Bonus chapter for 150 powerstones
....
Shajin shrugged as if stating a fact.
"Obviously, if you take out the gods, Inazuma's economy, military, and political power are the weakest among the Seven Nations—no contest."
He raised an eyebrow and looked toward Lumine, casually asking, "Lumine, if you're heading to Inazuma later, want me to give you a ride?"
Lumine stroked her chin, thought for a moment, then shook her head in reply.
"I promised Beidou, captain of the Crux, that I'd join the Alcor by winning a martial arts tournament."
She smiled slightly and added, "But thanks anyway, Shajin."
Shajin shrugged in understanding. Everyone had their own plans and choices, and he respected that.
He reminded her, "Alright, I respect your decision, Lumine. But remember that 'Mora' I gave you before? Keep it safe—it can protect you one more time."
Lumine nodded, brushing a strand of hair blown by the sea breeze behind her ear.
"Got it, thanks, Shajin."
At that moment, the Serenitea Pot at Lumine's waist trembled, and Paimon flew out.
"Ugh—I must've fallen asleep."
Paimon slowly opened her drowsy eyes and yawned.
"Eh?!"
Seeing the purple lightning striking in the distance, her dazed eyes instantly widened, and her small face filled with shock.
She turned to Lumine.
"Lumine, where are we?!"
Lumine chuckled softly and reached out to fix Paimon's messy hair from sleeping.
"You got drunk and fell asleep earlier, so I put you in the Serenitea Pot. As for here… I'm currently at the border of Inazuma."
"Ohhh, that explains it!"
Paimon nodded in sudden understanding.
Nearby, Shajin spoke up.
"It's getting late. We should head back."
He glanced up at the sun nearing the horizon.
"Heh, looks like I woke up just in time."
Paimon scratched her head.
Shajin stomped his foot on the back of Baqiu.
With a long, echoing whale's call, Baqiu swam toward Liyue Harbor.
…
Earlier, Shajin had arranged for the top floor of the pavilion to be transformed into an open-air viewing platform.
Undoubtedly the best spot for a group gathering.
At the entrance,
A fiery red figure stood with hands on hips.
"Really, Shajin, I'm the director here, and I've been waiting impatiently! Hurry up—everyone else is here except you guys."
Shajin waved his hand.
"Sorry, Hu Tao."
Then he asked curiously, "But since everyone else is busy upstairs, you downstairs aren't slacking off, right?"
Hu Tao averted her eyes guiltily.
"No way… am I that kind of person?!"
"Come on, come on, don't keep everyone waiting."
She grabbed Shajin's wrist and pulled him along.
Tartaglia followed behind.
Rosalyne and Lumine exchanged a glance, then both subtly looked away in silent agreement.
…
"Shajin, where were you hiding?"
Going upstairs, Shajin saw Keqing wearing an apron, carrying a steaming plate of golden silk shrimp balls.
Shajin stepped forward to take the plate.
"Sorry I'm late. I'll take a penalty drink later."
Keqing rolled her eyes, then suddenly remembered something.
"Oh no, my grilled fish!!!"
"Shajin, long time no see!"
Cloud Retainer waved to Shajin, having swapped her costume for casual clothes.
"Thanks to your 'Mora,' or my father and I might have been crushed by falling boulders."
Shajin waved his hand dismissively.
"No need to be so formal, Yun Jin. Aren't we friends? If you're still worried, how about singing your new song to me first?"
"After all these years hiding in Liyue, I've got to be fully disguised to hear your plays."
Hehe…
Yun Jin covered her mouth, chuckling.
"That person in the black robe was really you?"
Shajin shrugged.
Pointing to his eyes, "My eyes are pretty distinctive. You must have recognized me immediately, right?"
Yun Jin gave a noncommittal shake of her adorable head.
"Who knows~"
…
"Cloud Retainer! Drink less!!!"
"Master, stop drinking."
Ganyu and Shenhe each grabbed one arm of the human-shaped Cloud Retainer.
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper exchanged a glance, all too familiar with how drunk Cloud Retainer could be—he said anything and everything!
