Cloud Retainer, her face flushed with both anger and embarrassment, glared at Qiu Bai.
"You're still the same as before—too rigid."
"Why put so much weight on seniority? We all protect Liyue. Those who can fight, fight. Those who can plan, plan."
Qiu Bai looked at Cloud Retainer, who was still visibly flustered, and waved his hand as he spoke casually.
"Oh? So seniority doesn't matter that much?"
"Then how about I just start calling you 'Big Dummy' from now on?"
The moment Cloud Retainer heard that, her anger flared.
Not only had Qiu Bai stopped addressing her as an Adeptus, but it was all because he himself had just said not to put too much importance on seniority.
"Hey! Is that what I meant by 'seniority'?"
"Then how about I call you 'Lord of Smooth Talking' instead?!"
Hearing himself get called a "Big Dummy," Qiu Bai immediately fired back, just as irritated.
"How does a god like you even exist?!"
"I should've just left you on top of Jueyun Karst while you were sleeping—let you be sunburned and battered by the wind!"
Cloud Retainer face was still tinged with red as she huffed in frustration.
"Well, too bad for you—I exist, and I'm right here. Annoyed yet?"
Qiu Bai grinned shamelessly.
"You're the one in the wrong!"
"No, you are in the wrong!"
Everyone : ...
Paimon and Lumine stood to the side, watching Cloud Retainer and the Immortal Lord of Liyue bickering.
Paimon scratched her head, utterly confused.
"Why does it feel like they're arguing like little kids?"
"They're both thousands of years old, aren't they?"
She waved her hand in disbelief, speaking to Lumine. The sheer absurdity of the scene gave her a sense of whiplash.
It was hard to believe that the very same person currently engaged in a childish argument was the same god who had just unleashed a devastating sword strike moments ago.
Lumine smirked and glanced at Paimon.
"Isn't that exactly how you argue too?"
Paimon immediately puffed up in defiance.
"I do NOT!"
"Ugh, I'm so mad! I'm gonna mess up your hair!"
Stomping her foot in frustration, Paimon lunged at Lumine head.
"Hah! Paimon, you're too small! There's no way you can catch me!"
Unfazed, Lumine retaliated by grabbing at Paimon hair instead.
Nearby, the Millelith soldiers watched the two tug at each other's hair, their expressions twitching in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Keqing had also been observing the bickering Adepti.
Rather than having her faith in them shattered by Qiu Bai childish squabble, her eyes sparkled with admiration instead.
"The Immortal Lord is both gentle and approachable…"
"It seems that even the most powerful figures, like the Qixing, should never use their status to suppress others."
She nodded to herself in deep thought.
At this moment, two of her idols—one she had always looked up to, and another she had never expected to admire—stood right before her.
How could Keqing not be excited? (T/N: Heh you archon simp!)
Of course, on the surface, she still had to maintain that disrespectful towards gods and adepti attitude.
Who knew if Keqing would actually learn anything if she found out that the Zhongli she met that day was, in fact, the Geo Archon himself?
"Master and the Immortal Lord seem to have a great relationship."
Ganyu covered her mouth and chuckled softly as she watched the two bickering.
Ningguang gaze also fell on the quarreling pair.
A faint smile tugged at her lips—this kind of scene was something she had never witnessed before.
She hadn't expected her own Adeptus to start arguing with an old friend just to support her ideals.
"Ahem…"
Nearby, Mountain Shaper looked around at the growing audience.
With measured steps, he walked over to Qiu Bai and Cloud Retainer, who were still in the midst of their argument.
"Uh… Immortal Lord? Cloud Retainer?"
He asked cautiously.
"Do you need something, Mountain Shaper?" / "What do you want, old man?!"
Qiu Bai and Cloud Retainer turned their heads at the exact same moment, staring at Mountain Shaper, who looked completely bewildered.
Speaking in a hushed tone, Mountain Shaper reminded them, "Immortal Lord, Cloud Retainer… take a look around."
