Chapter 139: It Was a Wrong Pay After All
Looking at Kamisato Ayato, who suddenly appeared, Amon was somewhat surprised.
It was clear that he didn't expect Ayato to come to Liyue.
Are you worried about your sister staying alone in Liyue, so you came here to accompany her?
Amon guessed that this must be the case.
At this moment, Kamisato Ayato stepped forward.
He first looked up at Amon, then slowly introduced himself: "I presume you are Mr. Amon?"
"My name is Kamisato Ayato, and I am Ayaka's brother."
"This is our first meeting. Please guide me well."
Kamisato Ayato spoke in a slow and gentle tone.
After all, as the future head of the Kamisato family, Ayato had been trained in proper etiquette and composure.
When interacting with people in the outside world, his refined upbringing was evident.
Amon nodded gently. "Ayato, please guide me well."
For some reason, Amon kept feeling that Kamisato Ayato was glancing at him now and then.
This left Amon feeling a bit puzzled.
Is there something on my face?
It shouldn't be.
Ganyu had just helped him tidy up his appearance during breakfast—how could there be anything out of place?
What is Kamisato Ayato looking at?
Amon couldn't figure it out.
At this moment, Kamisato Ayaka gently tugged at the corner of Amon's clothes, interrupting his thoughts.
The little girl spoke in a sweet, childlike voice, "Brother Amon, I brought gifts from Inazuma for you and everyone else."
She pointed to a pile of beautifully wrapped, brightly colored gift boxes stacked like a small mountain at the door.
Taking out a purple gift box, she handed it to Amon with both hands.
"Brother Amon, this is a gift I prepared especially for you. Please open it and take a look!"
Under Ayaka's expectant gaze, Amon quickly unwrapped the package.
Inside was a set of black clothing with a distinct Inazuma style.
Amon could see that great care had been taken in its craftsmanship and choice of materials.
While Amon silently made a note of Ayaka's thoughtful gesture, the little girl had also been keeping Amon's preferences in mind.
She had secretly recorded Amon's clothing measurements and, after returning to Inazuma, commissioned a professional tailor to craft the outfit.
Ayaka looked up at Amon and asked eagerly, "Brother Amon, do you like this outfit?"
Amon reached out to pat Ayaka's head, chuckling as he said, "Little one, you've put a lot of thought into this. I like your gift very much. Thank you."
Seeing Amon so pleased, Ayaka smiled shyly and said, "As long as Brother Amon likes it~"
Standing nearby, Kamisato Ayato felt a pang of sadness.
Little Ayaka had never addressed him so affectionately before.
At this moment, Ayaka seemed to notice something amiss about Ayato.
She raised her head to look at him.
This briefly comforted Kamisato Ayato, as he felt reassured that his sister still cared about him.
But before he could savor the moment for long, he saw Ayaka turn to Amon and declare, "Oh, oh, these gifts are all for Brother Amon!"
Kamisato Ayato was stunned.
It turned out Ayaka had been looking at the gift boxes in Amon's arms, not at him.
Are you sure she's your biological sister?
Why doesn't she care about her brother's feelings at all?
Amon, too, was taken aback. "So many gifts are all for me?"
"Yeah," Ayaka nodded enthusiastically. "Thanks to the potion Brother Amon gave me, the Kamisato family avoided falling into chaos."
She then explained the details of her mother's serious illness.
After hearing the full story, Amon silently breathed a sigh of relief.
He had given the potion to Ayaka to prevent a tragedy.
Now that Lady Kamisato had recovered, little Ayaka no longer bore the burden of immense responsibility and could grow up happily.
This was precisely what Amon had hoped for.
"I'm glad the potion could help you," he said. "As long as everything ends well, that's what matters."
Ayaka nodded and opened another gift box.
"Brother Amon, these are fruits unique to Inazuma called violets. You've probably never tried them before."
"Wash a couple and try them later. I think you'll like them~"
The little girl couldn't wait to share Inazuma's specialties with Amon.
