I opened a shop on the Astral Train-Chapter 29

More than an hour later, everyone gathered at Starfell Cliff.

The night sky was scattered with stars, and a bonfire crackled warmly at the center of the gathering. Laughter and chatter filled the air as friends played and shared stories.

Yuri stood by the grill, a fan in one hand and skewers in the other, carefully tending to the flames. The aroma of sizzling meat, seasoned with salt, cumin, and chili powder, wafted through the air.

Noelle helped diligently, adding charcoal and skewering ingredients.

"Noelle, how was your first day?" Yuri asked with a smile.

Noelle hesitated for a moment. "It was... easy. Almost too easy. I'm not used to that."

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Yuri chuckled. "There aren't many customers yet, but once more people start showing up, you'll be plenty busy."

Noelle nodded with determination. "I'll be ready!"

The lamb skewers were nearly done. Yuri turned to the crowd and called out, "The skewers are ready! Come grab some!"

A sudden gust of wind heralded Venti's arrival.

"Oho, Yuri! Hand me some! I need something to pair with the wine while I chat with the old man."

Yuri smirked and handed over half the plate. "Try not to steal all the good ones."

Venti chuckled, thanked him, and made his way over to a small wooden table where Zhongli and Welt sat, deep in conversation.

Welt and Zhongli had hit it off surprisingly well—both enjoyed thoughtful discussions over a good drink.

Venti placed the skewers down. "Come on, drinking without food is boring. You have to admit, Yuri's cooking is top-notch."

Welt nodded. "That's true. Ever since Yuri joined the train, we've practically stopped eating anywhere else. Sometimes, the conductor cooks, but Yuri's meals are the highlight."

Zhongli set down his wine glass. "Oh? Yuri wasn't always on the Astral Express?"

Welt nodded and began recounting the story of how they had met Yuri and how he ended up joining them.

Meanwhile, near the bonfire, Klee, Hook, and Diona rushed toward the grill. Diona had been brought along by Venti when he went to pick up Klee and Hook.

However, Venti had immediately regretted it. He had completely forgotten about his allergy to cat fur and had spent a solid five minutes sneezing uncontrollably upon landing.

Klee and Hook, however, were unfazed.

"Brother Yuri! Klee wants to eat!"

"Yuri! Hook wants meat!"

Having known Yuri for a while now, both children were completely at ease with him. Diona, on the other hand, was more reserved, having only met him recently.

Yuri handed each of them a plate with three skewers. "Here you go. If you want more, just come back."

"Thank you!" The trio ran off happily, plates in hand, and sat by the bonfire to eat.

Kevin, Ying, March 7th, Eula, Amber, and Seele arrived next.

Ying had rallied the girls into a post-dinner Hilichurl raid for some easy Stellar Jade. Everyone was brimming with fighting spirit.

"With Amber's navigation skills, we can't lose!" March 7th cheered, full of enthusiasm.

Not far away, Diluc and Dan Heng were deep in conversation, which surprised Yuri. He hadn't expected those two to hit it off.

Lisa had set up a small coffee table where she, Jean, Bronya, and Natasha sat, discussing government matters.

Meanwhile, Clara sat with Himeko, eagerly absorbing mechanical knowledge. Determined to become a great scientist, she had been studying daily. Thanks to her dedication, she had already improved significantly in mechanical repair and had even modified a medical robot capable of treating minor injuries.

As the party continued, everyone found their place—except for Kaeya, who ended up helping Yuri at the grill.

Yuri flipped a skewer. "Didn't expect you to be the helpful type, Kaeya."

Kaeya smirked. "I didn't either. But here I am."

Just as Yuri was about to take a break, a familiar iron bucket flew toward him.

"Yuri! More food! Another bucket of pork chops!"

Yuri turned to see Paimon hovering impatiently, clutching an empty iron bucket.

He sighed. "Did you already finish the first one?"

He had prepared an entire bucket of grilled pork chops just for Paimon, knowing her insatiable appetite. Yet, here she was, asking for more.

With no choice, Yuri pulled out another twenty pork chops and set them on the grill.

