Ganyu held the pot of succulents in her hands, her expression flickering between light and shadow.
Venti and Tartaglia might not have understood, but Lu Heng knew all too well.
During the Archon War thousands of years ago, Ganyu had once been so plump that she got stuck in the throat of a giant beast—effortlessly subduing it in the process.
And ever since, her master, Cloud Retainer, had never let her live it down, teasing her about it at every opportunity.
From then on, Ganyu had been very careful about her figure.
And yet…
Now, right in front of her, was a pot of succulents—beautiful, tempting, delicious, and inexhaustible.
How could she resist?!
Diet management… has failed.
Lu Heng wanted to laugh, but he maintained his professionalism and held it in.
Meanwhile, Venti and Tartaglia were still confused.
Ganyu took a few deep breaths.
She couldn't just throw away the succulents, could she?
After all… they were good for health, helped with relaxation, and even aided sleep…
Ganyu kept listing their benefits in her mind, slowly convincing herself.
It's fine, it's totally fine!
I'll just exercise more in my free time!
"Um… that…"
Ganyu hesitated before speaking up. "Should I help promote your shop?"
"That would be much appreciated."
Lu Heng had no reason to refuse. "Then I'll take my leave for now."
"Feel free to visit anytime."
Lu Heng nodded.
Ganyu left with her succulents in tow.
Venti, Tartaglia, and the Scarlet Frog smacked their lips, clearly reminiscing about the taste of the succulents.
Looking at the two humans and one frog, Lu Heng said, "Want to try your luck and get a pot for yourselves?"
"I probably don't have that kind of luck." Venti sighed regretfully.
Tartaglia thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Not really necessary."
For a battle maniac like him, things that didn't boost combat power weren't that interesting.
"Alright."
Lu Heng didn't push it and picked up a signboard to start writing.
Before he could finish, someone stepped into the shop.
The spatial distortion earlier had been seen by many—it looked like a divine miracle!
Ganyu's card-drawing process had also been witnessed.
Now, curiosity had gotten the better of some.
"Boss, what do you sell here?" the person asked curiously.
Before Lu Heng could answer, Venti jumped in to explain.
A hanger-on must have the self-awareness of a hanger-on!
Lu Heng finished writing the signboard, and Tartaglia carried it outside to place at the entrance.
Lu Heng thought for a moment and decided to brew some tea.
"Sir, is this the card shop?"
Tartaglia turned around to see a brown-haired man with a steady demeanor and a deep voice, holding a birdcage, asking the question.
"Yeah."
Tartaglia nodded. "You here to draw cards?"
"I'd like to learn more first." The man smiled faintly.
"Easy. What do you want to know?"
Tartaglia grinned. "The boss is brewing tea right now, but you can ask me—no one knows more about drawing cards than I do!"
"Oh?"
The man feigned surprise, holding the birdcage with one hand while cupping his fist in the other. "I am Zhongli, a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. You're quite knowledgeable about card drawing? Please, enlighten me."
"No problem!"
Tartaglia held the Scarlet Frog in his left hand and rested his right on the white-gold weapon at his waist—Foul Legacy: Childe.
He started by introducing Lu Heng's background, then the shop's wonders, and finally the cards themselves.
"A five-star gold card—just one can elevate you to godhood!"
"What's a mere god?"
Tartaglia scoffed and waved his hand, then lifted the Scarlet Frog, which had been eyeing the myna bird in the cage. "Guess what its potential is?"
Zhongli examined it for a moment before shaking his head.
"You don't know, do you?"
"This is the Scarlet Frog—its potential is beyond the ancient world itself!"
Tartaglia then proudly displayed his other gold cards.
"Buddy, I'm not bragging—just take a look."
Despite being the 11th Harbinger of the Fatui, a man of high status, the young man still had a bit of a show-off streak.
Wearing fine clothes but walking at night?
What's the point of that?!
If no one saw how awesome he was, how would they know?
