When Ryan was copying the letter of apology, he completely ignored the context, simply replacing Hu Tao's specialized vocabulary with corresponding terms he could use.
And just as Qiqi was scared into hiding by the threatening letter of apology, Ryan was in his room at Wangshu Inn, tallying the materials he had collected.
"The most precious materials right now are Qilin blood, Qiqi's hair, and Vanquisher of Evil's hair. However, I've basically obtained these materials for the first time, so there are no existing pill formulas. I'll need to experiment to find out what kind of pills I can refine..."
"Hmm, the Longevity Pill for Vanquisher of Evil is still missing Geo Archon's divine power as the main ingredient. The others are easy to get, but this one can only be requested from the Geo Archon after he descends during the Rite of Descension..."
After checking the more precious materials on him, Ryan muttered softly, contemplating what to do next.
There were still six days until the Rite of Descension. Besides continuing to search for medicinal ingredients, he didn't seem to have anything else worth doing, unless... "Alright, nothing to do today, time to refine pills."
Ryan quickly made up his mind, took out the alchemy furnace, and tossed it onto the room floor. With a chant, the alchemy furnace instantly grew larger.
Refining pills in Liyue Harbor means not having to worry about monsters gathering, right?
"Hmm, Qilin blood, zombie hair, yaksha hair, plus the last bit of Shenhe's human pheromone, and the incense ash from Yiyan Hall. All the precious materials are being used."
"I wonder if this will produce an even higher-grade pill..."
Ryan placed the rare materials he had recently acquired one by one into the alchemy furnace.
"Qilin blood should be the most precious, so let's use Qilin blood as the main ingredient. Begin the furnace!"
"Immortal Art! Possess me, Senior Uncle!"
Ryan sat cross-legged on the bed, raising his hands towards the alchemy furnace in the room.
As the alchemy furnace slowly floated, flames ignited at its base, and a red phantom reappeared behind Ryan.
Thus, time passed by minute by minute.
"How strange, what kind of weather is Liyue Harbor having today? Why is it heating up so quickly?"
Some time after Ryan began refining pills, the owner of Wangshu Inn thought with some confusion, then lay back in his lounge chair and gently fanned himself...
It was the third day since Ryan went to Liyue Harbor, and also the fourth day since Cloud Retainer took the Rainbow Feather Pill.
"Hey, Cloud Retainer, that child Yaoyao is visiting Jueyun Karst. She's with Moon Carver right now. Want to come along?"
A crane with black-brown feathers all over, white downy feathers only around its neck, and a red crest on its head landed on Aozang Mountain, calling out towards Cloud Retainer's Cave.
"Cough cough... Oh, it's Water Management. This Immortal won't be going. You go ahead."
A light cough came from the cave, and Cloud Retainer refused Mountain Shaper's invitation.
"Why is that? Don't you like that child Yaoyao very much? You always say it would be great if little Ryan were as well-behaved."
Mountain Shaper, who was refused, was a bit puzzled.
"Don't speak nonsense. How could This Immortal be a parent who would belittle her own child with such comparisons?"
"And... hmm, This Immortal caught a cold last night and is not feeling well, so it's better not to see Yaoyao. It wouldn't be good to infect her."
Cloud Retainer immediately retorted, then hesitated before explaining this way.
"Alright, if you're not going, I'll go ahead."
Mountain Shaper felt that something wasn't quite right, but he still nodded his head and spread his wings, flying towards Qingyun Peak in the center of Jueyun Karst.
After Mountain Shaper left, a bird's head peeked out from the cave.
Upon confirming that he had indeed left, she breathed a sigh of relief and retreated back into the cave.
"Ryan, you've really put your master in a difficult spot..."
Cloud Retainer sighed, then picked up a mirror and looked into it.
In the mirror, her pale blue-white feathers were gone, replaced by colorful, rainbow feathers, even more vibrant than a peacock's.
She had hoped her feathers would be a bit brighter, but this was no longer in the realm of 'brighter feathers'!
It was as if her entire bird self had become a delinquent teenager and dyed her hair, all colorful and flashy. If other immortals saw her, she would be laughed at for a long time!
"Since things have come to this, This Immortal can only close her doors to guests. It's just one pill, so the effects should wear off quickly..."
Cloud Retainer decided this, then reinforced the immortal magic barrier of her cave by several layers to prevent anyone from breaking in.
However, Cloud Retainer's wish to hide for a while was not so easily fulfilled.
"Uncle Water Management, is Auntie Cloud Retainer really sick with a cold? Can immortals also get sick?"
Carried by Mountain Shaper to Aozang Mountain, a little brown-haired girl asked curiously, a jingling bell sound coming from her as she tilted her head.
The little girl's brown hair was braided into pigtails and tied into a huge bow shape on her head. Below the bow on both sides were two large golden bells, making it easy for people to mistake her hairstyle for 'buns' at first glance.
"Probably... right?"
"Cough cough, anyway, that child Ryan went down the mountain a few days ago, and Shenhe is still cultivating and doesn't know about this. Now Cloud Retainer is alone and has no one to look after her."
Mountain Shaper scratched his head with his wing, somewhat uncertainly, then coughed lightly before speaking.
"Ryan isn't here, then Yaoyao will help take care of Auntie Cloud Retainer~"
Learning that Ryan was not on the mountain, Yaoyao proactively offered.
"That's good, that's good. With Yaoyao taking care of her, we can rest assured. I'll go to the entrance and call Cloud Retainer to open the door."
Mountain Shaper nodded, then walked towards Cloud Retainer's cave.
However, strangely, he called out several times, but Cloud Retainer did not respond at all.
"How can there be no response? Could Cloud Retainer be very ill?"
Mountain Shaper looked back suspiciously at Mountain Shaper and Yaoyao who had followed him.
"This is the first time I've seen an immortal catch a cold, how would I know..."
Mountain Shaper also said with a puzzled expression.
"How about... we break down the door? It wouldn't be good if Cloud Retainer is truly too ill."
"Hmm, then let's do as you say."
The two immortals discussed for a while and decided to break down the door to check.
"How dare you!"
Just then, Cloud Retainer's reprimand finally came from inside the cave.
"Auntie Cloud Retainer, are you alright? Do you feel very uncomfortable?"
Hearing Cloud Retainer's voice, Yaoyao immediately asked with concern.
"Cough cough, so Yaoyao also came. But This Immortal is fine, a few days of rest will do..."
Cloud Retainer awkwardly coughed lightly and explained.
"It's okay, Auntie Cloud Retainer, please open the door. Yaoyao will take care of you~"
Yaoyao proactively offered again. Her favorite thing was to help take care of others.
"This..."
Cloud Retainer was conflicted in her heart, but she didn't want the child to be sad.
"Very well... Come in..."
Taking a deep breath, Cloud Retainer finally opened the immortal magic barrier at the entrance.
"Cloud Retainer, you..."
"Pfft hahahaha--"
Upon seeing Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper and Mountain Shaper couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Cloud Retainer silently spread her wings, and a strong wind howled inside the cave.
"Wait, wait, Cloud Retainer, calm, calm down, we won't laugh anymore...!"