Side Story 4: Yuheng and Garuda
Ein filed to be a merchant of general goods. Like clothes, jewelries, produce, make up, and miscellaneous gadgets that doesn't need electricity. He wanted to get some capital 1st before trying real estate, as he read that the Yuheng would be up on his ass if he tried to gobble up the available lands.
"What would be the name of your establishment sir?" The receptionist that was handling his paper works asked with interest, as she misunderstood that an adeptus was going to try to dabble in commerce.
"Hmmm, I'll name it, Isekai Walmart." The receptionist chuckled as she thought that this adeptus would be unsuccessful. As the competition in Liyue is strong, and it would probably only be visited because of his heritage. Not understanding what the name of the store was, they then talked about the place he would put his store in.
The receptionist was surprised with his budget, as he bought up a huge place that has been abandoned. Because it was right at the edge of the city. It was popular a hundred years ago, but with the changing trends in Liyue. It succumbed to newer establishments that competed in the market.
"Ahhh, this will do. Liyue can have everything in Walmart, that's our motto." He laughed as he signed the contract and started to hire some workers. He thought of Mona, and imagined her scanning some groceries. But she was too far away. Though he'll send some things her way.
He went to a famous establishment that was near a marsh in what is called the bishui plain it was Wangshu Inn, as he saw it. "Hmm? That's pretty neat, must have cost a lot if they had to make it on top of a rock. And very unsafe too." He thought that if an earthquake happened. It might get destroyed pretty easily. As he entered and was greeted by a husband and wife.
They were surprised for a brief moment upon seeing him. With his horns out and all, they immediately thought that an adeptus or a yaksha came to get some information. "Yo. I'm a traveller, can I get a room here? I heard it was pretty fancy." They calmed down and concluded that he wasn't a yaksha. Must be an illuminated beast.
They bowed deeply. "Why thank you good sir. Yes, we have rooms available, you will enjoy your stay here. As we pride ourselves of being one of the best." They said in sync which surprised him. This is some 5 star hotel shit man, this place must be nice. He rubbed his chin and quickly booked a room with a plethora of cuisines to be delivered to him.
"Quickly, inform master Xiao and lady Ningguang. An unknown illuminated beast has arrived in Liyue." They said their orders to the other staff as they quickly scrambled to give out the information.
Ein heard it and sighed. "Does this world really have no protection of private information?" But he did thought it was much better than in Mondstadt. As he was considered a sacred being here that might have great impact to the city.
He looked at the sceneries and he was delivered his dishes for lunch. As it was laid out in front of him. He was particularly interested in the almond tofu, as it looked like a pretty nice dessert that was slathered with honey. He thought of Annin tofu and it was made with apricot kernels. But this is a different world after all.
He started his early lunch and ate it all in the blink of an eye, as he was right in the dessert being exquisite. He went out to the reception to ask for more in order to dissect it more clearly. The gourmet inside him wanted to unravel everything and make it better.
"Hey, can I have one of these again? It was quite nice you see." He then saw a black haired kid with a green tattoo on his right arm, dressed like a cultivator. He thought that he might be a young master, and things would get interesting. (pic here)
"Greetings traveller. I would just like to talk and ask a few questions. Can you please follow me?" He gestured to a room as Ein nodded. This kid is polite, he has good parents. As Zhong li sneezed from somewhere.
"Yo, what's your question then? I guess it would be because of these?" He pointed at his horns and eyes. As the kid nodded. "Yes, are you perhaps an adeptus? Or an illuminated beast that we have no knowledge of?" He quickly asked as he thought of his comrades that have either died or went missing.
"Actually, I'm not from here. I came from a different continent. Ganyu already explained to me what illuminated beasts are, but what are the adeptus?" He asked the kid as he wanted to know what those guys are. Someone then came and brewed tea for them.
"Adeptus are illuminated beasts or gods that protect Liyue." He then looked like he was in pain as he groaned. "Hey dude, you okay?" Ein then zeroed in on him and noticed that he was experiencing something like honkai corruption.
"Hah, hah. I am fine traveller. Thank you for asking." Ein then shrugged and thought why not. He snapped his fingers as the energy malingering in the kids body vanished, just like that.
