Jing Chen listened quietly to the conversation between Columbia and Madam Ping.
Madam Ping's face was grim. Her grand-disciple was about to be born, and suddenly, the Cryo Archon wanted them to return to Snezhnaya?!
It was simply absurd and incomprehensible.
At that moment, Madam Ping's expression was one of barely suppressed murderous intent towards the gods.
"Master, Master?"
Jing Chen kept calling out Madam Ping's name, but she didn't respond.
Columbia took a deep breath and called out near Madam Ping's ear.
"Madam Ping!!"
"Huh?!"
Madam Ping scrambled a few meters into the air, then quickly flew back down.
Clearly, Columbia's shout had startled her badly.
"My disciple's wife, what is the meaning of this?!"
"My Jing Chen has been calling your name, but you didn't react at all."
"Ah?! Oh."
Madam Ping composed herself, coughing slightly.
"Ahem, disciples, my disciple's wife, you actually don't have to listen to some of the Cryo Archon's orders."
"Just like in the Archon War, when Indarias and that old geezer always did as they pleased."
Columbia pondered this, hearing Madam Ping's words.
These returning strays from Liyue, it seemed one or two would appear every few days or weeks.
And Liyue was also close to Inazuma. If, one day, Yae Miko, that fox, recovered her senses…
And came along with the Raiden Shogun, then things would get tricky.
But in Snezhnaya, they wouldn't dare to be so reckless.
"A-Chen, let's go back to Snezhnaya. I'll stay in the Realm Within a Jar and watch over you during the journey."
Jing Chen looked at Madam Ping. Clearly, in that very moment…
A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came.
Madam Ping, her expression serene, was about to comfort Columbia and Jing Chen.
"It's alright, it's alright. My disciple's wife can rest well within the Realm Within a Jar. Yes, yes."
"Master, this..."
Madam Ping, with a pang of reluctance, plucked a Feather from herself and handed it to Jing Chen.
"Remember, when the child is about to be born, use Cryo energy to activate it, no matter where you are, even in the Abyss.
I will come."
"Ah... Master, this... Aren't you..."
Madam Ping immediately turned around and flapped her wings.
"If there's nothing else, hurry and be on your way. Don't disturb my peace."
Columbia also urged Jing Chen from the side.
"A-Chen, quickly return to Snezhnaya."
"Alright, Master, take care. Columbia, let's head back to my Realm Within a Jar to rest first.
I'll set off tonight and return to Snezhnaya."
"Mhm."
Columbia entered the Realm Within a Jar with practiced ease.
Jing Chen returned the Realm Within a Jar to his space and bowed to Madam Ping.
"Master, after things in Snezhnaya are settled, I will definitely return with Aya and the children to see you."
Madam Ping simply nodded slightly.
"I understand. Go quickly; I won't see you off."
"Mm."
After Jing Chen left, Madam Ping turned around, having followed him for about a thousand meters.
Upon arriving at Stone Gate, Madam Ping hesitated slightly.
She hadn't left Liyue in years.
Coming here now could be considered a farewell.
But then she thought of her soon-to-be-born grand-disciple. Though she had given Jing Chen a Feather, it would relay the news immediately.
It would take her several days to fly to Snezhnaya.
Not being able to witness her grand-disciple's arrival firsthand... she, as a grand-aunt, felt quite inadequate.
After a moment of hesitation, Madam Ping turned back to look at the land of Liyue.
In the end, she resolutely chose to follow behind Jing Chen, preparing to go to Snezhnaya with him.
Of course, she couldn't let him or Columbia discover her during this time.
The moment news from the Feather arrived, she was there in an instant.
A few hours later, Jing Chen had already arrived at the bridge outside Mondstadt.
The last time he went to Liyue, he had only passed through the outskirts of Mondstadt on the way, without entering the city.
As for the solo travels before he met Columbia, his impression of Mondstadt was terrible.
(Note: This is Jing Chen before he became a Fatui Harbinger)
Barbatos followed him around all day, freeloading, and the actions of most of the giant-baby Mondstadt people also made him very uncomfortable.
The situation in Mondstadt was even more uncomfortable than in Natlan.
However, there was also a silver-haired little girl here, a complete contrast to Mondstadt.
She had been gentle, resolute, brave, and polite since childhood. He had also made a promise to her that she would become a true knight in the future.
"Jing Chen, what's wrong?"
"Aya, I want to go into Mondstadt City to find someone."
"Find someone? Who?! The Anemo Archon, Barbatos?!"
"No."
"Then who? Jean?"
"Noelle."
Columbia was slightly taken aback. Jing Chen wanted to see Noelle? She decided to trust Jing Chen.
"If I recall correctly, it's to witness the promise between her and the Knights, right?"
"Yes."
"Then go quickly. I'll stay here in the Realm Within a Jar."
As Jing Chen stepped onto the bridge, the surrounding pigeons scattered.
"My pigeons!! You!! Give me back my pigeons!!"
Jing Chen gave Timmy a cold stare, and Timmy wisely chose to shut up.
Not everyone is Paimon and Lumine; Timmy wisely kept quiet this time.
It was also for his own protection.
The moment he entered Mondstadt, the people around him eyed him with suspicion.
Fortunately, Jing Chen wasn't wearing a Fatui Harbinger's white robe, and his attire resembled that of a Liyue adeptus disciple.
So, the people of Mondstadt didn't give him any trouble.
He walked toward the flower shop on the right.
The little girl behind the counter looked up at Jing Chen, her eyes wide.
Oh my god, even more beautiful than the portrait of Diluc, and so dashing! He's practically the prince on a white horse from my dreams!
Jing Chen frowned, looking at the store owner's flustered expression. He was helpless.
But he still asked casually, "Excuse me, where is Noelle right now?!"
Flora stared at Jing Chen in shock. Noelle?! A man this handsome was looking for Noelle?
Could it be, could it be Noelle's...?!
"Wait!! Wait!! What do you want with Noelle? And who are you to her?"
"Ah, I suppose I'm a friend of Noelle's. We have an agreement."
"An agreement?! What kind of agreement? What's it about?!!"
Jing Chen was already tired of answering Flora's string of questions.
He spoke to her in a cold voice.
"Last question, where is Noelle?!"
Flora was startled. Faced with such coldness, she hurriedly said,
"It's the Knights of Favonius's assessment today. Noelle should be there."
....
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(End of Chapter)