"Rex Lapis, I'd like to go to The Chasm. There are some things I need to confirm."
Thinking of the rumors he had heard, Xiao felt it necessary to make a trip to The Chasm. Perhaps there, he could find traces of that yaksha.
"Xiao, there's no rush. The Chasm is one of the trials I have set aside for Su Bai. His combat skills are still too immature. After some time, I will have him investigate The Chasm."
"Moreover, The Chasm is extremely dangerous right now. When the time comes, you can follow behind him and enter together. You two can look out for each other."
Hearing Zhongli's explanation, Xiao's agitation subsided somewhat. He had been hasty. Since the Abyss had invaded The Chasm, its danger level had risen sharply. Even he might not walk out unscathed. If Su Bai joined him, it would be safer.
"I was too impatient."
"No matter. I know the matter of Bosacius weighs on your heart like a splinter. But I believe he would not want you to put yourself in danger."
Zhongli's words left Xiao in silence. Perhaps Rex Lapis was right. He was the only yaksha left. He needed to carry the responsibilities of the other four and continue protecting Liyue.
"Xiao, if you're really that worried, when little Su Bai goes to The Chasm, I'll go with you two. With me backing you up, I guarantee nothing will go wrong."
Azhdaha wiped the grease from her mouth. The Chasm was somewhere she did need to visit. After all, it used to be her home. Even if she no longer lived there, that didn't give the Abyss the right to do as they pleased.
Zhongli nodded silently in agreement. With Azhdaha there, he wouldn't have to worry about Su Bai and Xiao running into danger. Though some of Azhdaha's power had been worn away by erosion, she was still terrifyingly strong.
"Alright, alright. Today was supposed to be a happy occasion. Why are we discussing such serious matters? Let's eat. Why don't we all share what we saw in the illusions?"
"Let little Ganyu start. This old woman saw her smiling quite happily earlier."
"Ah? Madame Ping, I, I... well..."
The cheerful atmosphere at Wanmin Restaurant was no less lively than on Mt. Aocang. Xiangling was busy stir-frying various dishes in the kitchen. Lumine and Mona were helping her out, while Paimon and Guoba watched and cheered from the sidelines.
At the dining table, Chongyun was eagerly catching up with Shenhe about family matters. He was visibly excited to have reunited with his aunt, even leaving Xingqiu to sit by himself.
"Aunt, won't you really come back with me? The family would surely welcome you back."
"There's no need. Master told me to blend into Liyue Harbor, but I don't want to have too many ties with people. Besides, Su Bai is an adeptus. He will take care of me."
Seeing Shenhe genuinely didn't want to return to the family, Chongyun had no choice but to accept it. After all, Su Bai was an adeptus. To worry that he couldn't take care of Shenhe would be disrespecting an adeptus. The thought left him feeling a bit dejected.
"Alright, Shenhe is an adult now. You should learn to respect her decisions. Forcing the issue would go against the whole point of reconnecting with your roots."
Su Bai patted Chongyun on the shoulder. He actually didn't think Shenhe should return to the family either. If something happened to the red cords on her hands, no one in that exorcist family could stop her.
Chongyun nodded thoughtfully. Su Bai made a good point. He should indeed respect Shenhe's wishes. Resigned, he sat back down with Xingqiu and started discussing where to find evil spirits.
For some reason, Su Bai kept feeling that Shenhe was glaring at Xingqiu rather fiercely. Had Xingqiu offended her somehow? He was curious. Given Shenhe's nature, if she was looking at someone like that, there must be a reason.
"I'm back! Something smells amazing! Klee, you can smell the fish too, right?"
"Right, right! Sister Hu Tao, Klee has never smelled anything this good before."
Hu Tao, never one to sit still, had gone to Bubu Pharmacy to pick up the two little ones after learning they were there. Su Bai had no objections—if Hu Tao hadn't gone, he would have had to fetch Klee himself anyway.
Since Azhdaha had been taken by Zhongli to the adepti gathering, Klee hadn't found her at Bubu Pharmacy. So she dragged Qiqi along with Hu Tao to Wanmin Restaurant.
With all the materials Ningguang had provided these past few days, Klee's stash of Jumpy Dumpties had grown to an alarming size. Qiqi had also received plenty of coconut milk. The two little ones often played together at Bubu Pharmacy.
"Qiqi, sit next to me today. I'll pick out food for you. Let me tell you, Xiangling's boiled fish is delicious."
Hu Tao scooped up Qiqi and settled her in the seat beside her. Sensing that Hu Tao had no intention of burying her, Qiqi obediently let herself be held.
Klee sat down next to Su Bai. She had missed him over the past few days and was happy to be near him again. She eagerly showed off her little backpack.
Looking inside, Su Bai saw it was packed with Jumpy Dumpties. He swallowed hard. What the hell was this? He had specifically only given her Mora for buying food and toys. Where had all this bomb-making material come from?
"Looks like everyone's here. I suppose that makes me the last one to arrive."
"Wow, it's the nice big sister! You're here!"
Ningguang walked in with Keqing. Klee immediately greeted her. Ningguang smiled and nodded. According to her informants, Klee had been making a lot of bombs lately. If necessary, she might consider purchasing some from her.
"Lady Ningguang."
"No need for formalities. Today, we're gathered as friends. Leave the formalities aside."
Xingqiu had started to rise and offer a polite greeting, but Ningguang's words made him sit back down. As for Chongyun, his family had little interest in politics. What exorcist families cared about was where evil spirits appeared. That was why they rarely produced officials.
Keqing wasn't as formal as Ningguang. Spotting a white-haired woman she had never seen sitting next to Su Bai, she immediately went over and struck up a conversation.
Learning that Shenhe was a disciple of Cloud Retainer, Keqing visibly relaxed. If a mysterious Vision holder had appeared out of nowhere, she would have been troubled. Still, Keqing felt this Shenhe was rather cold. She wondered how an adeptus as talkative as Cloud Retainer had ended up with such a disciple.