Night.
A faint click broke the silence.
The door creaked open just enough for a shadow to peek out, scanning left and right.
Seeing no one stirred, the figure tiptoed forward, placing one cautious foot on the floor, then another, easing her whole body out of the room.
The door closed again with the gentlest sound possible.
As for why she didn't use elemental power or adeptal arts—
please, that would have been stupid.
Any fluctuation of energy would instantly give her away.
She wasn't that dumb.
'Hmph, that little hoofed witch… tomorrow she'll be calling me onee-san.'
'Just wait, I'll make her pay back every bit of pride she's shown.'
Yingda's eyes narrowed as she stared at Huoliya's door.
Then she hunched her shoulders and tiptoed toward Taro's room.
She'd made up her mind this morning—
if she was going to stage a night attack, then tonight was the night.
Huoliya, that smug "hoofed one," had clearly set her sights on eating meat sooner or later.
Her big sister, who'd only known Sensei for two days, was just as dangerous.
Yingda knew her too well—give it three days and she'd pounce too.
She might be the second one to arrive,
but she'd be the first one to feast.
The brave eat their fill; the timid starve.
If she didn't move now, she'd be left with scraps later.
Besides, she'd learned something.
Sensei never chased anyone first, but if someone offered themselves up…
he didn't turn them away either.
By Liyue's modern gossip standards,
that made him a man with many boats under his feet.
A refined scoundrel, a soft-spoken rake.
'Whatever,' she muttered inwardly.
'Scoundrel or not, I'm willing. So what?'
'Let's see the others try to compete.'
Huoliya saying, "I won't fight or argue,"?
Utter nonsense.
Yingda would fight if she had to.
Silently she reached Taro's door, heart pounding.
The latch clicked as she gently pushed it open—
Huh?
Darkness. That was expected.
But the absence of Sensei? That wasn't.
He wasn't on the bed. Not at his desk either.
Could it be… tonight's mission was going to fail?
No! Not after she'd psyched herself up this much!
Clap.
A hand landed on her shoulder.
Already tense like a thief, Yingda almost jumped out of her skin.
She spun around—then froze when she sensed his familiar aura.
'Sensei! Can you not appear like a ghost?!'
If it hadn't been him, she'd have attacked instinctively.
"Shh."
Taro lifted a finger to his lips. "A midnight surprise, hmm…
This is it?"
Was this girl insane, sneaking into his room at night like this?
Yingda blinked, then grinned sheepishly—
and suddenly, he found himself pulled inside the room, door closing quietly behind them.
"You were planning to—mmph!"
He didn't finish.
She'd attacked.
Taro froze.
Was she serious?!
This little secretary dared stage a coup?!
Yingda looked up at him, eyes shimmering.
"Sensei… do you like this gift?"
Tonight, her courage knew no bounds.
Taro arched a brow.
"What do you think?"
"This gift…" he smiled faintly, "I'll gladly accept."
The next morning, the sun rose upon victory and chaos alike.
Somewhere behind closed doors, a small Yaksha's boldness had changed everything.
'How could Yingda dare something like that?!'
'She was the second to arrive, but she struck first?!'
'Since when does courage change the order of things?!'
Huoliya tossed and turned, utterly unable to sleep.
One night without rest.
By noon, Taro stretched lazily as he rose from bed, refreshed.
At the round table downstairs sat two utterly drained women—
dark circles, blank eyes, energy gone.
Clearly, neither had slept.
"Hmm? What's with you two?"
Huoliya turned her head weakly.
"Boss~ you know what."
"My sister and I didn't sleep a wink last night."
How could they?
Their minds had been boiling all night.
"I—I'll make tea!"
Fan'nan sprang up like a startled rabbit and fled to the kitchen.
"Ahem."
Taro coughed lightly. "You shouldn't stay up so late. Not healthy."
Well… this wasn't his fault.
The real culprit was still sleeping soundly.
So playful, yet so talented.
"I wanted to stay up,"
Huoliya muttered with a mournful sigh.
"Voluntarily would've been fine, but being forced to stay awake…"
She sighed again.
If she'd known, she wouldn't have gone shopping last night.
She should've gone straight to the kitchen—and stolen a bite herself.
Now she'd missed her chance.
And that fool Yingda was probably still grinning in her sleep.
No doubt she'd come downstairs later, all smug and triumphant.
Just picturing it made Huoliya's chest tighten.
"Sensei, tea."
Fan'nan returned, calmer now, placing a cup before him.
Her hands trembled slightly.
If even my little sister can be that bold, she thought,
then maybe… someday… I could too.
She shook her head quickly. No. No weird thoughts.
Taro accepted the tea with a short nod, sipping once before changing the topic:
"Fan'nan, I'll need you to visit the Yuehai Pavilion today."
"Yuehai Pavilion?" she asked, instantly pulling out pen and paper.
"Please give your instructions."
"It's about the Incense Divinity System."
He set his cup down.
"You'll need to coordinate with Guizhong and Ganyu. This concerns Liyue's national fate."
"Understood."
Fan'nan nodded firmly.
"Also," Taro added, "there's a personal request.
Tell them I've created my own Celestial Realm.
I need ordinary animals, plants, trees—whatever can help balance its internal ecosystem.
If they have time, they can collect some for me."
His life-creation magic was too limited; the flora he could make himself were too monotonous.
Better to copy nature directly from Teyvat.
"A personal realm?"
Fan'nan's eyes shone. "Of course, Sensei. I'll see to it."
Decorating a realm was simple enough.
Since the invention of Realm Within arts, nearly every adeptus had built one.
Liyue's immortals even maintained a shared realm network.
Fan'nan and Yingda both had small ones of their own.
Decorating one? Easy.
"I can help too!"
Huoliya perked up.
"My realm's empty—whatever you need, I can procure it."
"Ahem."
Taro cleared his throat.
"My realm is… somewhat larger than usual."
"Larger?" Huoliya tilted her head. "How large?"
"About half the size of Teyvat."
"...What?"
Both women froze, staring at him in stunned silence.
Half of Teyvat?!
That wasn't a realm—
that was a world.
(End of Chapter)
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