For someone in secluded cultivation, the sense of time becomes vague and indistinct.
To Cloud Retainer, her impression of the outside world was still frozen six months ago.
Back then, she had sent Shenhe down the mountain, sealed off her abode, and began solitary cultivation, cutting herself off from worldly affairs.
She hadn't even known about Ping's birthday, nor that Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver had come to invite her to celebrate.
Now, staring at her two disciples, who were practically radiating Adepti aura, Cloud Retainer's gaze suddenly fixed on Shenhe. Her voice grew serious: "Shenhe, what happened to the Red Rope Soul Binding technique? Why can't I sense it anymore…?"
Shenhe replied softly, "It's been removed."
Cloud Retainer's words caught in her throat. Her crystalline crane eyes widened in shock. "Removed?! How?! Who removed it?! Was it Mountain Shaper? Moon Carver—?"
Seeing how genuinely concerned her master was, Shenhe felt a wave of warmth in her heart. "Master, you don't need to be so worried."
"How could I not worry?! Do you understand how terrifying your fate is? That technique sealed it for over a decade! The backlash from lifting it could've—wait… Shenhe, are you really okay?"
"I'm fine, Master."
Cloud Retainer stared at Shenhe's calm expression and forced herself to settle down.
Indeed, if Shenhe's fate had fully erupted, influenced by the calamity star sign, everyone around her should've been suffering terrible misfortune.
But she herself hadn't tripped over nothing yet, so clearly things weren't as dire as she feared.
Cloud Retainer asked, "What exactly happened?"
Shenhe thought for a moment. "It's a long story…"
"Then tell it slowly," Cloud Retainer said, narrowing her eyes.
Shenhe shook her head. "I can't. We don't have time for that right now. There are more important matters we need to attend to."
Cloud Retainer frowned. "Forget that. You're what matters most!"
Ganyu, watching from the side, couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Master really hasn't changed one bit.
Shenhe looked a little helpless. "Master, you really don't need to worry. I'm fine. Besides, we have guests waiting outside."
"Guests?"
Cloud Retainer blinked, recalling that Shenhe had mentioned earlier she was traveling with her "boss."
"He's outside?"
Shenhe nodded. "Yes. I came with my boss, along with other employees and friends from our shop. It wouldn't be right to keep them waiting."
After all, one of them was a god… but then again, this was her home, and by extension, it was also the boss's home. The other two were his cousin and little cousin, so technically, this was their home too. In that case, everyone here was family. Maybe there was no need to worry about formalities like "keeping guests waiting" at all?
"In that case…"
Cloud Retainer hesitated for a moment.
"Then let us go greet them. It would indeed be rude otherwise."
After all, that man was her savior. As for the others—well, out of respect for her disciple, she could extend a bit of Adepti hospitality…
Shenhe added, "Master, Granny Ping is here too."
Cloud Retainer raised a brow, caught off guard. "Ping came too?"
Ganyu chimed in, "Yaoyao's here as well."
"Yaoyao!?"
At the mention of her name, a look of affectionate fondness appeared in Cloud Retainer's eyes.
She had always liked that obedient little girl, even gifting her a Yuegui for protection.
"It's been so long since I saw her… Come, let's go."
Cloud Retainer took the lead.
Her two disciples followed closely behind.
Ganyu spoke up, "Master, let me fill you in on Mr. Xia."
Cloud Retainer blinked. "Mr. Xia? Who's that?"
"The one who saved you."
"He's surnamed Xia?"
"His name is Xia Zhi."
"Xia Zhi…"
Cloud Retainer murmured the name to herself.
"So that's what he's called…"
Ganyu continued, "This time, his older cousin and younger cousin came with him."
"His cousins?"
Cloud Retainer was slightly taken aback. Based on her observations back then, he didn't seem to be from this world. Where would he have gotten cousins?
"The younger one is named Xia Ci. The older one is Xia Zhen."