Taking Amon's hand, she began walking toward the house.
Watching this, Kamisato Ayato felt a mix of emotions, as though he were jealous.
Has my sister been stolen by Amon?
Throughout their lives, Ayaka had never shown such gentleness toward him.
Sure enough, love fades.
Her biological brother can't compete with her newfound brother.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Ayaka suddenly returned.
She handed a violet melon to Kamisato Ayato.
"Brother, this first violet melon is for you to eat."
Looking at Ayaka's smiling face and then at the fruit in his hands, Kamisato Ayato felt a surge of emotion.
My sister hasn't forgotten about me after all.
In Ayaka's heart, there was still a place for her brother.
The act of giving him the first violet melon said it all.
Kamisato Ayato bit into the melon and nodded. "This is delicious—not sour at all, with an amazing taste."
"Ayaka, I thought you didn't care about me at all. I guess I overthought..."
Before he could finish speaking, Ayaka had already run back into the house.
Her voice echoed loudly, "Brother Amon, those violets aren't sour at all—they're very sweet! Don't hesitate to eat them; I even had someone taste them beforehand!"
Kamisato Ayato: ???
His sister had only given him the first violet melon to test its taste??
He began to regret coming to Liyue.
For Kamisato Ayato, Liyue had become a bittersweet place.
He looked up at the sky with a melancholic expression.
The wind felt particularly noisy today.
Chapter 140: Instead of Competing in Martial Arts to Become Famous, You Stay Here as a Kindergarten Principal?
Let's now focus on Ayaka.
The little girl ran into the house and immediately spotted familiar faces.
Despite the language barrier, she extended her hand and greeted everyone with a bright smile.
Seeing Kamisato Ayaka, Ningguang, Beidou, and the others approached her warmly.
Even though they had only spent a few days together, everyone had grown fond of the cheerful little girl from Inazuma.
It had only been a day, but it felt as if many days had passed.
The group, particularly the younger ones, were overjoyed and invited Ayaka to join them for breakfast.
"Wow, Brother Amon prepared such a sumptuous breakfast?"
Ayaka's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the abundant spread on the table, her face lighting up with joy.
For Ayaka, eating was one of the few moments of pure happiness in her day.
And among all meals, the ones prepared by Brother Amon were the most delightful.
Amon picked up a wooden spoon, scooped some soup into a bowl, and gently placed it in front of Ayaka.
"I know you enjoy drinking soup, so I served you a bowl first," he said softly.
"Try it and see if you like it."
Ayaka's attention immediately shifted to the bowl of golden, aromatic soup before her.
The soup's rich color and savory scent promised deliciousness.
Holding the bowl with both hands, the little girl drank it all in one go.
After finishing, she looked up at Amon with her big, blinking eyes and asked in a sweet voice, "Brother Amon, can I have a little more soup?"
"Just a little bit, not too much," she added, gesturing with two fingers.
Her expression was filled with anticipation, and her obedient demeanor was endearing.
Amon chuckled at her adorable request and filled her bowl again.
"It's alright, little one. Drink as much as you want. There's plenty of soup here," he said lovingly.
While speaking, Amon glanced at Ningguang and the others, encouraging them to eat freely as well.
He then turned his attention to Kamisato Ayato.
After all, as Ayaka's brother, Ayato was family in a way.
It wouldn't be right to leave him out.
"Come, Ayato. Sit down and join us for breakfast," Amon said kindly.
Kamisato Ayato hesitated and shook his head politely.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Amon, but I've already had breakfast on the boat. I'm not hungry right now."
"Besides, the food here in Liyue is quite different from what I'm used to in Inazuma. I'm not very accustomed to it, so I'll pass."
Despite Amon's invitation, Kamisato Ayato declined.
Amon raised an eyebrow and asked again, "Are you sure you don't want to try something?"
"Thank you, Mr. Amon, but I really am not hungry," Ayato replied firmly, his expression resolute.
However, the tantalizing aroma of the food caused his resolve to waver slightly.
