After Lu Lin left, Ningguang's furrowed brows did not relax.
Though she felt intense disgust toward his "scoundrel behavior," that did not mean she had ignored what he said.
The phrase "Outlander" had already lodged itself in her mind.
In Teyvat's history, such individuals had appeared before. Records existed. She had read them.
Was Lu Lin's immunity to abyssal power and godly remnants due to being an Outlander?
She pondered—
Yet something felt off.
Strange.
Why did her chest feel… odd?
Ningguang subconsciously lowered her head.
Her pupils shrank.
One button was undone.
When had that happened?
She was meticulous—obsessively so.
With Baiwen and her other secretaries assisting her daily, there was no possibility she would appear before guests improperly dressed.
Had it popped open?
Her figure… could cause strain.
But no—the button design specifically prevented accidental opening.
A faint, unusual sensation lingered across her chest.
She walked into her private lounge and locked the door.
Slowly, she unfastened the remaining buttons.
…!!!
Underneath her luxurious outer dress was a simple white undergarment—slightly disordered.
A bad premonition rose in her heart.
When she loosened it—
Her forehead veins nearly burst.
On her fair, smooth skin—
Two glaring red marks.
Strawberries.
Still faintly moist.
She had never been in a relationship—but as one of Liyue's rulers, she was far from naïve.
She knew exactly what those marks meant.
Lu Lin!!!
I will kill you!!!
She had weathered countless storms in the merchant world, climbed step by step to become Tianquan.
She rarely displayed emotion.
But now—
She had the urge to smash something.
Humiliation and fury intertwined.
For a moment, she truly wished to drop the Jade Chamber on his head.
Yet she forced herself to calm down.
Questions surfaced instead.
"How did he do this? Why do I have no memory of it?"
She replayed their meeting in her mind.
Nothing seemed out of place.
Except—
That final playful snap of his fingers.
Hypnosis?
Memory erasure?
Some unknown method?
And that final button—
He hadn't fastened it.
On purpose.
A deliberate taunt.
A challenge.
Even if he had closed it, she would have discovered the marks later while bathing.
But discovering it immediately—
That was intentional.
A declaration of war.
"Lu Lin… just you wait."
She gritted her teeth but did not act rashly.
If he dared act so brazenly, he must have backing.
She needed to understand it first.
Know your enemy.
That was how she won every battle.
She exited the lounge, face already composed.
"Baiwen. Prepare fresh clothes. I will bathe."
At noon?
Baiwen found it odd but did not question.
Meanwhile
Lu Lin hummed cheerfully as he descended from the Jade Chamber.
When Ningguang discovered the strawberries, her expression would surely be priceless.
He had merely returned her hostility with interest.
Back at Yujing Terrace, Thousand-Mile Guards were preparing something.
"What's happening?" he asked Bu Yun, the guide who had helped him ascend earlier.
"In three days, it will be the annual Rite of Descension. The Millelith are preparing the site."
The Rite of Descension—
Liyue's yearly ceremony to receive guidance from Rex Lapis.
Hosted by the Qixing.
If he remembered correctly—
This time, Ningguang would preside.
And it would be the ceremony where Rex Lapis would "fall."
The Traveler would appear as well.
Perhaps…
He could take advantage of that opportunity.
For now, he left.
Ganyu was busy; he would not disturb her.
Instead—
He headed to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Time to see Hu Tao.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
"Big Hilichurl's sick, little Hilichurl's checking~
Third Hilichurl gathers herbs, fourth Hilichurl howls~"
Before he reached the door, Hu Tao bounced up behind him and tapped his shoulder.
"Lu Lin! Came to see this Director?"
"Had some free time. Thought I'd drop by… maybe borrow lunch?"
She grinned brightly.
"Of course! Most people avoid Wangsheng, but you came to freeload lunch? I must treat you well!"
She gestured behind her.
A young man stood nearby.
"This is our consultant, Zhongli. Young, but talks like an old man. Extremely knowledgeable."
"Pleasure, Mr. Lu," Zhongli greeted calmly, smile warm as spring wind.
"Pleasure," Lu Lin replied.
It was his first time seeing Rex Lapis in person.
Handsome.
Impressively so.
They entered and sat.
Hu Tao rushed off to instruct the kitchen.
Lu Lin and Zhongli conversed casually.
"Thank you for looking after our Director at Guili Plains."
"She's my friend. We helped each other."
The atmosphere was relaxed.
Until—
Zhongli's tone shifted slightly.
"Mr. Lu… you know who I am, do you not?"