The next day.
Acting Grand Master Jean began working in her office early in the morning.
The issue with Dvalin had also been resolved.
She had returned ahead of Lumine.
At the moment, she was drafting a speech.
She would soon announce that Mondstadt's dragon crisis had come to an end.
And clarify the misunderstandings surrounding it.
Jean heard a knock at the door.
"Come in."
She looked up and saw Mu Yang entering.
She immediately set down her pen.
Walking over, she took Mu Yang's hand in hers.
"I've already read the details in the report."
"Thank you—Mondstadt's great hero."
Mu Yang joked,
"'Great hero' is pushing it. Flattery won't get you a discount."
Jean laughed.
She took out a prepared bag of Mora and handed it to Mu Yang.
"Two commissions. You can count it if you'd like."
Mu Yang: "No need. I doubt the Acting Grand Master would shortchange me on Mora."
"Pleasure doing business."
With that, Mu Yang prepared to bid farewell.
Jean spoke up to stop him.
"Leaving already? Won't you stay and wait for the Honor Knight to return for the victory banquet?"
Mu Yang politely declined.
His presence at such an event would be too out of place.
Besides, he wasn't one for lively gatherings.
Jean didn't press him.
Everyone had their own way of living.
No point in forcing things.
Mu Yang left the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
Without hesitation, he used his lightfoot technique to exit the city.
Heading in the direction of Wangshu Inn.
——
Back to Lumine's side.
Lumine and Paimon returned to Mondstadt a day later than Jean.
By then, it was nearly evening.
As soon as they reached the city gates,
They saw Amber and the Knights cleaning up the battlefield.
Paimon called out,
"Hey! Amber!"
Amber turned. "Ah, it's you! The Honor Knight returns victorious!"
Paimon: "Hehe, we had quite the adventure with Dvalin."
Amber: "Jean returned to Mondstadt before you. She's already told everyone about your deeds."
Paimon asked Amber what they were doing now.
"Don't tell me you came out here just to welcome us?"
Lumine shot her a look.
"No way that's the case."
She turned to Amber.
"Looks like you all had a tough fight too. Good work."
Amber replied, "It really was a difficult battle."
"If not for Mr. Mu Yang's intervention, Mondstadt might have already..."
——
Earth.
The players' perspective had been following Lumine.
Now, they heard Mu Yang's name again.
Guinaifen immediately lost it.
"Ahhh! We still didn't get to see my husband in action!"
"I'm itching here, fam! You know this feeling?!"
[First time I've ever agreed with the streamer]
[Amber made it sound pretty serious—did the city get attacked while we were gone?]
[This part was changed too. CBT players, remember when it was just some barricades against Hilichurls?]
[What's Mihoyo doing? They upped the difficulty to let Mu Yang shine but won't show us?]
[He knows how to tease]
[Dragging it out, just dragging it out]
——
Paimon was shocked.
Mu Yang had to step in?!
Did that mean the battle here was just as intense as the one against Dvalin?
Amber nodded.
"According to Lisa, the Abyss Order might have sent a higher-tier Abyssal creature."
"Mr. Mu Yang confirmed it, but the enemy fled too quickly."
"Retreated into another dimension—even he couldn't do anything about it."
Lumine frowned. "A higher-tier Abyssal creature..."
Amber continued,
"Mr. Mu Yang is now a great hero of Mondstadt, just like you."
"You two are the most talked-about people in the city right now."
She then recounted Mu Yang's battle at the city gates.
Through Amber's description,
Players saw flashbacks of Mu Yang's fight.
Freezing the bridge to repel the Hilichurls.
Kicking a Frostarm Lawachurl into the distance.
Sword energy splitting the battlefield, drawing a line of death.
And finally—the move "Azure Dragon's Lunge."
An exquisitely crafted ice dragon soaring through the sky.
The sheer spectacle sent players into a frenzy.
Because, for descendants of the dragon,
This was way too hype.
——
Sparkle's stream.
"Still arguing, little jokesters? I told you 'Azure Dragon's Lunge' was a skill!"
"Who else has ice dragon effects this sick?!"
"Electro Cicin Mages are small fry—they don't deserve effects like this!"
"Woo-hoo! Combat! Heck yeah!"
[Streamer, I think the one 'exuding water' isn't the dragon—it's you]
[Who asked you to expose her?]
[Just for these ice dragon effects, I'm pulling for him no matter what]
[If his skill is this insane, I can't even imagine his burst]
[Looks? Check. Strength? Check. Effects? Check. And he likes the MC? What more could you want?]
Silver Wolf's stream.
Silver Wolf stared at the screen, watching Mu Yang.
His silhouette seemed frail,
Yet he stood alone against an army.
Without a hint of hesitation.
Instead, it was the enemy who faltered under his aura.
"This pose—sword at his back, holding the line against impossible odds—"
"How many chuuni fantasies did this just fulfill?"
[I'm sold. Instantly.]
[Peak hype. Mu Yang just brought every guy's classroom daydream to life.]
[Now if he just pulls out a belt and transforms, it's over (lol)]
[You guys dream about this stuff too?]
[Mu Yang gets us.]
[Sword… COME!]
[Mihoyo, step it up! If you're gonna give us flashbacks, at least do dual-storytelling!]
[Streamer, hurry into the city and see if there's new Mu Yang plot!]
[Aaaaaa I can't live without Mu Yang!]
"Chill, chill, let Amber finish talking first."
——
Amber finished her story.
Paimon's eyes sparkled.
"That guy's way too strong!"
Lumine remarked, "Seems like he was holding back a lot at the Fatui stronghold."
She asked Amber, "Is Mu Yang still in the city?"
Amber told her,
"He left after collecting his commission fee from Jean this morning."
"Probably back in Liyue by now."
"Jean asked him to stay and wait for you for the victory banquet."
"But he turned her down."
Lumine felt a pang of disappointment.
"I see."
[Deeds done, brush off your clothes and leave, concealing your merits and fame?]
[Cut the act. My man Mu Yang isn't some selfless saint—he took his Mora and dipped.]
[Fits his character. Paid to solve problems, nothing more.]
[Why didn't Mu Yang wait for us? Is my baby shy?]
[Obviously to set up Liyue's story. Gotta keep you hyped for the next region.]
[Damn, Mihoyo's playing us like a fiddle.]
Amber suddenly remembered.
She'd promised to treat Lumine and Paimon to "Sweet Madame" before.
Now that the cleanup was mostly done,
She suggested heading straight to "Good Hunter" for a meal.
Lumine said, "Isn't there a victory banquet later?"
Amber: "Let's grab a bite to tide us over first."
Paimon wasn't about to argue.
The moment free food was mentioned,
She was practically drooling.
"After traveling for so long, I'm exhausted! I'm eating big today—let's go!"
Lumine crossed her arms. "You didn't even fight, and you flew the whole way. What exactly are you tired from?"
"Details, details! Point is, I'm starving! Let's go eat!"
The three headed to Good Hunter.
And feasted to their hearts' content.