Gu Sanqiu’s body tensed as he felt a staff press firmly against his lower back. Somehow, Hu Tao had sneaked behind him without his noticing, and her Staff of Homa was now poking him accusingly.
“Gu. San. Qiu. Are you seriously going to a place like that?”
“And what if there’s something fishy going on inside?” he retorted.
Hu Tao snorted. “I wouldn’t know what exactly goes on there, but I do know that some people come out looking dazed, their energy completely out of whack. Some of them even end up going to Bubu Pharmacy for medicine.”
“That bad, huh?”
Gu Sanqiu’s expression grew serious. Even if the place wasn’t suspicious before, the moment Zhongli mentioned it, it became suspicious. And now, with Hu Tao’s report, it was clear something was violating Liyue’s laws.
Ordinary activities wouldn’t drain someone’s essence to the point of needing medicinal help. There was something more to this establishment—something hidden and illicit.
After his recent encounter with the Abyss Mage, Gu Sanqiu couldn’t help but feel a connection. A newly opened, secretive venue like this was bound to raise questions.
“Thank you for the information, Brother Zhongli. I’ll find time to investigate.”
Find time?
Who am I kidding? Why wait? He fully intended to head there tonight. Besides, if the venue had any boundary-pushing performances, it wouldn’t hurt to “investigate” those too…
“If you go, I’ll tell Ningguang you’re sneaking off to shady places!”
Gu Sanqiu paused, giving Hu Tao a long, meaningful look. Then he patted her head gently.
“To sacrifice oneself for righteousness is the greatest virtue,” he said solemnly. “For the safety of Liyue Harbor, I, Gu Sanqiu, am willing to shoulder this burden. Even if my sister drags me to the Jade Chamber and beats me senseless, I’ll endure it—for Liyue’s sake.”
“Liar! You just want to see those barely dressed dancers!”
Hu Tao puffed out her cheeks indignantly. “I’m coming with you!”
“What for?” Gu Sanqiu groaned. “It’s not a place for kids.”
“Kids? You’re not much older than me! What makes you think you can go and I can’t?”
“Because I’m investigating, while you just want to see the grown-up world of glitter and glamour.”
As their banter carried on, Zhongli remained behind, watching the pair with his hands clasped behind his back.
“This should keep that boy occupied,” Zhongli mused quietly to himself. “Better that he pokes into curiosities like these than meddling with more dangerous matters.”
—
Roughly ten minutes later, the Abyss Mage resurfaced in the area, clutching his chest like someone who had narrowly escaped death.
“That was terrifying… absolutely terrifying! I thought that guy was going to kill me for sneaking back!”
But then, the Abyss Mage began chuckling to himself.
“It seems the rumors were true. That lunatic’s condition is off… and the other one’s state isn’t normal either…”
Boom!
A burst of Geo energy erupted, flattening the ground around him. With a startled yelp, the Abyss Mage disappeared, vowing not to return to the surface anytime soon.
—
“Hmm, did you hear that?”
Gu Sanqiu twitched, instinctively glancing over his shoulder, but Hu Tao quickly pressed her staff against his face.
“Hey! Eyes forward!” she barked. “Answer my question!”
“I already told you, I’m going to investigate. Zhongli said there’s something odd about the place. I’m the perfect candidate for this—just a wandering layabout with no official ties. No one will suspect a thing. Would you rather send Keqing?”
“Zhongli…” Hu Tao grumbled through gritted teeth. “This is all his fault!”
“Relax,” Gu Sanqiu reassured her. “I’m not the same reckless kid I used to be. Xingqiu and I have grown up. We’re not going to repeat our old mistakes.”
Hu Tao’s intense scrutiny made Gu Sanqiu think she’d been briefed by Ningguang herself. His sister likely asked Hu Tao to keep an eye on him, just as one would ask a friend to watch over a reckless sibling.
It was no secret to anyone, least of all Ningguang, that Gu Sanqiu’s mental state was… eccentric. Combine that with Xingqiu’s penchant for mischief, and the two could cook up all sorts of chaotic scenarios.
Ningguang likely understood that only she could truly rein him in. However, her busy schedule often left her no choice but to enlist the help of those she trusted.
“Don’t worry,” Gu Sanqiu said confidently. “If it’s anything like the Sanxuan Society, I’ll take care of it in no time. A punch for each troublemaker, and we’re done.”
Hu Tao gave him a skeptical look. “Really?”
“Really.” He nodded firmly. “Just think about what you saw earlier. I handled that ley line eruption by myself, something that usually takes a whole team. That should convince you I’m not weak anymore.”
“Hmph. Fine, I’ll believe you. For now.”
But Hu Tao muttered under her breath, “Still think you’re up to no good…”
—
Nightfall, Liyue Harbor.
The city hummed with laughter, food stalls, and the aroma of freshly cooked dishes. The lively atmosphere was a stark contrast to the day’s work. Amid the crowd, two unassuming young men stood together.
“Do we really need disguises to watch some dancing?” Xingqiu asked, looking at Gu Sanqiu with mild exasperation.
“Of course,” Gu Sanqiu replied, rolling his eyes. “The Wansheng Funeral Parlor said there’s something shady about this place. Focus up, idiot. We’re here to investigate, not ogle half-dressed dancers.”
Xingqiu shot him a sidelong glance. “Says the guy who lured me here by promising edge-of-decent dancing.”
“And what if I’d said we were going to investigate a case? Would you have come?”
“Swap ‘investigate a case’ with ‘do heroic deeds,’ and yes, I’d have come.”
“Ugh, whatever. Did you bring everything?”
Xingqiu patted the pouch at his side. “Loose gemstones, Mora already converted to cash, and nothing traceable like silver notes. All set.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
Gu Sanqiu nodded in approval. This was why teaming up with Xingqiu was so convenient—they both knew how to prepare.
In a place like this, carrying traceable silver notes or unregistered gemstones was asking for trouble. If discovered, it would lead straight back to them. And in a place where rumors flew, that could ruin reputations in an instant.
As they approached their destination, Xingqiu grinned mischievously. “You know, this reminds me of when we used to sneak into places like this to ‘broaden our horizons.’”
Gu Sanqiu groaned. “And then your brother dragged you home for a beating while my sister did the same to me. Is that the part you’re remembering?”
“The results were bad, sure,” Xingqiu admitted, “but weren’t we awestruck by what we saw? I remember you being particularly fond of long legs and curvy waists.”
“Don’t twist my words. What I said was—”
“Appreciate beauty with respect and a sense of art, blah blah blah.” Xingqiu waved him off. “I’ve heard it all before.”
Gu Sanqiu sighed deeply. “Let’s not forget why we’re here. Don’t get distracted.”
“Right,” Xingqiu said, smirking. “Gather intel quietly, avoid suspicion, and reminisce about the good old days when we got smacked around by our families. Got it?”
“Good plan.”
“Excellent.”
—
T/N: I-is hutao jealous?
This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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