Buzz—
Buzz—
Brilliant rays of light descended from above, enveloping both Madame Ping and Cloud Retainer.
Moments later, the light faded.
A yellow Peachwood Sword appeared in Madame Ping's hand, while a glowing card floated before Cloud Retainer.
Printed on the card was the image of an adorable little Slime.
Madame Ping examined her new weapon curiously.
"This should be the tool used by that Taoist priest in the manga, correct?"
Han Feng nodded.
"It's called a peachwood sword.
In traditional customs it's believed to ward off evil, attract fortune, protect the home, and bring blessings.
In Mr. Vampire, it's one of Master Jiushu's commonly used tools."
Peach, ink, paper, knife, sword— every time trouble came knocking, those were the items Jiushu demanded from his disciples.
The sword referred to the money sword or the peachwood sword.
Madame Ping blinked in mild surprise.
"It has such auspicious effects as well?"
In the manga, she had only seen Jiushu use it to fight zombies.
She didn't expect it to also have symbolic blessings.
"Perfect for putting up at home, Grandma—good omens are always nice,"
Yanfei said with a grin.
"Indeed. Why not?"
Madame Ping nodded happily.
With her strength, she didn't need its protective powers… but as an elder, she absolutely appreciated auspicious symbolism.
Meanwhile, Cloud Retainer was observing the card floating before her.
"Ganyu, do you know what this reward is?"
Ganyu frowned.
"It seems like… some kind of card."
Her mind went to what Keqing had told her earlier.
Among the prior rewards she'd heard about was the one Doctor Dottore received—
the Infinite Cannon Trial Card.
It certainly sounded similar.
When Ganyu finished explaining, Cloud Retainer's eyes widened.
"Such a powerful weapon exists?!"
Even as an adeptus, she was impressed.
And a little… tempted.
"Then this card should be something similar.
Let me test it—"
"Master, perhaps wait for Boss Han to explain first—"
Ganyu tried to stop her, but it was too late.
Cloud Retainer had already activated the card in her mind.
The card burst into dazzling starlight and wrapped around Cloud Retainer's body.
The sudden radiance instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Such a dazzling golden glow…
Did Cloud Retainer receive some extraordinary treasure?"
Madame Ping wondered aloud.
Yanfei rushed over.
"Boss Han, what is the reward?"
Han Feng's lips twitched.
"You'll know in a moment."
Another one who didn't wait for instructions.
First Childe… now Cloud Retainer.
Apparently, patience was a rare trait in Teyvat.
The light finally dispersed.
Cloud Retainer's majestic crane form was gone.
In her place…
Was a small, round, adorable blue Slime.
Madame Ping: (⊙_⊙)
Yanfei: (⊙_⊙)
Ganyu: (⊙_⊙)
None of them had expected that the aloof, dignified immortal— the lofty, proud Cloud Retainer— would turn into… this.
A cute, bouncy, blob-like Slime.
Madame Ping's lips trembled.
"Cloud Retainer's reward… is quite… amusing."
As a friend of a thousand years, seeing her usually stern companion turn into something so adorable
gave her the powerful urge to laugh out loud.
But she restrained herself—for dignity's sake.
Yanfei, however, could barely hold it in.
She hid behind Madame Ping, trembling with barely contained laughter.
No wonder Boss Han's expression had looked so strange earlier.
So this was why.
Meanwhile, the blue Slime on the floor trembled.
"Boss Han, what is this situation?!
Why have I turned into—this?!"
She had expected a weapon.
NOT this.
Now she had to tilt her little Slime head up just to look at people!
Everyone turned to Han Feng, wanting answers— especially because none of them wanted to accidentally turn into Slimes themselves.
Han Feng sighed.
"That card was the Slime Seven-Day Experience Card.
As the name suggests… it lets you experience the life of a Slime.
You activated it before I could explain."
Cloud Retainer froze.
"…Slime… Seven-Day… Experience Card…?
For seven days?!"
A full week?!
Her little Slime body trembled.
She shot Ganyu a betrayed look.
If not for Ganyu's talk of weapon cards, she would never have used it so casually.
As if finally realizing she'd accidentally sabotaged her own master, Ganyu awkwardly scratched her cheek.
It wasn't entirely her fault— she did warn her…
Besides, Cloud Retainer had teased her for centuries.
This was karmic balance.
"No!
I refuse to accept this Slime form!
If my old friends saw me like this, I would never hear the end of it!"
Cloud Retainer panicked.
But suddenly—her eyes lit up.
"Right!
You said my abilities still work, yes?
Then I can simply shapeshift back!"
As an adeptus, transformation was basic ability.
She often took human form when visiting the mortal world.
So she invoked her transformation arts—…and nothing happened.
Moments passed.
Still a Slime.
Cloud Retainer: (⊙_⊙)
"Why is my transformation technique not working?!"
She stared at Han Feng with suspicion.
Han Feng spread his hands.
"The Slime Card has higher priority than your own arts.
Once activated, nothing can override it.
You'll return to normal only after the seven-day period ends."
Cloud Retainer didn't fully understand "priority," but she DID understand one thing clearly:
She was stuck like this.
"Wh—why must it be like this?!"
Cloud Retainer bent her little Slime body, as if collapsing in misery.
But no matter how sorrowful she tried to look—
To everyone else, she simply looked like a Slime trying to act cute.
Ganyu stared blankly at her master.
Her proud, aloof, lecturing, dignified master.
Now bobbing on the floor like an adorable blue jelly.
Ganyu's mind could not reconcile reality.
"This… this must be a fake.
My master…
can't possibly be this cute…"
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