Chapter 24 – Streetward Rambler, Madame Ping

Qiu Bai stared blankly at Qiqi.

After all, he had never actually seen Qiqi smile in the game.

Although Qiqi was over five hundred years old, she had spent most of that time in slumber, so her current level of awareness was still that of a little girl.

“I’ve been recognized, huh? But Qiqi, you mustn’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Big brother here is about to do something very important.”

Qiu Bai smiled as he patted Qiqi’s head, speaking to her gently.

“Qiqi won’t tell anyone.”

Like a little kitten, Qiqi closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against Qiu Bai’s.

Just then, a voice came from the room behind the counter—it was Baizhu.

“Brother Qiu Bai, we’ve finished pricing your herbs!”

Baizhu walked out from the room behind the counter and paused slightly upon seeing Qiu Bai patting Qiqi’s head.

“It seems Qiqi really likes you.”

Baizhu said with a smile.

The small snake coiled around Baizhu spoke up at that moment: “Qiqi is smiling!”

Only then did Baizhu suddenly notice the faint smile gracing Qiqi’s lips.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen Qiqi smile.”

At that moment, Qiqi spotted Baizhu and walked toward him with a smile.

“Brother Baizhu, thank you.”

“For taking care of me all these years.”

Baizhu stared in shock as Qiqi thanked him, completely bewildered by the situation.

“Qiqi… you seem a bit different from before?”

Baizhu looked at Qiqi uncertainly as he asked.

“Qiqi has become human, with warmth.”

“With knowledge, with memories—no need to write everything down in a notebook anymore.”

Qiqi gazed sweetly at Baizhu, smiling. Now, she finally didn’t have to record everything in a notebook anymore.

No longer afraid she might forget something.

Qiu Bai watched Qiqi from behind. Become human—truly human, but the word “Adeptus” should be added before it.

He naturally knew that Baizhu had approached Qiqi with an ulterior motive, but Baizhu had never done anything to harm her.

Of course, even if he wanted to, he couldn’t hurt Qiqi now, because she had become an Adeptus.

He planned to speak with Baizhu in a moment, then take Qiqi to Streetward Rambler—that is, Madame Ping.

To have Madame Ping teach Qiqi how to control Adeptal Energy.

“Brother Qiu Bai, do you know what happened here?”

Baizhu asked, somewhat puzzled.

After all, he had just stepped out and seen Qiu Bai patting Qiqi’s head.

“Brother Baizhu, how could I possibly have such ability?”

“Right after you went inside, an Adeptus came here and healed Qiqi.”

“And even said they would take Qiqi away later.”

Qiu Bai casually fabricated a lie, and besides, no one had witnessed what happened here earlier.

Then, with a thought, a white-clad figure walked in through the door.

This figure was none other than the Adeptus of Yin and Yang—more precisely, Qiu Bai’s clone.

Qiqi looked at this figure, then back at Qiu Bai.

Her little mind couldn’t quite process it—how could there be two big brothers?

But likely no one in Liyue today would recognize him, as he had always concealed his face during every Rite of Descension over the past five hundred years.

They watched as the Adeptus of Yin and Yang walked in, looking at Qiqi.

The employees of Bubu Pharmacy behind him stared blankly at this sudden appearance of an Adeptus—after all, this was their first time seeing one.

The Adeptus’s face was veiled in a faint mist, making his features indistinct.

“This Adeptus has come to retrieve you. You can no longer be considered mortal; you have shed the constraints of a zombie and transformed into an Adeptus.”

“I will take you to where you belong. Come with me.”

Qiqi looked back at Qiu Bai, who gave her a reassuring smile.

Then, under Baizhu’s bewildered gaze, Qiqi walked toward the door.

“Adeptus, please wait—will Qiqi ever return?”

Baizhu watched Qiqi about to leave, his eyes filled with reluctance. After all, for so long, he had treated her like a daughter.

“Brother Baizhu, Qiqi will come back.”

Qiqi also showed signs of reluctance.

“Of course she will. When did this Adeptus ever say he would take her away forever?”

The Adeptus of Yin and Yang spoke calmly at that moment.

“I am merely taking her to first adapt to the power of an Adeptus. Once she has adapted, she will naturally be sent back.”

Baizhu breathed a sigh of relief and then cupped his hands respectfully. “Then I thank the Adeptus.”

He too hoped Qiqi could become better.

“You all, act as if you never saw this Adeptus, and do not speak of this matter to outsiders.”

Then, the Adeptus of Yin and Yang vanished instantly with Qiqi.

The employees of Bubu Pharmacy stood up, their eyes filled with confusion.

“Second Brother, pinch me—is this a dream?”

One of the employees, still dazed, patted the other’s shoulder and asked.

“Third Brother, it’s not a dream—we really encountered an Adeptus!”

The two employees beside each other looked at one another in disbelief.

But none of them thought to tell their families or outsiders about it.

After all, the Adeptus from earlier had said not to reveal today’s events.

Baizhu still had some doubts in his heart, but they gradually dissipated.

He turned to Qiu Bai beside him, who acted as if no Adeptus had just appeared.

“Brother Qiu Bai, we have tallied up those medicinal herbs of yours.”

After saying this, Baizhu picked up a large box.

“Here are 2 million Mora—the price is absolutely fair.”

Goodness, Qiu Bai was startled. He hadn’t expected that pile of herbs to be so valuable—though, of course, there was also some social courtesy involved.

This money would be enough for him to live lavishly for quite some time.

“Brother Qiu Bai, if you have more herbs like these, please remember to come again.”

“The price will satisfy you.”

Baizhu smiled as he looked at Qiu Bai.

“As expected,” Qiu Bai thought to himself.

Then, he extended his hand, his expression unchanged, and said, “Then I thank Brother Baizhu.”

“Brother Qiu Bai, you’re too kind.”

Baizhu shook Qiu Bai’s hand.

“Then I won’t disturb Brother Baizhu any longer. I have matters to attend to.”

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Qiu Bai cupped his hands. Hu Tao must have been worried sick after his sudden disappearance.

“Brother Qiu Bai, take care.”

When Qiu Bai’s figure vanished,

Baizhu slumped into his chair like a deflated balloon. After all, the amount of information today was simply too much, and he still hadn’t fully processed it.

Outside, the sky gradually darkened. Liyue Harbor was brightly lit, its red lanterns illuminating this city that had borne thousands of years of history.

At that moment, Madame Ping was watering flowers and was startled by the sudden appearance of Qiu Bai and Qiqi.

Madame Ping rubbed her eyes and stared intently at the Qiu Bai doppelganger before her.

“Am I seeing things in my old age? Are you… the Adeptus Lord?!”

Madame Ping finally recognized the person before her and exclaimed in surprise.

“Shh, Streetward Rambler, I cannot reveal myself just yet.”

“Do you still remember this little girl?”

At that moment, Qiqi, who had been hiding behind Qiu Bai, peeked out her head and looked at the kindly grandmother.

Madame Ping then transformed, taking on the appearance of a young girl dressed in blue-green robes.

A blue-green mark adorned her forehead, and white patterns decorated her sleeves. Her first impression was that of a youthful and elegant beauty.

She smiled as she looked at Qiu Bai.

Then, she glanced at Qiqi, who was still hiding behind Qiu Bai.

“Is this the little girl from Five Hundred Years Ago? Has she already transformed into an Adeptus?”

She looked at Qiqi with some surprise and spoke.