Chapter 45

Unexpectedly, Nathan seemed to have broken through the adeptus abode's barrier.

In that instant, it caught the attention of the dwelling's owner.

"Who... who dared to break through this adeptus's barrier!"

Though the words carried anger, the voice was distinctly feminine.

"Master!!!"

Hearing this familiar voice, the little one behind him spoke cheerfully.

"Ah? So it's Ganyu... Come in quickly, where have you been running off to!"

The anger in the voice disappeared, replaced by concern.

"Hehe!"

Just one phrase was enough to pacify the angry adeptus.

Ganyu leaned forward against Nathan's neck, looking at him proudly.

"Sigh... Ganyu, don't be too happy just yet!"

Unlike the innocent little one, Nathan could hear other intentions in those words.

That feeling was just like in his previous life when he came home late and his parents held the discipline rod.

"Hm?"

Ganyu tilted her head, clearly unaware of what was to come.

.............

As Nathan walked through a long passage, the spacious interior of the realm appeared before his eyes.

This was... the adeptus's dwelling.

It was an incredibly spacious stone chamber, decorated with utmost simplicity.

However, all the necessary furniture - stone tables, chairs, and beds - were present.

From quite a distance, Nathan could already see the owner of the voice.

It was a pure white crane, with pale blue accents adorning its wings.

If he hadn't already known the game's storyline, Nathan would have found it difficult to connect this white crane with the woman's voice from earlier.

Cloud Retainer, one of Liyue's Illuminated Beasts, had been following the Geo Archon since the thousand-year Archon War.

However, her most interesting aspect was that she was the master of two popular characters in the game.

With her somewhat awkward personality and tendency to reveal her disciples' embarrassing histories, players affectionately called her the "Chatty Adeptus."

Currently, Cloud Retainer was perched on a stone stool.

Her eyes were neither fully open nor closed, creating quite an odd appearance.

"yawn..."

Sensing the approach from behind, the crane showed no intention of rising from her stone stool, instead letting out a long yawn.

Now Nathan understood - when he broke through the dwelling's barrier, Cloud Retainer must have been sleeping.

The noise from the breaking barrier had directly awakened this adeptus.

The earlier anger was definitely Cloud Retainer's morning grumpiness.

"Ganyu, come here... If you don't correct this playful nature of yours, see if this adeptus doesn't spank your bottom!"

Without turning around, Cloud Retainer seemed to mistake Nathan's footsteps for her disciple's.

After all, Ganyu was currently on his neck, and he himself also possessed the Qilin bloodline.

Under this double interference, even this adeptus made a momentary mistake.

"No... no!"

Hearing the words about spanking, Ganyu's face instantly turned bright red.

She tightly hugged Nathan's neck, hoping he would help her.

So even young Ganyu experienced such amusing punishments.

At this... Nathan almost laughed out loud.

"Who goes there?"

But it was this slight intake of breath that aroused Cloud Retainer's vigilance.

The crane's long neck straightened, her head turning instantly.

"Ganyu? Why have you brought a human from the mountain below up here?"

Upon first seeing Nathan, Cloud Retainer's crane brows furrowed.

But in less than half a second, seemingly sensing his transcendent aura, her crane eyes widened.

"No... you're not human!"

"You must be... Ganyu's master, right?"

To the crane's alertness, Nathan responded with a smile.

However, even knowing the adeptus's background, he had to pretend ignorance.

"Indeed, I am... one of the Illuminated Beasts of Jueyun Karst... Cloud Retainer!"

Due to Nathan's attitude, the crane nodded slightly, her tone becoming less rigid than before.

"My name is Nathan. I happened to meet Ganyu when she rolled down the mountain."

Nathan introduced himself and explained his first encounter with the little one.

However, Cloud Retainer didn't delve into these details, instead showing more interest in his identity.

"Nathan, is it? Do you know what you are?"

"Ah... no, no, what this adeptus meant to ask is, do you know what race you belong to?"

True to her reputation as the Chatty Adeptus, she had started with poor wording.

However, upon realizing it, she immediately corrected herself.

"I know... Like Ganyu, I possess the Qilin bloodline!"

Cloud Retainer was Ganyu's master, not a bad person, just an adeptus with a somewhat tsundere personality.

Thus, Nathan answered truthfully.

"Brother..."

Hearing them talk about her, the little one affectionately nuzzled against his neck.

"No... you're different from Ganyu. You're a pure-blooded Qilin, aren't you!"

The crane raised her head, pinpointing the difference between them.

"No, something still isn't right. Qilin are auspicious beasts that appear once in a thousand years. Besides Ganyu's mother who has already gone into seclusion, there shouldn't be any pure-blooded Qilin in these lands!"

Not just pure-blooded Qilin, even half-blooded ones like Ganyu were unique in this world.

"I have no parents. When I first gained consciousness, I was already in this world. It wasn't until I met Ganyu that I awakened my ability to take human form!"

Nathan wasn't lying; being without parents was already set by the simulator system.

"You are... a heaven-sent auspicious omen???"

However, after hearing this explanation, Cloud Retainer fell into extreme shock.

A Qilin descending from heaven was an ancient saying in the continent of Teyvat.

Cloud Retainer had thought it was merely a legend, never imagining that the legend would become reality today.

"Nat... Nathan, you probably don't have a place to stay right now, do you!"

"That's right!"

"Jueyun Karst is currently beset by hostile gods, far more dangerous than you might imagine. Why don't you stay here with this adeptus for now!"

Having finally encountered a legendary being, Cloud Retainer naturally didn't want to let him leave.

Her words weren't wrong either - Jueyun Karst was too dangerous now, they had just encountered a god who preyed on divine beasts.

Seeing Nathan's lack of response, Cloud Retainer added another sentence.

"Young one, I see your exceptional potential. Why not become my disciple?"

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