The three of them wandered for a while until Miko stopped at the entrance of a particularly striking temple.
She pointed toward it and turned back.
"Lu Chen! Take a picture of us."
Miko affectionately wrapped her arm around Ei's neck. The two members of the Narukami group stood side by side, smiling brightly.
"Oh..." Lu Chen took her pink phone and switched it to the rear camera.
He prided himself on being a decent photographer, so he carefully looked for the right angle, adjusted the composition, and waited for the shifting light among the clouds.
Miko and Ei stood at the temple entrance, watching as Lu Chen climbed up and down, ran back and forth, fiddling with the phone for quite a while.
But he didn't take the shot.
"What are you doing?" Miko asked, her smile becoming stiff. "I can't hold this pose much longer!"
Ei glanced over, curious.
"Patience, patience," Lu Chen gestured for them to stay calm. "You'll see what I'm going for."
"If it turns out bad..." Miko mumbled, "he's done for!"
Ei whispered beside her, "Chen's spent so long adjusting it, I think it'll be fine..."
Miko shot her a glare. "Always taking his side!"
"No..."
"Of course you are! My face is going numb and you don't even care!"
"..."
Lu Chen had no idea what the two were whispering about—he was focused entirely on his shot.
At that moment, a ray of sunlight broke through the clouds. The timing was perfect.
Click. He finally pressed the shutter.
"Finally..." Miko stretched her arms and walked over eagerly.
"Here!" Lu Chen handed the phone to her.
Miko took the phone, Ei leaning in beside her. The two of them stared intently at the screen.
Gradually, Miko's hopeful expression turned to confusion.
"Well?" Lu Chen asked.
Miko turned the phone toward him, her brows furrowed.
"Look at this! What is this supposed to be?"
"I think it's great," Lu Chen said innocently, pointing at the photo.
"Look at the timing of the light and shadow! The golden ratio of the composition! The masterful framing of the architecture! It takes years of skill to achieve this."
"But..." Miko wanted to argue, but Lu Chen's earnest rambling left her speechless.
He kept going: "The sun wasn't in the right spot at first. I waited for it to hit the glazed tiles just right—look at the depth! The temple looks magnificent!"
"But..." Miko pointed at the corner of the photo where they appeared.
"You can't even see our faces! It's worse than a selfie!"
Lu Chen finally stopped talking.
Ei giggled.
Classic straight-guy photography.
Miko tossed the phone back to him in exasperation.
"Just take a nice picture of us. Got it?"
"Got it..."
Lu Chen stood there helplessly, looking once more at the photo.
The sunlight bathing the temple, the towering structures—it really did have a grand, mysterious feel.
He sighed in regret.
For the second shot, Lu Chen abandoned his photography ambitions and moved in close to snap the picture.
The two "background characters" from before finally filled the frame.
Fashionable and radiant Miko, and Ei—pure and breathtaking—were captured perfectly in that moment.
With a shot that finally satisfied Miko, the three of them wandered along, eventually catching up with the main group.
Venti teased, "How was your little stroll?"
Lu Chen shot him a look. "Thanks to the Anemo Archon, we had a great time."
He held up the bags he was carrying, showing how his fingers were nearly being cut off by the handles.
Venti chuckled.
As they continued walking, the group passed a fortune-telling stall.
Venti stopped in front of it.
Lu Chen glanced over. The fortune-teller had a goatee, wore round sunglasses, and had a few old yellowed books and a battered compass on his table.
He looked straight out of a movie.
A banner hung behind him: "I-Ching & Feng Shui, Divination, Face Reading, Fortune-Telling, Matchmaking, Naming, Healing, Infertility..."
A very... comprehensive menu.
Seeing Venti's curious gaze, Lu Chen walked over. "You thinking of trying it?"
"It looks fun! You can peer through the fog of destiny, see the past and future. Don't you want to try?"
Lu Chen wasn't interested. He tugged at them. "It's fake—let's go."
But unexpectedly, the fortune-teller called out, "Please stay, honored guests!"
