Side Story 15: The Rogue Has Been Caught

Ningguang was shilling and doing work as always, when she received an unexpected letter from someone.

It suddenly arrived at her window accompanied by an arrow. And she thought that only one person could do that here in Liyue.

"Yelan, this is unexpected. She doesn't have any work that is due, what could be the reason for her contacting me." Ningguang stood up and went to get the letter. She started reading it and she narrowed her eyes.

"Hah, you're pulling my leg here Ein. Yelan's making a request I can't possibly grant." Ningguang had a cooperative relationship with the woman. She was the best intel gatherer by far. And Yelan does it all for free, just for the heck of it. And now that it's time for her to make a request, Ningguang couldn't do anything.

"Damnit, this will be a stain on my honor. I need to convince Ein to let her go, I just wish he isn't interested on her. They do have kind of similar personalities." Ein was a carefree spirit and Yelan just goes with the flow. And he dares to do anything he wants because he can, while Yelan does it for the thrill.

She sighed heavily and penned a letter to Ganyu. As she knows that the excellent and mild mannered secretary of the qixing is good friends with Ein.

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Ganyu was having lunch with Shenhe, courtesy of Ein. And a letter was delivered to her while they were eating.

"What does it say?" Ein asked her as Ganyu had a confused look on her face. "Tianquan wants to see you as soon as possible Ein. Did you do something to her? Don't tease her too much okay? She's a busy woman, she's the top of the qixing you know?" Ganyu gave a wry smile and thought he was bothering Ningguang.

"Eh, not really. Now that you said it, I haven't spent some time with her lately. As she said that she'll finish all her backed up work using the scanners I gave. Thanks for telling me Ganyu, I'll go. Bye Shenhe, later." He gave them a kiss on their forehead and Shenhe waved at him while eating a piece of steak, her favorite.

"He's even had the Tianquan on his mercy. He is surely getting them all, who's next I wonder. The Yuheng or something while captain Beidou is at sea?" Shenhe wondered as she chewed.

"Don't jinx it Shenhe! Aww, it's probably going to happen now. We'll spend less time with him if he gets more you know? You'll get less food too." Ganyu enticed her and Shenhe got wide eyed with realization.

"Y-you're right. He would go to other nations at night and he will cycle through us evenly. I want him to be with me every night." She thought they would get less activities with him every night and that was not good.

"That's what you took away from that? Whatever, just don't jinx it anymore okay? We have lots of competition already. Though I would like to spend more time with him at night too." Ganyu fidgeted as she was introduced to worldly pleasures and wanted to indulge in it regularly.

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Ein flew to the jade chamber and walked right in. He then sat on the lounge as he knew Ningguang would appear shortly.

"Hello, Ein. Nice to see you again, but there's trouble you see?" She sighed heavily and gave him a small peck.

"So? What is it anyway? You want to dominate the world or something?" He asked with a cheeky smile and she squinted her eyes. Thinking that's not so bad, but she regained her focus and shook her head.

"While that is nice, did you meet someone with blue hair? Green eyes and asymmetrical bangs?" She described Yelan and he nodded.

"Ohh, that gambler Yelan? You know her or something? We should hang out with her and Beidou sometimes. Now that I think about it, I can make her do anything I want, why though?" He asked her and Ningguang winced for a bit. As she and Beidou also have a cooperative relationship, but it was a bit complicated as she was the Tianquan and couldn't support Beidou openly.

"Sure, another time. She gathers intel for us, really important too. And she does not ask for any kind of payment. But now, she's asking something that requires your help." She sighed again and thought this will be a nightmare to bargain, as she is the one who will lose.

"Right, so? What is it then? She's pretty interesting, I'd say I like to know her better." He smiled and crossed his legs, entering his negotiation pose as he noticed Ningguang's nervousness from a mile away.

"Remember the bet you guys made at the tea shop? She wants me to take care of it so you would consider it already paid." Ningguang then braced herself if she would have to think of payment or he would demand something.

"Ahhh, that? I thought it was something pretty big. Well, I wasn't going to ask anything big anyway. Maybe just go for some lunch or something." He shrugged and got excited for nothing.

"Wait, really? Yelan doesn't owe anyone you know? Even I don't owe her anything, I'm actually indebted to her. That's why I can't refuse her request." Ningguang sighed in relief in her mind. As she thought he might request something ridiculous or something.

"Yeah, how about I tell her myself? She's pretty elusive right? I can tell she's just in Liyue right now, her hiding spot is at the tea shop. I've got her location right now." Ein revealed, making Ningguang nervous at his mysterious powers and was envious of his ability to locate someone in a jiffy.

"Okay then, go on. Thanks for this, I owe you one." She smiled at him and he suddenly gave her a face splitting grin. "Ohh, you owe me one huh? Well in your case, it's a little bit different." He went up to her and whispered at her ears.

