"So, Shenhe is a branch family member of your clan. You are related by blood, you are family?"
Inside the villa, Miss Durandal drank the tea White Oriole gave her and summarized Chongyun's statement.
No wonder Shenhe's father had such a plan. Even as a branch family, there were records of such books in the family, and finding a way to revive people in those books was not difficult.
Shenhe being able to fight magical beasts in the cave for several days was probably also due to her training since childhood. Otherwise, even if her fate was that of the Lone Star Calamity, she wouldn't have been able to endure or resist.
"Yes, the elders often told me about what happened to her family. The elders in the family have always regretted their misfortune."
Chongyun took the cold drink White Oriole handed him, thanked her, and then continued, "I didn't expect her to still be alive and to have become such a formidable person. The elders will definitely be happy to know this. If you are willing, you can absolutely come back with me."
"No, I have no intention of going back with you. I appreciate your invitation, but I cannot accept your proposal."
Shenhe refused Chongyun's proposal without any hesitation. Although she was happy to know she still had family in this world, she already had something more important, and no matter what happened, she would not give it up.
Shenhe's direct refusal made Chongyun freeze, and it took a long time for him to recover.
Although he felt some regret, he wasn't the type to force others. He also saw that Shenhe preferred to stay with Miss Durandal. Since this was her wish, how could he stop her?
Not just her, the family elders probably wouldn't be able to either. Let alone the kind elders, even those with more fiery tempers probably couldn't do anything.
Want to cause trouble? First, see if Shenhe even bothers with them. She's not someone completely without combat ability. If you anger her, even with blood ties, she'll fight, and with even fewer reservations.
Besides, she also has an Adeptus master, and the person she relies on now is Miss Durandal. With them as her backing, who would dare touch Shenhe? Even the Qixing probably couldn't interfere.
"Although I cannot go back with you, if you have any difficulties in cultivation, you can come and ask me. As long as I am in Liyue Harbor, you can come to me for guidance at any time."
Out of respect for their blood relation, Shenhe was willing to guide Chongyun in his cultivation. With the abilities she currently possessed, teaching Chongyun was more than enough.
Chongyun nodded. Although he didn't know Shenhe's strength, her demeanor alone showed that her strength would definitely not be lacking.
Chongyun originally wanted to chat a bit longer, but he wasn't good at conversation, and Shenhe also didn't know what to say.
Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Chongyun promised to visit again next time and left the villa with Xingqiu.
Shenhe sat upright on the sofa, looking at the ceiling expressionlessly, lost in thought.
"You... are very happy right now, aren't you?"
Usually, it was Shenhe who revealed Miss Durandal's true emotions; now it was Miss Durandal's turn to reveal Shenhe's true emotions.
"Yes, very happy. I didn't expect to still have family in this world. This feeling... is very good."
Shenhe's lips curved slightly. She had thought she had no family left in this world, but she realized she wasn't alone; she still had relatives from a large family in Liyue Harbor.
However... Shenhe, unaccustomed to being surrounded by too many people, imagined herself going to Chongyun's house and facing the warm hospitality of many people. She definitely wouldn't be able to handle it.
Crowds were one issue, and etiquette was another. How should she respond to the kindness of those people? This was a question that needed consideration.
At night, most of the villa's lights were off. When everyone was resting, Miss Durandal's room was visited again.
This time, Lumine didn't come along. Undoubtedly, the only one who came to visit Miss Durandal was Shenhe, who had returned with her.
It wasn't her first time. She walked in very naturally, as if returning to her own room. Seeing that Miss Durandal wasn't lying on the bed, she went to the room's balcony and, sure enough, found Miss Durandal there.
"Can't sleep again? I thought you'd get a good night's sleep today."
"I'll have to trouble you again tonight, is that alright?"
Could she say no? Perhaps, but the next day she would definitely be greeted by Shenhe's gaze. To avoid affecting her mood the next day, Miss Durandal could only accept.
It was absolutely not because of a soft heart; it was just to avoid affecting her mood tomorrow, understood?
The chairs on the balcony had been replaced with long benches, allowing several people to sit together, preventing Klee from having to sit on her lap next time she visited.
Shenhe sat down beside Miss Durandal, very close to her, to the point where they could directly feel their skin touching.
Miss Durandal didn't realize anything. She poured Shenhe a cup of hot tea as usual. The night wind was a little cool, and a cup of tea would warm her body.
"Your gaze is constantly on me. If you have something to say, just say it directly; there's no need to worry about anything."