Kaeya carried a plate full of assorted skewers to the main dining table by the bonfire. "Alright, everyone! More skewers are ready!"

The group eagerly gathered around.

Venti, feeling particularly cheerful from the drinks, pulled out his lyre and began playing a lighthearted ballad. The melody drifted through the air, blending with the warmth of the fire and the quiet murmurs of conversation.

Yuri looked around, making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. His gaze landed on Himeko and Clara, still deep in their lesson.

Taking a box filled with assorted skewers, he approached them. "Take a break. Eat something. Studying is important, but so is enjoying the moment."

Clara looked up, then smiled as she accepted the food. "Thank you, Brother Yuri."

Himeko chuckled. "Appreciate it."

Yuri waved off their thanks and turned his attention elsewhere.

That's when he remembered something—his current task required him to serve twenty different guests, and he was just a few short.

The next stop on the Express would be Xianzhou, where he could meet new customers.

"Himeko, when are we heading to the next stop?" Yuri asked.

Himeko thought for a moment. "We usually stop for a few days, so we'll set off in about three days."

She then smiled. "Our next stop is Pinoconi, also known as the Star of Festivals. It's a fantastic place for a bit of fun. You'll love it."

Yuri grinned. "Sounds like a blast."

However, he knew that wasn't quite true. The train was actually scheduled to head toward Xianzhou, influenced by Kafka's plans. Things were bound to get complicated soon.

Clara, overhearing their conversation, suddenly looked sad. "Brother Yuri, Sister Himeko... you're leaving? Clara doesn't want to say goodbye."

Yuri let out a soft laugh and ruffled her hair. "Silly. You have a portal at home, remember? You can visit the train anytime you want."

Clara blinked, then smiled, realizing she had completely forgotten. "Oh! That's right! Clara forgot."

Yuri smirked. "See? No need to be sad."

The three of them continued chatting as they ate their skewers.

Surprisingly, even in the wilds of Mondstadt, no monsters appeared to interrupt the gathering. It was as if the world itself had decided to let them enjoy this night in peace.

It was getting late.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they sat on the ground, chatting leisurely. The once duo of little ones—Klee and Hook—had now grown into a trio with Diona, all three curled up on Dodoko, sleeping soundly.

Kevin glanced at Venti and Zhongli, a thought suddenly surfacing in his mind.

"Zhongli, you're a god too, aren't you?"

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone turned their eyes to Zhongli.

Especially the people from Mondstadt, their faces painted with shock.

Kaeya spread his hands, his voice laced with disbelief. "Hey, hey, hey, no way. Mr. Zhongli, a god?"

Qiqi and Diluc, already aware of Venti's true identity as the Anemo Archon, had long suspected Zhongli's. He was from Liyue, and Venti casually called him an old man. Who else could he be? It had to be Morax, the Geo Archon.

Lisa studied both Venti and Zhongli, deep in thought. She had long suspected Venti's identity. From Ying, she had learned that Venti could communicate with the Wind Dragon, Dvalin—one of the Four Winds. That alone had been enough for her to guess his connection to Barbatos.

It seemed her assumption had been right all along.

Venti was indeed the Anemo Archon, which only made it clearer who Zhongli was.

"I see," Lisa murmured, bowing slightly. "I greet Your Majesty, the Wind God, and Your Majesty, the Rock God."

Amber, Eula, and Kaeya stood there, stunned.

No way! These two were really gods? Unbelievable.

Zhongli sighed, his voice calm and measured. "No need for such formality. I am merely an ordinary consultant now. Zhongli is just fine."

Venti chuckled, his usual grin in place. "Oh my, I'd much rather you all call me Venti. Being a god and all... just remember it once in a while."

Yuri smiled. "We all come from different places, but here, we're friends, aren't we? Come, let's have a drink together!"

Raising his glass, he looked around, waiting.

The people of Mondstadt considered it for a moment before grinning and lifting their own glasses.

"To friendship!"

"To friendship!"

After that, they rested for a while before going their separate ways.

