"Shenhe, how does it taste? Is it good?"
Lumine took out some Mora Meat. It had been bought earlier and stored in Koji's space, still warm.
"Delicious… but I should only taste lightly."
Shenhe pursed her lips. A thin sheen of oil made them gleam enticingly. Lumine licked her lips—just watching made her hungry.
"Shenhe, you'll only eat that much?"
Koji brought out more dishes, all Liyue specialties.
The fragrance filled the air. Lumine and Paimon couldn't resist, devouring eagerly.
"I mustn't eat too much." Shenhe hesitated. The aroma tempted her, but indulgence during training would haunt her later. It would take time to conquer such cravings.
"Shenhe, eat with us. Guizhong, you rest too." Koji called.
Guizhong tossed aside her tools and sat down. She hadn't tasted this era's food yet.
Human culinary art—truly wonderful. The God of the Stove, Makoshus, had passed it down, and countless styles had grown.
"This is Wanmin Restaurant's cooking?" Ping'er recognized the taste.
"Yes, Master Mao's work." Koji nodded.
"Hehe, my disciple's cooking is even better. Xiangling often scours the wilds for ingredients." Ping'er said with a smile.
"If I recall, Xiangling is mortal. You adepti… can your teachings give mortals lifespans like yours?"
Xianyun and Ping'er fell silent. Shenhe and Xiangling were mortal. Even gifted, their lives would only stretch a little longer—not like long-lived adepti.
It was a difference in life's tier.
Unless they ascended as gods—but in history, mortal ascension was vanishingly rare.
When their disciples' lives ended, they could only grieve in silence.
"Master, don't worry. Life and death are fated." Shenhe accepted calmly.
"Hehe, yes. I was overthinking." Xianyun gave a self-mocking smile.
…
Returning to Liyue Harbor, Shenhe was nudged along by Xianyun, who asked Koji's group to help her learn mortal life.
"Shenhe, want to meet your senior sister Ganyu?"
"Senior sister?"
Shenhe thought. She had never met her, only heard of her from Liuyun the Adeptus.
"I can."
She nodded.
They brought Shenhe to Ganyu. Ever dependable, Ganyu worked tirelessly while Qixing came and went. Without her, they'd collapse.
Her office was stacked with documents.
"So, you are my junior?"
Ganyu looked at Shenhe. Because of her work, she had never met her before.
"Hello, senior sister." Shenhe inclined her head.
Hearing her voice, Ganyu's expression twisted. It sounded almost like Liuyun the Adeptus.
If not for the different aura, she'd think it was her master's human form.
Koji understood the look. The same voice actress explained the resemblance.
"How is Master Liuyun lately?"
Ganyu asked. Work had kept her from visiting.
"Master is well. She studies strange mechanisms. She also told me about your childhood—"
"Stop. Don't."
Ganyu blushed. She knew. Master always told those embarrassing stories.
"Tell us! I love this kind of gossip." Lumine's eyes lit up.
"Traveler, show respect." Ganyu's gaze turned sharp.
Lumine felt it—a pure killing intent, not strong, but piercing.
She chuckled nervously and shut her mouth.
But later she could ask Shenhe, or better, Xianyun.
"Shenhe, do you have any Mora?" Ganyu asked.
Shenhe shook her head.
Ganyu rose, took a chest from the shelf, and handed it over. It was a trifle compared to her treasury.
"Here, spend it. If it's not enough, ask me."
She hardly used money herself. Giving it to her junior was natural.
"I want a rich senior sister too…" Lumine sighed.
"Lumine, you don't have one—but you have me. Don't you spend my Mora?"
Koji was exasperated. Without him, Lumine would be grinding commissions nonstop.
"True." Lumine nodded solemnly. Paimon ate too much—without Koji, they'd be broke.
As Lumine saw it, as Koji's queen, spending his Mora was only natural.
"Traveler, please look after my junior. I'm too busy to show her around." Ganyu said apologetically.
"Don't worry. Few in Liyue Harbor could harm Shenhe." Koji said oddly.
She might look delicate, but her strength was immense. Even Noelle, the Geo Maiden, couldn't match her. A punch from Shenhe could fell a youth.
"By the way, Ganyu, how long have you gone without rest?"
She hesitated. As a half-qilin adeptus, her body was beyond mortal limits. Simply put: born to be a workaholic.
In Teyvat, none outworked Ganyu.
Without her, Liyue's systems would grind to a halt.
If she left, Ningguang would need an army to replace her.
"I rest a little every day." Ganyu said.
During the Rite of Descension season, her workload spiked—but she was used to it.
"Feels like even Jean isn't as bad as you." Lumine said sincerely.
"Jean is human. Ganyu is half-adeptus. If Jean had Ganyu's body, she'd surpass her." Koji muttered.
Every nation had its workaholic. Thanks to them, gods could slack off.
"Senior sister, rest. Master told me you work without breaks."
"Alright, I understand." Ganyu nodded.
After the Rite of Descension, perhaps she'd take a real rest.
(End of Chapter)
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