On the other side.
After parting ways with Mr. Fang Xun, Ganyu quickly headed to Mount Aozang.
She was preparing to meet her master, Cloud Retainer.
Because whether it was about Osial or Mr. Fang Xun, Ganyu felt it was necessary to explain the situation to her master.
"Ganyu, what brings you here in such a hurry to see this immortal?"
As soon as Ganyu reached the mountaintop, she immediately heard Cloud Retainer's clear, cold voice from within the immortal cave.
Immediately after, Ganyu saw Cloud Retainer, in her crane form, descend from the sky and slowly land beside her.
Facing her master, Ganyu was able to speak a bit more normally. She got straight to the point: "Master, Master, we discovered something unusual today..."
Soon, Ganyu reported to Cloud Retainer about the Fatui's plan to release Osial.
Cloud Retainer pondered for a long time after hearing this.
After a while, she slowly said, "Ganyu, this immortal has a general understanding of the situation you've described."
"This immortal suspects that the Fatui's desire to unseal Osial might just be a ruse to attract our attention."
"This immortal hasn't yet figured out the Fatui's true objective, but... in any case, people must be sent to closely guard Guyun Stone Forest."
"This immortal will also notify the other immortals to pay attention to this matter."
After Cloud Retainer finished speaking, she prepared to spread her wings and fly back into the immortal cave.
However, she glanced at Ganyu, who hadn't moved, and stopped.
Is this little girl troubled?
Normally, after Ganyu reported her work to her, she would hurriedly leave to attend to other duties.
But today, it was somewhat unusual.
Ganyu stood rooted to the spot, looking as if she had something to say but was hesitant.
Cloud Retainer had watched Ganyu grow up, so she naturally knew that Ganyu's current demeanor meant there was something else.
"Child, is there anything you can't say all at once?"
"This immortal remembers you were like this when you were little too; you'd always hold things in for a long time before speaking."
"I remember when you were six years old..."
Cloud Retainer couldn't help but recall the past.
A blush immediately rose to Ganyu's pretty face as she stood beside her, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
Cloud Retainer was good in every way, except she often liked to talk about Ganyu's childhood.
Those things were simply unbearable to recall!
Too embarrassing!
"Master, Master, please don't say any more!" Ganyu said, blushing, as she hastily tried to stop her.
"Alright, alright, this immortal won't say anymore. So tell me, what exactly is the matter?"
Ganyu looked up at Cloud Retainer: "Master, is Mr. Fang Xun my junior disciple?"
"Makoto?" Cloud Retainer shook her head.
"This immortal doesn't know anyone named Makoto, so how could he be your junior disciple?"
"Ganyu, why are you suddenly asking such a question, child?"
Cloud Retainer was very confused.
Ganyu seemed very unusual today.
Ganyu lowered her head, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt: "Because, because I saw Mr. Fang Xun also use 'Shan Ze Lin Ji'."
"That's Master's unique technique, so I mistakenly thought Mr. Fang Xun was my junior disciple."
Hearing Ganyu's answer, Cloud Retainer was a little surprised.
Besides Ganyu, there was actually a second person in this world who knew 'Shan Ze Lin Ji'?
How could this be?
Wait a minute,
Could Mr. Fang Xun be...
Cloud Retainer's heart stirred.
If that were true, then everything would make sense!
She looked at Ganyu, then solemnly said, "Ganyu, what I'm about to say might be difficult for you to accept,"
"But no matter what, this immortal still has to say it."
It was the first time Ganyu had seen her master look so serious, so she nodded repeatedly: "Alright, alright, I'm ready."
Cloud Retainer looked into Ganyu's clear eyes and said, word for word, very earnestly: "This immortal hopes... that you can be with Mr. Fang Xun."
Ganyu showed an incredulous expression: "Eh??"
"Master hopes I... can be with Mr. Fang Xun?"
Ganyu felt her head spinning a bit.
She had been a secretary in Liyue for over a thousand years.
She had always been busy with official duties and had never put her mind on so-called romantic feelings.
Regarding this, her master Cloud Retainer had never said anything either.
Why would she suddenly tell her to be with Mr. Fang Xun today?
Why was this?
Cloud Retainer hummed in acknowledgment and continued, "Ganyu, that 'Shan Ze Lin Ji' is not this immortal's unique technique."
"Instead, it's the signature skill of the qilin beast clan from three thousand six hundred years ago, and ordinary people simply cannot master it."
"Half of the blood flowing in your veins comes from the qilin beast, so you can easily learn it."
"This immortal originally thought you were the only descendant of the qilin in this world,"
"But until today, when this immortal heard you say that young man named Mr. Fang Xun also knows 'Shan Ze Lin Ji', this immortal immediately thought that he also possesses qilin bloodline."
"You two bear the important responsibility of revitalizing the qilin clan. Can you understand what this immortal is saying?"
Ganyu stood rooted to the spot, dazed.
What Cloud Retainer said made her mind go blank.
Because the impact was too great!
Seeing Ganyu didn't speak, Cloud Retainer continued, "Actually, even without me saying it, when you saw Mr. Fang Xun, you should have felt some fondness, right?"
Familiar?
Ganyu couldn't help but recall.
It seemed that after her nap, she did feel some fondness for Mr. Fang Xun.
But, but it was only some fondness, after all.
It probably wasn't enough to be together, right?
Seeing Ganyu didn't answer, Cloud Retainer continued to ask, "What, do you dislike that person named Mr. Fang Xun?"
Upon hearing this, Ganyu quickly shook her head in denial: "No, Mr. Fang Xun is a very good person, I don't dislike Mr. Fang Xun at all."
She lowered her head, not daring to look into Cloud Retainer's eyes, and said weakly, "I just, I just feel that this happened too suddenly."
Cloud Retainer breathed a sigh of relief: "It's fine as long as you don't dislike him."
Seeing that Ganyu seemed unwilling to discuss this topic, Cloud Retainer also said, "Alright, Ganyu, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"Although this immortal has lived for several millennia, this immortal is not so pedantic as to randomly arrange marriages."
"This immortal hopes you two will be together, yes, but ultimately, it still depends on your own wishes. This matter cannot be forced."
Ganyu nodded gently, blushing: "I, I understand."
"Master, I still have work unfinished, so I'll take my leave first and visit you another day!"
After Ganyu finished speaking, she left in a hurry.
Cloud Retainer looked at Mr. Fang Xun's retreating figure and shook her head helplessly: "This child, she always uses this excuse to run away. A thousand years have passed, and the excuse hasn't even changed."
"This little girl is truly foolish. What if she really marries someday, will she be bullied?"
"No, as Ganyu's master, this immortal should first go and learn about that young man named Mr. Fang Xun and examine his character."
"If that boy is suitable, this immortal wouldn't mind helping to arrange a good match."
Cloud Retainer spread her wings and flew into the flowing clouds, disappearing in an instant.