...
"It smells amazing!"
"You know, Liyue and Inazuma have completely different culinary styles. I've learned something new today."
"May I have another bowl, please?"
Kamisato Ayato found himself savoring the food with great enthusiasm.
His perspective of Amon began to shift.
He could now understand why Ayaka was so close to Amon.
Amon's patience and exceptional cooking skills were certainly admirable.
After breakfast, Ganyu headed to Yuehai Pavilion to begin her work for the day.
Meanwhile, the younger children resumed their training.
During this time, Ningguang often left to handle her business ventures.
Although Amon was aware of her activities, he chose not to interfere with her decisions.
In his view, everyone had their own path to follow, and no one's life should be altered by the advice or opinions of others.
As for Qiqi, she was practicing a soft gymnastics routine with a shuttlecock, a dance Amon had recently taught her.
Her silly yet focused expression, coupled with her busy movements, made her look both adorable and amusing.
Beidou, Shenhe, and Ayaka were also training under Amon's guidance.
Beidou had progressed to wielding a two-handed sword, performing basic attacks and blocks. Amon believed she would grow strong enough to stand on her own in the future.
Shenhe carefully studied the talisman Amon had left for her, gradually gaining understanding.
Keqing visited daily, diligently learning swordsmanship from Amon. Her skills in the art of warding off evil were becoming increasingly refined, with her movements growing more precise.
Under Amon's tutelage, Ayaka's sword skills had improved rapidly, and she made new discoveries each day.
Standing quietly by and observing, Kamisato Ayato was astonished.
It became clear that Amon's guidance had played a significant role in Ayaka's ability to defeat him in their previous match.
As he studied Amon's swordsmanship, Ayato reached a startling conclusion:
Amon's understanding of kendo was profound and immeasurable.
Across all of Inazuma, there were few swordsmen who could rival his level.
To Ayato, it seemed that even a simple stick would become a lethal weapon in Amon's hands.
Amon had the ability to bring out the full potential of any weapon.
As Ayato watched, a figure came to mind: the Magatsu Narukami no Ogosho, Raiden Shogun.
In Inazuma, Raiden Shogun's mastery of the sword was unmatched, a fact universally acknowledged.
But now, Ayato believed Amon might one day reach her level.
This realization filled him with mixed emotions.
Despite his unparalleled swordsmanship, Amon had chosen not to pursue fame through martial arts.
Instead, he lived in seclusion as a kindergarten principal.
Why?
Kamisato Ayato couldn't comprehend it.
Yet his respect for Amon deepened.
Chapter 141: Merchant Liben
Before anyone realized it, dinnertime had arrived.
Seeing that the little ones looked exhausted from a day's activities, Amon decided to prepare a hearty meal.
After all, if the adorable children eat well now, they'll grow strong and healthy in the future.
However, midway through cooking, Amon unexpectedly discovered the water supply had been cut off.
A water outage was certainly inconvenient, especially with so many children in the house.
Left with no other choice, Amon stepped out of his residence and headed to the hotel owned by Yu Jin.
Since he had purchased the house from Yu Jin, perhaps she would know the cause of the issue.
At that moment, Yu Jin was lounging on the hotel's first floor as usual.
She wore a white cheongsam and fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan, exuding an indescribable elegance.
Amon knocked on the door and greeted her with a smile. "Good evening, Sister Yu Jin."
Yu Jin set down her fan, stood up, and replied with a gentle smile. "Little brother, I don't see you visiting me on normal days. You must have something you need if you're here today, right?"
"We're close enough, so let's not beat around the bush. What's on your mind?"
Hearing Yu Jin's straightforward comment, Amon replied, "Sister Yu Jin, I wanted to ask why our water supply has suddenly stopped."
Yu Jin fanned herself slowly and responded nonchalantly. "Oh, yes, that happens occasionally around here. The water supply is cut off for a few days every so often."
She paused, looking at Amon with a teasing smile. "Little brother, if you need water at night, you're welcome to come here."
