Yunqin shuffled out from behind the tree with a long face, her reluctance palpable with every dragging step.
She walked up to Cloud Retainer and obediently lowered her head.
Strands of ink-black hair fell beside her cheeks, hiding the flicker of emotion in her eyes. Yet her shoulders remained slightly slumped, making her look like a kitten caught stealing dried fish.
But when she felt Lumine's gaze on her, she secretly glanced up and shot Lumine a quick, playful tongue-out gesture.
The moment she turned back to face her master, her expression instantly reverted to one of perfect obedience, her lips pressed into a thin line. The contrast was so adorably jarring it was hard not to chuckle.
This scene flashed across the screens in the parallel world, and the players instantly erupted:
"Make her a playable character! Take my money! Got it?"
"Bring Yunqin to the gacha now! Don't make me get on my knees and beg!"
"Super strong and she can act cute? Mihoyo, you've successfully lured me in. I grant you permission to know my payment password."
"..."
Cloud Retainer looked at the girl before her, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. She raised a wing and gently tapped Yunqin on the head.
The force was as light as a caress, but her tone carried a touch of affectionate scolding. "You little rascal, always thinking of slacking off. Your excuses for taking leave are more bizarre than the last. Of all the disciples under my tutelage, you're the most troublesome."
"Master~" Yunqin flinched from the tap, the tips of her ears turning faintly red. She looked up with an ingratiating smile.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she deftly changed the subject. "Look! These are my new friends, Lumine and Paimon! They're super amazing—they even know Barbatos, the Anemo Archon!"
As she spoke, she secretly tugged on Lumine's sleeve, urging her to play along.
Cloud Retainer sighed helplessly.
Her disciple truly possessed top-tier talent.
When she'd first taught Yunqin to wield Elemental Power, the girl had practically mastered it on her own. Adeptal arts, too, she learned with a single glance.
But that brilliant mind was rarely used for proper cultivation.
If she'd devoted even half the effort she spent on slacking off to her training, she would have long since become a self-sufficient Adeptus, a new guardian of Liyue.
But then again, Yunqin was only seventeen. To Adepti who had lived for millennia, she was still just a child. Overly strict education might crush her vibrant spirit.
With this thought, Cloud Retainer decided not to dwell on it. She followed Yunqin's lead and turned her gaze to Lumine and Paimon, playing along. "You've come all the way to Mt. Aocang to seek me out. What is the matter?"
Yunqin quickly nudged Lumine, her eyes screaming, Hurry up and say it!
Lumine stepped forward and recounted the events of the Rite of Descension, concluding, "The Liyue Qixing are preventing anyone from approaching the Exuvia. We had no other choice but to seek your help, Adeptus."
"What?!"
Cloud Retainer's temper instantly exploded. The adeptal energy around her surged violently, whipping the surrounding leaves into a frenzy with a loud shua-la-la sound.
"Rex Lapis is the guardian deity of Liyue! Who would dare assassinate him on Liyue's own soil? The Qixing's actions are even more suspicious—they are clearly trying to cover something up! It seems it's time to use some thunderous measures to warn the mortal world and remind them that the Adepti who protect Liyue still watch over it!"
Lumine and Paimon's hearts sank.
Is the Adeptus going to march on Liyue Harbor and suppress the Qixing directly?
Paimon quickly flew in front of Cloud Retainer, her voice trembling. "Adeptus, please don't be rash! We only wanted you to help us investigate the truth, not to confront the Qixing!"
"And we have the Sigil of Permission," Lumine added. "The contract Rex Lapis made with the Adepti to 'jointly protect Liyue' still stands. You can't go back on it."
Seeing their anxious expressions, a flicker of warmth crossed Cloud Retainer's eyes. The adeptal energy around her gradually subsided, and her tone softened. "The God of Contracts himself has 'fallen,' yet you two still remember this contract."
"Rest assured, I am not unreasonable. I will first rendezvous with Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper. Together, we will investigate the full story. I will not act rashly."
With that, Cloud Retainer's tone shifted abruptly as her gaze fell upon Yunqin.
"As for you, young lady, you are forbidden from leaving for the foreseeable future. Stay here in the adeptal abode and focus on your training. Catch up on all the lessons you've missed, and stay out of worldly affairs."
As her words faded, Cloud Retainer beat her wings, soaring into the sky amidst swirling clouds. She quickly vanished over the horizon of Mt. Aocang.
Left behind was a stunned Yunqin, her dark eyes wide and round, as if she hadn't processed what had just happened.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a sympathetic glance.
It seems the inevitable confinement couldn't be avoided after all.
But before they could offer any words of comfort, Yunqin shook her head, patted her cheeks, and tried to console herself. "Well, not being able to leave isn't so bad. It'll keep me out of all this trouble."
"My heart is too small; it only has room for the people close to me. The Adepti will handle Rex Lapis's affairs. I just need to mind my own business!"
With that, she waved to Lumine and Paimon, then casually walked toward the adeptal abode, hands clasped behind her head.
"I'm going back to my cave to read novels! Next time you visit, I'll sneak you inside. Master has invented lots of fun contraptions, you know!"
Lumine and Paimon couldn't help but smile wryly.
This girl really has a positive attitude.
With that, the two turned and left Mt. Aocang.
-
Not long after, the pale golden adeptal barrier at the entrance of the adeptal abode was quietly undone. A faint wisp of Geo energy had slipped through a crack in the barrier and gently nudged its core.
Yunqin's head cautiously poked out. She glanced left and right for a long moment, then sighed in relief when she confirmed no one was around.
"The truth behind the Rite of Descension still isn't clear... Did Rex Lapis really fall?" she muttered to herself, unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.
Setting aside her admiration for Rex Lapis...
Just recently, Yunqin had made a bet with Keqing.
The first one to speak to Rex Lapis in their lifetime would have the other pay for their next purchase at the Rex Lapis Geo Figurine Sale!
She couldn't afford to lose such a golden opportunity!
Just as she was about to dash out, her stomach rumbled loudly.
Yunqin patted her belly and chuckled. "Heaven and Earth may be vast, but filling my stomach is vaster! I'll catch a few fish and roast them first. Investigating can wait!"
With that, she turned and ran back into her cave, pulling out a well-hidden fishing kit from under her bed.
Shouldering her fishing rod, she skipped lightly toward the small stream at the foot of Mt. Aocang, shouting as she ran, "Little fishies, the great Yunqin is here!"
-
Meanwhile, after meeting Xiao at Wangshu Inn, Lumine and Paimon arrived at the Northland Bank as agreed.
After a brief conversation with Tartaglia, they met Zhongli again.
The four of them sat in a private room, chatting about the Rite of Descension. Liyue Harbor's specialty dishes were laid out on the table.
Before they could finish their meal, a gust of wind suddenly tore through the sky, carrying the faint scent of cider as it drifted in through the window.
Zhongli set down his chopsticks and gave Lumine and Tartaglia a slight nod. "It's getting late. I must take my leave."
He went to the rooftop alone and watched for a moment.
Venti's figure gradually materialized.
He leaned casually against the eaves, a bottle of cider in hand, and shook it with a grin. "Old man, long time no see."
"Care for a sip of cider? Let's toast to your 'fall'~"
Zhongli looked at the grinning Anemo Archon before him and shook his head helplessly. "You're certainly well-informed."
Venti laughed and hopped down, offering the bottle to him.
As soon as Zhongli took the cider, Venti's expression turned serious. "I came to discuss something with you... about the Abyss."