**Chapter 61: Sandrone and Arlecchino's Conflict**
Three months later.
At dawn on Qingyun Peak, Columbina nestled beside Jingchen, gazing together at the vast, pristine sea of clouds.
As the clouds billowed and swirled in ethereal patterns, Columbina reached out her hand, causing the surrounding mist and clouds to dissipate.
"A'Chen, I feel like the clouds here aren't as light and ethereal as the snowfields of Snezhnaya."
"Hmm?"
"In Snezhnaya, snowflakes drift gently from the sky, landing softly on Houtu. I can reach out my hand and wait for them to settle in my palm—pure white, utterly weightless, yet with a hint of cold. But these clouds here are boundless and elusive; even when I reach out, I can't grasp them."
Just as Columbina finished speaking, she suddenly gripped Jingchen's hand tightly.
"Hmm? What's wrong, A'Ya?"
"You won't vanish like these clouds, disappearing from my sight and becoming impossible to hold, will you?!"
Jingchen gently stroked Columbina's hair, his expression tender. "A'Ya, just as you said, no matter when or where, you will always respond to my expectations. And I will stay by your side, morning and night, caring for you. You will always be able to look at me with your own eyes and hold me with your own hands."
Columbina smiled faintly and continued to quietly lean against Jingchen's side.
In recent days, Columbina's belly had grown increasingly large.
Soon, one or more new lives would be born.
To prepare for this, Master had even descended the mountain several times to consult Granny Ping and some mortals.
She sought advice on how to care for newborns, how to ensure her disciple's wife had a proper postpartum recovery, what supplies the baby would need, and so on.
In short, Cloud Retainer was truly going to great lengths, even setting aside her dignity to venture into the mortal world and learn.
She would stop at nothing to ensure everything was perfect.
Columbina asked softly, "A'Chen, what are you thinking about?"
"Ah?! Nothing much, just about Master."
"Cloud Retainer?"
"Mm-hmm."
"She's been so good to us, hasn't she? She really feels like a mother, always looking after us."
"After all, we're her only great-grandchildren in three thousand years."
Columbina smiled faintly and squeezed Jingchen's hand tightly.
"I heard there's a girl named Yaoyao in Liyue, right?"
"I think so. I heard she's quite close to Senior Sister Ganyu, but I've never met her."
"Cloud Retainer mentioned recently that she had prepared a celestial artifact for Yaoyao, but Granny Ping beat her to it."
"That's right. What's wrong?"
"Cloud Retainer must have already prepared all sorts of immortal treasures for our unborn child."
"Knowing her, she definitely would."
Cloud Retainer had prepared immortal treasures for her grand-disciple, ranging from robes and magical artifacts to boots, with different sets for spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
If Yaoyao had a laurel tree, Jingchen and Columbina's child would receive immortal treasures even greater than a laurel tree, likely numbering in the dozens.
Columbina yawned softly, leaning against Jingchen's shoulder and letting out a faint snore.
Fortunately, no living creatures were around to disturb her.
In the past three months, aside from Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper, Jingchen and Columbina had rarely encountered any other living beings.
Even the hilichurls and treasure hoarders who usually roamed this land had been kept at bay by Cloud Retainer's barriers.
To ensure her grand-disciple's growth, Cloud Retainer had specially erected a barrier using her immortal power, enveloping both Mt. Aocang and Jueyun Karst.
Jingchen carried Columbina back to the Serenitea Pot and gently laid her down.
He sat beside her, took her hand, and quietly kept her company.
***
Within Snezhnaya's capital, the Harbingers gathered in a circle, excluding Pierro, Il Dottore, and Captain.
The other Harbingers wore grim expressions.
Tartaglia waved his hand dismissively, saying with a sigh, "Ah, the Fatui in Inazuma reported that Jingchen obtained the Raiden Shogun's Gnosis but entrusted it to Signora. She was supposed to return to Snezhnaya with it, but three months have passed without a trace of her. She, her ship, and Scaramouche have all mysteriously vanished into thin air."
Sandrone, the Marionette, let out a cold snort. "Scaramouche and certain others have always harbored ulterior motives. What else could we expect from them?"
Tartaglia immediately countered Sandrone's words. "Hey, Signora secured the Anemo Archon's Gnosis for Her Majesty, while Jingchen and Columbina obtained the Geo Archon's Gnosis. Sandrone, there's absolutely no issue with those three. As for Scaramouche..."
Recalling the endless mockery he had endured from Scaramouche, Tartaglia declared without hesitation, "That guy's definitely trouble."
"That guy is definitely up to something," Sandrone said, glancing at Arlecchino before continuing coldly and deliberately, "Heh, the disloyalty here might even extend to some of you. Given enough incentive, you might betray even Her Majesty the Tsaritsa."
"The Rich" Pantalone opened his eyes slightly, momentarily startled, but quickly resumed his usual squinting smile.
"Ah, Sandrone, you're exaggerating a bit. I believe we Fatui Harbingers should be quite united and harmonious, don't you agree, Pulcinella?"
The strange man with elf-like ears nodded in agreement, his tone utterly flat.
"What Pantalone says is true. After all, aren't our third-ranked Harbinger duo, Jingchen and Columbina, the very epitome of unity and harmony?"
At the mention of Jingchen and Columbina, Sandrone clenched her fists, glaring daggers at Pantalone.
Arlecchino, however, spoke coldly at that moment.
"Profit is a matter of calculation. I know some among us, influenced by a certain colleague, have grown less harmonious."
"I also have my own grievances and suggestions regarding you and the House of the Hearth," Sandrone retorted, "but at least I am now willing to dedicate everything to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa."
Sandrone fell silent, realizing that arguing with Arlecchino, Pantalone, and the others was futile.
In the past, Columbina and Jingchen might have sided with her, at least partially.
She glanced at Tartaglia.
Though he stood on her side, his words, actions, and expressions seemed so naive and foolish that they only undermined her position.
Seeing Sandrone and Arlecchino locked in a heated argument, Dottore, who was idly toying with an experimental device, remarked casually, "Some among us remain too righteous. This may not serve Her Majesty or our grand endeavor well."
Under normal circumstances, Jingchen and Columbina would have immediately countered Dottore's remark, but neither of them was present today.
Captain Capitano stepped forward.
"Righteousness is useless. Only absolute justice can align with Her Majesty's grand vision."
"Oh, oh, I don't care about any of that," Dottore replied dismissively. "I only care about my experiments and the results I achieve—"
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(End of Chapter)