Chương 295: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [295]
Wearing it meant that every move he made, every word he spoke, would be heard by the Tsaritsa. The thought of having no privacy whatsoever was... unsettling.
But not wearing it? Who could have imagined that the lofty Tsaritsa would sulk over something as trivial as his refusal to wear her gift? Who would I even complain to about this?
Unable to decide, he opted to keep the Pure Ice for now and headed downstairs. He was planning to visit Nahida to continue discussing the fate of the Void Network when he saw Makoto lounging on the sofa. She held a piece of stationery in her hand, reading it intently.
"Oh, you're back."
Makoto glanced up, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "How did you sleep last night?"
"Pretty well," Luo Qing replied casually.
"Hmph. I didn't sleep at all," Makoto muttered, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance as she turned back to the letter.
For the first time in her reign as the household's de facto "queen," she had suffered a sleepless night.
The muffled sounds from the room next door had driven her mad—turning, tossing, and hugging her legs tight against her chest in a futile attempt to ignore the heat coursing through her body.
How were those two making that much noise?
Her younger sister had claimed she'd been the same way before, but Makoto found that hard to believe.
"Here. This is for you."
She handed the stationery to Luo Qing without looking up.
"What is this?"
Luo Qing took the letter, frowning. It wasn't often he received handwritten correspondence.
"It's from Ganyu," Makoto explained. "She says the Lantern Rite Festival is coming up in Liyue. She wanted to come here to celebrate but can't get away from her duties. So, she's asking you to visit and spend the festival with her instead."
"The Lantern Rite, huh..."
Luo Qing scanned the letter briefly. It was exactly as Makoto had summarized: Ganyu missed him, and with the Lantern Rite approaching, she hoped he could come to Liyue, have a reunion, and share a meal.
"What do you think?" Luo Qing asked, glancing at Makoto.
"Of course, you have to go," Makoto replied nonchalantly. "But we'll go together. There's no way I'm letting you go alone."
"..."
"What, you don't trust me?" Luo Qing teased.
"Take a guess."
"..."
She was starting to sound like him.
"Mondstadt's house will be done soon," Makoto added. "We can move in next week and head to Liyue from there. It'll save time on the road."
"What about Ayaka?"
Makoto's words reminded Luo Qing of someone else.
"She hasn't visited in a while," Makoto said, her tone casual but pointed. "You're her supposed lover. Don't you think you should check on her?"
"You're right," Luo Qing muttered, guilt creeping in. He hadn't seen Ayaka since that one night when they had... grown much closer.
"Something might have happened. I'll visit her tonight."
"Good."
Makoto smirked knowingly but then glanced at the stairs.
"And what about Bu'er?"
Luo Qing followed her gaze, realizing that the house was unusually quiet.
"Is she still sleeping?"
"She woke up, but when she couldn't find you, she went out to look for the Little Lord Kusanali," Makoto replied.
She and Nahida were two people from entirely different eras—one before the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah, the other after. They shared no common history or understanding.
"I see. I'll head that way too."
With that, Luo Qing left the house.
---
Liyue, Aozang Mountain
On the summit of the sacred mountain, Shenhe sat alone on a lotus pedestal within a tranquil cave.
The crimson ropes that she always wore had been completely undone. She sat cross-legged, her expression calm as she meditated.
But soon, her serene expression began to falter.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and her breaths became shallow. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she struggled to maintain her posture.
Moments later, her composure crumbled entirely.
She fidgeted, her body twisting slightly, unable to resist the sensations coursing through her. Her meditative pose gave way to a duck-like sitting position, legs folded awkwardly beneath her.
"Ah..."
Nearby, the avian form of Cloud Retainer sighed deeply.
With a wave of her wing, the crimson ropes lifted from the ground and wrapped themselves around Shenhe once more.
"I'm sorry, Master..." Shenhe murmured weakly. The ropes' return brought her some relief, quieting the torrent of emotions within her.
"You foolish child," Cloud Retainer said, shaking her head. "Is this what you call training?"
When Shenhe had announced her intention to descend the mountain for worldly experience, Cloud Retainer had been overjoyed.
A human like Shenhe belonged among mortals. Staying on the mountain forever wasn't an option.
But half a year later, Shenhe had returned with a startling confession: she had fallen in love with a man.
She had even boldly admitted to wanting to consummate their relationship and sought her master's permission.
Cloud Retainer had nearly keeled over on the spot.
The man's name?
Luo Qing.
