Xiangling's eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth.
Guoba also stared wide-eyed at Qiu Bai before him. Both of them were stunned by what Qiu Bai had done.
With a casual flick of his finger, three Rock Hilichurl Kings had turned into black motes of light and vanished into the air?
And how had that strange white light restored the scorched grass to its lush, vibrant state?
"Mr. Qiu Bai, you're incredible!"
"Thank you, Mr. Qiu Bai."
Still reeling from Qiu Bai's display, Xiangling finally collected herself and thanked him.
"You're welcome. I was just wandering around."
"I didn't expect to find you here, Xiangling, caught up with some monsters."
Qiu Bai turned around and smiled at Xiangling, then glanced down at Guoba, who was still standing at his feet in shock.
"Looks like that stunned you, too."
Qiu Bai chuckled softly as he looked at Guoba.
He had to admit, he had pulled off that show of power quite well.
"Hehe, I came out to look for ingredients."
"I wanted to try out a new dish I've been working on, but I ran into three Rock Hilichurl Kings."
"Good thing you stepped in, Mr. Qiu Bai. Otherwise, I really might not have been able to beat them."
Xiangling rubbed her head and shifted bashfully as she spoke.
Although Streetward Rambler had personally taught her spear techniques, facing three Rock Hilichurl Kings was still a struggle.
Only then did Qiu Bai notice the large backpack on Xiangling's back, with a cooking pot strapped to its right side.
"So what ingredients are you looking for?"
Qiu Bai asked curiously.
"Slimes!"
"And Slimes with different elemental powers improve a dish's texture in different ways!"
"Um... except Geo Slimes. They're just too hard."
After a moment's thought, Xiangling excitedly explained this to Qiu Bai, making a point of stressing that Geo Slimes weren't edible.
The corner of Qiu Bai's mouth twitched hard at her words.
"Why don't you come along with me, Mr. Qiu Bai?"
"Then you can try my brand-new dish!"
Xiangling stared at Qiu Bai with an excited face and eager eyes.
Guoba finally recovered from his shock and walked over to Qiu Bai's feet.
"Lululu~(*^▽^*)"
"All right, all right, I'll come!"
Qiu Bai hurriedly waved his hands and took a few steps back.
Looking at the eagerness in Xiangling's eyes, who could refuse such an enthusiastic girl?
Besides, he had the body of a god. Surely he could stomach this strange dish.
Maybe it would even taste pretty good?
"Then let's get going, Mr. Qiu Bai!"
Delighted by his answer, Xiangling put away Dragon's Bane and set off to find Slimes.
Qiu Bai followed behind Xiangling, while Guoba happily bounded ahead to catch up with her.
"Go sniff out some monsters, Guoba!"
"And don't find three Rock Hilichurl Kings like you did just now!"
Xiangling looked down at Guoba and spoke sternly.
"Lu... o(╥﹏╥)o"
Guoba looked up at Xiangling with a pitiful expression.
Seeing him like that, Xiangling softened.
"All right, Guoba, I won't blame you anymore. Once you find some Slimes..."
"I'll make you some delicious Jueyun Guoba when we get back!"
Xiangling crouched down and patted Guoba's head to comfort him.
"Lululu!"
Guoba immediately looked at Xiangling with happy eyes, then bounded ahead of her.
Seeing Guoba's renewed energy, her words had clearly worked.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, let's keep up with Guoba!"
Xiangling hurriedly turned to call to Qiu Bai, then rushed after Guoba.
The corner of Qiu Bai's mouth twitched.
"A doggo?"
He hadn't expected Marchosius to turn out like this after his intellect had declined, though perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing for him.
As he mulled it over, Qiu Bai saw that Xiangling and Guoba had already run far ahead and hurried after them.
After some searching, they finally found several Hydro Slimes and Cryo Slimes by a river.
"Found them! Great job, Guoba."
"Now watch me!"
With that, Xiangling ran toward the Slimes.
"Take this!"
"Get a taste of my master's spear techniques!"
Watching Xiangling battle the Slimes, Qiu Bai's mouth twitched.
"Is she going for Vaporize?"
"Mr. Qiu Bai! I'm back."
Before Qiu Bai could snap out of his thoughts...
Xiangling ran up to him, holding a chunk of a Hydro Slime's body.
"Guoba, let's go find our next target!"
After searching several locations like this, Xiangling finally gathered pieces of Slimes of six different elements.
Of course, there were still times when Guoba found the wrong thing along the way.
Once, for instance, Guoba actually found an enormous burning tree-and the tree could even attack people!
If not for Qiu Bai, Guoba might have gotten Xiangling into serious trouble. Xiangling had also come up with an exceptionally bold idea.
She actually wanted to pluck a leaf from the Pyro Regisvine to see whether it was edible!
If Qiu Bai hadn't dragged her back, there was no telling what might have happened.
To the Pyro Regisvine, that was. Otherwise, Qiu Bai would have blown it apart with one punch.
Qiu Bai would have shown it what the "explosive" part of its name really meant.
"That wasn't easy. Thank you so much, Mr. Qiu Bai."
"Now it's time to test my new dish!"
Xiangling found a campsite out in the wilderness, took off the backpack she had been carrying, and slowly opened it to reveal all sorts of ingredients and seasonings.
She really came prepared.
Qiu Bai was a little surprised as he watched Xiangling take the ingredients and seasonings out of her backpack.
Then Xiangling set the pot over the firewood.
"Guoba! Breathe fire."
"Lululu!"
With a burst of flame from Guoba, the firewood caught fire.
Then Xiangling turned to Qiu Bai and asked a little sheepishly, "Mr. Qiu Bai, sorry for the trouble, but could you fetch some water?"
After all their running around, evening had already fallen.
"Sure, leave it to me."
Qiu Bai smiled as he answered, and Xiangling handed him a container for the water.
"Thank you, Mr. Qiu Bai!"
Qiu Bai took the container and headed toward the river in the distance. The moment he reached its bank, he sensed something strange.
"Hmm? This is..."
"Interesting."
Qiu Bai seemed to detect something with his divine sense, and a faint smile curved his lips.
He had discovered a big rat.
"The Second of the Fatui Harbingers."
"The Doctor."
"What's he doing here? Could it be because of me?"
Qiu Bai hadn't expected The Doctor to appear in Liyue, but he had no intention of bothering with him.
Although three Fatui Harbingers had gathered in Liyue, that still wasn't enough to affect his and Morax's plans.
Unless The Doctor harmed the people of Liyue. At that thought, Qiu Bai's gaze instantly turned cold.
If that happened, he would have only himself to blame for Qiu Bai showing no mercy.
At that moment, The Doctor, who was still on another mountaintop, felt an overwhelming chill.
Before you continue