He patted all over his body and froze up, staring at empty space. He rebooted after a few seconds as he stared at Ein. "Wh-what did you do? My karmic debt... I can't feel it anymore." Ein then drank some tea. "Well, I like polite kids. And you were suffering some corruption, it just reminded me of things." He thought of the kids that were infected with honkai. Screaming bloody murder from the pain as their bodies then shut down or turned to zombies.
"My name is Xiao... Please accept my greatest thanks." He bowed a full 90° as he thought of him appearing back when his comrades were still here. "Eh, it wasn't much kid." He ruffled his hair as Xiao glared at him. "I'm over 2000 years old. I'm not a kid." He frowned as he sipped some tea.
"Well, you're still a kid in my eyes then. I've lived for over 50 millenia kid. Don't sweat the small things." He laughed as Xiao was surprised. Even Rex Lapis is like a kid against this man. He was ancient he thought. He didn't know that technically, Ein didn't really live through all of those millenia.
"May I know your name sir?" He respectfully asked as he might be someone much more important than the archons. "Call me Ein, so? Got any more questions. I'm waiting for my dessert you know?" Xiao cleared his throat. "Well, based on your actions. We don't really need to ask what your intentions are, but just to be sure. What are your goals here anyways? You must be powerful beyond belief." Xiao believed that he must be much much stronger than the archons. As Rex Lapis can't even do anything about their karmic debt, and he just snapped his fingers, then boom. Gone was his pain and curse that ailed him for hundreds of years.
"Hmm, I'm trying to find some kids you see? Though I know they're safe, that's why I'm sightseeing for now. And I also want to do business in Liyue, I'm a businessman in my home you see?" Xiao quickly nodded and thanked celestia that he is easy to talk to. Or things would get ugly really quickly.
"I see, then please enjoy your stay here in Liyue. I will repay this favor." He bowed again and quickly left, he has to inform Rex Lapis of this. As he might be able to cure Azhdaha's erosion.
"Hmm, what a good kid. I guess I'll rest for now and read up on the other nations." He scanned Inazuma's story back in Mondstadt, and it was like the shogunate back in his world. There was an island like Okinawa as well. His almond tofu then got delivered and he started to reconstruct some of the food he tasted.
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A white haired woman was in the jade chamber, a flying structure above Liyue, reading through reports as she received a pretty interesting one. "An illuminated beast wants to become a merchant?" She blinked twice and read it again as she never thought of them having it in them to meddle in human affairs. (pic here)
A knock was heard on her door as she let them in. "Lady Ningguang, an unknown illuminated beast was spotted in Wangshu Inn! And he came into contact with master Xiao. Master Xiao then quickly left after talking with him. His name seems to be Ein." She was handed an illustration of Ein as she looked at it curiously.
"He might be the one that registered his business earlier. Watch over him with great interest." She thought this might bring great change to Liyue, and it is a very delicate subject. With him being an illuminated beast, the Qixing who rule over Liyue have to be careful around him.
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It was now the dead of night, as the stars illuminated the skies. Ein then teleported to his new property and cracked his knuckles. "Time to work then, Phyllis would thrive here." He chuckled as he remembered her and flattened the huge building with gravity, he then started to create wood that is stronger than even the hardest and flexible of metals. As he built a huge convoluted building designed like a chinese structure, to fit in with Liyue's chinese theme. Though the inside was quite different, as it had air-conditioning and the floor was made of marble. lines of lights illuminated the inside and it looked like a modern department store inside. A very fancy one.
He then filled everything with the finest of merchandise that the people would ever see. And normal people could buy it too, while luxury products were available for the rich as well. "Hmmm. Isekai Walmart is now online, just need some workers. They'll have that a plenty." As he thought that jobs were always in need. And his walmart wasn't super huge like modern malls anyway, it also cleaned itself. He also installed devices to self replenish the products, and dispose of the unsellable ones. He only needed sellers and people to man the registers.
A shopping mall that would be put in the history of Teyvat was created in just a single night. As merchants and consumers would travel months just to get to Liyue and buy the products there.
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A young girl with lavender hair that was tied up into buns that looked like cat ears were now up and was overlooking her duty. She was the Yuheng Qixing, responsible mostly for the real estate and the lands of Liyue. Using every inch to maximize the economic gains of the country. She then read that the abandoned place in the outskirts have been bought up and is being turned to a shop for general goods, by an illuminated beast... "This needs further inspection. They don't know much about human matters. I need to go there myself." She sighed as she was swamped with work. (pic here)
She started to travel to the location, as she then saw even from far away, was a building that wasn't even remotely dilapidated like the reports. It turned to an elegant structure that made onlookers admire it, and she was expecting a small stall or something. As her eyes went wide. "H-how did this thing emerge in one night!?" She quickly measured the areas and she was shocked, as it was perfect, only occupying the space that was in the contract. Not even a millimeter out of place.
