"I'll have to trouble Lady Ningguang to prepare a room for my Rhodeia as well."
With the matter of her identity settled for now, Lora glanced at Rhodeia standing beside her and spoke to Ningguang.
Ningguang nodded.
"No problem. The Jade Chamber is large enough to accommodate you."
"Ahh—after taking a trip to Qingce Village, rushing back just to eat, and then coming straight here to act as a mediator, I'm absolutely exhausted."
Lora stretched lazily and smiled.
"Lady Ningguang, if there's nothing else, I'll go rest now."
Now that she knew Lora's true identity, Ningguang had no intention of assigning her any further tasks. The Liyue Qixing might seem lofty in status, but before a god, they were still nothing more than mortals. A god choosing to coexist peacefully with mortals and show goodwill did not mean that god was inherently gentle.
No matter who they were, mortals could never afford to overstep.
Rhodeia followed Lora toward her room, but her gaze lingered on Ningguang for quite some time. Ningguang could clearly feel the hostility radiating from her. Knowing that Rhodeia was a pure water spirit, Ningguang understood where that hostility came from.
Still… did divine attendants really care for their gods this deeply?
That look Rhodeia had given her earlier—like she would kill her on the spot if she so much as harmed Lora—was genuinely terrifying.
The Adepti were like this.
Rhodeia was like this too.
As a mere mortal, it was truly difficult to understand the feelings attendants held toward their gods.
...
At first, the abnormalities in the sea could only be sensed by gods like Lora and Zhongli.
But as time passed, the Adepti residing near Liyue Harbor also began to vaguely feel that something was wrong—though they still couldn't clearly tell what lay beneath the waves.
And so, it wasn't long before Lora received a visit from an Adept.
Not anyone else—but Qiqi.
Lora sat down and lifted Qiqi into her arms, letting her sit on her lap.
"Qiqi, what brings you to see me today?" she asked with a smile.
"When Qiqi was grinding medicine at Bubu Pharmacy, someone came to find Qiqi."
Qiqi blinked as she recalled the scene.
"They said there's something in the sea. Something very dangerous. They told Qiqi to come ask Big Sister what it is."
"Who told you to come find me?" Lora asked.
Beside them, Rhodeia watched as Lora held Qiqi and spoke to her so gently. A wave of frustration welled up inside her.
That embrace—clearly, clearly it used to belong to her.
A thousand years ago, only pure water spirits were allowed in her arms.
And now…
Some Liyue zombie had stolen her place!
Qiqi tapped her finger against her lips, humming for a long while before finally speaking.
"Qiqi remembers… it was a red big sister, wearing a hat. She said her master told her to come ask."
"Red clothes… a hat… and a master…"
Lora pieced the clues together almost instantly.
So it was Granny Ping—no, Ping'er.
"Big Sister, do you know who it was?" Qiqi tilted her head and looked at Lora curiously.
Lora nodded.
"Mm, I know who it is. Don't worry, Qiqi. I'll go talk to her properly about whatever's in the sea."
Qiqi blinked, then nodded.
"Okay. Qiqi understands."
Still holding Qiqi, Lora suddenly thought of something else.
"Qiqi, do you want to go see other places?"
"Other places?"
Qiqi looked at her blankly. She fell silent, as if carefully thinking it through. Lora waited patiently until Qiqi finally spoke again.
"Qiqi goes to gather herbs every day. Every day, Qiqi sees different places. Big Sister… why are you asking?"
"Not places in Liyue."
Lora shook her head.
"Other nations. For example, the nation of hydro—Fontaine."
"The… nation of hydro?"
Qiqi asked after hearing the name.
"Is it a country completely soaked in water? Then… wouldn't people be unable to live there?"
"It's not soaked yet, and it won't always be underwater," Lora said with a gentle smile.
"That's my hometown. I won't stay in Liyue forever, so I wanted to ask if you'd like to come with me."
"Come with you…"
Qiqi lowered her head and stared at the ground for a while, then looked back up at Lora.
"But Qiqi can't bring Bubu Pharmacy with her. And all the patients who come to Qiqi for medicine and treatment… Qiqi can't bring them along either."
"I see."
Lora nodded, understanding immediately.
Qiqi wasn't actually resistant to leaving—she just couldn't let go of Bubu Pharmacy, or all the people who relied on her. Perhaps staying there was truly what suited her best.
Noticing Lora's slight downturn in mood, Qiqi hurriedly asked, "Big Sister, are you angry? Did Qiqi do something wrong? Qiqi can fix it right away!"
"No, no, no—Qiqi did wonderfully."
Lora said quickly, startled that Qiqi had picked up on it.
"You didn't do anything wrong at all, and there's nothing you need to change."
"Um…"
Lora swiftly changed the subject.
"Qiqi, are you hungry?"
"Qiqi doesn't feel hunger."
Qiqi lifted her head to look at Lora.
"But when it's time, Qiqi eats. Because Qiqi wants to be like a normal person."
Looking at Qiqi's pure, earnest expression, Lora pressed her lips together slightly and nodded.
"Then let's go eat first."
Lora led Qiqi and Rhodeia out of the Jade Chamber, heading toward Wanmin Restaurant.
Partway there, she said to Rhodeia, "Rhodeia, go buy a bottle of coconut milk. If you don't know the way, ask someone."
"But my lady, I don't have any Mora…"
Rhodeia hesitated.
Lora clicked her tongue and shook her head.
"Did you forget what I taught you earlier?"
"Oh! I get it!"
Seeing Lora's smile, Rhodeia immediately understood. She nodded eagerly.
"Please wait, my lady. I'll be back soon."
After asking around for directions, Rhodeia finally arrived at a general store.
She said to the shopkeeper, "One bottle of coconut milk. Put it on the tab—send the bill to the Jade Chamber!"
"Send it… to the Jade Chamber?"
The shopkeeper stared at her in shock.
"Isn't that Lady Ningguang's residence? my lady, you—"
"My my lady taught me," Rhodeia replied calmly.
"If it can't be sent to the Jade Chamber, you can send it to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor under the name Zhongli, or to the Northland Bank under Tartaglia's name. Any of those will do."