Hearing that, she had actually fainted, her bird head drooping in defeat.
"Shenhe, we adepti may lack experience in mortal relationships, but even we understand that such matters are of grave importance. You must think carefully," Cloud Retainer warned. "And that man, Luo Qing... he..."
"Master, you don't have to worry," Shenhe said, her tone gentle but firm. "Sister and I have already reached an agreement."
"Sister... Ganyu?!"
Cloud Retainer's eyes narrowed.
[Frustration +10 from Cloud Retainer]
If Luo Qing had been in Liyue at that moment, she might have clawed his face off for daring to ensnare both her disciples.
My poor, foolish disciples... He touched your waists once, and you're ready to give him everything?
Cloud Retainer sighed deeply.
"You managed two hours today," she finally said. "It's progress, but you still have a long way to go before you can shed the crimson ropes entirely."
"But Master..."
Shenhe's voice was soft, almost pleading.
"The Lantern Rite is approaching. Sister said Luo Qing will come to Liyue. If I don't go..."
"What if you don't?" Cloud Retainer huffed. "Does spending the Lantern Rite with your master not satisfy you?"
"That's not what I meant, Master..." Shenhe's tone grew weaker, her exhaustion apparent.
Since returning to the mountain, her master had forbidden her from leaving. Until she could fully control her emotions without the crimson ropes, she was grounded.
Cloud Retainer had insisted it was for Shenhe's own good. Without restraint, the consequences of losing herself to passion could be catastrophic.
But the Lantern Rite was so close now...
She wanted to see Luo Qing.
---
Oh, you're still here? Nice. While I'm out here juggling revival matches and reminding villains why they should reconsider their life choices, someone's behind the scenes making sure my story reaches you. Gotta admit, they're doing a pretty solid job.
If you want to help keep this whole thing running smoothly, here's the link: [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Think of it as… supporting your favorite underdog. Everyone loves an underdog, right?
Anyway, time to get back to saving the day. See you in the next chapter—don't forget to stay out of trouble (that's my job).
— Xia Luo 🕸️
Chương 296: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [296]
With Azar's faction overthrown, the Akademiya had temporarily abolished the bans he once decreed. As a result, the mood among the people these days was lighthearted, their faces glowing with contented smiles.
The atmosphere in all of Sumeru felt livelier than usual.
When Luo Qing arrived at the Sanctuary, he pushed the door open.
Inside, he saw Bu'er holding Nahida's small hand, the two of them standing in the heart of the hall, engaged in a quiet discussion.
When Bu'er saw Luo Qing enter, she greeted him with a gentle smile.
Taking small steps forward, she wrapped her arms around Luo Qing's waist and gave him a light hug.
Standing to the side, Nahida tilted her head as she watched the scene unfold. A strange, complicated feeling arose in her heart.
For some reason, she felt an urge to leap into Luo Qing's arms and have him ruffle her hair.
"Luo Qing, what brings you here...?" Nahida asked softly.
Before she could finish speaking, Luo Qing had already placed his right hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair with a smile.
"Came to check on my little Nahida. Is that a good enough reason?"
"Mm..."
Nahida liked his response very much. Though she tried to keep her expression neutral, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she couldn't help squinting her eyes in enjoyment under Luo Qing's head pats.
"What were you two discussing so early in the day?" Luo Qing turned to look at Bu'er.
"From now on, Nahida will be the one overseeing Sumeru. I came to discuss some governance matters with her," Bu'er replied with a tender smile. Her fingers lightly brushed through Nahida's silver-white hair, her gaze warm and doting.
Though Nahida had lived for five centuries, most of that time had been spent imprisoned in the Sanctuary. After the Akademiya initially mistook her for being like the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—capable of guiding Sumeru—they venerated and served her briefly. But that period ended swiftly, and the rest of her life was confined to the sanctuary, learning about the world and gaining knowledge only through dreams and puppets.
Now that Nahida was truly connected to the World Tree and had become the legitimate Dendro Archon, she still lacked actual governance experience.
That's why Bu'er seized this opportunity to grow closer to her, strengthening their bond.
"Luo Qing..." Nahida hesitated for a few seconds, then looked up at him.
"The Void Terminal reform plan you mentioned earlier—I've thought it through."
"You've thought it through?"
Luo Qing was surprised. He'd intended to steer the conversation toward the Void Terminals during this visit, but Nahida brought it up herself.
"I gave it a lot of thought. The Void Terminals do have the potential to improve the daily lives of the people." Nahida's long, elfin ears twitched as she spoke, adding a touch of cuteness to her demeanor. "I'd like to try the method you suggested."
