"Are you an adeptus?" Star stared blankly at the beauty in front of her.
Her white hair was braided, her appearance was naturally beyond words, and her ample chest, alluring attire, and the red threads tied around her body made Star's heart pound.
However, besides her appearance, Star noticed that she had something else very eye-catching about her, which was why she asked this question, because this white-haired beauty in front of her was simply… too ethereal.
In terms of temperament, she truly matched Star's imagination of an adeptus.
Ganyu and Yanfei, whom she had met before, seemed to have been in contact with people in Liyue Harbor for many years, so they inevitably carried some worldly air.
But this white-haired beauty in front of her was different. She possessed a kind of transcendent temperament. If she wasn't an adeptus, then Star really couldn't imagine what those reclusive adepti would be like.
"No." The white-haired beauty shook her head, then didn't say another word, just stared at Star expressionlessly.
Star felt a surge of awkwardness, wondering if there was something wrong with her.
However, just as she was about to ask, the other party spoke first.
"Shenhe."
"Eh?" Star blinked in surprise, completely uncomprehending.
"My name is Shenhe."
"Ah, my name is Star. Thank you for catching me." Star quickly introduced herself. She then carefully scrutinized the white-haired beauty again, thinking to herself.
She's not an adeptus, so she should at least be someone connected to an adeptus, like a disciple?.
At the very least, she was definitely not an ordinary person, which could be seen from her temperament, attire, and the Vision on her person.
However, despite being an adeptus's disciple, Xiangling was completely different from her.
Perhaps this white-haired beauty was the kind who had been raised by an adeptus since childhood and had very little contact with the human world.
"It's nothing…" Shenhe shook her head, but continued to stare at Star, her eyes never leaving her.
"Um, is there something on my face?" Star was also a bit confused. She couldn't help but touch her cheek.
"No, it's just… you're very special." Shenhe said this, and even took a step closer to Star.
Shenhe had followed Cloud Retainer in cultivation since she was little. Although she lived deep in the mountains, she was still a human and not a true adeptus. Food, clothing, and shelter were all necessities, so it was impossible for her to completely detach from human society.
Therefore, Shenhe had had contact with people. Furthermore, whether it was Jueyun Karst or Mt. Aocang, occasionally people seeking immortal destiny or adventure would come.
Of course, there were also many troublesome people, and Shenhe would occasionally step in to teach these guys a lesson.
In short, although she hadn't seen many, most people gave her the same feeling as certain animals, or even monsters.
But this gray-haired Damselette in front of her was different. There was something about her that attracted Shenhe.
Shenhe was now certain that the inexplicable stirring in her heart these past few days was related to the Damselette in front of her.
She could feel that the occasional surge of fierce energy within her body would even subside because of the Damselette in front of her.
"Ah, this…" Star couldn't help but take a step back. Although she was very curious and smitten with this white-haired beauty, the other party's demeanor and her incomprehensible words were truly a bit strange.
However, saying she was special wasn't wrong. She was indeed special enough, with at least a planet-destroying weapon inside her body.
"Um, I have something to do. My companion is still waiting for me." After composing herself, Star spoke to Shenhe again.
Although she wanted to chat with Shenhe more, Xiangling was still waiting for her. She had been out for a long time, and if she didn't go back soon, Xiangling would get worried.
"Thank you very much for catching me, but I have to go now. If you have time, you can come find me in Liyue Harbor, and I will repay you well!"
"Hmm." Shenhe nodded, still expressionless.
Star didn't know that at this moment, Shenhe was experiencing an unusually conflicted emotion for the first time.
Shenhe didn't want Star to leave like this, but she had no reason to keep her.
She could only firmly remember what Star said and go find her in Liyue Harbor.
"Liyue Harbor…" Shenhe watched Star's receding figure, and the stirring in her heart began again.
…
Not far away, behind a tree.
Cloud Retainer, transformed into her human form, silently watched the scene that had just unfolded, her brows slightly furrowed.
Shenhe came down the mountain and headed straight this way without a moment's rest, as if she knew the Damselette's location and had rushed over specifically for her.
Could it be that the Damselette was what Shenhe said was attracting her?
What should I do now...?
--
"Eh? You said you met an adeptus's disciple??" Xiangling looked at Stelle in surprise.
She was still wearing Stelle's oversized jacket, her clothes still wet; Stelle hadn't brought them in.
However, at least the inner clothes had been dried, as those two pieces were so small.
Speaking of which, it was Stelle's first time encountering Liyue's traditional female undergarments. She hadn't paid much attention yesterday, but today, when she handed them to Xiangling, Stelle's interest was piqued.
"Xiangling, let me help you put them on," Stelle couldn't help but suggest to Xiangling.
"Eh?! No, no need, right...?" Xiangling's face immediately turned crimson.
Aside from her mother, she had never let anyone help her put on clothes, especially these kinds of clothes, since she was little.
"Don't worry, I know how to do it." Although it was Stelle's first time seeing Liyue's undergarments, which were completely different from those in Mondstadt, she could tell how to wear them at a glance.
Stelle walked behind Xiangling and reached out to untie her own jacket from Xiangling's body.
Xiangling's cheeks were still flushed, but since Stelle had already started, she didn't continue to refuse. Instead, she began talking about the person Stelle had met, who might be an adeptus's disciple.
"I've also heard from people who used to eat at Wanmin Restaurant about a white-haired adeptus appearing in Jueyun Karst. I thought it was just a made-up story."
"Xiangling, you're also an adeptus's disciple. Don't you know each other?" Stelle's hands didn't stop, and she even made some unnecessary movements.
"No, I don't... Besides my master, the other adepti don't seem to take many disciples, and even if they do, they probably keep them by their side and don't come to Liyue Harbor much."
Adepti like Xiangling's master, who reside in Liyue Harbor, are very rare.
"I see... I wonder if I'll have a chance to meet her again in the future," Stelle sighed softly.
Although she told Shenhe that she could come to Liyue Harbor to find her if she had time, Shenhe was an adeptus's disciple after all, so she probably wouldn't just run to Liyue Harbor for no reason.
If she wanted to meet her again in the future, she probably would have to visit Jueyun Karst several more times.
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