Liyue Harbor, Yuehai Pavilion.
The moment Nolan heard the familiar voice of the woman wearing red half-rimmed glasses, realization struck him. He looked at her in surprise.
"You're Cloud Retainer!"
So impatient—she had actually rushed over from Mt. Aocang already, even though he had only gone to invite her that very morning.
Clearly, she had been longing to see her two disciples for quite some time.
"Why such surprise? Wasn't it you who invited me here?" the woman with the red glasses snorted.
"I just didn't expect you to come so quickly… and in human form, no less."
It was the first time Nolan had ever seen Cloud Retainer's human form. Her refined, elegant air was quite the contrast to the majestic immortal crane she usually appeared as.
At a glance, her human face looked only faintly familiar. Without careful thought, he would never have recognized her on sight.
"Hmph. My name is well-known throughout Liyue Harbor. If I came in my true form, just flying overhead would attract a horde of gawkers.
"Then your Lantern Rite Festival would turn into nothing but a spectacle of mortals paying homage to me!"
Pushing up her glasses, the dignified woman folded her arms, which only lifted her chest slightly beneath the sheer black lace of her attire. With a hint of helplessness, she continued:
"My human form has not been seen for generations. I thought if I transformed and took a new name, no one would recognize me.
"But the moment I arrived in Liyue Harbor, both Ganyu and Shenhe saw through me. Ganyu I could understand—but Shenhe has never once seen this form of mine.
"And yet she recognized me at a glance. That leaves me uncertain whether I should really go strolling the streets as I planned."
Shenhe spoke calmly:
"No matter what form Master takes, I would never mistake you."
"Ah, so that's it. Ganyu and Shenhe have been by your side so long, it's only natural they'd know you. Look at me—I didn't recognize you right away myself.
"So go on, stroll through the city. I doubt anyone else will see through your disguise."
Nolan nodded, firmly convinced of his reasoning.
"But really, is it so exaggerated? I'm fairly well-known too, but when I walk down the streets, no one swarms me for autographs or the like," he said skeptically.
"Hmph. There are plenty of so-called famous adventurers. All you can do is brawl.
"I, on the other hand, have slain demons and defended Liyue's people for millennia. My adeptus arts heal as well as destroy. And with thousands of years of renown passed down through the generations—how could you compare?"
Cloud Retainer bristled at his doubt, pride brimming in her tone.
Indeed, the Adepti's reputation, accumulated over centuries, was unmatched in Liyue. Nolan remembered clearly—back when he first arrived in Liyue, he had run into those eager Gu Hua sect disciples at Stone Gate, searching for adeptis to worship.
"Haha, True Lord speaks reason. I was being arrogant." Nolan quickly yielded.
He knew Cloud Retainer was a proud one—especially in areas she took pride in. She would never easily back down, and if he pushed her, it would only spark a needless quarrel.
"Hmph. So long as you know." Cloud Retainer nodded, satisfied.
[Cloud Retainer Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 320 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.5 (220/500).]
Thanks to his many visits to Mt. Aocang, Nolan had already built up some affection with Cloud Retainer. Now, with today's encounter, it had reached Level 5.
Nolan smiled and turned to Ganyu and Shenhe:
"By the way, I heard from Ningguang that with the Lantern Rite approaching, things at Yuehai Pavilion are getting busier. So I came to see if there's anything I can help with.
"Well? Do you need my assistance?"
"Eh, so that's why…" Surprise flickered across Ganyu's fair face. She shook her head gently.
"Thank you for coming, but for now, I don't think we'll need to trouble you."
[Ganyu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 350 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.7 (400/700).]
Moved by Nolan's thoughtfulness, Ganyu felt a little more fondly toward him.
But Nolan was slightly puzzled.
"Oh? Don't tell me the work is already finished?"
"Can't you see? If they have time to sit here chatting with me, of course there's no need to worry about work!"
Cloud Retainer lifted her chin smugly.
Uh… it's just that your disciples don't have to work right now, what's there to be so proud of? Nolan thought to himself, exasperated.
"Master crafted many mechanical birds for Yuehai Pavilion. They can deliver documents back and forth, so no one needs to keep running around. That's why we have free time."
Shenhe explained calmly on her master's behalf.
"Mechanical birds that deliver documents… as expected of Cloud Retainer. To arrive here and already invent such a marvelous thing."
Nolan offered praise, then asked curiously:
"Do these mechanical birds need to be operated by people? If not, isn't there a risk of delivering important documents incorrectly?"
"Hmph! Anything crafted by this adeptus's own hands could never be wrong. If you're so curious, come along and see for yourself. I'll show you their ingenuity!"
Cloud Retainer pushed up her red half-rimmed glasses, sounding rather displeased.
"Alright then, since you put it that way, I'm curious too."
Nolan nodded.
"Mhm. While the mechanical birds have improved efficiency at Yuehai Pavilion, we still need to handle the actual matters of state ourselves.
"So for now we can't leave. Would you mind accompanying Master to stroll around the city?"
Ganyu looked at Nolan as she spoke.
"Of course." Nolan naturally wouldn't refuse a girl's request, especially since he had nothing pressing to do.
[Ganyu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 320 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.8 (20/800).]
Another Affection notification appeared.
Ganyu gave a small nod,
"Master has taken the name 'Xianyun.' When speaking before others, please use this name. If you call her Cloud Retainer directly, she may be recognized too easily."
"No problem." Nolan agreed readily, then looked at Cloud Retainer with a smile.
"Xianyun… the name itself sounds a little lonely. Truly fitting of you, True Lord—your names always reflect your nature so well."
"Hmph, don't overthink it. I just picked it casually. Even if I'm alone in the mountains, so what? I remain perfectly at ease."
Cloud Retainer—now Xianyun in her human guise—spoke stubbornly, though her words rang hollow.
[Xianyun Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 300 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.6 (20/600).]
"Hehe, then let's go. I'd like to see these mechanical birds everyone praises so much." Nolan chuckled.
"Then let's be off."
Xianyun, clad in her black dress, rose to her feet.
(End of Chapter)
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