After the meal, they chatted for a bit before starting their afternoon activity—fishing at the lakeside just outside the Adeptus abode.
Cloud Retainer didn't join them. She stayed behind with Shenhe in the kitchen, preparing the Adeptus' Temptation.
"Master, where's the clay pot?"
"No need for a clay pot. We'll use the Exquisite Soup Cauldron instead."
"It's still in the dining area. I think Guoba's still not done with the rice."
"I'll go check."
Cloud Retainer walked out of the kitchen and returned to the dining area.
Guoba was still there, diligently munching away.
She walked up to him and looked at her old companion, this silly expression on his face, and couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy. Especially now, in her own reverted form, she felt a strange kinship.
"Sigh… Marchosius…"
Guoba looked up at her, confused.
"Mm?"
"Nothing. These gloves of yours really are handy… I came to fetch the Exquisite Soup Cauldron. Where did you put it?"
"Mm-mm-mm!"
"Over there? I see it."
"Mm."
Cloud Retainer used Anemo power to lift the cauldron from the ground and was about to head back to the kitchen when she noticed Guoba pulling something out and scooping a bit of it onto his rice.
"That smell… Guoba, what did you just add?"
"Mm-mm-mm."
"Huh? Let me see."
Cloud Retainer walked back over. A breeze lifted the small jar from Guoba's hands and brought it to her.
"This is… a can? What does this 'Lao Gan Die' label mean? Inside it looks like… fermented black bean chili paste? Smells amazing…"
"Mm-mm."
"Don't be stingy, I just want one taste."
"Woo"
A breeze carried over a clean spoon, which she used to scoop up a small bite.
Cloud Retainer took a taste—and immediately froze.
That flavor…
Shortly after, she returned to the kitchen, wearing a face full of existential doubt.
Shenhe took the cauldron from her and asked, "Master, are you alright?"
Cloud Retainer shook her head. "It's nothing. I just… tasted that, um… 'Lao Gan Die.'"
"Lao Gan Die? Isn't that the sauce Boss made?"
"He made that?"
"Mm-hmm. He's made all kinds."
"So… when Ganyu said his cooking was really good…"
"It's really good."
"Better than mine?"
"Yes."
"How much better?"
Shenhe thought about it and answered honestly, "A hundred times."
Cloud Retainer fell silent.
Her thoughts drifted back to how everyone had reacted during lunch.
So much for showing off in front of guests—it had been a complete flop.
----
Shenhe helped her while recounting what had happened since she left the mountain.
Of course, she kept some things about her and the boss to herself.
"Huh? He's a god?"
"Osial was unsealed recently? But then he sealed it again?"
"He's close with the Geo Archon?"
"Those were the previous Dendro and Electro Archons?"
"He altered your fate directly?"
The more Cloud Retainer listened, the more stunned she became. By the end, the whole bird looked dazed.
After a moment, she finally asked in a small voice, "Shenhe, is it really okay to be telling me all these secrets?"
Shenhe glanced at her and said softly, "It's fine, Master. I asked the boss already. He said there's no need to hide anything from you."
"…Does Ganyu know all this too?"
"Yes, Senior Sister knows everything."
Cloud Retainer fell silent for a moment, then asked, "So, what exactly is your relationship with him…?"
Shenhe lowered her head and smiled. A warmth as soft as melting snow lit up her face.
"Just as you're imagining, Master."
Cloud Retainer had never seen Shenhe with such an expression before. She looked like a blooming water lily.
Ever since she had taken Shenhe in at Jueyun Karst, the girl had been silent, cold, and withdrawn. After the red rope soul-binding ritual, she had become even more aloof and isolated.
Cloud Retainer had tried many ways to help, but nothing worked.
She had thought her disciple would remain that way forever, eventually losing all emotion.
Half a year ago, she had only hoped Shenhe might see a bit of the mortal world's warmth—enough to leave a few memories behind.
She never imagined Shenhe would return with something so beautiful.
Cloud Retainer stepped forward and wrapped Shenhe in her wings.
"Shenhe… these years must have been hard on you."
"They weren't."
"Qingxin tastes bitter. Wasn't that hard to bear?"
"Not at all."
"You…"
"Truly, Master. It wasn't bitter."
Shenhe looked up at her master.
"In fact, it's precisely because of those bitter days that everything now tastes so sweet."
There was a little secret Shenhe hadn't told her master—or the boss.
She didn't actually like sour food.
Pickled vegetables, green plums—she only ate them to replace the bitter taste of Qingxin, to remind herself how precious her current life was, and how much she had to cherish it.
Cloud Retainer sighed again.
"I originally sent you to repay a favor… and now we owe an even greater one."
Shenhe saw her master's conflicted expression but said nothing more.
—
Outside the Adeptus abode, Cloud Retainer looked toward the lake and grew a little dazed.