"Oh, I mean, if you want to take a shower, you can use the rooftop pool at my hotel."
"The pool has enough water to last through the current water outage."
Yu Jin explained that due to the periodic water shortages in the area, she had built a rooftop pool at the hotel to ensure an adequate water supply during such times.
When selling the house to Amon, she had forgotten to mention this recurring issue.
Fanning herself lightly, Yu Jin added, "Because of the water shortage, we need to conserve water during these days."
"Try not to... I mean, avoid taking long showers. A quick rinse or just wiping yourself is enough."
Seeing Amon's expression shift slightly, Yu Jin chuckled. "What's with that look, little brother? You seem disappointed. What's on your mind?"
Her playful tone reminded Amon of why she was known as Liyue's teasing queen.
But the problem wasn't just about bathing. It also involved washing clothes and cooking. With so many children at home, even Yu Jin's stored water wouldn't last long.
Amon sighed and replied, "Sister Yu Jin, let's leave the bathing discussion for later. I'd like to know what's causing the water outage."
Yu Jin thought for a moment before answering. "I heard the Millelith mention the reason before. Let me recall…"
"If I'm not mistaken, it seems a group of monsters is causing trouble at the reservoir, which has disrupted the water supply."
"If the monsters are dealt with, the water supply should return to normal."
Hearing this, Amon understood the situation.
After chatting briefly with Yu Jin, he headed to Yuehai Pavilion to pick up Ganyu and ask her about the issue.
When he arrived, Ganyu greeted him first. "Mr. Amon, you and the others can have dinner without me tonight. I might have to work late."
"There are water shortages in many areas of Liyue, so I'm heading to the reservoir to investigate."
Amon felt a sense of coincidence—he had come to inquire about the water outage, and now Ganyu was headed in the same direction.
"Ms. Ganyu, let me accompany you to solve this water issue. It's safer to have someone with you," Amon offered.
Ganyu nodded, her face softening. "Thank you, Mr. Amon, for accompanying me on this task."
As she spoke, she reached out her hand, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. The small curl on her head tilted shyly, betraying her flustered emotions.
"I might walk quickly, so to avoid getting separated, please hold my hand tightly," she said quietly.
Amon chuckled at her shy demeanor but took her hand firmly. Ganyu's hand was soft, smooth, and cool to the touch.
"Alright, let's go," Amon replied.
...
Soon, Amon and Ganyu arrived at the reservoir to investigate the water source issue.
Liyue's drinking water supply primarily came from this ancient reservoir.
As Amon scanned the area, he immediately noticed a group of ice slimes.
They had frozen sections of the reservoir, causing water shortages across Liyue.
Surprisingly, at the center of the ice slimes stood a young man wearing sunglasses and carrying a large backpack.
If Amon wasn't mistaken, that man was Liben, the rare goods merchant from twenty years ago.
...
Chapter 142: A Casual Delivery Leads to Four Intertwined Fates
When Ganyu noticed a group of ice slimes causing trouble, she immediately drew her bowstring.
A radiant blue light began to gather on the bow, forming a Frost Arrow.
In the next moment, Ganyu released the Frost Arrow.
The arrow transformed into a brilliant streak of blue light, cutting through the air with a sharp whistling sound that seemed to slice through the atmosphere.
This bow, crafted by an immortal, was a weapon of unparalleled power.
Even the thick-skinned Geovishaps couldn't withstand its might, so its strength was extraordinary.
The Frost Arrow shot towards the ice slimes, creating an area of frost that shattered the ground and sent dust flying.
But when the dust settled, the ice slimes stood there, completely unharmed.
(T/N: Electro slimes could withstand Musou no Hitotachi, after all. These creatures are ridiculously resilient!)
Amon immediately realized the issue: these monsters were immune to attacks of the same elemental attribute.
Ganyu's Frost Arrow, being ice-elemental, was ineffective against the ice slimes.
Understanding the situation, Ganyu stopped charging her Frost Arrows and resorted to basic physical attacks without elemental power.
