"Shunji, although everyone says wishing spells are effective, I've also heard many other rumors: people who achieve their wishes this way become strange in their behavior!"
"What's so surprising about that? They must be overjoyed and a bit out of their minds!"
Shunji paid no mind to the side effects A Mao mentioned.
"Forget it, believe it or not, I'm going to try it tonight! Oh no, I was so busy chatting that I've forgotten most of the spell I finally memorized. I have to start all over again. Uh... 'Nian nian bu xi, ru yue huang huang'... what's the next line?"
"Shunji, give up. Do you think a great master will descend from the heavens and write your novel for you? Do you think this is a light novel plot?"
A Mao felt that whether the wish could be granted was one thing, and whether Shunji could memorize the entire spell and successfully make the wish was another. Judging by Shunji's current recitation, he might not even finish memorizing the wishing spell by tonight.
"Mr. A Mao, what you said... is very likely! Perhaps heaven heard my sincere prayers and really sent a great master to help me finish all the manuscripts for the coming year!"
Seeing Shunji's dazed state, Feng Yi sighed. This stubborn ox would never turn back until he hit a wall.
Since A Mao had no novel recommendations, Feng Yi didn't linger and hurried towards the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Mr. Feng Yi, Shrine Maiden Yae is entertaining a distinguished guest from Liyue in the side hall. She instructed me beforehand to let you enter directly if you arrived..."
At the entrance of the Grand Narukami Shrine, a shrine maiden responsible for receiving guests immediately stepped forward to inform Feng Yi upon seeing him.
"A distinguished guest from Liyue? Thank you for the reminder, I understand."
Feng Yi nodded, already having a rough guess in mind, and then approached the side hall.
Knock, knock—
He knocked on the door, received a response, and then pushed it open.
"Just as I suspected, the distinguished guest from Liyue the shrine maiden mentioned is indeed you, Zhongli!"
Feng Yi entered the side hall and saw Zhongli sitting by the tea table, leisurely sipping tea. He couldn't help but step forward and smile.
"With nothing to do, I was wandering around looking for tea houses when I met a shrine maiden from the Grand Narukami Shrine. I heard that Shrine Maiden Yae has good tea, so I was invited for a chat..."
Zhongli blew away the foam from the hot tea and took a small sip, a look of contentment on his face.
The good tea from the Grand Narukami Shrine had not disappointed him. Among all the teas he had tasted, it ranked in the top twenty.
"I'm glad you're satisfied, Mr. Zhongli. If you like it, you can pack two boxes when you leave!"
Yae Miko said with a smile. If she hadn't known Mr. Zhongli's true identity beforehand, who would have connected this handsome man who was obsessed with tea to the Geo Archon Morax, who suppressed many gods and was renowned during the Archon War?
Yae Miko had invited Zhongli to discuss the Fatui's collection of Gnosis. Although Zhongli hadn't explicitly stated his position, it was an unspoken understanding.
That... was enough!
"It is indeed a rare and good tea. May I know its value in Mora?"
Zhongli was fond of such things. Refusing good tea was harder than killing a god.
However, he didn't like owing favors, so clearing debts with money was the best option.
This morning, he had just exchanged a Baqu Snake Gallbladder for one hundred thousand Mora from Feng Yi, so he was quite well-off now.
With his money pouch full, his words naturally carried more weight.
"The Divine Sakura Tea is produced on the peak of the Grand Narukami Shrine with the best environment and the most abundant spiritual energy. It has a fragrant aroma, a delicate taste, and a sweet aftertaste. Due to its limited production, it is rarely sold outside and is an absolute treasure in the Inazuma tea market, with value but no market..."
Yae Miko explained with a smile. She believed that Mr. Zhongli understood the principle of scarcity and high value.
"Two hundred thousand Mora, that's the lowest recorded transaction price in the tea market!"
"Two hundred thousand Mora?!"
Zhongli was shocked. Had Inazuma's inflation become so severe? He had no idea!
In terms of the tea itself, it certainly wasn't worth that much. But if it bore the sacred label of the Grand Narukami Shrine, its significance to the people of Inazuma would be immeasurable.
Thinking this, Zhongli found Yae Miko's high price of two hundred thousand Mora understandable.
However, while he understood, his purse was empty! The one hundred thousand Mora he exchanged from Feng Yi could only buy half a box at most.
But he didn't want to give up, so...
"Half a box for now, I'll try it out when I get back," Zhongli said earnestly, setting down his teacup.
He had initially thought of putting it on the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's account, but the next second, he suddenly imagined Hu Tao holding her Staff of Homa and searching for him everywhere on the streets, and decided against it.
Half a box was better than none.
Although Zhongli asked for half a box, Yae Miko still packed two boxes for him at the price of one hundred thousand Mora when he was about to leave.
Zhongli: You test your cadres with this? What cadre can withstand this test?
With such good tea before him, Zhongli hesitated for a moment before finally accepting.
However, having received favors, he now owed the other party a small debt. Zhongli sighed inwardly, thinking that if Yae Miko ever faced a crisis, he would naturally step in to help.
After Zhongli left, Feng Yi finally had time to have an in-depth conversation with Yae Miko.
Both of them knew each other well, and their exchange was insightful and profound.
Half an hour later, they emerged from the side hall, dressed, and stood on a high place, gazing out at the verdant landscape below and the scattered clouds in the sky.
Just as Feng Yi and Yae Miko were enjoying the scenery, a panicked cry broke the tranquility.
"Shrine Maiden Yae, Shrine Maiden Yae... I beg you, please save my brother..."
A man in simple clothing burst in, followed by several shrine maidens trying to stop him.
"Shrine Maiden Yae, please forgive us, we failed to stop him and he has disturbed you..."
A shrine maiden stepped forward to report. They had informed the man that Shrine Maiden Yae was handling important matters and asked him to wait.
But the man refused to listen and insisted on forcing his way in. The shrine maidens couldn't stop him, and he pushed his way through.
"I will handle this matter. You may withdraw."
Yae Miko frowned, her gaze resting on the man for a few seconds as if sensing something. She then waved to the shrine maidens.
"Yes, Shrine Maiden!"
"Speak, what business do you have with me?"
After the shrine maidens withdrew, Yae Miko asked calmly.
She could already guess the general reason for the man's plea, and the solution wasn't difficult. However, the man's intrusion into the inner courtyard had slightly annoyed Yae Miko, who decided to make him suffer a bit to teach him a lesson.