Silver Wolf summoned a virtual keyboard and typed a few times. An Aether portal appeared, and 100 Star Jades fell out.
Silver Wolf collected them all, then headed to the small bar and exchanged them all.
She had seen Ye Yun use the exchange scale earlier, so naturally, she knew how to use it herself.
After exchanging for Star Coins, Silver Wolf handed them all to Ye Yun.
"Here's the money. What about the goods?"
Ye Yun smiled, took out the game cartridge for Black Myth: Wukong and handed it to Silver Wolf.
Silver Wolf received it and was quite satisfied. She waved her hand to say goodbye to Ye Yun and used Aether Editing to teleport herself away.
After Silver Wolf left, Ye Yun opened his task panel to check.
[Current Tasks:]
Task 1: Serve 20 different customers. Progress: 14/20. Reward: Lottery Machine x1
Task 2: Reach a total business revenue of 10 million Star Coins.Progress: 30,000+/10,000,000. Reward: Peak Emanator Level x1
Task 1, serving 20 different customers, was already more than halfway done.
Looking at Belobog's situation, Bronya, Gepard, Pela, and Serval were likely to become customers as well.
Only four more people were needed—no problem.
Ye Yun closed the task panel, glanced at Venti, who was happily drinking, and went to sit in another corner.
"Just drinking? Don't you want some snacks with it?"
Venti put down the bottle and swallowed the drink in his mouth.
"Snacks? I don't have any... Wait! I do have Star Coins!"
Venti had been so used to saying he was broke, but suddenly he realized he still had some Star Coins left from buying the wine—about 12,000!
"Here! I'll get a portion!"
Venti arrogantly took out a 100 Star Coin bill and slapped it on the table.
Ye Yun accepted it, went to the store, and bought a few snacks worth 100 Star Coins, then brought them to Venti's table.
"Here are your snacks. Now, where's my drink? You've made it big, but you're not even going to offer me a bottle?"
Venti took out several bottles of different wines and put them on the table.
"Pick one, drink to your heart's content!"
Ye Yun glanced at the selection and suddenly brightened up. He reached out and took a bottle of wine in a porcelain bottle.
"Didn't expect to see Feitian Moutai!"
Venti, holding a piece of meat marinated in a spirit beast called Linglu and a bottle of wine, grinned.
"How? Is this wine good?"
Ye Yun smiled.
"Of course, it's good. This liquor is famous for its taste."
Ye Yun got up and went to the small bar to get two sets of white wine glasses, filling one for himself and one for Venti.
When Venti saw Ye Yun using such small glasses, he immediately looked at Ye Yun with disdain.
"Ye Yun, not to criticize you, but us men drink—big glasses, that's the real deal!"
After saying that, Venti grabbed the Moutai, took an oversized beer mug, and poured all the Moutai from the bottle into it.
He looked at the glass and frowned.
"Ugh, not even a full glass? This wine's too stingy!"
Seeing that Venti had switched to a big glass, Ye Yun's lips curled up into a mysterious smile.
Venti raised his glass.
"Cheers, Ye Yun! Let's have a drink!"
Ye Yun smiled and raised his small glass to clink it with Venti's.
Venti gulped down the Moutai in one go.
As soon as he put the glass down, Venti felt a fiery sensation in his chest.
"Wow! This wine's strong!"
Venti slapped his head a few times, feeling dizzy.
Ye Yun took a small sip of Moutai and smiled.
"That's because you insisted on switching to a bigger glass."
Venti forced himself to calm down.
"Drinking is all about big glasses!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Venti's body softened, and he slid under the table.
Soon, a steady breathing sound could be heard.
Ye Yun clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk, serves you right."
Ye Yun continued to leisurely sip his drink while snacking.
***
Inside the Stellaron Hunters base.
The moment Silver Wolf teleported back, she kicked off her shoes and rushed to her room.
In the living room, Kafka was sitting on the sofa, watching TV.
"Darling, why the rush?"
Silver Wolf ignored Kafka, dashed into her room, and slammed the door open.
Kafka, intrigued, got up and walked toward Silver Wolf's room.
She peeked inside.
Silver Wolf was excitedly taking out a game console and inserting the Black Myth: Wukong cartridge.
While operating the console, Silver Wolf muttered to herself.
"Hehe~ A new game~ I'm here now!"