Ein then gave her neck a little smooch, she didn't notice that he left a sizeable mark and she swatted him away. "Not here you beast! Someone is watching us..." She hissed and glared at him. She then looked at her attendants that didn't really look at them, but they have visible excitement in their eyes.

"Bye, let's hang out with Beidou later kay?" He then sunk to the floor like it was made of water and disappeared.

"Hah, he's seriously too much. I can't handle him like a normal person, even the most unruly royals don't act like this with me." She had an unconscious smile on her face with Ein's refreshing treatment of her. Finding it a bit amusing as one of the attendants had a wide smile on their face.

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Ein teleported right behind Yelan and he tied her up in a double column bondage. Lifting Yelan up and suspended her right in front of him. "Hello, little rogue. You like strings right, I'm quite the expert at using them you see?" Yelan was shocked to her core and could only stare at him dumbly.

She then tried wiggling her way out of it as she thought Tianquan failed convincing him. But the rope started to dig between her legs and it made her mewl softly.

"Sorry, you can't get out of that. Now, you won't escape right? Calm down, I'm not going to do anything you know?" He sat down and took out a glass of wine, sipping on it slowly as he waited for her to calm down.

"O-okay." She started to accept her fate and just went limp as the more she struggles, the ropes became tighter.

"Good." Ein snapped his fingers and she got freed, she then floated and was put on a chair softly. Making her think twice before she would try and use her abilities to escape.

"Now, why'd you send a letter to Ningguang in the first place? I'm not unreasonable you know? I'd just asked you to hang out and maybe clear out a couple of casinos here in Liyue." He said with a sigh and shook his head.

"Wait, really?" She squinted her eyes at him and was rightfully suspicious. As nobody normal could control Liyue and have a tight hold on it like that in such a short time. Even the Fatui with their massive wealth couldn't do it. And he started from scratch.

"Well yeah, I haven't done anything illegal here in Teyvat. Well, except maybe blow up a couple of mountains. But Rex Lapis could just make some more of them." He shrugged and gave her a smile.

"Alright, but in one condition. Tell me how you cheated, you definitely did. I didn't find any foul play. But literally nobody could beat me." She was curious and thought he must be an expert even better than her at gambling and she wants to learn.

"Hmm, what are you talking about? I didn't do anything. How about I prove it to you? I just have amazing luck." Ein didn't want to tell her that he altered causality as he didn't really know her well. Unlike Mona who will just get interested on it.

"You're lying! Are you for real? Okay then, I'll role the dice and you pick a number. I won't meddle with it and if you get those 10 times in a row, I'll believe you." She took out a pair of dice again and started to shake them.

He gestured for her to start and she rolled them on a table when he picked 12 now. She was not surprised it was 12 and started again, and again, and again. Until it went 12 ten times in a row.

"What in the world? Are you really just lucky or are you using some kind of power?" She was still suspicious, but she started to believe lady luck was on his side.

"I'm quite the lucky guy no? Now how about I introduce myself again. I'm Einheri, call me Ein okay?" He shook her hand and she nodded with a smile, thinking that she hasn't seen anyone like him before.

"I'm Yelan, if you need any information on someone. I got your back, but you'll owe me one." She was curious on what he really was and decided to ask.

"Hey, are you some kind of god? You just appeared out of nowhere! And I didn't even notice you tie me up." She didn't mind as she was beat in her own game, so she just asked.

"Huhun~ I've practiced that a lot you know? But you're pretty bold and a good spy huh? Trying to get information from me with a seemingly harmless question. You're good." He nodded at her skills in satisfaction and she clicked her tongue as she pouted at him.

"Tche, you're no fun. You're one of those types that would get me killed on a mission. You're too perceptive." She got a little frustrated that he found her out immediately.

"Hmm, maybe I would tell you if we get closer. But we're not there yet, how about some dinner? I'm the best cook in the world you know? I'm quite confident in my skills." He puffed his chest and leaked smug energy.

Yelan raised a brow and thought if it was really fine. As he basically invited her to get more info on him when they go to his house. "You setting a trap for me? Fine, I'll solve it in a jiffy. I've been in tougher spots than a dinner table." She confidently said as they chuckled.

They then went to Walmart and went to his little abode there. "Huh? So you just transformed a part of your shop to your house huh?" She didn't expect that and scanned the place like a hawk. But everything she saw was alien to her.

He then clapped his hands and the lights turned on, startling her and used her vision. Prepared to fight. Ein then stared at her and she got embarrassed when she noticed it was just the lights.

"Metatron, play my mixtape." Music then started to play and Yelan thought it was amazing.

"How do you do that? This place doesn't look like anywhere I've been." She then passed through the windows and the blinds opened, giving them a view of the setting sun.

"Amazing right? That's technology, it originates from outside Teyvat." He explained, but didn't expound further. She then thought it was just magic as visions could not do that.

