Chapter 27: Another Departing Figure
Having watched Jingchen and Columbine disappear into the crowd, Paimon finally breathed a sigh of relief. She flew out from behind Lumine.
"Those two Harbingers seemed a bit off, completely different from La Signora. I thought all Harbingers were like her, right, Traveler?"
"How would I know? You're asking the wrong person!" Paimon replied earnestly, her voice filled with righteous indignation.
"Ah, Traveler, don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll protect you."
Lumine rolled her eyes at Paimon. Just moments ago, Paimon had been the first to hide behind her. Lumine turned and walked away, and Paimon quickly followed.
"Ah, Traveler, wait for me!"
***
Jingchen brought Columbine to Bubu Pharmacy, where Baizhu and Changsheng were already present.
Changsheng was the first to greet Jingchen.
"Hey, Jingchen, did you go looking for my sister?!"
At the mention of "sister," Columbine, standing behind Jingchen, gave his arm a slight squeeze.
Jingchen smiled awkwardly.
"Changsheng, I've already found Columbine."
"Columbine? That's not right. My sister's name isn't Columbine."
Changsheng looked at Columbine beside Jingchen with a puzzled expression. Her hair was a gradient of black and red, and her eyes were tightly closed.
Her exquisite beauty, coupled with three pairs of pure white wings, left him stunned.
"Who are you?!"
"My Jingchen's wife."
"Huh?!"
Changsheng was taken aback, and Baizhu quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Brother Jingchen, how is Qiqi doing?!"
"I came here today specifically to return Qiqi."
Jingchen carefully carried the sleeping Qiqi out of his Serenitea Pot and gently handed her to Baizhu.
"Brother Jingchen, would you like to have a meal with us at Bubu Pharmacy?"
Changsheng retorted sarcastically, "With that strong grilled fish smell, who could possibly eat anything?!"
Jingchen chuckled awkwardly, realizing Changsheng still had some reservations about his current state.
"Baizhu, Changsheng, I have urgent matters to attend to. Let's talk again another time."
"Then we won't keep you. Farewell, Brother Jingchen."
"Farewell."
As Jingchen turned to leave, Changsheng snorted heavily.
"Watch your step."
Once Jingchen was completely gone, Baizhu suddenly opened his eyes.
"Changsheng, that was very rude."
"I'm just a little angry. Why did he have to step in front of my sister that day, leaving her with an unforgettable memory that will last a lifetime?
My sister could have handled those dragon lizards herself.
Sigh, I bet she's still waiting foolishly outside Cloud Retainer's Immortal Abode."
"I'll be going to Mt. Aocang tomorrow to gather herbs. I'll tell your sister."
"Huh?! Tomorrow? Are you sure? Tomorrow's the Rite of Descension!"
"It's fine."
"Baizhu, did you notice something?!"
"What?"
"That Jingchen... he doesn't seem human."
Baizhu smiled wryly.
"There's nothing wrong with not being human. At least he won't have to worry about the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death."
***
Inside the Northland Bank, Jingchen suddenly realized that Lumine had arrived in Liyue, and the Rite of Descension was about to begin.
He had to distribute all of Liyue's tasks immediately.
He emphasized that the Fatui in Liyue should stay away from Lumine and Paimon, especially in the wilderness.
He also dispatched personnel to join Liyue's forces in supporting the Ninth Company in the Chasm.
And finally, he had to handle various trade documents between Snezhnaya and Liyue.
"A'Chen, why do you seem so anxious?"
"Ah, Aya, the Rite of Descension is tomorrow. If we don't finish everything today, it'll be hard to leave Liyue Harbor tomorrow."
"What?! Why?"
Jingchen didn't know how to explain it to Columbine.
He couldn't say that Zhongli had faked his own death to retire, and Ningguang had sealed off the scene.
The entire Liyue Harbor was under strict lockdown.
But with Rosalyne and Tartaglia both absent, what would become of Lumine's Archon Quest?
While he was curious, his priority was to leave Liyue immediately, given the Archon's assassination.
Keqing and Ningguang would undoubtedly suspect him, a Harbinger, first.
To avoid complications, he decided to employ the thirty-sixth strategy: flee.
"Aya, trust me. Something will definitely go wrong at the Rite of Descension. We should leave Liyue sooner rather than later."
Columbine nodded lightly, then turned to Jingchen with a suspicious look.
"Some girls from Inazuma... seem to have a certain connection to you."
"Huh?!"
"Wangshou?! Is that right?! You mentioned it in your sleep talk."
Columbine spoke the two words in the childish voice she used when she was young, catching Jingchen off guard.
Back in Inazuma, he had played shogi with Ayaka every day, but he had never won a single match.
He hadn't expected that even in his dreams, he'd still be trying to beat her.
*Sigh*, how embarrassing.
"Ahem, Aya, back then, Ayaka was about the same age as Hu Tao. How could I have had any romantic feelings for her, let alone confessed?"
"And now? More than a decade has passed. Surely Kamisato Ayaka has grown up by now."
Jingchen quickly shook his head.
"Don't worry, Aya. In my eyes, Ayaka will always be a child, like a younger sister, just like Hu Tao."
Columbine nodded slowly, murmuring to herself in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum.
"Anyway, her fate will be the same as Hu Tao's."
***
As evening approached, the sea breeze brushed their faces. Jingchen led Columbine to the harbor, then turned back for one last look at Liyue.
He hadn't informed any of his old friends in Liyue, nor his master or senior sisters.
Perhaps leaving without saying goodbye was the best choice.
Just as Jingchen was about to board the ship, a faint tinkling sound made both him and Columbine stop.
They turned to look back, and her blue hair seemed to glow brightly in the night.
"Senior Sister Ganyu?!"
Ganyu, carrying boxes of her homemade Lotus Crisps, had run all the way to Jingchen and Columbine.
"Junior Brother Jingchen, Columbine, these are Lotus Crisps I made. Take them with you."
"Senior Sister Ganyu, tomorrow is the Rite of Descension. You... sigh."
Ganyu smiled faintly and handed two Lotus Crisps to Jingchen and Columbine.
To dispel Jingchen's worry that she hadn't finished her work and might be working overtime tonight, she said gently, "Junior Brother Jingchen, don't worry. I've already finished all my work for today."
Jingchen smiled wryly. Senior Sister Ganyu was still too kind.
She had probably skipped work to make Lotus Crisps for him and Columbine, and then skipped work again to see them off.
Tonight, Ganyu was destined to work overtime, and because she'd stay up all night, she'd miss the Rite of Descension tomorrow.
Columbine ate the Lotus Crisp, and a blissful smile instantly lit up her face.
"Senior Sister Ganyu, these Lotus Crisps are absolutely delicious!"
"I'm glad you like them, Columbine. I'll make more for you next time I visit Liyue."
Columbine nodded slightly.
Under Ganyu's watchful gaze, Jingchen and Columbine boarded the ship bound for Inazuma.
Even after the ship disappeared over the horizon, Ganyu remained standing on the pier, letting the cold autumn wind whip across her face.
Another farewell.
Last time, she hadn't had the courage to confess her feelings or even hold his hand.
But this time, Columbine stood by his side.
Perhaps in this lifetime, all she could do was watch him leave again and again, offering him her silent blessings.
Lost in thought, Ganyu's eyes brimmed with crystal-clear tears, cold and dewy, that threatened to spill over at any moment.
.....
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(End of Chapter)