"Mhm, mhm! Don't worry, with me as your guide, Ying won't get lost! (^～^)"
"You say that like I'm directionally challenged..."
"Huh? Aren't you?"
"e"
After they... er... Paimon had thoroughly enjoyed a table full of food...
"I've already paid the bill, so we should get going with our own tasks. Farewell~"
Childe said goodbye to Ying and Paimon and headed outside Liyue Harbor...
"See you next time~ Hehe~ I ate so much this time~" Paimon said, patting her little belly with a happy expression.
"You're hopeless..."
"Hehe~ Don't say that, let's go find Ying too~"
"Mm... No rush, there's something I need to do before finding Ying."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Follow that guy and see if I can eavesdrop on some information."
(The plot that follows is just accompanying Zhongli shopping anyway, so it's a good opportunity to do something more meaningful...)
Ying said and quietly followed, of course, to avoid being discovered by Childe or the Millelith, Ying had disguised herself, putting on an eye patch.
"Following Childe? Didn't you say you weren't interested in his identity?" Paimon followed, asking curiously.
"Silly, I have to lower his guard first! (￣へ￣)"
"Mmm... But this isn't what we told Ying before, and he just helped us play matchmaker. Isn't it a bit immoral?"
"No, no, no, don't be fooled by surface appearances. He's helping us on the surface, but in reality, he wants to use us to do things for them."
"Use us? Uh... I don't understand."
"It's simple logic. Do you think they wouldn't want such a good thing as the Geo Archon's immortal body?"
"This... probably not..."
"Right? We're just pawns to them. Once we find the Geo Archon's immortal body, they'll immediately extend their claws."
"Whoa?! Then what should we do?!" Paimon, startled, clung to Ying and asked fearfully.
"Don't worry, since they want to use us, we can't refuse. We'll take whatever intelligence and resources they give us. We're both using each other. Think about it, if even I can figure this out, how could Ying not?" (^～^)
"Oh... I didn't expect Ying to have a bit of a brain after all."
"Uh... I meant for you to praise Ying, not me... And are you actually praising me?!"
"Ah, this... Of course I'm praising you... Hehe..." Paimon said sheepishly, scratching her head.
"Hmph... I don't believe you. And you should fly yourself, you're quite heavy."
"Huh? No way? I shouldn't be that heavy..."
"Yes, your stomach is like a bottomless pit. Don't you remember how much you ate just now? (￣へ￣)wΑp.kanshu伍.net"
"Hehe~ It was just too delicious."
"Hmph... You ate most of it, and don't forget my leg is still injured."
"Ah? Oh right, right, right, I almost forgot something so important." Paimon got off Ying's back and flew to the side, supporting Ying's hand.
"Does it feel any better?"
"Mhm, much better... Hmph~ Considering your performance just now, I won't hold it against you for eating most of the delicious food. (￣へ￣)"
"Hehe~ Thank you, Ying-jie, for your understanding~"
"Uh... Is it a bit strange for you to call me Ying-jie..."
"Is it? Hmm... It seems a little, huh~"
"Mhm... Never mind, never mind, let's just follow him. If we chat any longer, we won't even see his taillights."
"Oh, oh, wait... What are taillights?"
"Emm... Don't mind the details!"
The two followed Childe to a secret outpost hidden within the forest...