Genshin Impact: I Opened Blind Boxes in Liyue

The hot springs street at the foot of Grand Narukami Shrine was shrouded in a misty drizzle, the bluestone pavement glistening under the footsteps of visitors. Ling Feng stared at the crooked two-story wooden house before him. The sign, **"Otherworldly Oddities: Hot Springs Branch,"** was blurred by the rain, and cobwebs swayed in the wind like Yae Miko's mischievous fox tail. Three days ago, when that fox had shown up with the deed, things had looked very different— 

"Little Ling Feng~ The hot springs street is Inazuma's 'eternal money pit.' Open a branch there, and you'll earn enough Mora to build a second Tenshukaku!" Miko's tail curled around a skewer of fried tofu, leaving greasy marks on the deed. "And doesn't your Traveler always complain about Ritou being too noisy? This place is so quiet, you can hear the heartbeat of the ley lines~" 

Lumine, who had been crouched on a shelf sneaking tri-colored dango, nearly fell off. "Who's *his* Traveler?! And what even is a ley line heartbeat?!" 

Now, Ling Feng finally understood what "ley line heartbeat" meant. The **"Elemental Hot Spring"** in the backyard bubbled ominously, its depths holding a gilded blind box provided by Miko. The words **"Surprise Edition"** on the lid were blackened by sulfur fumes. During last night's trial run, the box had exploded into a Pyro mushroom cloud, nearly turning Kujou Sara's newly built watchtower into roasted tengu wings. 

"And you call this a prime location?" Ling Feng kicked open the drafty door, cobwebs raining down on Lumine's high ponytail, turning it gray. She wiped her face, her fingertips crackling with Electro energy as she blasted the cobwebs away—only to accidentally trigger Sayu's hidden **"Sleep Aid"** blind box on the beam. 

"Ninja Art: Sleep Escape Technique!" Sayu shrieked as she was launched into the hot spring. The splash activated the blind box at the bottom, and a purple lightning bolt shot into the sky, splitting the rain clouds into *Attack on Titan*-style cracks. A Shogun Puppet illusion rose from the water, stirring a pot of **"Tri-Colored Dango Hot Spring Porridge"** with her naginata. The sweet aroma drew curious onlookers. 

"How dare you use the Shogun's image to cook?!" Kujou Sara's roar was accompanied by a thunderstorm. Lumine, wrapped in a towel, emerged from the steam and shoved the soggy blind box into Sara's hands. "The Tenryou Commission's latest **'Electro Awakening Soup'**—care to try it, General Kujou?" 

Ling Feng stifled a laugh, using Geo energy to create a barrier against Sara's fiery glare. "This is a cultural experience project approved by Guuji Yae. See the Grand Narukami Shrine's seal on the bottom..." Before he could finish, the box played Ei's voice: **"Now is the time for a bath."** The Shogun's illusion scooped up a ladle of porridge and splashed it onto Sara's armor. 

"New Tenryou Commission regulation!" Sara stormed off, her face dark. "Using blind boxes to desecrate the Shogun's dignity is prohibited!!" 

A downpour hit the hot springs street that night, the leaky roof drumming a chaotic rhythm. Lumine barged into Ling Feng's room with soaked bedding while he was patching a ceiling crack with Geo energy—the hole from last night's thunderstorm gaped like a grinning mouth, rainwater cascading into a makeshift pot, creating a *Genshin Impact*-style fountain. 

"Sayu stole the only dry tatami mat!" Lumine shook her wet hair, droplets splattering on Ling Feng's freshly written **"Branch Revival Plan,"** smudging the ink into a crooked Hilichurl doodle. "I order you to fix the accommodation issue, right now!" 

Ling Feng's ears burned as he tossed her a towel. "You take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor." 

"Such a prude~" Lumine suddenly leaned in, her sulfur-scented breath brushing his throat. "Weren't so shy when you grabbed my waist during the festival, huh?" 

A flash of lightning lit the room, and Lumine yelped, diving under the covers. Ling Feng sighed, lighting a Geo-powered lamp. In the warm glow, Lumine peeked out. "Hey, tell me a story! Make it Mondstadt-style!" 

He flipped through *The Teyvat Adventure Guide* and made one up. "Once, there was a knight who always used Windwheel Asters as throwing knives. One day, he accidentally hit the alchemist he had a crush on..." 

Halfway through the story, Lumine's breathing evened out. She curled up in the corner of the bed, mumbling in her sleep, "Cross-dressing... suits you..." Ling Feng gently tucked her in, only to spot a corner of yellowed paper peeking out from under her pillow—his old business plan from Liyue Harbor, its margins filled with Lumine's doodles: a Q版 (chibi) Geo Slime labeled "Mr. Ling," being chased by a wind spirit version of Lumine. 

The next morning, Miko's **"Couples' Yukata Package"** arrived. Lumine shook out the pink-and-white yukata embroidered with cherry blossoms and held up the matching navy-blue one. "Put it on." 

"This is Yae Publishing House's scheme!" Ling Feng backed into a shelf, knocking down Sayu's hidden stash of dango. Lumine used Anemo energy to tie him up like a dumpling, stifling laughter as she fastened the yukata. "Lady Shinobu said disguising as a couple is the ultimate reconnaissance tactic!" 

The two awkwardly walked down the hot springs street, the vendors' snickers sharper than the sulfur smell. Lumine suddenly linked arms with Ling Feng, flashing a radiant smile at Sayu, who was secretly filming. "If you're gonna film, make it good!" Ling Feng's stiff, clumsy steps sent the whole street into giggles. The old lady selling tri-colored dango wiped away tears. "Ah, youth... my husband and I were just as awkward back then..." 

At the hot spring pool, Lumine suddenly pulled out an **"Elemental Resonance"** blind box. "Miko said this can measure bond levels!" The gilded box sank into the water, and Electro and Geo patterns intertwined, painting a tapestry of Liyue mountains and Mondstadt windmills in the twilight sky. Yae Miko's illusion emerged from the steam, her tail curling around a heart-shaped bubble that enveloped the two. **"Bond level maxed out~ The reward is—"** 

*Pop!* 

The bubble burst, sending Lumine tumbling into Ling Feng's arms. As their breaths mingled, the hot spring erupted into a rainbow geyser, the *Genshin Impact* login theme echoing in the air. Sayu's camera automatically snapped a photo, capturing Kujou Sara being launched into the sky by the geyser, clutching half of a **"Shogun Fan Art"** blind box... 

Late at night, Ling Feng discovered something unusual while organizing the storeroom—the Fatui Delusion residue attached to the gilded blind box was devouring the hot spring's elemental energy. He activated the Geo seal Zhongli had given him, unaware of the violet eyes watching from the shadows. 

"It's time to wrap up this lively show," Scaramouche crushed the recording crystal, the image frozen on Lumine falling into Ling Feng's arms. **"Leyline memories + genuine moments... the perfect catalyst."** 

Upstairs, Lumine was carving words into the swollen **"Elemental Resonance"** blind box. Moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating her sly smile. **"Tomorrow, I'll sneak this 'Heartbeat Memories Edition' onto the shelves... Get ready, Mr. Ling!"** 

The hot springs street glowed softly in the misty aftermath of the rain, the leaky little house lit up all night. No one noticed the leyline memory particles Saiguu had buried here 500 years ago, flowing with the hot spring water into Sayu's dreams—perhaps, on some future rainy night, these particles would become new stories, continuing to illuminate Teyvat's eternity.