Mechanical demon god!?
Everyone froze.
From Osial's hulking silhouette alone, they all understood the gulf between mortals and demon gods. If the Abyss Order intended to modify a sealed demon god into a machine, wouldn't that thing be even worse than before?
Osial was gone—cut so cleanly there wasn't even ash—but Ganyu only grew tenser. If their goal was "mechanical demon gods," they didn't need Osial specifically. Liyue holds countless demon gods sealed by Rex Lapis. If the Abyss can transform one, why not others?
She hurried after Su Xuan toward the door.
"What is it?" he asked, playing dumb. "I told you—Osial's dead. The Abyss plan fell through."
Ganyu fidgeted. "It's embarrassing to impose, but… I was hoping for guidance. If we can remove the inverted Statue of The Seven, perhaps we can root out the risk entirely—"
Su Xuan sighed and shook his head. "You care for Liyue; I see that. But this isn't something you can resolve. The inversion draws its power from the Abyss. People of Teyvat shouldn't touch it. I've no safe advice to offer you."
Ganyu fell silent. She'd suspected as much. Even archons strain against that power—how could a half-adeptus secretary hope to "purify" it?
She wasn't naïve. Three thousand eight hundred years and a mountain of paperwork will beat that out of anyone. She also remembered what Su Xuan once said about Lisa: behind every gift is a price tag. He helps—but he expects give-and-take. Ningguang and Yelan had spent days "negotiating." As for Lumine… she was Su Xuan's employee. If he didn't speak, Lumine wouldn't move; and even if Lumine's brother might be involved, "find Aether" and "clean an Abyss statue" weren't the same quest.
Should I ask Lady Ningguang? Ganyu fretted. But Ningguang had only just struck her deal; piling on could backfire. And Ganyu was the one who'd brought this to the table—she couldn't shove the burden away.
Su Xuan watched her hesitation, eyes half-lidded. Blame that ironclad sense of duty, little Coconut Goat…
"It's late," he said, glancing at the sunset. "Your master's in my house. Come in, eat. We'll talk after."
Ganyu flushed. With a formal little bow: "Then… excuse me."
They stepped into a mansion whose opulence had no peer in Liyue. Ganyu only sighed inwardly at Ningguang's generosity. This must've been her own residence—gifted away without blinking.
"Su… Su Boss, you're back."
"And Ganyu as well?" Cloud Retainer—in a red-rimmed pair of glasses and a mature, composed form—fussed with her hands, then fixed on Ganyu to steady herself. "Disciple…"
Master? Here? At his house? Ganyu tilted her head, troubled. Wasn't this… rude?
Cloud Retainer cleared her throat. "Ahem. I am Xianyun. I came on behalf of the adepti to thank Su Boss for subduing Osial—and to bring a gift."
She produced a warm-orange teapot and offered it forward, her gaze flicking to the amber pendant at Su Xuan's waist.
"Morax gave me that," Su Xuan said with a smile.
Master and disciple traded a glance—ah, the shared drink with Barbatos and the Lord of Geo. Of course.
"Fitting for you," Cloud Retainer said. "Only a man such as yourself suits such a gem."
He accepted the Serenitea Pot and snapped a photo.
[SereniteaPot.jpg]
[A self-contained realm by adeptal art. Fine piece.]
[I'm pleased with the empty-nest bird's present.]
[With my Logos, I've parsed its principles.]
[What if I embed a realm not in a pot, but in my Jade Chamber?]
[…Too much work. I'll hand the theory to Lisa later and see if she can mount a realm-core into the Chamber's frame.]
Mondstadt.
Lisa chuckled. "You say 'Lisa should study it,' but really you mean the adeptus who brought the pot should study it."
Jean blinked. "So you think he's… nudging?"
"Mm-hm," Lisa sang. Eula and Jean blushed; they understood what "his Jade Chamber" implied.
Cloud Retainer and Ganyu glanced at each other. He wrote in front of them as if their diaries weren't even there.
"Su Boss," Cloud Retainer said lightly, "if you want a realm in your Jade Chamber, why not let me handle it? Even a prodigy like Mondstadt's rose witch may not read adeptal method so quickly."
He nodded, noncommittal—then the pen moved again:
[CloudRetainer.jpg]
[Mechanisms, talismans, gourmet tastes; fond of mortals, claims to dislike socializing yet never stops talking.]
[The 'great conversationalist' who often murders the conversation… or the audience.]
[Knife-mouth, tofu-heart—much like Keqing.]
[Says harsh things about mortals, loves them more than anyone; forever picking up strays and raising them until they stand.]
[Outfits? One design, three wearers: skirt for Ganyu, top for Shenhe, shawl for herself.]
Across Teyvat, women burst out laughing—and then, checking photos, realized he wasn't wrong.
[Jokes aside, she's courteous but proud. For her to sound this deferential? Odd.]
[My guess: the empty-nest bird wants a favor. Hence the gifts and the tone.]
Cloud Retainer winced. Seen through. Ganyu worried: if Master had a request, would her issue be delayed again?
A pink fox in Inazuma flicked an ear. "So many Liyue women, so many needs. He just solved Ningguang's Osial… and now Ganyu and Cloud Retainer queue up. Busy, busy… but where, precisely?" Yae Miko smirked.
Dinner saved the room.
"Meal's ready!" Lumine and Paimon emerged from the kitchen with a spread. "New recipes—please evaluate! Adepti like gourmet food, right? Tips welcome."
Ganyu and Cloud Retainer looked at each other—and then both noticed the same thing: according to the diary, this Abyss ruin likely meant Aether might appear. Yet Lumine, of all people, was… serene, not even asking Su Xuan to take her there.
Suspicious. There had to be a method to winning Su Xuan's help—one Lumine had mastered as his No. 1 employee. Best to stay, observe, and learn.
Cloud Retainer smiled. "We've imposed. If possible—"
"There are plenty of empty rooms," Su Xuan said mildly. "Stay if you like."
He was curious himself. Three women; three agendas. And Lumine—after hearing Aether might be near—still had the mood to cook?
This girl had problems.
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