'So he doesn't want to explain huh, no matter. I'll just memorize everything here, this much is already a great find.' Yelan sat down on the sofa and she immediately started to get comfortable as she sunk on it while it had just the right firmness.

"Ooh, damn. It's even heated? What is this place? Some kind of haven for lazy people? I feel like I won't be able to stand up after feeling this." She was starting to enjoy the place and relaxed on the sofa.

"Heh, I thought you could escape my trap. But you're caught, easily I might add." Ein chuckled and Yelan pouted at him.

"I'll prepare our meal, sit tight." He went to the kitchen and Yelan saw an opportunity, so she started snooping around. Even though she knew he let her.

She went to his room and tried to find anything useful. She carefully inspected everything if there were traps. And she even checked the bathroom. But it just surprised her when a voice resounded from the toilet and the seat started to come up.

"Woah, what the hell is this toilet. It can talk from somewhere." She poked it and found nothing else, so she rummaged inside his room again and found a bunch of pictures.

Yelan saw his romantic date with Ningguang and Beidou. While also him interacting with the Raiden Shogun and a shockingly convincing lookalike that would pass as a twin.

"Oh my goodness, this guy is insanely influential. He's friends with the archon of eternity..." She then started to view them quickly, interested at what more he has to offer. She then saw Ei and Makoto in maid clothes and she dropped the picture book with wide eyes.

'No one would ever believe me. The Shogun in maid clothes serving him... This is insane!' Yelan has never seen such juicy material before, too bad no one would ever believe her. And if she took the picture, she felt like something bad was going to happen.

"Hmm, you're quite enjoying yourself huh? Digging through my stuff without permission, you're a daring one." He appeared without warning and caressed her exposed nape with his finger. Making Yelan shiver as she suddenly faced him and smiled innocently.

"Uhh, what are you talking about? I just found it lying there and it was begging to be flipped open." She shrugged and made excuses, denying all charges immediately.

"That won't hold up in court Yelan. I'll give you a little punishment then." He poked her between the eyes and a memory was burned into her mind. A memory of seeing Kakashi and Guy making out like passionate lovers while they were both in boxers.

"Argh! Nooo! My mind is being defiled!" She writhed on the ground as she saw the cursed scene in her mind. Yelan then stopped moving and twitched with soulless eyes.

"You... You're a monster. I, I'm sorry. Forgive me, please. No more." She begged weakly as he nodded in satisfaction and took away the memory away.

She then propped up and panted heavily. Sweating buckets as she could not remember what exactly happened, but it was the most horrifying moment of her life.

"W-what did you do?" She got scared for the first time in her life as her body shivered from fear. "I just showed you a good memory. I took it away though, want to see it again?" He grinned and Yelan immediately shook her head.

"Well, let's go then. I have a nice little dinner prepared." He gestured for her to come and she suddenly became meeker. Not even sure why she was so scared. But felt it to her cores nonetheless.

They sat down on his dining table and Yelan looked at the dishes with a little bit of drool.

"I don't know what you like, so I made up with variety. Enjoy." He smiled at her as he really liked to see people enjoy some good food. It was a little break for a lot of people.

"Well then, I can't refuse can I?" She started to dig in and hallucinated. Thinking she was poisoned like in one of her missions that she got hit with a poison that causes the one hit with it severe psychosis.

'Wait, but its effect is immediate.' She then saw little chickens dancing around her as she savored the taste of his karaage.

He snapped her out of it with a little pinch on her cheek as she gained her wits and she shook her head, staring at her plate with awe.

"Did you poison these?" She asked with suspicion as it was too weird. "No, they're just so delicious that your brain overloads. Pretty neat right?" He said to her as he ate normally.

So she tried another and it was a piece of steak, she then hallucinated again as she felt like soft pieces of meat cuddled her and their juices slathered on her skin.

"Oiii, hello?" He pinched her other cheek and she thought his food was dangerous. "Can you make some more? I want it again, it's unfair. I can't eat something normal again after that!" She shouted fervently like a woman possessed.

He chuckled and patted her head. "Sure thing, I aim to please after all. So? I got a little information on you from Ningguang. And I learned you're a little daredevil aren't you? How about I interest you with a little treasure hunt?" Ein snapped his fingers and made a labyrinth that would give her an adventure of a lifetime.

She immediately got stars in her eyes as she thought whatever it is. It must be amazing and she could get some pretty nice treasures in it.

"Ohhh? Is that a challenge?" She crossed her legs and smirked. "Heh, if you can even get to the bottom of it. I'll give you a pretty little toy, your vision is hydro right? It's a neat bow on it's final form." He shrugged and she thought it must be a legendary bow if it's from a god.

"I accept! Kukuku~ I'll get that bow, you'll see." She then rubbed her hands and couldn't wait.