Seeing her wine cup taken by her two disciples, Cloud Retainer slurred, "Ganyu, give me back the cup. I still remember when you were little, I used chopsticks to dab wine for you, and you just collapsed right on the floor…"
"Cloud Retainer!!!"
…
"Brother!?"
Lumine stared in disbelief at the family member before her, tears sliding down her cheeks as she ran and threw herself into his arms.
"Lumine…" Paimon wanted to fly over, but Shajin pulled her back with a smile.
"Let them have a moment alone~"
"I hate you, Aether!"
"Sorry, Lumine…"
"Why can't you travel with me?"
Aether gently patted his sister's back.
"We will reunite someday, but not now, Lumine."
"There are still things I need to do, things only I can do."
"But tonight, let's put aside our identities and enjoy the Lantern Rite Festival together… Ow! Lumine! Let go!"
Lumine wiped the tears from her eyes, tugging hard on Aether's small braided ponytail at the back of his head.
"Hmph! Stinky brother! There's no place for you in this family anymore!"
She then turned her back on him, grabbing Shajin's wrist and dragging him to the dining table.
"Shajin! Come eat!"
Shajin: ???
Aether: ???
Aether stared at his sister in disbelief.
He immediately pushed their hands apart.
"Lumine! What's going on between you two?!"
"None of your business!"
"You… this is early love!"
"I'm already over 500 years old!"
…
Shajin rubbed his wrist and sat next to Zhongli.
"Heh, it really is lively here."
Zhongli looked around, took a sip of hot tea, and exhaled softly.
"Yes, the last time it was this lively was…"
…
Fatui Outpost No. 140.
"Grisve! We're out of Firewater! Hurry, get more!"
"Wait! I'm still grilling meat! Let Larus go!"
"Coming! The Gambler said we have plenty of firewater!"
The Fatui, off their combat gear, drank, sang, and danced joyfully.
At that moment, Vlad climbed on stage.
"Natiya, come help me distribute these letters. When you hear your name, come up!"
"Andrei!"
"Katerina!"
"Romanlosov!"
…
After the letters were handed out, everyone got one.
The fatui agents, who shed blood but not tears on the battlefield, couldn't help but tear up reading letters from their loved ones.
Some emotional female fatui choked up.
Vlad stood on stage and shouted loudly.
"Comrades! Brothers and sisters!"
"I'm just a common man, don't know what to say."
"But our sacrifice—"
"Is for those who remember us;"
"For our pure and supreme Tsaritsa;"
"For Snezhnaya!"
Everyone raised their cups filled with firewater, shouting in unison:
"For Snezhnaya!!!"
…
"The appointed hour has arrived~"
Ningguang approached, along with Baishi, Baiwen, and Baixiao, each holding a basket of Xiao Lanterns.
Looking at the laughing group including Shajin,
"Everyone, it's almost time. Please write your wishes on your Xiao Lantern. When the bell rings, release them into the sky."
Everyone took a Xiao Lantern and wrote down their long-prepared wishes.
Shajin glanced at the rooftop.
"Hey! Conqueror of Demons, aren't you coming to get one?"
Xiao glanced at Shajin.
"Hmph, boring~"
But he still pulled out a Xiao Lantern beside him and waved it toward Shajin.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The bell rang.
Over Liyue Harbor, streets and alleys alike, Xiao Lanterns floated into the sky like golden currents flowing above.
Hu Tao stroked her chin.
"Hmm… something still feels missing~"
Shajin clapped his hands and stood up.
"Indeed, something's still missing~"
Taking off his pink sunglasses,
The mask symbolizing the Gambler appeared on his face.
The Gambler Adventurine slowly flew upward, level with the Xiao Lanterns.
Then he snapped his fingers.
In an instant,
The entire Liyue Harbor was covered by a dazzling golden screen.
"Everyone, Happy Lantern RiteFestival!!!"
Five huge golden Xiao Lanterns appeared at the center, surrounded by countless small Xiao Lanterns, almost filling the entire sky above Liyue Harbor.
The harbor lit up as bright as day.
On the five large Xiao Lanterns were written: "Happy Lantern Rite Festival."
From streets and alleys to Outpost 140 to the rooftop of the Gambler's Den…
Everyone shouted together,
"Happy Lantern Rite Festival!!!"
_
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