"Master, please have some tea."
Inside the cavern dwelling of Jueyun Karst, Cloud Retainer, currently in human form, sat in the place of honor. She accepted the teacup Ji Ming offered with visible satisfaction and took a small sip.
This child really was quite well-mannered. Though he had been shouting at the top of his lungs outside the cave earlier, he at least knew to bring his master a pouch of fine tea leaves. On that account alone, she decided not to nitpick his earlier rudeness.
That said, compared to tea, Cloud Retainer would have much preferred food. Tea was something better saved for the Geo Lord himself. Unfortunately, His Excellency had not come to visit in quite some time.
"What brings you to Jueyun Karst today?" she asked calmly. "Could it be that you have grown weary of Liyue Harbor's mortal affairs, and now wish to follow this adeptus in cultivation?"
Ji Ming shook his head, smiling sincerely.
"Your disciple has acquired a residence in Liyue Harbor. I came this time to deliver invitations—to invite Master and Senior Sister Shenhe to my housewarming banquet. Speaking of which, where is Senior Sister Shenhe?"
"Shenhe is currently cultivating at Mount Aocang. As for your housewarming banquet, this adeptus will bring her along."
Cloud Retainer glanced at Ji Ming meaningfully.
"It is said among the people of Liyue that a housewarming is one of life's great joys. Such a banquet should be grand and dignified—do not let your guests look down on you."
Got it.
She wanted to eat a feast.
Ji Ming nodded earnestly. "I won't disappoint you, Master. I also invited Uncle Xiao earlier, though he seemed rather averse to noisy environments."
The Conqueror of Demons?
Xiao didn't dislike such gatherings—he avoided them. He longed to integrate into Liyue more than most adepti ever would.
Of course, Cloud Retainer had no intention of explaining such subtleties to her disciple. After all, Ji Ming and Xiao were not particularly close, and Xiao had only sent him here out of convenience.
Adjusting her glasses, Cloud Retainer waved Ji Ming closer.
"Disciple, since you have come all this way to Jueyun Karst, you shall not return empty-handed. This adeptus intends to teach you a technique to aid your cultivation."
What sounded like good news instantly put Ji Ming on guard. He took several steps back and laughed awkwardly.
"Your disciple is dull by nature. Cultivation techniques may be too much for me—and if I were to slack off, wouldn't that disappoint you, Master?"
"No matter," Cloud Retainer replied calmly. "Later, this adeptus shall write a letter. You will deliver it to Ganyu and have her supervise your cultivation. After all—do you not greatly favor your Senior Sister Ganyu?"
Ji Ming stiffened slightly, then nodded in resignation.
"Then I shall trouble Master for her guidance. I will strive to cultivate daily."
Cloud Retainer was quite pleased.
She had long noticed Ji Ming's fondness for Ganyu. Teaching him a foundational technique today and having Ganyu oversee his progress would conveniently give the two more opportunities to interact.
All things followed fate. Whether Ji Ming and Ganyu would form a bond—only karma would decide.
"Today, I shall impart to you the Art of Breathing and Circulating Qi," Cloud Retainer said. "It is not difficult to learn. With perseverance, it can extend one's lifespan and refine the body and mind. Consider it an entry-level technique."
Ji Ming was, after all, a mortal. There was even the possibility that he had inherited his parents' fallen-star constitution. Without learning methods to prolong his life, he might well die young.
Come to think of it, Ji Ming's fate was somewhat similar to Shenhe's. By all logic, such opposing destinies should clash—yet the two got along surprisingly well.
Cloud Retainer led Ji Ming deeper into the cave.
At its center lay a stone bed, split cleanly as though cleaved by a blade. It was bare, cold mist occasionally rising from its surface.
Above it hung a stalactite, from which droplets of water fell every few seconds. Each drop vanished the moment it struck the smooth stone below—an oddly mesmerizing sight.
Cloud Retainer gestured upward.
"Sit cross-legged on the stone bed. Directly beneath the stalactite."
Ji Ming obeyed. The moment the cold droplets landed on him, he shivered involuntarily.
That wasn't even the worst part. Whenever he tensed his neck, the droplets ran down his hair and straight onto the back of his collar.
"Gah—!"
Cloud Retainer chuckled softly, her gaze gentle.
"When Shenhe first learned this technique, her reaction was exactly the same as yours. How amusing."
"What about Senior Sister Ganyu?" Ji Ming asked. "Did she struggle at first too?"
"Your Senior Sister Ganyu descends from the qilin—an auspicious beast. She is naturally unafraid of cold and gloom. This breathing technique took her no more than half an hour to fully master."
So those two curved horns on her head weren't decorative after all?
Curious… kind of want to touch them.
Cloud Retainer saw straight through him and promptly smacked him on the head.
"This technique exists to cultivate the mind. Cast aside those unruly thoughts and focus on meditation."
Ji Ming immediately closed his eyes. Yet the relentless dripping of water made it impossible to settle his thoughts. Every time he neared calm, another drop pulled him back.
"Pay the water no mind," Cloud Retainer instructed. "When you can remain undistracted in such conditions, you will have grasped the essence of the technique."
She sat beside the stone bed, gently brushing the water droplets from Ji Ming's forehead.
Shenhe had begun cultivating under Cloud Retainer at the age of six. Though betrayed and abandoned by her biological father, with proper guidance—and the aid of red cords—she had suppressed her inner demons and retained a relatively pure heart.
Ji Ming, on the other hand, had wandered Liyue for ten years.
His heart was like a dyer's vat—perhaps still containing traces of pristine white, but far more saturated with countless other hues.
The more muddled one's heart, the harder it was to cultivate this breathing technique. Ideally, one learned it from childhood.
Eighteen was late. Far too late.
The cave barrier rippled.
Shenhe lifted her veil and stepped inside. When she spotted the figure on the stone bed, her eyes shifted subtly, and she hurried forward, bowing.
"Master, I have returned."
"Good. How was your progress these past few days?"
Shenhe glanced at Ji Ming, her gaze softening. She reached out and brushed away the water clinging to his hair.
"Considerable improvement. Why has Junior Brother Ji Ming come here so suddenly?"
Cloud Retainer's lips curved upward in amusement.
"He came to invite us to his housewarming banquet. The invitation has already been delivered. Will you attend?"
"Yes!"
The answer came without hesitation.
It seemed Shenhe genuinely liked her junior brother—perhaps because they were both Liyue natives without parents, or perhaps because Ji Ming had left her with a favorable impression during their earlier travels.
Cloud Retainer turned her attention back to Ji Ming, surprised.
"This child is rather impressive—he's already entered the state of cultivation?"
Shenhe paused, then answered honestly.
"Master… Junior Brother Ji Ming is asleep."
"Zzz…"
As if to confirm her words, Ji Ming's head tilted to the side, soft snores escaping him.
Cloud Retainer sighed, helpless.
To fall asleep in such an environment—was that a strange talent in its own right?
Very well. There was time yet. This child could cultivate at his own pace.
Cloud Retainer resolved to write to Ganyu and have her keep a closer watch on him.
"That will be all for today," she said. "Help the child to your bed and let him rest."
Shenhe nodded. A faint blush touched her cheeks for a fleeting moment before vanishing.
She carefully lifted Ji Ming from the stone bed and carried him toward her sleeping quarters.
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