He then snapped his fingers and a grand labyrinth appeared in Liyue, Mondstadt, and Inazuma. He thought it would be a good little tourist spot and adventurers would love it. As they could get some income from it in the form of drops.

"What did you just do?" She raised a brow and thought he must have done something ridiculous with that one snap.

"There are labyrinths now in Liyue, Mondstadt, and Inazuma. People of all walks of nations could enter and try to find the treasure. Knight orders and militaries could also fight there to gain more experience fighting monsters. They're quite diverse you know?" He added the typical ones and at the bottom floors, they would see monsters that could be only taken on by the best.

"Heeeeh? So? Where is it?" She was itching to enter and her blood boiled for an adventure.

"It's just a little away from every Walmart. You won't miss it." He gestured her to follow him and they walked for a couple of few seconds until a large entrance to a cave appeared. It looked normal, but it was leaking a mystical energy and she noticed it.

"That place is kind of weird, it feels like it's sucking me in to it." She wanted to enter immediately and get to it. As the mysterious cave was another challenge that makes her shounen protagonist blood hum. She is a descendant of heroes that fought for the peace.

"It consists of a 100 floors, there are monsters and traps inside. There are safe areas with the goods of walmart and a capsule hotel every 5 floors. And you will be receiving a card that records your progress. No stealing allowed and those who attacks others would be taken to a correction facility." He gave her a simple set of rules and a card.

He wanted to give the world a little exciting place to adventure when he takes care of Celestia soon as he would just occasionally visit Teyvat. It would also make a myriad of adventurers that are pretty strong even without a vision. So there would be people that could take care of some random threats.

"Let's go! Let's go!" Yelan pulled him and they went to the entrance of the place. And when they were about to enter, she forgot that she didn't have her weapon.

"Ahh, Ein... I don't have my weapon with me." She smiled sheepishly as he sighed and reached out to the side. A crack in space appeared and he took out a bow from it. "Is this it?" He asked just to be sure.

She got stars in her eyes and thought that was cool. "Hey, can you teach me how to do that? That would be pretty neat. Please? Pretty pleaseeee?" She pestered him and shaked him.

"Hah, maybe if you finish the labyrinth in record time. I'll give you a nice little reward yes?" He went up close to her and whispered.

She got a whiff of him and thought he had a nice pleasant smell that made her relax. "Umu, what's the record?" Yelan got calmer and gave him a cheeky smile.

"It's 1 week. So you'll have to finish at least 15 floors a day or you won't get a little surprise." He gave her a challenge and she nodded.

"Easy, I'll smash that record easily~" Yelan stretched and with a full stomach and burning motivation, she went on her merry way inside the labyrinth.

"Heh, I guess giving away the 1st noble phantasm in this world through a treasure hunt is pretty appropriate, there's adventurer guilds here after all." He then took out a wooden sign and started writing on it so more people would enter. It said "*treasures inside in this totally not suspicious cave.*

"Yosh, she's pretty skilled. She'll probably get out of it after 5 days or so." He scaled the monsters that was suitable for the people of Teyvat and the 100th floor boss was a dragon as strong as Dvalin in its prime. A rough fight, but people with visions and a nice little elite group could defeat it.

He then decided to watch her for a bit and he saw her running around the wolves at the early floors not seeing her. As she used refraction to have limited invisibility and stick little pressurized bombs of water as she tied them up.

It then all exploded while she had her back on them. Crouching on the ground looking cool with her coat fluttering.

He clapped and whistled. "Ooh, she's got style. Well done." He then watched some more and she quickly arrived at the 5th floor boss. It was a large kobold with better armor than the rest.

"It's over~ Move out." She took out a die and water converged around them. It then tied up all of her enemies with strings of water and it exploded as she posed.

"Oh, a cultured woman. Doing jojo poses after her attack. What a lady." He smiled as she started attacking the left over goons with her bow and what looked like and the die started shooting water projectiles too. She then posed after her last attack.

"Why does she show her armpits so much? I mean, it do be looking nice and juicy. But why though?" He wondered as Yelan breezed through the labyrinth and entered the safe area.

"Well, I better leave her to her own devices." He then put some potions in her pocket for easy access. With labels so she could drink them if she's in a pinch.

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Ningguang got a notice that a cave suddenly appeared Walmart and it had a sign that treasures are inside. "This has Ein's doing written all over it. Hah, Yuheng would definitely come to me righhht, about now."

The door opened and Keqing entered with a little sour mood. "Tianquan, I believe your good friend Ein-san has created a tacky little cave next to his fine establishment. Please tell me the reason why." She got straight to the point as the cave next to his fancy establishment was horrendous.

"Don't ask me Yuheng. I'm as perplexed as you." Ningguang leaned on her chair, putting her hair over the cushion so she could relax a bit. As Ein did give her a revolutionary device to make work easier, but he comes up with chaos like this again.

