The next day, the sun had just begun to peek over the mountain peaks surrounding Liyue, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink.
With unhurried steps, I descended the harbor stairs and made my way toward Wanmin Restaurant. I had visited before with Ganyu, but this time I came alone… and with quite an appetite. After all, the events of the previous day had been quiet but intense.
Upon arriving, I saw that the restaurant was already open. From the kitchen wafted a delicious aroma of ginger, garlic, and steamed meat—a warm, comforting scent that invited you to stay.
"Good morning!" called a cheerful voice from behind the counter.
It was Xiangling, dressed in her signature red and gold attire, her hair tied in two short pigtails that bounced playfully as she moved. Beside her, Guoba waved a spatula as if greeting me too.
"Ah! It's you! Miss Ganyu's companion from the other day, right?"
I nodded with a slight smile.
"Correct. I thought today was worth repeating the experience."
"Good choice!" she said, already pulling out plates, bowls, and utensils. "I made some spicy meat-filled buns this morning! They're not on the menu yet, so... you'll be my taste tester."
Guoba nodded vigorously, as if endorsing the idea.
"I'll take the risk," I joked, taking a seat by the window, where I could watch the bustling comings and goings of the merchants.
Soon after, Xiangling appeared with a tray full of steaming dishes: fluffy steamed buns, vegetable fried rice, a thick seafood soup, and a ceramic teapot filled with freshly brewed tea leaves.
"Don't hold back on the praise until after the first bite," she warned, winking.
I took a bite of a bun.
The dough was light, almost silky, and the filling burst with perfectly balanced flavors—sweet and spicy.
"Well?" she asked, leaning forward, her eyes bright with anticipation.
"It's excellent."
"Yahoo!" she exclaimed, raising both arms as if she'd won a cooking competition. "Told you, Guoba!"
Guoba celebrated by shooting a tiny burst of fire into the air like confetti.
"You know…" I said, taking another bite of the bun, savoring the perfect balance of spiced meat and fluffy dough. "If you're interested in trying something truly different… I could recommend a recipe from my hometown."
Xiangling, who was placing a pitcher of water on the table, spun toward me with eyes as bright as lit torches.
"Seriously?! What kind of dish is it?"
"Fried chicken," I replied calmly. "But not just any fried chicken. It's a legendary recipe from my… previous world. In some places, they call it 'KFC-style chicken.'"
"K…F…C…?" she repeated curiously, as if tasting the letters. "I already love it, and I don't even know what it is!"
Guoba let out a cheerful sound, as if seconding her excitement.
"KFC stands for 'Kentucky Fried Chicken'—named after the place where it was created," I explained.
"Alright," I said, crossing my arms on the table. "Start by cutting chicken into pieces—preferably thighs or wings. Then, marinate them for a few hours in a mix of buttermilk, salt, minced garlic, and a bit of pepper. That's the foundation."
"Buttermilk…? Hmm, I could probably replicate that with fermented milk and lemon juice," Xiangling murmured, immediately pulling a small recipe notebook from her apron.
"Next, you'll need a flour mixture with eleven different spices. Traditionally, it includes paprika, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper… and some others you could adapt based on the ingredients you have here. Then, you dip the marinated chicken into the flour mix, press it firmly to coat it in a thick crust, and deep-fry it in hot oil until golden and crispy."
Xiangling stared at me as if I'd just revealed the recipe for culinary immortality.
"That sounds… absolutely heavenly. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside! And you said people eat it as a popular dish?"
"Exactly. In many places, it's considered fast food, but if done right… it's fit for a feast."
"I'll do it!" she exclaimed, clenching her fists with determination. "I'll recreate it, even if I have to go to Mondstadt to find all eleven spices!"
Guoba clapped his little paws together, seemingly just as excited.
At that moment, she plopped down across from me with a satisfied sigh, grabbing a cloth to wipe her forehead.
"While I ate, Xiangling sat down briefly on the other side of the table, dabbing her forehead with a towel."
"Thanks for sharing that recipe," Xiangling said, taking a long sip of water. "You've given me the perfect idea for Liyue's next food festival!"
She burst into such pure laughter that even Guoba tilted his head, caught up in her joy.
"Then it's decided!" She sprang to her feet with renewed energy. "I'll start experimenting with the spices right away. I won't sleep well unless I try it today."
Guoba gave her a "here we go again…" look as she mentally began listing ingredients and cooking methods.
Before she could rush off, I asked:
"Need any help? I can handle fire control or make sure Guoba doesn't eat the ingredients ahead of time."
Xiangling blinked in surprise, then grinned.
"You'd really help me? It'd be an honor to cook alongside someone with your experience."
"Consider it a cultural exchange," I replied, standing up. "Though if it goes wrong, we're blaming the buttermilk."
"Deal!"
