Zhongli extended his invitation, his voice steady.
Behind him, Lumine and Paimon looked expectantly at the beautiful woman before them.
Qiu Bai sighed inwardly. She had originally planned to find a quiet place to revert to her male form. But now, rejecting them felt awkward—besides, she had already settled on a name for this identity.
"I'll go with Qiu Xue."
With that decision made, she looked at Zhongli and smiled.
"Alright, Zhongli, I accept your invitation."
Qiu Xue brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before turning to Lumine and Paimon.
"Alright then, I'll accompany you on this journey."
"Yay!"
Paimon cheered, stomping her feet excitedly.
"Then let's go, beautiful big sister!"
Just as she was about to take off, she suddenly paused midair, a realization hitting her.
"Uh… wait, where were we supposed to go again?"
Lumine sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation, before turning to Zhongli for guidance.
"Since my friend has agreed to join us," Zhongli said calmly, "let us head to our next destination together."
Qiu Xue tilted her head slightly, her hands gently resting on her abdomen, watching Zhongli with an amused smile.
Zhongli noticed her gaze and averted his eyes slightly, clearing his throat.
"...Ahem."
"Old friend?" he asked hesitantly, unsure why she was looking at him that way.
"Heehee."
Qiu Xue didn't answer; she simply let out a sweet laugh—one that almost left the usually composed Geo Archon momentarily dazed.
Lumine and Paimon, standing behind him, weren't faring any better.
"I mean, I get that Qiu Bai is your friend, but this beautiful big sister too?"
Paimon looked at Zhongli with pure bewilderment.
She simply couldn't wrap her head around how this freeloading, Mora-less "social outcast" had somehow befriended not only the enigmatic Qiu Bai but also this stunning woman.
"Hahaha, fate works in mysterious ways. Despite the difference in age, we have formed a deep and lasting bond," Zhongli explained with a composed smile.
Qiu Xue chuckled softly and nodded in agreement.
"Then Zhongli, you must know what this beautiful big sister's name is!"
The moment Paimon spoke, Lumine also turned toward Zhongli, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Zhongli's mouth twitched slightly. He had no idea what to call her at this moment.
Meleager? Twofold Celestial Lord? Old friend?
He definitely couldn't just call her Qiu Bai in front of them.
Paimon's question had completely stumped him.
Before he could respond, Qiu Xue spoke up.
"Traveler, Paimon," she said with a warm smile.
"My name is Qiu Xue."
She glanced at Zhongli, playfully winking at him.
You helped me out earlier when I was in an awkward spot—now it's my turn to return the favor.
"Whoa, you just dropped your name on us while we weren't expecting it!"
Paimon flailed her hands in surprise. She hadn't anticipated the mysterious big sister to just reveal her name like that, especially after keeping it a secret earlier.
"Qiu Xue, huh? That's such a pretty name!"
Paimon clapped her hands in approval.
Lumine nodded in agreement.
Lumine: "I am Qiu Xue's loyal follower!"
"I told you my name because I consider you both my friends."
Qiu Xue looked at Lumine and Paimon with a genuine smile.
By this point, her mannerisms had completely shifted—her presence was now fully that of a woman.
"Then that means we're good friends now, right, Qiu Xue?"
Lumine's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile as she gazed at her.
Seeing Qiu Xue nod, Lumine no longer held back.
"Qiu Xue! Quick—let me touch your beautiful legs!"
"I can't hold back anymore!"
With an expression straight out of a lovestruck fool, Lumine stepped forward.
She had noticed Qiu Xue's flawless legs earlier and had been itching to touch them.
"Huh?!"
Qiu Xue's face instantly flushed red.
Before she could react, Lumine's hands had already reached out, gently caressing Qiu Xue's smooth, jade-like legs.
"Wow… such beautiful legs."
Lumine grinned as she continued admiring them, completely unfazed.
Paimon covered her face with both hands but peeked through her fingers, unable to look away.
Meanwhile, Zhongli turned his head, deliberately avoiding the sight of Lumine and Qiu Xue.
Qiu Xue's face burned as she watched Lumine shamelessly caressing her leg.
"Have you had enough?" she murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
The strange sensation on her skin made her blush even harder. Ever since her transformation, certain areas of her body had become much more sensitive, and she found herself flustered more easily than before.
"You can never get enough, can you?"
Lumine finally withdrew her hand but looked up at Qiu Xue with a sly grin.
If I keep going, will she actually start thinking I'm some kind of perverted woman?
Shaking off the thought, Lumine let go just as Qiu Xue's embarrassment slowly began to subside.
...
"Zhongli, what's the next step in the preparations for the Rite of Parting?"
Paimon finally pulled her hands away from her face and turned toward Zhongli.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot!"
Lumine scratched her head, mimicking Paimon's tone.
She really had almost forgotten about their main objective. But in her defense, Qiu Xue's flawless legs were simply too tempting to ignore.
"Hey, Traveler! Stop copying me!"
Paimon stomped her foot in frustration, puffing up like an annoyed child.
Zhongli let out a small sigh.
"I know the way. Just follow me."
"The next destination is Liyue Harbor," Qiu Xue added with her usual gentle smile as she looked at Lumine and Paimon.
"Huh? You know the steps for the Rite of Parting too, Qiu Xue?" Paimon asked, sounding surprised.
"Of course. Any old resident of Liyue should know."
Qiu Xue explained with a soft chuckle, and Lumine nodded in agreement.
After all, Zhongli had mentioned before that the traditions surrounding the Rite had gradually faded over time.
With that, Qiu Xue stepped forward, her elegant strides leading the way toward Liyue Harbor. Lumine and Paimon quickly followed after her.
Zhongli remained silent. He turned back, his gaze lingering on the Statue of the Seven, as if looking at a reflection of his past self.
Then his eyes shifted toward Qiu Xue's retreating figure. In his mind, her silhouette overlapped with a distant memory—one he hadn't thought about in a long time.
His pupils contracted as a vision played out in his mind.
A woman in a flowing green dress turned to him, her smile as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Morax, this is the 'Lock of Dust.' I entrust it to you..."
Her soft voice echoed through his mind.
She smiled warmly, reaching out to place an object into his hands.
"Guizhong..."
Zhongli stood frozen, lost in his memories. A long silence stretched before he let out a quiet sigh.
"Zhongli, what's wrong?"
Paimon tilted her head, watching him curiously. Seeing that he wasn't moving, she scratched her head in confusion.
Qiu Xue overheard Paimon's question and turned back, her expression shifting.
She studied her old friend carefully before her brows furrowed slightly.
"Is Morax's erosion worsening again?"