Keqing was about to ask if she knew where the man in question was. But she saw Ningguang's neck and it had a kiss mark. Making her shocked. As the Tianquan is rumored to be unconquerable like a castle with walls so high, it would tower over you.

"Umm, Tianquan. Did he perhaps visit you earlier? I want to talk to him about the aesthetic design of his so called cave with treasures." Keqing asked, but Ningguang noticed there was something bothering her.

"Yes, he did. I think he's at his shop, he said he would be talking with Yelan." Ningguang sighed and those two together would either be relaxing somewhere or causing trouble.

"Oh, okay... Uhh, Ningguang. You have a little something on your neck you know?" Keqing said as she left. Ningguang thought of what it might be, as Keqing even called her by her name.

So she stood in front of the mirror and looked at her neck. She froze and immediately thought of all the people that saw it. "Ein... Ugh, Yuheng saw it and she knows he did it. I'll be needing compensation for this." She sighed heavily and cancelled her appointments for the day. As she got stressed and don't want to deal with people right now.

Keqing traveled to walmart with a slight blush on her face. Imagining Ningguang getting it on with the owner of Isekai walmart.

"Oh my goodness. They'll take over Liyue when Tianquan gets the support of Ein-san..." She thought they would be together in arms and turn Liyue over.

But she got broken out of her thoughts when she saw there was a huge crowd of adventurers quickly entering the cave. And there were also people that went out with materials to sell, along with mora.

"What in the world..." Keqing looked suspiciously at the cave and went up to the staff. As people naturally knew the Yuheng and made way.

"Excuse me, can you please tell me what is the purpose of this place?" She asked and the staff gave her a pamphlet with a smile.

She then read it and analyzed it for a few minutes. And befitting her status as one of the qixing. She knew that the labyrinth was a place that would circulate wealth to the people with surprising ease. Boosting the economy and giving the masses more pocket money so they could spend more.

"What a terrifying genius. This would make a nation prosper in weeks, an investment that would cost a lot. But would multiply profits and the economy multiple times over until things start to calm down." Keqing mumbled as she thought Ein was an economic overlord that could revive dying countries in a flash.

She then entered the shop and asked for Ein as she would like to have a word with him. To determine if he would take over Liyue with Ningguang as the labyrinth became an afterthought.

She was ushered into a room and Ein welcomed her. "Ahhh, Yuheng. What brings you by to my humble shop?" He gave a grin and Keqing prepared to confront him.

"Well met, Ein-san. Please do call me Keqing, I would just like to have a conversation with you about something." She sat down and waited for his reply.

"That's fine, though I have a question though. Why do you wear your hair like that? You cosplaying as a cat girl or something?" He was genuinely curious and Keqing was stumped.

"Uhh, I... I just like them like that." She couldn't say she thought cat ears were cute. Keqing then coughed so the conversation won't steer away.

"It seems you're a nekomimi lover huh? A girl of culture I see." He chuckled and Keqing blushed profusely.

"Ahem, anyways. I would like to know, if you would be turning Liyue into your personal playground. Especially if you partner up with the richest qixing, Tianquan. Your contract just says you can't harm Liyue. You can still take control of it." She said in a serious voice as she squinted her eyes at him.

She was suspicious of him as he suddenly showed up in Liyue one day and she was still young, unlike Ningguang. So she was prone to the subtleties of Ein's antics. Ningguang knows if he wants to conquer Liyue, he would've done it since day 1.

He smirked at her and thought he should mess with her. "Hmm, what would you even do if I do want to take Liyue for myself? The people are on my side, my status is unshakeable. I'm an adeptus that people worship like a god." He crossed his legs and leaned on the table.

Keqing thought he finally showed his true colors and was flabbergasted. Ashamed that she let him gain this much control over her beloved nation of Liyue.

"You dare? Rex Lapis would be ashamed of you as an adeptus!" She was angry as she was known as a person that didn't like the archon of Liyue much, but she secretly admired him and even bought figurines of him in his dragon form. As Morax appears once a year in it to pass on his wisdom about the market and trends of Liyue that year.

"Heh, Rex Lapis? Want me to call him? He'll give me this nation without resistance. Kekeke~" He acted poorly, but he was too into Keqing's head for her to notice.

"Tch, the qixing would stop your evil plan! You won't get your hands on this nation without resistance, we'll retaliate with all our might." She stood up and was about to leave and tell the qixing. But she suddenly got tied up and suspended into the air.

"Hehe~ you really think you can just go in here and walk out?" He went closer to her and gave her a little shock on her nape. Making the proud Yuheng mewl.

"Kukuku~ You'll be my little toy!" He then cackled like a third rate villain, but Keqing was terrified. ' I'll be violated! Damn it! I can't escape these bindings and my vision is back at home.' She didn't really like her vision and thought the gods shouldn't meddle with humans. Trying to get rid of it in all kinds of ways, but it was indestructible.

