An unknown amount of time passed before the door of Wanmin Restaurant opened.
At the entrance stood the captain of the Millelith and a confused Xiangling.
"You're finally back! Why did you run off like that? And you got caught by the Treasure Hoarders?"
Chef Mao rushed over with a scolding, only to notice that someone was missing beside Xiangling. "Where's your brother? Where is he?"
"Dad, what are you talking about? When did I ever encounter the Treasure Hoarders? And I didn't see Brother either."
The Millelith captain stepped forward to report to Keqing.
"Lady Keqing, we found Miss Xiangling at Wuwang Hill. She never encountered the Treasure Hoarders."
Hearing the captain's words, Keqing seemed to realize something, her pupils trembling violently.
Kael watched as her face gradually turned pale.
The Millelith captain looked pained but continued his report. "We found several bodies at Bishui Plain. They've just been identified as... the Adventurers' Guild members who accompanied Mr. Kael..."
Keqing's face instantly turned deathly white.
"Thud."
Xiangling exclaimed, "Dad, what's wrong?"
Chef Mao's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
He stared at the Millelith captain in terror. "No... this can't be true. He has a Vision! My son received his Vision when he was just 10! He's blessed by the gods! He can't be gone! No... no..."
The Millelith captain bent down, trying to help Chef Mao up.
As soon as he reached out, Chef Mao grabbed his arm with all his strength, like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline.
"Where's my son... where is my son?"
Chef Mao, having worked as a chef for many years, had strong hands.
The Millelith captain endured the pain and replied, "We didn't find your son's body at the scene. It's possible he escaped."
"Yes! Yes! Yes! That must be it! He must have escaped. Kael's so smart. He definitely got away."
Chef Mao forced a stiff smile. "He'll be back soon! Xiangling, help me up. I'll go make some boiled fish. He'll be starving when he returns."
Still unsure of what had happened, Xiangling didn't dare speak up and quickly helped Chef Mao to his feet.
Only after Xiangling took Chef Mao into the kitchen did Keqing, who had been sitting like a statue, finally speak.
Her voice was hoarse, as if scratched by glass.
"Based on the scene, what are the chances of survival?"
The Millelith captain hesitated before answering, "The concentration of Cryo energy at the scene was extremely high, indicating the opponent was very powerful. And at the scene, we only saw traces of Cryo attacks... perhaps Mr. Kael didn't even have a chance to fight back before..."
The captain couldn't continue, because he saw Keqing—usually calm, rational, and composed—now trembling uncontrollably, as if enduring immense pain.
She stared blankly ahead, as if she had lost her soul.
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No one knew how much Keqing hated the rationality she had once been so proud of.
If only she weren't so intelligent.
Then she could be like Chef Mao, telling herself that Kael was still alive.
She wouldn't have guessed that Kael had fallen into a trap set by the Fatui.
The Fatui were ruthless, leaving no room for mercy.
Kael... Kael...
Keqing didn't dare think further. She was afraid she would break down.
But now wasn't the time to break down. She had something she must do.
Keqing stood up. "Keep searching. Send three more teams. Even if we have to turn all of Teyvat upside down, we must bring Kael back... he must come home..."
The Millelith captain, seeing Keqing's unsteady state, asked worriedly, "Lady Keqing, where are you going?"
"The Jade Chamber."
Keqing left Wanmin like a walking corpse.
Shortly after Keqing left, Chef Mao brought out a freshly made, steaming pot of boiled fish.
"Xiangling, quick, bring out the rice. Kael always eats boiled fish with rice. We'll wait here together for him to come home."
Chef Mao and Xiangling waited at Wanmin until late at night, when the boiled fish had gone cold, the oil congealing on the surface.
"Dad... the boiled fish is cold."
Hearing Xiangling's words, Chef Mao quickly stood up and picked up the pot.
"Then I'll make a new one. Xiangling, throw this one out. Reheating cold boiled fish ruins the texture."
From late night until dawn, the pot of boiled fish on the table had been replaced several times.
But Chef Mao and Xiangling still didn't see the person they longed for.
When the boiled fish went cold again, Chef Mao stood up to make another pot.
As he rose, his vision suddenly darkened, and his body swayed unsteadily.
"Dad!"
Xiangling quickly supported Chef Mao. "Dad, go rest for a bit. I'll wait for Brother."
"No!" Chef Mao pushed Xiangling's hand away. "Your brother loves my boiled fish the most! He said no one else's could compare to mine!"
Xiangling, seeing the dark circles under Chef Mao's eyes and his pale face, finally couldn't hold back her emotions any longer.
She had already learned what had happened from Chef Mao and had been tormented all night.
Tears streamed down Xiangling's face. "It's all my fault! If Brother hadn't been worried about me, he wouldn't have been lured to Bishui Plain! It's all my fault! I'm the one who got Brother killed!"
"Stop it!" Chef Mao sharply cut her off. "Your brother is fine! Don't say such unlucky things. He'll be back soon! He..."
Before he could finish, Chef Mao's eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
"Dad!!!"
Baizhu from Bubu Pharmacy was called by Xiangling to examine Chef Mao.
"Chef Mao fainted due to excessive worry and exhaustion from staying up all night. Take these two dried Qingxin herbs, and he'll be fine."
Baizhu took out two Qingxin herbs from his bag and handed them to Xiangling.
"Qingxin is a calming herb. It will soothe his emotions and help him sleep well."
Kael stood by, watching Chef Mao lying unconscious on the bed and Xiangling struggling to hold back her emotions. His heart ached.
He was also worried about Keqing, who had left like a walking corpse.
Damn it, all because of this Reincarnator talent, the system dragged me in to witness the aftermath of my own death and see how it affected others.
This tragedy simulator is even targeting the host now.
What a garbage system!!!
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