Chapter 25 – Returning to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor

Qiqi peered curiously with her little head at the delicate young lady before her.

Just a moment ago, she was a kindly old granny—how did she suddenly turn into a big sister?

“Adeptus Lord, it’s good that you’re alright.”

Madame Ping—no, Ping’er—smiled as she looked at Qiu Bai’s face.

“If the Adeptus Lord is fine, then Rex Lapis must be safe as well.”

“What could possibly happen to me? It’s you who worried too much.”

Qiu Bai spoke with a gentle smile, neither denying nor confirming whether Morax had truly been assassinated.

Instead, he softly addressed Ping’er.

“By the way, regarding Morax and my news…”

“Please do not inform the other Adepti. It is not yet the time.”

Upon hearing this, Ping’er nodded. Since the Adeptus Lord did not wish to speak of it, she did not press further.

“Rest assured, Adeptus Lord, I will not speak of this matter.”

“However, the little girl you brought is quite interesting.”

Ping’er crouched down, smiling warmly at Qiqi.

“Tell big sister, what’s your name?”

But Qiqi still clung fearfully to Qiu Bai’s pant leg.

“It’s alright, Qiqi. This big sister is also an Adeptus.”

Only after hearing Qiu Bai’s confirmation did Qiqi step out from behind him.

Widening her eyes, she looked at the Adeptus and said, “My name is Qiqi.”

Streetward Rambler was also charmed by the little girl’s cuteness and gently patted Qiqi’s head.

“That old granny appearance earlier really didn’t suit you.”

Qiu Bai remarked playfully from the side.

“What can I do? I’ve grown old too.”

Though Adepti can take on appearances of various ages, the age in their hearts cannot be changed.

“You don’t look old at all.”

Qiu Bai said with a laugh, for he couldn’t understand why Madame Ping chose to appear as an old granny.

Even Morax, who is over six thousand years old, doesn’t turn into an old man.

“By the way, I came here to ask you to teach Qiqi how to use and control the Adeptal Energy within her.”

“And while we’re at it, let’s change Qiqi’s clothes.”

“Her current outfit isn’t quite suitable for Qiqi now.”

Qiu Bai glanced at Qiqi, dressed like a little zombie, which hardly befitted an Adeptus.

“Leave it to me.”

After saying this, Ping’er took out a pot and smiled at Qiqi.

“Qiqi, stretch out your hand toward this pot and silently think ‘enter.'”

“This pot contains its own Grotto-Heaven, which can conceal us from prying eyes. I will teach you inside.”

Ping’er levitated the Serenitea Pot in the air, bringing it before Qiqi.

Qiqi looked at Qiu Bai.

Seeing Qiu Bai nod, Qiqi stretched out her small hand toward the Serenitea Pot and silently thought the words.

Then, in a flash of light, Qiqi was pulled into the Serenitea Pot.

“Thank you, Ping’er.”

Qiu Bai smiled as he looked at the young lady in green before him.

The night breeze brushed against the clothes of Qiu Bai’s avatar.

At this moment, Qiu Bai appeared as the Adeptus of Yin and Yang, a sight that couldn’t help but leave the young lady momentarily entranced.

“No wonder Cloud Retainer is so attentive to the Adeptus Lord. So that’s how it is.”

Ping’er thought to herself, feeling a strange sensation.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll begin teaching this little girl now.”

Ping’er said to Qiu Bai with a smile before transforming into a streak of light and disappearing into the Serenitea Pot.

The Serenitea Pot naturally landed on a nearby table.

Seeing this, Qiu Bai nodded slightly before transforming into a white streak of light and vanishing from before the table.

The scene shifts, and at this moment, Qiu Bai was walking toward the direction of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

From afar, a stream of light shot into Qiu Bai’s body.

Qiu Bai stopped in his tracks, looking at the bustling streets filled with people and the brightly lit buildings around him, then raised his head to gaze at the sky.

“Qiqi’s matter should be resolved now.”

With that thought, Qiu Bai resumed his steps.

Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Hu Tao was sitting on a chair, surrounded by the employees of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

“Why hasn’t Qiu Bai returned yet!”

“Could something have happened to him?”

