What bad intentions could the original dragon have?

It's not because of the excitement of getting closer, but because of another feeling... It's like opening a treasure chest... No, it should be said that it is a strange sense of satisfaction from knowing a secret that only you know.

"Uh... No, no, you can't take advantage of others." Miss Zhong Ling must be like this because she has the habit of hugging something when she sleeps. Didn't she hug Paimeng before?

Miss Zhong Ling was unconscious, but she is a gentleman!

Ying took Zhong Ling's hand away from her body in a panic, then slowly left Zhong Ling's arms at the slowest speed, and tiptoed into the bathroom with integrated bathroom and separate dry and wet areas.

Ying looked at herself in the mirror and saw a faint, arc-shaped red mark on her cheek.

"..." Ying used her hands to roughly rub her cheeks, rubbing them red. 'That's not right... What am I feeling guilty about?'

"Isn't it normal to cuddle unconsciously when sleeping?" Looking at her own red cheeks, Ying's expression was very subtle.

A.17 You don’t have a fever, do you?

"Sure enough, it's not my illusion." Zhong Ling opened her eyes after Ying tiptoed into the bathroom.

Although Ying's movements were very gentle, she still woke up.

Or rather, she did not fall asleep after waking up for the first time, but entered a meditative state to feel every change in herself.

She found that some of the toxins in her body had indeed been eliminated.

Although it is small, it is indeed being reduced.

Zhong Ling's whole body was filled with that strange poison, but over the past five hundred years, the clear springs of "Bailong Gorge" had been washing her body non-stop.

As the incarnation of 'Liyue's Water Essence', this is the best way to remove poison.

The result was that only traces of toxins remained in her body.

Therefore, when Ying slept with her arm hugged yesterday, Zhong Ling discovered that the residual poison on her arm had been completely eliminated.

But the poison in her body is even more terrifying.

Although Zhong Ling felt that the toxins in her body had been reduced, the amount was very, very small.

"But, no matter what, this is good news." Zhong Ling's eyes showed a thoughtful look. "We must find a way to tie this little guy to our side."

She cannot be let go, but Zhong Ling does not intend to do anything to imprison others. After all, Zhong Ling is not that kind of person.

Although Zhong Ling was a devil when he was young, he did all kinds of evil.

On this side, he plucked a handful of feathers from the True Lord Lishui Dieshan to make a fan, and on the other side, he knocked a piece of the deer antler from the True Lord Xueyue Zhuyang to make an ornament.

However, when she was a child, Zhong Ling did not even spare herself. She had no idea how many times she had broken her own dragon horns.

The reason is very simple. In an accident, Zhong Ling's horn was broken. She ate the broken horn with the reason "it's from my body anyway, it doesn't matter if I eat it". Then she found that the taste of her dragon horn was amazing, and she couldn't stop eating it.

If you have nothing to do, just break off a piece and eat it.

Anyway, it will grow back soon after eating it.

I don’t know if it’s just like humans, who tend to grow thicker and longer hair after shaving.

When Zhong Ling was a child, his dragon horns were just one branch, like those of a young deer.

Since the first time it was broken, her dragon horn has become more and more "flashy".

As a result, many immortals got a headache when they saw Zhong Ling.

Until one day when she was about 500 years old, Zhong Ling suddenly felt that she had grown up and could no longer be like that.

Therefore, when all the immortals felt incredible, Zhong Ling restrained his devil-like nature and began to cultivate himself, and as a result, he developed a gentle and elegant personality.

Even the arrogant dragon horns on its head were deliberately retracted and became smaller.

However, people who are close to her only know that it is just her appearance.

Although she is no longer as trouble-making as before, she is still the kind of person who likes to laugh and joke with people close to her.

If it was the spoiled and willful Zhong Ling from her childhood, she might have locked Ying up in the basement and not released her until the poison in her body was cured.

But Zhong Ling would not do such a thing now.

However, since Ying's goal is to travel through the seven kingdoms in search of her missing brother, her next kingdom must be Liyue, which is the closest to Mondstadt.

According to the time calculation, there are still more than two months left until the "Ceremony of Inviting the Immortals". Ying will definitely take the opportunity of the "Ceremony of Inviting the Immortals" to pay a visit to [Emperor Rock King].

