The Lost People of Teyvat

Chapter 86 Invitation

"I do think that the process of the journey is more important than the result, but..."

Ying sat on a rock by the sea, looking at Paimeng, who was holding a sea fish that was almost as big as himself, with a happy face, and Chen Tianfeng, who was calmly preparing the food. She sighed, "But we are moving too slowly. Even the weather has warmed up."

"You should ask your guide." Chen Tianfeng didn't even raise his head. The dagger in his hand slashed across the fish, and the crystal fish meat was separated from the bones. "She led us on this journey. We have been walking for almost a month, but we still haven't seen the road that leads directly to Mondstadt."

After following the path that Paimon mentioned and going down Cape Lookout, the three of them saw the boundless blue sea up close, with waves hitting the beach. Even though the weather was still chilly, the seaside was full of vitality.

The sun was shining brightly at that time. Against the backdrop of the sea, the slightly bluish-white sun disk in the sky looked particularly small, and the sunlight was much clearer. There were fragments of light floating on the sea surface, and the fragments of light changed with the ups and downs of the waves. When people looked at it, their sight would unconsciously diverge, as if they wanted to take in the whole sea, but in the end they would give up with emotion.

Paimeng was the happiest. After knowing that Ying and Chen Tianfeng were both good cooks, he patted his chest, volunteered to fly to the sea, and said he wanted to catch a fish as big as himself.

In the end, I was almost caught by a fish.

So the little mascot, as if taking revenge, would pester Ying or Chen Tianfeng every day to catch a big fish for her, put it on the shore and wait until it was exhausted, then wave the small wooden stick and have a fair one-on-one duel with the fish.

Big fish can’t be caught every day, and little mascots can’t “prove themselves” every day, but even so, Paimon smiles every day, adding a lot of color to the journey.

Paimon, who had won the duel for who knows how many times, put down the fish and the small wooden stick, and laughed: "If you walk along this beach, you will definitely find the way! Believe me, I am the best guide in all of Teyvat. Besides, Ying, don't you think life is interesting now?"

"It's interesting." Ying propped up her chin and looked at the shadow cast by the sun on the beach behind her. Her delicate face was slightly sad. "But... I really don't want to eat fish anymore."

She had been eating fish for a long time! At first, it was fine, after all, both Chen Tianfeng and she knew many ways to cook fish, but as time went on, even if they changed the way they cooked, they couldn't change the fact that they ate fish every day.

If this continues, she feels like she's going to turn into a fish!
The beach in Mondstadt is very peculiar, at least this one is very peculiar. On one side is the blue sea and the soft sandy beach, and on the other side is a high cliff. Below the cliff there are only bare rocks and a few bushes whose names I cannot tell. It is very difficult to find other food.

"..."

Chen Tianfeng paused and turned to look at Ying: "So, are you still going to have dinner today?"

Ying was silent for a few seconds, then shook her head slowly but firmly: "...No, it's okay to skip a meal, I can still take it easy."

"Yeah, I think so too."

Chen Tianfeng agreed, put down the dagger that served as a kitchen knife, wiped his hands, and sat down next to Ying. The distance between them was just enough for a Paimon to fit in.

"Eh? How can this be possible! No, you really can't!"

Paimon was very anxious. He quickly flew to Ying's side and tugged at her sleeves, shaking them: "Paimon will starve to death!"

"It's all because Paimeng eats too much. All the rice, flour and other things stored in Tianfeng's Eye of God were eaten up by Paimeng." Ying pointed her finger at Paimeng's little forehead, scolding him half gently and half helplessly.

Chen Tianfeng held the cup of hot water, blew on it, and took a sip. He was not surprised by the name "Tianfeng" from Ying's mouth. People are always very adaptable. Didn't he also accept the shameful name "Little Tianfeng" that Wendy gave him?

It's just a name, no need to worry about it.

Of course, he would never admit that he was stunned for several seconds when he first heard Ying call him "Tianfeng".

"Ying~"

Paimeng tried to act like a spoiled child, but Ying was unmoved, so the little mascot rolled his eyes, changed his target, and looked at Chen Tianfeng: "Meteorite man~"

Chen Tianfeng: "..." Chen Tianfeng's eyes twitched, he put down the cup, looked Paimeng up and down, and suddenly said: "I should be able to cut a few pounds of meat from this little girl, why not eat her tonight."

"Huh?!" Paimon's eyes widened.

"Well, I think it's okay." Ying stroked his chin, looking like he was thinking seriously, with a smile in his eyes: "Although Paimon is not a very qualified guide, he must be a very qualified, no, a perfect emergency food, and it must taste great!"

"Hey! You two!!"

Emergency Food immediately let go of Ying's sleeve, put his hands on his waist in the air, and shouted: "Paimon is not emergency food! It's not delicious at all!"

Ying laughed softly, and looked up at the sky in the distance, which was gradually getting darker. She felt inexplicably invaded by darkness, as if she was in the center of darkness and light, and it seemed that countless pairs of eyes were watching her, waiting for her to make a choice.

Ying was stunned for a moment, and the smile was gradually replaced by trance and helplessness.

"What are you thinking about?"

In the silence, a voice was suddenly heard, and those countless pairs of eyes quickly retreated.

"…ah?"

Ying came back to her senses, and the inexplicable hallucination in her mind quickly dissipated. She looked at Chen Tianfeng, with a hint of confusion still in her eyes.

"The temperature has warmed up a lot in the past two days. I will try to catch two seabirds tomorrow."

Chen Tianfeng talked about his discovery: "Also, not far ahead, the elements seem to be fluctuating. I guess we can run into a few slimes. It would be nice to deal with them. Looking at the direction of the cliff, at our current speed, we will reach the end in three to five days at most. By then..."

Ying listened quietly, the corners of her lips gradually curled up, and a gentle smile emerged in her amber-like golden eyes. After Chen Tianfeng finished speaking, she suddenly said: "Tianfeng, I remember you said you are also a traveler?"

"Well, what's wrong?" Chen Tianfeng asked puzzledly.

"Then, will you come with me?" The girl smiled softly, her golden eyes reflecting his figure, full of anticipation: "How about we tour the seven countries together?"

When the girl made the invitation, the wind on the beach weakened a lot, as if it was also waiting for someone's response.

That's enough, Wendy! I knew you were peeking!

Chen Tianfeng's eyes twitched slightly, and he looked into the girl's eyes and successfully saw his own figure in them: "Why do you suddenly want to invite me?"

"Well, maybe...I think you're a good person?"

"..."

Chen Tianfeng was silent for a few seconds and shook his head: "I don't think I am a good person, nor do I think I am a qualified travel companion."

"Eh? Why? Isn't it good for the three of us to be together?"

Paimon blinked his eyes, and after a brief moment of confusion, he thought of something, gritted his teeth, and said firmly: "Is it because Paimon eats too much? Don't worry, I...I promise! I will eat a little less every day in the future!"

(End of this chapter)