Even though she was in human form, Piers recognized her at a glance—though it was fortunate she was in human form, since at least it was easier to tell than her bird form.
“Liuyun?” “Sister Guizhong, your tone sounds a little disappointed.” “A little, yeah.
I thought she’d have turned into an old lady just like Gechen, hehe.” Although Guizhong had an adorable appearance, right now she looked more like a little imp.
And that instinctive utterance of Liuyun’s adeptal name had been overheard by Liuyun herself.
“Oh?
So you’re the junior that Gechen…
ahem, that Ah Ping spoke of.
What a coincidence, to run into you here.” What a coincidence indeed—Liuyun, the Cloud-Borne Adeptus, who had lived for years on Mt.
Aocang, just happened to be passing by the Xinyue Kiosk in Liyue Harbor.
“Adeptus…” “Ahem…
This place isn’t suitable for talking.
Why don’t I find somewhere quieter?” No sooner had she said it than Liuyun, the Cloud-Borne Adeptus, suddenly felt a bit awkward—she wasn’t actually all that familiar with the present-day Liyue Harbor.
Piers saw through Liuyun’s predicament at a glance and immediately spoke up to take the task off her hands.
“You’re a senior, Adeptus—how could I let a senior host a junior?
The Yanshang Tea House not far from here is quite nice; the private rooms have decent soundproofing too.” “Ahem…
You’re a sensible child, I’ll grant you that.” At the Yanshang Tea House, Piers requested the finest private room.
He felt no pinch at all about spending—after all, he wasn’t the one footing the bill, and to a [Rich Man] this little sum didn’t even count as money.
“Mm, not bad, not bad.
Upright features, exceptional bones and constitution—truly a fine seedling for cultivating the adeptal path.
Guizhong has a good eye.
I wonder, where in Liyue are you from?
Where do you live?
How many people are in your household?” Good grief, the adeptal bird’s come to take a household census.
“Liuyun, Cloud-Borne Adeptus, I’m actually more of a Snezhnayan—though I’m not even sure.
My parents dumped me in Snezhnaya and never looked after me again.” “You’re an orphan?” Wait, no—what’s with that look in the adeptal hen’s eyes?
Uh-oh, the adeptal bird’s triggered her passive skill: Sticky Fingers.
“Yes.” “Ahem…
Since you’re already Guizhong’s disciple, and Guizhong is no longer with us, I wonder if you’d be willing to take me as your master?
Afterward, I, this adeptus, will look after you.” “Why you, Liuyun—first you snatched away little Ganyu, and now you’re snatching little Piers!
How infuriating!
And I can’t even land a hit!
Little Piers, hurry and teach her a lesson for me!” Utterly heedless of her image, Guizhong bared her teeth and brandished her claws at Liuyun, the Cloud-Borne Adeptus—except she still could only manage to touch Piers.
Sister Guizhong, you change what you call me every single day.
Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn’t win.
“Many thanks for your kindness, Adeptus, but I’m already eighteen now.
I have a job in Snezhnaya and the means to survive on my own, so there’s no need to look after me.” “Eighteen?
Isn’t that still a child?
Besides, I already have two disciples—they’d count as your senior sisters, and they could help look after you too.” As she finished speaking, a knock came at the door of the private room.
“Master, is it this room?” “Ah, it’s Shenhe.
Come in.” Upon hearing Liuyun, the Cloud-Borne Adeptus, reply, Shenhe opened the door and walked in.
Seeing Shenhe enter, Guizhong curiously patted Piers’s shoulder.
“Hey, hey, little Piers, this must be that new disciple of Liuyun’s you mentioned, right?
She really does look impressive.
She’s still a mortal, but bones and constitution like hers are a rare sight—if an ordinary person saw her, they might mistake her for one of the adepti.” So, does Sister Guizhong think I could beat her?
Piers conveyed his inner voice across using adeptal arts.
“Of course you could.
Bones and constitution like that are indeed rare, but I’ve seen a few cases before—several of the Eight Marvels back in the day had bones like that.
Still, I’ve never seen anyone quite like you.” “Master, you summoned me here in a hurry—is there some urgent matter?” Shenhe’s expression was indifferent, giving off the air of someone alive yet half-dead.
“Your master has someone to introduce to you.” Liuyun spread her hand and pointed toward Piers.
“This one has recently learned the adeptal arts of Guizhong, the Archon of Dust—he counts as your junior brother.” “Hello, junior brother.” A perfectly routine greeting; Shenhe’s face still wore that bland, noncommittal expression.
“Hello, senior sister.” Just then, the private room door—which hadn’t been shut—was knocked upon once more.
“Adeptus, you called me over—is there something you need?” Ganyu, two horns atop her head, walked in wearing black stockings.
The moment Guizhong saw Ganyu, she swooped right over and began sizing her up with curiosity.
“Wow, wow, little Ganyu’s all grown up—she’s become so pretty.” “Ganyu’s here too.
Come, your master will introduce you.
This one has received the inheritance of Guizhong, the Archon of Dust—he counts as your junior brother.” Good grief, why has Adeptus Liuyun summoned everyone over?
Surely meeting someone doesn’t call for such a big production.
“Eh?
Junior brother?” Ganyu turned her head over curiously, but the moment she laid eyes on Piers she grew puzzled.
“Piers?” “You two…
know each other?” Liuyun shot the two of them a curious glance.
That remark made Piers freeze for a moment.
Thinking it over carefully, this did seem to be his first time meeting Ganyu—but the next second he realized: Ganyu was, after all, secretary to the Qixing, and as an Acting Harbinger of the Fatui, his information could surely be found at the Yuehai Pavilion.
And the truth was indeed just as Piers had guessed.
“You’re that Harbinger the Fatui sent to Liyue to negotiate?” “Fatui?” Liuyun didn’t have a good impression of that name.
She’d heard from the Qixing earlier that the Fatui had a hand in the recent release of an Archon—and that while they were dealing with the Archon, the Fatui had even sent people to stir up trouble.
“Please don’t misunderstand, Adeptus.
I’ve already come to terms with Miss Ningguang, and we’ve reached a settlement with the Liyue side.” Piers hastily explained.
“Hmph.
Liyue is now entrusted to Ningguang.
As long as no great chaos breaks out, she may do as she pleases—I, this adeptus, can’t be bothered to meddle.
Today we won’t discuss these matters of status.
An adeptal-arts inheritance is no dead thing; the fact that it chose you means Guizhong chose you.” Liuyun channeled her adept power and looked once more, confirming that what Piers had been studying was indeed adeptal arts bearing the aura of Guizhong, the Archon of Dust.
“These two disciples of mine—what do you think of them?” This inexplicable question struck Piers as rather odd.
What was Adeptus Liuyun asking about?
Combat strength?
He passed his inner voice to Guizhong.
“I think so too.
This gal’s definitely about to claim the disciples she’s trained are stronger than the ones I taught.
Little Piers, don’t be afraid of her—if you can’t beat little Ganyu, surely you can beat the one standing beside her.” Come on, Sister Guizhong, can’t you call me something else?
I’m an adult now—what part of me is ‘little’?
“Aiya, fine, fine, I get it.” Guizhong answered perfunctorily.
“Ahem…
Both senior sisters are wreathed in adept power; they must take their adeptal-arts cultivation very seriously.” “No, no, no—what I, this adeptus, mean is: what do you think of their looks?
Is there one you fancy?
I can play matchmaker and help set you up.” ____ 👻🔥+40 ch: Walnut-chan🔥👻 🔥 New history: Homelander: Founding the Hero Association Let’s achieve our community goals: