Lora took the seat originally occupied by Zhongli and remarked to the Cloud Retainer, "This form of yours is truly splendid. Why didn't you use this appearance when traveling to Liyue Harbor?"
"Ahem..."
Hearing Lora's compliment, the Cloud Retainer cleared her throat.
She adjusted her glasses frame and declared proudly, "This Adeptus is ever graceful in any form! My true presence appearing before Liyue Harbor's citizens is already a tremendous blessing for them. Why would I need to trouble myself with human transformation?"
"Then what are you now..."
Lora scrutinized the Cloud Retainer from head to toe.
Her aura shimmered with an elusive radiance, sparking boundless imagination.
Tall and slender, her bearing radiated infinite elegance.
Cloud Retainer truly possessed an ethereal grace.
"After all, this invitation came from This Adeptus, and the guest is none other than you... Adeptus of Purifying Water and Judgment. Naturally, the reception must be formal!"
Cloud Retainer gazed earnestly at Lora, explaining why she chose to host her in human form.
"Do you have a name? Beyond your Adeptus title?" Lora inquired.
"Xianyun. Like a cloud drifting freely or a crane soaring wild—that embodies This Adeptus's character and spirit!" Xianyun laughed, clearly proud of the name she'd chosen.
"Excellent. Very much in the style of Liyue," Lora nodded in praise of the name. Then she asked, "So, Miss Xianyun, did you summon me here just for conversation? I came here with the intention of freeloading on a meal."
"Rest assured, would I ever let you go hungry here?"
Xianyun rose and led Shenhe into the cave dwelling.
Moments later, Xianyun emerged carrying utensils, while Shenhe shouldered a piece of meat.
"Uh..."
Seriously, she'd never seen anything like this before.
"This Adeptus didn't know what you liked to eat, and Shenhe usually only eats Qingxin fare. So I specially prepared a barbecue for you!" Xianyun placed the utensils on the table, then lit a fire. She had Shenhe slice the meat and skewer it for grilling.
"Back in the day, Liyue people ate and drank just like this. Later on, their dining became increasingly elaborate—sometimes even This Adeptus couldn't fathom what they were doing."
Xianyun fiddled with her automatic rotisserie while explaining to Lora.
"Human society evolves. Human society progresses." Lora gazed at the roaring flames and spoke slowly to Xianyun.
"Development, progress. Fine-sounding words indeed. Liyue Harbor is far more prosperous than it was a thousand years ago, but it feels far more alien too." Xianyun sighed as she watched the steadily rotating skewers.
Ancient Liyue was like this grilled meat—bold and unrestrained, brimming with a primitive, untamed, and almost savage beauty.
Present-day Liyue, however, resembled the exquisitely crafted, meticulously plated delicacies served in the elegantly decorated Xinyue Kiosk.
For Adepti, accepting this shift was indeed somewhat difficult.
"Enough of that! Let this Adept tell you a story about Shenhe when she was young."
Xianyun waved her hand dismissively, sweeping away those troublesome thoughts, then smiled at Lora.
Before she could speak, Shenhe interrupted, "Master, that won't be necessary!"
"Hm? Not necessary? But This Adeptus finds your childhood stories quite amusing." Xianyun looked at Shenhe, blinking.
"...Truly, it won't be necessary." Shenhe shook her head.
"Ah, very well! Since that's the case, This Adeptus shan't speak of you."
Xianyun sighed, then turned to Lora.
"How about This Adeptus tells you about Ganyu's childhood instead? When Ganyu was little..."
Ganyu wasn't present to stop Xianyun from regurgitating these rather embarrassing memories to Lora.
"My little Rhodeia back then was quite the mischievous little troublemaker..."
After Xianyun finished, it was Lora's turn.
Rhodeia didn't have the nerve to tell Lora to shut up. She could only stand behind Lora, head bowed and face flushed, listening to the tales of her childhood antics.
By the time the story ended, the meat was nearly done grilling.
Xianyun produced a stack of jars and bottles from who knows where—all kinds of seasonings. She sprinkled them one by one over the perfectly cooked meat, releasing an even more intense aroma.
Rhodeia and Shenhe weren't big fans of such rich flavors; they both preferred lighter tastes. But for Lora and Xianyun, the type of food made no difference—they ate whatever was put before them.
"Xianyun, your grilling skills are top-notch!" Lora tasted the wild boar meat and gave Xianyun a thumbs-up.
"Of course! This Adeptus's skills paired with the auto-rotating grill make this the finest grilled meat in Liyue!" Xianyun proudly folded her arms, puffing out her ample chest.
Talk about rubbing salt in the wound.
Still, she couldn't very well criticize Xianyun now—after all, she'd just eaten her cooking.
Xianyun sat down.
After Lora finished her skewer, she asked, "Hey Xianyun, I need your help with something. When I head back, could Shenhe come with me to Liyue Harbor?"
"Shenhe coming back with you?" Xianyun froze, then asked, "What for?"
"The thing in the sea. You know about it, right?" Lora looked at her.
"The thing in the sea... you mean... the Ancient God of the Vortex, Osial?"
Xianyun's expression turned grave.
"I already heard about this from Streetward Rambler. The other Adepti are also prepared, keeping a constant watch for Osial. The Abyss Order seems to be monitoring Osial's eruption too—their target is likely still Azhdaha, the Geo Dragon Sovereign."
"Ah, Liyue is certainly going through a tumultuous time now. Wages are hard to come by."
Lora sighed.
"Let Shenhe and I return to Liyue Harbor first. We can familiarize ourselves with the current state of Liyue and avoid any future complications."
Xianyun glanced at Shenhe and asked, "Shenhe, what are your thoughts?"
She did not insist, as a master might, that Shenhe accompany Lora back. Instead, she fully respected Shenhe's opinion.
"Master, I..."
Truthfully, Shenhe's thoughts were in turmoil. Since childhood, Xianyun had brought her to Mt. Aozang for cultivation, making Liyue Harbor a place of profound unfamiliarity. Yet Lora's invitation stirred an urge within her to accept.
But she was the fate of calamity—a force that brought disaster to those around her...
Lora was an Adeptus. Did she not fear this?
Shenhe recalled the crystal Lora had given her long ago. It held an extraordinary warmth—a pure, serene peace she hadn't felt in all these years.
As if guided by some unseen force, Shenhe accepted Lora's invitation.
"I'll go."
"Oh dear," Xianyun sighed.
"With you coming, my disciple will be swept away, leaving me alone on the mountain."