Playing Genshin in Genshin! [18]

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The story progressed, but further content required leveling up in Adventure Rank, meaning Lu Shiyuan couldn’t advance for the time being.

So, he tossed his phone aside, sat cross-legged on his bed, and thoughtfully considered the information he had gathered from Act I of the prologue.

The game’s storyline took place in Mondstadt, a neighboring nation, and he needed to deduce the exact timeline from the characters that appeared.

Amber, Kaeya, Lisa, and the red-haired man—he didn’t know them, but there was one person he had heard about, even from his position in Liyue.

Jean, the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.

This remarkable woman, known as the Dandelion Knight, took charge of Mondstadt after Grand Master Varka led most of the knights on an expedition. And Jean’s appointment as acting Grand Master hadn’t been that long ago.

Using Jean as a reference point, Lu Shiyuan concluded that the events he was witnessing were unlikely to have occurred in the past. If something as catastrophic as Stormterror attacking Mondstadt had happened, word would’ve certainly reached Liyue.

"So, what Lumine is experiencing must actually be happening in the future," Lu Shiyuan murmured. "And judging by Jean’s youthful appearance, that future isn’t too far off."

"A new storm is on the horizon," Lu Shiyuan sighed inwardly.

If Lumine truly existed in the future, as the protagonist of this game seemed to suggest, then she would likely resolve the issue with Stormterror. And as a traveler, Lumine wouldn’t stay in Mondstadt for long. Once Mondstadt’s crisis was over, her next stop would likely be Liyue.

"What kind of storm will she stir up when she arrives in Liyue?" he wondered.

"Speaking of which, the next major event in Liyue, and arguably the most important annual occurrence, is the Rite of Descension. If I were the one designing this story, I wouldn’t miss such a crucial event," Lu Shiyuan speculated, feeling a sense of urgency.

"If the storyline kicks off around the Rite of Descension, then I don’t have much time left."

With that thought, he grabbed his phone again, controlling his character and focusing on battling monsters to level up.

Thus, Lu Shiyuan spent his time recovering from his injuries at home, grinding the game to raise his Adventure Rank. He ate when he was hungry and slept when he was tired.

Seeing her brother living such a lazy life, Lu Qianzhi decided to let him be for now, given that he was recovering from his injuries.

She often saw him fiddling with the little black device embedded with his Vision, but since her brother had always been prone to doing strange things, she had long grown accustomed to his odd behavior.

People like Hu Tao, Zhongli, and Xiangling, all familiar faces, frequently dropped by to visit Lu Shiyuan, making his recovery less lonely.

A week quickly passed.

During this time, Lu Shiyuan completed Amber’s and Xiangling’s personal quests, titled "Wind, Courage, and Wings" and "Mondstadt Gastronomy Trip," as well as the second act of the prologue’s main storyline.

He wasn’t too surprised that Xiangling appeared in the game, having already determined that the game was closely tied to his reality. It wasn’t a shock to encounter real-life characters in the game.

Moreover, he became increasingly fascinated by all the characters introduced in Mondstadt through the game’s main and side quests.

"Man, I’d love to meet them in person," Lu Shiyuan occasionally mused.

After lying in bed for so long, his injuries had mostly healed.

Recognizing this, Lu Qianzhi—who had been patient for as long as she could—wasted no time in kicking her brother out of the house early one morning. Her reason?

"Brother, you have a Vision now. If you keep lazing around like this, it’ll be a disgrace to the gods."

As the cold wind blew, Lu Shiyuan pulled his collar up against the chill, shivering from the cold he hadn’t felt in a while.

"Come to think of it, after a full week of playing that game, my body feels like it’s getting stronger at an incredible rate," Lu Shiyuan remarked as he stretched, realizing that a week of gaming had produced better results than a week of physical training.

"Today, I’ll head to Wanmin Restaurant," he decided, making his way to the familiar eatery and picking a secluded spot to sit.

As soon as he sat down, Xiangling rushed over, delighted. "Brother Lu, you’ve recovered!"

"Yeah," Lu Shiyuan replied, flipping through the menu. "Xiangling, give me two plates of Golden Shrimp Balls. One plate won’t be enough. I’ve been craving these while I couldn’t eat much due to my injuries."

"Got it, Brother Lu," Xiangling grinned, disappearing into the kitchen. Shortly after, she returned with two golden plates of shrimp balls, placing them in front of Lu Shiyuan.

At that moment, Lu Shiyuan was happily playing his game, controlling his in-game self to bully some Hilichurls and picking up every item in sight.

Once the food arrived, he paused the game, propped his phone up, and ate slowly while watching a show on the side. Since he was distracted, his eating pace was leisurely. Soon, the other patrons finished their meals and left, leaving him alone in the restaurant.

Xiangling hesitated for a while before quietly sitting beside him. After some time, she spoke softly, "Brother Lu, do you have any free time lately?"

Hearing her question, Lu Shiyuan looked up and smiled. "Sure, do you need help with any cooking problems? Feel free to ask."

"It’s not about cooking," Xiangling quickly clarified, shaking her head. A little embarrassed, she explained, "Recently, I’ve heard there’s a dragon in Mondstadt. I want to go there to hone my culinary skills, gain more experience, and maybe even get lucky and find some dragon meat."

"Brother Lu, you’re so knowledgeable and insightful, so I’d like to invite you to join me on a trip to Mondstadt. Your wisdom would surely inspire me."

"Mondstadt... has a dragon?" Lu Shiyuan’s focus shifted entirely when he heard this. The rest of her words barely registered.

He shot up, gripping Xiangling’s shoulders with a sense of urgency. "Where did you hear about a dragon?"

Blinking in confusion, Xiangling didn’t understand why he was so agitated but answered honestly. "I heard it from others. Lots of people are saying there’s a dragon disaster in Mondstadt. Recently, Wanmin Restaurant has seen a lot of new faces, and I think they’re refugees from Mondstadt. So, I believe the dragon disaster is real."

"A dragon disaster... It really is a dragon disaster!" Lu Shiyuan paced nervously. "Has Stormterror already appeared? Has Lumine already reached Mondstadt?"

"Brother Lu, what’s wrong?" Xiangling asked, concerned.

"It’s nothing," Lu Shiyuan quickly composed himself, taking a deep breath and smiling. "Since you’ve sincerely invited me, I’ll graciously accept."

"Really?" Xiangling’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

"But let me make one thing clear," Lu Shiyuan added with a grin, "during the trip, you’ll handle all the meals, accommodations, and ingredient gathering. I won’t be doing any of that."

Xiangling didn’t mind his unreasonable demand and eagerly agreed, "Of course! I’ll do my best, Brother Lu!"

"Good. When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow morning!"

"Alright, I’ll pack my things tonight. Make sure to pick me up tomorrow."

"Will do, Brother Lu!"