That's easy. Even if ordinary people see [Emperor Rock King] at the "Ceremony of Inviting the Immortal", they won't have the chance to approach him.

But who is she? She is [Cangming Yuanjun], the immortal who must be invited to the annual "Inviting Immortals Ceremony".

It's just that because she was in seclusion in the White Dragon Gorge, she hadn't participated in the Ceremony of Inviting the Immortals for more than 500 years.

But, even so, the mortals' annual "Ceremony of Inviting the Immortals" will inevitably extend an invitation to her.

As long as Ying is by her side, it would be very easy to meet the [Iran God] or something like that.

At that time, at the "Ceremony of Inviting the Immortals", she will transform into the form of [Cangming Yuanjun] and then take her own seat... Ying should be very surprised, right?

"Ha~Hmm~~" From five hundred years ago to now, Zhong Ling has not felt physically relaxed for a long time. She stretched and couldn't help but let out a moan.

"..." Ying, who had just finished washing up and walked out of the bathroom, just happened to hear Zhong Ling's voice.

Looking at Zhong Ling's flat chest covered by clothes, a fantasy suddenly emerged in her mind.

Having felt Zhong Ling's broad mind, she really couldn't connect Zhong Ling's true mind with her current flatness.

The image that came to my mind was also that mellow dumpling.

Before, I couldn't take advantage of others' misfortune to help them, and now I think about it, I always feel a little bit wronged.

"Miss Ying, are you okay?" Seeing Ying's dull eyes and slightly red cheeks, Zhong Ling got out of bed and walked over. "Did you overwork yesterday and catch a cold at night? Is it because my body is colder?"

As the 'Essence of Water', Zhong Ling's body temperature would be slightly lower than that of ordinary people unless she deliberately maintained her own temperature.

It would definitely be comfortable to hold her in the summer, but the temperature in Mondstadt has been relatively low recently due to the "dragon disaster". In this case, it would be easy to catch a cold if you hold Zhong Ling in your arms for a night.

"I didn't pay attention." Zhong Ling thought with some self-blame.

Yesterday, I was only concerned with detoxifying myself, and I hugged Ying tightly, not considering that my body temperature would make Ying unbearable.

"I didn't..." Before Ying could finish her words, Zhong Ling's hand had already lifted her bangs and placed it on her forehead.

"It's so hot, will Miss Ying feel dizzy?" Zhong Ling could feel that the heat of her palm was higher than that of an ordinary person.

Ying generally had a slight fever, although it wasn't serious and wouldn't be a big deal for an average person.

However, according to the agreement with the Knights of Favonius yesterday, they are going to the Temple of the Four Winds today, and a battle is very likely to occur.

In this situation, it would be very dangerous if you accidentally lost your focus due to physical discomfort.

"I'm fine." Ying shook her head.

The reason why her body temperature was a little high was entirely because...well, it's unspeakable.

"Are you really okay? It would be very dangerous if you go into battle when you are not feeling well." Zhong Ling withdrew his hand and reminded seriously.

"I'm really fine. Maybe I just used too much force when washing my face just now." After Zhong Ling withdrew her hand, Ying's complexion quickly returned to normal.

"...Yeah." Zhong Ling looked at Ying carefully and nodded slightly. "Anyway, if there is any danger, I will protect you."

A.18 Four Winds

"Wow... I'm so happy..." Ying leaned back in her chair, touching her belly and sighing. "I haven't had a good breakfast for a long time."

"Mond's breakfast is really good." Zhong Ling also likes the breakfast of 'The Deer Hunter'.

The soft texture and sweet taste of the pancakes really make people feel happy.

"Ying, come closer." Inadvertently, Zhong Ling seemed to have dispensed with the honorific title of 'Miss Ying'.

As for whether Ying noticed this, Zhong Ling didn't care.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Ying blinked in confusion and moved closer to Zhong Ling.

"Why are you the same as Paimon?" Zhong Ling took out a clean handkerchief and wiped the cream from the corner of her mouth.

"Hmm..." Ying, who was said to be the same as Paimon, looked towards Paimon.

"Um... Traveler, why are you looking at me..." Paimon, who was stuffing a large piece of muffin into his mouth, noticed Ying's eyes, shrank his neck, and asked timidly while biting the fork.

