"Lin Qiu, this immortal wants to ask..."
Lin Qiu assumed a posture of listening intently.
"Can you teach this immortal how to write novels that people will enjoy?"
"This immortal knows many strange tales; it would surely be interesting to write them into a book."
Lin Qiu was speechless. He had expected Cloud Retainer to have some profound insight, but it turned out to be this.
Originally, Cloud Retainer sought Lin Qiu for a serious matter, but now that the initial confusion was resolved, it naturally turned into casual conversation.
"Cloud Retainer... you wouldn't write me into it, would you...?" Ganyu's alertness was piqued.
"Hmm? Is that not allowed?" Cloud Retainer questioned, "Ganyu's stories, I think they would be very interesting to write."
"Absolutely not!" Ganyu's gentle tone held a firm refusal.
Lin Qiu was sweating profusely as he listened from the side.
Oh no, if I write Ganyu's story later... will she shoot me with an arrow?
Ganyu noticed Lin Qiu's unusual behavior and thought of a possibility.
Her pretty face instantly flushed, "Mr. Lin... Lin Qiu, you wouldn't..."
Lin Qiu was, after all, a guest and not yet familiar with her, so she couldn't directly demand anything. She could only stare at Lin Qiu with a soft, melancholic expression.
"Ahem, Cloud Retainer, regarding teaching you how to write novels, that's fine, but could you also teach me adeptal arts?"
Lin Qiu couldn't bear Ganyu's expression and chose to change the subject.
"Adeptal arts?" Cloud Retainer wasn't opposed to teaching adeptal arts, especially since Lin Qiu wasn't an ordinary person.
However, adeptal arts require Talents and perseverance; not everyone can master them.
"This immortal cannot guarantee you will learn it," Cloud Retainer said bluntly.
"Naturally." Lin Qiu nodded in understanding, taking whatever he could learn.
Thus, the two became a sort of conjugate master and disciple.
Shenhe now understood: she had a junior disciple!
Junior disciple... I am now a senior disciple too... Hmm, I should take good care of my junior disciple.
"Mount Aocang is too troublesome to travel around. Cloud Retainer, why don't you also move to Liyue Harbor?" Lin Qiu suggested.
Ganyu expressed her support; she also wanted Cloud Retainer to live in Liyue Harbor.
"Live in Liyue Harbor, huh...?" Cloud Retainer pondered.
Ganyu and Aping had long since moved to Liyue Harbor, and now Zhongli had also become mortal and settled there.
Could it truly be more comfortable than her own adeptal abode?
"Let's talk about it later, after this immortal finishes this invention." Cloud Retainer still didn't agree immediately.
Lin Qiu didn't press the matter. Anyway, judging by Cloud Retainer's attitude, she was already leaning towards living in Liyue Harbor; she just hadn't made up her mind yet.
"As for the difficult mountain paths you mentioned, the first adeptal art this immortal will teach you will be the 'Divine Speed Technique.' This art is easy to learn but difficult to master, perfect for beginners."
The Divine Speed Technique, as its name suggests, allows one to run faster, and with mastery, one can even achieve flight.
Lin Qiu nodded, indicating his approval.
This wasn't all; Cloud Retainer was indeed good at conversation, at least she talked a lot. After teaching Lin Qiu the essentials of the Divine Speed Technique, she continued to chat with him.
"This immortal sees from what you've written in your book, is the Anemo Archon still the same character?"
"Also, Zhongli lives in Liyue Harbor; does he truly not carry Mora? Should this immortal also not carry any?"
Lin Qiu answered Cloud Retainer's questions one by one.
Upon learning that she didn't have Wangsheng Funeral Parlor or Northland Bank to reimburse her bills, Cloud Retainer fell into deep thought once more.
Would her small Mora treasury be enough to live in Liyue Harbor?
Hmm, if she controlled her spending, it should be fine, right?
She had no idea that once she arrived in Liyue Harbor, she wouldn't be able to control her desire to spend. She would want to buy all the novelties, whether useful or not.
It was just like Furina after her retirement, buying whatever looked fun, regardless of its utility.
But Furina was a superstar with an overflowing treasury, and Madame Harebourg helped her manage her finances.
Cloud Retainer didn't have that much Mora for now, and she would have to find ways to earn some in the future.
The group continued to chat until late into the night.
"Let's end it here for today. Lin Qiu may stay temporarily at this immortal's abode." Cloud Retainer transformed back into her large bird form and flapped her wings, flying back to her cave abode.