Qiu Bai and Cloud Retainer slowly glanced around their surroundings.
Even with Qiu Bai usual composure, he couldn't help but awkwardly scratch his nose.
Meanwhile, Cloud Retainer face flushed bright red as she took in the onlookers.
"What are you looking at?! Stop staring at this Adeptus!"
"Haven't you ever seen Adepti argue before?!"
The surrounding Millelith soldiers, the Liyue Qixing, and even Lumine and Paimon—who were still tangled up in their hair-pulling match—silently agreed:
No. They had never seen such a thing.
Before Cloud Retainer could say anything else, Qiu Bai simply stepped forward.
Just as Cloud Retainer was about to charge after him, he casually reached back and placed a hand on her head, effortlessly keeping her in place.
"Haha, well then, in that case—I agree with this, Ningguang."
Behind him, Cloud Retainer fumed, repeatedly hammering her fists against his arm in frustration.
"Since that's settled, I'll take my leave for now. You all go ahead and talk."
"Hahaha…"
Just as Qiu Bai finished speaking and turned to leave, he suddenly paused.
With a rare seriousness in his expression, he turned back to face the Adepti and the Qixing.
"Ningguang, I've fully recovered now. If you ever run into trouble, you can use this stone to contact me."
"However, I will soon enter another slumber. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
A cryptic smile played across Qiu Bai lips as he looked at Ningguang.
Then, he tossed her a stone—one half black, the other half white.
For a long time, Ningguang stood there, stunned.
She nearly forgot to catch the stone, only snapping out of her daze after several moments.
"Thank you, Immortal Lord."
Lowering her head, she bowed deeply toward him.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon—who both still had their hands tangled in each other's hair were utterly lost.
"Did you get any of that, Traveler?"
Paimon asked in confusion, looking up at Lumine.
"I think I get the gist of it, Paimon."
Lumine lips curled into a faint smile as she watched Ningguang bow.
Among the crowd, Granny Ping gently patted Qiqi head and nodded toward Ningguang with a kind smile.
Qiu Bai, seeing Ningguang gesture, also smiled in satisfaction.
"Xiao, come here and hold on to me as well."
While resisting Cloud Retainer struggling with one hand, Qiu Bai used the other to beckon Xiao over.
"Immortal Lord, what do you require of me?"
With a swift teleport, Xiao appeared before him.
"Just hold on to me."
Qiu Bai grinned at him.
"Understood."
Without hesitation, Xiao grasped the hem of Qiu Bai robe.
In the next instant, Qiu Bai vanished, taking both Cloud Retainer and Xiao with him.
He knew that if Cloud Retainer stayed here any longer, the situation would only grow more awkward.
Ningguang kept her gaze fixed on the spot where Qiu Bai had disappeared before offering another respectful salute.
"Farewell, Immortal Lord."
Then, she slowly straightened and turned toward the assembled Adepti.
"Since even the Immortal Lord has acknowledged you, what more can we say?"
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper exchanged a glance and chose to remain silent.
"However, as bystanders, we may see things more clearly. What do you have to say about this?"
Moon Carver gaze shifted to Lumine and Paimon.
Lumine met his eyes and spoke calmly.
"When a guardian comes into conflict with those they are meant to protect… Things can become nearly impossible to repair."
"Ah, yes. That reminds me of a story from Mondstadt, about the Four Winds and the Wind God people."
"The Wind God wished to prevent their division because he believed that conflict would only leave scars in their hearts, with no benefit to either side…"
Paimon explained to Moon Carver in a slow, thoughtful tone.
"That is what we learned in the City of Freedom."
Lumine placed a hand over her chest and spoke softly to the elder Adeptus before her.
"Every nation in the world has its own struggles."
Keqing voice broke the silence as she gazed at Lumine and Paimon.
"What you said is simple truth."
"But as Adepti, we should not allow those who have aided us to witness our foolishness."
Mountain Shaper finally spoke, his tone calm but resolute.
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