"Oh, you child, you didn't have to bring gifts when you came to visit."
Granny Ping said with a chuckle, having learned that Ryan was coming over.
Besides buying some fruits, Ryan had also bought a few other things on his way, such as coconut milk and some snacks children love, and even some tea leaves.
"It's like this, Auntie Ping, I actually have something to ask Yaoyao. I heard Yaoyao is Qiqi's good friend. Last time, I owed Qiqi a coconut milk, and I wanted to ask Yaoyao to help me deliver it."
Ryan explained.
Of course, he wouldn't reveal his true purpose. As for owing Qiqi coconut milk… Qiqi probably wouldn't remember, so if he said he owed it, then he owed it.
As for the relationship between Yaoyao and Qiqi, he had learned about it from Morax during the preparations for the Rite of Parting last time.
"Oh? Senior Apprentice Yun Xu knows Qiqi too?"
Yaoyao asked curiously.
"Yes, last time when I asked Qiqi to help find the everlasting incense during the preparations for the Rite of Parting, I promised her a coconut milk."
Ryan continued to explain.
What he said was true; he just omitted the part where he had already given Qiqi the coconut milk.
"I bought two servings, Yaoyao gets one too, consider it payment for your trouble."
Ryan added after speaking.
He didn't know if Yaoyao liked to drink it, so he prepared two servings.
"Mm-hmm, Qiqi loves coconut milk the most! Senior Apprentice Yun Xu, don't worry, Yaoyao will go deliver it to her right away!"
Yaoyao nodded her head earnestly.
She knew Qiqi loved iced coconut milk, so she had to deliver it now, otherwise, it wouldn't taste good if it wasn't cold.
"Oh… Yaoyao, be careful on the way, this child…"
Yaoyao grabbed the coconut milk and rushed out the door, Granny Ping didn't even have time to call her back.
"…"
Ryan scratched his head. He hadn't expected Yaoyao to be so eager. He had originally wanted to ask Yaoyao where Yanfei's room was.
After all, asking Granny Ping might easily lead to a misunderstanding… "Well, it's not too early now. Auntie Ping, you haven't eaten yet, have you? I can help make dinner."
Ryan thought for a moment and decided to find a reasonable excuse to stay and wait for Yaoyao to return, so he suggested this.
"Hehe, alright. For the past few days, I've been hearing Cloud Retainer boast about how good her little Ryan's cooking is, not at all inferior to Xiangling's. Today, this old woman can finally have a taste."
Granny Ping chuckled and agreed.
"No, no, I wouldn't dare. I just cook for fun. Xiangling is a master chef; I can't compare."
Ryan quickly waved his hand. He had eaten at Wanmin Restaurant a few times and highly respected Xiangling's culinary skills.
Ryan then went to the kitchen, checked the remaining ingredients in Granny Ping's home, and began to prepare dinner.
"Oh, by the way, that child Yanfei is quite busy today and probably won't be back for dinner. Little Ryan, just prepare enough for three people."
Just then, Granny Ping came to the kitchen door and reminded him.
"…Alright, Auntie Ping."
Ryan, who was about to show off his skills, paused for a moment before continuing his work.
There's still a chance, once Yaoyao returns… While Ryan was diligently cooking, Granny Ping shook her head with a somewhat amused expression, then walked into Yanfei's bedroom.
Not long after, Granny Ping walked out of the room holding a few strands of pink hair.
Although Yanfei also had a half-human, half-Adepti bloodline, and her hair quality was much better than ordinary people's, she sometimes scratched her head in distress over civil dispute cases, and it was perfectly normal for a few strands of hair to fall out accidentally.
Granny Ping and Cloud Retainer were quite familiar with each other, so how could she not know Ryan's little hobby? Thus, she was perfectly clear about his objective.
Just like that, Granny Ping went to the dining table and placed those few strands of hair on the seat where Yanfei usually ate, pressing them down with a bowl.
Just as Ryan finished preparing dinner, Yaoyao finally rushed back from Bubu Pharmacy.
"Senior Apprentice Yun Xu, I'm back! Qiqi really liked your coconut milk, and Qiqi asked me to tell you that she's raising the little Finches you gave her very well. They're chubby and go 'chirp, chirp, chirp'~"
Yaoyao, who had returned, happily ran up to Ryan, helping to carry the freshly made dishes and explaining.
"Mm-hmm, it's good that she liked it. Yaoyao, go wash your hands first, it's time to eat."
Ryan nodded his head.
And so, Ryan ate the dinner he had prepared at Granny Ping's house.
"Hmm…"
Halfway through the meal, Ryan suddenly noticed a few strands of hair on the table, and they were pink.
But neither Auntie Ping nor Yaoyao had pink hair. Could it be… Right, there were three chairs at the dining table. Besides Auntie Ping and Yaoyao, it could only be Yanfei's… Having figured this out, Ryan quietly took the strands of hair from the table and, under the table, put them into his qiankun bag.
Then he pretended as if nothing had happened.
"Yaoyao, eat more, eat more to grow big and strong."
Ryan happily ate his own food while serving meat to Yaoyao.
Just like that, Ryan successfully obtained Yanfei's hair.
At this point, the only material he cared about that he hadn't gotten his hands on yet was Paimon.
So, over the next few days, he began to accelerate his progress in winning over Paimon.
He didn't know if it was an innate ability from his fox bloodline; he had never had a girlfriend, yet raising Paimon's friendship came so naturally to him.
Of course, it might also be that Paimon was too easy to fool… "Paimon, time to wake up."
That morning, Lumine gently shook Paimon.
"Ugh… Traveler… I was up too late last night, let me sleep a little longer… Call me at noon, at noon…"
Paimon pulled the blanket over her face, unwilling to get up.
"Alright then, you sleep a bit longer, I'll call you at noon."
Lumine could only nod her head, then went to brush her teeth and wash her face.
To earn Mora, she would go to the Adventurers Guild every morning to accept commissions, usually finishing them in one morning, with the rest of her time free to arrange as she pleased.
However, Lumine didn't notice that after she left the Serenitea Pot and took the Serenitea Pot with her, leaving Wangshu Inn, Paimon, who was hiding under the bed in the room, secretly snuck out.
As early as when Lumine was busy brushing her teeth and washing her face, she had already secretly slipped out of the Serenitea Pot.
Once she confirmed Lumine had left, Paimon finally emerged from her room at Wangshu Inn.
They had rented the room for several days back then, and even though they now had the Serenitea Pot, they didn't want to waste it.
"Ryan, the Traveler has already left."
Paimon flew to the next door and knocked.
"Mm-hmm, my beautiful Xiao Pai, the surprise I promised you yesterday is also ready. You'll know when we get to Jueyun Karst."
Ryan, who was already prepared, opened the door and gentlemanly extended a hand to Paimon.
Paimon hesitated for a moment, then placed her small hand in Ryan's, and the two of them left Wangshu Inn together.
Before Lumine could notice anything unusual, Ryan protected Paimon with both hands, then activated his Adepti art to invite Cloud Retainer to possess him, and with the help of the Adepti art, quickly rushed to Jueyun Karst…