Chapter 58 – The True Lord Who is Great at Chatting

The sky above the outskirts of Liyue Harbor had been completely cleared by Qiu Bai’s sword strike, turning into clear weather.

The fierce winds and towering waves on the sea surface had also subsided, with lush green vegetation derived from Qiu Bai’s Divine Power surrounding the area.

A gentle sea breeze brushed against the faces of every Liyue citizen, and sunlight shone upon the blue ocean.

Faintly, flocks of seagulls could be seen flying past, with warm sunlight bathing everyone’s faces.

It stood in stark contrast to the apocalyptic scene from just moments before.

Cloud Retainer was still staring at Qiu Bai before her with an air of lingering anger.

“Hey, I’m back now, aren’t I?”

“Alright, Cloud Retainer, next time there’s trouble, I won’t just stand by and watch.”

Qiu Bai rubbed his nose as he spoke slowly to Cloud Retainer before him.

“Hmph, if you hadn’t returned,”

“Liyue Harbor might have been destroyed.”

Cloud Retainer stood there looking at this figure from five hundred years ago, a faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

She had truly thought something had happened to Qiu Bai, but now seeing him still here, she couldn’t help but show a smile.

“Adeptus Lord, I am the current Tianquan, Ningguang.”

Ningguang stepped forward gracefully, looking at this approachable Adeptus Lord.

She carefully observed the Adeptus—jet-black hair falling over ink-white robes, spotlessly clean.

His face was as gentle as jade, with light blue eyes elegant and serene like a starry midnight sky, standing about 185 centimeters tall.

He gave Ningguang an exceptionally gentle impression, seemingly different from the person who had just delivered that sword strike.

“Ningguang, I know of you.”

“A little girl who couldn’t even afford shoes back then, achieving such accomplishments is truly remarkable.”

Qiu Bai’s gentle yet steady voice sounded in Ningguang’s ears.

“Well done. That Liyue Harbor today can stand on its own even without its deity—”

“I am quite satisfied.”

Qiu Bai looked at Ningguang and slowly nodded.

Upon receiving this affirmation, a smile appeared at the corner of Ningguang’s lips.

Being recognized by a deity was no easy feat.

“If it weren’t for The Doctor of the Fatui Harbingers releasing the suppression power of the Stone Spears earlier,”

“I believe you would have had a way to reseal the Demon God back into the sea.”

Qiu Bai looked at Ningguang with a smile as he asked.

Ningguang did not speak, merely returning a slight smile to the Adeptus Lord.

“Ningguang naturally had a way.”

“The Doctor, the Second Seat of the Fatui Harbingers?”

Ningguang murmured to herself. No wonder she could never find the last of the Fatui Harbingers—it turned out to be The Doctor.

“Adeptus, where is this person now?”

Ningguang asked the Adeptus, the coldness in her eyes suggesting she wanted to eliminate The Doctor immediately.

“You mean The Doctor? He has already been erased by me.”

A faint smile hung at the corner of Qiu Bai’s lips.

“There are many Doctors in this world.”

“I erased one of the two strongest among them.”

The Adeptus Lord slowly explained to Ningguang.

“Ningguang understands.”

“Thank you, Adeptus Lord.”

Ningguang looked at the deity of her nation before her and respectfully clasped her hands.

Then Ningguang turned to face the various Adepti.

“Thank you all for your invaluable assistance. Had you not coincidentally been here,”

“the future of Liyue Harbor would have been truly unpredictable.”

Ningguang looked at the Adepti present and spoke slowly.

“Hmph, why bother with flattery on such an occasion?”

“Moreover, we are not here by coincidence. Have you already pretended to forget our purpose in coming here?”

Cloud Retainer stepped forward, her slender legs faintly visible, and looked at Ningguang beside her with a cold snort.

“Cloud Retainer, there is no need to be so confrontational just yet.”

Madame Ping walked up and spoke slowly as she observed the two women.

“Thank you, honored Adeptus, for speaking on my behalf. In truth, aside from the Adeptus Lord…”

“We are well aware of the purpose of all the Adepti, but we must beg your pardon, for we cannot yield.”

Standing atop the Jade Chamber, Ningguang smiled as she glanced at Qiu Bai, then turned her gaze to the Adepti, speaking unhurriedly.

“Oh?”

Moon Carver was somewhat surprised that Ningguang knew their purpose.

“Three thousand seven hundred years… According to records, it has been over three thousand seven hundred years since the Adepti signed the Contract with Rex Lapis to protect Liyue.”

Ningguang recounted the story of the past slowly.

Then she turned to look at the Adeptus Lord behind her.

“And the Adeptus Lord is not the God of Contracts, but a close friend of Rex Lapis.”

“He is also a dear friend to all the Adepti, and together, they have protected Liyue Harbor.”

“According to records, a thousand years ago, the Adeptus Lord fought a battle with Rex Lapis, after which the two deities became close friends.”

“The two deities descended together during the Rite of Descension, offering guidance for the future planning and development of Liyue Harbor.”

“Later, when the great dragon emerged from The Chasm, he rescued tens of thousands of civilians.”

“And was affectionately called the Adeptus of Yin and Yang by the people of Liyue. To this day, the fact that Liyue has two deities has spread throughout the seven nations.”

“Five hundred years ago, he alone halted the Immortal-Demon War, redeeming the Greater Demons overseas, before falling into a deep slumber.”

“To this day, these Greater Demons cultivate in seclusion across Liyue, offering aid whenever they encounter those in need.”

“And just moments ago, the Adeptus Lord once again saved Liyue from peril.”

Ningguang paused briefly before turning to face the assembled Adepti behind her.

“From three thousand seven hundred years ago until today, the mountains, rivers, and lands of Liyue have remained as steadfast as bedrock, unchanged from a thousand years ago—a truly admirable feat.”

“Yet this does not mean that Liyue is the same as it was three thousand seven hundred years ago.”

“Please do not only cast your protective gaze upon this land. Look closely at this city, at every person here.”

Ningguang finished speaking slowly, addressing all the Adepti.

“Are you questioning the way we Adepti protect Liyue?”

Moon Carver stepped forward, his human form gazing calmly at Ningguang.

“I mean no offense. I only hope that all of you, our esteemed predecessors, will consider Liyue once more.”

Ningguang placed a hand over her chest, looking sincerely at the Adepti.

“Hmph, still calling us ‘predecessors.'”

“You members of the Liyue Qixing are mere juniors before me—you cannot even speak of seniority.”

Cloud Retainer turned her head with a proud, aloof expression, closed her eyes, and spoke coolly.

Hearing Cloud Retainer’s high-EQ remark, Qiu Bai twitched at the corner of his mouth and couldn’t help but cover his forehead.

He walked over and nudged Cloud Retainer, who had turned her head away with a cold snort.

Leaning close to Cloud Retainer’s ear, he whispered,

“I say, Cloud Retainer, you’re still the same as before.”

“You really ought to work on that talent of yours for conversation.”

Qiu Bai’s words, accompanied by a warm breath, drifted into Cloud Retainer’s ear.

Cloud Retainer was startled by Qiu Bai, immediately stepping backward.

Then, with a flushed face, she turned her head, her cool eyes fixed intently on Qiu Bai.

“Could you not suddenly approach this Adeptus!”

“You, who disappeared for so long!”

Blushing with embarrassment, Cloud Retainer glared at Qiu Bai, who had suddenly drawn near, speaking with a mix of shame and anger.