While a single arrow could eliminate an ice slime, the sheer number of slimes and their scattered positions made the task time-consuming and exhausting.
Seeing this, Amon stepped forward. "Ms. Ganyu, let me handle these slimes."
As he spoke, Amon charged toward the group of ice slimes.
He began by using Kaedehara Kazuha's "Chihayaburu" technique to gather the scattered slimes into one spot, improving efficiency.
In the blink of an eye, golden light gathered in Amon's hands.
Before long, the spear Calamity Queller materialized in his grip.
Over time, Amon had grown increasingly proficient with the Calamity Queller.
While he had yet to reach the level of mastery displayed by an immortal, he was more than capable of handling these creatures.
The spear in his hands ignited with flames, and the fire engulfed its entire length.
From a distance, the spear now resembled a blazing fire dragon!
The simplest and most effective way to deal with ice slimes was with fire-elemental attacks.
Without hesitation, Amon swung the spear toward the group of ice slimes.
"Eat well, drink well, and have a safe journey!"
This was none other than Hu Tao's elemental burst skill.
As one of the three most devastating abilities in the land of Teyvat, it was more than sufficient to handle these slimes.
Even before the flaming disaster reached them, the intense heat melted the ice slimes where they stood.
Ganyu quietly observed Amon's profile from the side, her sparkling eyes glimmering with admiration.
"Mr. Amon is truly incredible," she thought, "to handle so many ice slimes in an instant."
(T/N: Hu Tao versus slime—a classic Vicineko moment!)
Liben, who had been squatting nearby and looking utterly helpless, finally sighed in relief as he witnessed the slimes being defeated.
With a grateful tone, Liben addressed them. "Thank you, kind heroes, for saving me."
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Liben, and I am a merchant."
"I was on my way to Mondstadt and stopped here to get some water. I didn't expect to encounter a group of slimes."
"If you hadn't saved me, I would have been in serious trouble."
Recalling the earlier scene, Liben shuddered with lingering fear.
Slimes, he thought, were far too frightening for someone like him, a mere merchant with no combat skills.
Liben paused before continuing. "You've helped me so much; I'll never forget this kindness."
"By the way, I happen to have something to give you as a token of my gratitude. Please don't refuse."
From his backpack, Liben pulled out an exquisitely crafted gift box and handed it to Amon.
When Amon opened the box, he found it contained a variety of unique items.
It seemed to be filled with specialties from regions like Sumeru and Fontaine.
While neither Amon nor Ganyu had much interest in these items, they accepted the gift out of courtesy.
But then, Amon's gaze fell on the corner of the box.
There lay four small pink stones—Intertwined Fates.
Liben had gifted them four Intertwined Fates!
Usually, Amon could only acquire one Intertwined Fate at a time through spirit lamps or by improving his relationships.
Now, simply by helping Liben defeat some monsters, he had been rewarded with four.
Amon was deeply moved.
"Liben is truly a generous man," he thought. "A brother who knows how to give meaningful gifts."
As Amon reflected on this, Liben slung his backpack over his shoulder again.
Looking at the sky, Liben spoke. "Well, my friends, if there's nothing else, I must take my leave. I need to reach Mondstadt by tonight for various reasons."
"Until we meet again, farewell!"
With that, Liben waved goodbye to Amon and Ganyu and began walking away.
Amon didn't stop him.
Knowing Liben's schedule and his plans for Mondstadt, there was no reason to delay him.
Watching Liben's retreating figure, Amon felt a wave of emotion.
"We part ways today, and who knows when we'll meet again," he thought.
Perhaps it would be a long time before their paths crossed once more.
Just as Amon and Ganyu were preparing to return to Liyue, they heard hurried footsteps and panicked screams from behind.
Turning around, they saw Liben running toward them in desperation.
Sweat poured down his face, and his
expression was one of utter terror.
"Help! Help!" he cried.
"There's a giant creature heading this way!"
"We need to run!"