"Seekers of immortality, please halt. The immortals are in seclusion and cannot be disturbed. Please return!"
The silver-haired maiden, clad in a black silk jumpsuit, glanced at Feng Yi, who was carrying a food box, and spoke calmly.
"Seekers of immortality? Are you referring to me? Uh... I suppose that's not wrong. I am indeed here to find Cloud Retainer, the Adeptus. By the way... who are you?"
The maiden before him was rather aloof, exuding a pure and detached aura. Her long silver hair was tied back with a red string.
She was like a light cloud veiling the moon, ethereal as a swirling snowflake in the wind.
How did such a pure, aloof, and stunningly beautiful older sister suddenly appear in the Clouds of Dispelling?
"My name is Shenhe, a disciple of Cloud Retainer, the Adeptus. May I ask what business you have with my master? However, my master is in seclusion. Your destined encounter with immortality has not yet arrived; please try again another time!"
Shenhe was tasked by her master, Cloud Retainer, to temporarily oversee matters in the Clouds of Dispelling and to turn away mortals seeking immortality.
Shenhe glanced at the man before her. While his demeanor was extraordinary, it did not allow her to make an exception and disturb her master's secluded cultivation.
"Miss Shenhe, my name is Feng Yi. I am an acquaintance and friend of Cloud Retainer, the Adeptus. I have something to consult with her about. If it is convenient, please inform her..."
Having finally climbed so high into the Clouds of Dispelling, Feng Yi felt reluctant to leave without even a word of introduction, let alone meeting Cloud Retainer.
"Insolent person! I have already told you that my master is in seclusion. Do you know the penalty for disturbing an immortal?"
Shenhe frowned. Why was this fellow so stubborn?
Regarding the matter of immortality, if it is destined, it will come; if not, do not force it!
Before this, several mortals had come seeking immortality. When Shenhe informed them that the immortals were in seclusion, they had wisely departed.
Yet, this fellow before her was making up baseless excuses.
Claiming to be friends with her master?
A joke. She had lived with her master for many years and never knew she had such a young mortal friend.
If the other party continued to be tenacious, she would not hesitate to resort to force!
"My apologies, my apologies! It was thoughtless of me. I should not have disturbed the immortal's seclusion. I will leave now..."
Feng Yi, being reprimanded so sternly, realized that his behavior was indeed inappropriate. If the immortal was in the midst of a breakthrough and he had rashly disturbed her, wouldn't that be a grave offense?
"It's a shame, though. I specifically packed these desserts..."
Feng Yi shook his head and sighed helplessly. He supposed he would just have to finish them himself.
"Wait, Feng... Feng Yi, is it? Please wait a moment, my master wishes to see you!"
Just as Feng Yi turned to leave, Shenhe suddenly called out to him.
Shenhe's expression was somewhat awkward. She had just admonished him, and in the next moment, her master's telepathic message arrived.
Moments ago, a wisp of clear breeze had brushed past her ear, carrying her master's voice.
"Shenhe, listen to me. I forgot to tell you that Feng Yi is a new friend of mine. His arrival this time must be for an important matter. Please lead him into the cave dwelling for a chat..."
Shenhe: Master, are you sure you didn't just hear him mention he brought desserts?
The timing was so coincidental that Shenhe couldn't help but interpret it this way.
Shenhe often felt helpless about her master's foodie tendencies.
She was such a large crane, yet she would often leave her cultivation halfway through if someone offered her delicious food...
This time was no different, and it even made her lose face!
"I hope I haven't disturbed Cloud Retainer, the Adeptus's cultivation..."
Feng Yi murmured to himself, following Shenhe.
Shenhe: If you hadn't mentioned desserts...
"Feng Yi, it's been a few days. How have you been progressing with the handbook I gifted you?"
Upon arriving deep within Cloud Retainer's cave dwelling, she hurried to greet him.
"Cloud Retainer, the Adeptus, I apologize for the intrusion. I am here precisely for that matter. I have a few difficult questions to ask you..."
Feng Yi clasped his hands in a junior's salute to Cloud Retainer. Scattered around were mechanical parts, indicating that she had been practicing her craft recently.
"Speak freely! You shouldn't have brought gifts; it's too formal!"
Cloud Retainer's eyes immediately fell upon the take-out box Feng Yi was holding. As she spoke, she summoned a gust of wind and took the box from Feng Yi's hand.
Shenhe: Master, be a little more reserved! (Facepalms shyly)
"This is the popular new product from Wanmin Restaurant: Slime Jelly Milk Tea, Fried Ice Slime..."
"The joy of food lies in sharing, so I specially packed a portion."
Feng Yi explained with a smile. The desserts themselves weren't expensive, but for the foodie Cloud Retainer, they were the most appropriate visiting gift.
"Indeed, indeed! Feng Yi's words resonate deeply with me. The meaning of food lies in sharing! I don't just like delicious food; I just like this feeling of sharing!"
Cloud Retainer felt that Feng Yi's words were very sensible and silently gave him a thumbs-up.
"Here, you two eat too! Let's share the joy of food together!"
Cloud Retainer manipulated the wind to open the take-out box, revealing the desserts within, and gestured for Feng Yi and Shenhe to partake.
Seeing her master and Feng Yi eating, Shenhe felt it would be impolite to refuse her master's kindness.
However... these desserts were easy to gain weight from, and Shenhe preferred to eat plain food and drink dew.
Finally, at the very bottom of the take-out box, Shenhe found a vegetarian dish, though its spicy aroma made her frown.
"Miss Shenhe, this is a new dish from Xiangling... Fiery Red Peppers, it's very spicy. If you can't handle spice, please reconsider..."
This was a new dish Xiangling had specially sent him. Feng Yi was in a hurry and had packed it together in the take-out box.
It had originally been hidden at the bottom, covered by a wooden board, and he intended to eat it with rice at home.
If Shenhe hadn't taken it out, he would have forgotten its existence.
Considering how spicy the peppers were, Feng Yi kindly warned her.
"Shenhe, perhaps you should choose something else?"
Cloud Retainer suddenly chimed in. She knew that Shenhe preferred light food, and such a spicy, stimulating dish would be too difficult for her.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Master, but I would like to try..."
If Cloud Retainer hadn't advised her against it, Shenhe would have put it back.
In every matter, Shenhe wanted to gain her master's approval. This competitive nature was formed through her interactions with Ganyu.
Both were ice-attributed beauties and received guidance from Cloud Retainer...
Although Shenhe didn't want to admit it, Ganyu had always been more outstanding than her, serving as her goal to catch up to.
Cloud Retainer seemed to have realized this as well and sighed helplessly.
Despite Shenhe's outwardly uncompetitive demeanor, she became incredibly serious when her principles were involved.
Cloud Retainer had already prepared some milk tea on the side to help with the spiciness.