Music that was unfamiliar to them washed over the surroundings. As the establishment opened, with signs that say 50% off. The citizens looked on with curiosity. It was just a dry run, as he only opened the clothing section and cosmetics, not able to find enough sellers.
"Save money! Live better! Come shop with us today with Walmart, as we sell high quality products at an affordable price! Please look at our ware, the only available one is the clothing and our cosmetics. But you'll be shocked at the prices! And it's half off! What a steal!" A female worker with the uniform of walmart advertised by using a megaphone as the onlookers started to become curious.
Ein didn't really train them, and just put basic knowledge in their heads and started the shop. Cheating, so they can start already.
Keqing entered the now opened shop as she gasped. A strong wind came from above the entrance as she asked the worker. "What is that? Is it some kind of vision?" She looked at it in wonder as this must be some high class establishment employing vision holders to be at the entrance. "It's so that flies and insects don't enter miss. Please enjoy your shopping here with us!" Keqing entered and looked everywhere. "The air is cold... Is this a work of a vision holder as well? And the floor and walls are made of solid marble. What a luxurious general shop." She quickly looked at the merchandise. As it was her hobby to shop. Interested with the merchandise.
She saw luxurious robes and clothing. Even footwear that looked to be made of leather that looked high class. "These... Are one of the best products I've seen in my life." She then looked at the price of a sundress and her eyes bulged at the price. "5 thousand mora!? H-how in the world is this article of clothing priced so cheaply?" She felt the fabric and all of the sewing looked absolutely consistent, and the material is so soft and durable. It was completely white as well, and the cotton they have are typically yellowish and reddish-brown.
"Hello Ms. Keqing, are you interested in that article of clothing? You can try it on that stall over there." The clerk smiled and pointed to a group of room which had mirrors in it. "I. I can try them on? Isn't this brand new?" She skeptically asked and thought it was 2nd hand.
"Ahhh, that is for our display you see? And it is meant to be tried on. If you decided to buy it, then we will be giving you one that is untouched." She then quickly tried it on inside the changing room. As she thought that this would be splendid in hot days.
She tried it on and it felt wonderful. "How will this establishment even make a profit? The prices of these are ridiculous, and it is half off right now." She went outside and went on a shopping spree. As someone chuckled at her.
"Yuheng, I did not expect to see you here." Keqing saw her and got embarrassed, as she went on a shopping spree. "Ahem, Tianquan. What do you mean? I'm just inspecting this respectable establishment." Ningguang laughed as she looked at the ware.
"This is surely a unique store. How will the owner makes a profit with these prices?" She thought of Ein and wants to unravel his mysteries.
"I know, this dress costs 5000 mora. It's basically free in how cheap it is." Keqing handed Ningguang some clothings and they were puzzled by the prices.
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Xiao tried to pass a message to his daddy, ahem. Boss, as they were inside a tea house and Xiao reiterated the story to him. A man with black hair sipped some tea. "Zhongli-sama, there was an unidentified illuminated beast that came to Liyue, I thought he was an adeptus. But he probably is a god... Even higher up than the 7." Zhongli's eyes widened as he then felt that Xiao's burden has been lifted.
"Xiao, your karmic debt... Is it gone? Did he do it?" Zhongli asked as gears started to turn in his head. "Yes. He snapped his fingers and suddenly, my curse was lifted like it wasn't even there. He might even be able to cure erosion in my opinion." Zhongli stood up as he narrowed his eyes. "Where is he now? This man is either extremely generous, or dangerous."
"I do not know, it was said that he disappeared from the inn suddenly. Vanishing like air, but based on my investigations, he is making a shop in the outskirts of Liyue."
Zhongli nodded. "Then we make great haste. We part ways here, inform me if you find him, or try and lead him to me." They quickly went their own ways as Zhongli rushed to the area Xiao mentioned.
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Some bit more development, what would be the reaction of Geo mommy to him, as he is uncontrollable. Also, he'll help Ganyu with her work. Poor cocogoat, working for thousands of years