Kevin, March 7th, Amber, Eula, Ying, and Paimon gathered their weapons and set out toward a nearby Hilichurl tribe.

Meanwhile, Diluc, Kaeya, and the others busied themselves clearing out the remnants of the Abyss Order. Ever since their failure to corrupt Dvalin, most of the Abyss Order's forces had withdrawn from Mondstadt.

Even though it was late at night, Liyue Harbor was still alive with lights.

Zhongli returned to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, carrying a small bundle of skewers. Yuri had grilled so much food earlier that no one could finish it all, so everyone took a little with them when the gathering ended.

Pushing open the doors to the funeral parlor, Zhongli spotted Hu Tao fast asleep in a rocking chair in the courtyard.

He walked closer, taking a brief look before sighing and shaking his head. "Sleeping here again? You'll catch a cold."

With a gentle motion, he used his divine power to lift her up and carry her back inside, laying her down carefully before covering her with a blanket.

Almost immediately, Hu Tao kicked it away, sprawling out in a starfish pose.

It was summer, after all, and the heat was relentless.

After setting the skewers on a table in her room, Zhongli retired to his own quarters for the night.

Early the next morning, Zhongli sat in the courtyard, leisurely sipping tea.

Next to him stood an electric fan, something he had purchased from Yuri. The summer heat was particularly strong today, making it difficult to enjoy tea properly. He had asked Yuri if there was a way to cool down, and thus, the fan was now part of the scene.

The door to Hu Tao's room suddenly flew open.

"Ding ding ding ding! This Hall Master is fully resurrected!" Hu Tao announced, bursting into the courtyard with energy to spare.

She was still holding the skewers Zhongli had left for her the night before.

Spotting Zhongli, she ran over. "Good morning, Guest~"

Zhongli gave a slight nod, pouring her a cup of tea without a word.

Seeing this, Hu Tao took the teacup, downed it in one go, and slammed it onto the table with enthusiasm. "Ah~! Delicious! Another!"

Zhongli was well accustomed to her disregard for proper tea-drinking etiquette. At first, he had attempted to teach her how to properly savor the flavors, but Hu Tao had no interest in such things. To her, tea was just another drink—best consumed in large, refreshing gulps.

As she chewed on her skewer, Hu Tao suddenly noticed the electric fan beside Zhongli, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.

"Keqing, what's this?" she mumbled through a mouthful of meat.

She hopped off her stool and walked over to the fan, peering at it from different angles.

Then, without hesitation, she leaned in close, inspecting the device with fascination. This thing could make wind? So cool!

Zhongli answered simply, "I got it from a friend."

Hu Tao swallowed her bite and grinned. "That the same friend you had dinner with yesterday? Your friend's pretty impressive, huh? They've got all sorts of rare stuff."

Without waiting for a response, she pulled a small stool up in front of the fan and plopped down, basking in the cool air.

Zhongli observed her for a moment, a thought forming in his mind.

Maybe it was time to take her to visit Yuri.

Hu Tao had grown up, and it was about time she expanded her horizons. Besides, the people Yuri surrounded himself with—Kevin, March 7, Dan Heng, and Ying—were all exceptional individuals in their own ways.

After a moment's consideration, Zhongli made up his mind. Liyue had yet to fully benefit from Yuri's knowledge, much like Mondstadt already had. Under the guidance of Jean and others, the Knights of Favonius had already started practicing the "Wind Spirit Technique" and learning to better harness their elemental abilities.

Liyue, with its vast population and greater pool of talent, would no doubt advance even faster.

From the adepti to the Qixing, from the Millelith to the common people—Liyue's potential was limitless.

"Master, do you have anything planned for today?" Hu Tao asked, her voice slightly muffled by the wind as she tilted her face toward the fan.

"No," she added, before he could reply. "Why?"

Zhongli rose slowly to his feet. "Since you have no plans, I will take you somewhere."

Hu Tao perked up, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Ooh? Where are we going, Guest?"

Though she had no idea where he intended to take her, she hopped to his side, ready to follow along.

After all, if it was with Zhongli, it was bound to be interesting.