Mu Yang was not stingy with his praise.
He expressed that Shenhe's performance today was excellent.
[This is just doting, isn't it?]
[Shenhe really did great, except for not going to see Mu Yang right from the start.]
[I really want to see Mu Yang raising a young Shenhe. I wonder what her childhood story was like.]
With her master's affirmation, Shenhe happily began to enjoy the meal.
After everyone was full and satisfied, Mu Yang went to clean up.
He left the three of them to chat and get to know each other better, as they hadn't talked much during the journey.
Paimon was the first to speak up. "Shenhe, you were amazing! When we got back to the construction site this afternoon, so many people along the way were praising you."
However, Shenhe's expression didn't show the slightest ripple at these words.
She only responded faintly, "…Is that so?"
"Such a cold reaction. Isn't that something to be happy about?" Paimon was a bit puzzled.
She continued, "If someone praised Paimon for being awesome, Paimon would puff out her chest and show a proud smile!"
[Paimon is so tasty!]
[?]
"I've received similar compliments before."
Shenhe's voice remained cool and detached, making one wonder if her emotions were somewhat subdued.
She gave off the same impression when facing Mu Yang.
"They call me an Adeptus, treating me with utmost respect, as if there's a vast distance between us."
Paimon spread her hands. Isn't that just how Adepti are?
Except for those like Mu Yang and Granny Ping, who live in the city.
The Adepti in the mountains always give off an air of standing apart from the world.
"But in the end, I'm not…"
Shenhe suddenly seemed off, pressing her hand to her chest.
Lumine quickly supported her. "What's wrong?"
"Shenhe, are you okay?" Paimon asked anxiously.
Shenhe replied, "I'm fine… Perhaps since entering the domain, I've used up quite a bit of energy along the way, and my body feels a bit tired."
Lumine, being very empathetic, wanted to take Shenhe to rest.
Shenhe, however, said that in times like this, meditating to regulate her breathing would suffice.
"No way!" Paimon waved her hands quickly. "When you're hungry, you eat delicious food. When you're tired, you lie in bed and rest properly. You can't push yourself."
Lumine spoke gently as well. "Let's rest first."
Faced with their concern, Shenhe seemed somewhat unaccustomed.
Having lived alone in the wilderness for so long, she was used to solitude. Now, suddenly having two friends…
For a moment, she didn't know how to react and could only agree.
"…Alright, I understand."
Lumine took Shenhe to a room to rest, urging her to get a good sleep.
She then quietly went downstairs.
Paimon whispered, "Where are we going?"
"To see an old friend."
The two left [Three Bowls Won't Cross the Harbor] and headed toward the slope across from it.
It was then that Paimon noticed a familiar figure on the opposite hill.
"So you were talking about Cloud Retainer? Did she come because she's worried about Shenhe?"
The two approached, and Lumine greeted the great adeptus crane. "It's been a while, Cloud Retainer."
"Hmm, you've already met Shenhe, haven't you? How is it? Are you getting along well with her?" the adeptus crane asked.
Lumine smiled. "We've met, and we get along quite well."
The great adeptus crane seemed thoughtful. "It seems Mu Yang's considerations were quite thorough…"
[Fam, life hacks really do work!]
[Learned after thousands of years, guaranteed to work!]
At that moment, Paimon suddenly asked, "What's Shenhe's Adeptus name?"
Although calling her Shenhe like Mu Yang did felt closer, Paimon was still curious.
This question stumped the True Lord. "Adeptus name… Why would Shenhe have an Adeptus name?"
Hadn't Mu Yang said anything?
Mu Yang indicated: Leave it to you, the master of conversation.
The reason he hadn't said anything was that he felt it was best for Cloud Retainer, who found and took in Shenhe, to explain this matter.
Paimon's little head was filled with big questions. "Huh? Don't all the Adepti of Mt. Aocang have their own titles?"
In her impression, those like Mu Yang and Changsheng from Chenyu Vale didn't seem to have so-called Adeptus names.
But the Adepti from Mt. Aocang all had them.
"That's true… but Shenhe is human."
Paimon couldn't believe her ears. Shenhe was human?
Was that something a human could do?
— — — — — —
In the live stream, Guinaifen put on a JOJO pose performance.
"Fam, if a human can lift such a huge Dawnstone with one hand, what's the point of a vampire mask?"
"I'm done being human, Mu Yang!"
[Of course, it's for invincibility and immortality!]
[Invincibility is a debuff—whoever gets it dies.]
[Is Shenhe really human? She feels even more outrageous than the half-Adeptus Ganyu.]
[You kid, what's so outrageous about her?]
[Big… her strength is big!]
— — — — — —
Lumine was much calmer. "As expected…"
"Huh? You already guessed? So I'm the only one who didn't figure it out?"
Cloud Retainer asked Paimon, "Why did you think Shenhe was an Adeptus?"
"In your eyes, how is she different from an ordinary human?"
"She's super strong?" Paimon scratched her head.
"Um… it feels like she always wants to solve problems in a very direct way."
Recalling that day with the two robbers, Shenhe had wanted to break their hands…
And her understanding of the competition—knocking out everyone else—Paimon felt scared just thinking about it.
If it weren't for Mu Yang's book, who knows what would've happened.
At this moment, Scarred Liu, locked up in jail, silently thanked Mu Yang, the Adeptus, for saving his life.
A few years in prison was better than having his head smashed into the floor.
Hearing Paimon's response, Cloud Retainer didn't point out anything wrong with Shenhe.
She generally wouldn't interfere so directly.
Instead, she skillfully began telling Shenhe's story.
[As expected of the Adeptus who's great at chatting!]
[Starting to bamboozle Paimon.]
[Adeptus, please begin your performance!]
The great adeptus crane cleared its throat, its thoughts drifting back to the past.
"…Back when this adeptus first met her, she was already like this. She has never changed."
"This adeptus found Shenhe in a cave. At the time, I was passing by and sensed the aura of a demon god's remnants. Ever vigilant, I immediately went to investigate."
And when the Adeptus entered the cave, she saw Shenhe, around six years old, clutching a dagger, facing off against a monster formed from the remnants of a demon god.
This story made Paimon's hair stand on end. Six years old?
Against the terrifying remnants of a demon god?
"It sounds so dangerous!"
Cloud Retainer turned, gazing toward [Three Bowls Won't Cross the Harbor], where Shenhe was resting.
"When this adeptus arrived, she had been confronting the monster for days. Most mortal children are frail in body and mind, relying on their parents' protection to survive, but she was different."
"In such a perilous situation, she managed to endure, relying not only on her strong will but also on her innate ferocity and killing intent."