Chapter 81 Dilly Dally Departure

"Feng Yi, by the time you read this, I should already be gone.

Please forgive my sudden departure. I'm very happy to have met you as a friend in Liyue, but Snezhnaya needs me!

Yesterday, I intended to tell you this, but I accidentally forgot.

... (narrative preamble, five hundred words omitted here)

Through this journey, I've realized my martial arts are insufficient. Upon my return, improving my skills is paramount!

I have a premonition that we will meet again one day, and my new identity might surprise you!

When we meet again, I hope we both possess higher levels of skill and can spar once more!

— Ajax"

Feng Yi read it and smiled gently. Childe was gone, and they might not see each other again for three years.

Would his new identity, the "Mobile Wallet" – Childe – officially debut then?

Feng Yi expressed great anticipation for that day, vowing to bankrupt the Northland Bank.

After breakfast, Feng Yi skillfully headed towards Wangshu Inn.

Thus began his daily routine of training and being beaten.

"Hiss... Right, Feng Yi, the spear has been forged, but it was taken by Madame Ping yesterday. She said she wanted to modify it..."

Watching Feng Yi doing his warm-up exercises, Xiao said while eating almond tofu.

"Madame Ping? I understand. If I have time this afternoon, I'll go take a look..."

Feng Yi was planning to ask her about formations and also see what modifications Madame Ping was making to his beloved spear.

By the time Xiao finished his almond tofu, Feng Yi's warm-up was nearly over, and the real beating was about to begin. Even wielding a wooden stick, Xiao left Feng Yi covered in bruises.

Feng Yi refused to be defeated. To counterattack, he had to be faster and more accurate than Xiao.

Two hours later, Feng Yi, dragging his exhausted body, returned to Liyue Harbor.

Feng Yi typically only needed to sleep for one night for the bruises to heal automatically.

Xiao seemed to have sensed his remarkable physical constitution and was hitting harder, yet still within his self-healing range.

While it did help strengthen his body, Feng Yi always felt Xiao's gaze towards him increasingly resembled that of a punching bag.

"Yo, little brother Feng Yi, you're here quite early today!"

Chef Mao saw Feng Yi arrive as scheduled for lunch and greeted him with a smile. The Wanmin Restaurant's business was booming, all thanks to Feng Yi's development of desserts and milk tea.

Now, the Wanmin Restaurant had lines stretching out the door daily, and the sales of milk tea made Chef Mao beam.

Even before opening hours, quite a few customers were already queuing outside the Wanmin Restaurant.

Meanwhile, Xiangling was busy preparing today's batch of milk tea.

Guoba, holding a steaming bowl of Slime Jelly Milk Tea, sat on the steps by the entrance, watching the bustling street and listening to the lively conversations, occasionally taking a sip, utterly content.

Guoba: Isn't the happiest thing in the world to have a small bowl of Slime Jelly Milk Tea before starting work?

Xiangling was also surprised that, apart from Spicy Meat Wontons, Guoba had such a fondness for Slime Jelly Milk Tea!

Every time Guoba went out and returned, he would bring back a wild Slime, asking her to help make Slime Jelly Milk Tea.

Fortunately, they had restocked a while ago from Feng Yi, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to keep up with the milk tea's consumption demand.

"Chef Mao, why not expand the Wanmin Restaurant? Business is so good, but just one stove isn't enough!"

Feng Yi glanced at the long line outside the Wanmin Restaurant and casually remarked.

"You jest, little brother Feng Yi. Although the Wanmin Restaurant's business was good initially, it was nowhere near this kind of customer flow. One stove was just enough. Now, it seems expansion is necessary!"

Chef Mao laughed heartily. It was time to build another stove dedicated solely to making milk tea.

It wasn't time for lunch yet, so Feng Yi chatted idly with Chef Mao.

The main reason was that the Wanmin Restaurant only had one stove, and Xiangling was busy everywhere, leaving Chef Mao with nowhere to help.

Thus, the current scene unfolded: Chef Mao was very idle, Guoba was very idle, but only Xiangling was very busy.

Of course, this was also due to Xiangling's pursuit of self-improvement, hoping to grow stronger and become independent sooner.

After enjoying a free lunch at the Wanmin Restaurant, Feng Yi ate until he was half full and headed towards the Jade Chamber.

Over a hundred barrels of explosives were still stored in his Serenitea Pot. He needed to exchange them for Mora with Ningguang as soon as possible.

"Mr. Feng Yi, please follow me. Lady Ningguang has been waiting in the study for a long time..."

It was the familiar maid, Baishi. The moment Feng Yi arrived at the Jade Chamber, she led him to Ningguang's study.

"Feng Yi, you seem quite tired. Would you like to relax in a hot spring first?"

Ningguang waved her hand, signaling Baishi to withdraw. Then, she moved gracefully to Feng Yi's side.

Ningguang keenly sensed Feng Yi's exhaustion, guessing it was due to yesterday's fierce battle.

"Thank you for the invitation, Lady Ningguang. I gratefully accept!"

Feng Yi: Fighting with the Fatui didn't tire me as much as training with Xiao.

Xiao's spear thrusts were too fast and at too tricky an angle, leaving Feng Yi unable to defend himself. Feng Yi racked his brain to predict the spear's trajectory, but rarely succeeded in blocking.

It was both mentally and physically draining.

Ningguang's invitation to soak in a hot spring couldn't have come at a better time; it would effectively relax his tired mind.

The same familiar place, the same familiar temperature, the same... familiar hole!

The wall that was damaged by the spear intent yesterday was left as it was!

Were they waiting for him to pay the debt?

Did Ningguang suspect he would default on his payment? Was this how she reminded him?

Was he, Feng, the kind of person who defaulted on debts?

Baishu: Continue, I'm listening!

Feng Yi: *Ahem*... One must eat one bite at a time, and debts must be repaid step by step. Am I not here today to settle my debt with Ningguang? Please wait a little longer, give me some time!

"Ah~ This is bliss~"

The water temperature was just right, and the flowing hot spring gently washed away Feng Yi's fatigue from martial arts practice.

Feng Yi yawned comfortably, wishing he could nap here.

But considering this was Ningguang's territory, he decided against it.

As he soaked, his eyes suddenly lit up, sensing something reflective.

'Is it a mirror?'

No! It was Ningguang's fair skin!

She had also come to soak in the hot spring, in the same spot as yesterday.

However, the wall between them had not yet been repaired. Through the hole in the wall, Feng Yi could clearly see Ningguang's upper hemisphere floating on the water's surface.

Her pale skin, like white slimes, bobbed up and down with the ripples...

Ningguang even smiled and waved at him, then pointed at the broken wall.

Damn it!

Was she that worried about him defaulting on his debt?

She even came over specifically to remind him about the unpaid debt for the wall!