**Chapter 62: Registration Form**
The Jester, standing at the center of the proceedings, remained silent, his expression unchanging.
He was accustomed to his colleagues' bickering and infighting. As for the rogue Harbinger...
Scaramouche, Kabukimono, Kunikuzushi, a flawed creation of the gods.
To the Jester, he was merely a tool to be used briefly by the Tsaritsa and himself.
The Jester had long anticipated that Dottore would exploit Scaramouche to obtain another Grass God's Heart.
Turning, the Jester's deep voice resonated throughout the courtyard.
"Continue contacting Jingchen and Columbina. Once they return to Snezhnaya, we will reorganize the Winter Night's Lazzo."
The Harbingers departed, each harboring their own hidden agendas, except for Tartaglia and the Captain.
As Sandrone and Arlecchino stepped through the gate, they exchanged a piercing glance.
Mutual disdain, deep-seated grudges, and unbridgeable rifts separated them.
Perhaps one day, on the land of Fontaine, they would settle both old scores and new grievances.
Who would judge whom? Who would betray whom? The answers remained unclear.
***
As evening fell, Jingchen carried Columbina along a narrow mountain path.
No hilichurls, no geovishaps, no Ruin Guards, no Treasure Hoarders...
Normally, his master and the other Immortals wouldn't bother with such matters, but at times like these, his master's intervention proved remarkably effective.
Aya murmured in her sleep, her words drifting like dreams.
"Jingchen, I want to eat lotus crisps. Our child will love them too, right?!"
"Jingchen, if our child is a girl, will she be more like you or me? And if it's a boy, what will he be like?"
"Jingchen, don't let those women deceive you. Stay with me forever. Don't... don't leave me."
Jingchen replied softly, "My dear Aya, I'll always stay by your side. You can rest assured."
As Jingchen approached Cloud Retainer's Immortal Abode, he paused in surprise.
Besides the venerable Cloud Retainer herself, someone else was guarding the entrance.
Drawing closer, he recognized Yelan.
*What is she doing here?!*
Columbina, awakened by Yelan's scent in her sleep, startled awake.
Her expression wary, she asked, "Jingchen, what's that Ningguang's errand runner doing here?"
"Ah... well, I should probably ask her first."
Jingchen, holding Columbina's hand, led her to Yelan's side.
Just like before, Keqing was hidden in the shadows behind Yelan.
The moment Keqing saw Columbina, her worried expression deepened into confusion.
*Columbina... Is the child really coming now?!*
She stood frozen in place, overwhelmed by uncertainty.
Yelan gently nudged her and whispered teasingly in her ear, "Yuheng Star, don't just stand there like a fool."
Keqing frantically shook her head, feigning composure with a cough. She pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, then sternly asked the pair, "The Fatui's third-ranked duo, 'Knight' Jingchen and 'Maiden' Columbina, correct?!"
"Keqing, what's wrong?"
Jingchen's casual use of her name instantly froze Keqing, causing the pen to slip from her hand and fall into the lake.
Yelan shook her head in exasperation. Whether it was the Yuheng Star or the Tianquan Star, both became hopelessly flustered whenever Jingchen was around.
Yelan nudged Keqing again, whispering in her ear, "Yuheng Star, focus on the matter at hand. This is important."
Keqing hurriedly retrieved another pen from her spatial pouch. Adopting an abnormally cold and serious tone, she repeated, "The Fatui's third-ranked duo, 'Knight' Jingchen and 'Maiden' Columbina, correct?!"
"Keqing, it's really just Columbina and me. What's wrong?"
"I'm working. Please address me by my Yuheng Star title."
"Huh?! Yuheng Star? Working? Isn't the Yuheng Star's job about land management, not statistics?"
"Harbinger Jingchen, mind your words. This is Liyue."
Columbina snickered beside him. Though Keqing was furious, she maintained a stern, aloof expression.
"Recently, Harbinger 'The Rich' has repeatedly used various schemes to harm Liyue.
As the Liyue Seven Stars, we have the right to retaliate. Therefore, we must thoroughly investigate all Fatui members in Liyue, including you.
If any irregularities are found, you will be immediately handed over to the General Affairs Bureau. Whether you are expelled or imprisoned will be decided by the Seven Stars."
"What?! Ke~ I mean, Yuheng Star, are you alright? I may be a Fatui Harbinger, but I've never intended to harm Liyue. I'm still Cloud Retainer's disciple and served as acting Tianshu Star for five years!
You want to investigate me? Yuheng Star, are you trying to settle personal grudges again?! And what exactly has 'The Rich' done? Explain it to me in detail!"
Keqing froze slightly, her pen hovering over the document for a long moment.
She stammered, "I... I'm just following the Seven Stars' orders. I've never... never considered settling personal grudges. As for what 'The Rich' has done, you should ask him yourself."
"Please understand, I'm merely acting according to the laws of the Seven Stars. I've never, never considered settling personal scores."
"As for what 'The Rich' has done, you should ask him yourself," Columbina said languidly from the side.
"Yuheng Star Keqing, why are you so relentless in pursuing my Jingchen? Look."
Columbina suddenly...
The pen in Keqing's hand instantly incinerated into ash by a bolt of lightning.
Yelan quickly stepped between them, acting as a mediator.
"Calm down, calm down, Jingchen, Columbina. To put it simply, we're just here to have you fill out these forms. There's no other motive. As for your personal grievances with the Yuheng Star, well, let's put those aside for now. Yuheng Star, please hand over the forms."
Keqing immediately handed the forms to Yelan and fled, vanishing into the night.
Yelan smiled helplessly as she explained, "Jingchen, Columbina, these forms are just to register your latest information."
"The Fatui's activities are one issue, but recently, a barrier has been erected around Mt. Aocang. Without Cloud Retainer's permission, we wouldn't have come here. Of course, the main reason is still the marriage certificate."
Columbina's face lit up with excitement as she eagerly pulled out her quill.
"How do I fill it out?! Hurry, give it to me! Let me write it, let me write it!"
"Just fill in all the blanks."
"Mhm, mhm!"
Jingchen watched from the side as she filled out the form.
Race: Without hesitation, Columbina wrote that both she and Jingchen belonged to the Spirit Race.
Blood Type: Spirit Blood.
Family: Jingchen is the head of the household, and she is his wife.
Occupation: Fatui Harbinger. After Sumeru, she plans to retire and focus on raising their child and taking vacations together.
Purpose for coming to Liyue: Temporarily residing in Cloud Retainer's Immortal Abode so the elder can witness the child's birth firsthand.
....................
Completed Eng PDF of this fan-fic on my Patreon shop if you want to support and own the full fan-fic in one go. Just grab the PDF and binge the entire story from start to finish!
Here are a few titles of recently uploaded fanfics on my patreon shop:
" Genshin Dual-World Travel: Starting by Inviting Furina "
" Genshin Diary: Collapse Begins From Raiden Ei's Defeat "
" Genshin Impact: At Eight Years Old, I Created Immortal Arts, Shocking Skirk "
" Genshin Impact: Ningguang Was Still a Poor Girl… Until I Invested in Her " many more are available for you, Your support means a lot—thanks in advance, legends!
Patreon.com/UIShahbaz
(End of Chapter)