He then started tracing her jaw and made her face him. "I'll give you an experience you'll never forget." He then started to come closer and Keqing closed her eyes tightly. Thinking that she would be taken forcefully, but he shoved a piece of pickled sour plum in her mouth and laughed as she winced at the taste.

"I'm just messing with you. Can you tell me your name? I want to hear it from yourself." He put her down and smiled at her. Keqing was dumbfounded as she thought he was an evil mastermind.

"I... I'm Keqing." She answered without thinking and he patted her head. "I'm Einheri, this is the first time we normally met. Call me Ein okay, Keqing?" He smiled at her and he gestured for her to sit.

"So, what gave you the idea that I will conquer Liyue with Ningguang? Honestly, that's too troublesome you know?" He scoffed and thought he was done with managing things by his own.

"Uhh, it's because you're quite suspicious. You just appeared here in Liyue one day and you became an unshakeable pillar that even the qixing can't even touch." She said honestly as he radiated a comforting and warm aura like a neighboring, handsome, big brother.

"Well, I won't fault you for that. As I did kind of show up one day and took Liyue by storm. But you should already know that I wouldn't be doing anything crazy, Ganyu did accept my application to be a shop owner here you know?" He reminded her and Keqing got embarrassed of not thinking about that.

"You have a point. Forgive me for my outburst." She apologized as she bowed and Ein patted her head.

"You know what? How about you apologize in a different way?" Ein snapped his fingers and a pair of cat ears that was real appeared on he head. It was fluffy and Keqing suddenly heard in 2 pairs of ears. Confusing her greatly, her cat ears then twitched and her jaw almost got unhinged from surprise.

"You like it? It looks pretty cute on you, especially if it twitches." He caressed her cat ears and Keqing felt like she was hit by a bolt of lightning. As cats and dogs have sensitive ears, especially at the base and she felt a natural high as her body started releasing hormones and she felt good, purring softly.

"Awawawa." She stepped back immediately and blushed an atomic red.

"It feels genuine too, pretty neat right?" Ein said and gave some catnip that made her extremely excited for some reason.

"Nyan!" She started chasing it and he caught it all in video of course. "Nyaa!?" She was now really confused as she acted instinctively and felt like she can't marry anymore after her shameful display.

"Enough fun, how about I give you some dinner for your trouble. It entertained me a lot, so it's the least that I could do no?" He gave her some food and Keqing glared at him hatefully.

"Oh come on, it's not even that bad. Worse things could happen Keqing, be glad I'm not some bad guy or something." He reasoned and she remembered his little skit earlier. Keqing thought he was right and sat down as the food really looked enticing.

"Thanks for the food, but I'm not forgiving you." She narrowed her eyes at him and started to partake.

She suddenly got put in a bowl of wanton noodles with dumplings. The aroma assaulted her mind and the flavor exploded in her mouth. A myriad of delicious and complicated seasonings worked together to make her mind explode.

But she was the Yuheng and she indulges in good food regularly so she gained her wits quickly, but it was still the best thing she ever tasted in her life as she dug in quickly, still with grace though.

"I'm glad you enjoy it, it's a favorite of one of my family members. It's good no?" He gave her a cheeky smile as he knew she was captivated with the taste.

"Hmph, it's good. But it's not much better than the chefs cook at home." She coped as she felt like she would lose if she admitted it wholeheartedly.

"Hah, you're only telling a half truth. You're really a businesswoman, but we aren't in a formal meeting Keqing. You can be honest you know?" He looked at her with a slight smile as he thought she was being a tsundere. A good one though.

She then thought about it and it was true. As she didn't really get an appointment and just walked inside his shop to talk to him.

"Okay, it's good alright. Honestly, it's too good. What in the world did you do to these? Did you use some kind of magic or something?" She was stumped and thought it was tasty due to his powers or something.

"No, just tons of practice. Well, my senses are extraordinary too. So that might be one of the reasons, I'm just a natural." He shrugged and Keqing believed him, as she knew illuminated beasts are far above humans.

Ein then went above and beyond. Giving Keqing a nice tail, as it swayed hypnotically with Keqing not noticing it. Busy with his noodles, currently occupied. (pic here)

"Thank you for your time Ein-san, I will be taking my leave then." She was about to leave, but she remembered his words about Rex Lapis.

"Umm, I have a question... D-do you really know Rex Lapis?" She fidgeted as she would've liked to meet the archon at least once to have a conversation. As Rex Lapis would have tremendous wisdom, given his age.

"Yeah, oh. I know, how about we have a little get together. Ei and Makoto, the electro archons would maybe like to see Rex Lapis and Barbatos. They're the only original ones left from the original archons, well Ei isn't one technically. But you get my point." He suggested and Keqing got wide eyed. Anxious and excited that she would have the honor of meeting multiple archons.

