Cloud Retainer

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cloud Retainer (留云真君)
Alias(es)	True Lord; Great Immortal Bird
Species/Race	Adeptus; immortal bird
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Liyue adepti
Occupation/Role	Mechanism inventor; mentor to adeptal disciples; protector of Liyue
Status	Active; later settles in Liyue Harbor in human form 591 594
First Appearance	Chapter 32

Background / History

Cloud Retainer fought beside Rex Lapis during the Archon War, standing at the forefront against tides of monsters. Her immortal blood drew the resentment of Archon Remnants, forcing her to defend a mortal home from the pursuing creatures. 589

Under the Geo Archon's decree, she and the adepti protected Liyue for over 3,700 years. 41 She has known Mu Yang for approximately a thousand years and regards him with the indulgent concern of an elder, remembering him as a young boy when they first met. 40 294

She raised Ganyu and later accepted Shenhe as her disciple after respecting Shenhe's decision to remain on Mount Aocang despite the child's ominous fate. 32 167 She also became mentor to Yuandai, a wild crane who chose to remain human, and secretly refined a blood-based pill to suppress Yuandai's illnesses after her disciple fled and lost her memories. 588

After Mu Yang's disappearance and presumed death, Cloud Retainer chose to leave Mount Aocang, take Suyu as her first mortal disciple, and experience life in Liyue Harbor for herself. Mu Yang had already arranged a residence for her there. 591

Appearance

Cloud Retainer normally appears as a Great Immortal Bird, but can use Form Manifestation to assume a human body. 375 578

• Her human form is described as a graceful, ethereal, mature woman. 578 294
• She wears glasses while examining mechanisms. 294
• She can rapidly alternate between her human and immortal-bird forms. 32 375

Personality

Cloud Retainer is proud, eloquent, and eager to discuss the accomplishments of herself and her mechanisms. She is particularly pleased by sincere praise of her cooking or craftsmanship, while Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper have learned to carefully flatter her inventions. 32 609

Behind her sternness, she is deeply protective of her disciples and old companions. She worries over Ganyu and Shenhe's well-being, quietly helps Yuandai despite feeling betrayed, and respects Suyu's wish to follow the immortal path. 579 588 591

Her adaptation to mortal life reveals a more impulsive and playful side: she buys unnecessary discounted tea, secretly purchases mechanical toys, and enjoys giving gifts to friends and disciples. 609 610

Abilities & Skills

Adeptal Arts

Cloud Retainer possesses the transformation, movement, and spatial techniques expected of a powerful adeptus.

• Assumes both human and Great Immortal Bird forms through Form Manifestation. 32 375 578
• Flies in her bird form and can travel extraordinary distances quickly. 375 579
• Teleports groups using her immortal arts. 586 591
• Created the trials and mechanisms within her grotto-heaven. 40
• Her unleashed pressure caused the mechanisms throughout her abode to tremble. 41

Mechanical Arts

Cloud Retainer is an exceptional inventor whose mechanisms are recognized as among the adepti's greatest creations.

• Improved the Guizhong Machine for the defense against Osial, drawing on the power of the gathered adepti. 65
• Created the Good Dream Recording Divine Mechanism, which uses music to aid peaceful meditation. 591
• Studies both Liyue mechanisms and Scarlet King technology. 294
• Helped create the Crimson Moon Ghost King, a beetle-fighting construct combining Scarlet King technology with Liyue mechanisms. 378
• Organized a mechanical-kite interest group for Suyu, Shenhe, Ganyu, and Yaoyao. 609

Combat and Protection

Cloud Retainer is an ancient combatant who treats Liyue's safety as a personal responsibility.

• Fought alongside Rex Lapis during the Archon War. 589
• Considered forceful intervention when she learned of Morax's alleged assassination, then chose to investigate Liyue Harbor personally. 41
• Helped defend Liyue Harbor from Osial through her enhanced Guizhong Machine. 65
• Guarded Yuandai's home alone against a monster tide drawn by the resentment attracted to her immortal blood. 589

Alchemy and Medicine

Cloud Retainer can refine medicinal treasures for long-term protection and recovery.

