Chapter 103: Shenhe
The woman before them had silvery hair, piercing azure eyes, and an ethereal air about her. Her every movement seemed to ripple with celestial energy, making her appear as though she were a true immortal.
Yet, within the celestial aura lay an undercurrent of killing intent. This faint menace, however, was tempered by the red ropes adorning her, giving her a more subdued appearance.
"Immortal, please don't be angry! We were merely using a spell to locate someone and had no intention of disturbing your peace. We'll leave immediately."
Chongyun found the immortal somewhat familiar but dared not look too closely. After bowing alongside Xingqiu, he turned to leave, fearing that any delay might escalate the situation.
"You said this is a method for locating someone?"
The "immortal" glanced at the dissipating blue talisman in her hand. Her otherwise emotionless eyes now flickered with a hint of confusion.
After all, the talisman had flown straight at her and smacked right onto her forehead, making her momentarily suspect she was under attack.
"Yes, this is a soul-hunting spell. My friend was in urgent need of finding someone, so I thought I'd give it a try. I didn't expect…" Chongyun sighed, not placing any blame on Xingqiu.
His family elders had warned him repeatedly that incantations were strictly for exorcising spirits and protecting the path of righteousness. Using them for anything else was strictly forbidden. Perhaps this mishap was simply his burden to bear.
"Sister Immortal, we left in such a hurry and didn't bring any offerings. If you don't mind…" Xingqiu rummaged through his belongings but found nothing valuable. All he had was a Sunsetia fruit Xiangling had given him.
He knew a single Sunsetia wouldn't suffice as an offering, but it was the best he could do to express their sincerity.
"Don't act so recklessly next time. The tempers of the immortals aren't as forgiving as you might think."
After lingering her gaze on Chongyun for a moment, the "immortal" accepted the Sunsetia fruit, picked up a bamboo basket, and walked back into the deep forest.
"And one more thing: I'm not an immortal."
"…"
Chongyun and Xingqiu exchanged a look before silently signaling each other and bolting down the mountain without looking back.
"I told you not to use this method. At least that immortal was kind enough not to give us too much trouble."
Once they reached the foot of the mountain, Chongyun splashed his face with cool spring water to quell the restlessness brought on by his pure-yang constitution. He firmly decided never to assist Xingqiu with this kind of search again.
However, Xingqiu stood nearby, gazing at Chongyun with a peculiar expression.
Unlike Chongyun, who had lowered his head throughout the encounter out of respect and fear, Xingqiu had dared to steal a glance at the woman when she reached for the fruit.
What he saw shocked him. The woman bore an uncanny resemblance to Chongyun.
But as far as Xingqiu knew, Chongyun didn't have a sister.
Puzzled, Xingqiu followed Chongyun back to Liyue Harbor, deciding to put the search for the Reed Sketches's author on hold. After all, Chongyun had gone so far as to disturb an immortal for him. Even Xingqiu knew there was a limit to pushing one's luck.
If all else failed, he could try the Adventurers' Guild—it was said their efficiency was quite good.
<+>
Shenhe, as was her routine, arrived at the Jueyun Karst.
Situated in the northwest of Liyue, Jueyun Karst was perpetually shrouded in mist. Its remote and treacherous peaks were largely uninhabited and rumored to be the sanctuary of Liyue's guardian adepti.
This mystique made it a destination for those seeking blessings or divine encounters. Yet aside from a peculiar little pharmacist's apprentice, no mortal had truly conquered the area.
Reaching a high summit, Shenhe brushed away the dust and placed her bamboo basket on the ground.
The basket contained neither mystical elixirs nor rare herbs—only a few Qingxin flowers and four Sunsetia fruits.
Typically, she brought three Sunsetias. The extra one today was courtesy of Xingqiu.
After tidying the ground, Shenhe retrieved a peculiar square cloth.
The cloth felt strangely soft to the touch, unlike any material from the present age. In one corner was an embroidered pattern resembling unfamiliar writing.
She laid the cloth flat, carefully polished the four Sunsetias until they gleamed, and arranged them neatly on the cloth.
Then, turning her gaze toward the Guili Plains, she hugged her knees and began crafting a talisman.
As the Divine Maiden's Deliverance Technique took form, a figure imbued with the talisman's energy gradually materialized behind her.
The figure by Shenhe's side had a blurred face, its features indiscernible. It stood protectively beside her after materializing, seemingly devoid of any consciousness.
The small mountain peak was blanketed in frost, the air crisp and cold.
The flavor of Qingxin flowers, as always, was plain and mild. Having eaten them since childhood, Shenhe didn't find anything unusual about them.
The Sunsetias, on the other hand…
Picking one up, Shenhe took a gentle bite. Sweet juice flooded her mouth, its richness spreading to every corner. A Sunsetia of this size and ripeness would surely fetch a good price down in the city.
However—
"It doesn't taste right."
She ate three of the fruits in succession, but the sweetness failed to evoke any expression on her face. For Shenhe, these Sunsetias were simply too sweet.
Looking at the last one—Xingqiu's gift—she held it in her hands for a long time but ultimately decided not to eat it.
"I suppose I'll leave this one for you."
With a sigh, she glanced in the direction of Guili Plains.
Once, an egret fell there, and a crane took flight.
Egret or crane, what difference was there in their worth? Both were mere birds, and when placed on the altar, they were destined to become a dish in the end.
The wind rose, the clouds parted, and the cry of a crane echoed.
When the mist finally cleared, only frost remained on the mountaintop. Alongside it, an unassuming Sunsetia lay quietly, untouched.
Minutes later…
A shadowy figure reached the peak, exhaling heavily.
"Damn, that's high."
Despite his grumbling, the man didn't forget to reach back and help a small herbalist girl climb up.
"Qiqi can manage on her own."
Seated at the cliff's edge, Qiqi's small legs swung playfully, undeterred by the sight of the vast sea of clouds beneath her. Collecting herbs in the mountains was just another part of her daily life.
As for why Bai Luo had sought her out in the mountains, her little mind hadn't yet pieced it together.
"I'm not here to help you," Bai Luo grumbled. "Liyue Harbor's crawling with people looking for me. This is the only place I can get some peace."
After helping Qiqi gather nearby Qingxin flowers, Bai Luo noticed something odd. Among the herbs, there was also a single Sunsetia.
Instinctively, Bai Luo reached for it but hesitated. Turning to Qiqi, he asked,
"Little Qiqi, want a Sunsetia?"
"Where?"
Qiqi was always ready to accept a Sunsetia from Bai Luo.
As a zombie, she had long since lost her sense of taste. Apart from distinguishing between hot and cold, she couldn't discern much else.
Yet, the Sunsetias Bai Luo gave her allowed her to faintly recall a third sensation—flavor.
In Qiqi's mind, Bai Luo's Sunsetias were second only to coconut milk.
"Right here."
Bai Luo forced a sheepish smile, pointing to the fruit beside him.
Qiqi stepped forward, wiped the fruit clean, and took a bite.
"How is it?" Bai Luo asked nervously, watching her closely.
"I don't know, but it's delicious."
Saying this, Qiqi took another bite.
"Let me try a bite too."
"Okay."
Taking a bite himself, Bai Luo's face scrunched up.
"So sour…"
. . . . .
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