**Chapter 16: The Fatui's Way of Survival in Liyue**
Columbina slowly retrieved her notebook, pen in hand, and began to read aloud as she wrote:
Third autumn with Jingchen, September 20th, 5 PM. A young snake, saved by Jingchen, seeks to repay him.
This repayment is... quite peculiar. She's offering him her entire life?! Unwavering devotion?!
*Sigh.* How many girls are after my Jingchen now?!
Still, I trust my A'Chen. Though, if he ever... *Heh*, then he can't blame me for being ruthless.
Columbina's clear, melodious voice, tinged with anger and jealousy, startled Jingchen slightly.
"A'Ya, I... This doesn't count, does it? I have no memory of Chang Sheng's sister."
Columbina smiled faintly.
"Of course it doesn't count."
Jingchen was about to explain further when he felt someone tugging at his white robe. He looked down to see Qiqi softly saying, "Qiqi wants Coconut Milk."
"Ah?! Qiqi, wait for Jingchen-gege!"
Jingchen rummaged through his spatial pouch, searching diligently.
After a long search, he couldn't find the Coconut Milk Qiqi needed.
Columbina reached into Jingchen's pouch and retrieved the Coconut Milk, handing it to Qiqi.
She lowered her head, leaned down, and spoke gently to Qiqi.
"Qiqi, Baizhu has agreed to let Jingchen and me take care of you for a while."
"Qiqi, won't be, tricked."
"This is a letter from Baizhu."
Columbina snatched the letter from Jingchen's hand and gave it to Qiqi.
Qiqi carefully sniffed the medicinal scent on the letter.
"It's, indeed, from, Mister Baizhu. You, will take care of, Qiqi, for a while."
"Yes."
"Then, during this time, Qiqi, will still, gather herbs?"
"Jingchen-gege and I will help you, Qiqi."
"Thank you, Jingchen-gege, Columbina-jiejie."
Columbina lowered her gaze, her crescent-moon eyebrows curving gently. She took out a white ribbon and tied it around Qiqi's neck.
Qiqi didn't know what the ribbon was, but she felt Columbina's gentle warmth.
It felt both strange and familiar.
Strange because in all her thousands of years, no one had ever tied a bow for her.
Familiar because deep within her soul, there seemed to be someone incredibly important to her.
Someone who would tie her bow with such extraordinary tenderness.
No matter how hard she tried, Qiqi couldn't recall that person's face or voice.
But she knew, without a doubt, that they were truly important to her.
Gather herbs, gather herbs.
Go home, go home.
She's still waiting for Qiqi, waiting for Qiqi.
Qiqi isn't her real name, not her real name.
Qiqi wants a little sparrow, Qiqi wants to live.
Live. Because she's still waiting for Qiqi.
But who is she?! Qiqi doesn't know, Qiqi knows nothing.
The frost around her continued to condense, and the talisman on her forehead gradually crumbled and dissipated.
Jingchen quickly reassembled and redrew the talisman.
Qiqi calmed down, emitting soft snores as she drifted into a deep slumber.
Columbina, her face etched with worry and self-reproach, turned to Jingchen.
"Jingchen, is Qiqi alright?! Did I do something wrong?!"
Jingchen shook his head slightly.
"A'Ya, you did nothing wrong."
"What just happened to Qiqi?!"
"Ah, it's nothing to worry about. Let's head back to the Northland Bank."
Jingchen carried Qiqi on his back and led Columbina out of Bubu Pharmacy.
As they walked, he told Columbina everything he knew about Qiqi.
Cloud Retainer had warned him not to let Qiqi dwell too much on her memories, especially those of her family.
Before obtaining her Cryo Vision, Qiqi had been on the brink of death.
Her short life flashed before her like a lantern show, and at that moment, she wanted to live more than anything.
The boundless fear of death, the infinite longing for life, and the endless yearning for her loved ones.
These emotions crystallized into a tearful, icy pattern, granting her the Cryo Vision.
*Where bitter cold returns, life shall rise from death.*
Qiqi was truly a pitiful child.
Jingchen brought Columbina back to the Northland Bank. The Fatui guards instinctively recoiled when they saw Qiqi.
It was clear they were somewhat afraid of her.
Jingchen handed the sleeping Qiqi to Columbina, instructing her to return to her Serenitea Pot to rest.
He then approached the two guards.
"Hmm? What was that just now?!"
The two guards' pupils constricted, their faces tense as they spoke.
"Lord Jingchen, you don't know! Every time that little zombie goes out to gather herbs, she grabs her dull sword and starts hacking at us Fatui, just like the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
"Ah?! Qiqi would attack people unprovoked?! No, Qiqi would attack Fatui unprovoked?!"
"Yes! Yes!"
Jingchen waved his hand helplessly, then paused to consider. He realized Baizhu must have written in Qiqi's notebook that if she encountered Fatui in the wild, she should proactively drive them away.
*Sigh, that makes sense.* After all, many Fatui operating in the wilderness harbored ulterior motives. Some were on patrol, others were searching for Liyue's ruins, and still others were surveying Liyue's terrain. Worse still, some colluded with the Treasure Hoarders, secretly selling them Evil Eyes and disregarding the Ice Queen's honor, all for the sake of earning more Mora.
*Wait... I'm technically Fatui now too.*
Jingchen cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Issue this order: from now on, whenever Liyue Fatui encounter Qiqi gathering herbs in the wild, they are to flee immediately. Understand?!"
"Lord Jingchen, why are you so biased toward others?"
"I'm doing this for your own good. You can't possibly defeat Qiqi and Hu Tao in the wild, can you? So why bother helping Hu Tao boost her sales? Survival is the wisest path."
The two guards exchanged wide-eyed glances, their faces a mixture of shock and embarrassment.
Even they would put up a token resistance before fleeing if they encountered Qiqi and Hu Tao in the wild.
But Jingchen was telling them to run away outright?
Executive Puppet, who used to lecture them, had always said that the Fatui fought for the glory of the Ice Queen, and that dying in battle was their ultimate fate.
Running away was the act of a coward, and Childe had ordered them to fight to the last breath, shedding every last drop of blood for Her Majesty.
"Um, Lord Jingchen, you're not joking, are you?!"
"Hmm?! I'm dead serious. Spread the word: the Fatui in Liyue need to be more cautious."
"Yes, sir."
Thanks to Jingchen's orders, when Lumine eventually arrived in Liyue, finding Fatui badges became a real challenge.
She discovered that the Fatui in Liyue would flee the moment they saw her.
They were truly being overly cautious.
...........
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(End of Chapter)