Kaeya, the hope of Khaenri'ah, somehow managed to avoid the curse that plagued his homeland.
If Mondstadt had a "Top Ten Mysteries" list, the enigma surrounding Kaeya would undoubtedly rank near the top.
Diluc, privy to certain details, harbored his own distaste for the secrets Kaeya carried—or perhaps it was the so-called "mission" tied to him.
But whatever, Gu Sanqiu thought. No matter how many secrets Kaeya has, can it really beat that guy who just radiates good favor with everyone?
He smirked. Even though Barbatos had told him not to meddle, Gu Sanqiu had decided to play the passive observer for now. After all, if even his father was involved, it was best to stay out of it.
Still, he thought, maybe I can cozy up to the golden boy, and when he's done traveling through the Seven Nations, I can be the first to secure his authorization to let Xingqiu write a "Traveler's Seven-Nation Chronicle" or something like that.
Aether was an earnest young man—or perhaps an earnest old man—who wholeheartedly expressed gratitude to those who helped him. His life, save for the lively interruptions of Paimon, was as pure as drifting snow.
As for anything like "The Traveler's Seven-Nation Harem Diary"? That was entirely out of the question. Perhaps someday the Abyss Princess would look at Xingqiu's novels and shake her head, lamenting her brother's uneventful journey.
"Why did you even bother meeting so many girls, stupid brother? All you did was finish quests and leave. And now my future sister-in-law isn't even on the horizon!"
"Let's go, you two. Today, it's on me," Gu Sanqiu said, tossing a gemstone onto the table. He glanced at Diluc.
"The Prince of the Night…"
Diluc gripped his weapon, expressionless. "Would you like to repeat that?"
"Fine, Darknight Hero." Gu Sanqiu raised his hands in surrender. "If you're curious about what's happening, I suggest keeping an eye on Mondstadt's more dangerous areas."
"The Knights are tied up with keeping the peace, and only a few are truly investigating the cause of these changes."
Diluc's hand trembled slightly as he held his juice. "Is that a warning?"
"No, just a suggestion," Gu Sanqiu said lazily, waving him off. "Instead of searching blindly, why not start by securing the dangerous areas? Makes sense, doesn't it?"
Kaeya chuckled. "Oh? Sanqiu, it seems you don't trust the Knights of Favonius. How could we be left out of such matters?"
Gu Sanqiu smiled faintly. "Because a single person acts more efficiently. Can you name anyone in the Knights who's both strong and has the time to act immediately?"
...
Kaeya faltered. It was true; such a person was hard to come by. At the moment, Diluc was undeniably the best candidate.
Still, Kaeya didn't want his brother charging headlong into danger.
Wait.
Kaeya's eyes lit up. If we're looking for someone like that, isn't there one sitting right here?
"Sanqiu…"
"Don't even think about it. I'm not going," Gu Sanqiu said bluntly. "It's thankless, time-consuming, and I'm busy."
Diluc's tone turned dry. "And you think I'm not busy?"
"Compared to me, you have time," Gu Sanqiu quipped with a smirk. "I'm just a traveler. Sooner or later, I'll return to Liyue. But you're not."
"I've got upcoming business negotiations with some of Liyue's trade guilds. I also plan to import a batch of premium tea leaves from Qingying Manor."
Diluc narrowed his eyes at him. "I don't have proof, but it feels like you're asking for my help."
"How about this? Help me save some money, and I'll lend you a hand," he offered.
Gu Sanqiu sighed, sitting back down. "What's this? The legendary warrior's intuition? Your future partner better not try lying to you."
Diluc's face remained stoic. "If I were to have a partner, she wouldn't feel the need to lie to me."
Kaeya, ever the instigator, chimed in. "What if she's planning a surprise for you? Hiding it until the right moment, only for you to figure it out immediately?"
Without hesitation, Diluc retorted, "Then I'd tell her that my dear brother Kaeya tipped me off—about a wife I neither have nor likely ever will."
...
Have you been learning bad habits from Sanqiu?
Gu Sanqiu burst out laughing and pulled out a blank sheet of paper. After stamping it with a seal, he handed it to Diluc.
"This certifies your membership in Liyue Harbor's trade-friendly partner program. In other words, you're already entitled to preferential treatment for trade with Liyue."
"This is a private certificate from my family. Qingying Manor won't give you any trouble when they see this."
Gu Sanqiu shrugged. "That said, compared to all of Liyue, Qingying Manor is small potatoes. Even with this, high-grade imports won't come cheap."
"Oh, and this document is based on trust. Use it wisely, and destroy it when you're done."
If it were Barbatos, he wouldn't have stamped it even on pain of death.
Diluc carefully pocketed the certificate. "This will suffice. Thank you."
"Then the exploration of dangerous areas is all yours," Gu Sanqiu said, standing up to leave. Kaeya, meanwhile, gazed thoughtfully at the sky.
"Do you think he's really asking for your help?"
Diluc shot him a cold look. "What does that matter to you?"
Kaeya chuckled, unfazed. "Oh, nothing. It's just… I know my dear brother Diluc wouldn't sit idly by. So whatever reward Sanqiu gave you feels a bit redundant."
"You love Mondstadt deeply. You'd handle this regardless. He didn't need to go out of his way to offer compensation."
Diluc set down his glass and folded his arms.
"Very perceptive. Now, care to guess where he wants me to go?"
"It couldn't be the domains, could it? He has a good relationship with the one beneath the domain—no need to send you there."
Kaeya's tone suddenly grew serious.
"Wait… don't tell me it's that place?"
Diluc's eyes turned icy. "Correct. Looks like your idleness hasn't dulled your sharpness. A good deduction."
"Good, my foot!" Kaeya's expression soured. "That guy's sending you to your death. This isn't payment—it's blood money!"
"No. Quite the opposite. I believe his assessment is reasonable—and accurate."
"If widespread elemental fluctuations are causing disturbances, that area has a high probability of being affected."
Diluc's gaze shifted to the horizon. Far away, chaotic elemental storms swirled—a sight that struck fear into the hearts of most who saw it.
Dragonspine.
---
...
Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.
Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.
WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it… or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.
If you had fun, you know what to do:
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Heads up—Patreon's 50% off for all tiers during May. So if you were on the fence? Now's the time.
And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.
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Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.
—Leaf