it all in this world?

Choosing to hand this matter over to the Knights would be tantamount to a complete break with her family. From then on, she would have no relatives left, and would have to turn her own blade against them, even pushing them into danger with her own hands. Choosing to return to the Lawrence family would be tantamount to giving up herself... What then is her life, her ideals? Just a tool for a marriage alliance? Or a bargaining chip at the negotiating table?

What should she choose?

Yura drifted along with the crowds during the festival, gradually being pushed by the flow of people to a familiar place.

"Cat's Tail Tavern".

Yura glanced at the tavern's sign and pushed open the door to go inside.

When Mondstadt residents are feeling lost, they usually choose to drink. Getting drunk helps them stop feeling lost, at least temporarily.

A moment later, the purple-haired nun also entered the bar behind her.

Yura was already seated at the bar, and the person who greeted her was Diona, the living advertisement of "Cat Tail Tavern".

"Hey, 'Alcohol Killer,' give me a 'Diona Special,' the worst kind!" Yura ordered from Diona with practiced ease.

Most bartenders would be angry to hear such words, but Diona would be happy because her reason for becoming a bartender was to "destroy Mondstadt's liquor business."

To outsiders, her cocktail recipes might seem "somewhat unbelievable." But Diona herself felt it was simply "I was really trying to ruin that awful liquid."

For Diona, Yura was a rare and close friend she could really get along with. She worked at the tavern to "destroy the Mondstadt brewery," while Yura joined the Knights of Favonius to "take revenge on them"—what a coincidence!

The girl with cat ears twitched slightly as she shook the shaker, looking quite happy—Yura always helped her experiment with new cocktail recipes whenever she ordered some alcohol.

"Hmph, drink this lizard sea salt wine and put an end to your drunken life!"

The girl confidently poured the liquid from the shaker into a glass.

Chapter 162 The Blessing of the Spring Spirit

Diona wasn't joking; the "Diona Special" she poured for Yura really did contain lizard tail and sea salt.

As the name suggests, a lizard's tail is the tail of a reptile with scales on its body; in Liyue, it is commonly known as a "four-legged snake".

Lizards have the characteristic of "shedding their tails to survive" when attacked. People collect the tails they leave behind after escaping for various uses. In alchemy, there are many elemental oils, such as "Gale Oil" and "Frost Oil," which require this ingredient.

This stuff tastes extremely bitter and is clearly not suitable for consumption. In Liyue, lizard tails are usually used in medicine; but in Mondstadt, it can indeed be used to make cocktails—provided that it is first soaked in distilled spirits overnight to remove most of the bitterness before being added as an ingredient to other base spirits to add a slightly bitter and mellow flavor.

Sea salt is typically paired with Mondstadt's famous dandelion liqueur. This liqueur has a slightly astringent taste, so people like to drink it with lemon and salt. The acidity of the lemon reduces the astringency, while the saltiness enhances the flavor of the dandelion liqueur.

However, even when drinking dandelion wine, there is no practice of adding salt directly to the wine.

The traditional way to drink dandelion liqueur in Mondstadt is to sprinkle salt on the back of your hand between your thumb and forefinger, hold a small glass of pure dandelion liqueur between your thumb and forefinger, and then hold a slice of lemon between your ring and middle fingers. When drinking, the drinker will quickly lick the salt off the back of their hand, then drink the liqueur in one gulp, and then bite into the lemon slice, letting the flavors mix in their mouth. It is said to taste incredibly delicious.

Throwing a lizard's tail directly into the shaker and then sprinkling in a lot of salt, like Diona did, would normally only ruin the original flavor of the drink, making it, to be precise, this unknown liquid, bitter and salty—but Diona wanted the drink to taste bad anyway.

Faced with the strange liquid that shimmered with a pale blue luster, Yura picked up the glass without hesitation and drank it all in one gulp.

"How is it? Isn't it awful?"

Diona's eyes widened, full of anticipation.

Yura put down her glass and replied with two words—

"Refill."

"...A refill?"

Diona lowered her head.

When a drinker says "refill," it's the highest compliment they can give to the taste of the wine, because good wine makes people want to drink one cup after another.

"...Refreshing like a spring." Yura gave a fair assessment of the drink's taste, although she didn't know why adding something salty and bitter to a drink would make it refreshing... But what could she do when the bartender was Diona?

No matter what kind of wine it is, once it has been blended by Diona, it will become an unimaginably delicious and exquisite wine.

This mysterious situation, whose underlying principle is unknown, is attributed by drinkers to "divine blessing"—this little bartender Diona is also a holder of the Eye of God, and it's not surprising that someone watched over by God can create any kind of miracle.

In fact, Diona was indeed "blessed".

In Diona's hometown, there is a legend of a "spring spirit".

The legend goes like this: