Qiu Bai wandered around various places in Inazuma like this.
He viewed all the beautiful scenery throughout Inazuma, and during his journey, he also helped several mortals who were being troubled by monsters.
"There are still two places left unvisited, Enkanomiya and Tsurumi Island?"
"Mm... I'll come back to see them after the Lantern Rite Festival is over."
Qiu Bai stopped in front of a shrine, where the clouds in the sky had also formed into a cat shape, appearing beautiful and cute.
The water pool under his feet flowed like starlight, and there were many small cats around as well.
Behind the shrine was a huge tree covered with purple leaves.
The surroundings were also filled with blooming sakura trees, with pink petals slowly falling from the sky, incredibly beautiful.
"Hello there, human, meow..."
"Meow meow meow... I am the shrine maiden of Asase Shrine, Neko."
A rather cute voice sounded. Upon hearing this, Qiu Bai turned around and looked at the small black cat sitting in the shrine.
"Hello there, Shrine Maiden Neko."
"My name is Qiu Bai, I just came here to see the scenery."
Qiu Bai looked at the small black cat in front of him and said with a light smile.
"Meow meow meow... Usually humans who pass by get scared by me."
"Not being scared by me makes me very happy, meow meow meow..."
The small black cat scratched her face with her paw, looked up at Qiu Bai, and spoke in human language.
"I'm just a bit older, that's all."
"When encountering strange things, I'm not that surprised anymore."
Qiu Bai looked at the small black cat in front of him and said with a wave and a smile.
"A bit older."
"Meow meow meow... but when I look at you, you still seem very young."
Neko raised her cat head, looked Qiu Bai up and down, and asked puzzledly.
"Humans are really strange, meow meow."
"Meow meow meow... clearly very young, yet saying you're old."
Neko looked at Qiu Bai in front of her and said puzzledly.
"Farewell, Shrine Maiden Neko."
"It's getting late, I must take my leave first."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Bai shook his head, then looked at Neko in front of him and said with a light smile.
Then he turned and walked toward the outside of Asase Shrine.
"Meow meow meow... goodbye, human."
"What a strange human indeed."
Neko looked at Qiu Bai retreating figure and said puzzledly.
By this time, the sky had grown dark.
Qiu Bai stood on a hillside on Seirai Island.
Looking at the rotating thunderstorm high in the sky, which was flashing with terrifying lightning.
"Mm... quite nice scenery."
"It's just a bit forbidding to strangers."
Qiu Bai put his hands behind his back, observed this terrifying storm vortex, and spoke slowly.
"Next, I should go find some stones for Azhdaha."
"I remember Inazuma has a type of mineral that seems to be called Amethyst Lump..."
Qiu Bai touched his chin and murmured.
"Forget it."
"I'll go collect some and bring them to show Azhdaha later."
Qiu Bai shook his head, then his figure instantly disappeared from the spot.
That night, Inazuma amethyst ore mysteriously decreased by one-tenth.
The next morning, Inazuma miners looked at the disappeared amethyst ore deposits in front of them with complete bewilderment.
Clearly yesterday there were especially many amethyst ores here, how did they all disappear overnight?
The amethyst ores from several other locations had also completely vanished.
The perpetrator of all this was currently sitting at a shop in Inazuma, eating sushi.
"Mm... these amethyst ores should be enough."
"I wonder if these are the stones Azhdaha wants."
Qiu Bai picked up a piece of sushi, put it in his mouth, and murmured.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, this is dango sushi."
"A new item from our shop that's deeply loved by the Shogun, would you like to try some?"
The proprietress carried a plate of sticky sushi, looked at Qiu Bai in front of her, and asked with a smile.
"Dango sushi?"
Qiu Bai looked at the dango in the proprietress hands, and his mouth twitched.
What kind of strange sushi was this? Could it be that when Ei was drinking dango milk at the Sacred Sakura back then,
all these shop owners saw it?
So that's how this so-called dango sushi came about.
"Hehe... no thank you, proprietress."
"I'm already full, and I happen to have a friend waiting for me, so I'll be going first."
Qiu Bai looked at the proprietress in front of him and said with a smile.
Then he paid the Mora and walked outside, slowly making his way toward the location of that sakura tree.
"The time now should be about right."
"Lumine and Paimon should be arriving soon too."
Qiu Bai crossed his arms over his chest, looked at the sakura tree in front of him, and murmured.
"Qiu Bai!"
"We're here!"
Just as he finished speaking, Lumine and Paimon appeared in Qiu Bai line of sight, greeting him with smiles.
"In that case, follow me to a place with no people."
"Let's return to Liyue and attend the Lantern Rite Festival."
Qiu Bai looked at Lumine and Paimon in front of him and nodded with a smile.
Speaking of the Lantern Rite Festival, he quite liked this kind of lively atmosphere.
"Yay!"
"Lantern Rite Festival, Lantern Rite Festival, so exciting!"
Paimon clapped her small hands and said happily.
Lumine looked at the happy little Paimon and also showed a smile, then followed behind Qiu Bai, walking toward an uninhabited area outside Inazuma City.
Grasping Qiu Bai sleeve, they disappeared in an instant.
When they appeared again, they were already in an uninhabited area of Liyue Harbor.
"Liyue, we're back!"
Paimon flew out from the corner of the street and said happily.
She couldn't help but take a deep breath—indeed, Liyue air smelled better.
There wasn't that oppressive feeling.
Lumine also walked out leisurely, looking at the red lanterns being set up around them and the group of children playing on the street.
The pedestrians had also become very numerous, making it very lively.
"Hehe, enjoy the atmosphere of the day before Liyue Lantern Rite Festival."
"I have some matters to attend to, so I'll return to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor first."
Qiu Bai looked at Lumine and Paimon and nodded with a smile.
"Mm, then you go handle your business, Qiu Bai!"
"Paimon and I will look around some more."
Lumine looked at Qiu Bai in front of her and said with a smile.
Then Qiu Bai walked toward the direction of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
The pedestrians on the road had also changed into new clothes.
The stalls around were also gathered with many Liyue people.
The Millelith and General Affairs Department personnel were all setting up Lantern Rite Festival decorations throughout Liyue Harbor, making it quite lively.
"Mm..."
Seeing this scene, Qiu Bai couldn't help but show a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Putting his hands behind his back, he slowly walked forward.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, long time no see."
"I heard you went to Inazuma."
Pedestrians on the road greeted Qiu Bai when they saw him.
"I went to Inazuma a few days ago to see the scenery."
"I came back just in time for the Lantern Rite Festival."
Qiu Bai looked at the elderly person in front of him and replied with a smile.
"Inazuma..."
"That place isn't very peaceful. Yesterday or the day before, they did lift that Vision Hunt Decree thing."
The elderly person looked at Qiu Bai in front of him and murmured.
"Liyue is still better..."
"Although Rex Lapis has passed away and the Immortal Lord slumber, we still work together in harmony and live in comfort."
The elder put his hands behind his back, bent over, looked at the pedestrians on the road, and also showed a smile.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)