"That's not something you or I can decide. It depends on whether Shuyu is willing," Xianyun said. She did not simply agree to Yuandai's request, but turned to look at Shuyu instead.
Shuyu pressed her lips together slightly. She looked at Xianyun, stepped forward, and said, "I'm willing to become your disciple!"
"Have you thought this through? Training under me will be very hard," Xianyun reminded her.
Although Shuyu was Yuandai's granddaughter and already had far better talent than an ordinary person from Liyue, Xianyun was still worried she might not be able to endure her methods of cultivation.
"Or you could come with me!" Lora said from beside Xianyun, grinning at Yuandai and Shuyu. "I may not be from Liyue, but I do at least hold the title of a Liyue adeptus. Let me tell you a little secret. I am the Adeptus of Cleansing Waters and Judgment! And I promise my training won't be exhausting!"
"Adeptus of Cleansing Waters and Judgment?" Yuandai froze for a moment, then said apologetically, "Please forgive me, Lady Lora. I've never heard that adeptus title before..."
Seeing her completely serious expression, Lora fell silent.
Furina continued, "Mom, you're still not famous enough! How about Focalors and I print a million flyers later and have people hand them out all over Liyue Harbor? We can work in shifts!"
"That might work," Focalors said seriously, actually considering whether the plan was feasible. "It would also help spread Lady Egeria's greatness."
"The Millelith would drag you in for questioning," Lora sighed. Her gaze fell on Shuyu. "What do you think? Want to train under me instead?"
"No, Miss Lora. I still want Adeptus Xianyun to be my master," Shuyu said, shaking her head.
"Training under Xianyun is very hard, you know," Lora added.
Behind her, Furina said, "Mom, are you trying to poach her?"
Lora: "..."
Shuyu said to both of them with great seriousness, "I'm not afraid of hard work! I want to become a hero like Mom and Dad, and Grandpa and Grandma! So, Adeptus Xianyun, please take me as your disciple!"
Seeing her earnest expression, Xianyun did not refuse. She nodded and said gently, "Very well. Since that is your wish, you may become my disciple."
"Thank you, Master!" Shuyu bowed excitedly.
As Xianyun watched her bow, something suddenly occurred to her. She turned to Lora and asked, "Shuyu is my disciple now, and she was treating you like her big sister earlier. Doesn't that put me a generation above you?"
Hearing that, Lora gave her a dangerously gentle smile. Then she looked at Yuandai and said, "Did you know? Xianyun no longer lives on Mt. Aocang. She has moved to Liyue Harbor."
"Cloud Retainer, you actually moved to Liyue Harbor?"
Yuandai looked at Xianyun in disbelief. In her eyes, Cloud Retainer was a solitary adeptus who would spend her entire life on Mt. Aocang. Even seeing her descend the mountain was rare enough. How could she have moved to Liyue Harbor?
Before Xianyun could answer, Lora continued, "That's right! Not only that, we're also planning to celebrate Lantern Rite at Xianyun's home. It'll be very lively. Yuandai, do you want to come?"
Yuandai did not accept the invitation right away. Instead, she looked at Xianyun.
But when she did, she saw an expression that could only be described as utter despair.
"Are you all right?" Yuandai asked carefully, unsure what exactly had happened.
"Ahem... It's fine, it's fine." Xianyun came back to herself, coughed lightly, and put away that expression. She shook her head and said, "Come. Consider it a small gathering after so many years apart."
Seeing that Xianyun did not look as though she was lying, Yuandai nodded. "That's good, that's good."
"Let's go back to Wangshu Inn and see whether those people are still there. I'll introduce them to you." Xianyun then called Shuyu and Yuandai to return with her.
She had to gather more people so she would not have to face Lora's schemes alone later.
"Those people?" Yuandai paused, remembering the few people she had seen at Wangshu Inn earlier. "Are they adepti too?"
"Mm... More or less," Xianyun said with a nod.
Lora then said to her, "There's also an old man there. Don't be surprised when you meet him later."
"An old man?" Yuandai froze for a moment. "Who is it?"
"A professional freeloader," Lora replied.
"A professional freeloader?" Shuyu could not understand which of the people she had seen earlier could possibly match that description.
With a blank expression, Yuandai followed Xianyun and Lora back to Wangshu Inn.
When they returned to the high platform, they saw Wynlin with one arm slung around Xiao's shoulders, earnestly discussing Anemo control with him.
"You're not good enough! There's nothing a gust of wind can't blow away. And if there is, just blow a few more times! I'll have Barbatos teach you later," Wynlin said earnestly, patting Xiao on the shoulder.
Zhongli was giving Jiehu and Houzhang instructions. When he turned and saw Lora and the others come up, he was not surprised. He said calmly, "Oh? Have you already finished your business? Has this young lady recovered?"
"Mm, everything's done."
Lora nodded. "Come, allow me to make a grand introduction. This is Shuyu, Yuandai's granddaughter and Xianyun's new disciple! As her elders, shouldn't you give her some kind of welcome gift?"
"Why are you so excited?" Xianyun stood behind her, looking confused.
This was her disciple. Why was Lora more enthusiastic than her, the actual master?
Lora turned back to her and said, "There's an old saying in Liyue: start polite, then bring out the big guns. Don't you know it? It means I'm being nice now, but during Lantern Rite, I won't be."
Xianyun: "..."
"I'm sorry, I was wrong. What I just said was nonsense!"
As the old saying goes, a wise person knows when to surrender.
Better to give in while she still could.
"It's fine. Don't worry. I'm still not letting you off," Lora said with a smile, shaking her head as she frightened Xianyun.
Xianyun fell silent.
Yuandai looked at her in complete confusion. How could the immortal, elegant, upright, and noble Cloud Retainer in her heart be like this?
She suddenly felt a sense of disillusionment.
It was like watching the flawless figure she had always admired fall right off her pedestal.
That was exactly how it felt.
Zhongli was the first to react. He raised his hand, which had been empty just a moment ago, and somehow produced a piece of fine, lustrous jade.
"A small token. Consider it my welcome gift for young Miss Shuyu."