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Xingqiu, who wrote under the famous pen name Zhenyu, was a literary legend in his own right. His masterpiece, A Legend of Sword, was immensely popular across Teyvat, especially in the nation of Inazuma, where readers reverently referred to him as Teacher Zhenyu.
It was clear to anyone who picked up his work that Xingqiu possessed a rare talent for prose, characterization, and intricate plot arrangements. In the current literary landscape of Teyvat, Xingqiu was essentially a god-tier author at the very top of the rankings.
However, because he was limited by the cultural background of the Teyvat continent and the traditional influence of Liyue's history, his novels tended to stick to established themes of martial arts and chivalry. He hadn't yet explored the truly wild side of fiction. Xu Hao's arrival changed that. As they spoke, Xu Hao began listing tropes that sounded completely alien yet fascinating to the young master.
He spoke of worlds where monsters and goblins appeared in the middle of mundane cities, or stories where a protagonist falls from a building only to wake up as a Great Demon King in a different world. He described "system" novels where getting beaten up actually made a person infinitely stronger, or bizarre comedies where a traveler reincarnates as a thunder slime to chase and harass the Yuheng Star. There were even stories about invincible heroes who found themselves powerless in the most awkward situations.
Xingqiu felt that these themes were incredibly novel. Even the classics, history, and martial arts stories from Xu Hao's world had unique ways of being written. He learned about the "useless counterattack" trope, the invincible "Mary Sue" or "Long Aotian" archetypes, parody spells, and the concept of an unsolvable cheat or a "Golden Finger." Xingqiu's pen flew across the pages, filling an entire notebook as inspiration surged through him like a tidal wave.
"Okay, that's basically everything I can think of for now. After all, I'm just a reader, not a professional writer," Xu Hao said, leaning back and draining two cups of tea to moisten his parched throat. He looked out the window and realized the sky had completely darkened. They had been talking for several hours without even noticing the passage of time.
Xingqiu let out a long breath, looking at his notes with a sense of awe. "Thank you so much. Your insights were like a moment of sudden enlightenment. I feel deeply inspired. Please, this is the reward for the commissionâone hundred thousand Mora. I insist you accept it." He quickly signed a bank check and handed it to Xu Hao as a token of his genuine gratitude. This money didn't come from the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce's coffers; it was the personal remuneration he had earned from his own book sales.
"Master Xingqiu is truly generous. I won't stand on ceremony then," Xu Hao replied, accepting the check with a cheerful smile. He was feeling quite elated.
Xingqiu waved his hands dismissively. "Please, just call me Xingqiu. After our meeting today, I think we can definitely be considered friends." He was sincere in his offer. In Liyue, there were very few people who could actually keep up with his intellectual curiosity or speak about literature with such depth.
"No problem, Xingqiu. If you ever run into any trouble in the future, feel free to ask me for help," Xu Hao said. He was more than happy to make friends with the second young master. Traveling through Teyvat would be a wasted opportunity if he didn't build relationships with the familiar faces he knew from the game, especially someone like Xingqiu, who was a top-tier Hydro user, young, and incredibly wealthy.
Xingqiu escorted Xu Hao downstairs, his mind already racing with plans to stay up all night and organize the mountain of new knowledge he had acquired. Meanwhile, Xu Hao took the check and headed toward the Northland Bank, planning to exchange it for cold, hard Mora. He still missed the convenience of his old life, where he could just scan a QR code with his phone to pay for everything.
Back then, you only needed a mobile device, but now he had to deal with physical currency. Fortunately, Xu Hao possessed a system space where he could store his Mora safely, meaning he didn't have to carry a heavy, clinking purse around his waist.
After visiting the bank, Xu Hao's total savings reached over five hundred thousand Mora. He reflected on his situation with a bit of a smirk. He was twenty-three years old and already earning half a million Mora a month. Was he proud of that? Absolutely.
He was able to save so much because he didn't have many expenses yet. Before his time travel, his money went toward games, micro-transactions, high-end figurines, and constantly upgrading his PC and consoles. In Liyue, however, his only real costs were rent and food. He currently rented a place near the harbor, as the apartments in the city center were far too expensive. He planned to save up more and eventually buy a house of his own to settle down properly.
On his way home, Xu Hao picked up dinner from Wanmin Restaurant. As he walked, he caught sight of Childe, also known as Tartaglia or "Dada Duck," passing by in the crowd. Childe noticed him as well and offered a brief, friendly smile and a nod. Xu Hao, however, didn't really want to get involved with someone like a Fatui Harbinger. He didn't respond and kept walking. He knew the nature of the Harbingers all too well; there wasn't a "good man" among the executive officers of the Fools.
In Childe's heart, his only true loyalties were to the Tsaritsa and his younger siblings back in Snezhnaya. To him, the lives of others were often secondary to his missions. Whether it was the Fatui soldiers stationed deep within the Chasm or the common citizens of Liyue, people were often just numbers to be sacrificed for the sake of a larger plan.
Xu Hao remembered that in the original story, if the Traveler hadn't been strong enough, Childe would have likely killed them during their battle in the Golden House while fueled by his Foul Legacy transformation.
Childe watched Xu Hao's retreating back, the corners of his mouth curling into a slight smirk. "An outlander from another world... the rumors say his strength isn't half bad. If I find the time, I'll have to test those skills myself." Childe was a battle-hungry warrior who lived for the thrill of challenging powerful opponents. If they weren't currently standing in the middle of a crowded city street, he might have tried to initiate a duel right then and there.