Liyue
Four days had passed since the ruins investigation team set out.
In the abode of the adeptus Cloud Retainer on Mt. Aocang, within a pocket realm created by Cloud retainer, as the three adepti of Jueyun Karst had gathered: Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver.
Also present was a girl with blue hair and a pair of horns, possessing an ethereal beauty though she seemed somewhat weary, as if she might doze off at any moment.
The focus of everyone present was a massive, rectangular piece of amber suspended in mid-air. The amber was translucent, allowing a clear view of its contents: a woman with a slender figure and stunning white hair. Her eyes were closed, her expression serene within the crystalline amber, like a sleeping beauty from a fairy tale.
"Cloud Retainer, your disciple has been sealed within my Spirit-Quelling Amber for many days. Her inner turmoil should have subsided by now," said Moon Carver, whose form was that of a black-and-yellow crane.
Cloud Retainer nodded. "Then I must trouble you to release the restraint and let my troublesome disciple out."
Moon Carver flapped his wings towards the amber in the sky. A wave of adeptal energy, infused with Anemo, swept over it. The hard outer shell of the amber melted away like snow under the sun.
Shenhe's body, losing its support, began to fall.
"Ah!"
Just before she hit the ground, the blue-haired girl swiftly moved forward and caught her.
"Whew, you have to be careful," she said, sighing in relief and patting her chest.
Cloud Retainer said, "No matter. With you here, Ganyu, we are naturally at ease."
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper also nodded. "This child Ganyu would definitely have caught her."
"..."
Saying that puts so much pressure on me! What if I hadn't reacted in time?
Being too trusted isn't always a good thing.
Ganyu thought internally as she carried Shenhe and gently laid her on a stone bed within the pocket realm.
All the adepti gathered around.
"My disciple Shenhe mentioned her dreams to me before, but at the time, I didn't take it seriously. I never expected she would become so fixated on it and nearly succumb to inner demons."
Cloud Retainer looked at her disciple and sighed. "As a last resort, before asking Moon Carver to seal her within the amber, I used adeptal arts to seal that portion of her memory. I can only hope she does not blame this master of hers."
Moon Carver shook his head. "It was a necessary measure. No one can fault you, Cloud Retainer. You did all you could for your disciple."
"As for Liyue... sigh." Cloud Retainer sighed. "My disciple's condition was critical, and all my attention was on her. She caused such significant damage, and I failed to offer my apologies immediately. That was indeed my oversight."
"No one wanted this to happen," Ganyu said, shaking her head. "Whether it's you esteemed adepti or the Liyue Qixing, everyone's original intention is for Liyue to prosper. I came this time hoping to serve as a bridge for communication between the adepti and the Qixing. If we clarify matters, it should be fine. The most important thing is to prevent any lingering resentment between both sides."
Cloud Retainer nodded. "Once my disciple awakens, I will take her to the Jade Chamber to explain matters in person to that young lady Ningguang."
Ganyu smiled. "Yes, that would naturally be for the best."
The adepti fell into a brief silence.
Mountain Shaper, whose form was that of a deer, remarked with emotion, "Come to think of it, you looked after both these children when they were young, Cloud Retainer. In the blink of an eye, they've grown so much."
"I remember those days vividly," Cloud Retainer said, flapping her wings. "Oh, right. You all know about Shenhe's situation. Would you like to hear stories about Ganyu from when she was little? Should I tell you some..."
Ganyu shuddered and looked up sharply. "Cl-Cloud Retainer!"
Cloud Retainer chuckled. "Haha... what's the matter? You were so adorable as a child. I'm sure the other esteemed ones would like to hear about it too?"
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. "We are somewhat interested, indeed."
Ganyu hung her head. "Wuu... please don't..."
"Since Ganyu doesn't object either, I shall tell a story then," Cloud Retainer said. "Hehe, this child Ganyu, when she was little, her favorite thing was having the horns on her head stroked. Back when I was taking care of her, she always needed her horns stroked to fall asleep..."
"Wuu..." Ganyu looked away with embarrassment
Moon Carver said, "Ganyu was quite the spoiled, affectionate child back then."
Cloud Retainer continued, "Ganyu was also quite plump back then. So plump that when she followed me up the mountain, if she took one misstep, she would tumble all the way down to the foot of the mountain..."
Ganyu covered her face. "Cloud Retainer, perhaps we should stop..."
Recalling the past seemed to invigorate Cloud Retainer further. "I remember one day, Ganyu bumped into a person who had come seeking an adeptus. It was her first time seeing a living human. Who would have thought it would frighten her so much she hid in a rock crevice for two days and two nights? When I found her, she was crying and telling me there was a monster..."
"Ho ho ho ho!" Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper both laughed heartily.
Ganyu finally couldn't take it anymore. Her pretty face flushed red, and she clenched her fists. "Cloooooud... Retaaaaainer!"
"Forget it. I should return to Liyue Harbor first."
Looking utterly defeated, Ganyu shook her head and turned to leave.
"Hm? Where's Ganyu?" Only after talking at length did Cloud Retainer finally satisfy her urge to reminisce. Coming back to her senses, she realized Ganyu was gone.
Mountain Shaper said, "That child said she was returning to Liyue Harbor. After all, as the secretary of the Yuehai Pavilion, her duties must be quite numerous."
Moon Carver agreed. "I've heard that child works very diligently and earnestly in the mortal realm, deeply trusted by everyone. They say the mortals can't keep things running without her."
"Ganyu is indeed a capable child," Cloud Retainer nodded. "I thought I might have said something I shouldn't have and made her angry. But on second thought, that shouldn't be the case. Finding topics of conversation is one of my strengths, after all. Having to chat with myself to pass the time over the millennia has its uses."
Just then, a faint sound of breathing came from the stone bed.
"Mmm..."
Cloud Retainer flapped her wings. "It seems my disciple is awakening."
The adepti quickly gathered around the bed.
Under their gazes, Shenhe's eyelids fluttered and slowly opened. Her pale-colored eyes held the haze of one just waking from a deep sleep as she looked blankly at her surroundings.
Cloud Retainer leaned in. "Disciple, do you recognize who your master is?"
Shenhe stared at her, blinked slowly, and answered in a hoarse voice, "I... recognize you, Master."
Cloud Retainer nodded and asked again, "Disciple, then do you remember what happened before you lost consciousness?"
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