Watching Paimon cuddle affectionately in her arms, Madam Ping couldn't help but pinch Paimon's cheek dotingly.
"Mm, you haven't lost any weight. Looks like you've been eating well."
For some reason, Madam Ping always maintained the gentle mindset of an old lady — especially fond of Klee, Nahida, and Paimon.
If Ryen could be called her number one favorite, then Madam Ping herself would be the undisputed number two.
Still, Nahida was the God of Wisdom, after all, so Madam Ping showed her proper respect.
On a normal day, though, Klee and Paimon clung to her the most.
As she took a closer look, Madam Ping noticed traces of the Raiden Shogun's divine energy still lingering around Paimon and teased,
"Looks like you all stirred up quite the commotion in Inazuma this time."
Lumine didn't bother being polite. She pushed open the door and walked straight into the courtyard, sitting herself down casually.
"I'd say it was pretty big! We fought the Raiden Shogun — and I took her Musou no Hitotachi head-on!"
"Really!"
Madam Ping exclaimed with an exaggerated tone of admiration.
"Lumine, that's amazing…"
Beside her, Yae Miko herself looked a little restrained and greeted softly,
"Madam Ping."
This immortal was incredibly powerful — and back when Yae had first come to Liyue, Madam Ping had guided her personally and even taught her some of her adeptal arts.
In Miko's heart, Madam Ping was a gentle elder figure.
"My, my… it's been ages, little Yae."
Madam Ping chuckled warmly.
"But don't bother with titles like 'True Monarch' this or that. The Geo Lord himself has already retired — I've no need for such formality. Just call me Madam Ping, like the others."
"Yes, Madam Ping,"
Yae said softly, earning another smile as the old adeptus gestured for her to come in.
Compared to its plain exterior, the courtyard itself was truly mysterious.
Not far away was a neatly arranged field, full of crops from all across Teyvat — almost every nation's specialties could be seen growing there.
On another side stood a strange fountain — strange because it seemed to flow endlessly without any visible mechanism, just a stone pillar pouring out a continuous stream of clear water.
Several swings hung beneath flowering vines, and the air was thick with the essence of Dendro energy — clearly Nahida's handiwork.
In the center stood some peculiar tables and stools — square, perfectly shaped, and evenly aligned.
But the most eye-catching sight of all was a short distance away:
a peculiar portal, shimmering faintly with starlit motes of light.
That was Ryen's teleportation gate.
Yae Miko took note of the courtyard's layout and then gracefully sat down beside Lumine.
Madam Ping sat across from them and waved her hand — a pot of steaming tea floated gently through the air toward them.
Glancing at Miko, Madam Ping said with a kind smile,
"Little Yae, you still like fried tofu, don't you?"
Yae Miko pressed her lips together in a soft smile and nodded.
"I've eaten it for centuries — I suppose I've grown used to it."
"Well, Liyue doesn't have the kind you like. Have some tea and snacks instead."
Madam Ping nodded slightly, then turned her gaze toward Lumine—
"You know," Madam Ping said with a teasing tone, "the commotion you three caused this time — I could feel it all the way from Mt. Tianheng! You even forced Beelzebul herself to come out. Don't tell me… you kidnapped little Yae here?"
At that, Yae Miko blinked innocently, her expression full of mock grievance.
"Madam Ping, you have to stand up for me! I was quietly pruning the Sacred Sakura at the Grand Narukami Shrine when these two suddenly barged in and kidnapped me!"
"And then they said they were going to sell me to that Mister Ryen…"
Ayaka froze for a moment. She'd known Yae Miko could be shamelessly mischievous — but she never imagined she could play along with this kind of topic so smoothly.
Kidnap her? Without using their catalysts, both Lumine and Ayaka combined wouldn't stand a chance against her! How could Yae Miko say such a thing with a straight face?
Of course, Madam Ping knew Yae Miko's personality well. She looked her over with an amused smile and said softly,
"Is that so? Well, our little Yae is quite beautiful — I imagine Mister Ryen would like you very much."
"I think so too!" Lumine chimed in instantly.
Yae Miko fell silent, her face twitching as she waved her hand weakly. "Let's… drop that topic."
After a short pause, she spoke again, her tone turning solemn.
"Madam Ping, we came this time to bring back Makoto. Only she can resolve the chaos Inazuma faces now. Only she can bring Raiden Shogun back to her senses."
Madam Ping's expression softened. She glanced at the charm pouch in Yae Miko's hand and sighed quietly.
That sigh made Yae Miko's heart sink.
"…It can't be done?" she asked softly, lowering her head in disappointment.
Madam Ping quickly waved her hand.
"No, no, that's not it. Reviving Baal isn't difficult at all. We've already gathered seven Totems."
"The other adepti fragments haven't been found yet, so we can prioritize Baal's resurrection."
"I was only thinking…" Madam Ping sighed again, "the Raiden Shogun Baal was such a gentle soul. If she knew her sister had turned Inazuma into this mess… she might actually get angry — for once in her life."
Yae Miko gave her a deadpan stare.
"Madam Ping, please don't sigh like that again — you scared me half to death!"
Madam Ping chuckled and shook her head.
"Well, old people like to sigh, you know."
"As for the resurrection — I can't perform it myself. The Totem of Resurrection is in the Geo Lord's hands. If you want to bring Baal back, you'll need to go inside and speak with him."
"Have a talk with the Geo Lord. I don't think he'll refuse — after all, Baal was on very good terms with both him and Barbatos back in the day."
"Besides, we don't need to use those totem points right now anyway. Reviving Baal first is a good decision."
"Oh, and little Yae," she added with a knowing look, "you've already signed your contract, haven't you?"
Yae Miko nodded.
"Good," Madam Ping said with a smile. "Then everything's settled. Go on in. Mister Ryen took the Geo Lord and the others to the Twilight Forest. You should head inside and engrave Baal's consciousness fragment into that world."
"That way, even if her consciousness fades again, she can directly revive in that world."
Yae Miko's eyes widened slightly — so that's why Lumine had said that if anything happened to her or Ayaka, they could still come back to life.
It was all because of those soul imprints.
Unable to sit still any longer, Yae Miko stood up immediately.
"Can we go in now?"
Madam Ping nodded with a gentle smile.
"Go on. Mister Ryen left the gate open — he's been waiting for you."
~~----------------------
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