We spent the next few hours in Wanmin Restaurant's back kitchen. Xiangling improvised on the fly, tweaking spice ratios while I focused on perfecting the marinade and frying process. At first, the chicken pieces came out soggy or burnt—but after several attempts, one batch finally hit the mark.
The aroma was intoxicating. Crispy on the outside, juicy at first bite, with a warm, spicy flavor that lingered on the tongue.
Xiangling took the first taste, and her eyes widened.
"This is... this is...!" She nearly choked from excitement. "Crispy perfection!"
Even Guoba, who usually preferred sweeter dishes, nodded solemnly before devouring an entire piece.
"This changes everything," Xiangling murmured, scribbling feverishly in her notebook. "I'll need to reserve a spot at the next cooking competition... no, open an entire branch just for this dish!"
"Just remember to credit me as co-inventor," I said calmly, wiping my hands. "Or at least put up a small plaque."
(The food in Liyue is delicious, but sometimes I crave something more familiar.)
She nodded vigorously.
*****
After saying goodbye to Xiangling and Guoba—who were already preparing another batch of chicken to test new sauces—I left Wanmin Restaurant behind. The morning air of Liyue Harbor carried that familiar salty tang I always associated with peace and routine. I strolled along the cobblestone streets, leaving behind the bustle of merchants and the comings and goings of sailors.
I decided to venture beyond the harbor walls, following the eastern path into the hills. I hadn't gone far when I felt a faint tremor beneath my feet. I froze.
(A landslide...? No. That's impossible with the Geo Archante around. Feels more like heavy footsteps... or impacts?)
As I moved forward, the sound of splintering rock and warning shouts cut through the air. I climbed a natural rise where the view opened to a clearing. There, amid swirling dust and flying debris, a group of Millelith soldiers was falling back in formation.
At the center of the chaos, a Geovishap roared in fury, its body streaked with golden veins—larger than any I'd ever seen before. Its tail sent boulders flying, and every time it struck the ground, the earth shook violently.
Standing before the creature, an electro-charged sword in hand, was Keqing. Her lilac hair fluttered in the wind, her expression one of sheer frustration.
"Hold formation and flank it! Avoid the front!" she shouted to the soldiers, leaping back with agile grace as the beast's charge split a boulder clean in two.
(This Geovishap seems stronger than usual. Mutation? Ley line corruption? But the Abyss Order's plans shouldn't be in motion yet...)
One of the soldiers had taken a bad fall after tumbling down the slope. Another tried to cover him, but it was clear they wouldn't last much longer.
I sighed.
"Guess I'll have to help," I murmured.
In a flash of movement, I slid down the hillside. The Geovishap turned its gaze toward me, its eyes like smoldering embers. Keqing noticed my approach too, visibly surprised.
"You! What are you doing here? Retreat, civilian!"
"Too late for that," I replied calmly, as a golden portal opened behind me. From it emerged the Vortex Vanquisher spear.
"The truth of life and death, revealed in an instant."
I grasped the spear and—as if I'd trained with it for years—lunged forward in a straight line, weaving through the terrain's crevices before striking the creature straight through as if it were made of paper.
"This sanctuary is but an illusion."
A resounding impact. The Geovishap staggered back, then split cleanly in two with a thunderous crash as it fell.
Silence fell immediately, as if the world itself had held its breath. The Geovishap's body, cleaved with impossible precision, slowly crumbled away, dissipating the oppressive pressure that had weighed over the area.
The Millelith lowered their weapons in stunned silence. Keqing nimbly descended the slope, her expression caught between awe and suspicion. She stopped a few paces from me, not entirely lowering her guard despite the vanished threat.
"That technique..." she murmured. "It's unlike any martial art I know in Liyue."
I simply twirled the spear between my fingers before returning it to the Babylon Gate, which hovered for a few seconds before sealing shut in golden sparks.
"Let's just call it... an unorthodox style. But effective."
Keqing narrowed her eyes, clearly assessing me with a mix of wariness and curiosity.
"Few people can wield a spear with that level of precision. And no one I know can casually open a portal to summon a relic. Are you the new adeptus appointed by the Geo Archon?"
I remained calm, my gaze steady on her.
"Let's just say I'm someone who prefers to stay under the radar—at least when there aren't monsters causing havoc."
Keqing didn't reply immediately. She studied the remains of the Geovishap as the Millelith regrouped, some tending to the wounded while others marked the area for investigation.
Finally, she sighed and shook her head.
"...You know what? I don't have time to interrogate you right now. What you just did saved us from disaster. Thank you."
I nodded.
"You're welcome."
She gave me one last look.
"But I will find you later. I don't like loose ends in Liyue."
"Understood," I replied with a faint smile.
Keqing made a small sound of acknowledgment before turning back to her soldiers to resume command.
With the tension dissolved, I began walking away. The valley's crisp air gradually restored a sense of normalcy. I stayed silent for a while, simply following the path downhill toward the lake.
I looked up at Teyvat's sky. The clouds drifted lazily, as if utterly indifferent to the chaos below.