Silver Wolf took out the Sekiro game cartridge.
"Sekiro! I had a great time with you, but now!!! Now it's time for us to part ways!"
"Maybe one day in the future, we'll have another happy time together."
"But right now! You have to go! A new friend, Black Myth: Wukong, is here! Farewell!"
Saying that, Silver Wolf put the Sekiro game cartridge on the shelf.
Immediately afterward, she inserted the Black Myth: Wukong cartridge.
"Hehe! The Binding Spell! Once I finish this game, I'll be able to learn it! Hahahaha! I'll become the invincible Silver Wolf!"
At the door, Kafka raised an eyebrow after hearing Silver Wolf's last words.
"Binding Spell? You can learn it after finishing the game? Darling, I'm not sure I understand."
Kafka's sudden voice startled Silver Wolf, who turned around.
"Hmph! That's right! Once I finish this game, I'll learn a new skill."
"Come on! Kafka! Cut me!"
Kafka looked confused.
"Darling, are you sure you want me to cut you? Are you feeling feverish? Should I get you some medicine?"
Silver Wolf stood up, hands on hips, looking full of confidence.
"I'm not feverish. Come on, cut me! I want to show you my new skill!"
Kafka, realizing the situation, understood that this new skill probably wouldn't harm Silver Wolf.
Relaxed, Kafka raised her sword and suddenly struck at Silver Wolf.
"Clink~"
A crisp sound of metal striking echoed.
Silver Wolf, holding a small knife, easily blocked Kafka's strike.
Kafka, seeing this, became intrigued.
"Darling, this skill of yours is interesting."
Silver Wolf grinned.
"Of course! This skill is called Deflect. It can deflect physical attacks from enemies below the Emanator level. And if the rebound is successful, the damage is doubled."
"How's that? Impressive, right?"
Kafka nodded.
"Indeed, it's quite impressive."
Afterward, Kafka looked at the Sekiro game cartridge on the shelf.
"Darling, where did you get this game cartridge?"
Silver Wolf put down the small knife, picked up the game controller, and sat down, happily playing Black Myth: Wukong.
"Stelle sold it to me. But the one I'm playing now, I bought it myself."
At this point, Silver Wolf suddenly remembered Ye Yun.
"By the way, there's a problem with Elio's script. There's someone called Ye Yun on the train, and he opened a shop. I bought this game cartridge from him. If you have time, remember to ask Elio about it."
***
Kafka nodded thoughtfully. "Mm."
At this moment, Kafka remembered the 100 Stellar Jades Silver Wolf had asked from her. At the time, Silver Wolf said it was to buy something—could it have been this?
"Darling, did you use Stellar Jade to buy that game cartridge?"
Silver Wolf didn't turn around and replied while playing the game. "Yeah, he only accepts Star Coins, and you can exchange Stellar Jade for Star Coins. Okay, okay, stop bothering me, I'm playing!What the heck?! I got killed in one hit? Again!"
Seeing this, Kafka said: "Keep playing for now, but later you're coming with me to the train."
Silver Wolf immediately showed reluctance. "Nooo, I want to play my game!"
Kafka smiled slightly. "Oh? I think you want to come with me."
Silver Wolf turned to look at Kafka and saw the "gentle" smile on her face—instantly intimidated. "Fine, I'll go with you!"
Kafka nodded in satisfaction. "Then see you later, Darling."
Kafka turned and left Silver Wolf's room. Silver Wolf let out a big sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat off her forehead. Whew—good thing I reacted quickly, or else I'd have been hit with Kafka's Spirit whisper again.
Even though I now have a parry blade, that only blocks physical attacks. Kafka's Spirit whisper is a mental attack—I can't defend against that.
But! If I can beat "Black Myth: Wukong Legend" and learn the "Weak Binding Spell," I'll finally have a counter! As long as I cast it before Kafka speaks, I won't have to fear her Spirit whisper anymore!
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, already imagining the look on Kafka's face when she got paralyzed.
On the train.
Ye Yun was nibbling on some snacks and sipping wine. Not long after, the shop's front door opened, and Himeko walked in with Hook, Klee, and Clara.
"Come on, don't run around—go sit on the couch."
The three little ones obediently ran to the booth and spotted Ye Yun. "Brother Ye Yun~" "Ye Yun." "Big Brother Ye Yun!"
