Mr. Feng Yi, you're a regular here. The tea is on the house. That'll be 400 Mora for twenty baskets of buns!
The owner approached with a beaming smile, took the Mora from Feng Yi, and then seemed to remember something. He continued,
Mr. Feng Yi, this is Mr. Zhongli's bill for today. He said to ask you to cover it for now, and he'll settle it with you later!
The owner pulled out another bill. Feng Yi indeed saw Zhongli's signature on it!
He took the bill and looked closely, his shock evident.
Feng Yi: You're really taking advantage of my absence, aren't you? Thirty baskets of buns, even a pig couldn't eat that much!
Seeing thirty baskets clearly written on the bill, Feng Yi felt he had inherited Tartaglia's role as Zhongli's personal ATM.
Normally, when Feng Yi ate breakfast with him, Zhongli was full after one basket.
But today, with Feng Yi gone, Zhongli had truly feasted!
Feng Yi pulled out another 600 Mora and handed it to the owner. He didn't believe the owner would cheat him on the amount; such things were easily verifiable, unless the owner wanted to ruin his business!
In fact, thirty baskets were real, and Zhongli had indeed eaten them all.
However, the owner failed to mention that this was Zhongli's accumulated bill for an entire month.
Feng Yi, who is Mr. Zhongli?
Tartaglia, seeing Feng Yi's pained expression regarding his wallet, asked with some curiosity.
Zhongli? He's a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. You'll get to know him later!
Hearing Tartaglia's question, Feng Yi smiled mysteriously. He greatly anticipated the day Tartaglia would become Zhongli's personal ATM!
It was much more enjoyable to watch others suffer such misfortunes!
It was like raising a husky; if you raise it yourself, it's pure torment, but watching someone else do it is far more amusing.
Tartaglia, sensing Feng Yi's ill-intentioned gaze, felt a pang of unease and wisely kept quiet, not asking further.
Childe! Let's go! Let me show you the magnificent scenery of Liyue!
Having a bodyguard follow felt great, if only this bodyguard wasn't always itching for a fight!
All along the way, Tartaglia kept asking when they could have a proper fight, to the point that Feng Yi's ears were nearly worn out.
Feng Yi, aren't you ready yet? I can barely contain my excitement!
Tartaglia's eyes gleamed with fervent anticipation, staring at Feng Yi so intensely that he dared not meet his gaze.
Fine! I promise! But before that, you have to answer one question for me!
Feng Yi couldn't stand Childe's persistence anymore. He felt that if he didn't agree, he wouldn't have peace even in the restroom.
Let the River God's domain teach you a lesson!
Feng Yi: To be frank, I'm eyeing your combat techniques!
If all went according to plan, Feng Yi would gain half of Tartaglia's strength and soul (including combat memories).
It would also keep Tartaglia quiet for a while and perhaps even disrupt the Fatui's plans.
It was truly killing three birds with one stone!
No problem! Ask whatever you need to ask!
Tartaglia was overjoyed when Feng Yi finally agreed to his request for a duel. As for the additional question Feng Yi needed answered, he didn't give it a second thought.
He was already prepared with several combo chains, just waiting to unleash them!
River God's Domain, activate!
Feng Yi's toes lightly touched the ground. The earth instantly gave way to water, engulfing them both.
Young Childe, did you drop this golden notebook, this silver notebook, or this worn-out notebook with peeling glue?!
Feng Yi asked with a smile, though inwardly he sighed with disappointment.
Why did the random drop have to be just an ordinary notebook?
Weren't Childe's Delusions more appealing?
(A note here, according to official information, Tartaglia's Foul Legacy Transformation is activated through a Delusion after becoming an Executive.)
Feng Yi, this notebook I carry with me has the blessings of my siblings for me. It is the most precious item to me, so could you please return this seemingly worn-out but actually very precious notebook?
Tartaglia was stunned. So this was the question Feng Yi was asking!
Although he didn't know how a notebook he carried with him had suddenly appeared in Feng Yi's hands, he still answered Feng Yi's question truthfully, following his heart!
Tartaglia: Is Feng Yi showing off his magic? Oh, right! And alchemy too!
Tartaglia recalled Feng Yi mentioning that his teacher was skilled in divination magic and alchemy, so it was natural that Feng Yi could do these things too!
An honest and kind person shall receive the River God's reward! This silver notebook is a gift to you!
Feng Yi hadn't expected that the first person to honestly answer his question would be Tartaglia, who was so keen on fighting!
However, considering that while he pursued the thrill of combat, he also cared deeply for his family, especially his younger siblings, it was understandable.
The blessings of loved ones were indeed beyond measure by mere gold or silver!
But the creations of the River God were no ordinary trinkets plated with gold and silver:
Silver Notebook: [A creation of the Great River God, possessing miraculous functions. Writing the target's name upon it will trigger a curse, reducing the target's all attributes by 30% for one minute.
Note: Contains a total of three pages. Each page can be used to write one target's name. The cooldown is one page restored daily.]
Golden Notebook: [A creation of the Great River God, possessing miraculous functions. Writing the target's name upon it will trigger a blessing, increasing the target's all attributes by 50% for one minute.
Golden Trait: Tearing off a page and having the corresponding target consume it will grant the target ten seconds of invincibility, during which all damage (physical/mental) will be nullified.
Note: Within the River God's Domain, the process of tearing off the page and consuming it can be skipped.
Note: Contains a total of three pages. Each page can be used to write one target's name. The cooldown is one page restored daily.]
The silver notebook could be used against enemies, while the golden notebook could be used to empower oneself and allies, their combined effect far exceeding the sum of their parts!
But the River God's rules were in place. Since the other party had answered honestly, Feng Yi, as the River God, had to bestow a reward upon him.
Although Feng Yi was reluctant to part with either of them!
However, rules were rules, and even as a River God (with limited control over his divinity), he could not alter them.
The only loophole was that he only needed to gift one of the golden or silver rewards.
After some thought, Feng Yi chose to present the silver notebook as the reward.
This was because Feng Yi considered that the golden notebook not only had stronger attributes but could also be used in conjunction with the River God's Domain.
Tartaglia was initially hesitant to accept the silver notebook as a reward, but seeing Feng Yi's undeniable and authoritative gaze, he accepted it with a sense of resignation.
After the deed was done, Feng Yi suddenly saw a wisp of ethereal light float out from Tartaglia and merge into his divinity.
Subsequently, Feng Yi realized that his control over his divinity had advanced further!