Huaguang Forest was perhaps the only place in Jueyun Karst that still bore some traces of human activity, and the reason was simple: there were several suspension bridges connecting the tree-like mountain peaks.
This was also the place of cultivation for the Guhua Clan, but unfortunately, the clan's profound techniques were specifically for Vision wielders. So far, only Xingqiu of the Feiyun Commerce Guild had grasped the essence of the Guhua Clan's mysteries. Due to its already high barrier to entry, this clan had completely declined.
The few remaining suspension bridges here were occupied by some Slimes and Hilichurls. To ensure these monsters wouldn't cause trouble along the way, Qiqi decided to eliminate them first.
He cast a talisman on himself, then, holding a Sword, charged straight towards the monsters.
Although Qiqi was small in stature, his combat power was not to be underestimated. Thanks to the talisman, he shed the self-control he usually maintained, allowing his body to revert to its zombie state, significantly increasing his strength and speed.
The Slimes and Hilichurls on the suspension bridges were only the lowest-level monsters, with no large Slimes or Mitachurls. Qiqi quickly cleared out all the monsters.
During the battle, a Hilichurl archer aimed at Yuto, but the crossbow bolt's flight speed was truly embarrassing. Yuto easily caught the flying bolt, then threw it back at the sneaking Hilichurl archer even faster, hitting him right between the eyebrows.
After clearing all the monsters, Yuto collected some materials they dropped: Slime Condensate, Hilichurl masks, and arrowheads. These drops all had their unique value. The Adventurers' Guild often posted collection quests for these items, which could be exchanged for Mora.
Qiqi was indifferent to Mora, but for a pauper like Yuto, even a small mosquito was still meat. He couldn't possibly have no Mora in his pocket after paying off his debt to Bubu Pharmacy, could he? That was a standard only a god would have.
After clearing the surrounding monsters, Yuto and Qiqi continued their herb gathering. Huaguang Forest's unique geographical structure provided an ample environment for Violetgrass to grow, while the harvest of Qingxin was minimal.
After a day, they had collected over forty Violetgrass plants and more than ten Qingxin. Seeing that he and Qiqi had swept Huaguang Forest clean of herbs, Yuto turned his gaze towards Mt. Aocang to the north.
Actually, Yuto had originally wanted to go to the closer Mt. Hulao, but Qiqi seemed to have an inexplicable resistance to Mt. Hulao, refusing to go near it no matter what. Yuto had no choice but to go further afield.
It wasn't until he was gliding and looking down from mid-air that he saw the several large, prominent Cor Lapis on Mt. Hulao. Yuto suddenly realized that Qiqi had apparently been sealed in Cor Lapis by Mountain Shaper, also known as Adeptus Bird No. 2, for several hundred years. No wonder he resisted Mt. Hulao.
However, Mt. Aocang also seemed to be an Adeptus abode, right? That tsundere Cloud Retainer, also known as Adeptus Bird No. 1, should be cultivating in her abode. The two of us are just going up the mountain to collect some herbs. It should, probably, possibly, likely, eighty percent, be fine, right?
When Yuto and Qiqi, who had been busy all day, returned to their previous campsite, they saw a woman lying on his blanket in the distance, sleeping exceptionally soundly.
The first thing Yuto noticed was that she had a pair of goat-like horns on her head, which didn't look like decorative headwear. The woman was lying on her side on the ground, curled up in a ball, her full black bodysuit contrasting sharply with her fair back.
Her white outfit, with a missing section only at the chest, made her ample bosom particularly prominent under the constraint of the black bodysuit, causing Yuto's gaze to involuntarily fix on the indescribable area.
Yuto recognized the woman's identity at first glance: Ganyu, the secretary of the Liyue Qixing, a half-human, half-Adeptus beast with qilin blood. Why would such a person appear in this place?
Just as Yuto was still wondering whether to wake Ganyu, Qiqi, who was beside him, pounced on Ganyu with great excitement the moment he saw him, shouting, "Cocogoat! Cocogoat! So cool and refreshing!"
Qiqi pounced on Ganyu, burying his face directly in Ganyu's ample bosom. Ganyu, who was in a dream, was suddenly startled awake by Qiqi's actions. She hurriedly stood up from the ground, and just as she instinctively tried to shake Qiqi off her, Ganyu finally recognized Qiqi's appearance, and her hands, which were about to exert force, suddenly lost their strength.
As Ganyu stood up, Qiqi, who was clinging to Ganyu's chest, slid down from Ganyu due to an irresistible force. Finally, Qiqi maintained the posture of hugging one of Ganyu's long legs, his small face directly rubbing against Ganyu's long leg, making Yuto envious beyond measure, wishing he could possess Qiqi at that moment to feel that astonishing softness and elasticity.
Ganyu's face clearly flushed red due to Qiqi's actions. Just as she was about to break free from Qiqi, her gaze caught Yuto nearby. The atmosphere immediately fell into an awkward situation. Ganyu's face rapidly turned crimson at a visible speed. Yuto seemed to vaguely see wisps of white smoke appearing above her head, probably her CPU burning out.
It was Yuto who felt embarrassed first, turning around and no longer looking at Ganyu... After about half an hour of cooling down, Ganyu gradually returned to her usual self, sitting face-to-face with Yuto at the campsite. However, Qiqi was still half-lying beside Ganyu, his head resting on Ganyu's thigh.
"Gan... Sister Ganyu, no, Senior Ganyu, hello. My name is Uchiha Yuto. You can just call me Yuto. Currently, I am an intern herbalist at Bubu Pharmacy. I have been collecting herbs with Qiqi in Jueyun Karst during this time."
"Oh? How do you know my name?"
"Of course, I know! Your reputation in Liyue Harbor is immense! As the saying goes, 'Flowing Qixing, steadfast Ganyu.' You've worked for Liyue Harbor for over three thousand years. It would be strange not to know you, wouldn't it?"
"No, it's not as exaggerated as you say. I'm just fulfilling my duties according to the Geo Archon's contract."
"No, no, no. For Liyue to have its current development, you have absolutely made immense contributions. Please don't underestimate yourself, Senior Ganyu. As the secretary of the Yuehai Pavilion, I hear your work is very busy. Why are you here today?"
"Uh, I had nothing to do today, so I returned to Mt. Aocang to see my master, Cloud Retainer. I heard my master took on a new disciple, and I haven't even met her yet. I was thinking if I should bring a gift for my junior sister, so I was searching for something suitable as a gift in Jueyun Karst. Unexpectedly, I discovered an ice cellar here, and inside, there were dozens of my favorite Qingxin, so I just..."
Upon hearing Ganyu's words, Yuto suddenly had an ominous premonition: ice cellar... Qingxin... favorite to eat... Yuto quickly scrambled up from the ground and ran to where he had stored the Qingxin yesterday. He saw that the supposedly sealed ice cellar had been opened, and the forty-odd Qingxin stored inside had vanished, leaving only a few Violetgrass. Seeing this, Yuto couldn't help but kneel on the ground, on the verge of tears.
Seeing Yuto's reaction, the intelligent Ganyu also reacted immediately. Her already calm face instantly turned red again. She had realized: she seemed to have accidentally eaten the herbs collected by Yuto and Qiqi!