"I want to go to the top-floor viewing deck."
"T-That…"
This put Verr Goldet in a difficult spot.
Everyone knew the very top floor of Wangshu Inn was not open to the public—let alone used for dining.
If an ordinary guest asked to go up there, Verr Goldet would refuse without hesitation.
But the one making this request now was Rowan, Mondstadt's Knight King.
And Ningguang-sama had also instructed her to satisfy his requests as much as possible.
He was an honored guest.
However, the very top floor of Wangshu Inn belonged to Xiao.
That one was among the "Three Eyes and Five Illuminated Adepti," and it wasn't Verr Goldet's place to interfere.
That level had been explicitly assigned to him. Without his permission—
Even if Ningguang-sama came in person, she would still have to politely ask for his consent.
The reason Wangshu Inn had stood tall in Dihua Marsh for so many years had everything to do with his protection.
"Is there a problem with that?"
Istaroth wrapped her arms around Rowan's, asking curiously.
It's just the top floor, right?
Why was it such a hassle?
Was there something on the top floor that couldn't be seen?
Not only Istaroth—Lumine, Paimon, and Jean all looked over with curiosity as well.
Verr Goldet could only force a helpless smile.
"Honored guests, I understand what you want."
"But the top floor really isn't under my authority. I can only go and ask. If he's unwilling, there's nothing I can do."
That was already her biggest compromise.
If Xiao refused in person, then she wouldn't have to be caught in the middle anymore.
At that point, it would be a matter between an adeptus and the Knight King—nothing to do with a small innkeeper like her.
"No problem. Go ask."
"Tell him I have a way to deal with the filth on his body."
"He'll definitely be willing."
Rowan didn't make things hard for her.
To put it nicely, Verr Goldet was the owner of Wangshu Inn.
To put it bluntly, she was an "agent" Ningguang-sama used to keep an eye on Xiao, an adeptus.
But Xiao's actions proved he had no ill intent toward Liyue at all.
Compared to Liyue's mortal world, he preferred cleaning up monsters in Guili Plains that had fallen into karmic corruption.
Farming day after day, ten years like one.
Over time, Wangshu Inn became a place dedicated to gathering intelligence from merchants traveling to and from Mondstadt.
And the rooftop level was deliberately reserved for Xiao. Without Xiao's permission, no one could go up.
One reason was the karmic debt on his body—it was extremely harmful to ordinary people, and prolonged contact could be life-threatening.
Another reason was that he himself liked quiet and solitude.
Of course, that was nonsense—but with four of the Five Yaksha gone and only him left, loneliness had long become his byword.
There are five people, the price is four. Xiao, you are not among them!
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Verr Goldet withdrew. Faced with everyone's curious gazes, Rowan calmly explained.
"The top floor is an adeptus's territory, so she can't decide."
"An adeptus?!"
Paimon shrieked, then belatedly covered her mouth, eyes wide in shock.
"There's an adeptus living in Wangshu Inn?!"
"Of course. Otherwise, where do you think an inn this huge came from?"
"It's precisely because an adeptus has been here all along that the inn was built in the first place."
"Without that adeptus, you wouldn't be looking at an inn of this scale."
Rowan wasn't making things up.
Wangshu Inn was originally built for Xiao.
It was only after Ningguang-sama took over the management side that it was developed into an intelligence relay station for Liyue—responsible for passing along information gathered from merchants traveling between the Seven Nations.
Places like inns and taverns were the best for information to circulate.
Otherwise, why do you think Venti that drunkard likes hanging around taverns?
Because he could learn a lot just by listening to merchants talk.
Of course, the bigger reason was that the guy genuinely loved drinking.
"So that's how it is!"
"Then can we go make a wish to the adeptus?"
"I hope that from now on, whenever I open treasure chests, I'll get amazing loot—then sell it for a ton of money, and we'll achieve financial freedom!"
Paimon said dreamily.
Lumine was tempted too. Not because she was lazy, but because Paimon's appetite was honestly terrifying.
She didn't even know how Paimon was built. She was under a meter tall, yet once she started eating—
She was a bottomless pit. Ten people's worth of food was nothing to her.
Even if they ate the cheapest dishes every day, little Paimon could still burn through nearly ten thousand Mora a day.
A glutton like that… Lumine really couldn't afford it.
"You're dreaming. Plenty of people in Liyue seek the adepti, but how many actually get what they want?"
"You think gods and adepti are easy to deal with? If you're going to pray, you might as well go pray to Rex Lapis."
Rowan rolled his eyes and crushed Paimon's fantasy.
What a thought—praying for treasure chests to drop better loot.
She might as well drag Klee around every day. Klee would be more reliable than an adeptus.
Four-leaf clovers weren't famous for nothing.
And if that didn't work, praying to Rex Lapis would do too. At least he was the God of Wealth.
Even if Zhongli never carried Mora.
"By the way, I still haven't asked you two."
"Liyue's god is Rex Lapis, right?"
Lumine suddenly remembered she hadn't really learned much about Liyue's god yet.
She only knew the locals called him Rex Lapis, and that he was the Geo Archon.
Beyond that, she basically knew nothing.
Paimon finally remembered she was supposed to be a guide, and immediately raised her hand excitedly.
"I'll explain! I-I'll explain!"
"Liyue's god is the Geo Archon, named Morax. He's known as the Geo Archon, the God of Wealth, the God of War, the God of Contracts, and a bunch of other titles."
"He's recognized as the strongest god on Teyvat—no exceptions. Locals usually call him Rex Lapis."
"So that means Mora was created by him?"
"Exactly. Mora was named by Morax, and the mint that produces it is in Liyue."
Paimon nodded with a satisfied expression, looking like, Lumine, you finally get it.
Lumine's forehead twitched. Annoyed, she yanked Paimon into her arms and brutally pulled her cheeks outward.
"Aaaahhh!"
"Hel…p…! Mu…r…der…!"
(End of Chapter)
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