"?" Hu Tao listened to Yu Jin's words, feeling utterly confused. Usually, it was others who couldn't keep up with her thoughts, but now it was her turn to not keep up with Yu Jin's.
Yu Jin saw Hu Tao's puzzled expression and said with a smile, "Some things aren't that difficult in front of a god."
As soon as he finished speaking, wisps of flesh materialized out of thin air from Xiao Jiu Jiu's soul. Due to the somewhat horrifying nature of it, Yu Jin made a small concealment, considering Xiao Jiu Jiu's and Hu Tao's feelings.
In Hu Tao's eyes, a ray of light bloomed from Xiao Jiu Jiu's spirit body, and then this light extended, covering Xiao Jiu Jiu's entire body.
The light dissipated, and the dead were revived.
"How is it, Xiao Jiu Jiu?" Yu Jin stroked Xiao Jiu Jiu's head, smiling inwardly. Sure enough, having a soul remnant was good; resurrection was much simpler.
Xiao Jiu Jiu suddenly turned around. She found that she could touch things again, feel the cool breeze, and perceive the forms of all things.
"This is…" Hu Tao looked at the reborn Xiao Jiu Jiu before her, her astonishment beyond words.
Even though an instance violating the boundary of life and death had appeared before her, she felt no anger in her heart.
The miracle of creating new life was more captivating than the boundary of life and death!
"Just creating a body that fits the soul," Yu Jin explained, then said with a sigh, "A trivial trick, not worth mentioning. If it could save those whose souls have already dissipated, then it would be truly commendable. Unfortunately, I'm still a little short."
Thinking of Joseph in Dragonspine, Yu Jin felt a little down. His own strength still wasn't quite enough.
"Who exactly are you!" Hu Tao no longer had any playful thoughts at this moment. Her eyes were fixed on Yu Jin, as if she could discern something from him.
He wasn't satisfied with saving the dead; he even wanted to pull back those who had gone to 'the other side'! Moreover, he claimed he was only a little short of achieving it?
Rarely, a strange sense of horror appeared in Hu Tao's heart. The person before her seemed to have no taboos, and what was even more terrifying was that he truly possessed the power to break those taboos!
Yu Jin saw Hu Tao's thoughts and said with a smile, "Don't worry. Taboos are only taboos because you don't understand them deeply enough."
"And I am very clever."
With that, Yu Jin lightly tapped his helmet.
"Hey—, Mister Yu Jin, we're rested!" Ai Qi's voice came from afar.
"Oh! Got it, coming now!" Yu Jin yelled back, breaking the somewhat heavy atmosphere.
Then he took Xiao Jiu Jiu's hand, waved to Hu Tao, and said, "My client is calling me. Well then, until we meet again, Parlor Master Hu."
Watching Yu Jin and Xiao Jiu Jiu's retreating figures, Hu Tao's confusion deepened. But soon she shook her head and quickly ran down the hill.
She needed to go back to Zhongli. Whenever she had questions, Mister Zhongli always resolved them for her, and she believed this time would be no different!
Meanwhile, Yu Jin brought Xiao Jiu Jiu back to the campfire, startling the members of the caravan.
They had not expected Yu Jin to return with a child after a short stroll.
"Xiao Jiu Jiu, she lives in Qingce Village and got separated from her family," Yu Jin explained, seeing Ai Qi staring at him.
"Is that so?" Ai Qi squatted down, pinching Xiao Jiu Jiu's cheek, and said with a smile, "Little one, you must stick close to the adults from now on, it's very dangerous here."
"Mm, I'll be careful from now on," Xiao Jiu Jiu pulled away from Ai Qi's hand. Please, pinching her cheek for so long hurt!
"Mister Yu Jin, if there's nothing else to take care of, can we depart?" Ai Qi saw that Xiao Jiu Jiu didn't want her to touch her anymore, so she didn't insist.
Yu Jin looked at the well-rested group, then at Xiao Jiu Jiu, who was running around playfully, and with a grand wave of his hand, he declared, "Depart! Destination, Qingce Village!"
…After leaving Wuwang Hill, the Sky returned to its clear state. Ai Qi looked at Xiao Jiu Jiu, who was bouncing on the back of the pack animal, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Had she been out in the elements for too long, causing her energy to decline so quickly? She couldn't even keep up with a child anymore?
