In another room.
Madame Ping woke, sat up, and noticed Yaoyao wasn't in bed.
Her good little disciple must've gone out to practice with her spear.
Madame Ping yawned, suddenly recalling that Cloud Retainer hadn't gone to the internet café last night.
Strange.
That bird was just as much of a net addict as anyone.
How could she bear to skip gaming?
Unless she'd found something even more interesting than the internet?
Narrowing her eyes, Madame Ping glanced toward the room next door.
After a moment's hesitation, she looked around—no one else in the room, no one outside the window—then crept to the wall and pressed an ear against it.
She listened carefully, but heard nothing suspicious.
Her brows furrowed.
Was her hunch off?
She pulled out her phone and sent a message: "Awake yet?"
Seconds later, Cloud Retainer replied: "Awake."
Quick reply. Everything seemed normal.
Still, Ping's gut told her something was off.
No proof—just intuition.
She got up, changed out of her pajamas, washed up, then went next door and knocked. "Cloud Retainer?"
From inside came her voice: "I'm up!"
A bit too loud, like she'd been napping again and got startled awake. Some morning crankiness in her tone.
But Ping had sharp ears—she clearly caught the faint edge of stifled panting in Cloud Retainer's voice.
And a faint, not-quite-discernible wet, rhythmic sound.
Ping was silent for a moment, then said, "If you're awake, get up. Don't just keep lazing in bed."
"I know, you go on ahead."
"In such a hurry to get rid of me? Mind if I come in?"
"No!"
"Why not? Huh—did you lock your door?"
"I… I was tinkering with some mechanisms last night. Didn't want anyone interrupting, so I locked it."
"…That so?"
"Yes!"
"Alright then. I'll go. Hurry and get up."
Madame Ping gave the door one last look, then turned away silently.
She walked out to the yard, where Noelle and Yaoyao were sparring.
Their back-and-forth looked lively, but to her eyes it was just two rookies pecking at each other. Nothing worth watching.
She pulled out her phone, scrolled her friends list, and messaged Fujin: "You there?"
Ping: You're up early.
Fujin: Haven't slept. Been absorbing that bottle of Essence of Sun and Moon Cloud Retainer gave me.
Ping: How's your strength coming along?
Fujin: Already halfway restored. In a few days I should be back to my old level—no more water constraints.
Fujin: …Why are you being so polite today?
Ping: I'm always polite.
Fujin: Heh. Just spit it out.
Ping: It's nothing, really.
Fujin: Then I'll get back to cultivating.
Ping: Cloud Retainer might've found herself a man.
--
Cloud Retainer lay sprawled on the bed, flushed and exhausted.
Xia Zhi cast a few healing spells to restore her stamina.
Feeling better, she rolled over and asked, "Ping didn't notice anything just now, right?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "You covered well. She won't suspect."
Cloud Retainer let out a breath. "Good."
"Even if she did notice, would it really matter?"
"You don't know Ping. She's a vicious sharp-tongue."
"I know."
"You know? How? She's never really shown that side in front of you."
"I read it in a notebook."
"What notebook?"
"When I left Liyue, Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper gave me one. Recorded Ping's past deeds. Hold on—I'll show you… Here."
He handed her a notebook.
Cloud Retainer flipped through it—it really was in their handwriting. She frowned. "Why would those two give you this?"
"No idea. Maybe they grabbed the wrong book. They told me it was a travel guide. I only realized after opening it."
"You actually bought that excuse? From Adepti?"
"Doesn't matter. Honestly, it's way more fun than a travel guide. I never knew Madame Ping used to be like this. Quite the contrast."
"I told you, she was terrible back then. Only after she settled in Liyue Harbor did she seem to change."
"She even disrespected Morax himself."
"Bound by nothing."
"Bound by nothing, huh…"
Xia Zhi chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Just remembered Shenhe's take on the 'Adeptus have no taboos' thing."
"Oh?"
"She used it to talk Ganyu into sleeping with us."
"…."
Cloud Retainer's face flushed bright red.
"You… why bring that up all of a sudden? You're trying to suggest I should also…?"
"Would you like to, Cloud Retainer?"
"I… not right now…"
"Can't accept it?"
"Shenhe and Ganyu are my disciples! How could I face them after that?"
"It's nothing, really. Shenhe wouldn't mind."
"But I mind."
"Then we'll drop it."
Cloud Retainer lowered her head, voice barely above a whisper.
"Not drop it, just… give me time to get used to it…"
"Mm."
"What are you doing?"
"Helping you get used to it."
"No! We don't have time! Ping already came to wake me, we can't stall anymore."
"Relax. We've got all the time we need."
Xia Zhi raised his hand, giving it a little wave.
Cloud Retainer blinked. "What did you just…?"
"In here, time's been sped up tenfold. We can go again."
"…Why are you so skilled at this?!"
"Guess."
In that moment, Cloud Retainer finally understood why Shenhe and Ganyu had looked so radiant every morning lately.
And then—well, then nothing.
Except to say—Cloud Retainer's legs were fun to play with.
"Next time, try putting on some Nail Polish."
"…Huh???"