"That woman is here to open jars."
"She doesn't look like she's from Liyue Harbor. If she lived here, I would have noticed."
"Agreed. Her aura is... ethereal. She looks like an Adeptus."
"I wonder what Dr. Baizhu opened inside?"
"Must be something good. He's been in there a while."
At the entrance of the Jar Shop, the crowd buzzed with speculation about Shenhe, who had just entered, and Baizhu, who was still inside. They were dying to know what the famous doctor had obtained.
Inside the Jar Shop.
Baizhu stood by the counter, chatting amiably with Felix. He hadn't bought a single jar.
"It was a pleasure chatting with you, Shopkeeper," Baizhu smiled, adjusting his glasses. "I didn't bring enough mora today, but I will return to try my luck next time."
"No problem," Felix nodded.
Baizhu had mostly asked about pricing and rules. Their conversation felt casual, like two acquaintances catching up, though Felix knew Baizhu was analyzing everything.
Felix then turned his gaze to the new arrival.
Shenhe.
He raised an eyebrow. So she came down the mountain too.
He knew of her—the "cursed child" raised by Cloud Retainer, isolated in the mountains, her personality as cold and distant as the peaks she inhabited.
"Eh? It's you!"
Hu Tao, who was still lounging in the shop, sat up straight, her eyes lighting up. "What are you doing here?"
Hu Tao found Shenhe fascinating. She was different from everyone else. Every time Hu Tao ran into her in the wild, Shenhe was eating herbs or drinking dew, radiating an aura of complete detachment from the mortal world.
Hu Tao had often wondered if eating nothing but Qingxin flowers would make her that ethereal too.
"Director Hu Tao," Shenhe nodded, her greeting concise.
She recognized the funeral director. Sometimes, while wandering Jueyun Karst, Shenhe would see Hu Tao singing strange, off-key songs to the spirits. Over time, Shenhe had heard Hu Tao's entire repertoire. She didn't dislike it; it was just... unique.
Shenhe then glanced at Baizhu and nodded politely.
She respected Baizhu. His herbs were high quality, and he was always courteous when she visited Bubu Pharmacy to buy medicine. The snake around his neck had a sharp tongue, but Shenhe didn't lower herself to argue with reptiles.
"I had a pleasant conversation with the Shopkeeper today. I'll be going now," Baizhu said, nodding to Shenhe and Felix before stepping out.
Outside.
"Dr. Baizhu is out!"
"Doctor! Did you get anything good?"
"Tell us! What was in the jars?"
The crowd surged forward, eager for gossip. But seeing Baizhu's empty hands and lack of bulky items, some sharp-eyed observers guessed his luck might have been bad.
"I didn't open any jars today. I just came to understand the shop," Baizhu explained with a gentle smile. "I'll try next time."
"Oh, so he didn't buy anything."
"That makes sense. Dr. Baizhu is cautious."
"I'm still looking forward to seeing what he pulls eventually."
The crowd dispersed slightly, satisfied with the answer. Baizhu smiled and walked away, disappearing into the city streets.
Inside.
"Standard jars are 100,000 Mora each. Limit of ten per week," Felix said, smiling at Shenhe. "How many would you like?"
"I don't have much money," Shenhe replied honestly.
She looked at the jars on the shelf, then pulled out a small pouch. She took out a few stray coins for herself, then handed the rest of the pouch to Felix.
"100,000 Mora. I can only afford one."
Felix took the pouch. He wasn't surprised. Shenhe lived in the mountains; having 100,000 Mora on her was likely her entire life savings from selling herbs.
"Go ahead and pick one," Felix said.
Shenhe scanned the shelves with her pale eyes. She extended a finger and pointed.
Felix waved his hand, and the chosen jar floated down to her.
Crash.
Shenhe smashed it without hesitation. She had heard the rumors on her way here—empty jars, trash items, but also powerful manuals like the Six Arts Chongyun had used. She needed to see for herself.
Ten white-green flowers fell onto the counter.
[Qingxin]: A translucent white flower that grows only on the highest stone peaks. It rejects the warmth and moisture of the plains, preferring to gaze at the clouds from solitary heights.
Shenhe's eyes flickered with satisfaction. She immediately gathered the ten flowers.
This was a good haul.
Her favorite food—practically her staple diet—was Qingxin.
Usually, harvesting them was a chore. They grew on treacherous peaks, requiring hours of climbing. To get ten pristine blooms instantly for the price of 100,000 Mora? To her, this was a bargain. It saved her days of labor.
"Ten Qingxin flowers. Not bad," Felix chuckled. "I look forward to your next visit, Miss Shenhe."
He knew she was broke now, so he didn't upsell.
"Mn."
Shenhe nodded and turned to leave.
Her goal now was simple: get more money. Come back. Open more jars.
One jar gave her ten flowers. Ten jars would be a hundred. The efficiency was undeniable.
"Shenhe! Wait for me!"
Hu Tao jumped off her lounge chair and chased after her.
"Is something wrong?" Shenhe stopped and looked back.
"Hehe, I just want to chat! Let's walk together," Hu Tao grinned. "I won't take up much of your time."
"Okay," Shenhe agreed. Her personality was direct; she saw no reason to refuse.
The two women walked out together.
The crowd outside parted like the Red Sea. They stared in awe as the ethereal "Adeptus" walked side-by-side with the spooky Funeral Director. No one dared to approach them. Hu Tao had a reputation for trying to bury people prematurely (as a joke), and no one wanted to test her humor today.
"Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper!"
Not long after they left, a frantic voice echoed from outside.
Chongyun sprinted into the shop, out of breath.
"What is it?"
Felix was already back on his lounge chair, eyes closed. "What's the rush?"
"Uh."
Chongyun looked around the empty shop.
"Where is she? I heard a white-haired woman came here to open jars!"
"You mean Shenhe? She left with Director Hu," Felix said lazily, pointing to the right. "Didn't you see them when you came in?"
"Uh."
Chongyun's face went stiff.
He had run in from the left.
After seeing Shenhe at the waterfall, he had rushed home to tell the elders. His family had been ecstatic. They immediately prepared gifts and ordered him to go back, find Shenhe, and stall her until they could arrive for a proper reunion.
He had tracked her all the way here... only to miss her by seconds.
And worse... she was with Hu Tao.
Chongyun's face turned green.
He was terrified of Hu Tao. Whenever she looked at him, it wasn't with friendliness, but with the eyes of a scientist looking at a lab rat. She wanted to "study" his Pure Yang Spirit. He usually fled on sight.
"They went right..." Chongyun muttered, his stomach churning.
If he chased after them, he would run straight into Hu Tao.
What if she caught him? He couldn't beat her in a fight.
Chongyun stood outside the shop, paralyzed by indecision. His face twisted in a conflict between familial duty and self-preservation.
But... Auntie Shenhe is important.
The elders are counting on me.
After a long, agonizing pause, Chongyun gritted his teeth.
He turned and sprinted to the right.
Hu Tao wouldn't dare kidnap me in front of my aunt... right?
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