However, she then looked at the distinct terraced fields not far away and breathed a sigh of relief. After so many days, they had finally reached their destination.
"Come on, everyone! Qingce Village is almost here. Look at that little girl, so full of vitality; you can't give up!" Ai Qi shouted, encouraging the caravan members.
Hearing Ai Qi's words, everyone looked at Xiao Jiu Jiu, who had already climbed off the pack animal and was running in the fields, and they all took a deep breath.
Soon, everyone in the caravan arrived at Qingce Village.
Looking at the panting group, Yu Jin, holding the already excited Xiao Jiu Jiu's hand, handed the commission to Ai Qi and said, "Since you've arrived at Qingce Village, the commission is complete. Please take a look."
Ai Qi took the commission, signing it as she spoke, "How long have you been an Adventurer, Mister Yu Jin?"
"Just starting. If you need anything, you can commission me. My passion for this profession hasn't waned yet," Yu Jin took the signed commission, confirmed everything was in order, and then left.
Ai Qi watched Yu Jin, who was holding Xiao Jiu Jiu's hand, and savored his words, her eyes lighting up.
It seemed she needed to write to Lord Sangonomiya Kokomi quickly. A god could be hired with Mora; such an opportunity might only happen once in Teyvat's history.
Yu Jin and Xiao Jiu Jiu wandered through Qingce Village, though this time it was Xiao Jiu Jiu leading Yu Jin.
As soon as they left the caravan, Xiao Jiu Jiu eagerly pulled Yu Jin, wanting to take him to see her home.
It seemed Xiao Jiu Jiu hadn't yet realized the power of time.
However, Yu Jin didn't point it out. Who knew, maybe Xiao Jiu Jiu's family still lived there?
Unfortunately, Yu Jin was disappointed. Xiao Jiu Jiu only led him to a dilapidated house. Judging by the dust and cobwebs, this family had moved out years ago.
"Waaah… Papa, Mama." Xiao Jiu Jiu clearly hadn't expected this situation. She immediately squatted on the ground, at a loss.
Seeing Xiao Jiu Jiu sobbing, Yu Jin had no good solution and could only squat down with her.
"Jiu Jiu?" An old voice came, trembling as if in disbelief at the scene before her.
Xiao Jiu Jiu heard someone call her, looked back at the person, and immediately broke into a smile through her tears.
"Grandma Ruoxin!" Xiao Jiu Jiu threw herself into Ruoxin's embrace, but soon choked up again.
"Papa… Mama… and Brother Jiu… they're all gone."
"Good child, good child, don't be afraid. Chang Jiu is still here, and your Papa and Mama have only moved away," Ruoxin said, stroking Xiao Jiu Jiu's head, comforting her.
Seeing Xiao Jiu Jiu stop crying, Ruoxin bent down and asked, "Jiu Jiu, tell Grandma, who brought you back?"
Xiao Jiu Jiu, upon hearing this, fidgeted with her hands, torn between her doting Grandma Ruoxin and Yu Jin, who saved her. She wasn't sure what to do.
Actually, it didn't matter whether Xiao Jiu Jiu spoke or not, because Ruoxin's gaze hadn't left Yu Jin since she first saw him.
Yu Jin felt there was nothing to hide, so he stepped forward and said, "I saw Xiao Jiu Jiu alone at Wuwang Hill and felt sorry for her, so I brought her back."
"Is that so?" Ruoxin nodded, then said to Yu Jin and Xiao Jiu Jiu, "Come on, Jiu Jiu, I'll take you to see Chang Jiu. He'll be very surprised to see you!"
Joking, the three of them arrived in front of the last house in Qingce Village.
"Little Jiu, guess who's here?" Ruoxin called out to the house, and then a man in a long robe walked out.
"Grandma Ruo…" Chang Jiu had just walked out of the house when he saw Xiao Jiu Jiu next to Ruoxin. He immediately ran back inside and pulled out a faded, yellowed photograph.
This was a photo a young Chang Jiu had asked a traveler from Fontaine to take when he visited Qingce Village.
Chang Jiu compared the girl in the photo to Xiao Jiu Jiu, who was cowering behind Ruoxin, and said with a dry throat, "This is…?"
Ruoxin smiled and nodded, looking at the red-eyed Chang Jiu before her, and said, "Yes, Jiu Jiu is back."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
If you want to see it, then why not?