“Trick him? That’s a great idea,” Jia Changjiang said, exchanging a glance with Xingqiu. Their eyes gleamed with mischief, clearly sharing the same thought.
When faced with someone who’s cold and distant on the outside but secretly a bit naive—or even a little tsundere—it’s only natural to want to see more of their interesting reactions, isn’t it?
“Tricking someone… isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” Chongyun asked instinctively.
“Chongyun, you’re mistaken,” Xingqiu replied smoothly, setting his book down. “Sometimes, people need a little push to experience things they wouldn’t normally dare to. What you call ‘tricking’ can actually be a benevolent lie.”
He added with a grin, “And if the result is positive—helping them learn or grow—wouldn’t you say it’s worthwhile?”
“Hmm… that does sound reasonable,” Chongyun muttered, slowly falling into Xingqiu’s reasoning.
“And the most important part,” Xingqiu continued, a sly smile playing on his lips, “is that seeing their reaction when they realize they’ve been tricked is incredibly entertaining. Don’t you think so, Mr. Jia?”
Jia Changjiang chuckled, nodding.
“Hmm… wait—”
Chongyun sank into thought, unaware that he’d been outmaneuvered by Xingqiu once again.
What Chongyun didn’t realize was that the person Jia Changjiang was plotting to trick into attending the Lantern Rite was none other than Xiao—the adeptus he deeply respected.
Jia Changjiang scratched his chin thoughtfully as he glanced at Chongyun, now lost in his musings.
Chongyun’s definitely easy to fool. He’d probably help count the Mora if you sold him.
But Xiao… Xiao wouldn’t be so easily deceived.
As one of Liyue’s ancient adepti, Xiao had weathered centuries. Tricking him would require something far more clever.
“Is the person you’re talking about a friend of yours, Mr. Jia?” Xingqiu asked.
“A friend? I suppose you could say that,” Jia Changjiang replied, tilting his head in consideration. “Though if you asked him directly, he’d probably never admit it.”
“Then do you really want him to attend the Lantern Rite?” Xingqiu probed.
“It’s not about what I want,” Jia Changjiang replied with a shrug. “It’s just… a festival like this shouldn’t be missed. It would be a shame if he skipped it.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips. “And honestly, I’m curious to see what kind of expression he’d make. I bet it’d be interesting.”
“I need to figure out a way to lure him there…”
“Are you planning to attend the Lantern Rite too, Mr. Jia?” Xingqiu asked, his tone light. “This year’s festival has been in preparation for ages, and I hear there will be new games and attractions.”
“Of course I’ll be there,” Jia Changjiang said with a grin.
“Well, enough about that,” he added, clapping his hands and straightening up. “I should go find Lumine and Ganyu.”
“Take care, Mr. Jia,” Xingqiu said as Jia Changjiang departed.
—
Not long after, Jia Changjiang spotted Lumine and Ganyu standing in front of a Liyue shop with Huixin from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. They appeared to be in the middle of a serious discussion with the shopkeeper.
“I suggest you abandon these attempts at sophistry,” Ganyu said sharply. Her usual gentle demeanor was replaced with a commanding presence. “It will only increase the fine you’ll owe when you’re penalized.”
“I… I run an honest business! I’d never stoop to petty greed!” the shopkeeper stammered, though his lack of confidence betrayed him.
Seeing Ganyu’s authoritative stance, Jia Changjiang assumed she’d decided to return to Liyue. But just as he was about to step forward, he hesitated. Instead, he slipped into a nearby hiding spot to observe.
Ganyu held clear evidence of the shopkeeper’s tax evasion. “The facts are irrefutable. We’re not here to question you—we’re here to inform you.”
“Give it up!” Lumine and Paimon chimed in, hands on their hips. “We went through so much trouble to find those receipts! Your tax evasion is undeniable!”
Lumine muttered under her breath, “Hmph, so this method doesn’t work either. Isn’t there a way to evade taxes without getting caught…?”
Under Ganyu’s relentless pressure, the shopkeeper finally confessed to his wrongdoing. However, he made sure to report his competitor’s shady practices as well.
If I’m going down, they’re coming with me, he thought bitterly.
With the matter resolved, Lumine turned to Ganyu with admiration. “I didn’t expect you to be so intimidating, Ganyu. That guy really thought he could talk his way out of it. That was so satisfying!”
“Oh, so you’ve patched things up?” Jia Changjiang asked, stepping out from his hiding spot once the confrontation ended.
“Already back to work?”
“Mr. Jia,” Huixin greeted him politely. “Not quite. Ganyu was just helping me with my duties.”
“So… the misunderstanding hasn’t been resolved yet?” Jia Changjiang frowned. “Are Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao still stuck at their desks?”
“It’s… complicated,” Lumine said awkwardly, scratching her nose. “We’ve run into so many distractions since returning to Liyue that I haven’t had the chance to bring Ganyu back to Yuehai Pavilion yet. But we did meet one of the new Qixing!”
Huixin, sensing the unfinished business between them, spoke up. “Ganyu, Lumine, and Paimon have been a great help to me today. Please allow me to treat you all to dinner. I’ve already made a reservation at Wanmin Restaurant. It’ll be easier to discuss things over a meal.”
“Mr. Jia, you’re welcome to join us too,” she added.
“Dinner? I’m in!” Paimon exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “After all that work, it’s time for a good meal!”
“Um…” Ganyu hesitated.
“Come on, Ganyu,” Lumine urged. “We can talk about everything—clear the air once and for all.”
Hands on her hips, Lumine declared, “And let me tell you this: worrying about choosing between being an adeptus or a human is pointless!”
She grinned mischievously. “We’re adults now. And as adults… we should have it all!”
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 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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