"That works as well."
"Traveler, you should join us for the meal. After we eat, we'll return to Liyue Harbor."
Zhongli looked at Lumine and Paimon in front of him and extended an invitation.
"Sounds great!"
Paimon nodded with a smile upon hearing this.
Qiu Bai nodded in acknowledgment and moved his finger.
The open flame beneath the cooking device extinguished and it slowly descended onto the stone table.
He conjured several sets of bowls and chopsticks, ladling the bamboo shoot and fresh pork soup into them.
"Please, take your seats. After we eat, we'll return to Liyue Harbor."
Qiu Bai looked at the several people beside him and said with a gentle smile.
The adepti also took human form and sat at the stone table.
"Bamboo shoot and fresh pork soup!"
The little one immediately ran to a stone chair upon hearing this and sat down directly.
She didn't even use chopsticks, just grabbed the food with her hands.
"Haha..."
"Perhaps you should leave this child with Cloud Retainer to teach her proper chopstick technique."
Zhongli looked at the adorable little girl and couldn't help but chuckle a few times.
"Leave her with Cloud Retainer?"
"Hehe... that's quite a good idea."
Qiu Bai watched Can Shu wolfing down her food, her small hands covered in broth and nodded with a gentle laugh.
"Yuan Gun Gun, after we finish eating, I'll send you to Cloud Retainer. How does that sound?"
"I'll find you a master who can properly guide you."
Qiu Bai looked at Can Shu and asked.
"Cloud Retainer?"
"Is that the pretty big sister with white hair?"
Can Shu looked up upon hearing this, her small face round and puffy from eating, asking with some confusion.
"That's right. What do you think?"
"She can teach you adeptal arts and some martial skills for self-protection."
Qiu Bai nodded and explained.
"Okay!"
"I like that big sister."
Can Shu showed her cute little fangs and nodded happily upon hearing this.
"Hmm..."
"If it's her, I can rest assured."
Qiu Bai smiled and nodded upon hearing this.
Thinking of Cloud Retainer, she could use the cooking device to prepare meals and she could also teach Can Shu martial arts, adeptal techniques, and knowledge about Liyue.
She had raised Shenhe and Ganyu after all.
Shenhe needn't be mentioned - her strength had already reached the pinnacle among mortals.
Ganyu possessed vast knowledge and had served as a secretary for a very long time.
"Now that I think about it..."
"Why does this sound so much like a wonderful wife?"
Thinking this, Qiu Bai chuckled and shook his head.
"I wonder if Cloud Retainer still has any more of these cooking devices."
"Last time I asked her for one, she said she didn't have any."
Mountain Shaper held his chopsticks and muttered.
And so, the group chatted for a while.
After finishing their meal, they all stood up and walked toward Liyue Harbor.
"Well... hold on to me."
"I'll take you all back to Liyue Harbor, then bring Can Shu to Cloud Retainer."
Qiu Bai looked at the people in front of him and said.
Then in an instant, he vanished with everyone.
When they appeared again, they were already in a secluded corner of Liyue Harbor.
"Old friend, I shall return to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor first."
"Traveler and little Paimon, please come with me as well."
Zhongli looked at Qiu Bai in front of him and spoke slowly.
Then he led Lumine and Paimon toward Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Hmm..."
"I'll take you to find Cloud Retainer."
Qiu Bai looked at Can Shu beside him and said with a gentle smile.
"Okay, okay!"
Can Shu happily showed her little fangs upon hearing this.
Then they slowly walked toward Yujing Terrace.
Presumably Cloud Retainer and Ping were still chatting.
After reaching the upper level of Yujing Terrace, indeed Ping and Cloud Retainer were still discussing something.
"Immortal Lord, you've arrived."
"Hello there, little one."
Ping saw Qiu Bai approaching and then looked at the cute little girl beside him, greeting them with a gentle smile.
"Hello, big sister."
Can Shu looked at Ping and greeted her with a smile.
"Hello..."
Qiqi suddenly popped up from under the table, looked at Can Shu in front of her and greeted her with a smile.
"Qiqi, aren't you supposed to be with Baizhu?"
"How did you end up here?"
Qiu Bai looked at Qiqi in front of him and asked.
"Because... Qiqi missed Sister Ping, so she came..."
"Big brother, long time no see..."
Qiqi looked at Qiu Bai in front of her and showed a cute smile.
"Long time no see, Qiqi."
Qiu Bai looked at Qiqi in front of him and said with a smile.
The current Qiqi was wearing white clothes, her hair flowing down, and she seemed to have grown a bit taller.
She looked like a very beautiful and aloof young girl.
"Cloud Retainer, I have something to discuss with you."
"It's about..."
Qiu Bai walked over to Cloud Retainer and spoke softly.
"Oh?"
"You want me to help you take care of this little one?"
Cloud Retainer looked at Can Shu beside Qiu Bai upon hearing this and said with a gentle smile.
"Sister Cloud Retainer!"
Can Shu looked at Cloud Retainer in front of her and spoke politely in her cute little voice.
"Hehe... alright..."
Cloud Retainer picked up Can Shu and said with a smile.
"Then I'll help you take care of her for a while."
"This child is truly endearing."
Cloud Retainer looked at Can Shu in front of her and said with a gentle smile.
"That would be wonderful."
"Having you take care of her puts my mind at ease."
Qiu Bai smiled and nodded upon hearing this.
"Hehe... what a well-behaved child."
"Let me hold her too."
Ping looked at Can Shu in Cloud Retainer arms and said with a gentle smile.
"Okay!"
Can Shu ran over upon hearing this and was picked up by Ping.
"In that case, I'll take my leave first."
"Can Shu, listen to Sister Cloud Retainer. I'm going to Director Hu place now."
Qiu Bai looked at Cloud Retainer and Ping, as well as Can Shu, and said with a gentle smile.
"Oh, by the way, fool, this is a gift for you."
"Take good care of it."
Cloud Retainer looked at Qiu Bai who was about to leave, her face slightly flushed as she spoke.
Then she stood up, walked over to Qiu Bai with her graceful legs.
She held an exquisite feather in her hand and handed it to Qiu Bai.
Then she quickly returned to the stone table, sat down and didn't look at Qiu Bai.
"Hehe... Cloud Retainer..."
Ping looked at Cloud Retainer by the stone table and said with a gentle laugh.
"A feather?"
Qiu Bai looked at the feather in his hand, then at Cloud Retainer expression and murmured.
Looking closely at this feather, it was exquisitely beautiful, seemingly emanating a faint blue glow.
"Hehe..."
"Thank you, Cloud Retainer. I'll treasure it well. I'll treat it as my most precious possession!"
Qiu Bai turned around, his back to Cloud Retainer and spoke with a smile.
Then the feather in his hand flashed with spiritual light and transformed into an ornament on his clothing.
After Qiu Bai left, Cloud Retainer let out a sigh of relief.
She looked at the spot where Qiu Bai had just stood, her face slightly flushed, lost in some unknown thoughts.
"Still watching, Cloud Retainer?"
Ping looked at Cloud Retainer in front of her and teased.
"Hmph..."
"This adeptus is merely thinking about this child matters, not thinking about that fool."
Cloud Retainer huffed lightly upon hearing this, then turned her gaze to Can Shu in front of her.
"Cloud Retainer... I never said..."
"that you were thinking about Lord Qiu Bai."
Ping looked at Cloud Retainer in front of her and said with a gentle smile.
"Hmph."
Cloud Retainer responded with a proud little huff upon hearing this.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)