Did she go to gather ingredients?
Shenhe couldn't help but think this as she kept looking around, unable to spot anyone. After all, the summit wasn't that large; she should have been able to see the other person at a glance.
Wait!
She didn't slip and fall, did she?
Suddenly thinking of this possibility, Shenhe, who was searching everywhere, hurried to the various edges of the summit to check the situation. Although she hadn't heard any screams of someone falling, she had to carefully inspect the edges of the summit to be cautious.
However, after a thorough inspection of the surroundings, she found no traces, which left her feeling very confused.
Did she go back?
But it's impossible that I didn't notice...
Staring at the empty summit, Shenhe frowned. Because this mountain only had one path up and down, and since she was standing right there, it was impossible for her not to know if the girl had gone down.
Master?
Could she be with Master now?
Thinking of another possibility, Shenhe walked straight toward the sealed entrance.
Since the girl wasn't on the summit and couldn't have vanished into thin air, it was highly likely she had already entered the abode. Although there were no signs of an offering on the table outside, perhaps Master had brought her in directly because of that sigil.
After that, Shenhe entered the abode. She could come and go freely, unaffected by the seal.
As soon as she entered the abode, Shenhe heard a familiar voice.
"Why are you only back now?"
"Someone came looking for Master with a Sigil of Permission just now, so I was delayed."
"Oh? A Sigil of Permission? Where is this person?" Looking somewhat surprised, Cloud Retainer asked Shenhe this question.
She hadn't seen a Sigil of Permission in a long time. Now that someone had one and wanted to see her, she naturally had to meet them.
"So, Master... you haven't seen that girl yet?"
Hearing her master say this, Shenhe understood that her previous guess was wrong.
But in that case, where on earth did that girl go?
"Girl? No, I haven't seen any girl." Shaking her head, Cloud Retainer continued, "What exactly happened? Tell me everything, one detail at a time."
Clearly, for Shenhe to ask such a question, something must have happened.
"Just now, I told the girl with the Sigil of Permission to prepare some food. I was planning to wait just below the summit and guide her down the mountain after she met with you, Master. But it wasn't long before I realized she was gone. I don't know what happened."
Under Cloud Retainer's gaze, Shenhe briefly recounted what had just occurred.
"I see. I suppose she must have left on her own."
After a moment of thought, Cloud Retainer made this assumption.
Although she hadn't noticed anyone outside the abode just now, she would still be aware if anything had happened out there. After all, if something were to happen outside, there would have to be some kind of disturbance; it couldn't be completely silent.
"Left on her own? It... doesn't seem like it." After thinking for a moment, Shenhe felt her master's guess was incorrect.
Logically, the girl should have said something to her before leaving. More importantly, she disappeared not long after reaching the mountain, which was clearly strange.
"Don't overthink it. If this mortal you speak of has a Sigil of Permission, she is likely no ordinary person. It's possible she could leave without you noticing."
Seeing Shenhe frowning in deep thought, Cloud Retainer knew what was on her mind and said this to reassure her.
Regardless, she didn't believe anyone or anything could pull something off right under her nose.
"Yes. I understand."
After some thought, Shenhe nodded, deciding not to dwell on it for now.
But just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind them.
"Hm?"
"Who's there?"
While Shenhe was still confused, Cloud Retainer had already moved swiftly behind her.
"Weren't you just discussing me? Why are you asking who I am now?"
Kiana stopped some distance away from Shenhe and the woman, asking with a seemingly puzzled expression.
In fact, she had been silently listening to the master and disciple's conversation, just like Childe had that morning. Of course, Childe was discovered, but she wasn't.
"You... how did you get in?"
Turning around, Shenhe looked extremely surprised. She hadn't expected the girl from before to be inside the abode. More importantly, neither she nor her master had detected her.
What in the world is going on?
"I used certain means."
"Means?"
Shenhe was still confused at this point, not realizing Kiana's impure motives. She assumed Kiana just wanted to see her master directly without making a food offering.
"You're the girl Shenhe mentioned? And that is indeed the aura of a Sigil of Permission."
Like Shenhe, Cloud Retainer was also very confused, unsure of what the girl before them was planning to do.
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Since the chapters of this story will be quite short from now on — around 800 words — I will be sending two chapters per day.
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