Lu Ze booked a private room at Wanmin Restaurant and looked at the two people before him. It had been at least two to three months since they last met, and time had passed surprisingly quickly.
"How have you been, Lu Ze? By the way, is that silhouette on the screen you? I saw someone who looked a lot like you during the last world boss battle."
Perhaps it was because of the distance, or perhaps the system had done it intentionally, but the person captured in the image wasn't very clear.
They didn't know who participated at the time, and could only guess based on the general outline.
This was perhaps a form of protection.
"Ah, that was me. Now that you mention it, I feel a bit embarrassed... if you all saw it."
Even though he looked handsome, being seen like that felt inexplicably shameful.
"I told you! Miss Keqing! That person is Mr. Lu Ze! Humph!"
Ganyu crossed her arms with some triumph, but the next second she seemed to realize the gesture didn't quite match her status and quickly corrected herself.
Noticing the gazes around her, Ganyu sheepishly rubbed her head and explained in a low voice:
"It's just that Miss Keqing bet with me last time, and our bet was whether the person on the screen was Mr. Lu Ze."
Hearing this, Keqing also remembered. She had been in a bad mood back then and felt rebellious for a few days, always going against others.
She had even almost fought with Ningguang, so her memory was quite vivid. Thinking back now, what was she even doing then?
The door to the private room creaked open as the server entered with the dishes. Many of them were favorites of Hu Tao, as well as those Ganyu and Keqing enjoyed.
Golden Shrimp Balls, Boiled Fish, Braised Sea Cucumber and Shark's Fin – everything was there. Lu Ze wasn't short on money, so he ordered it all. This was the arrogance of the wealthy.
Hu Tao, seeing her favorite dishes, was like a squirrel spotting pine nuts. She couldn't help but pick up her chopsticks and grab two pieces.
The taste of the shrimp dumplings spread in her mouth. Although she had eaten them not long ago, they were still incredibly delicious. She truly couldn't imagine what life would be like without shrimp dumplings.
The group chatted for a while longer, and time slowly ticked by. After all, no banquet lasts forever. After the meal,
the four said goodbye at the entrance, and the two groups parted ways.
In the darkness, several figures in black cloaks moved swiftly. Their target was Keqing and Ganyu, who had just left not far away.
These two had become an obstacle. If it weren't for their status as important figures, they would have been dead long ago.
"Hu Tao, do you feel like the streets today are a bit off? They seem less lively than usual."
Liyue Harbor, which was usually bustling, had become much quieter. Even the popular commercial street had fewer people.
The decrease in foot traffic suggested something significant had happened.
"Let me think... Oh! I remember! Liyue has been experiencing frequent murders recently. Our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has taken on several cases and sent off quite a few people, so it's quite memorable. It's said that the killer still hasn't been caught. So, you must make sure to escort me home, okay? You can't leave a young girl walking alone at night, can you?"
Her plum-blossom-like eyes flickered. When they reached home, things wouldn't be as she said, hehe! She thought those older sisters would understand her!
"Is that so? Then Hu Tao, be careful. If you sense anything amiss, use the Waypoint to teleport to my shop, and I'll protect you."
He reached out his right hand and gently stroked Hu Tao's head, feeling the softness of her hair. He couldn't help but sigh that Hu Tao was also quite good.
While the two of them were still wandering the commercial street, on the other side, Ganyu and Keqing had walked onto a rather deserted street. There were very few pedestrians.
A scattering of people, coupled with the dimly lit street, inexplicably added a sense of atmosphere.
"Ganyu... do you think! We'll encounter ghosts? In novels, supporting characters always get harmed in these environments. We wouldn't..."
Before she could finish speaking, the streetlights suddenly went out. The already dim road became even less visible. Ganyu felt a warmth in her embrace and looked at Keqing in her arms with some surprise.
"Miss Keqing, please... please don't do this. It makes me uncomfortable."
Ganyu's face turned a little red because she had touched her sensitive spots. In this darkness, in this posture, were these things that happened in horror novels?
Or were they from romance novels?
Just as Ganyu didn't know what to do, a black arrow flew directly towards her. As a half-adeptus beast, she had a natural instinct for danger.
She tightly hugged Keqing with her right hand and quickly took out Amos' Bow with her left.
With a forceful push, she held Keqing closer, freeing her right hand, and quickly drew a full moon. An ice arrow shot out, intercepting it midway.
"Who's there?! Attacking from the shadows, what's the point?"
Keqing, with her cat-like ears, was completely stunned. What happened in just a few seconds? How did I end up in Ganyu's arms? But I have to admit, her embrace is quite comfortable?
Wait, Keqing! What are you thinking? How can you think that? You are a normal person!
But...
"As expected of the legendary half-adeptus beast! Your alertness is indeed far superior to ordinary people. Since the sneak attack failed, we'll have to do this openly. You two! Prepare to meet your end!"
From the darkness, an unknown number of figures emerged. Whether on the road or in the alleys, they were all clad in identical black cloaks. Each of them wore a mask, with different styles to distinguish themselves.
Keqing, even if she didn't understand the situation, could roughly grasp what was happening seeing this formation, especially their imposing aura, which reminded her of the recent murders.
"Did you guys cause all the recent trouble? Disrupting Liyue's order, is that your goal? And this time, you're targeting us?"
A series of questions bombarded the person like a bomber.
Faced with so many questions, he had no intention of answering and simply drew his long saber.
"Brothers, bring out your weapons!"
As the vast crowd drew closer, Ganyu shielded Keqing. As the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, her role was not only to assist with affairs but also to protect the safety of the Liyue Qixing.
However, facing so many people, even as a half-adeptus beast, she couldn't guarantee a 100% victory.