• Gathered heavenly spiritual treasures and used her own blood to refine a pill that suppressed Yuandai's illness. 588
• Prepared a mechanism intended to suppress Yuandai's fear and help restore her lost memories. 586

Equipment / Creations

• Guizhong Machine — upgraded by Cloud Retainer for the battle against Osial. 65
• Good Dream Recording Divine Mechanism — a musical meditation device given to Ying as a keepsake. 591
• Blood-refined pill — secretly made to suppress Yuandai's illnesses. 588
• Mechanical kites — mechanisms she teaches others to make and operate. 609
• Crimson Moon Ghost King — a powerful mechanical beetle created with Arataki Itto and Faruzan. 378

Relationships

• Mu Yang — A thousand-year acquaintance whom she regards as a younger family member. She was upset by his long absence from the Chasing Moon Festival and remained anxious when he vanished again. 40 294
• Ganyu — Her disciple. Cloud Retainer raised her, worries that Mu Yang's departure may reopen old wounds, and takes pride in Ganyu becoming independent. 32 579
• Shenhe — Her disciple. Cloud Retainer accepted Shenhe's choice to remain on Mount Aocang and later expressed pride in her growth and resilience. 167 580
• Suyu — Her first mortal disciple. Cloud Retainer accepted Suyu after hearing her wish to continue Yuandai's dream of helping others. 591
• Yuandai — A former wild-crane disciple who chose mortal life. Though angered by Yuandai's broken promise, Cloud Retainer secretly safeguarded her health and later reunited with her. 588
• Zhongli / Morax — A long-standing fellow adeptal figure. They fought in the Archon War, and Zhongli later supported her decision to settle in Liyue Harbor. 589 594
• Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper — Longtime adeptal friends who often banter with her and praise her mechanisms to avoid provoking her temper. 609
• Lumine and Paimon — Visitors to her grotto-heaven who became trusted intermediaries with her disciples and witnesses to her transition into mortal life. 40 579 591

Story Role / Major Arcs

Liyue Crisis

Cloud Retainer first confronts Lumine, Paimon, and Mu Yang through the trials of her grotto-heaven. She recognizes Mu Yang immediately, presses him over his broken Chasing Moon Festival promise, and confirms that they have known each other for roughly a millennium. 40

After hearing that Morax has been assassinated, she reacts with fury and contemplates suppressing Liyue Harbor through forceful measures. Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper's message persuades her to investigate before acting. 41

During Osial's attack, she upgrades the Guizhong Machine and joins the united defense of Liyue Harbor alongside the adepti, Qixing, Millelith, Lumine, and Keqing. 65

Shenhe's Cultivation

Cloud Retainer takes Shenhe in after Moon Carver's divination reveals the child's “Solitary Star and Calamity” fate. She allows Shenhe to choose her own path rather than treating the prophecy as absolute. 167

She supports Shenhe's broad training under multiple adepti, while Mu Yang becomes another of Shenhe's masters. 167 Later, she and Mu Yang arrange for Shenhe to deliver immortal talismans to Ningguang, hoping that the task will help Shenhe return to human society. 236

Settlement in Liyue Harbor

In human form, Cloud Retainer visits Ganyu and Shenhe after Mu Yang's departure, seeking to confirm that her disciples are coping. 578 580 Her concern gradually becomes a decision to leave her reclusive life behind, live among Liyue's people, and take Suyu as a disciple. 583 591

She sells older mechanisms and treasures to prepare for mortal expenses, though she later learns that even one such item holds immense value. 592 After settling in the harbor, she comes to appreciate its crowds, energy, and the spiritual value she finds in mortal life. 594

Lantern Rite at Yilong Port

Cloud Retainer reunites with Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper, begins teaching mechanical-kite crafting, and buys gifts for her companions. 609 Her unguarded enthusiasm for discounts and mechanical toys becomes apparent during the festivities. 610

She also supports Gaming's Lantern Rite performance through an elaborate act, impressing him with her commitment and skill at playing a role. 617

Trivia

• Cloud Retainer is an accomplished cook; Mu Yang praises her cooking as being as good as ever. 32
• She insists that others avoid revealing her true identity after she begins living in Liyue Harbor, but continues to refer to herself as “this Immortal.” 591
• She bought ten boxes of tea because of a half-price promotion, then realized the purchase was impractical. 610
• Despite initially dismissing Fontaine clockwork toys, she secretly purchased some after examining their construction. 610