This woman had silver hair and deep blue eyes, her aura ethereal and otherworldly. With every movement, it seemed as if wisps of immortal energy surrounded her. At first glance, she could easily be mistaken for a true immortal from beyond the mortal realm.
But within that immortal aura, there seemed to lurk a hint of killing intent. However, this faint trace of danger was overshadowed by the red rope tied around her body.
"Immortal, please calm your anger! We were only using a spell to search for someone. We never intended to disturb your meditation. We'll leave now."
Chongyun felt that this immortal looked somewhat familiar, but he didn't dare to look too closely. After bowing respectfully with Xingqiu, he prepared to leave.
If they didn't leave soon, things could get out of hand.
"You said this is a method for finding someone?"
The "immortal" looked at the blue talisman in her hand, which had already dissipated. Her emotionless eyes now showed a hint of confusion.
This was because the talisman had flown straight toward her and stuck to her forehead, almost making her think she had been attacked.
"Yes, this is originally a soul-searching technique. My friend was in a hurry to find someone, so I wanted to give it a try. I never expected..."
Chongyun sighed but didn't blame Xingqiu.
After all, the elders of his family had repeatedly warned him never to use their techniques for purposes other than exorcising demons. Perhaps this was his punishment.
"Immortal sister, we came in a hurry and didn't bring any offerings. If you don't mind..."
Xingqiu also knew that the two of them had caused a major problem. But he had left in such a rush that he hadn't brought anything valuable. The only thing he had was a sunsettia that Xiangling had given him.
He knew a single sunsettia wouldn't make up for anything, but... at least it represented their sincerity.
"Next time, don't act so recklessly. The temper of the immortals isn't as gentle as you might think."
After lingering on Chongyun for a moment, the "immortal" waved her hand, and the sunsettia flew into her grasp. Holding a bamboo basket, she turned and walked back into the depths of the mountains.
"And also, I'm not an immortal."
"..."
Chongyun and Xingqiu exchanged glances, then without another word, they turned and ran down the mountain.
"I told you not to use that method. Thankfully, the immortal's temper wasn't too bad, and she didn't give us a hard time."
Once they reached the foot of the mountain, Chongyun scooped up some cold mountain spring water and splashed it on his face, calming the restlessness caused by his pure Yang constitution.
He absolutely didn't dare to help Xingqiu search for anyone again.
But Xingqiu, standing beside him, was looking at Chongyun with a strange expression.
Chongyun had been practicing incantations since he was a child, so he held a certain reverence for the existence of immortals. That's why he had kept his head down the entire time, not daring to look at the "immortal."
Xingqiu was different. While he also held respect for the immortals, he wasn't as reverent as Chongyun. When the immortal took the sunsettia, he had looked up and caught a glimpse of her.
It was fine if he hadn't looked, but once he did, he was shocked. The woman looked strikingly similar to Chongyun.
But he had never heard of Chongyun having an older sister?
With this question in mind, Xingqiu followed Chongyun back to Liyue Harbor. As for the search for the author of The Dihua Grass Sketch, it would have to be put on hold for now.
After all, Chongyun had already disturbed an immortal for his sake. There had to be a limit to how much he could push. He decided to take a break from the search for now.
If all else failed, he could try the Adventurers' Guild. He had heard their efficiency was quite good.
...
Shenhe, as usual, made her way to Jueyun Karst.
Jueyun Karst was located in the northwest of Liyue, a place perpetually shrouded in mist and clouds, a rugged and uninhabited mountain range.
The mountains were home to breathtaking scenery, but due to the complex terrain and steep paths, few ventured here. It was rumored to be the secluded dwelling of the immortals who protected Liyue.
As a result, it attracted some who sought immortality or blessings.
But aside from a peculiar little herb-gathering girl, no mortal had ever truly conquered this place.
Reaching a high peak, Shenhe brushed away the dust on the ground and placed the bamboo basket she was carrying on the ground.
Inside the basket weren't any miraculous elixirs or rare medicinal herbs.
Just a few Qingxin flowers and four sunsettias.
Normally, she only brought three sunsettias, but the extra one had been a gift from Xingqiu.
After tidying up the area, Shenhe took out a square cloth.
This cloth was quite unusual, with a soft texture that didn't seem to belong to this era. In one corner, there was a strange pattern embroidered, resembling some kind of text?
She spread the cloth flat and carefully wiped the four sunsettias clean before placing them on it.
Then, she looked in the direction of Lisha, hugging her knees and forming a talisman with her hands.
As she activated the Divine Maiden's Spirit Summoning technique, a figure adorned with talismans gradually materialized behind her.
The figure's face was blurred, its original appearance indiscernible. Once it appeared, it stood protectively beside Shenhe, seemingly devoid of any intelligence.
The small peak was covered in frost.
The taste of Qingxin was somewhat bland.
But having eaten it since she was a child, Shenhe didn't find anything unusual about it.
As for the sunsettias...
Picking up a sunsettia, Shenhe took a small bite. The sweet juice filled every corner of her mouth. Such plump and juicy sunsettias could probably fetch a good price even down in the city.
But...
"The taste is off."
After eating three sunsettias in a row, the sweet flesh didn't elicit any change in Shenhe's expression.
These sunsettias were still a bit too sweet.
Picking up the last sunsettia, the one Xingqiu had given her, Shenhe stared at it for a long time but ultimately didn't eat it.
"Perhaps I'll give it to you."
With a sigh, Shenhe glanced toward Lisha.
There, a heron had once landed, and a crane had taken flight.
What difference was there between a heron and a crane?
They were both just birds. Once placed on the offering table, they were nothing more than a dish.
The wind rose, the clouds settled, and the crane cried.
By the time the mist dispersed, the peak was left with nothing but a thin layer of frost and a single, ordinary-looking sunsettia lying quietly on the ground.
About ten minutes later...
A dark figure climbed to the peak, letting out a long sigh.
This place was really freaking high.
But he didn't forget to reach out and pull up the little herb-gathering girl behind him.
"Qiqi can climb up by herself."
Sitting on the edge of the peak, Qiqi swung her feet playfully, showing no fear of the sea of clouds below. After all, gathering herbs in the mountains was part of her daily routine.
As for why Bai Luo had found her in the mountains, her little brain couldn't quite figure that out yet.
"I'm not helping you for nothing. Right now, there are a bunch of people looking for me in Liyue Harbor. Only here in Jueyun Karst can I find a moment of peace."
After helping Qiqi gather the nearby Qingxin flowers, Bai Luo spoke.
Strangely, aside from the Qingxin, there was also a sunsettia here.
Bai Luo instinctively reached for it, but after a moment of thought, he turned to Qiqi.
"Little Qiqi, want a sunsettia?"
"Where?"
Qiqi never refused Bai Luo's sunsettias.
As a zombie, she had long lost her sense of taste. Aside from being able to tell hot from cold, she couldn't feel anything else.
But Bai Luo's sunsettias had given her a rare third sensation.
So, in Qiqi's mind, Bai Luo's sunsettias ranked just below coconut milk.
"Here."
Bai Luo smiled guiltily and pointed to the sunsettia nearby.
Qiqi walked over, wiped it clean, and took a bite.
"How does it taste?"
Bai Luo stood nervously beside her, waiting for her response.
"I don't know, but it's delicious."
Qiqi took another bite.
"Let me have a bite too."
"Okay."
Bai Luo took a bite.
"So sour..."