The cake was quite large.
But thanks to the joint efforts of Lu Heng and Furina, it was eventually demolished.
The consequence of forcefully finishing it was that Furina ended up feeling stuffed.
She now sat on the chair, not wanting to move a muscle.
Furina had grown much stronger, but compared to her power, her physical constitution still seemed somewhat fragile.
"Ugh."
"I guess there won't be any afternoon tea today."
Furina let out a mournful whimper.
"Cake is relatively easy to digest. If you go out for a walk, you might still have time for afternoon tea," Lu Heng suggested.
"Forget it, let it be."
Furina shook her head, glancing toward the shop entrance where two people were already waiting.
She withdrew her gaze and looked at Lu Heng. "Go ahead and attend to your business. I'll clean up here."
"Don't push yourself. If it's too much, just leave it. I'll take care of it when I get back," Lu Heng replied.
He nodded and walked away, while Furina began tidying up.
Watching Lu Heng explain and appraise cards for the customers, she suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Why did she feel like a couple running a small shop together, having just finished lunch, with the husband attending to customers while the wife cleaned up the dishes?
The more she thought about it, the stronger this feeling became.
Feeling her cheeks grow slightly warm, Furina lowered her head and continued working briskly.
A moment later, Lu Heng returned.
He found Furina sitting on the stool, head bowed, lost in thought, her face flushed, occasionally giggling to herself—so absorbed that she didn't even notice his approach.
Had she gone silly?
Lu Heng couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are you thinking about?"
"Ah? Oh, I was thinking about you and me—!"
Furina shuddered, snapping out of her daze in panic, and quickly shook her head. "N-nothing!"
"Nothing?"
Lu Heng looked skeptical.
Something was off here!
"Ah, never mind that!"
Furina grabbed Lu Heng's arm, turned him halfway around, and nudged him toward the counter at the shop entrance. "Go watch them draw cards."
"?"
Lu Heng was even more baffled.
With a helpless shake of his head, he didn't press further and let her push him toward the counter to observe the card draws.
Furina exhaled in relief, patting her chest lightly.
"Thank goodness I reacted quickly..."
Just moments ago, she had nearly blurted out the married life scenario she was fantasizing about.
She didn't even dare imagine what kind of look Lu Heng would give her if he found out what she was thinking.
Fontaine's Guard Training Grounds.
That morning, Tartaglia had limped away from here. Now, he was back.
He had come to Fontaine for two things:
Draw cards! Fight!
Both revolved around one core goal—getting stronger!
As for the Northland Bank's issues?
Surely the Eleventh Harbinger didn't need to personally collect every single debt, right?
"Huh? Mr. Tartaglia?"
A stationed knight was surprised to see Tartaglia.
"Is Master Oliver here?" Tartaglia asked.
Had he come to the training grounds right after drawing cards?
The knight mused silently before replying, "Yes, he just finished lunch and is resting."
"Good!"
Tartaglia was immediately reassured.
Soon, he found Oliver.
"Master Oliver!"
"Oh? Mr. Tartaglia?"
The two exchanged glances. Between warriors, a single look was enough to convey everything.
Half a minute later, in the spacious training area.
Oliver stood firm, adopting a stance.
"Be careful now!"
Tartaglia vanished instantly.
"Hmm?!"
Oliver frowned.
He couldn't sense Tartaglia's presence at all!
Suddenly, his honed instincts screamed at him.
Oliver spun around.
A deep violet energy had already spread before he completed the turn. Within that purple haze, red and white intertwined, and a humanoid silhouette solidified from the head downward in the blink of an eye.
As Oliver turned, a fierce yet strikingly rugged figure filled his vision.
Face to face!
Oliver's heart pounded with alarm.
"Have you seen my crown?"
Before Oliver could react, the towering, lightning-like figure threw a punch straight at his abdomen.
Boom!
The devastating strike landed squarely on Oliver's side.
Tartaglia, in his Crownless form, stepped out of the void.
With a flicker of movement—
Whoosh!
He appeared behind the airborne Oliver!
A knee strike upward!
His hardened knee shot up like a cannonball, slamming into Oliver's spine and forcibly altering his trajectory, sending him skyward.
Then, the Crownless figure bent slightly at the knees. Moving at a speed so fast it left no afterimage—almost like teleportation—he reappeared mid-air and delivered a downward kick!
Boom!!
Oliver's back crashed violently into the training ground.
The impact was like a bomb detonating.
The sheer force created a massive crater in the ground, with spiderweb cracks radiating outward.
The Crownless hovered mid-air, cape billowing, gazing down imperiously.
"Master Oliver, are you alright?"
This feels amazing!
This was the line Tartaglia had been holding back since leaving the card shop, and he finally got to say it now!
"Cough…"
From within the dust, Oliver slowly rose, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"Finally, an opponent who can make me go all out!"
Oliver grinned fiercely.
Tartaglia's transformation was indeed powerful—blazing speed, overwhelming attacks, and movements with zero wind-up!
But!
He was a fourth-tier physique, a master of martial arts!
He was no pushover either!
"Let's fight!"
Time passed, and afternoon arrived.
Furina still managed to enjoy her afternoon tea.
The commotion from Tartaglia and Oliver's battle had been too intense.
Furina and Lu Heng chatted while watching the surveillance feed.
Lu Heng observed this significantly enhanced Tartaglia and couldn't help but think of the Traveler.
Regardless of the Traveler's gender, Lu Heng wondered: if the Traveler arrived in Liyue and encountered this version of Tartaglia, how would they handle it?
Would the Crownless shatter their journey in three punches?
Or knock them out cold with two kicks?
The thought nearly made Lu Heng laugh.
Jokes aside, the Traveler did have some strength. But with only two elemental abilities against the Crownless Tartaglia?
Sorry, but you didn't even make Tartaglia go all out!
Tap, tap, tap…
The steady rhythm of high heels approached.
"Mr. Lu!"
Lu Heng turned and saw Lynette following Arlecchino. He smiled. "It's you. Haven't seen you in a couple of days."
Then, his gaze shifted to the main visitor.
"Greetings, Mr. Lu, and Lady Furina. I am the Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers, 'The Knave' Arlecchino—also known as 'Father' to children like Lyney and Lynette."
"Hello."
Lu Heng gestured politely. "Please, have a seat."
Arlecchino sat gracefully and spoke. "Thank you for opening this shop. It allows the children to gain the power to protect themselves and their families."
Lu Heng chuckled and poured three cups of tea, sliding them over. "Please."
Arlecchino accepted the tea and glanced at Furina with a faint smile. "I heard about this miraculous shop while in Snezhnaya and rushed here. I hope I'm not interrupting your afternoon tea."
Meeting her gaze, Furina froze slightly.
Arlecchino's words were polite, her tone calm and unhurried, exuding goodwill, and she even smiled.
But why… did Furina feel a faint pressure from those deep eyes?
Was it an illusion?
It had to be, right?
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T/N:
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