For now, though, the matter of asking Zhongli about an official position could be set aside.
Lora looked at Shenhe and continued, "Weren't you cultivating under Cloud Retainer at Mt. Aozang? How did you end up here in Tianqiu Valley?"
It felt like an NPC that had no business being here had spawned in the wrong place—unnervingly strange.
Mt. Aozang was not particularly close to Tianqiu Valley. If Shenhe were cultivating, the areas around Jueyun Karst or Qingyun Peak would have been far more suitable.
"Master said a blond traveler came from Liyue Harbor, carrying the 'Talisman of No Restrictions' and delivering messages from the other Adepti. So she went to Jueyun Karst to meet with them. But the areas around Mt. Hulao and Tianqiu Valley are not safe, so before leaving, the Master told me to come and check on things here."
Shenhe was clearly unaccustomed to speaking at length. Her words came out haltingly, and once she finished, she closed her mouth and refused to say another word.
After hearing her explanation, Lora showed a look of understanding. After all, the matter of Azhdaha was something the Adepti were already aware of.
With the Abyss Order active in this area, it was only prudent for them to keep a closer watch—better to be cautious than to be caught unprepared.
"Oh, right, Shenhe," Lora said, suddenly thinking of something. "We're heading back to Liyue Harbor. Would you like to come along and take a look around?"
She remembered that Shenhe, due to her calamity-bound fate, rarely interacted with anyone outside the Adepti.
A young girl being this withdrawn was hardly a good thing.
Hearing the invitation, Shenhe hesitated, but soon shook her head.
"I am acting under my master's orders. I must guard Tianqiu Valley. I'm sorry. Besides, I'm not suited to the atmosphere of Liyue Harbor. I won't go."
Seeing the resistance written plainly on Shenhe's face, Lora sighed. She knew that changing this child's temperament would not happen overnight, so she did not press the matter.
Instead, she reached into the nearby lake, scooped out a round crystal formed from condensed Hydro elemental power, and handed it to Shenhe.
"Take this. If one day you decide to come to Liyue Harbor, use it to contact me. If I'm still there, I'll show you around properly," Lora said with a smile.
"But you should come early. If you're too late, I might have already gone somewhere else."
This was not a "Vision," merely a crystal condensed from Lora's divine power, capable of letting her sense certain information about its bearer.
Shenhe hesitated for a moment, then finally accepted the crystal and nodded. "Thank you, Adeptus."
"You're welcome. We'll be leaving now. You're guarding Tianqiu Valley alone, so be careful," Lora said, waving goodbye.
With that, she departed toward Liyue Harbor together with Rhodeia and Qiqi.
Shenhe remained where she was, gripping the crystal tightly as she watched Lora's retreating figure.
Such a gentle person. Such a warm crystal. She would have to ask her master exactly who this Adeptus was.
She put away the crystal Lora had given her, then glanced at the red string wrapped around her body.
Her gaze dimmed slightly. After a long while, she let out a soft sigh, leapt away from her spot, and reappeared high above Tianqiu Valley to continue her patrol.
...
On the road to Liyue Harbor, Rhodeia followed beside Lora and spoke in a low voice.
"Miss Lora, that person just now… there was something very strange about her aura. It felt like a curse, yet also like baleful energy. In the five hundred years I spent in Qingce Village, I heard many people of Liyue say that such a fate is extremely dangerous. It's best not to form any ties with someone like that."
"For ordinary people, that's true," Lora nodded.
"But I'm not an ordinary person. A calamity-bound fate has no effect on me."
She had already taken in a zombie as her younger sister—why would she be afraid of a calamity fate? No matter how ominous it was, could it really kill her a second time?
And even if there were some influence, the boundless waters could cleanse anything. She had nothing to fear.
"I'm only worried," Rhodeia said, looking at Lora with concern. "After all, you did die and return to life. If something unexpected were to happen…"
"Rhodeia, could you not curse me like that?"
Lora said helplessly. Why did her own follower always act as though she might drop dead at any moment?
Did she really look that fragile?
Qiqi suddenly tightened her grip on Lora's hand. She looked seriously at both Rhodeia and Lora and said, "Qiqi will protect Sister. Qiqi is very strong. Qiqi can make people come back from the dead. Even though it uses a lot of strength… Qiqi won't let anything happen to Sister."
Lora squatted down and hugged Qiqi, sighing warmly."Ah, our Qiqi really is the best."
Seeing Lora holding Qiqi, Rhodeia fell silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Miss Lora, do you like this kind of body?"
"What?" Lora froze, not understanding what she meant.
Rhodeia continued, "Water has no fixed form. I can become whatever shape you like, Miss Lora."
"Uh…"
Lora finally understood. She waved her hands quickly.
"No, no need! Just stay as you are. If you really turned into a child, who knows who would end up taking care of whom!"
She could accept Rhodeia joining them in her current, mature form, but she definitely did not want to end up saddled with an extra child to look after on the road.
Hearing this, Rhodeia's expression turned slightly dejected.
No—what was with that look? Did you really want me to hold you that badly?
Seeing Rhodeia like this, Lora frowned and hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, let's not waste any more time. It's been so long since I left Liyue Harbor—my employer must be getting anxious."
"Employer? Miss Lora, you have an employer?"
Rhodeia immediately bristled.
"Who would dare employ you?"
In her eyes, Lora, the all-embracing God of Justice, stood at the very pinnacle of existence. Who could possibly qualify to be her employer?
"Rhodeia, calm down," Lora said wearily. Sometimes, having a follower who adored her too much was exhausting.
As they walked, she explained, "It's Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. When I first arrived in Liyue Harbor, a small incident occurred, and through a twist of fate, I ended up as her hired guest, responsible for liaising with the Adepti. Remember this—once we enter Liyue Harbor, don't act like you did earlier. Do not reveal my identity."
Rhodeia lowered her head and replied softly, "I understand, Miss Lora. I will keep your identity secret. No one will ever find out."