Inside the kitchen of the Serenitea Pot, Xia Zhi was busy cooking, with Xiangling, Guoba, and Cloud Retainer helping at the side.
Guoba's tiny legs scuttled quickly across the floor, his paws neatly gloved with those nimble little mitts. Surprisingly, he was even more efficient than Cloud Retainer.
Watching Guoba darting around the kitchen, then glancing at Cloud Retainer's graceful silhouette as she worked with the Exquisite Soup Cauldron, Xiangling couldn't help but have an old thought resurface in her heart.
She quietly moved closer and whispered: "Master Cloud Retainer."
Cloud Retainer tilted her head. "Hm?"
Looking at her, Xiangling asked softly: "I heard from Master Moon Carver that you transformed after taking a special pill from Master Xia, right?"
Cloud Retainer nodded. "That's right."
"I wanted to ask… if Guoba ate one of those pills, would it work on him too?"
"Guoba?"
Cloud Retainer blinked in mild surprise.
She lowered her head, thinking for a moment before replying: "Guoba's case is different from mine. He was once Marchosius, the stove god. Even in those days, he never took human form, always remaining as he is now—only much larger. Later, to help resolve issues with the ley lines, he gave up most of his intelligence and power, falling into slumber within the earth. Only when he bonded with you did he return to the world again."
At that, Cloud Retainer couldn't help but think of Changsheng at Bubu Pharmacy.
Also forced back into a primal form, surviving only through contracts with mortals.
"Master Cloud Retainer?"
Cloud Retainer pulled herself out of her drifting thoughts.
"You ask if the pill would work on Guoba… I truly don't know. That's something you'll have to ask Mr. Xia."
"Oh…"
Xiangling nodded and went over to where Xia Zhi was.
Cloud Retainer lowered her gaze again, stirring the soup slowly as her thoughts wandered.
Changsheng of Bubu… they had once been her closest friends. For so many years she had searched for a way to help them, yet always in vain.
Just last year, she herself had suffered a mishap in her own experiments and been forced back into her primal form.
It was only thanks to Mr. Xia that she regained her true adeptal form again, aided by the Transformation Pill he gifted her.
If it worked for her, surely it would work for Changsheng and the other adeptus as well.
She had thought of it even back then, but at the time she had no reason—or status—to ask him for more pills.
[She couldn't exactly say it was for her disciples' "bride price," after all. That would be far too shameful.]
But things were different now. After a few dream dates, her relationship with him had grown far closer.
Tonight, when she slipped into his dream again with her sachet, she would ask if he had any more pills…
Meanwhile, Xiangling sidled up to Xia Zhi and whispered: "Master."
"What is it?"
"I just wanted to ask… that Transformation Pill you gave Master Cloud Retainer—would it work for Guoba?"
"Guoba… you want Guoba to transform?"
"Mm!"
"It would work."
"Really?!"
"But…"
"But what?"
"I don't really recommend giving it to him now."
"Eh?"
If she had asked him this question yesterday, he would've just said yes. He was curious himself about what form Guoba might take.
But after helping Dvalin transform earlier today—watching her evolve from the Dragon of the East into the Dragon of Time—his answer had changed.
"It would be better for Guoba to first regain most of his lost power. Then, with a higher-grade pill, his transformation would benefit him far more."
"And when you say 'benefit' you mean…?"
"For example, before, Guoba couldn't beat Azhdaha. But if he gained that benefit, maybe he could."
"!!!"
Xiangling's eyes went wide.
"Of course, if you really want him to transform now, I can give you a low-grade pill."
"No, no! Master, I'm not in a hurry!"
She shook her head quickly.
Transforming or not, Guoba was already perfect—soft, cuddly, and the best bedtime pillow.
"Then Master, how can Guoba regain his power?"
"Oh, that's simple. Just have him eat more Gods' Temptation."
"I see! Guoba, you're in for a feast today!"
"Wwu?"
