"Eh?"
Clarice subconsciously touched her cheek and felt moisture.
"Strange, why am I suddenly crying..."
It wasn't until she looked down at the bitten soybean cake in her hand that she understood the reason.
Qi Zhimu followed her gaze.
"Does it taste bad?"
"No!"
Clarice's expression was complex, as if she couldn't sort out the surging emotions within her.
"...How should I put it? I can't find a fitting description. It's like after eating it, all the regrets of the past gathered into a tide and suddenly rushed into my heart."
"Is it truly that profound?"
Qi Zhimu himself didn't know that the Preserved Plum Soybean Cakes had such an effect.
Under the young girl's watchful eye, he also picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. As he chewed, his movements gradually slowed down.
Clarice noticed that Qi Zhimu's eyes lost focus, his thoughts clearly drifting far away.
A single clear tear silently slid down from the corner of his eye.
"Mr. Qi...?"
"Mm..."
Qi Zhimu gave a soft reply, pressing the back of his hand against his chin to catch the falling tear.
He looked down at the wet mark on the back of his hand, closing his eyes to savor the moment for a while.
There was nothing wrong with the taste itself; it was even more outstanding than any pastry he had made before, making it unforgettable.
Yu Qintu's requirement could be said to have been perfectly met.
But why did it turn out like this... Qi Zhimu guessed... perhaps by becoming a consumable Curio, it gained unexpected special effects.
Forget it, dwelling on it is meaningless.
Even if it became a Curio, in essence, it was still a meticulously crafted pastry.
Usage: To be eaten.
That's it.
"Don't mind it. Life is full of surprises; just think of it as an extra gift."
"Oh, Mr. Qi, how did you develop such a special pastry?"
"Well... it's like reaching out and clenching a fist; I just felt like I could do it. I don't remember researching it. If you like it, take this plate of Preserved Plum Soybean Cakes with you."
"...I do like it, but if I cry with every bite, will I get dry eye syndrome?"
"Dry eye syndrome generally has no direct relationship with how much one cries..."
In the end, Clarice carefully packed the plate of soybean cakes and waved goodbye to Qi Zhimu.
"See you next time, Mr. Qi~~"
"...See you next time."
Qi Zhimu watched the girl leave with a smile.
He could still speak... but perhaps, at most, there was only one 'next time' left.
When the day came to say the second'see you next time,' he probably wouldn't speak again.
He didn't want to break a promise.
He would never be vague about things he was one hundred percent certain he could do; if he couldn't, he wouldn't give others hope, lest it only increase their disappointment.
"Meow~"
Little Orange rubbed its head against Qi Zhimu's foot.
Qi Zhimu bent down to pick it up and place it on his lap, gently stroking its back.
"Thank you for your company over these three years. In a few days, I have to leave and won't be able to take care of you anymore."
"Go find a new owner. If you want to leave, you can go anytime."
"Or, if Clarice is willing to adopt you, you can go with her. But either way, you need to lose some weight..."
"When she comes next time, how about I ask her for you?"
After he spoke, Qi Zhimu didn't hear Little Orange's cry for a long time.
It wasn't asleep; it just sat there quietly with its eyes narrowed, its round body snuggling closer into his arms.
"I see..."
Qi Zhimu seemed to understand and gave a soft sigh.
Before long, the long notes of strings drifted from the Bamboo House, faintly tinged with loneliness... Winter days were always shorter.
As night approached, a spaceship landed silently on the snowy clearing, and the hatch slowly opened.
A man dressed in luxurious and flamboyant clothes stepped out, heading straight for the Bamboo House.
Living in the deep mountains and wild forests with inconvenient transportation, few people usually came to disturb Qi Zhimu.
The occasional visitors were patients suffering from incurable diseases who had exhausted all other methods without success.
After experiencing despair, some of them would pin their hopes on the old saying: 'Great masters are found among the people.'
Qi Zhimu had lived in seclusion in these mountains for over a hundred years. To maintain his peace, he always instructed the patients who found him not to reveal his existence lightly.
But over time, it was inevitable that some would leak the news.
Thus, those unconfirmed rumors circulating in the streets would reach the ears of those who were desperate and had to treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
For those who managed to find this place, Qi Zhimu would treat them if he could. If he couldn't... well, so far he hadn't encountered a case where he was completely helpless.
In general, having three or four people find their way here in a year was considered a lot.
Except for extremely rare and special cases like Durand, Qi Zhimu could complete the treatment for other patients on the same day.
Among the remaining very few cases, there was only one person.
"Long time no see, Mr. Qi Zhimu."
"Nine years. It has been quite a while, Mr. Dragon Crystal." Qi Zhimu put down his a type of chinese lute.
Dragon Crystal, a member of the Strategic Investment Department of the Interstellar Peace Corporation, one of the Ten of the Stone Hearts under the Emanator of Preservation, Diamond.
Of course, it was just a codename.
Qi Zhimu didn't know his real name, nor was there any need to know.
"I thought your condition had relapsed and you had already passed away."
"...Hey, hey, is it really okay to say such harsh things upon a reunion after so long?"
Dragon Crystal rolled his eyes in annoyance and sat down casually.
"I've been your patient for over forty years; surely we can be considered friends by now?"
"I didn't mean to curse you. Nine years ago, the medicine you took was only enough for eight years. When you didn't show up last year, I assumed the Dragon Crystal of the Ten of the Stone Hearts had been replaced." Qi Zhimu stated the facts.
Dragon Crystal was taken aback, a look of realization crossing his face. "No wonder I didn't see you send a shipping request this year."
Every late autumn, Qi Zhimu would send him a shipping request to send an express package to a certain uncivilized planet in a remote corner of the universe.
That was no ordinary mailing; it was the highest-specification service from the Corporation's logistics department.
It could be said that unless targeted by an Aeon or an Emanator-level opponent, nothing would ever go wrong.
So that was why... Wait!
Dragon Crystal suddenly remembered that he had checked the logistics department's records before coming here, and there was no order from Qi Zhimu this year at all!
"Did you personally go to that planet this year?"
"No."
"...No need to send the package anymore?"
"That's not it. I just asked a senior who was passing by to take it for me. A busy man like you didn't come here today just for this, did you?"
"That's part of the reason, but not all of it."
Dragon Crystal reached for the teapot, but Qi Zhimu reached out to stop him.
"...You won't even serve a cup of tea? Is that really necessary?" Dragon Crystal was stunned.
Qi Zhimu chuckled. "Of course not. We aren't drinking this coarse tea today."
As he spoke, he took a jar of plum blossom brew from his folding space.
A wisp of enticing fragrance wafted from the seal of the jar, firmly capturing Dragon Crystal's attention.
"Yo, the sun must have risen from the west today. You're actually willing to bring out this treasure to entertain me..."
"Heh..."
Qi Zhimu didn't explain. He brushed away the small teacups and replaced them with large bowls, then tilted the wine jar to pour.
This somewhat heroic manner made Dragon Crystal even more surprised.
Something's not right... Could it be that he's noticed something?