"Really? You'd invite me? Isn't that a really prestigious line up?" She got cold feet and Ein nodded at her.

"Let's meet a bit later. Tell Ningguang to go as well, I'll talk about the labyrinths in much more detail there too." Ein said to her and gave her a little souvenir of sweets.

Keqing received it carefully and smelt the contents of the bag. Her fluffy tail then started swaying again and the cat ears on her head twitched. She then went home and penned a letter to Ningguang.

Ein then sent a message to Beidou's new ship. As the destroyer he gave her had a radio and she would return from sailing pretty soon, after trying out her new ship.

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5 days passed and while hanging out with Ganyu and Shenhe, he got a notification that someone has beaten the labyrinth at Liyue. And it was Yelan, proving her extraordinary skills as a rogue and combatant.

"Hey girls, I'm going to meet up with someone. You want to come with?" He told the Qilin and human adeptus, but they were getting lazy. As they just ate and wanted to take a nap with him.

"Aww, we wanted to have a little nap. But it's fine, we'll just stay here. How about you go and talk to whoever that is and you join us after?" Ganyu suggested, making Shenhe nod in agreement with a little cute yawn.

"Okay, don't get too relaxed now. Or you'll become a chubby little Qilin just like how Cloud Retainer told me." He laughed and Ganyu pouted at him. Ein then gave them a little peck and he went to the entrance of the labyrinth.

He waited for a bit and Yelan teleported to the entrance. Holding a golden bow that looked like two conjoined blades together to form it. A noble phantasm, Enki. (pic here)

Yelan was a bit roughed up and she had tears on her clothes. Showing how rough her battle was and she looked tired with bags under her eyes. Yelan gave a beaming smile at him as she showed her new weapon, not even knowing how dangerous it is yet.

"That was awesome! Ein! Are the other dungeons different? And I finally got this weapon that appeared after I beat that dragon in the 100th floor. It looks mystical." She admired it, thinking the thing must be a legendary artifact.

He patted her head and soothed her fatigue. Repairing her clothes as she felt relaxed and all of the fatigue disappeared from her body. Though she was still tired mentally from killing monsters left and right while disarming traps and avoiding them basically all the time.

"Yeah, it's called Enki. The sword of the end, its strongest attack will call upon the great flood that would end the world, drowning it in a great deluge." He said and Yelan looked at the thing with a little apprehension. As she was sure he wasn't joking.

He then poked her head and the attack of Enki that would flood the entire world in water entered her mind. Making her sweat heavily from the revelation.

"C-can I really keep this thing?" Her normally calm and easygoing personality couldn't handle the thought of using such a dangerous weapon as her hand trembled. It was basically a world ending weapon that even the hydro archon cannot compete with.

"Yeah, it's fine. It can be used as swords and tonfas too. Pretty cool right? Well, you've completed my challenge so you've earned it." He gave her a thumbs up and Yelan thought it was sweet of him to trust her like that when he barely knew her. Even though she was suspicious as hell.

"Thanks I guess, hey. You got any food with you? I'm starving, the food in the safe areas are nice. But yours is still the best and I can't help but ask for it hehe~" She scratched her head, the request was shameless after all. But he nodded and they went to the place where Ganyu and Shenhe were having a little nap.

"Hey Ein, do you have something spicy? I could really have some spicy food you see. I like it." She got a little bit shy, but she wanted some.

"Hmm, how about some sichuan cuisine?" He took out some sliced pork in hot chili oil and also some dandan noodles. Yelan saw the red cuisine and thought it looked evil. Perfect for her love of spice.

She then got a taste and her tongue was assaulted by savory goodness and a tingling sensation as it went numb along with her lips.

"Woah, this is actually spicy enough for me to sweat. Without destroying the taste of the cuisine, this is awesome! Thanks Ein! Can you be my companion chef? I'd love to have you on missions." She shamelessly offered and he chuckled.

"No, everybody want to get a piece of this. But I'm not a personal chef for anybody but my family. So you enter it if you want to get some of that every day." He smirked and Yelan seriously thought about it. But he gave her a hard question and she pouted at him.

"You're seriously giving me a dilemma here. Eh, I'll think about it later." She then finished it all and he gave her some milk. Yelan then yawned and looked at the soft rays of the sun shining through the clouds. The soft winds caressing her skin as her hair fluttered a bit.

"Want to take a nap? How about we have a little one right there." He pointed at Ganyu and Shenhe who were sleeping on a floating cloud under the shade of a tree.

"Ohhhh! That looks... Nice." She was sure it would feel heavenly just like his couch back at his place.

He then pinched her cheek as she was daydreaming how it would feel. "Come on, let's go Yelan. I want to relax too, it's been some time since I just lazed around." He took her hand and they went to the cloud. He didn't want to wake up Shenhe and Ganyu. So they just went to the side of them.

