Chapter 59 – Qiu Bai is Called a Fool

Cloud Retainer glared at Qiu Bai with a flushed, indignant face.

“You, just like before, are too rigid.”

“Why place so much importance on seniority? We are all guardians of Liyue—those who can contribute strength do so, those who can offer wisdom offer it.”

Qiu Bai looked at Cloud Retainer’s embarrassed expression, waved his hand, and spoke slowly.

“Alright, then I won’t place so much importance on seniority.”

“How about I call you ‘big fool’ from now on!”

Cloud Retainer was instantly infuriated by Qiu Bai’s words.

She didn’t even address him as Adeptus Lord anymore—after all, Qiu Bai had just said not to make such a big deal about seniority.

“Hey, is that the kind of seniority I meant?”

“Then how about I call you ‘Very Chatty True Lord’!”

Hearing Cloud Retainer call him a big fool, Qiu Bai angrily retorted.

“How can there be a god like you!”

“I should have left you on the mountaintop of Jueyun Karst while you were asleep, exposed to wind and sun!”

Cloud Retainer shouted angrily, her face red.

“Sigh~ But there is one, so what? Annoyed?”

Qiu Bai replied with a cheeky grin.

“You’re the one in the wrong!”

“No, you’re the one in the wrong!”

Paimon and Lumine watched the bickering between Cloud Retainer and Liyue’s Adeptus Lord, feeling utterly confused.

“Paimon feels like their way of arguing is so childish.”

“Even though they’ve both lived for thousands of years.”

Paimon waved her hand as she spoke to Lumine beside her—the sense of incongruity was truly severe.

It was hard to imagine that the person arguing before them was the very Liyue god who had just unleashed that sword strike earlier.

“Isn’t that how Paimon argues too?”

Lumine looked at Paimon, who was scratching her head, and asked teasingly.

“I do not!”

“Ugh, you’re infuriating! I’m going to mess up your hair!”

Paimon stomped her feet angrily and lunged for Lumine’s head.

“Hmph, Paimon is so small, how could you possibly grab me?”

Lumine showed no fear upon hearing this and grabbed Paimon’s hair instead.

The nearby Millelith soldiers watched as Lumine and Paimon tugged at each other’s hair, their lips twitching.

Keqing’s gaze also turned toward the bickering Adeptus Lord.

At this moment, she didn’t feel her faith shattered by Qiu Bai’s childish squabbling. Instead, her eyes sparkled like little stars.

“Adeptus Lord is both gentle and approachable.”

“It seems that even though the Qixing hold esteemed positions, one must not rely on authority to pressure others.”

Keqing nodded to herself. One of her two idols was now standing right before her.

How could Keqing not be excited? But on the surface, she maintained an air of irreverence toward gods and Adepti.

Who knows if Keqing would still learn anything if she found out that Zhongli, whom she had met that day, was actually Rex Lapis.

“Master and Adeptus Lord get along so well.”

Ganyu watched the two bickering and laughed softly behind her hand.

Ningguang’s gaze also fell upon the two who were arguing.

A slight smile touched her lips—after all, this was the first time she had witnessed such an incongruous scene.

She never expected that her own Adeptus Lord, in order to support her ideas, would end up bickering with his old friend.

“Ahem…”

Mountain Shaper, standing nearby, noticed the many people around.

Watching the two who were arguing, he stepped forward to where Qiu Bai and Cloud Retainer were.

“Um… Adeptus Lord and Cloud Retainer?”

Mountain Shaper asked cautiously.

“What is it, Mountain Shaper? / What do you want, old man?!”

Cloud Retainer and Qiu Bai turned their heads almost simultaneously, looking at the bewildered Mountain Shaper.

Mountain Shaper whispered softly, “Adeptus Lord, Cloud Retainer, look around.”

Qiu Bai and Cloud Retainer slowly glanced at their surroundings. Even with his composed temperament, Qiu Bai couldn’t help but awkwardly rub his nose.