"Then I'll head back first," Ganyu said.
She had taken a day off from the Qixing, and it was time for her to return.
Lin Qiu also wanted to rest in the large bird's abode. Since he hadn't learned the Divine Speed Technique yet, he wouldn't leave Mount Aocang for now.
However, the Rite of Descension was not far off, so he had to learn it within these few days.
Shenhe suddenly tugged on Lin Qiu's coattail. Lin Qiu was wearing Liyue-style clothes this time, so he had coattails.
Incidentally, because he changed clothes, the position of his Vision also changed. It was now hanging from a waist chain on his lower back, something he learned from Zhongli.
"Junior Disciple, follow me down the mountain." Shenhe's expression was calm.
She didn't want Cloud Retainer to know about her going down the mountain, so she only spoke after Cloud Retainer left.
Junior Disciple? Is she calling me?
Lin Qiu was a bit puzzled. Although he was learning adeptal arts from Cloud Retainer, there didn't seem to be any master-disciple ceremony. Was he considered an 入門 disciple already?
He wasn't opposed to it. After all, Cloud Retainer did have a half-master relationship with him, so being considered an 入門 disciple was fine.
Lin Qiu didn't resist and obediently followed Shenhe.
At first, Shenhe said nothing, until they reached the foot of the mountain. Only then did Shenhe speak.
"Junior Disciple, do you know my destiny?" Shenhe asked as she walked.
Her "Isolated Star, Calamity Fiend" fate destined her not to form close bonds with others.
However, Lin Qiu was now her junior disciple, so she wanted to try.
Shenhe should have felt nervous asking this question, worried about losing her connection with her junior disciple, but due to the red rope, she felt no tension.
"Yes, the Isolated Star, Calamity Fiend," Lin Qiu said.
Shenhe glanced at Lin Qiu, and seeing his composed expression, she said nothing more.
Of course, Lin Qiu didn't take it seriously. No matter how much of an Isolated Star, Calamity Fiend you were, that was a destiny set by the Heavenly Principles. What did it have to do with him, an unregistered resident?
The two walked and chatted. Shenhe felt that as a senior disciple, she should take care of her junior disciple.
So, along the way, Shenhe taught Lin Qiu how to use the Divine Speed Technique.
Practice makes perfect. Through multiple attempts and Shenhe's direct guidance, Lin Qiu actually managed to use the Divine Speed Technique.
It was just as that woman said; this adeptal art was very easy to learn.
However, with Lin Qiu's current level of mastery, this Divine Speed Technique couldn't quite live up to the name "Divine Speed."
The journey that Shenhe alone could complete in half an hour took the two of them an entire night.
By the time they arrived at the village where Shenhe had lived as a child, the sky was already faintly lit.
"Junior Disciple's Talents are exceptional, mastering the Divine Speed Technique so quickly." Shenhe praised him expressionlessly, and even raised her hand to pat Lin Qiu's head.
"Ahem, let's go inside first," Lin Qiu said, uncomfortable with such praise.
He had seen Ganyu perform this art, and he could only say that the difference was vast.
Shenhe nodded and walked into the village first, with Lin Qiu following behind her.
This village had been abandoned for a long time. The house she lived in as a child was somewhat dilapidated from being torn down, and the place was already covered in dust and cobwebs.
Inside the house, white cloths fluttered, indicating the passing of the residents.
Shenhe looked at all of this calmly, seemingly without any emotional change.
But at this moment, she knew in her heart that she had completely lost contact with the mortal realm.
Resentment? Release? Both were present, but neither left a ripple in Shenhe's heart.
Stroking the fluttering white cloth beside her, Shenhe wondered if there was a piece of this white cloth for her too?
Mortal ties were hazy; perhaps the self in the mortal world had already died in the cave.
Feeling no emotions, even adepti wouldn't be like this. In such a state, was she still alive?
Lin Qiu stayed by Shenhe's side. Seeing Shenhe staring blankly at the white cloth, he reached out and touched the top of Shenhe's head, saying nothing.
Shenhe felt the warmth on her head. Her expression didn't change; she felt no emotions, but the sensation and temperature still gave her the feeling of being alive.
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Character Voice Line · Shenhe: About Lin Qiu · First Meeting
"You mean my junior disciple? He's a very interesting person. Although I don't quite understand the stories he tells, I don't dislike them."