Yelan took off her shoes and she sat on the cloud, surprised that it was still a bit firm. But it was the fluffiest thing ever too, nice and cool too. So you won't overheat your side of the bed and sweat while sleeping.

They then lied down and she couldn't sleep. She still thought about the tons of fun she had when she entered the labyrinth and Yelan looked at the mysterious man beside her humming peacefully.

"Hey, Ein... That was fun, thanks. And I know the weapon you gave me is insane, I don't deserve it really. But still, thanks. If I only have this back then, things would be different." She mumbled so softly that normal people wouldn't be able to hear it. But he heard it and thought she must've lost people while in a fight.

He patted her head softly and played some gentle music. "You're welcome. I heard you, you know? Wanna talk about it?" Yelan looked at him and he saw him smiling at her gently.

She thought it was okay and she sighed a bit. "I had a group once. They were ordinary people, they just had a multitude of reasons why they worked with me." She remembered her little team that trusted each other. And had everyone's back covered.

"That was years ago. But I remembered them because of you, my skills, traps, tricks that I could employ weren't enough. We encountered enemies that were really patient, cunning, and strong enough to bulldoze through us." Yelan remembered the enemies dismantle their plans.

"They picked us one by one. We were prepared for that fate a long time ago. But I eventually found myself alone and sorely missing my comrades. So I stopped and trained until my fingers bled to have more utility, power, and variety. An all rounder that would not need anyone to be with me so I could do everything on my own." She smiled wryly and remembered Ningguang visiting her.

"I then got my vision and since then, I've worked alone." She sighed and felt that it was an experience that made her aloof to the thought of having people getting close to her. Ever suspicious and careful, a subconscious trauma that companions would die on the job and she would mourn again.

"Hmmm, that is a pretty awful feeling isn't it? I've fought in a war once, a never ending one until a side completely perished. Down to the last being." He said as he reminisced the previous era 50 thousand years ago.

Yelan was surprised and couldn't even imagine fighting in a war as it would be very very different. Surrounded on all sides by enemies, people around you died all the time. Young men and women being sacrificed to fight. And the scale of it that he fought on was spine chilling for her.

"A war of extermination? That's... Extreme to say the least." She looked at his calm demeanor and did not expect him to be still so happy and easygoing.

"Umu, and it was not preventable. Imagine cities much, much larger than Liyue disappearing in a single day. Making the decision to send people into war as they die for survival. Children losing everything as they are raised to be soldiers until they die and the cycle continues. Famine plagued the lands as you lost ground inch by inch. Plagues ravaged the populace and the fight continues." He sighed and Yelan gasped.

"So I can understand, but won't they think you're a little dork if you don't at least build some relationships? People don't need to be your comrade in arms for them to be friends. At least that's what I think." He patted her head and smiled at her.

She then thought about it and they really would tell her she's an idiot. As living life dangerously, seeking the thrill was nice and all. But no man is an island and isolating one's self would lead to depression and decline. Turning her into a bitter person once she could not seek the thrills with her weak body.

"Hmm, you sound like a wise old man. How old are you?" She chuckled and teased him.

"Hmm, guess. A little hint though, I'm much older than you think." He smiled and she thought about it.

"I don't know. If you're a god, or an adeptus. Maybe 3 or 4 thousand years old?" She based it on his status as an illuminated beast and thought he might be good friends with Ganyu from way back.

"Wrong, I'm actually much much older. Multiply it a couple more times, but enough of that. My age is a secret~" They chuckled and the soft wind started to relax Yelan. As if a thorn in her chest has been taken out.

"Are you seducing me? You're making me feel good and keep doing nice things for me~" She thought he might be interested in her as a man of his caliber has no business doing all of these things for her if he wasn't.

"Maybe? I don't know. You're a master spy right? You should be able to tell, am I? Or am I not?" He looked at her and gave a cheeky smile.

"I'm not sure, you're pretty mysterious. But I guess I should entertain you and learn all of your secrets~" She flirted back and they chuckled.

He put his arm beneath her neck and pinched her cheek. "Well you've got to try harder. My secrets are closely guarded."

Yelan smirked at him as she turned to him and put her hand on his chest, drawing circles as she felt his warm body that was like a hot spring.

"How about now? Can you tell me more about yourself?" She chuckled and they talked a bit more about their lives.

Yelan then slowly started to breathe softly as she was lulled to sleep by the soft music and the soft cloud bed. Snuggling to him as she found the warmth he emitted comforting and relaxing.

"Hmm, what a bad girl. Falling asleep while I was telling a story. I'll give you a pass for now as you're sleep deprived. But there's no next time." He then put Ganyu above him and hugged Shenhe with his other arm as he was surrounded by the three of them.

"Ahh, this is how life should be. Relaxing with beautiful women surrounding you." He sighed in satisfaction and took a nap as well.

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Thanks for reading everyone. Ladies and gentlemen, we got em. Anyways, ciao.