Including the Mirror-Breaking Pill, Tartaglia now had five gold cards swirling around him!
(Though he deliberately hid the details of the Mirror-Breaking Pill.)
"The fifth tier is a huge range."
Tartaglia spoke like a seasoned veteran, gesturing grandly. "Don't think fifth-tier is just about gods—I'm telling you, everything from a regular god to Celestia itself falls under fifth-tier!"
"To put it simply—"
Zhongli nodded. "As a citizen of Liyue, I am naturally aware of Rex Lapis."
"Good."
"Let's use him as an example!"
"With these cards, my combat power is already on par with Rex Lapis!"
Zhongli fell silent for a moment before saying, "It seems your strength is extraordinary, friend."
"That's the power of these cards!"
Zhongli glanced at the Scarlet Frog, which let out a quiet ribbit, and felt a slight chill.
By conservative estimates… comparable to Celestia?
That's… terrifying.
Inside the shop, Lu Heng finished brewing tea and took a sip.
When he saw the two men standing by the signboard outside, he nearly choked.
Tartaglia, lost in thought, continued, "You know Rex Lapis, right?"
This kid really talks big.
But…
He's not wrong.
"We got carried away chatting—I should go withdraw money now!"
"…Of course." Zhongli nodded.
Tartaglia patted his Foul Legacy with a smug grin. "Once my weapon's experience is maxed—no, even just halfway—plus this frog—"
Tartaglia declared confidently, "In the past, I wouldn't have dared say this, but now… Ha! As long as I have enough card experience and raise this frog properly, even the heavens will tremble!"
The Scarlet Frog was a pet card. While surpassing its racial limits was difficult, it wasn't impossible!
According to Tartaglia, as long as he poured enough resources into it, the frog could definitely reach fifth-tier peak!
Why is this kid chatting so enthusiastically with his mission target?
Venti, having just seen off a card-drawing customer, couldn't help but glance over.
Though Tartaglia hadn't told him his mission, it wasn't hard to guess.
The young man had never hidden his desire to challenge Rex Lapis—it was obvious.
This meeting between the two… is going to be hilarious!
"Come inside and try it—you'll see for yourself!" Tartaglia laughed.
"Very well."
Zhongli nodded.
As he stepped into the shop and saw Venti sitting there sipping tea, he froze for a moment.
This drunkard… is here too?
"Boss Lu."
Tartaglia walked over. "I'll take my leave now."
"Leaving already?" Lu Heng was surprised.
Tartaglia was practically vibrating with excitement.
He couldn't wait to withdraw money from the Northland Bank and start drawing cards—he had to get that frog to fifth-tier!
"Trying to pressure Rex Lapis, huh?" Venti teased.
"Absolutely!"
Tartaglia patted Zhongli's shoulder. "Mr. Zhongli, I feel like we… what's the Liyue phrase? Have fate. Next time, let's talk cards again!"
After watching him stride off, Zhongli barely had time to speak before Venti—acting like he owned the place—blurted out:
"Old man, lend me some Mora to draw cards!"
Zhongli: "?"
Lu Heng nearly spat out his tea.
That sounded way too much like: "Lend me some money to play Genshin!"
Zhongli sighed, not even bothering to respond to Venti.
His expression was complicated.
I signed that contract too early!
He and Focalors (Furina) were now kindred spirits.
Why didn't this shop open sooner?!
Too late… the train has left the station!
"Old man, say something."
"I…"
Zhongli fell silent for two seconds. "Am truly penniless."
"What?!"
"Rex Lapis doesn't have Mora?!"
Venti was full of disbelief.
Zhongli's eyes were filled with regret.
If only this shop had opened two months earlier… everything could have been different.
But now…
Zhongli spread his hands helplessly. "Indeed."
Seeing that he wasn't lying, Venti sighed.
"Great… the shop now has a second God of Poverty!"
"So you're the first one, huh?"
Zhongli's eyebrow twitched.
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T/N:
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