---
Outside, after stealing a few glances at Xia Lin, Xia Le finally drew back her gaze, wearing her innocent expression again.
She turned to Venti, who was sipping wine, and asked curiously: "Barbatos, where's your lyre?"
Venti pulled the wooden harp from his waist. "Here."
Xia Le shook her head. "Not that one. I mean the one you used in the competition."
"You mean the Holy Lyre der Himmel? I returned it already."
"Isn't it yours?"
"It was once mine. But now it belongs to Mondstadt."
Since the bard had shown his harp, naturally he had to play a tune.
Gentle music drifted through the cozy space of the Serenitea Pot.
But when Venti finished, Xia Le shook her head. "Not as good as Big Brother's playing."
Venti: "…"
Xia Ci nodded, adding dryly: "That's just the alcohol talking."
Dragon King: "…"
Meanwhile, Xia Zhen reached out and touched Xia Le's clothes, her expression shifting slightly.
Though they looked ordinary, there wasn't a single seam anywhere.
Mortals couldn't craft garments like these.
And Xia Zhen remembered: when Xia Lin first came to the house, she too had worn clothes without a single stitch.
No doubt—they had been given by her cousin.
She looked again. Xia Le's pants were the same style.
Which meant all of her clothing had come from him.
And before he gave her those clothes… she must have been naked.
Xia Zhen instantly recalled her own experiences—when summoned, when revived. Both times, she too had appeared unclothed before her cousin.
The first time, she had been embarrassed, calming herself only by reminding herself he couldn't see.
The second time, she no longer cared, standing before him openly.
And this girl… fresh from transformation, yet already capable of handling such things with ease…
Xia Zhen's gaze flicked toward Xia Lin, who was eating quietly.
Xia Ci might be the embodiment of wisdom, but Xia Zhen was hardly lacking.
Before, her fragmented soul had made her seem "slow."
Now, fully revived, that problem was gone.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she thought of last year's Dragon Calamity in Mondstadt.
Five hundred years ago, Dvalin had swallowed Durin's toxic blood, which became a thorn of poison. For five centuries she was tormented by abyssal power. She sought Barbatos' aid, but he was too weak, lost in slumber. She sought her people, but they feared her.
Heartbroken, she returned north to the ruins, only to fall to the whispers of the Abyss Order. Her despair and rage convinced her she'd been betrayed, driving her to punish Mondstadt.
The Dragon Calamity was simple in cause—but think of it: five hundred years of torture.
Xia Zhen had fought in Khaenri'ah. She knew the horror of the Abyss.
That thorn wasn't just a fishbone caught in the throat—it was torment that should've broken her. Surviving five hundred years was a miracle in itself.
Yes, the Abyss Order had tricked her, but Dvalin's rank was far beyond those Abyss Mages. Without that darkness in her own heart, their whispers would never have taken hold.
Which meant her mind had twisted, warped by centuries of agony.
Her resentment toward Barbatos, toward Mondstadt—it was real.
Even when Lumine helped purify the thorn, much of that buried grievance remained unspoken.
Only during the recent music competition, when her cousin's performance struck her heart, did she truly feel understood—crying her soul out at last.
For her, that wasn't just the most beautiful song she'd ever heard. It was redemption.
Perhaps out of revenge, or perhaps compensation, her feelings for her partner and for Mondstadt shifted—redirected toward this new confidant, her gentle Big Brother.
And he had been so kind: playing music for her, cooking meals, even cleaning her home and building her a beautiful nest. Her affection soared.
Compared to that, Barbatos—this drunkard—spent his days idling in taverns with other dragons, never once thinking of his old partner.
Xia Zhen couldn't help but click her tongue softly.
Given all that, it was no wonder Xia Le carried a touch of slyness under her innocent act.
That disguise of purity? Just fear of losing the rare affection she'd finally found. A little starved for love, that was all.
Still just a girl at heart.
Xia Zhen smiled faintly at her.
[Big Sister has already seen right through you.]