Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [149]

After a night of drinks and banter, the group went their separate ways. Gu Sanqiu genuinely enjoyed a casual evening with a few good people—unlike at home, where his sister’s presence would have likely meant his drinking was closely monitored.

As for Eula, it was likely rare for her to join gatherings like this. Even with a bustling crowd at Angel’s Share, she still managed to get a table to herself—an “exclusive arrangement.”

And as for Kaeya and Diluc? Their back-and-forth alone had been well worth the evening.

The next morning, Gu Sanqiu woke bright and early. A fresh breeze drifted into his room, filling the air with the crisp scent of dew and dawn light.

With a lazy wave of his hand, the wind gathered beneath him, lifting him from his bed and floating him straight to the washroom, effectively sparing him the trouble of walking.

“Right, I think today’s the day I promised to visit Barbara at the Favonius Cathedral,” he mumbled to himself as he rinsed his face, eyes half-closed against the morning light. He swapped out his clothes for a fresh, non-wine-scented outfit, grabbing his golden fishing rod and casually stirring it around in his dimensional storage with a flick of his wrist.

A glow of blue surged forth, and with a deft snap, Gu Sanqiu twisted his hand, quickly bringing whatever blue-glowing item he’d snagged under control.

Item: Milk Bamboo Shoots
Origin: Gluttony Domain (Gluttony Realm)
Description: Said to be a favorite of a former Gluttony King, these delicacies combine the rich flavor of milk with the crisp sweetness of bamboo shoots—a gourmet snack or entrée ingredient, delightful for any meal.

“Hmm…” Gu Sanqiu examined the creamy jade-green bamboo shoots hooked onto his line. He had to admit, they looked almost like carved gemstones.

“Not bad, seems normal this time. I’ll save a few for the old ancestors to try out,” he muttered, pocketing the bamboo shoots.

Once ready, he headed to Good Hunter for breakfast again. If this were Liyue, he mused, the competition would’ve already started up rumors like ‘Goth Grand Hotel serves terrible food’ by now.

“Favonius Cathedral, huh? Looks like I’ll have to walk over there.”

Not wanting to raise eyebrows in Mondstadt with any flashy movements, Gu Sanqiu decided against making a show of his usual methods. After all, back in Liyue, the Millelith would recognize him and just go along with it; here, though, the Knights of Favonius might not be as accommodating.

“Uh… a foreigner?”

At the cathedral entrance, a sister greeted him with a curious look.

“Hello, I’m here to see Deaconess Barbara. Is she available?”

“Oh? Well, that’s a surprise. Barbara is inside praying at the moment. If you’re here for an autograph, you’re a bit early for that.”

“Actually, I’m not looking for an autograph…”

“Oh, really?” The sister’s gaze turned guarded. “Most visitors, even foreigners, wouldn’t be asking for a specific deaconess by name unless…”

It was clear she’d already pegged him as some sort of suspicious lurker, and her hand was already moving toward the nearby Knights. “If you don’t state your business, I’ll have to ask for the Knights’ assistance.”

“Assistance,” huh? Gu Sanqiu glanced at the few stationed nearby.

They didn’t look familiar, so they must not have been part of last night’s squad. This lot would barely last a single move against him—and they’d have to worry if they’d still be standing afterward.

“Oh, Gu… Mr. Gu!”

Barbara suddenly appeared, rushing over, breathless. “I didn’t expect you to be here so early! I’m sorry—I was tied up with some matters in the church.”

The sister looked astonished. “You know him?”

Barbara gave an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I guess it’s not common knowledge yet. I apologize, Mr. Gu. The sisters here don’t usually follow much outside of Mondstadt, so they might not know who you are.”

Gu Sanqiu waved it off. “No need to apologize—it’s no big deal. But what did you need to meet about? Something you couldn’t mention in a message?”

Barbara’s face turned slightly pink as she stumbled over her words, “Ah, it’s, well, it’s not that… could you please follow me? We can talk somewhere quieter.”

Barbara led him to a small park next to the Adventurer’s Guild, a place mostly empty at this time of morning.

“Mr. Gu, after our last mission, I overheard something from Captain Jean,” Barbara began, looking slightly nervous. “She mentioned that you’re a descendant of Liyue’s Gu Clan. Is that correct?”

“Yep, that’s right. But… why do you ask?”

“Well, I did a little research afterward. According to the records, your family has served the Geo Archon since Liyue’s ancient warring era. There was even one head of the Gu family who supposedly designed a chariot for the Geo Archon, right?”

Gu Sanqiu blinked. “That little tidbit’s recorded somewhere?”

He’d heard the story before—one of his ancient ancestors had supposedly crafted a grand carriage for the Geo Archon to ride with fitting dignity. Apparently, the design was even inspired by the idea of using Osial as a beast of burden. Of course, that ancestor had received quite the thrashing for the suggestion and ended up buried in a mountain, a cautionary tale to the family.

When the carriage was finally constructed, the Geo Archon had only tried it out a few times before declaring it excessive and repurposing the materials for the war effort. To the rest of Teyvat, it sounded prestigious to have the Gu Clan design something for the Archon. But to anyone who actually knew the story, it was a bit of a family embarrassment.

Maybe one day I should put together an anthology: “Ancestral Blunders Throughout the Ages.”

Barbara finally took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “The Gu Clan’s records must contain countless ancient techniques and knowledge. That’s actually why I wanted to meet with you today.”

She hesitated, clasping her hands. “Here at the cathedral, it’s challenging for me to access the kind of techniques I’m hoping for.”

“Mr. Gu… could you possibly share some form of water-element combat technique with me? Like, what you Liyueans call a gongfa? I’ll compensate you, I swear!”

With that, Barbara stood and gave a deep, earnest bow. Her twin-tails bobbed with the force of it, revealing just how much effort she’d put into this request.

Gu Sanqiu fell silent.

Water-element combat technique?

Wait a minute—was she asking for… the “Mighty Barbara’s Guide to Physical Nuke Barbara”?