At this thought, Hu Tao suddenly stood up, pacing back and forth anxiously.

“Parlor Master, based on common reasoning, Qiu Bai will be fine.”

Zhongli, sitting nearby, reminded the Parlor Master.

Given Qiu Bai’s current strength, there was hardly anything in the mortal world that could hold him back.

“Zhongli, how would you know if he’s alright or not?”

After saying this, Hu Tao pressed both hands against Zhongli’s desk.

She widened her beautiful plum blossom eyes, staring at Zhongli as she asked, barely able to contain herself.

“What if? What if?”

“What if something happened to him?”

“I finally have a Consultant who can save me from most of the troubles—he can’t have anything happen to him!”

But worrying was useless. Hu Tao suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon and slumped onto the desk.

Zhongli seemed to sense something. Looking at Hu Tao, who was acting like a clown, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“Haha, Parlor Master, Qiu Bai will be fine.”

“He is already on his way back.”

Hu Tao glanced sideways at Zhongli.

Muttering under her breath, she said, “Zhongli, you haven’t even seen him—how would you know? Do you have ears that can hear the wind or something?”

“I’m back!”

With a crisp sound of the door being pushed open, Hu Tao heard the voice of the newcomer and immediately jumped to her feet in surprise.

Indeed, the newcomer was Qiu Bai.

Hu Tao hurried over, her large plum blossom eyes scrutinizing Qiu Bai from head to toe for a long while.

Then she turned back to look at Zhongli.

“Could it be that Zhongli really has ears that can hear the wind?”

Hu Tao thought in astonishment.

Zhongli’s gaze also turned to Qiu Bai standing at the door.

“You’ve returned, old friend.”

Zhongli said with a faint smile as he looked at Qiu Bai.

Qiu Bai also nodded at Zhongli.

“Qiu Bai, where have you been these past few days?”

“You didn’t even tell us when you went out.”

Hu Tao cupped her chin, only asking after confirming that Qiu Bai was unharmed.

“Parlor Master, rest assured, nothing will happen to me.”

Qiu Bai smiled as he looked at the mischievous Hu Tao.

He dared say that, aside from the mysterious “Heavenly Principles,” no one could hold him back. This was his confidence in his own strength.

“You rascal, remember to tell me next time you go out.”

“You had me worried for so long. By the way, where’s the Mora? Where’s the Mora?”

Hu Tao widened her eyes, scanning Qiu Bai’s clothes, but there wasn’t a single Mora in sight.

Seeing Hu Tao like this, Qiu Bai smiled slightly, turned his hand over, and a large box appeared in front of Hu Tao.

“Parlor Master, I went out these past few days to gather herbs and exchange them for money.”

“This box contains a total of 2 million Mora.”

Qiu Bai said with a smile as he looked at Hu Tao.

Hu Tao’s mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg.

“Incredible, incredible, 2 million Mora!”

“How many herbs did you gather to sell for so much money!”

“This way, I can rest easy in the future—earning 2 million Mora in just two days.”

Hu Tao’s mouth twitched slightly. That much Mora—how many herbs would she have to sell to earn that?

“Qiu Bai has put my mind at ease, but as for Zhongli…”

After saying this, Hu Tao glanced at Zhongli, who naturally noticed and cleared his throat awkwardly.

“It’s getting late, Director. You should rest early.”

Zhongli turned his head and spoke calmly to Hu Tao at the door.

“I’ve been waiting for Qiu Bai so long I’m already sleepy.”

“I need a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, Zhongli, you can go prepare for the Rite of Parting.”

“You two should rest early as well.”

With that, Hu Tao yawned and walked up to the attic.

After seeing Hu Tao leave, Qiu Bai sat down opposite Zhongli.

“Morax, I met Xiao today.”

Qiu Bai took a sip of tea and spoke calmly to Zhongli.

“He doesn’t know my identity. I knocked him unconscious and removed a small portion of his Karmic Debt.”

“That should ease his suffering a little. Once everything is settled, I’ll help him clear it completely.”

Qiu Bai knew that even if Xiao’s Karmic Debt were cleared, he would still accumulate more over time from fighting Monsters tainted with Demon God Residue.

But even so, being able to alleviate his suffering was the greatest help he could offer.