After the three of them had eaten their fill, Qiu Bai used his magic to bring them back to Liyue Harbor.
"My stomach is so full… that was delicious," Paimon sighed contentedly.
"Especially the almond tofu—it was so smooth and tender. No wonder the Adepti like it so much."
She rubbed her little belly, looking extremely satisfied.
"Qiu Bai, thank you," Lumine said, also patting her stomach with a smile and nodding toward him.
"No need to be so polite—we're all friends," Qiu Bai replied. "By the way, what are you two planning to do next?"
"We're going to find the one who gave us our task—the Fatui Executive, Childe."
"We've already completed the mission he assigned us."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances. By now, they saw Qiu Bai as a true friend, so they had no hesitation in telling him.
"The Fatui Executive, Childe?"
Qiu Bai chuckled. "I'll take my leave then. I hope you clear your names soon. I'll be at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, so if you need anything, you can find me there."
"If I'm not around, just let the receptionist know."
"Thanks, Qiu Bai," Lumine said softly.
With that, Qiu Bai turned and walked off.
"Goodbye, Qiu Bai!" Paimon called, waving after him.
Qiu Bai raised a hand in response before disappearing into the distance.
Just then, Paimon suddenly smacked her forehead as if realizing something. She turned to Lumine.
"Traveler, did we forget to ask Qiu Bai… what exactly the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor does?"
Lumine pressed a hand to her forehead as well. Right—they had completely forgotten to ask.
"It's fine, Paimon. There'll be plenty of chances later."
"For now, let's go find Childe. We've completed his task," Lumine said with a smile.
With that, the two made their way toward the Northland Bank, while Qiu Bai headed in the direction of Bubu Pharmacy...
As soon as he reached the entrance of Bubu Pharmacy, Qiu Bai sensed a familiar presence.
"This aura… Qiqi?"
He was taken aback. Five hundred years ago, he and the Adepti had sealed Qiqi in amber. Once the energy within her body stabilized, she would naturally break free.
Pushing open the door, he saw Baizhu standing behind the counter, with Qiqi beside him.
Qiqi's large eyes blinked curiously as she stared at Qiu Bai.
Qiu Bai scanned her with his spiritual sense. Compared to the Qiqi in the story, the current Qiqi was in much better shape. Her body now possessed the qualities of an Adeptus, though her soul remained frozen at that moment in time—along with her knowledge.
In many ways, the Qiqi standing before him was already an Adeptus.
"Esteemed guest of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Mr. Qiu Bai," Baizhu greeted with a warm smile. "It's an honor to welcome you to Bubu Pharmacy."
"I'm flattered that you recognize me, Boss Baizhu," Qiu Bai replied. "I've come to sell some rather rare medicinal herbs."
As he spoke, he conjured a large pile of herbs onto the counter.
These herbs grow year-round on the cliffs of Jueyun Karst, making them incredibly rare and difficult to harvest.
Having absorbed the faint immortal energy of Jueyun Karst for years, their medicinal properties are exceptionally potent, leading the people of Liyue to call them "immortal herbs."
"Yes, these are several precious herbs from the peaks of Jueyun Karst," Qiu Bai said.
"Brother Qiu Bai, are you looking to sell these to me?"
Baizhu was momentarily stunned, surprised by Qiu Bai's ability to conjure items out of thin air.
But as he examined the large pile of herbs on the counter, his shock deepened.
Everyone in Liyue knew that Jueyun Karst was not a place to venture too far into, as it was said to be the domain of the Adepti.
Yet, the majority of these herbs came from the deepest parts of Jueyun Karst, growing on sheer cliffs where few could even hope to reach.
How had the esteemed guest of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Mr. Qiu Bai, managed to gather such a large quantity of these legendary herbs?
"I'm just a bit short on Mora, so I thought I'd sell them," Qiu Bai admitted with slight embarrassment—he was completely broke.
"In that case, please wait here, Brother Qiu Bai! I will purchase them at a very fair price," Baizhu said hurriedly. These herbs were of immense value to him, after all.
He quickly instructed his assistant to take the herbs to the adjoining room.
"Thank you, Brother Baizhu," Qiu Bai said softly.
He then took a seat on one of the chairs along the room's side, waiting patiently.
...
Behind the counter, Qiqi cautiously approached Qiu Bai, placing a small finger against her lips, as if lost in thought.
Qiu Bai smiled at her.
"What's wrong, Qiqi? What are you thinking about?" he asked gently, unable to resist speaking to the adorable girl.
"Big brother... you know Qiqi's name?"
Qiqi tilted her head, looking at him in confusion.
"And… big brother's scent… it's nice. Qiqi… likes it a lot," she said in her usual soft, innocent voice.
Qiu Bai's heart ached slightly at her words. He then extended his left hand.
"Qiqi, give me your left hand. Let's play a little game."
Qiqi met Qiu Bai's gentle gaze and, after a brief hesitation, placed her tiny left hand in his.
Qiu Bai channeled his divine power, infusing it with purifying yang energy, letting it flow from his hand into Qiqi's body.
"So warm… Qiqi feels so warm… all toasty inside."
"That's strange—Qiqi usually hates warm and toasty things…"
Her voice gradually carried more emotion, and a faint light flickered in her eyes as clarity returned to them.
Qiu Bai's divine energy stirred something deep within Qiqi.
A memory.
It was five hundred years ago—the day when the immortals, demons, and the Lord of Yin and Yang had tried to save her.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Qiqi lifted her small hand to touch her cheek, feeling the unexpected warmth. Tears. They wouldn't stop falling.
Flashes of memory surged through her mind—
"Mom… Dad… Jueyun Karst… the kind big brother… not wanting to die… the cold, hard amber… Boss Baizhu… warm Hu Tao… coconut milk…"
The memories came rushing back, an unstoppable tide.
Qiu Bai finally let go of her hand. The Qiqi before him had regained her full consciousness—her soul now as resilient as that of an Adeptus.
The Vision on her little hat glowed brilliantly. At this moment, Qiqi had truly become a Three-Eyed Five-Manifestation Adeptus.
She looked up at Qiu Bai, smiling sweetly through her tears.
She remembered now.
The kind big brother standing before her was none other than Liyue's god, the Lord of Yin and Yang.
She even recalled her parents once telling her that this deity was wise, strong, and filled with compassion.
"Big brother… you're an incredible god," Qiqi said, still smiling, her voice as soft as ever.