The three little girls sat across from Ye Yun.Ye Yun smiled. "Are you hungry? Want something to eat?"
The three glanced at the braised dishes on the table and swallowed. "Yes!" they answered in unison.
Ye Yun chuckled. "Alright, sit tight—I'll get you some tableware."
The three girls sat obediently on the couch, playing together.
Ye Yun walked to the little bar counter where Himeko was pouring water. "Thanks for your help, Himeko—sorry to trouble you with watching over Hook and Klee."
Himeko smiled and shook her head. "No worries. What about you? What were you just busy with?"
Ye Yun pointed toward the three kids. "Two guests came by just now—one of them you might know, the Stellaron Hunters, Silver Wolf.As for the other one, look under the table over there."
Himeko was a little surprised—she hadn't expected the Stellaron Hunters to find their way here.She looked in the direction Ye Yun indicated.
Under the table lay Venti, fast asleep.
"Who's that?"
Ye Yun explained, "You've met Jean and Lisa, right?"
Himeko nodded. "Yes, they're from that other world Lumine's from."
Ye Yun continued, "That guy is their superior—the governor of Mondstadt, the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Nowadays he goes by Venti."
Himeko was stunned by Venti's identity. The Wind Archon? A god?
"God of Wind?"
Ye Yun nodded. "Yep, Anemo Archon. Though in terms of actual combat strength, he's on par with a high-level Pathstrider."
Himeko understood. In the vast universe, many backward places still had these so-called "gods." Such beings were simply mortals with extraordinary power, worshiped by others as deities.
She looked at the snoring Venti. "You're just leaving him there?"
Ye Yun smiled. "No need to worry. He's got a strong constitution—he's an old monster that's lived over a thousand years."
Himeko was a bit surprised by Venti's age. She hadn't expected him to be a long-liver.
Soon, Ye Yun returned with utensils and served the three kids. Himeko carried a few glasses of juice over and sat beside Ye Yun.
Teyvat – Late Night, Mondstadt
Venti quietly pushed open a teleport gate, peeking through the crack. Seeing no one around, he slipped out of the gate.
"Whew, Jean's not here—I'm outta here~"
He closed the gate and turned into a breeze, leaving Jean's office behind. Venti flew west toward Liyue.
Crossing one mountain after another, he landed atop a towering peak. There sat a lotus pond, and in its center, a stone table and a few stools.
The moment Venti landed, a voice sounded.
"Barbatos. Long time no see."
Venti turned toward the voice. At some point, a man in formal attire with a ponytail had appeared beside him.
"Old man, long time no see."
It was none other than the God of Liyue—Morax, also known as Zhongli.
Zhongli sat down at the stone stool. "What brings you here this time?"
Venti grinned and took out a dozen bottles of various wines, placing them on the table. He also brought out some snacks he bought from Ye Yun's shop.
"Old man, come taste this wine I brought back from another world!"
Zhongli's eyes widened. "Another world? You went to another world?"
Venti nodded and told Zhongli everything about Ye Yun.
After hearing it, Zhongli's heart was unsettled. "A new outsider… will this affect the script?"
Venti took a swig from one of the bottles. "Of course there'll be an impact. Mondstadt's script is already completely out of whack. But I think it's a good thing—connecting with Ye Yun might give us a new path."
Zhongli asked, "What do you mean?"
Venti said, "You don't know, old man, but in Ye Yun's world there are tons of planets. Many of them are unclaimed, and just one is big enough to hold all of Teyvat's people. Of course, we'd need to terraform it first."
Zhongli's gaze grew serious. "You mean… migration?"
Venti nodded. "It's one option, isn't it? Anyway, let's not talk about that now. Tomorrow I'll take you to meet Ye Yun. Tonight, let's drink!"
Zhongli didn't press further and began sampling the exotic wines Venti brought.
Each one was a brand he had never tasted.
"Mmm… these otherworldly wines certainly have a unique flavor."
Venti giggled mischievously and secretly pulled out a bottle of Feitian Maotai. "Here, old man, try this one—it's the best I've ever had. One big swig is amazing. Go ahead, give it a shot!"
He handed the Maotai to Zhongli. Zhongli accepted it, looking at Venti's smirking face with exasperation.
His old colleague hadn't changed—still liked messing with people.
Zhongli poured a small cup, took a sip, and—
He chuckled a little. "You're still the same, aren't you..."