Everyone turned to look.
The fortune-teller fixed his gaze on Venti, calculated with his fingers.
"I see this young man has extraordinary features—handsome, carefree, and unrestrained. Your destiny looks smooth overall, but—"
"But what?" Venti couldn't help stepping closer.
The fortune-teller dramatically removed his sunglasses and studied Venti.
"But things may not go so well for you in the near future."
Venti's eyes lit up. "Not bad."
Lu Chen sighed. That was such a generic statement—it could apply to anyone.
"You've got nothing to be stressed about," Lu Chen said to Venti.
Venti whispered, "My fifteenth attempt to quit drinking just failed..."
Seeing Lu Chen's exasperated look, Venti grinned. "Ah, I'm not taking it seriously—it's just for fun. Why don't you try it?"
"I think I'll pass..." Lu Chen glanced at the compass. In his previous life, he'd tried mysticism to escape a tragic fate. It hadn't helped.
The fortune-teller was quick. "If you don't believe in Feng Shui, I also do Tarot."
"Tarot!?" Lu Chen watched as the fortune-teller pulled out a box of Western Tarot cards.
"And that's not all!" The fortune-teller wasn't about to let this group of tourists go.
"Zodiac signs, mediums, MBTI personality tests—I've got it all!"
Lu Chen was impressed. "Master, you're truly well-versed in many fields..."
"But of course." The fortune-teller twirled his goatee, looking pleased.
Lu Chen found it amusing and pushed Zhongli forward. "Then read his fortune."
When Zhongli stood before him, the fortune-teller suddenly frowned, looking serious as he carefully studied him.
"This man is extraordinary. Though young, he carries great dignity. His future is limitless."
Zhongli glanced back at Lu Chen, who couldn't help but smile.
After stepping down as Geo Archon, the 6,000-year-old Morax was now alone in the world. If the fortune-teller had said the opposite, it might've been more accurate.
"Career, marriage, destiny," the fortune-teller asked. "What would you like to know?"
"My career," Zhongli answered calmly.
The fortune-teller performed a swift divination, then gave his conclusion in a solemn tone.
Zhongli's career might face setbacks, stagnation, and even unimaginable difficulties, but as long as he persevered, he would ultimately achieve his goals.
Zhongli nodded slightly. "If that is so, good."
After Zhongli's turn, Lu Chen took Ei's hand and stepped forward.
"Tell us what the future holds for the two of us."
"No problem."
The fortune-teller studied the couple in front of him, then glanced at his results.
After a long pause.
"According to the reading... your relationship may not be very smooth."
"Huh?"
Lu Chen felt Ei's grip tighten.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Lu Chen's smile no longer reached his eyes, and Ei's expression turned worried.
Lu Chen stared at the fortune-teller, who nervously wiped the sweat from his brow.
It was the first time anyone had seen Lu Chen look like this. Even Miko frowned.
His was a cold, restrained smile—like the calm before a storm on Narukami Island.
Miko's gaze grew complicated. She let out a faint sigh.
"I haven't finished..." the fortune-teller said awkwardly.
"Go on," Lu Chen replied without looking at him, instead gazing into Ei's violet eyes, his expression reassuring.
"Though your relationship will face disasters, distrust, and even confrontation, as long as you, young man, remain honest and steadfast, the road ahead will eventually be smooth."
Without meaning to, Lu Chen thought of the past.
The years he'd spent with Ei—wars, disasters, lost memories...
Fighting each other with blades, nearly becoming enemies.
Then coming to this world, clearing misunderstandings, and living a peaceful life together...
It all matched the reading perfectly. Lu Chen's gentle smile returned. He tightened his grip on Ei's slightly cold hand and looked ahead.
"Thank you."
"My pleasure..." the fortune-teller wiped more sweat from his face.
Next, only Miko hadn't gone yet.
The fortune-teller asked, "Career, marriage, destiny—young lady, you?"
Miko seemed a little hesitant. She was silent for a long time before finally sitting down.
Her gaze flickered with determination.
"Marriage, then!"