Feng Yi held Ganyu's small hand, feeling its jade-like smoothness, and occasionally squeezed her palm. He had finally taken the first step!
Just now, after receiving Ganyu's hint, Feng Yi mustered his courage and took the initiative, grabbing her naturally dangling hand.
She feigned a coy struggle for a moment, then stopped resisting, allowing the "big pig's trotters" to hold her hand all the way.
As they strolled, they found themselves at the foot of Mt. Aocang.
Feng Yi followed Ganyu's footsteps, passing through the mountain's protective formation, and truly stepping into the territory of Mt. Aocang.
On their way here, Ganyu had originally planned to go to Qingyun Peak to watch the sunset, but Feng Yi expressed great curiosity about the scenery of Mt. Aocang.
Ganyu indulged Feng Yi, bringing him here to see it.
Coincidentally, Ganyu also wanted to show Feng Yi around the place where she had lived since childhood.
Perhaps there would even be an opportunity to introduce him to some friends.
As the saying goes, when a girl introduces you to her circle of friends, it means her feelings for you are serious!
Beneath an ancient tree, Feng Yi and Ganyu sat side-by-side on the ground, listening to the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, gazing at the sunset in the sky, and their hearts suddenly became peaceful.
Feng Yi didn't rush Ganyu to take him to meet the Three-Eyed and Five-Manifest Adepti.
Because he knew that the moment he set foot in this place, the Adepti would already know of his arrival. Haste would only seem too deliberate.
If the Adepti wished to see him, they would reveal themselves.
If they did not wish to appear, his presence would only be counterproductive and offend them.
At this moment, Feng Yi and Ganyu, hand in hand, lay on the soft grass, looking at the serene sky. Their original utilitarian thoughts were greatly purified.
At this moment, he felt a sudden realization. Perhaps he shouldn't be so anxious.
After all, he had only arrived in Liyue not long ago, less than a week in total.
He had already befriended such a wonderful girl as Ganyu, and he should learn to be content.
Having figured this out, Feng Yi's face broke into a smile.
With his thoughts cleared, even his breathing became much smoother.
"Two visitors? How elegant! The scenery of Mt. Aocang is truly unparalleled in all of Liyue!"
A clear female voice rang out beside Feng Yi and Ganyu, accompanied by a gentle breeze that seemed to sweep away all fatigue.
The newcomer was none other than Cloud Retainer, a crane known for her conversational skills and love of invention.
The moment Feng Yi and Ganyu passed through the protective formation and entered this land, she had sensed their presence.
Cloud Retainer was very interested in the little fellow Ganyu had brought back.
After all, in all her years, young Ganyu had never brought a friend home, and her relationship with this male friend seemed extraordinary.
However, when Cloud Retainer sensed a certain anxious emotion emanating from Feng Yi, she abandoned the idea of revealing herself. It seemed he had come with some ulterior motive!
Did Ganyu know about this? Or was Ganyu merely a tool for him to exploit?!
Cloud Retainer decided to observe him closely from the shadows. If this Feng Yi was truly problematic, she would have a good talk with Ganyu.
But what happened next made Cloud Retainer's eyes widen.
Feng Yi seemed to have come to some understanding, and the anxious emotion dissipated into nothingness, replaced by a state of natural, immortal tranquility.
"Where the heart is neither increased nor diminished, where the mind is neither defiled nor pure, acting without action, is the carefree immortal. My name is Cloud Retainer."
She was highly sensitive to emotional changes, and Feng Yi's current state was one of purity, something that could never be achieved by someone with ill intentions.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Cloud Retainer finally revealed herself, eager to meet this interesting young man.
"Ah? True Lord Cloud Retainer?! Why are you here? Don't you need to do some mechanical research today?"
Ganyu, hearing the familiar voice and realizing that True Lord Cloud Retainer had arrived, quickly scrambled up from Feng Yi's arm.
Just moments ago, Ganyu had been resting her head on Feng Yi's arm, curled up in his embrace, quietly enjoying the peaceful leisure.
Startled by the sudden appearance of Cloud Retainer, she had initially thought the Adeptus was up to another invention.
"Hahaha, young Ganyu bringing a friend back, how could I not come to see? The other Adepti are in secluded cultivation, so Mt. Aocang is temporarily under my care. Unfortunately, I have no time for mechanical research!"
Cloud Retainer laughed heartily, appearing very approachable, but Feng Yi knew, "Without an immortal registry, it is difficult to gain an audience."
It was precisely through Ganyu's connection that he was able to meet this Adeptus.
"True Lord Cloud Retainer, you've arrived at the perfect moment. Let me introduce you. This is Feng Yi. He is a traveler who has come to Liyue, and he is a friend I've recently made."
"Feng Yi, this is True Lord Cloud Retainer of Liyue, a close friend of Liyue's protector, the Geo Archon!"
Ganyu stood between them, introducing Feng Yi and Cloud Retainer to each other.
"True Lord Cloud Retainer, I have long admired your name. Even before arriving in Liyue, I heard of your great reputation in other lands. It is my honor to witness an Adeptus in person today!"
"Flattery at first sight! Whoever tries it knows how effective it is! Everyone likes to hear compliments."
As for how much truth lay within it, that was not Feng Yi's concern.
"Hahaha, mere empty fame! Mere empty fame! It's all nonsense spread by idle storytellers and bards, not to be taken seriously!"
Cloud Retainer: "Young man, if you can speak, say more!"
On their first meeting, Cloud Retainer had a very good impression of Feng Yi. She hadn't encountered such an interesting young person in a long time!
"I've heard that True Lord Cloud Retainer is a connoisseur of fine food. Coincidentally, before I left, my teacher gifted me some precious ingredients. It would be a waste to keep them with me. Only you, honored Adeptus, can truly unlock the value of these ingredients!"
Feng Yi cut a piece, about the size of a fist, of a silver bear's paw from his divine essence and offered it to her.
In Feng Yi's memory, Cloud Retainer was an avid foodie, always supplied with various delicacies.
Before travelers could visit her immortal's abode, they had to place food on the table outside the door to have a chance of being granted an audience.
Thus, Feng Yi played to her strengths, using precious ingredients as a token of his first meeting, a little stratagem on his part.
Silver Bear Paw: [A creation of the Great River God, possessing miraculous functions. The silver bear paw is imbued with incredibly rich spiritual energy. Consuming it can enhance the physique and increase elemental resistance.
Note: The qi and blood energy contained within the silver bear paw is tens of times that of ordinary brown bear paws. Do not consume too much at once!]
The medicinal value of this silver bear paw might be negligible to an Adeptus.
However, as a precious ingredient, it directly struck the weakness of the food-loving Cloud Retainer, proving exceptionally effective!