"One male guest!"
Guoba, guarding the entrance of the Serenitea Pot, waved a welcome as someone entered.
"Ahem, long time no see, old friend!"
Zhongli froze for a moment, looking at Guoba, who was enthusiastically welcoming him. He had too many unspoken words to even begin.
"Morax, long time no see!"
Guoba suddenly became serious and nodded solemnly.
"You sacrificed all your strength back then to suppress the rampaging ley lines and bring peace to Liyue. It's a shame I'm not skilled in the ways of the soul and could only watch as your spirit faded. I deeply apologize. It is truly a blessing that you have regained your memories now!"
Zhongli reminisced about the past with a look of emotion. No one could compare to Guoba's contributions to Liyue! Yet, he couldn't save the hero who weakened his spirit for it, a fact that had always weighed on Zhongli's heart.
"Everything is in the past, and I have no regrets about my choices. If I had to do it again, I would still do so without hesitation. Seeing Liyue prosperous and its people at peace today has already filled me with contentment..."
Guoba waved his hand, indicating that Zhongli need not dwell on it. He was enjoying his current life.
"By the way, old friend, how did you escape the erosion and regain your consciousness?"
After the pleasantries, Zhongli finally looked at Guoba seriously.
"This all started the day Feng Yi brought Yuan Bao to the Wanmin Restaurant..."
Guoba gave a brief explanation of the relevant matters to Zhongli.
"Yuan Bao's golden flame? The Fire of Life? The Flame of Creation? Or the purification flame of the phoenix?"
After listening to Guoba's account, Zhongli fell into deep thought.
According to Guoba, the golden flame Yuan Bao had spat out had the effect of the phoenix's flame of life, capable of resurrecting the dead and enlightening beings.
Zhongli's mind raced as he recalled Yuan Bao's mother, Phoenix, and her connection to the phoenix, and how Yuan Bao could control a flame that fueled the fire of life...
Suddenly, Zhongli thought of many things.
"Guoba, stop being lazy and come help!"
Xiangling, overwhelmed with work, called out loudly to Guoba.
"Morax, we can chat about anything later. Xiangling needs my help now, so I'll be going over there! The hot spring pool is just down this path, keep walking and you'll see it..."
Guoba informed Zhongli of the hot spring's location and hurried off towards Xiangling.
Guoba was juggling two tasks, with no time for rest.
"Old friend, you can just call me Zhongli. Morax... let that name be in the past!"
Zhongli smiled at the panting Guoba. He never expected someone could boss around a former Archon like this!
And Guoba was willingly complying?!
While he was surprised, Zhongli found it quite amusing.
His retirement plan was mostly in place. He just needed to wait for the right time and give it a little nudge. Soon, he could officially retire and enjoy a leisurely life as Zhongli!
Zhongli walked towards the hot spring pool, the thought filling him with happiness.
...
"Two female guests!"
Cloud Retainer, transforming into a wisp of breeze that rustled the falling leaves, arrived before Feng Yi, her voice preceding her. "Feng Yi, I heard that young Shenhe mention a hot spring party here today. I've come uninvited; may I join?"
"Cloud Retainer, why the formality? Your presence adds so much luster to this hot spring party, I couldn't possibly welcome you enough!"
Feng Yi, who had been sunbathing, nearly lost his balance upon hearing Cloud Retainer's voice and quickly stood up to welcome her.
It was all that girl Shenhe's fault! Why hadn't she informed him beforehand? At least he could have prepared himself!
He'd have to "teach her a lesson" later!
"I heard you enjoy tea. I've specifically brought you some pure mountain spring water from Jueyun Karst. Tea brewed with this water is mellow, clean, and fragrant..."
Cloud Retainer flapped her wings, conjuring several barrels of mountain spring water out of thin air and holding them aloft with a gentle breeze, presenting them to Feng Yi.
"Cloud Retainer, you're too kind. Please come in quickly, someone will attend to you inside..."
Feng Yi accepted the gift with a smile. Cloud Retainer truly understood him.
Cloud Retainer nodded and was about to enter the Serenitea Pot when she suddenly spotted a familiar figure approaching from a distance.
"Cloudy, you're too stingy... How can mere mountain spring water be worthy of your status?" Granny Shanghe teased, placing a jar of spiritually charged tea on the table beside Feng Yi.
"While the quality of this tea isn't as good as Qingyu tea, it's still an exceptional find. It takes at least a decade from cultivation to harvest..."
Granny Shanghe glanced sideways at Cloud Retainer's reaction before explaining with a smile.
"Thank you, Granny Shanghe, please come in quickly..."
Feng Yi dared not meddle in the past grievances between the two Adepti. He urged them both to enter quickly, leaving Guoba to attend to them.
After all, Guoba was familiar with them, making communication easier.
Cloud Retainer: "Heh, you old hag..."
Granny Shanghe: "Who are you calling an old hag?"
Cloud Retainer: "I'm calling you an old hag!"
Feng Yi: "..."
These two had none of the demeanor of Adepti. They were bickering right in front of him, an outsider.
Feng Yi didn't know who to side with, so he chose neither.
He used the mountain spring water brought by Cloud Retainer to brew the spiritual tea from Granny Shanghe, then sat on a stool to watch the show.
It had to be said that Cloud Retainer, who lived in seclusion in the mountains, was no match for Granny Shanghe, who roamed the mortal world as the True Lord of the Dust and Waves.
Before she knew it, Granny Shanghe had led her into a trap.
"Hmph, that's all for today. We'll settle this next time!"
Realizing her chances of winning were slim, Cloud Retainer threw down a remark and darted into the Serenitea Pot.
Cloud Retainer: It's just about using your Qingyu tea to make tea eggs last time! How can you still be angry after so long?
I'm scared, I'm scared! If I can't beat you, I can at least avoid you, right?
"You've made a fool of me. When you get old, you lose your ambitions. Being able to bicker with an old friend is also a blessing!"
After a few words with Feng Yi, Granny Shanghe also entered the Serenitea Pot.
Having worked hard for most of her life, with her close friends gradually departing, Granny Shanghe cherished the remaining time with her few remaining companions.
For them, having someone to bicker with was also a form of happiness!
After Cloud Retainer and Granny Shanghe had both left, Feng Yi took a sip of the spiritual tea brewed with the mountain spring water and exclaimed, "Magnificent!"
So, hosting a hot spring party could yield such wonderful gifts?
A naive, underdeveloped idea suddenly popped into Feng Yi's mind!
...
Inside the Serenitea Pot.
"Two female guests!"
Guoba enthusiastically welcomed Cloud Retainer and Granny Shanghe.
"Makosh... your power has been restored?!"
Cloud Retainer stared in shock at the lively Guoba before her.