"Oh…"
Ganyu leaned in, intending to quietly reveal their true identities to give her master some mental preparation.
But before she could speak, Cloud Retainer suddenly turned to her and said, "Ganyu, have you gained weight?"
Ganyu froze. "Huh?"
"Just look at you. Compared to when you came to deliver that letter, you've clearly filled out."
As they walked, Cloud Retainer rambled on.
"It's only been six months. You really need to watch your diet. Don't get chubby like when you were little, rolling around like a little dumpling…"
"Master!"
"I'm saying this for your own good."
"…"
Ganyu silently lowered her head and swallowed the intel she had planned to share.
Forget it.
She'd just wait until later, pull out her kamera, and capture the moment Master got scared stiff by the two of them. If she ever nagged her again, Ganyu would have blackmail material ready.
Yes. That was the plan.
--
On the floating island.
Xia Zhi picked up his teacup and took a sip.
The aroma was delicate and refreshing.
Now this was the real deal—authentic Tea.
He set the cup down and, from his god's eye, examined the Adeptus abode.
When they entered earlier, he'd noticed this wasn't just a structure built into the mountain—it was supported by adepti power, much like the Serenitea Pot. A pocket dimension.
And the floating islands were filled with intricate Adepti mechanisms and talismans—flying mechanical birds, misty bridges that looked like clouds…
Clearly, Cloud Retainer had a unique sense of style.
His mind drifted to the time they had traveled together.
Xia Zhi lowered his head and took another sip.
He really hadn't expected back then that he'd end up saving an Adeptus.
Still… Shenhe was raised by her. Would that make Cloud Retainer his future mother-in-law?
--
Just ahead was a turn in the path.
Cloud Retainer stopped walking.
"Master, why aren't we moving?"
"Do I look presentable? Are my feathers messy?"
"No."
"Check again."
It wasn't often she had guests. She had to look respectable.
Especially since Ping was here.
After being blasted back into her original form thanks to a failed experiment, she was sure to get scolded.
Just thinking about it made her head ache.
Originally, Cloud Retainer had planned to seal her home shut and not see anyone until she'd fully restored her cultivation. Then she could pretend nothing had happened.
She hadn't expected Shenhe to return home early—and bring Ping with her.
Sigh… but this was a show of filial piety, after all…
Half a year out in the world, and she'd already learned to come home and visit her lonely old mentor. That was something.
What could she do? Forgiveness was the only option.
Besides, things weren't that bad.
There were outsiders present. Ping wouldn't scold her too harshly in front of guests.
Cloud Retainer turned the corner and saw the others gathered on a nearby floating island.
The scene was lively.
Her eyes scanned the crowd and quickly landed on a familiar figure wearing glasses.
It really was him.
That same strange aura—familiar, almost like kin.
She started walking over, ready to greet Xia Zhi, but her gaze accidentally landed on the elegant woman standing behind him.
She froze, crane eyes widening in disbelief.
That was...
The former Electro Archon—Raiden Makoto?
Wait! And the girl beside her looked awfully familiar too...
Was that… the former Dendro Archon? Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?
What was going on?
Why were they here?
Cloud Retainer felt like her entire bird brain had short-circuited.
Click!
A crisp shutter sound snapped her out of it.
She turned to see Ganyu pointing a kamera at her.
But she didn't have time to care.
Because those two possibly divine women were now looking at her, half-smiling, eyes locked onto her.
There was no pressure in their gaze, but still… terrifying.
Shenhe walked over and softly introduced her, "This is my master, Cloud Retainer."
"Greetings, honored Adeptus!"
Everyone gave a polite Liyue-style bow.
But no one looked particularly nervous.
After all, Adepti weren't that rare.
Just the other day, they'd sat down to dinner with two of them at Wangshu Inn.
Cloud Retainer braced herself and accepted the bows from those two with as much dignity as she could muster. "Welcome to my humble abode—"
Before she could finish, a cheerful voice rang out.