On a bustling street in the eastern part of Liyue Harbor, Madame Ping, with her characteristic kind smile, stood by her stall, quietly watching the pedestrians come and go.
After Liyue's reforms, the social atmosphere had changed noticeably. People's faces showed less avarice and more sincerity. Madame Ping was pleased with this change; she felt Liyue was on the right path.
Just then, an adorable little loli with a braided butterfly bow in her hair skipped over, clutching a masterfully crafted card. On her back was a small basket, inside which a yellow mechanical rabbit sat quietly, as if curiously observing the world.
The little girl excitedly held the card up to Madame Ping. "Master, look at this! I feel like the adeptus on this card looks just like you when you were young."
Madame Ping's gaze fell upon the card, which depicted a youthful and beautiful young woman. She was dressed in a dark cyan Daoist robe that elegantly hinted at her graceful figure, her transcendent aura like that of a celestial maiden descended to the mortal realm.
A complex, nostalgic expression appeared on Madame Ping's face. She said softly, "Yaoyao, you're right. That is indeed me in my youth."
Yaoyao exclaimed in amazement, "I knew it was you! Master, you were so beautiful when you were young."
A familiar voice came from behind her. "Of course. Your master's beauty in her youth was unparalleled in the mortal world."
Yaoyao immediately turned around and cried out in pleasant surprise, "Auntie Xianyun!"
Xianyun nodded and said with a smile, "Yaoyao, go find your big sister Shenhe to play for a while. Your master and I have some things to discuss."
Yaoyao obediently left, leaving Xianyun and Madame Ping alone.
Xianyun gazed at the aged Madame Ping with a complicated expression. "Ping, come with me to the Celestial Oversight Commission. Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver are there. They've also found new joys in Liyue Harbor."
Madame Ping just shook her head gently. "I've grown accustomed to this quiet life."
Hearing this, Xianyun's face showed a hint of disappointment. She knew that more than her appearance, it was Ping's heart that had grown old. She sighed deeply, then took out a magnificent and exquisitely crafted golden card from her spatial bag. "This is a 'God Card' made by mortals—Guizhong, the God of Dust. Not only is the craftsmanship superb, but it also has high collection value."
Madame Ping accepted the golden card. Looking at the smiling Guizhong on its surface, beautiful memories flooded her heart like a tide. After a long while, she carefully put the card away and said to Xianyun, "Thank you so much, Xianyun. This card must have been very expensive."
At the mention of the price, Xianyun felt a pang of heartache. This card had cost her a full two or three months' salary. But in front of Madame Ping, she feigned nonchalance. "For an adeptus such as myself, this small expense is nothing."
Then, Madame Ping suggested, "How about we play a few rounds of 'Genius Invokation TCG'?"
Xianyun was greatly tempted by the offer. She cleared her throat and said, "Ping, I must remind you, my skills and my deck are top-tier. You might suffer a crushing defeat."
Madame Ping waved her hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter. I used to win against you often when we played chess. Losing to you now is only natural."
With that, the two entered Madame Ping's Serenitea Pot and sat down at a stone table marked by the traces of time, ready to begin their match.
When Madame Ping revealed her deck, Xianyun was stunned. It was filled entirely with rare and super-rare cards, including the extremely difficult-to-collect Five Yakshas and the almost discontinued "Streetward Rambler." The value of this deck far surpassed the one Xianyun held.
Xianyun suddenly felt a bit embarrassed to show her own "commoner's" deck. She consoled herself that she would have to win through skill.
However, once the game began, she was forced to face a cruel reality—Madame Ping's card skills were also superior to hers. In the subsequent matches, she was so thoroughly defeated that she began to doubt her own existence as an adeptus. Fortunately, Ping didn't press her advantage to the very end, intentionally letting her win a single round so she could end the match with a shred of dignity intact.
Xianyun adjusted her mindset and asked curiously, "Ping, how did you get so good?"
Ping replied with a hint of pride, "I have always lived among mortals and have always been curious about their novel creations, so I have studied them extensively."
Looking at Ping, Xianyun felt as if she had returned to a thousand years ago. "Ping, once I've developed a new deck and new tactics, I'll come back to challenge you again."
Ping smiled in response. "Alright, I'll be waiting."
…
Yaoyao, carrying her small bamboo basket, weaved her tiny figure skillfully through the streets of Liyue Harbor, her face beaming with a cheerful smile.
After a short run, she familiarly walked into the Dove Café. The air inside was thick with the rich aroma of coffee. Unlike its usual quiet atmosphere, the shop was especially lively today. Many customers were seated across from each other at tables, completely engrossed in their Genius Invokation TCG duels.
Shenhe stood behind the counter, dressed in a plain white top, her expression cool and detached, like an immortal fairy who subsisted on something other than mortal food. She was intently brewing a cup of black tea, her movements skilled and elegant. Once the tea was ready, she waved her hand gently, and the power of Cryo enveloped the cup, rapidly cooling the hot tea before she handed it to a colleague to serve to a waiting customer.
In the midst of her work, she looked up and saw Yaoyao arrive. A trace of warmth immediately appeared in her frosty eyes. "Yaoyao, you're here!"
Yaoyao excitedly ran to Shenhe's side. "Big sister Shenhe, I pulled my master's card from a pack today!"
Shenhe was taken aback for a moment, then showed a surprised expression. "Could it be the 'Streetward Rambler' card that's about to be discontinued?"
Yaoyao nodded proudly. "That's the one! My master was so beautiful when she was young, just like a fairy!"
After hearing this, Shenhe silently pulled out a stack of card packs from under the counter. "Yaoyao, help me pull a 'Cloud Retainer' card." Her voice was filled with anticipation.