C13 The World That Persecuted Brother Ke Has Been Born!
Mu Jin glanced at Zhongli, who was seated nearby, then turned her attention to Hu Tao.
With Zhongli's inquisitive eyes upon her, she tightly pressed her lips together and took a sip of her now lukewarm tea.
She desperately wanted to tell him that she was not that person! At most... they shared the same facial template!
But to admit that would be akin to blowing her own cover.
(Zhongli: Logically speaking, once you bring up the principle of heaven, it's difficult not to associate you with that individual.)
Reflecting on that overwhelming moment, Mu Jin suddenly found Zhongli's scrutinizing look less uncomfortable.
She decided it was best to sit quietly, playing the role of the silent type who knows nothing when questioned.
Aside from Hu Tao, who was eagerly recounting her recent heroic deed to Zhongli.
Mu Jin sat to one side, the picture of docility.
"Zhongli, you've got to hear this! Mu Jin and I just promoted our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor at the night market! We even made a tidy sum! Hehe... Surely, that's got to raise our profile, right?"
Zhongli, sipping his tea, turned his gaze to the jubilant Hu Tao and remarked coolly, "By any logical standard, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor isn't exactly short on Mora, is it?"
"Ah, you just don't get it! Earning Mora is always a thrill!"
Zhongli took another sip of tea, acknowledging to himself that he never carried Mora and thus couldn't relate to that particular joy.
Mu Jin observed their exchange...
And then it hit her.
No wonder Zhongli's voice sounded familiar; he shared the same voice actor as Siegfried.
Her expression grew pensive as she watched their interaction, reminiscent of a seasoned bureaucrat father and his quirky daughter.
Hu Tao and Zhongli, Kiana and Siegfried.
A world that tormented 'Brother' had come to life.
The dinner was a struggle for Mu Jin; she couldn't enjoy her meal despite having earned money and paying for the first time.
Hu Tao, puzzled by Mu Jin's lack of appetite and suspecting she might be exhausted, offered to buy her some tasty treats with the Mora they had just earned.
Eating alongside the Rock King incarnate, Zhongli, was an experience in itself... and to think she was mistaken for an alt account created by the heavens...
Why on earth did her starter card have to be Kiana?!
Even having Raiden Mei as her starter and being tossed into Inazuma would have been preferable...
Zhongli watched the girl before him sink into a sudden gloom.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn't just her eye color that set her apart from Tianli; her aura was distinctly different too.
Mu Jin seemed like a girl who had barely scratched the surface of the world, her eyes wide with curiosity about everything.
And Tianli...
As he remembered those detached golden eyes, Zhongli glanced back at Mu Jin, now tussling with Hu Tao.
The two girls stubbornly gripped each other's cheeks, neither willing to relent.
"It's outrageous! Who puts that much chili in food?!"
Mu Jin's voice was nasally, her eyes tinged red, clearly overwhelmed by the spice.
"I, I just wanted to cheer you up..." Hu Tao admitted with a hint of guilt, yet she tried to charm her way out of the situation.
"Eh-heh?"
Mu Jin couldn't help but marvel. The skill of skirting through situations, as demonstrated by a certain deity, was certainly something to behold.
Watching the girls' playful scuffle, Zhongli couldn't help but remark, "Youth is such a blessing."
"Yeesh, Zhongli, you sound like an old man."
He said no more, his impassive golden gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd.
Hu Tao, seeing her consultant's demeanor, chose not to comment and simply continued her playful spat with Mu Jin.
Mu Jin: I'm so done with you!
Hu Tao: Ow!
Their voices, strikingly similar, filled the air with their playful banter, echoing from left to right in a continuous loop.
Well, that's enough for today. There will be plenty of time to determine whether this girl named Mu Jin is an incarnation of the divine will.
After all, his own plans were nearing fruition.
He was eager for the traveler's arrival in Liyue, looking forward to some well-deserved rest after stepping down.
In the days that followed, Mu Jin enjoyed her time in Liyue, completing daily commissions and gradually endearing herself to others.
When idle, she would join in the children's games or lend a hand to the elderly, simply making the most of her days.
Locals had caught wind of a new girl in town, known for her beauty and kind heart. Sure, she had a hearty appetite and could be a bit naive, but it hardly mattered. Mu Jin had made plenty of friends regardless.
Unbeknownst to her, she was also the subject of some rather intense scrutiny.
Each night, she'd join Hu Tao in promoting the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's culture, narrowly avoiding reprimand from Keqing and the Millelith Army for what they called 'disturbing the peace.'
Yet, Mu Jin couldn't deny the joy these carefree days brought her.
Occasionally, Hu Tao would sneak around with a little girl named Qi Qi, whispering secrets and hatching plans.
And somehow, Mu Jin had managed to boost Hu Tao's favorability to a solid 45%.
Really, she was just embracing the Kaslana family's spirited legacy alongside Hu Tao.
She hadn't even noticed her own favorability was inching toward the 50% mark.
Xiangling's fondness for her had hit 40% as well... probably thanks to how much Mu Jin enjoyed her cooking.
The day she and Xiangling had planned to feast in Mondstadt was fast approaching.
Mu Jin checked her crystal count: five standard supply cards and a stash of nearly 1400 crystals.
All that hustling was worth it, leaving her to collapse into bed each night, exhausted but satisfied.
Once in Mondstadt, she'd be ready for a ten-pull!
She wasn't even daunted by the prospect of facing a traveler—Mu Jin was fearless.
Now, as she helped carry an assortment of bags, she gazed into the distance, a sense of foreboding creeping in. "I have to ask, are we walking there?"
"Absolutely! It's the perfect opportunity to discover new ingredients!" Xiangling replied, her excitement palpable, even causing the rice crust at her side to hop in delight.
At that moment, Mu Jin finally understood the mischievous twinkle in Hu Tao's eye before she'd set off.
Oh no... Is it too late to turn back now?