It had been years since Mount Aocang was this lively.
Xia Ci and Xia Zhen were sitting together, fishing casually—completely devoid of divine majesty.
Still, Cloud Retainer didn't dare walk over casually to joke with them.
After all, she was just a minor Adeptus—no, not even that anymore.
Then she saw Shenhe walk right up and casually pat Xia Ci on the shoulder.
Cloud Retainer shuddered instinctively.
That's the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata!
You—you—Shenhe, show some respect!
Don't offend her!
Just as she was panicking, she saw Xia Ci turn and smile at Shenhe. "You're back? What, is the stew on?"
"It is. But Master said it won't be ready until tomorrow."
"No worries. We'll eat grilled fish tonight after fishing. That one can wait."
"Mm. How many have you caught?"
"A few already. Turns out this lake still has some near-extinct Tiger Fish—same as those Eat-Tiger Fish from before."
"Lucky catch."
"Right?"
Cloud Retainer watched her disciple chatting so casually with the Dendro Archon and felt like she was living in a fantasy.
But in the end, she felt relieved.
Her disciple had grown up.
Far more accomplished than her master, who not only hadn't improved but had even lost her cultivation.
The thought left her with a hint of melancholy.
Cloud Retainer shook her head.
"Cloud Retainer, what are you shaking your head for?"
She froze and turned.
"Ping…"
Seeing Granny Ping approaching, Cloud Retainer had a bad feeling.
"Oh, nothing. Just a bit of neck stiffness."
"Neck stiffness, huh… and why's that?"
"Well, I've got a long neck. Standing too long makes it sore, doesn't it?"
"…"
"Not feeling great being blown back to your original form, is it?"
"…"
Knew it… the scolding was coming…
Whatever goodwill Granny Ping had shown her at dinner was now officially used up.
Cloud Retainer felt a headache coming on.
"Ping, could you maybe not lecture me right now…"
"Not lecture you? So you're saying you're not at fault?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then what are you saying?"
"I'm saying—what's done is done. Rehashing it now won't change anything, so why bother?"
"Heh. Cloud Retainer, be honest—was this the first time you snuck off alone to do something dangerous?"
"Well, I didn't get hurt before…"
"That's exactly the problem! And now? You finally got hurt."
"…"
"You've got guts, I'll give you that. Compressing and fusing seven elements? You tell me—what kind of mortal conflict requires something that dangerous?"
"…"
"If that thing had gone off in Liyue Harbor, half the city could've been destroyed!"
"…"
"I also brought a message from the Geo Archon."
"What did he say?"
"He said to behave yourself. Focus on restoring your cultivation. If you're bored, take a teaching post at the school."
"…I understand."
Cloud Retainer lowered her head in silence.
-
That night, they had a barbecue.
Besides the fish they caught earlier, there were also mushrooms and other ingredients grown by Xia Ci.
Cloud Retainer stood nearby, staring off in a daze.
After grilling, Xia Zhi handed out skewers to everyone, saving a few for the little crane.
"Cloud Retainer, here. Try my cooking."
"Thank you…"
Xia Zhi naturally held the skewer up to her beak.
Cloud Retainer just as naturally opened her beak and took a bite.
In that moment, it felt like they were back on the road together again.
As soon as the grilled fish touched her tongue, Cloud Retainer's eyes widened.
"This!?"
"How is it? Better than what I used to make, right?"
"Much better."
"Right?"
That familiar tone—it reminded her of the former Dendro Archon, Xia Ci.
She'd noticed earlier that Xia Ci also liked to say "right?" in exactly the same way as Xia Zhi.
To an outsider, they really might seem like cousins.
"Here, try this—grilled cream mushrooms."
"Tastes great too."
"My cousin grew them."
"! …You should eat too."
"Mm."
Xia Zhi nodded and took a bite from the same skewer.
Cloud Retainer glanced at it—it was the same mushroom she had just eaten.
Sharing the same skewer wasn't exactly proper.
But back when they traveled together, food was scarce. They often shared the same grilled fish.
It didn't matter… If even a god didn't mind, what was a little spirit beast like her fussing over?
Then Xia Zhi suddenly said, "Cloud Retainer, something on your mind?"
She paused. "…No. Nothing."
Xia Zhi smiled. "Even Cloud Retainer can say one thing and mean another?"
That smile—so warm—it melted her gloom a little.
She sighed. "Alright, maybe just a little…"
"Bottling it up won't help. Better to talk to someone… It's been a while, and I'd like to catch up. Want to take a walk and chat?"
"Sure."
One man and one crane strolled off along the lakeside.
Shenhe looked up quietly, watching the backs of her master and the boss disappear into the night. She raised a skewer to her lips and took a gentle bite.
The glistening oil moistened her lips, making their natural red even more vivid.
She remembered what her master had said earlier.
"Repaying a favor… If it's for Master…"