Qiu Bai stared blankly at Qiqi before him.
After all, he had never actually seen Qiqi smile in the game.
Although Qiqi was already over five hundred years old, she had spent most of that time asleep, so her mind was still that of a little girl.
"You recognized me, huh? But you mustn't tell anyone, Qiqi."
"Your big brother has something very important to do."
Qiu Bai smiled as he patted Qiqi's head and spoke to her.
"Qiqi won't tell anyone."
Like a little kitten, Qiqi closed her eyes and pressed her head against Qiu Bai's.
Just then, Baizhu's voice came from the room behind the counter.
"Brother Qiu Bai, we've finished pricing your medicinal herbs!"
Baizhu came out of the room behind the counter and paused when he saw Qiu Bai stroking Qiqi's head.
"It looks like Qiqi really likes you."
Baizhu spoke with a smile.
The little snake draped around Baizhu spoke up. "Qiqi is smiling!"
Only then did Baizhu notice the faint smile on Qiqi's lips.
"This is my first time seeing Qiqi smile, too."
Qiqi spotted Baizhu and walked toward him with a smile.
"Brother Baizhu, thank you."
"For taking care of me all these years."
Baizhu stared at Qiqi in shock as she thanked him, still utterly bewildered.
"Qiqi... you seem a little different from before?"
Baizhu looked at Qiqi and asked uncertainly.
"Qiqi has become human. Qiqi is warm."
"Qiqi has knowledge and memories now. Qiqi doesn't need to write things in a notebook anymore."
Qiqi smiled sweetly at Baizhu. At last, she no longer needed to write everything down in her notebook.
She no longer had to fear forgetting things.
Qiu Bai watched Qiqi from behind. Human? She was indeed human, but an immortal one.
Of course, he knew Baizhu had approached Qiqi with an ulterior motive, but Baizhu had never done anything to hurt her.
Even if he wanted to, he could no longer hurt Qiqi, because she had now become an Adeptus.
He planned to speak to Baizhu in a moment, then take Qiqi to Streetward Rambler, also known as Madame Ping.
He would have Madame Ping teach Qiqi how to control her adeptal energy.
"Brother Qiu Bai, do you know what happened?"
Baizhu asked in confusion.
After all, he had come out only to find Qiu Bai stroking Qiqi's head.
"Brother Baizhu, how could I have that kind of ability?"
"After you went inside, an Adeptus came here and helped Qiqi."
"He also said he would take Qiqi away shortly."
Qiu Bai casually made up a lie. No one had seen what had happened here, anyway.
Then, with a thought, he sent a white-clad figure walking in through the door.
This figure was none other than the Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles-or, more precisely, Qiu Bai's clone.
Qiqi looked at the figure, then at Qiu Bai.
Her little mind couldn't quite make sense of it. Why were there two big brothers?
Still, probably no one in Liyue today recognized him. After all, for the past five hundred years, he had concealed his face whenever he attended the Rite of Descension.
The Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles walked in and looked at Qiqi.
The Bubu Pharmacy employees behind him were equally bewildered by the Adeptus's sudden arrival. This was their first time seeing one.
A thin veil of mist shrouded the Adeptus's face, obscuring his features.
"I have come to collect you. You can no longer be considered mortal. You have broken free of your bonds as a zombie and become an Adeptus."
"I will take you where you belong. Come with me."
Qiqi glanced back at Qiu Bai, who gave her a reassuring smile.
Then Qiqi walked toward the door under Baizhu's bewildered gaze.
"Please wait, Adeptus. Will Qiqi come back?"
Baizhu's eyes filled with reluctance as he watched Qiqi leave. After all this time, he had come to regard her as a daughter.
"Brother Baizhu, Qiqi will come back."
Qiqi, too, looked reluctant to part.
"Of course she will. When did I ever say I would take her away forever?"
The "Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles" spoke calmly.
"I am merely taking her to adjust to her adeptal powers. Once she has, I will naturally bring her back."
Baizhu breathed a sigh of relief, then cupped his hands. "Then you have my thanks, Adeptus."
He, too, sincerely hoped Qiqi's condition would improve.
"As for all of you, pretend you never saw me, and do not mention this to anyone else."
Then the "Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles" vanished with Qiqi in an instant.
The Bubu Pharmacy employees stood up, their eyes full of confusion.
"Number Two, pinch me. Am I dreaming?"
One of the Bubu Pharmacy employees patted his coworker's shoulder and asked, still dazed.
"Number Three, this isn't a dream. We really met an Adeptus!"
The two employees nearby looked at each other in disbelief.
But neither had any intention of telling their families or anyone else about it.
After all, the Adeptus had just told them not to reveal what had happened today.
Baizhu still had some doubts, but eventually set them aside.
He turned to Qiu Bai beside him, who looked as though no Adeptus had appeared at all.
"Brother Qiu Bai, we've finished tallying those medicinal herbs of yours."
With that, Baizhu picked up a large chest.
"Here are two million Mora. It's an absolutely fair price."
Good grief. Qiu Bai was startled. He hadn't expected that pile of herbs to be worth so much, though personal goodwill had surely played a part.
This money would let him live comfortably for quite a while.
"Brother Qiu Bai, if you have any more herbs like these, please remember to come back."
"I guarantee you'll be satisfied with the price."
Baizhu smiled at Qiu Bai as he spoke.
Just as I thought, Qiu Bai mused.
Then he extended his hand, his expression unchanged. "Then thank you, Brother Baizhu."
"You're too kind, Brother Qiu Bai."
Baizhu shook Qiu Bai's hand.
"I won't keep you any longer, Brother Baizhu. I still have things to attend to."
"I'll take my leave."
Qiu Bai cupped his hands. With him having disappeared so suddenly, Hu Tao must have been worried sick by now.
"Take care, Brother Qiu Bai."
Once Qiu Bai had disappeared from sight,
Baizhu slumped into his chair like a deflated balloon. There had simply been too much to take in today, and he still hadn't processed it all.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened. Liyue Harbor blazed with lights, their red glow illuminating a city steeped in thousands of years of history.
Madame Ping was watering her flowers when Qiu Bai and Qiqi suddenly appeared, startling her.
Madame Ping rubbed her eyes and stared at Qiu Bai's clone.
"Are my old eyes failing me? Are you the Immortal Lord?!"
Having finally made out the person before her, Madame Ping spoke in astonishment.
"Shh, Streetward Rambler. I can't reveal myself yet."
"Do you still remember this little girl?"
Qiqi, who had been hiding behind Qiu Bai, peeked out and looked at the kindly old woman before her.
Madame Ping's form shifted, turning into a young woman dressed in teal.
A teal mark adorned her forehead, and white patterns decorated her cuffs. At first glance, she looked like a beautiful young woman, fresh-faced and delicate.
She looked at Qiu Bai with a smile.
Then she glanced at Qiqi, who was hiding behind Qiu Bai.
"Is this the little girl from five hundred years ago? Has she already transformed into an Adeptus?"
She looked at Qiqi in surprise as she spoke.
Before you continue