Chapter 374: Ch 374 : Madame Ping Who Can No Longer Return to Normal
"It seems the Traveler doesn’t want to see me..."
Looking at the empty restroom with no sign of the Traveler, Shenhe’s usually calm voice carried a hint of sadness:
"Looks like... it’s just not our time yet."
Hearing Shenhe say this made Su Yuan suddenly realize something...
The Traveler’s current behavior—could it be that he’s purposely avoiding Shenhe?
To confirm this suspicion, Su Yuan said to Shenhe:
"Shenhe, the Traveler left a message saying he’ll meet us later at Yujing Terrace..."
"If you’d like to see him, why not come with us to Yujing Terrace?"
"No need," Shenhe gently shook her head and said calmly,
"Though I’m emotionally detached, I still have a bit of self-awareness..."
"The Traveler doesn’t want to see me right now. There’s no need for me to make things awkward or cause him any trouble."
With that, Shenhe took the herbs prepared by Qiqi and quietly left Bubu Pharmacy.
Afterward, everyone packed up and, with both the Shimmersoil and the Smaragdus Jadeite in hand, headed straight for Yujing Terrace.
When they arrived at the tea stand beside Yujing Terrace, they found that the Traveler seemed to have already been waiting there for some time...
As for "Madame Ping," she appeared completely normal, as if nothing was wrong, continuing to run her tea stand without showing the slightest sign of being controlled by the eerie force.
"Since the Traveler is here, and all of you are here too, does that mean you’ve fulfilled all of my requests?"
"Madame Ping" asked.
"Yes, Madame Ping. But before we fulfill the contract, I still have a few words I’d like to say to the Traveler first," Su Yuan said.
"No problem. I’m not in any rush at all..."
"Madame Ping" responded casually,
"After all, I gave you three days’ time..."
"And now, you’ve only used up one."
Su Yuan turned a sharp gaze toward Aether and got straight to the point:
"Aether, why are you deliberately avoiding Shenhe?"
"Aha... so you guys noticed after all, huh?"
Aether scratched the back of his head and smiled as he replied.
"Do you have any idea how heartbroken Shenhe was because she couldn’t see you—because you deliberately avoided her?" Su Yuan questioned sternly.
"My goal was to make her heartbroken!" Aether replied bluntly.
"How could you be so cold-hearted? Are you even really the Traveler??" Su Yuan asked with a serious expression.
"Su Yuan, can’t you tell?"
Aether’s smile faded.
His expression turned serious as he spoke solemnly:
"Shenhe’s feelings for me aren’t just the friendship you and I share."
"You and I—we are Descenders. One day, we’re destined to leave this world called Teyvat."
"Severing it cleanly now prevents future pain."
"A little pain now is better than greater pain later."
"Aren’t you the same, Su Yuan? Even though you and Furina have a close bond, you’ve never once considered taking it to the level of romantic affection, right?"
"Because deep down, you know—you, too, are merely a passerby in the world of Teyvat!"
Hearing this, Su Yuan was left speechless...
He thought... Aether kind of had a point.
"Alright, Aether. I understand now..." Su Yuan said quietly.
"Sorry, I misunderstood you. I apologize."
"It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as the misunderstanding is cleared up!" Aether smiled again.
"After all, we’re teammates fighting against the Eerie together!"
Su Yuan nodded, then turned to look at "Madame Ping" and spoke:
"Madame Ping, we’ve brought the Shimmersoil and Smaragdus Jadeite, and we’ve also convinced the Traveler to bow and apologize to you..."
"Now, shouldn’t you let us see whether Furina is safe?"
Su Yuan took the ornate box containing the Shimmersoil and Smaragdus Jadeite from Ganyu’s hands and offered it to "Madame Ping."
"Madame Ping" opened the box, examined the contents, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad. It is indeed Shimmersoil and Smaragdus Jadeite, and of excellent quality..."
Then, a Serenitea Pot materialized in her hand.
As a mist swirled around them, Furina’s figure appeared before everyone.
"Furina, are you alright?" Su Yuan asked with concern.
"Eh? Su Yuan? Everyone? You all completed Madame Ping’s conditions so quickly?" Furina said with surprise.
"But don’t worry, I’m completely fine..."
"Traveler, now bow and apologize to me!"
"Madame Ping" looked at Aether and spoke:
"I’m truly sorry, Madame Ping..."
As Aether spoke, he knelt down directly and gave Madame Ping three loud kowtows.
"It was my fault for betraying your trust and failing to protect the Serenitea Pot..."
Watching the Traveler bow and apologize, "Madame Ping" nodded in satisfaction.
Then she gently pushed Furina forward and said:
"Go back now. You’re free."
Furina returned to Su Yuan’s side, and Zhongli also spoke up to declare, "The contract is fulfilled."
Su Yuan thought, Now that we’ve completed Madame Ping’s request, she should return to normal from her state of Eerie corruption...
However, in the very next moment, something completely unexpected happened!
A powerful wave of eerie energy suddenly burst forth from "Madame Ping’s" body, attempting to suppress everyone present!
"Madame Ping! What are you doing? Didn’t we fulfill your request? Why are you attacking us??"
Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Su Yuan shouted in alarm:
"Aren’t you afraid of breaking the contract and being punished by the Eerie Zhongli?"
"Su Yuan... the contract between us was fulfilled just now..."
"Madame Ping" showed a chilling smile as she cheerfully spoke:
"Right now, there’s no contract between us at all!"
"Even if I kill every last one of you, Zhongli won’t have any reason or chance to act under his Eerie corruption!"
"Madame Ping! This is a complete betrayal—biting the hand that fed you, burning the bridge after crossing the river! You’re being totally unreasonable!!" Su Yuan shouted back angrily.
"Su Yuan, after dealing with the Eerie for so long, do you still not understand? Trying to reason with the Eerie... was always a fantasy to begin with."
Su Yuan couldn’t make sense of it.
If Madame Ping’s Eerie corruption was caused by the Traveler’s Serenitea Pot being destroyed...
Then now that the materials to remake the teapot had been gathered, and the Traveler had even kowtowed and apologized, why hadn’t Madame Ping returned to normal?
At which step did things go wrong?
Or... was his entire assumption mistaken from the start?
Could it be that the cause of Madame Ping’s Eerie corruption—and the condition for lifting it—was something entirely different?
--------------
Exclusive access : 450+ch on paetron
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz