Cloud Retainer and Qiu Bai stood atop Mt. Aocang, gazing at the scenery of Jueyun Karst before them.
The two stood close together, creating a breathtaking scene on this mountain peak.
"Perhaps I'll let her descend the mountain this time."
"I originally intended for her to experience mortal life, but hearing you speak of that Traveler is an unexpected delight."
Cloud Retainer turned her head to look at Qiu Bai face, speaking with a smile.
"Speaking of which, there's something very strange that happened."
"I feel it's necessary to tell you about it."
"Yesterday, when I was thinking of you... no... when I was recalling past events, I remembered something."
Cloud Retainer looked at Qiu Bai before her, her face slightly reddening before quickly returning to normal, speaking somewhat oddly.
"Hmm... what is it?"
Qiu Bai asked, looking at Cloud Retainer with some confusion.
"About several decades after the Archon War ended."
"At that time, I seemed to have forgotten someone and wanted to seek answers from Rex Lapis."
Cloud Retainer gazed at the beautiful Jueyun Karst in the distance, beginning to recall.
"Rex Lapis at that time was standing on a mountain peak..."
"Looking at a certain place, silent for a long time, just standing there for several years."
"Moon setting, sun rising, time flowing like water."
"Wind and sun, regardless of the weather, he stood there, looking at that one place."
"He slightly lowered his head, and we adepti couldn't see his expression clearly."
"It was the first time we had ever seen Rex Lapis behave this way..."
Cloud Retainer walked forward, feeling the wind of Mt. Aocang, speaking softly.
"At that time, we several adepti all seemed to have forgotten something."
"We wanted to seek answers from Rex Lapis, but seeing his state, none of us spoke."
"Finally, one day, Rex Lapis lifted his slightly lowered head."
"Seeing this, I flew to Rex Lapis."
"I asked him why he had been standing in this place for so many years."
"Rex Lapis remained silent for a long time upon hearing this, then looked at me."
Rex Lapis slowly said: "I am thinking of an old friend."
"An old friend?"
"Is it Guizhong, or Skybracer, or perhaps which departed old friend?"
I asked this way.
"Hmm... there are reminiscences too."
"But this old friend is not any of them."
Rex Lapis looked at me, remained silent for a while, then spoke.
"Although Rex Lapis words were still steady and profound."
"I could hear from his words that this was a very important old friend."
I thought for a moment, looking at Rex Lapis before me.
I asked: "Which old friend? Do we know them?"
Rex Lapis turned his gaze toward the mountains of Jueyun Karst, not speaking.
After a long time, he said: "You once knew them."
"Once knew them?"
"Rex Lapis, can you tell me which old friend this is?"
I asked this way.
Rex Lapis looked at my crane-white hair, silent for a while.
His eyes filled with complex emotions.
"This is a contract, I cannot say, Cloud Retainer."
"Even if the heavens fall, the contract must be fulfilled..."
Rex Lapis sighed, then turned his gaze toward the high heavens above.
That island-like black dot, his pupils gleaming faintly, he slowly spoke.
"Although Rex Lapis tone was very calm."
"I could see a trace of violent killing intent in his pupils."
"This kind of killing intent, I had only seen when Rex Lapis slayed the vortex god Osial."
"No... even beyond that."
Cloud Retainer turned around, looking at Qiu Bai before her, continuing her account.
"But afterward, Rex Lapis killing intent gradually faded."
"Then Rex Lapis shook his head and sighed."
Rex Lapis said: "Old friend, I respect your choice."
"I will, in your stead, properly watch over this new era of Liyue."
Cloud Retainer looked at Qiu Bai before her, continuing her story.
"Afterward, I went to an unknown adeptus abode."
"There were some books like diaries left there."
Cloud Retainer walked up to Qiu Bai, frowning as she spoke.
"I know all the adepti of Liyue, but I had no memory of this adeptus at all."
"The books wrote things like: 'Today, with nothing to do, I watched chubby little Ganyu eating herbs by the stream.'"
"'I went over to tease little Ganyu, tying flowers in her hair.'"
"'This made little Ganyu cry loudly, then she went to complain to Cloud Retainer.'"
"Such diary entries were everywhere."
"One line was written like this: 'Yin-Yang hanging at the waist, handsome face treading the mortal world.'"
"'A blade of grass in mouth, surpassing living immortals.'"
Cloud Retainer touched her chin, reciting this poem somewhat oddly.
What kind of poetry was this, and so narcissistic too.
"Moreover, in my memory, there was never such an adeptus."
"Playing pranks on little Ganyu, then having her complain to me."
Cloud Retainer spread her hands, speaking with some confusion.
"Haha..."
"This poem sounds like something I would write."
Qiu Bai looked at Cloud Retainer puzzled expression, laughing softly.
"'Yin-Yang hanging at the waist' - isn't that you?"
"So I suspect this so-called forgotten old friend should be you."
Cloud Retainer looked at Qiu Bai before her, speaking with a light laugh.
"Actually, I have some clues too."
"It's just that my memories, and your memories, have all been lost."
Qiu Bai crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Cloud Retainer before him, speaking with a smile.
Hearing Cloud Retainer description, that guy Morax indeed remembered something.
Erasing the memories of all living beings, yet he alone didn't forget...
"Perhaps my former self gave Morax something."
"That's why Morax didn't forget me."
Qiu Bai looked at Jueyun Karst in the distance, murmuring.
"Forget it, thinking about these things is useless."
"It's the Lantern Rite season, let me treat you to a meal, Cloud Retainer."
Qiu Bai turned around, looking at Cloud Retainer before him, extending the invitation with a smile.
"Alright."
Cloud Retainer nodded with a smile upon hearing this, then followed Qiu Bai as they slowly descended Jueyun Karst.
Along the way, under Cloud Retainer puzzled gaze, Qiu Bai casually picked some ancient medicinal herbs.
The two walked through Jueyun Karst, occasionally stopping to admire the beautiful distant scenery.
Stopping by streams, looking at ancient trees in the distance.
Or like mortals, they would pause to use Cloud Retainer cooking contraption to make a few dishes.
Then they would set off again, flying toward Liyue Harbor.
Flying through the air, Cloud Retainer looked at Qiu Bai back ahead of her, a faint smile on her lips.
Several strands of her crane-white hair gradually turned to dark blue-green.
"Morcius..."
Cloud Retainer looked at Qiu Bai back, murmuring.
The two landed in a deserted corner of Liyue Harbor.
"Cloud Retainer, accompany me to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"I need to complete the task Director Hu gave me first."
"Then we can go have a meal."
Qiu Bai looked at Cloud Retainer before him, speaking with a smile.
Cloud Retainer nodded upon hearing this, then turned her gaze to the busy people on the streets.
She followed Qiu Bai step by step, walking toward the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
(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! 😊)