As Cloud Retainer emerged from her newly built house, she overheard Guizhong's praise from a distance. Instantly, the corners of her lips curled upward in satisfaction.
"Naturally. Who do you take this one to be?"
"This humble abode of mine is no less impressive than yours."
Cloud Retainer strode over, her expression brimming with pride as she surveyed Jiang Chen and the others.
This house had consumed countless hours of her effort. Over several days, while Jiang Chen and the others were away, she had finally completed it.
Who knew where this competitive streak of hers came from? Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel a little exasperated.
"Oh?"
Guizhong blinked, unfazed.
How good could it be? Most of Cloud Retainer's mechanical arts had been learned from her, after all.
She knew exactly what to expect.
"Of course!"
Cloud Retainer puffed up with pride, staring down Guizhong.
Then, she continued:
"Guizhong, you should pack up and move in later."
"This one has prepared a room and laboratory for you. No need to conduct research elsewhere—you can work right at home."
She wanted Guizhong to move out of Jiang Chen's house.
Was there any need to stay there?
Wouldn't living with her be better?
Just as she eagerly awaited Guizhong's agreement, the latter flatly refused.
"No."
"I'll stay here. Moving is too much trouble."
"Working there is fine, but relocating? Forget it."
The answer was obvious—she had no intention of moving.
Hearing this, Cloud Retainer panicked.
"Why not?!"
She couldn't comprehend it.
Why wouldn't Guizhong want to live with her?
Wasn't her place better? Why insist on staying with Jiang Chen?
"This one can help you move! It's no trouble at all!"
Trouble? What trouble?
If you think it's troublesome, I'll move it for you!
She'd been itching to do this for a while but had held back.
Jiang Chen watched the exchange, utterly speechless.
Ignoring the two, he headed straight inside.
The house was empty—Havria, Faram, and Yingda were all at work.
Lumine and Paimon followed him in.
Once Jiang Chen sat down, Lumine plopped herself right beside him.
"Jiang Chen, I have a gift for you."
Suddenly, Lumine adopted an extremely solemn expression.
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow.
"You bought stockings?"
Lumine rolled her eyes.
"Aren't those already a thing?"
"The gift I'm giving you is this!"
Damn, wasn't that just standard fare?
What weird request of his had she not fulfilled?
In Lumine's eyes, those didn't count as gifts.
With that, she pulled out the imperial seal she'd commissioned from Guizhong.
"Your Majesty, this subject has found the Imperial Seal."
"Heaven's Mandate belongs to you, Your Majesty!"
...
So, this brat still hadn't given up?
Jiang Chen's lips twitched.
This girl was no good.
Were they going to have a harem interfering in politics next?
Especially when he saw the eight words engraved on the seal, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"You really know how to play."
"You've got some nerve, huh?"
"Damn, you even made an imperial seal?"
"What about the robes for cold weather?"
Jiang Chen shot her a dry look.
Fine, if we're going this far, wouldn't it be a shame not to prepare dragon robes?
Hearing this, Lumine's eyes lit up.
"Are you going to unify the seven nations?"
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"
"Let's focus on military development next."
"No matter what, I'll support you."
The more she spoke, the more excited she became.
"Why would I want to unify the seven nations?"
"Rather than that, I'd prefer to pool Liyue's resources and advance our technology."
"Then, we'll break out of Teyvat and head to other worlds."
"Beyond this world lies an even more terrifying realm."
"That's where we're going."
Jiang Chen had zero interest in world domination.
What fascinated him was leaving Teyvat for Honkai: Star Rail.
Conquering nations? Forget it.
Ascending with Liyue sounded far more appealing.
Of course, if other nations wanted to join, that was fine too.
"A more terrifying world? Then why go?!"
Lumine, however, was stunned.
If that world was so dangerous, why would you want to go?
Damn, she couldn't fathom Jiang Chen's thought process.
Why would he think like that?
"Because it's fun."
"And it's cosmic-scale."
"Don't you want to explore other star systems?"
"Over there, you can travel across galaxies."
"That's way more exciting than staying in Teyvat."
Jiang Chen grinned as he described Honkai: Star Rail to Lumine.
As he explained, Lumine's eyes shone with interest.
If that was the case, then she was definitely intrigued.
Deep down, she loved traveling.
The idea of journeying through the cosmos was irresistible.
"Tell me more!"
Lumine leaned in eagerly, urging Jiang Chen to elaborate.
With nothing else to do, Jiang Chen began detailing the world of Star Rail—Aeons, Emanators, Paths, and more.
Hearing this, Lumine's excitement soared.
She was slowly forming a mental picture.
"If I went to that world, I'd probably embrace the Path of Trailblaze, right?"
Given her nature, the Trailblaze Path would suit her perfectly.
Jiang Chen nodded in agreement.
"Absolutely."
"For you, Trailblaze is the only choice."
Was there even a question?
What other Path could possibly fit Lumine better than Trailblaze?
"So, what's your plan?"
"Leaving for another world can't be easy, can it?"
She genuinely hadn't expected Jiang Chen to harbor such ambitions.
But it sounded amazing.
Her curiosity about that world had been thoroughly piqued.
"First, we develop. Then, we build a starship."
"And then, we leave."
"But it won't be simple."
"If we try to depart, we'll likely clash with that god who stopped you before."
If Jiang Chen constructed a spaceship to escape Teyvat, he would undoubtedly provoke the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
The question was—was she currently dormant?
But the moment Jiang Chen attempted to take all of Liyue with him, whether she was sleeping or not, she would awaken to intervene.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be the Sustainer.
Lumine nodded thoughtfully.
"Big Paimon!"
Paimon, who had been listening, suddenly stiffened.
"That's not Big Paimon!"
"That god who stopped Lumine isn't me!"
This was a touchy subject for her.
At some point, Lumine had started referring to that unknown god as "Paimon."
It was slander!!
Paimon was deeply offended.
"She is Big Paimon!"
"You look just like her!"
"Anyone would think you're sisters."
Lumine scoffed.
Paimon definitely had major secrets.
And she suspected there was some connection between the two!