Huaguang Stone Forest might have been the only place in Jueyun Karst that still bore a few traces of human presence. The reason was simple: several suspension bridges actually existed here, linking the tree-like mountain peaks together.
This was also a secluded cultivation ground for the Guhua Clan. Unfortunately, the clan's secret arts were specifically intended for Vision holders. So far, only Xingqiu of the Feiyun Commerce Guild had grasped their mysteries. With its entry requirements already so high, the clan had fallen into complete decline.
The few suspension bridges that remained here had also been occupied by Slimes and Hilichurls. To make sure these monsters would not cause trouble midway through their work, Qiqi decided to wipe them out first.
She placed an Edict on herself, then charged straight at the monsters with a one-handed sword in hand.
Although Qiqi was small, her combat prowess was not to be underestimated. The Edict released the deliberate self-restraint she normally maintained, returning her body to its zombie state and significantly increasing her strength and speed.
The Slimes and Hilichurls on the suspension bridges were all monsters of the lowest level, with no Large Slimes or Hilichurl Berserkers among them. Qiqi cleared them all out in no time.
During the fight, a Hilichurl Shooter aimed at Yucheng, but its bolt flew embarrassingly slowly. Yucheng easily caught it in midair, then threw it back even faster at the Hilichurl Shooter that had ambushed him, striking it right between the eyes.
After all the monsters had been cleared out, Yucheng gathered some of the materials they had dropped: Slime Secretions, Hilichurl Damaged Masks, and Arrowheads. These drops each had their own unique value. People often posted collection commissions for them at the Adventurers' Guild, so they could be exchanged for some Mora.
Qiqi had no interest in Mora, but for a penniless man like Yucheng, even the smallest gain counted. He could hardly pay off his debt to Bubu Pharmacy only to end up without a single Mora in his pocket. That was a standard only gods lived up to.
After clearing out the surrounding monsters, Yucheng and Qiqi continued gathering medicinal herbs. Huaguang Stone Forest's unique geography provided ample growing grounds for Violetgrass, but their Qingxin harvest was meager by comparison.
Over the course of the day, they gathered more than forty stalks of Violetgrass and a dozen or so Qingxin flowers. Seeing that he and Qiqi had picked Huaguang Stone Forest clean of medicinal herbs, Yucheng turned his attention northward to Mt. Aocang.
Yucheng had originally wanted to visit the closer Hulao Mountain first, but Qiqi seemed to have an inexplicable aversion to it and absolutely refused to go near it again. He could only forgo the nearer destination for the more distant one.
Only when he looked down while gliding through the air and spotted those enormous, conspicuous pieces of Cor Lapis on Hulao Mountain did realization dawn on Yucheng. He finally remembered that Qiqi had apparently been sealed inside Cor Lapis for several hundred years by Mountain Shaper, otherwise known as Adeptus Bird Number Two. No wonder she was averse to Hulao Mountain.
But isn't Mt. Aocang home to an adeptus's abode too? That tsundere Cloud Retainer, otherwise known as Adeptus Bird Number One, should be cultivating in seclusion inside her abode. We're only going up the mountain to gather a few herbs. Surely, perhaps, possibly, probably, most likely, that won't be a problem?
When Yucheng and Qiqi returned to their previous campsite after a busy day, they spotted a woman lying on his blanket from afar, sleeping soundly.
The first thing Yucheng noticed was that she actually had a pair of goat-like horns on her head, which did not look like decorative headwear. The woman was lying on her side, curled into a ball. Her black bodysuit stood in stark contrast to her fair, exposed back.
Her white outfit was missing a section right over her chest. Constrained by the black bodysuit, her full breasts looked particularly conspicuous, making Yucheng's gaze drift involuntarily toward an unmentionable spot.
Yucheng had recognized the woman at first glance: Ganyu, secretary to the Liyue Qixing, a half-human, half-adeptus beast with a Qilin bloodline. Why would someone like her be here?
While Yucheng was still wondering whether he should wake Ganyu, Qiqi, who had been following beside him, caught sight of her and immediately pounced excitedly, calling, "Cocogoat! Cocogoat! So nice and cool!"
Qiqi landed on Ganyu, burying her face directly in her ample bosom. Startled awake by Qiqi's sudden assault in her sleep, Ganyu hastily rose from the ground. Just as she instinctively started to fling Qiqi off her, she finally recognized her, and the hands that had been about to exert force immediately relaxed.
With Ganyu standing, Qiqi, who had been hanging from her chest, slid straight down under the influence of an irresistible force. She ended up clinging to one of Ganyu's long legs, rubbing her little face against it over and over. Watching this, Yucheng was filled with envy and wished he could possess Qiqi right then to experience that astonishing softness and springiness.
Ganyu's cheeks had clearly flushed at Qiqi's actions too. Just as she was about to free herself, her gaze caught Yucheng standing nearby, and the atmosphere immediately turned awkward. Ganyu's face rapidly reddened at a visible pace. Yucheng thought he could vaguely see wisps of white smoke rising from her head. Her CPU had probably burned out.
Yucheng was the first to feel too embarrassed to continue. He turned around and stopped looking in Ganyu's direction...
After roughly half an hour to cool down, Ganyu gradually returned to her usual self and sat facing Yucheng at the campsite. Qiqi, however, was still reclining beside her, using Ganyu's thigh as a pillow.
"G-Ganyu, big sis-no, Senior Ganyu. Hello, my name is Uchiha Yucheng. You can just call me Yucheng. I'm currently a trainee herb gatherer at Bubu Pharmacy, and I've been gathering herbs in Jueyun Karst with Qiqi lately."
"Huh? How do you know my name?"
"Of course I know it. You're very famous in Liyue Harbor. As the saying goes, the Qixing come and go, but Ganyu stays. You've worked for Liyue Harbor for over three thousand years. If anything, wouldn't it be stranger not to know you?"
"I-it's not quite as impressive as you make it sound. I merely fulfill my duties in accordance with my contract with Rex Lapis."
"No, no, no. You absolutely deserve enormous credit for how far Liyue has developed. Please don't sell yourself short. Senior Ganyu, as the secretary at Yuehai Pavilion, I've heard you're extremely busy with work. What brings you here today?"
"Um, I had nothing to do today, so I came back to Mt. Aocang to visit my master, Cloud Retainer. I heard she'd taken on a new disciple, whom I haven't met yet. I thought I ought to bring my junior sister a gift, so I searched Jueyun Karst for something suitable. Unexpectedly, I found an ice cellar here, and inside were dozens of Qingxin flowers, my favorite food, so..."
Hearing Ganyu's words, Yucheng immediately had an ominous feeling. Ice cellar... Qingxin... favorite food...
Yucheng scrambled up from the ground and raced to where they had stored the Qingxin yesterday. The ice cellar, which should have been sealed, had been opened. The forty-odd Qingxin flowers stored inside had vanished, leaving only a few stalks of Violetgrass. At the sight, Yucheng could not help dropping to his knees, wanting to cry but finding no tears.
Seeing Yucheng's reaction, the clever Ganyu immediately understood as well. Her face, which had finally returned to normal, flushed red again. She had realized that she seemed to have accidentally eaten the medicinal herbs Yucheng and Qiqi had gathered!
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