“Truly worthy of being the one Guizhong chose.
In all my many years here in Liyue Harbor, I’ve never seen a mortal with such excellent bones and constitution.” The moment her hand rested on Piers’s arm, Madame Ping finally confirmed it—Piers was indeed a mortal.
But if he had only recently begun learning the adeptal arts, then his talent was truly far too good.
At this rate, wouldn’t he soon surpass even old-timers like them?
“Piers, ask her for me—I haven’t heard Gechen play the zither in several thousand years.
I’d like to hear her play a piece.” Guizhong stood there, eyes fixed on Madame Ping without blinking once.
Tears gradually welled up in her eyes, and at a certain moment, when her eyes could hold them back no longer, they fell to the ground.
“Gechen, the Streetward Rambler, may I hear you play the zither?
Although I don’t remember the contents of the letter, I somehow feel that my master would like to hear you play.” There’s no need to remember—the person herself is right here.
“Of course you may.
Just call me Madame Ping.
From now on, you are my disciple of the adepti.
With Guizhong gone, if you ever have any trouble, you’re more than welcome to come to me.” “Then thank you, Madame Ping.” Made a killing.
One visit and he’d gained an adeptus as a backer.
He’d been worried before about being schemed against in Liyue by the all-powerful Tianquan Star, but now it seemed there was nothing to fear.
“Hehehe, but then again, your master probably wouldn’t have liked the pieces I used to play.
When she was alive, she was always competing with someone—competing with Liuyun over mechanism arts, and competing with me over composing music.” Madame Ping lowered her head and took an ancient zither out of the Serenitea Pot, setting it down on the low table before her—but she was in no hurry to play.
“That said, I did later compose a new piece.
I imagine that if she were here, she’d probably like it.
Sit down first—who listens to music standing up?” She pulled out a small stool from beneath the low table in front of her.
Piers didn’t refuse and simply sat down, but even after Piers was seated, Madame Ping still did not begin to play.
“Why don’t you…
come back again tomorrow instead…” Her hand touched the zither strings, and her voice suddenly sounded much more aged.
“Or—I’ll play you a piece.
Could you come again tomorrow…?
This old body gets a little lonely here in Liyue Harbor from time to time.” She gazed at Piers, her eyes rimmed with red.
Don’t tell me Madame Ping has mistaken me for Sister Guizhong?
What is this, some kind of substitute-lover drama?
The gender’s not even right!
But given the situation, Piers couldn’t really bring himself to disturb her.
If she wanted to think that, then so be it.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll come every evening, as long as I’m in Liyue.” Gechen’s eyes were still red, but the corners of her mouth clearly curved upward.
Her fair fingers brushed across the strings once, then plucked a single note.
“It really has been a long time since I played.
I hope I’m not too rusty.” After that, Liyue Harbor fell silent—so silent that only the sound of Madame Ping’s zither could be heard.
She played with her eyes closed.
Guizhong listened, utterly entranced, even leaning in to caress the strings with her hand.
“I’ve never heard you play this piece before.
Is it a new arrangement you made later on?
It’s truly beautiful.” As she spoke, she reached out to touch Madame Ping’s face, her eyes gradually reddening.
……
In the dead of night, by this hour there was hardly anyone left on the main streets of Liyue Harbor.
Only a few Millelith on the night shift remained out and about, and along both sides of the road there were only the street lamps and the moths fluttering beneath them.
Piers walked alone down the street, with Guizhong following beside him, her eyes a little red.
“What, are you crying now?
And you a person several thousand years old.” “Who’s crying?
I just thought about how I can’t mock her to her face for turning into an old granny—these are tears of frustration!” Guizhong immediately retorted.
“Ah, right, right, right—’Piers~, ask her for me~, I haven’t heard Gechen play the zither in several thousand years~, I’d like to hear her play a piece~'” Piers flat-out mimicked Guizhong’s tone from earlier in a snide, sarcastic voice.
“You—!” Seeing that she couldn’t win the argument, Guizhong simply raised her hand and slammed a punch into Piers’s arm.
“Ow!
Don’t hit me—your fist is so tiny, how does it hurt this much when you punch?” Piers dodged to the side.
Since there was hardly anyone around, Piers didn’t bother using the adeptal arts to convey his thoughts telepathically.
The Millelith patrolling nearby: ?
From their point of view, a good-looking young man was talking to himself, all alone in the street in the middle of the night, even making some strange gestures.
“Wait, how is it that I…
it seems I can actually feel your strength now.” Piers suddenly realized it—in the past, Guizhong could indeed touch him, but Piers couldn’t feel it.
Even when Guizhong slept on top of him, he couldn’t feel her weight.
But just now, when Guizhong had given him that punch, he had genuinely felt the pain.
“Eh?
You can feel it now?
Could it be that this spirit-summoning art you’re using makes a soul-body grow more solid over time?” How would I know?
This crappy System is like some pirated knockoff—just a single check-in button, and after you check in it gives you an egg, nothing else.
Though after I checked in, this System never did disappear.
On the panel there was still that check-in button, already grayed out.
No idea what it was up to—could it be I’ll get to check in again later?
“Maybe…
maybe so.
Honestly, I’m not too sure either, but if that’s the case, then you just might be able to come back to life.” Piers was still pondering this in all seriousness when Guizhong suddenly lunged over, grabbed him by the neck, and shook him back and forth.
“Hmph hmph, little disciple, so now you dare to take a snide tone with your master.” “Be civilized—you’re an Archon, for goodness’ sake.
cough cough I’m dying, meow, give me a little air.” In the end, Guizhong let go, and Piers survived for the time being.
The Millelith who had just returned from patrol nearby, however, weren’t doing nearly so well.
The Millelith on night-shift patrol nearby: ?
How about…
we have Old Li and the others patrol this block instead…
The other Millelith beside him: Agreed.
The two Millelith turned and left in perfect, unspoken accord, as though they had made up their minds about something.
The next morning, greeting the sunlight, Piers awoke in the room arranged for him by the Northland Bank.
Word had come from Snezhnaya: the Tsaritsa was very pleased with this mission, and she had also approved the arrangements Piers had mentioned in his letter regarding the Fatui members rejoining their ranks.
Normally, after receiving such word, Piers should have headed back.
But now Guizhong was pestering him, insisting he go find Cloud Retainer—she absolutely had to pit the disciples the two of them had taught against each other.
Left with no choice, Piers could only have someone send a letter petitioning the Cryo Tsaritsa, saying he had some private matters and needed to stay in Liyue for a few days.
The Tsaritsa naturally agreed.
Since the mission was complete, she didn’t much care where Piers happened to be—just as with Tartaglia.
It was just that, right after Piers had finished breakfast at the Xinyue Kiosk and stepped back outside, preparing to head to Mt.
Aocang together with Guizhong to find Cloud Retainer, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure on the street, glancing about in every direction as if searching for someone.
“Cloud Retainer?!” ____ 👻🔥Here: Walnut-chan🔥👻 🔥 New history: Homelander: Founding the Hero Association We have set new community milestones: