Chapter 12: Taking Keqing as a Disciple

"Cloud Retainer, what's going on? Just a moment ago, we were fighting him, and now you're marrying Shenhe off to that guy?"

Mountain Shaper glanced at Yun Fan, making sure he wasn't paying attention, and whispered.

"Hmph, I have my reasons," Cloud Retainer said proudly, tilting her head up. Mountain Shaper was left speechless. What reasons? If you don't explain, how can we be at ease?

"Alright, Mountain Shaper, I think I understand Cloud Retainer's thoughts," Moon Carver said thoughtfully, pulling out his divination board to calculate Yun Fan and Shenhe's fates.

The two adepti watched silently. After a while, Moon Carver put away the board.

"Well?" Cloud Retainer asked nervously.

"Nothing," Moon Carver shook his head.

"Nothing?" both Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper echoed.

"Nothing. The divination revealed no information about Yun Fan, the Divine Lord. It seems he doesn't belong to the stars of Teyvat," Moon Carver said helplessly.

"Even Shenhe's fate has become muddled after coming into contact with him. It won't be long before her fate becomes impossible to calculate."

"But that might not be a bad thing, right?" Cloud Retainer suddenly said.

"What do you mean?"

"Perhaps he can help Shenhe break free from her cursed fate."

'Blades—know no mercy.'

The sharp Electro blade split the ancient Geo Vishap in two, kicking up a cloud of dust. Keqing watched as the masked figure approached her. He reached out, and Keqing extended her hand as well. Their fingertips touched...

"Haah, haah... Did I dream of him again?" Keqing woke up in a sweat, sitting up and staring at the bright sunlight outside her window. These past few days, she had been dreaming of that tall figure, the man who had saved her in her time of need, like a thunder god descending to earth.

It had been over ten days since that incident. For an ordinary person, injuries like hers would have taken half a year to heal, but she had almost fully recovered.

Getting up, Keqing changed into her usual outfit and combed her hair in front of the mirror. She nodded in satisfaction at the cat-ear-like hairstyle.

"Today, I'll head to Mt. Aocang!" Keqing hummed a cheerful tune as she left Liyue Harbor.

Jade Chamber

"Lady Ningguang, our informants report that Lady Keqing has left Liyue Harbor," Baiwen reported respectfully.

"I see. Baiwen, you may leave for now," Ningguang nodded, dismissing Baiwen.

"Lady Ningguang..." Baiwen hesitated.

"If you have something to ask, go ahead. You're one of my people; there's no need to be so formal," Ningguang waved her hand.

"Lady Ningguang, do you have any concerns about Lady Keqing?" Baiwen asked cautiously.

"Not at all. I'm just interested in the adeptus who saved Keqing. According to Keqing, that adeptus used Electro energy. In my memory, aside from the Yaksha General Bosacius, there are no other adepti known for wielding Electro. And even Bosacius couldn't have slain an Electro-aligned Geo Vishap with a single strike," Ningguang paused.

"So I suspect that the adeptus who saved Keqing is the mysterious powerhouse who fought Rex Lapis at Guyun Stone Forest that day. And that powerhouse is the Divine Lord!"

"As expected of Lady Ningguang!" Baiwen's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Ningguang simply smiled and shook her head at Baiwen's reverence.

"This is just my speculation. The rest depends on what news our Yuheng brings back."

The next noon, after over a day of rough travel, Keqing finally arrived at the foot of Mt. Aocang.

Looking up at the towering mountain, Keqing felt an inexplicable sense of nervousness. She took a deep breath to calm herself and shouted.

"Divine Lord Yun Fan, Yuheng Keqing has come as promised!" Keqing's voice echoed through the mountains.

"She's finally here?" Yun Fan, who had been sunbathing on the mountaintop, heard his name being called and his eyes lit up with excitement.

Keqing had finally arrived. These past few days had been incredibly boring for him. Although he now had Shenhe as his fiancée in name, she spent most of her time cultivating and rarely spoke to him. Perhaps she was worried her cursed fate would harm Yun Fan.

Similarly, Yun Fan had no idea how to pursue a girl. Having been single his entire life, he had no experience with relationships.

Cloud Retainer had been busy with something these past few days and hadn't had time to teach Yun Fan about machinery. Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver, using their injuries as an excuse, had secluded themselves in their caves, refusing to come out.

Seriously, was a minor cut from a blade really that big of a deal?

What Yun Fan didn't know was that the two adepti were simply afraid he would drag them into more sparring matches. A couple of matches were fine, but if it went on for too long, their old bones wouldn't be able to handle it.

So these past few days, Yun Fan had spent his time wandering the mountains alone, playing with birds and animals during the day and gazing at the stars at night.

"Let's go meet Keqing," Yun Fan put on his mask again. It wasn't some magical artifact—just a cheap trinket he bought for five Mora at a Liyue market.

"Strange, did he not hear me?" Just as Keqing was about to call out again, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice reached her ears.

"I'm here."

Keqing quickly turned around to find Yun Fan standing behind her. She clasped her fists and bowed hurriedly.

"Divine Lord Yun Fan."

"Hmm," Yun Fan responded indifferently.

"Are you sure you want to train under me? What about your duties in Liyue Harbor? Who will fulfill the responsibilities of the Qixing?" Yun Fan didn't immediately accept Keqing as his disciple. Instead, he posed this question. If Keqing wasn't the Yuheng when the story began, would the plot deviate?

If the plot went off course... No, ever since he was acknowledged as the Divine Lord and took the Gnosis, the plot had already spiraled out of control.

Right, how could I have forgotten about the Gnosis? It's still with the Void Archives for analysis.

"I..." Keqing gritted her teeth, considering temporarily handing over her duties to someone else.

"How about this? You can come to me for three days each month to train. I'll do my best to teach you, but the rest will depend on your own comprehension," Yun Fan proposed a solution. He couldn't teach Keqing much—at most, he could pass on the martial technique "Flashing Lightning" and the combat skill "Purple Thunderclap."

How much she could grasp would depend on her own talent. As for the ultimate skill "My Body, Radiant Light," even ten Keqings wouldn't have enough elemental energy to summon the Divine Lord.

"Keqing pays her respects to Master," Keqing bowed. For her, setting aside five to six days a month wasn't a problem—she just needed to manage her time more tightly. As for why five to six days, the journey to and from Mt. Aocang took time. The mountain wasn't exactly close to Liyue Harbor.

"No need for formalities."