C15 Unrespectful to the Immortal Master!!

"A short, yet strikingly handsome guy?"

Xiangling echoed, eyeing the chef before her with a hint of puzzlement.

"Yep, and he's a real handful to deal with."

The chef set aside his knife and nonchalantly wiped his hands on his apron before heading back to the stove. He seasoned the simmering food and secured the lid on the pot.

He smirked, seemingly finding a moment to spare for a chat with Xiangling. "That guy, he won't touch anything except almond tofu."

"Last time, I ended up eating all the food I made because of him."

Mu Jin perched on a stool, waiting patiently for Xiangling and the chef to wrap up their chat before placing her order.

Xiangling learned that the chef's name was Yan Xiao, a robust man with a knack for knife skills.

Their conversation drifted from the finicky, handsome young man to the art of using odd ingredients in cooking.

Xiangling's signature dish was the Clear Heart Stir-fried Slime Condensate—a culinary innovation of her own making!

Regrettably, despite its place on the Wanmin Restaurant's menu, it rarely saw orders.

Miss Ganyu, however, had tried it once... but she only nibbled on the Heart-Calming Flower petals, leaving the Slime Condensate virtually untouched.

Maybe after her return from Mondstadt, she could experiment with new pairings for the Slime Condensate?

Mid-conversation, Xiangling remembered the famished Mu Jin waiting beside her.

She quickly relayed Mu Jin's favorite dishes to Yan Xiao, then rejoined her friend.

"Shall we eat outside? It's sweltering in here."

"Sure."

A famished Mu Jin, wilted from hunger, readily agreed. All she craved was a satisfying meal followed by a restful break.

Once outside the Wangshu Inn, they welcomed the refreshing breeze.

Mu Jin and Xiangling settled down at a spot to await Yan Xiao's culinary creations.

Mu Jin slumped onto the table, stifling a yawn, "How much longer till we get to Mondstadt?"

Xiangling consulted the map, reviewing the route she had planned. "If we stick to this path, we'll be in Mondstadt before we know it."

Mu Jin studied the map Xiangling had sketched out. Hmm... it looked like they were only halfway there.

Yes! A good rest is crucial today! That's the only way I'll have the energy to make a beeline for Mondstadt!

Come to think of it... Mondstadt's probably dealing with the Wind Dragon incident at this point, right?

If I head there now, could it trigger Xiangling's personal quest?

Ah well, no matter. The first order of business once we get to Mondstadt is to raid the hilichurls' treasure chests.

Once we've snatched up the crystals, it's time to draw cards and snag a new Valkyrja!

But until I pull a strong Kiana character, it's best to steer clear of the travelers.

Though, I am really curious whether it's the brother or sister traveler, oh, and not to forget, the ever-reliable Paimon for backup food.

Sigh... It's frustrating when you want to see but can't. It's like an itch you can't scratch.

But as soon as Xiangling's ordered dishes arrived, Mu Jin cast aside her fleeting regrets.

Forget it! Eating is top priority! Hunger is the worst enemy!

Xiangling, well aware of Mu Jin's hearty appetite, had already quietly instructed Yan Xiao to increase the portions of their ordered dishes. Money was no object.

Naturally, they kept this conversation from Mu Jin.

When Yan Xiao approached their table with a mountain of food that dwarfed the other patrons' servings, it certainly turned heads.

"Good heavens... Can those two girls really eat that much?"

"Just focus on your own meal. Why bother with what others are doing?"

"I'm just... curious, that's all."

Overhearing the neighboring table's banter, Mu Jin smirked.

Hmph, she could finish it all without wasting a bite.

"Let's dig in. We've got to rest up after."

"Alright, rice crust, over here."

Xiangling tapped her thigh, and the rice crust hopped over to sit on it.

Having satisfied their appetites, Mu Jin, unfazed by the astonished stares of onlookers, patted her belly contentedly and headed back to their previously arranged room.

Once in the room, Mu Jin sprawled out on the bed, surprisingly wide awake.

"Hmm... So that's another way to use Absolute Cloud Peppers."

After finishing her meal, Xiangling was jotting down notes in her little notebook, analyzing the dishes she had just prepared.

"I'm going to take a stroll."

The balcony was right across, offering a nice spot to take in the night view.

"Alright, just make sure you come back soon and don't catch a chill."

The night had deepened, and the balcony was sparsely populated. Including Mu Jin, there were no more than five people.

There stood a young man with short, dark green hair, his arms exposed, sporting a mask at his waist, his attire more flamboyant than the rest.

Was this the not-so-tall but strikingly handsome guy Yan Xiao had described as being quite a handful?

He seemed to notice Mu Jin's impolite stare, as his golden eyes briefly swept over her with an indifferent gaze.

Was this the foreigner that the Emperor had instructed him to keep an eye on?

"Hmph, showing no respect for the Immortal Master."

With a cold huff, he walked away, leaving Mu Jin alone, frozen in place, still trying to grasp what had just occurred.

Ding! Your favorability towards me is at 5% (with Passive Skill Bonus). You are perceived as a mortal who has disrespected an Immortal Master.

"He couldn't possibly have sensed my inner comments about his height, could he...?"

Mu Jin had a feeling she had uncovered the truth.