She was aware that Luo Qing's insistence on keeping the Void Terminals was partially due to his own agenda. Yet her trust in him, strengthened by their bond and her guesses about his true identity, led her to choose to support him and become his ally.
She had already decided: as long as Luo Qing wasn't doing something gravely immoral, she would stand by him.
"Thank you, Nahida." A warm feeling rose in Luo Qing's chest. Nahida was truly his most reliable partner.
With the Void, he could fully utilize his Void Authority. The next step would be to expand the Void Network, spreading it across Teyvat and promoting the Void Terminals in other regions.
When everyone had a Void Terminal, they would unwittingly become his informants and sources of intelligence.
He hadn't understood before why the system granted him such abilities. But now it made sense—it must be tied to his past involvement with Bu'er in creating the Void.
"Nahida, have you ever considered expanding the Void across Teyvat?" Luo Qing tested the waters. "To cover the entire continent, so that people from every nation can access the Void Network and use Void Terminals?"
"To cover all of Teyvat..." Nahida lowered her head, deep in thought.
She had only ever considered the impact of the Void within Sumeru. The idea of introducing it to other nations had never crossed her mind.
The core of the Void originated from the Gnosis of the Dendro Archon, but its essence was the power of the World Tree. And since the World Tree was the foundation of Teyvat, it was theoretically possible to extend the Void across the entire continent.
"I've never thought about that before..." Nahida admitted. Expanding the Void to other nations would involve dealing with the Archons of those nations—a daunting prospect for someone like her, who was still finding her footing as an Archon after centuries of confinement.
"No rush," Luo Qing reassured her with a slight smile, patting her head again. "It's just a suggestion. You can decide when you're ready."
Despite his reassuring tone, Luo Qing knew he would soon need to gather the next Gnosis. If Nahida could help expand the Void Network along the way, it would save him significant effort.
"I'll think about it carefully!" Nahida said with determination, looking at Luo Qing with steadfast resolve.
If she was going to be his... not father's... but Luo Qing's strongest supporter, she would give it her all.
"Alright..."
Seeing Nahida's adorably earnest expression, Luo Qing's heart softened. Unable to resist, he crouched down to her eye level and pulled her into a hug.
---
After discussing the matter, Luo Qing lingered with Nahida and Bu'er for a while. The three of them were like a small family, chatting casually and even watching some "touching" animations that Luo Qing had secretly uploaded to the Void.
The day passed quickly. As evening approached, Bu'er, overcome with maternal affection, decided she wanted to spend the night cuddling with Nahida. She asked Luo Qing if she could stay at the Sanctuary, and since Luo Qing had plans to visit Kamisato Ayaka in Inazuma that evening, he agreed without hesitation.
Back at home, Luo Qing ate dinner, checked the clock on the wall, and decided it was time. He headed to the washroom to prepare.
Reflecting on recent events, he felt a bit guilty. His focus on Scaramouche's situation had distracted him, and if it weren't for a timely reminder, he wouldn't have realized how long it had been since he'd seen Ayaka. While he didn't think anything bad would happen to her in Inazuma, her older brother's disapproving attitude made him cautious.
A slight ripple in his vision later, Luo Qing found himself in complete darkness. The scent of a delicate fragrance filled the air. Reaching out, his hand brushed against a piece of silky, lacy fabric.
"Where is this...?" Luo Qing thought, a guess forming in his mind.
When he stood up, his head bumped into a wooden panel.
It dawned on him. He was inside a wardrobe.
Sliding the panel open, he found himself staring into Ayaka's room.
"Why did I end up in her wardrobe again...?"
Luo Qing stepped out and glanced back. The wardrobe was packed with clothes—most of which were risqué outfits he'd once gifted Ayaka from a particularly "bold" catalog.
For a moment, he fell into deep thought.
Just then, the door opened.
Kamisato Ayaka entered, dressed in a light blue silk kimono.
---
Oh, you're still here? Nice. While I'm out here juggling revival matches and reminding villains why they should reconsider their life choices, someone's behind the scenes making sure my story reaches you. Gotta admit, they're doing a pretty solid job.
If you want to help keep this whole thing running smoothly, here's the link: [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Think of it as… supporting your favorite underdog. Everyone loves an underdog, right?
Anyway, time to get back to saving the day. See you in the next chapter—don't forget to stay out of trouble (that's my job).
— Xia Luo 🕸️
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