Meanwhile, Cloud Retainer blushed crimson as she looked around.

“What are you all staring at? Stop looking at this Adeptus!”

“Have you never seen Adepti arguing before?”

The surrounding Millelith soldiers, the Liyue Qixing, and Lumine and Paimon—who were scratching their heads—indicated that they truly had never seen such a thing.

Regardless of what else Cloud Retainer was about to say,

Qiu Bai stepped forward directly. Just as Cloud Retainer behind him was about to charge forward, he pressed a hand against her head.

“Hehe, in that case, I agree with you on this matter, Ningguang.”

Behind him, Cloud Retainer, whose head was being held down, angrily pounded Qiu Bai’s arm with both hands.

“Since that’s settled, I’ll take my leave now. You all continue chatting.”

“Hahaha…”

Just as Qiu Bai finished speaking and was about to leave,

he suddenly turned his head, looking earnestly at the Adepti and the Qixing behind him.

“Ningguang, I have now fully recovered. If you encounter any trouble, you can contact me using this stone.”

“But I will soon fall into slumber once more. Do you understand what I mean?”

A mysterious smile appeared on Qiu Bai’s face as he spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on Ningguang among the crowd.

He then tossed Ningguang a stone that was half yin and half yang.

Ningguang remained stunned for a long time after hearing these words, then finally revealed a smile.

She nearly forgot to catch the stone, only reacting after a long while.

“Thank you, Adeptus Lord.”

Ningguang looked toward the Adeptus Lord’s position and bowed deeply.

Beside her, Lumine and Paimon—with their messy hair—were utterly confused.

“Did you understand that, Traveler?”

Paimon asked her companion, somewhat puzzled.

“I think I have an idea, Paimon.”

A smile appeared at the corner of Lumine’s lips as she watched Ningguang bowing.

Among the crowd, Madame Ping gently patted Qiqi’s head and nodded with a smile as she looked at Ningguang.

Qiu Bai watched Ningguang bow and smiled with satisfaction.

“Xiao, come over and hold onto me as well.”

With one hand resisting Cloud Retainer’s struggles, Qiu Bai gestured for Xiao to approach with the other.

“Adeptus Lord, what do you require of your subordinate?”

Xiao teleported instantly to stand before the Adeptus Lord.

“Just hold onto me.”

Qiu Bai looked at Xiao and smiled.

“Understood.”

Without hesitation, Xiao immediately grasped the hem of Qiu Bai’s robe.

Then, along with Cloud Retainer behind him and Xiao beside him, Qiu Bai vanished.

He feared that if Cloud Retainer stayed even a second longer, the atmosphere would grow even more awkward.

Ningguang’s gaze remained fixed on the spot where Qiu Bai had disappeared, and she clasped her hands together once more.

“We bid farewell to the Adeptus Lord.”

She then slowly straightened her posture and turned her gaze toward the Adepti behind her.

“If the Adeptus Lord has acknowledged you, what more can we say?”

Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper exchanged a glance and said nothing further.

“But as the saying goes, ‘the onlooker sees the game best.’ What do you have to say?”

Moon Carver’s gaze shifted to Lumine and Paimon beside him.

“Once a protector comes into conflict with those they are meant to protect…”

“the situation becomes difficult to salvage.”

Lumine looked at Moon Carver and spoke slowly.

“Yes, that was a story that happened in Mondstadt… a tale of the Four Winds and the people of the Anemo Archon.”

“The Anemo Archon wished to prevent their conflict, for he believed opposition would only leave scars in both hearts, with no benefit whatsoever…”

Paimon slowly explained to Moon Carver.

“This is the story we learned in the city of freedom.”

Lumine placed a hand over her chest, speaking softly to the middle-aged man.

“Each of the seven nations of this world has its own troubles to bear.”

Keqing looked toward Lumine and Paimon, speaking gently.

“What you say, though it may be the simplest of truths…”

“As Adepti, we should not let outsiders who have helped us witness our shortcomings.”

Mountain Shaper then spoke calmly as well.