"..." After finishing the story segment, Stelle couldn't help but sigh. "This plot about making the ointments was really brilliant. If the fan-creation community ever releases a Genshin abstract plot compilation in the future, I won't watch it if this part isn't included."
[Truly, high-level hunters often appear in the guise of prey…]
[Every time you talk to Ying'er, you'll inadvertently discover a truck has run over your face.]
[After Mondstadt's Car Queen Lisa, the title of Liyue's Car Queen has now fallen to Ying'er.]
[Are Ying'er's lines really suitable for a 12+ game? Or is it because I understood them instantly?]
[I hope the next time I understand something instantly is during an exam.]
"Goodbye, Ying'er. If I have time later, I'll come find you to learn the art of speaking."
Stelle followed the quest marker and teleported to the Statue of the Seven, then talked to Jun Bai and Zhongli.
Afterward, using Paimon repeating Ying'er's introductions as narration, she offered the three ointments in sequence.
[Paimon can actually remember all that?]
[It's because the impression Ying'er left was too deep. Liyue's Car Queen is truly terrifying.]
[I still remember Paimon couldn't even fully recite the travel guide.]
[Eh? Rex Lapis likes the third ointment?]
Watching Paimon's speculation about Rex Lapis, Stelle said with amusement, "Don't tell me Rex Lapis really cross-dressed before?"
Then she saw the close-up shot of Jun Bai unintentionally glancing at Zhongli.
The amount of information in this shot was quite large—so large that even Stelle, a variety content creator in the gaming zone, noticed something was off.
"Hm? Jun Bai, that look in your eyes? Could it be that the one who cross-dressed wasn't Rex Lapis but actually Zhongli?"
[Rex Lapis (×) Rex Lapis Princess (√)]
[Combining Big Bro Bai's look and Zhongli's earlier words, is the one who can transform into a big sister actually Zhongli?]
[It doesn't seem impossible. After all, Jun Bai basically outright hinted earlier that Zhongli is at least an adeptus.]
After confirming the type of ointment, Zhongli had Lumine and Paimon go to Yujing Terrace to borrow the Cleansing Bell from someone named Madame Ping.
"Just a funeral, yet there are so many things to do."
Stelle suddenly had the urge to ask her roommate March 7th to help advance the plot.
"Speaking of which, this time Zhongli has some unspeakable reason and can't accompany us. Jun Bai should be coming along, right?" Stelle muttered to herself.
As it turned out, although Zhongli could not follow for certain reasons, Jun Bai could.
"I'll go with you. It's been a while since I last saw Ah Ping. I can catch up with her." Jun Bai said.
Lumine and Jun Bai headed to Yujing Terrace together to find Zhongli and Jun Bai's friend—the one who kept the Cleansing Bell—Madame Ping.
"It seems the rumor of the Archon's assassination has still spread. Listening to all those rumors and gossip, even the Glaze Lilies have withered."
Jun Bai sighed as he looked at Yujing Terrace, which looked completely different from the last time he had visited.
"I remember you said that Glaze Lilies are sentient." Lumine said.
"That's right. In the past, Liyue Harbor was protected by the Archon and the people lived and worked in peace, so the Glaze Lilies on Yujing Terrace grew very well." Jun Bai nodded.
"But now, all kinds of rumors about the Archon's assassination are circulating in every street and alley of Liyue Harbor. Everyone's faces are full of worry. It's a pity for these Glaze Lilies."
Jun Bai's words were filled with sorrow.
However, this sorrowful atmosphere was quickly broken by the interested Paimon.
"Jun Bai, you said Glaze Lilies are sentient. If I talk to them about other things every day, will they react?"
"I don't know. I've never tried." Jun Bai looked at Paimon. "What do you want to do to the Glaze Lilies?"
Paimon smiled embarrassedly. "I want to try telling the Glaze Lilies about food-related things every day and see if their taste will improve."
Upon hearing this, Jun Bai looked at Paimon with a caring gaze and said, "Paimon, Glaze Lilies are medicinal herbs, not adeptal creations."
[This is way too in-character for Paimon.]
[What a shame. If it worked, I would brainwash the Glaze Lilies into a pink-haired, blue-eyed little loli.]
[I would enroll it in all kinds of online classes and give it review materials, let it swim in the ocean of knowledge, then help me grind questions and take exams. ꉂ(ˊᗜˋ*)]
[Thank goodness Glaze Lilies have limited abilities, otherwise it would be facing a living hell.]
After the casual chat.
Lumine and Jun Bai found Madame Ping on Yujing Terrace.
"Ah Ping, long time no see." Jun Bai greeted.
Madame Ping turned around. Seeing it was Jun Bai, she smiled. "It's Jun Bai. It really has been quite a while."
"Lumine, Paimon, let me introduce you. This is Streetward Rambler, Ah Ping."
"Just call me Madame Ping." Madame Ping smiled kindly at Lumine and Paimon, then looked at Jun Bai. "You came looking for me at this particular time. It probably isn't just to catch up, right?"
"Ah Ping, your observational skills are still as sharp as they were back then." Jun Bai laughed. "I need to hold the Rite of Descension and would like to borrow the Cleansing Bell."
"Alright." Madame Ping agreed without hesitation.
She took out the Serenitea Pot and told everyone that the Cleansing Bell was inside it, and that Jun Bai knew the exact location.
Under Jun Bai's guidance, Lumine and Paimon successfully obtained the Cleansing Bell.
Before leaving the Serenitea Pot, Jun Bai casually burned away the spiderwebs inside for Ah Ping.
After all, it was just a matter of one flame.
"Ah Ping, I still have to prepare for the Rite of Descension. Once everything is done, I'll come back to catch up with you properly."
The three bid farewell to Madame Ping and arrived at the venue for the Rite of Descension to regroup with Zhongli.
After placing the Cleansing Bell and ointments in their designated spots, the boss of Rongfa Shop arrived with people to deliver the goods. Then, at Jun Bai's single command of "Add money," he voluntarily began helping to arrange the Rite of Descension venue.
During the earlier split-up, Zhongli had gone to settle the final payment with Granny Shan and bought the kites symbolizing the Seven Archons.
After enduring Ying'er's assault, Lumine and Paimon obtained the three ointments brewed from Nilotpala Lotus.
Jun Bai had gone to Rongfa Shop to settle the final payment and purchased a large quantity of extremely expensive funeral supplies that were not mentioned in the original plot but were actually required.
This division of labor simplified the originally tedious process by quite a lot.
Players only needed to complete the plot of going to Ying'er to make the ointments, then watch two process animations before directly going to Madame Ping to obtain the Cleansing Bell.
"Now only two final steps remain." Zhongli said while looking at all the items at the venue. "The Everlasting Incense and wild Glaze Lilies."
"The wild Glaze Lilies are already on the way. So next we can just go to Bubu Pharmacy to buy the Everlasting Incense." Jun Bai reminded.
Zhongli nodded and led everyone toward Bubu Pharmacy.
Not long after the group left, Childe emerged from the shadows:
"I failed to gather any useful intelligence again. That swordsman is truly vigilant."
"Can I only appear when he's not around?"