Xiao, the Three-Eyed Five-Manifestation Immortal

Liyue, Jueyun Karst.

Paimon and Lumine stared at Cloud Retainer with wide eyes.

"Huh? W-wait! What do you mean by subjugating Liyue Harbor? Are you going to destroy the entire harbor?"

Cloud Retainer looked at Lumine and Paimon and spoke calmly.

"We need only strike with overwhelming force to prevent further trouble."

"B-but you're an adeptus who protects Liyue!"

Paimon stared at Cloud Retainer in disbelief.

"Indeed. By Rex Lapis's decree, we have protected Liyue for over thirty-seven hundred years. But now that villains hold sway, we have no choice but to resort to extraordinary measures."

"Wait, I have something to say!"

Qiu Bai, who stood beside Lumine, suddenly spoke up.

"Adeptus, we came to ask you to protect Liyue Harbor, not subjugate it."

"At the very least, you should hear what everyone else thinks."

"What everyone else thinks?"

Cloud Retainer turned to Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver behind her.

"What advice do you two old fellows have?"

Moon Carver glanced at Mountain Shaper, then at Cloud Retainer, before speaking calmly.

"This matter requires further deliberation."

He then turned to the three visitors.

"Traveler, take the Sigil of Permission and seek out the Conqueror of Demons. Inform him of this matter."

"We must discuss this further. You should leave for now."

With that, the three adepti flew away. As Cloud Retainer departed, she gave Qiu Bai another glance.

Qiu Bai looked at Lumine beside him.

"Where should we go now?"

"That adeptus seemed to say we should find another adeptus called the Conqueror of Demons."

"Why don't we go find him first?"

Paimon, hovering beside Lumine, looked curiously between her and Qiu Bai as she spoke.

Lumine nodded too.

"But do you know where the Conqueror of Demons is?"

Qiu Bai spoke casually with his hands behind his back. Xiao, the Three-Eyed Five-Manifestation Immortal-commonly known as the Three-Point-Five-Inch Immortal.

Lumine, who had just been about to set off, stopped in her tracks.

"Oh, right."

Lumine stopped and scratched her head with an adorably blank expression.

"Where is the Conqueror of Demons? That adeptus didn't seem to tell us."

Paimon also looked at Qiu Bai in confusion.

"No problem, I know. Off to Wangshu Inn!"

Qiu Bai smiled faintly at Paimon. Xiao, huh? It's been a thousand years. His karmic debt is growing worse now.

Once this incident is resolved, I'll help him clear away his Karmic Debt.

"You knew all along, and you still asked us!"

Paimon folded her arms and glared angrily at Qiu Bai.

The group headed toward Wangshu Inn, bickering and joking along the way.

"Is walking still too slow?"

After they had walked for a while, Qiu Bai suddenly stopped and turned to Lumine and Paimon behind him.

"Hold on to me, Lumine, Paimon."

Though puzzled, Lumine and Paimon still gripped Qiu Bai's sleeves.

After a dizzying whirl, they arrived at Wangshu Inn.

Qiu Bai looked at the building before him. It was evening, and the inn was brightly lit, with Dihua Marsh stretching into view in the distance.

Wangshu Inn, huh? It's been so long since I last came here. So this is what it looks like now?

A thousand years ago, this place was overrun with monsters. The remains of many fallen Demon Gods had landed here, spreading Karmic Debt everywhere.

It couldn't have been easy for Xiao to clear away nearly all of this Karmic Debt by himself.

At that thought, Qiu Bai couldn't help sighing.

Behind Qiu Bai, Lumine and Paimon stared at the building with wide eyes.

Then they turned to Qiu Bai in shock.

"Hey, what kind of adeptal art was that this time?"

Paimon folded her arms and gave Qiu Bai a disdainful look.

A walking Statue of the Seven!

That was Lumine's private thought.

Qiu Bai looked at Paimon with a cheerful smile.

"It really wasn't an adeptal art, little Paimon."

"But since we're here, let's look for the Conqueror of Demons."

At his words, Paimon stamped her feet angrily.

"Can you stop changing the subject!"

"You're driving me crazy!"

Lumine gently patted Paimon's head and spoke softly.

"Paimon, everyone has secrets, don't they?"

"It's rude to keep asking like that."

Hearing the Traveler say that, Paimon turned her head away.

"Fine, I won't ask anymore."

"But is this Wangshu Inn? The scenery is beautiful."

Paimon seemed to remember something. She kicked her feet excitedly, then looked happily at Qiu Bai and Lumine.

"Since it's an inn, there must be tasty food here! We haven't eaten all day. Let's go take a look!"

Food?

Grrr~~~

An embarrassing sound rang out.

Lumine blushed as her stomach chose that moment to growl.

Seeing how adorable Lumine looked, Qiu Bai couldn't help saying, "Come with me. This meal's on me!"

A Demon God's body naturally wouldn't grow hungry, but it could still crave good food.

As soon as Qiu Bai finished speaking,

Paimon could no longer contain her smile.

"Yay! Qiu Bai, you're the best!"

Lumine smiled as well. After all, she and Paimon had been camping out in the wilderness, and a good meal was a rare treat.

At this point, Lumine hadn't yet received a Serenitea Pot from Madame Ping.

"Thank you, Qiu Bai."

Lumine thanked Qiu Bai.

Qiu Bai waved a hand at Paimon and Lumine.

"Aw, why be so formal with me?"

"We're all friends. Come on, it's my treat today. Eat as much as you like!"

The group then headed into Wangshu Inn.

"Before we eat, there's somewhere we need to go."

Qiu Bai spoke as he looked toward a spot higher up in the inn.

"Where?"

Paimon asked in confusion. Could that place possibly be more important than eating?

Lumine pressed a hand to her forehead and looked at Paimon, speechless.

"Paimon, have you forgotten why we came to Wangshu Inn?"

"Oh, right."

"We came to Wangshu Inn to find the Conqueror of Demons!"

Paimon held her head. She had almost forgotten their actual business.

Pfft~

Qiu Bai covered his mouth beside them, quietly snickering.

"Hey, laugh if you want, but can you at least not let me hear it?"

"My brain doesn't work as well when I haven't eaten!"

Paimon turned angrily toward Qiu Bai, who was snickering beside her.

Qiu Bai stopped smiling and looked at Lumine and Paimon. "Come with me. Let's find that adeptus."

Lumine and Paimon nodded, then followed Qiu Bai up the stairs toward the terrace.

"So this is the terrace? The scenery is beautiful! It's so open-you can see everything around us!"

"But is that adeptus not here?"

Paimon asked in confusion.

Lumine looked around curiously, then walked forward and rested both hands on the railing, gazing at the distant scenery.

Qiu Bai followed behind Lumine as a breeze gently brushed his face.

Not only was this place peaceful, it also offered such a beautiful view. It truly was a rare scenic spot.

A faint smile curved Qiu Bai's lips.

But it looks like an old acquaintance is about to arrive.

"Mortal eyes do not always see the truth."

At some point, a youthful male voice had suddenly sounded beside Lumine.

Paimon jumped in fright.

Lumine turned toward the voice and pressed a hand to her chest, clearly startled as well.