"Not bad, you brat. You do have some discernment. The reason this adeptus has been unwilling to take human form is precisely because I have encountered far too many fellows like that."
As Cloud Retainer spoke, the corners of her mouth kept rising, clearly very pleased with Su Han's praise.
At this moment, the Song of Dust and City Adeptus beside her smiled and said, "I advised you long ago to take human form. Now you regret it, don't you?"
"Regret what? The evaluations of mortals are always the same few phrases. They are far inferior to this child's sincere appraisal. If I had not seen you regain your youth today, this adeptus would not have bothered to take human form at all."
Cloud Retainer was as stubborn as ever, but who did not understand her temperament. This transformation was surely because she did not want to lose face in front of the younger generation.
Seeing the pleasant atmosphere, Su Han immediately suggested, "Since both immortal ladies have returned to their former appearances, why not perform a duet together?"
"That will not be necessary. This adeptus has been busy lately helping you propagate Telephone Snails. I only came out to get some fresh air. If you truly want to hear us perform together, wait until next time."
Cloud Retainer was actually quite tempted by the proposal, after all, the two of them had not performed together for several hundred years. However, when she saw a trace of sorrow flash through her old friend's eyes, she temporarily extinguished the thought.
What Song of Dust wanted to do most right now should be to go to Guili Plains to search for memories of the past.
Sure enough, after hearing her refusal, the Song of Dust and City Adeptus picked up her zither and said, "Alright, I am not free this time either. We will perform for you another day. Su Han… Yaoyao will be in your care today. I want to go outside the city and spend some time alone."
"Adeptus, are you alright?"
Hearing her words, even a fool like Su Han could tell something was off.
But the Song of Dust and City Adeptus shook her head and said, "I am merely reminded of someone by familiar sights. It is nothing serious. Going out for a walk will be fine."
"That is good then. Yaoyao, let us go. Big Brother will treat you to plain boiled chicken today."
"Wow, really? Yaoyao likes Wanmin Restaurant's plain boiled chicken the most. Later I want to bring some for Qiqi to eat."
"No problem."
After the one big and one small left the courtyard, the Song of Dust and City Adeptus turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished.
On a hillside outside the city, gazing at the long-abandoned wilderness, the immortal's thoughts gradually returned to that era. Back then, she always traveled and performed music everywhere with Guizhong. Every day was filled with incomparable joy.
After a moment, she took out the Cleansing Bell and gently plucked it once. A crisp, pleasant chime immediately rang out.
The Song of Dust and City Adeptus slowly closed her eyes, her hands gently brushing the zither strings. She moved in rhythm with the bell, striving to harmonize with it. The lingering bell tones intertwined with the zither music and spread outward, causing even the busy workers far away on the roads to become immersed in it.
After a long while, the immortal finally stopped. Without turning her head, she asked, "Rex Lapis, do you think reincarnation truly exists?"
Behind the Song of Dust and City Adeptus, an extra figure had appeared at some unknown point. Only half a cup of wine remained in his hand, clearly showing that he had arrived quite some time ago.
Hearing his friend's question, Zhongli gently shook his head.
"For now, I do not know. But if reincarnation did exist, how wonderful that would be. When I read Fox Spirit Matchmaker before, I also thought about this question. Unfortunately, Teyvat has yet to have any example of reincarnation."
"Sigh. After hearing Su Han's words just now, I felt something stir within me and wanted to come out to try a duet. In the end, a dead object is still a dead object. It can never be as joyful as when Guizhong was here. What fills the heart is mostly sorrow."
As the Song of Dust and City Adeptus spoke, her appearance visibly aged before the eye, eventually returning to Granny Ping's elderly form.
Hearing this, Zhongli smiled and said, "Actually, I think you could maintain your previous appearance. After all, Su Han's comics also say that people must always look forward. If Guizhong truly appeared and saw you as you are now, she surely would not be happy."
"What you say does make sense."
Her heart had been like stagnant water, but when she thought of Guizhong seeing her in this state, it truly would be too awkward. Thus, the Song of Dust and City Adeptus once again restored her youthful appearance.
The two of them lingered in the wilderness for a long time before Zhongli sighed and said, "As time passes, regrets only grow. If I could have seen Su Han's works earlier, I would not have failed her."
"This is not your fault. Back then, everything was far too chaotic."
The Song of Dust and City Adeptus said softly. In the past, the land of Liyue was in utter turmoil, with gods running rampant everywhere. Who had the leisure to speak of love and affection?
Hearing this, Zhongli shook his head and said, "In governing Liyue, I am still considered competent, but in matters of human feelings I have always fallen short. Failing Guizhong aside, recently I can also sense Azhdaha stirring restlessly. Unfortunately, I truly do not know how to face her."
Azhdaha was granted eyes by him, and the two of them fought side by side for many years. Their bond was much like that of father and daughter. Yet now she could only be sealed beneath the earth, which weighed heavily on his heart.
"Can the Dragon Vein have any effect on her? Last time when Xiao came over, I asked him a few questions and discovered that the karmic debt in his body was no longer an issue."
"It should not have much effect. Azhdaha's problem is erosion, not karmic debt. The Dragon Vein can suppress the ley lines and purify a region, but it offers no help at all on the level of the soul. This, I know very clearly."
In truth, after Xiao brought the Dragon Vein to the Chasm, he had personally investigated it, but simply had not made the findings public.
Hearing this, the Song of Dust and City Adeptus comforted him, "Then we can only wait for Su Han to create some miracles for us."
"Yes. Miracles always seem to appear around Su Han. Is Xiao not the best example?"
He had waited so many years already, so he naturally was not in a hurry for this short while.
Looking at the beautiful scenery in the distance, the Rex Lapis suddenly smiled and said, "Living long does have its advantages. In the past, we could only reminisce, but now there is hope of seeing old friends return. I truly look forward to that day."
"You are right. By the way, Cloud Retainer seems to feel somewhat differently toward Su Han. What do you think about this matter?"
"Cloud Retainer has a strong personality and likes to bury herself in work. All these years, she has never met anyone she truly approved of. If she could truly walk together with Su Han, I would be very happy. After all, she is only stubborn on the surface. In her heart, she still hopes to have someone by her side."
Other immortals truly enjoyed being carefree wanderers, but Cloud Retainer was different. In her heart, she very much wished to have someone to talk with and keep her company. This could be seen from how she continuously took in disciples.
...
Inside the laboratory on Yujing Terrace, Cloud Retainer, still maintaining her human form, suddenly sneezed several times in a row.
"Hm? Who is talking about this adeptus? Could it be Su Han?"
"That does seem quite possible. After all, this adeptus's beauty has already captivated him."
"Forget it, forget it. Better not think about such things. I should focus on his snails first. It is just a little bit more before completion. Mere propagation is nothing. This adeptus's Telephone Snails are not the same as ordinary versions."
Thinking of Su Han's shocked expression upon seeing the Telephone Snails, a faint curve unconsciously rose at the corner of Cloud Retainer's mouth.
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