Her gaze was too obvious. Not to mention Miss Durandal, even a Children could feel Shenhe's stare.
She also had no intention of hiding it, just like her usual actions, but this time it was overly obvious, and her eyes also contained strong emotions, making it impossible for Miss Durandal to ignore.
"...Thank you, Durandal."
"You already apologized to me this morning, and I said I wasn't..."
"No, I'm not thanking you for what happened this morning. I'm thanking you for everything you've done for me. Thank you, truly, thank you so much."
Shenhe recalled their first meeting. She was resting by the pond where she usually relaxed when Durandal suddenly appeared before her.
At the time, she thought it was an enemy and immediately drew her spear to attack. The result was obvious: she was no match for Durandal.
Durandal did not harm her. She deflected all of Shenhe's attacks, then sat by the pond, staring blankly at the water just like Shenhe.
Their first meeting was not friendly, but that did not hinder their subsequent interactions.
From eliminating the strong murderous intent brought by her fate to guiding her through various regions of Liyue, and finally resolving her inner demons—Durandal was there for all of it.
Even though Durandal always said she hadn't done anything, she had done far too much.
Unbeknownst to her, Shenhe owed Durandal many favors, and she estimated she would never be able to repay them in a lifetime.
"I...I will stay by your side and try my best to repay your kindness. I hope...you won't drive me away before I've repaid these favors, okay?"
If it were in the past, if Durandal told her to leave, she would definitely feel nothing and turn to leave without hesitation.
But they had been through so much together. As her feelings grew, Shenhe found herself increasingly unable to leave. She...could no longer go.
She was a little afraid, afraid that Durandal would abandon her like her father did, so she couldn't help but come to Durandal, hoping Durandal would let her stay by her side and not drive her away.
"Strange fellow, why would I drive you away? Don't forget Lumine invited you out of seclusion. If anyone were to drive you away, it would be her business, what does it have to do with me?"
They were all traveling companions invited by Lumine. Durandal was just a member of the team, not the leader, so she had no right to drive anyone away. If anyone were to do it, it would be Lumine.
But with that fellow's personality, Durandal suspected that as long as Shenhe maintained her current figure, even if she made a mistake, Lumine would choose to forgive her.
"Don't worry about anyone driving you away. As long as you don't harm any of us, then do what you want to do."
"Do what I want to do?"
"Yes, do what you want to do. You don't need me or anyone else to arrange it for you. Everything about you should be arranged by yourself."
Shenhe nodded, repeatedly pondering Durandal's words in her heart: What did she want to do? She already knew, but she had been afraid it wouldn't be appropriate.
But Durandal said that as long as she didn't harm any of them, she could do what she wanted. That's what she meant, right? She shouldn't have misunderstood, right?
She...had received permission, right? It must be so, right?
At this thought, Shenhe's body suddenly began to tremble uncontrollably, not because the evening breeze was too cold, but because of overwhelming excitement.
Why was she excited? Only she herself knew the reason. Durandal didn't understand what was wrong with Shenhe today, why she kept acting so strangely.
"While we have time, how about we practice what we did earlier at the Dragonspine camp?"
"The Glacial Seal / Ice Puppet Escort influenced by Humus Power? If you're willing, no problem."
Durandal readily extended her hand. Shenhe immediately grasped Durandal's hand, but this time it was different from a simple handshake. Her five fingers intertwined through Durandal's, gripping her hand tightly in this manner.
Because Venti and Lumine had done similar things before, Durandal didn't notice Shenhe's abnormality, thinking she was just trying to connect better. So, she reciprocated Shenhe's grip, and their hands remained clasped tightly, fingers intertwined.
A puppet identical to Shenhe reappeared. With her ability to fly, she soared freely in the skies of Liyue Harbor.
If this scene were witnessed, people would surely mistake Shenhe for an adeptus.
The puppet was merely a means to distract Durandal. At this moment, Shenhe was striving to multitask, feeling the pulsating touch from her palm that made her heart flutter.
Calm down. Don't expose yourself because of this small success. Durandal is no ordinary person. If she were exposed like this, forget about proceeding with the later steps; she wouldn't even be able to hold hands simply.
Durandal said to do what she wanted to do. She...was now preparing to do what she wanted.
Before that...there was still much work to do, and much to learn.
It was different from the adeptal arts she had learned from the adepti before, but she knew the content was no less than adeptal arts, perhaps even more difficult to understand.
But she wouldn't give up, absolutely not.
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