A few days later, the most notable event during this period was Ying acquiring the Serenitea Pot.
With the Serenitea Pot, Ying no longer had to rough it outdoors while adventuring.
So, Ying immediately began her adventure, asking Lin Qiu about her brother, as she was ready to set off.
Lin Qiu had wanted to say that the story about her brother would be released in the next two days, but Ying didn't want to wait.
Lin Qiu could only tell Ying to ask Lan of the Adventurers' Guild for any recent information on the Treasure Hoarders.
If there was none, it meant the time wasn't right yet, and she should wait a bit longer.
The reason Lin Qiu didn't directly tell Ying was because he also didn't know the exact location of the ruin where Dainsleif was encountered.
Teyvat in reality is vast, and the location he knew would cover a considerable area in the real world.
Moreover, ruins in reality are quite hidden; instead of a carpet search, it would be better to wait for Ganyu's intelligence.
But Ying couldn't wait; she decided to help out with all the Adventurers' Guild's intelligence on the Treasure Hoarders, regardless of whether it was what she was looking for.
She wiped out an unknown number of Treasure Hoarders in a short time, and finally obtained the information she wanted.
Shortly after she got the information, Lin Qiu's new book was also released.
"See, isn't this a coincidence?" Lin Qiu said helplessly, having just left when he received a message from Guizhong and the others.
"It's fine, since you're with us, it's like we've already read the book," Paimon said.
That's right, this time Ying dragged Lin Qiu along.
Because it concerned her brother, Ying was worried about missing any crucial clues, so she pulled Lin Qiu along, only to find that the book was released just after she brought him out.
The Great Treasure Hoarder also had something to say: "I just started my operation, and you're already here? Isn't that a bit too fast?"
Lin Qiu didn't object to accompanying Ying on her adventure; it was essentially Ying playing an 'action-adventure game' and Lin Qiu playing a 'mystery game'.
In simple terms, one was responsible for fighting monsters, and the other was responsible for finding clues.
Ying now had two external organs: Paimon was her external mouth, and Lin Qiu was her external brain.
This adventure was truly easy for Ying; she only had to focus on the thrill of combat, leaving all the clue-finding and navigation to Lin Qiu.
The problem of communicating with people was left to Paimon.
In a game, it would be like having an auto-navigation and skip-story function.
It's a pity Lin Qiu didn't call for more people; otherwise, even monster-fighting would have been 'fully automated'.
Back to Lin Qiu's new book: 'Chapter 1: Act IV: The Story of 'We Will Be Reunited''
However, before this story began, there was a prerequisite story—'We Will Be Reunited: Dainsleif'.
The reason Dain's story was written here is because the 'Dainsleif' quest and 'The Story of 'We Will Be Reunited'' are continuous.
The quest 'We Will Be Reunited: Dainsleif' can also be considered the prelude to Chapter 1: Act IV.
Releasing them together makes it easier for everyone to understand, so they don't forget who Dain is while reading.
Moreover, Dain's quest, when viewed alone, has too many riddles; it's better consumed with 'The Story of 'We Will Be Reunited''.
Speaking of Dain's quest, apart from those three questions and the final illustration Lin Qiu drew of Aether looking at his sister, there were no other arguments.
Dain's three questions were like a hundred Hamlets in a hundred people's hearts; readers all had their own answers.
The first question: 'Who was the key to ending the Dragon Disaster?'
The Traveler? The Anemo Archon? The united Mondstadters? The Prophet?
Some people thought it was the Traveler, because her contribution was the most obvious in the story, and her arrival marked a turning point in the events.
Others thought it was the Anemo Archon; although the Anemo Archon seemed to be slacking off, he always acted at crucial moments.
Naturally, some also believed it was due to everyone's concerted efforts; the contributions of the Knights of Favonius and the Mondstadters should not be overlooked.
And people outside Mondstadt also largely felt it was because of the Prophet, since the Prophet had already spoiled the entire solution process, wouldn't it be simpler to resolve?
But it also seemed that everyone contributed, making it difficult to determine who was the key; perhaps everyone was a crucial cog?
And the second question: 'After losing their deity, who will protect Liyue Harbor?'
This question is also very difficult to answer, because even among Liyue people, some sided with the Adepti, and some with the Qixing.
Adepti or Qixing, it's somewhat like the sweet-salty debate; no one is wrong, but it's very difficult to convince the other to agree with you.
The last one was even more significant: 'In this world, there are those who have received a Vision, and those who have not.'
'In your opinion, to the gods, which of these two types of people is more important?'
The first two questions had already sparked widespread discussion, but this question stirred up a storm of public opinion like a 'tornado destroying a parking lot'.
How many people who haven't received a Vision feel that they haven't received the gods' gaze?
In their view, only those with a Vision are important to the gods.
As for themselves, they are merely insignificant existences; no matter how much effort they put in, they will not receive the gods' attention.
Pantalone was like this; at this moment, he looked at this question and fell into deep thought.
Teppei was similar; how could he not wish to receive the gods' attention?
But those who received a Vision also wondered, "Am I really more important to the gods?"
Does receiving a Vision mean everything is fine and you're a winner in life?
Kaveh looked at the Vision in his hand; this Vision appeared too late, truly too late.
It only appeared when Kaveh personally shattered the 'palace', as if a 'wish' was born from a broken wish.
The wish seemed to have moved further away, but the 'wish' seemed to have appeared before his eyes.
Are those who possess a Vision truly important to the gods?
Not just Kaveh, Inazuma people also questioned this; if it were truly so, why would the Shogun issue the Vision Hunt Decree?
Wan Ye held his friend's Vision; which is more important to the gods, those with a Vision or those without? Perhaps neither is important.
As for Furina, she believed that whether one possessed a Vision or not, they were all very important to the gods.
"If I were a true god..." Furina sighed, "If I were a true god, I could answer this question."
The gods know that the distribution of Visions has little to do with them, so to them, everyone is indeed equally important; they don't favor someone more to give them a Vision.
After the three questions were asked, the Traveler and Dain embarked on their journey, and only at the very end of the journey did Aether get a little bit of ink.
Readers were very excited because this was the Abyss Prince's second appearance since the end of the Mondstadt story, after such a long time.
However, the ink on Aether only described him coming to see his sister, which was somewhat disappointing.
Even without making big news, Charlotte also hoped Ying could meet her brother, but this time's encounter was just a memory from a blood relative...
Hopefully, in the later stories, the Traveler will be able to meet her brother.
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Character Voice Line · Keqing: About 'The Third Question'
"You ask me? I don't know the gods' thoughts, but if you ask me... is it important whether it's important