"I'm just curious, how are you and I alike?" Ying said, concealing her true feelings.

"Hmm..." Paimon thought seriously. "Maybe... I rely on the Traveler for support, and the Traveler relies on Miss Zhong Ling for support, right?"

“…” Ying rolled her eyes at Paimeng.

"Haha, Ying is my bodyguard, of course I will take care of her." Hearing Paimon's words, Zhong Ling chuckled, withdrew his hand, and stuffed the handkerchief into his sleeve.

"Bodyguard?" Ying blinked. "I always feel like Miss Zhong Ling is better than me?"

"It's Ying's illusion, I just..." Zhong Ling paused for a moment. "I'm just richer."

When we were cleaning up the Hillil people's camp yesterday, one of Zhong Ling's talismans was worth 200,000 Mora.

Ying didn’t know what 200,000 Mora meant yesterday, but she understood it today.

To be honest, it's not that expensive. After all, a serving of 'Fisherman's Toast' costs one thousand Mora.

One of Zhong Ling's talismans is equivalent to two hundred portions of 'Fisherman's Toast'.

Assuming you eat five servings a day, it will last for forty days.

One talisman is enough for 40 days of food expenses!

However, this is only the food expense and does not include accommodation expenses.

By this calculation, even if we eat "fisherman's toast" every day, life will still be hard.

Suddenly I remembered the days a long time ago when my brother and I bought three hamburgers for ten dollars to save money. We bought six hamburgers every day and ate hamburgers every day.

Ah... Now that I think about it, did my brother learn to cook because he didn't want to eat hamburgers, or because I was about to vomit...

Well, I'll ask my brother when I find him.

But then again...why does Miss Zhong Ling seem so gentle today?

Although you were quite gentle yesterday, I always felt like something was a little different.

In short, I am lucky enough to meet Miss Zhong Ling.

"Well, it's getting late, let's go to the Knights Headquarters to meet them." Zhong Ling said after looking at the sky. "Come to think of it, yesterday... I accidentally tricked Xiaoyu once."

Zhong Ling suddenly remembered that Ganyu had clearly finished her meal yesterday, but she still insisted on adding a lot of dishes to her meal.

Then after eating some, he left in a hurry because he was worried about Tevarin...well, he ran away without paying.

"Xiaoyu shouldn't mind, right? After we return to Liyue Harbor, I'll ask Xiaoyu to go to that 'New Moon Pavilion' or 'Liuli Pavilion'... I don't think that's the name?"

Zhong Ling paid the money carefully.

The total cost for three people is only more than 10,000 Mora, which is quite cheap.

However, although Paimon looks small, he is surprisingly good at eating.

----

"Good morning, everyone. I've been waiting for you for a long time." Kaia, who happened to be in the lobby of the 'Knights Headquarters', came up to greet them when he saw Ying and the other two come in.

"Kaeya, it looks like you just happened to pass by?" Paimon said while spinning his fingers in circles.

"Little Paimeng, that's a polite expression." Zhong Ling reached out and grabbed Paimeng into her arms. "It's like 'I've heard of you for a long time'. You can say that to anyone, but in fact you've never heard of you."

"Huh? Really?" Paimon's eyes widened in surprise. "I thought 'I've heard of you for a long time' was something you've really heard of?"

"Paimon should have some self-awareness." Ying turned her head and complained to Paimon.

"Haha, let's go to the 'Leader's Office' first. The [Acting Leader] has been waiting for quite a while."

In fact, if it were some time ago, the Knights of Favonius would have no use for an outsider like Ying, who was not weak but not strong either.

But recently the timing just hasn’t been right.

[Wolf of the North Wind] Falgar took away most of Mondstadt's combat power.

[Chief Alchemist] Albedo and his assistant Sucrose have been missing recently.

Another powerful [Wave Knight] Eula Lawrence is on an overseas mission and will not be back for a while.

We can't take everyone out, as the Fatui are also ready to make a move, so we have to keep a lot of people in the city.

Moreover, the [Faints] would come to Jean to 'chat' whenever they had nothing to do, so that Jean herself could not get away to go to the 'Temple of the Four Winds'.