Chapter 97: Klee, the Fish-Blaster

Venti stood still, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long pause, he finally snapped back to reality and looked at Qiu Bai.

"What's wrong, Venti?"

"What are you thinking about?"

Qiu Bai, noticing Venti dazed expression, asked curiously.

"Haha, it's nothing."

"I just remembered some things from the past."

Venti chuckled lightly as he explained.

"The past, huh?"

Qiu Bai lips curled into a subtle smile.

"Qiu Bai, I'm heading to the tavern for a drink."

"Wanna come?"

Venti grinned as he extended the invitation.

"I'll pass."

"I still want to wander around Mondstadt a little more."

Qiu Bai smiled as he declined.

"Ahh? But I was hoping to mooch off your drinks!"

Venti sighed in disappointment, waving his hand in defeat.

"Well then, I'll be off Qiu Bai."

Placing a hand over his chest, Venti smiled before turning away.

"Sure, sure. May the Anemo Archon bless you."

Qiu Bai smirked mischievously as he spoke.

Venti mouth twitched slightly at his words before he turned and walked away.

Qiu Bai watched his retreating figure for a moment, then turned and continued his own way.

After walking for a while, a loud explosion suddenly echoed from up ahead.

"That sound…?"

Qiu Bai narrowed his eyes, then his expression twitched.

"Isn't that Klee?"

"What's she doing here? Blasting fish again?"

In the distance, a lively little girl was happily tossing bombs into the lake.

With each throw, she chirped in her adorable voice.

"Boom! Blow them all up!"

Qiu Bai strolled leisurely toward Klee location.

The little girl was so absorbed in her fish-blasting that she didn't even notice someone approaching.

Just as Qiu Bai got closer, an explosion sent a wave of water splashing onto his face.

His expression twitched.

Activating his divine power, the water on his clothes instantly evaporated into mist, disappearing in moments.

"Ah!"

"I'm sorry, big brother!"

Only now did Klee realize that a handsome big brother was standing right next to her.

"Haha, it's okay."

"But what exactly are you doing here? It looks like a whole explosion just went off."

Qiu Bai waved his hand dismissively, then looked down at Klee with a smile.

Her bright yellow hair swayed alongside her elf-like ears, and she carried a small red backpack on her back.

Hanging from it was a Pyro Vision, and on her waist was a fluffy plush toy.

She looked up at Qiu Bai with her big, worried eyes.

"Phew, as long as you're okay!"

"Klee thought I accidentally hurt a passerby again!"

Hearing Qiu Bai words, Klee let out a long sigh of relief.

If Captain Jean found out she was blasting fish again, she'd definitely be locked in the confinement room.

"Logically speaking..."

"Little one, your explosions could never hurt me."

Qiu Bai casually walked in front of Klee, his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant lake with an air of mystery and elegance.

"Really?!"

"Big brother, you're so amazing!"

Klee jumped excitedly, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Of course."

"Little one, have you ever heard of the Yin-Yang Immortal or Immortal Lord?"

Qiu Bai turned his back slightly, a small smirk appearing on his lips.

As expected, children were always easy to fool.

"Of course, of course! Captain Jean mentioned it before!"

"That's the great hero who defeated the giant sea monster!"

Klee eyes sparkled as she recalled the story Captain Jean and Lisa had talked about.

She looked at Qiu Bai in awe.

"That's right."

"And the one standing before you now..."

"Is none other than the Immortal Lord himself!"

Qiu Bai suddenly turned around, lowering his gaze at Klee with a serious expression.

"Waaah!"

"Big brother is really that Immortal?!"

Klee, completely convinced, ran over and stared at Qiu Bai curiously, her eyes darting all over him.

"That's right, little one! I am the Immortal Lord!"

"But when I walk among mortals, I go by the name Qiu Bai."

Seeing how adorable Klee was, Qiu Bai couldn't resist patting her head as he spoke with a gentle smile.

"Got it, big brother Qiu Bai!"

"My name is Klee!"

Klee beamed as she looked up at him.

"Klee finally met the great hero who defeated the giant sea monster!"

"To be able to take down such a huge fish... Klee thinks that's really, really amazing!"

She twirled happily in place, then turned to look at the fish in her pot.

"Hmm... If only Klee had big brother Qiu Bai power..."

"Then I wouldn't have to make bombs to blow up fish in the lake."

Klee pressed a finger to her lips and whispered.

Hearing this, Qiu Bai mouth twitched.

So this was why Klee admired him so much?

Turns out, she thought Osial was just a bigger fish!

If Osial ever found out, who knows how it would react? Hahaha.

"But why does Klee want to bomb fish in the first place?"

Qiu Bai asked curiously.

"Because fish are delicious! That makes it worth it!"

"But if I bomb fish, Captain Jean will put me in timeout again..."

Klee looked up at Qiu Bai with a bright smile, but then lowered her head, looking guilty as she mumbled.

Qiu Bai chuckled and patted her head.

"If Klee wants to eat fish..."

"Then let big brother handle it."

He turned his gaze toward the lake.

Some of the fish had been blown to bits, while others were scattered in panic, swimming frantically away from the explosion.

"Really?!"

"big brother Qiu Bai, can you really catch fish?!"

Klee lifted her head, her big adorable eyes sparkling with excitement as she looked at him.

Seeing her like this, Qiu Bai heart almost melted.

"Haha, of course!"

"Big brother is the Immortal who defeated the great sea monster, after all!"

Under Klee expectant gaze, Qiu Bai slowly walked toward the lake.

But then he suddenly paused, as if remembering something.

"Oh crap, I forgot..."

"I don't actually know how to fish."

His mouth twitched.

Last time he tried fishing in Jueyun Karst, it took forever just to catch one fish.

And now?

After Klee bombing spree, the fish were even more scattered than before.

"But a child's expectations..."

"I can't let them down."

Qiu Bai gazed at the lake, a small smirk forming on his lips.

"Sorry about this, fish buddies."

He slowly raised his hand.

A misty-white divine energy began to gather in his palm, forming into several streaks of light before shooting into the lake.

A few moments later.

Fish began leaping out of the water.

Dozens of fish floated into the air.

Above them, the Mondstadt sun hung high in the sky.

As the sunlight reflected off the water droplets, a rainbow formed in the air.

Klee eyes widened in shock.

Her mouth hung slightly open as she stared at Qiu Bai dazzling display.

With a subtle movement of his palm, the fish slowly floated toward him.

Along with them, a sphere of lake water followed, swirling above Qiu Bai head like a mini vortex.

Inside the vortex, the fish spiraled around, caught in the controlled flow of water.

With his divine energy keeping everything suspended and controlled, it was a display so gravity-defying that even Newton himself would be impressed. (T/N: Nah, his wood will get out of the tomb if he knew)

(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)