It was still nighttime at Wangshu Inn, and the lights shone brightly.
They added a touch of red to the already beautiful Dihua Marsh.
Qiu Bai and the two girls were heading toward Yanxiao, Wangshu Inn's head chef.
They only spotted Yanxiao when they reached a terrace.
Qiu Bai walked over at an unhurried pace.
Behind him, Paimon and Lumine greeted Yanxiao.
"Can't you see I'm taking a break? No interruptions."
Yanxiao's brows knitted together.
He looked at Lumine and Paimon with an expression that warned strangers to keep their distance.
Lumine asked in a clear voice, "Um... Almond Tofu."
"No. Interruptions!"
Yanxiao folded his arms and enunciated each word at Lumine.
Paimon couldn't help complaining, "Uh, this chef's enthusiasm for customer service..."
"...is right up there with Mr. Wagner, the blacksmith in Mondstadt."
Qiu Bai looked at Yanxiao with some surprise and said, "Boss Godwin ordered it."
He could sense that the man before him really wasn't in good shape.
It was as though something had frightened him.
"Oh, I see."
A smile suddenly spread across Yanxiao's face as he looked at the three of them.
His tone softened as well, and he continued, "If it's an order from the boss, then I suppose I have no choice."
His sudden change in attitude left Lumine and Paimon dumbfounded. What a chameleon.
Yanxiao said helplessly, "Unfortunately, I'm feeling a little weak right now."
"I can't make a delicate dessert like Almond Tofu."
"Why's that?"
Paimon asked curiously.
Yanxiao gave Paimon a look that said, "You don't even understand that?"
"A swordsman's hands have to be steady, and the same goes for us chefs."
"But right now, my hands... sorry, they're a little shaky..."
"As for why, some guests have been saying this inn is haunted."
At this point, even Yanxiao's voice began to tremble as he spoke in terror.
"And just now! Just now, I saw something strange in the kitchen, too!"
Paimon grumbled inwardly.
I never thought this chef, who looks so fierce, would sound so weak the moment ghosts came up.
Lumine looked at Yanxiao in surprise, finding it hard to believe. Did ghosts really exist in this world?
Qiu Bai thought they had come to the right place. Wasn't someone who understood these things standing right here?
"Anyway, whenever I think that even Wangshu Inn isn't safe anymore..."
"...I can't keep my hands steady enough to grind sweet almonds."
Yanxiao explained helplessly.
Paimon turned to Qiu Bai and Lumine and said, "All right, Qiu Bai, Traveler."
"For the sake of the finest, most exquisite Almond Tofu, let's go take a look in the kitchen."
Qiu Bai smiled at Yanxiao. "Don't worry, Yanxiao. Leave this to us."
With that, he headed to the kitchen with Lumine and Paimon.
Before long, they arrived in Wangshu Inn's kitchen.
Paimon waved her hands and grumbled, "There's clearly nothing here..."
"Ah!" Paimon cried out in terror.
Before Paimon could finish speaking, she saw a translucent, glowing little girl run past behind the stove.
She quickly flew behind Qiu Bai and Lumine, clutching her chest, visibly frightened.
Lumine also stared blankly at the spot where the little girl had just run past.
A faint smile lingered on Qiu Bai's lips, and an inky-white aura enveloped him.
With a flick of his finger, the aura spread throughout Wangshu Inn.
The little girl became visible as the aura washed over her.
She emerged from behind the vegetable rack, skipping as she looked at Qiu Bai.
While Paimon and Lumine were still marveling at the aura Qiu Bai had released, they saw the little girl suddenly appear.
Lumine and Paimon hurried to a safe distance-namely, behind Qiu Bai.
"The first Hilichurl fell ill, the second came to see~"
"The third Hilichurl gathered herbs, the fourth brewed the tea~"
"The fifth Hilichurl died, the sixth carried her away~"
The little girl sang the strange rhyme in a bright, clear voice.
Qiu Bai held his head. This little girl must have met Hu Tao while she was alive.
"Haunting people is bad. Do you understand, little one?"
Only then did Paimon recover enough to address the little girl in a lecturing tone.
The little girl kept skipping around.
Paimon stamped her foot and shouted angrily, "Are you even listening to me?"
"Okay."
"Xiao Ming won't play tricks on the guests staying here anymore."
The little girl stopped skipping and spoke brightly to the three of them.
"Big brother, you smell really nice. Next time, you can come play with me instead, Qiu Bai."
"If you don't come, Xiao Ming will come looking for you..."
Qiu Bai smiled at Xiao Ming. "I'll definitely come play with you next time."
"But you mustn't play tricks on the inn's guests anymore."
Paimon and Lumine stared at Qiu Bai with wide eyes.
Didn't he find what the little girl had said terrifying?
Playing with a ghost was frightening just to think about.
Xiao Ming jumped up happily.
"Xiao Ming understands. Thank you, big brother."
With that, the little girl vanished.
Qiu Bai turned around and smiled at Lumine and Paimon. "And that takes care of it."
"Let's tell the boss about the haunting first."
"I never thought you had a talent for catching ghosts, too."
"Looks like you'll know how to handle that little girl even if she comes looking for you again."
Paimon waved both hands, looking at Qiu Bai in amazement.
Lumine also looked at Qiu Bai curiously. She didn't quite understand how he had made the little girl appear.
A short while later, the three of them returned to the counter.
Boss Godwin greeted them when she saw them.
Qiu Bai told Boss Godwin what had just happened.
Godwin said in surprise, "I never imagined you could catch little ghosts too, Mr. Qiu Bai."
"Allow me to thank you on behalf of Wangshu Inn's guests."
Xiao had asked her and the innkeeper to take the little ghost in temporarily.
But the ghost was always playing tricks on the inn's guests, giving her quite a headache.
Seeing that Qiu Bai had resolved the matter came as a pleasant surprise.
Qiu Bai smiled. "You're welcome. I've already left my aura around the inn."
"You won't have to worry about ghosts disturbing the inn anymore."
Paimon suddenly understood. "Oh, so that inky-white aura was meant to ward off evil!"
"I never knew you could do something like that, Qiu Bai."
Lumine wasn't particularly curious, though.
Qiu Bai had already shown her far too many astonishing things along the way.
Sending someone so far away with a mere wave of his hand, not to mention teleporting to Wangshu Inn, had already left Lumine stunned.
Qiu Bai, this consultant from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, had far too many mysteries surrounding him.
Godwin hurriedly said, "Then thank you, Mr. Qiu Bai. I never imagined you possessed such abilities."
Lumine thought, You'd be even more shocked if you saw him send someone flying away with a wave of his hand.
Godwin was almost certain by now that this Mr. Qiu Bai standing before her must be an Adeptus.
After all, even people who wore a Vision could only keep ghosts from approaching them of their own accord.
Paimon said to Qiu Bai and Lumine, "We should be able to go find that chef now, right?"
"And have him make some delicious Almond Tofu!"
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