Chapter 98
At the table, Madame Ping and Yaoyao sat where Xia Zhi and Zhu Zi had been sitting earlier.
From the back room, the strange noises made by Miss Zhu Zi continued to drift out.
Yaoyao held a piece of mooncake in her small hands and took a light bite, her face full of happiness. Yet her curious gaze frequently darted toward the curtain-covered door of the back room, her innocent eyes brimming with curiosity.
Madame Ping also held a mooncake. Taking a bite, she asked, "You say he's giving her a massage?"
Shenhe nodded lightly. "Yes."
Madame Ping fell silent for a moment, then resumed eating her mooncake.
So that's it. Seems my mind wandered to impure thoughts…
After finishing the delicious mooncake, Madame Ping felt her mood improve significantly. Even the strange "mm-mm" sounds from the back room no longer felt as awkward as they had initially.
After all, it was just a massage.
When being massaged, it wasn't unusual for someone to make sounds—whether from discomfort or relief.
---
A few more minutes passed, and the uneven noises finally stopped.
Shortly after, Xia Zhi and Zhu Zi emerged from the back room.
Xia Zhi looked calm and unperturbed, as if he had just completed an easy task.
Zhu Zi, however, was far more flustered. Her cheeks were red, her hair slightly disheveled, and her eyes glistened with a soft, watery sheen. She even walked a bit unsteadily.
Madame Ping observed the two of them, her confidence wavering once again.
Were they really just massaging in there?
Shenhe raised her head and said calmly, "Boss, Madame Ping and Yaoyao are here."
"Oh?"
Xia Zhi walked over and, following Liyue custom, respectfully greeted Madame Ping.
"Greetings, Streetward Rambler. My apologies for any lack of hospitality earlier; the shop was too busy to accommodate you properly."
Madame Ping shook her head with a smile. "There's no need for such formalities. I am but an ordinary old woman now. If you don't mind, just call me Madame Ping."
"Madame Ping."
"Good."
"May I ask if your visit is to see Shenhe?"
"No, I came to see you."
"Me?"
"Yaoyao told me you cannot see. I thought I'd come to check on your condition."
"You honor me too much…"
"It's no trouble. Yaoyao spoke highly of your kindness to her yesterday, and the mooncakes you gave her were delightful. I even tried some myself—they were delicious."
"If you like mooncakes, I still have plenty. Please allow me to pack some more for you before you leave."
"Thank you. And I also wanted to express my gratitude for how you've been guiding Xiangling. She's one of my disciples, and I've heard she has benefited greatly from your advice."
"I simply saw her culinary talent and wanted to help. As for Yaoyao, I care for her because I like her as a person. I expected nothing in return."
"Kindness doesn't require acknowledgment or reciprocation. Come closer and let me examine your eyes."
---
Xia Zhi hesitated briefly.
He knew exactly what was wrong with his eyes.
Two lines of gray text on his system interface clearly displayed the cause:
[Unknown Divine Corruption].
This level of affliction was beyond the scope of ordinary physicians. Still, the adeptus before him was a legendary immortal. It was possible she could help.
What concerned him, however, was how she might react if she sensed the foreign divinity in his eyes—a power not native to this world.
Considering how the Vortex God Osial was swiftly sealed away the moment it resurfaced, Xia Zhi had no desire to share its fate and spend eternity in the ocean depths.
Why would he trade life in Liyue, surrounded by hardworking and beautiful companions, for the company of a disgruntled sea serpent?
Madame Ping noticed his hesitation and said, "If you're unwilling, I won't force you."
After some thought, Xia Zhi replied, "I appreciate your concern, and I'm grateful for Yaoyao's thoughtfulness, but my eyes are not something that can be healed by conventional means. They simply need time."
Zhu Zi, surprised, couldn't help but ask, "Boss, do you mean your eyesight will gradually recover?"
"Yes."
"How long will it take?"
"Maybe a year or two."
Xia Zhi calculated. He currently earned 30-40 system points daily, which would total over 10,000 points in a year—enough to purchase an item from the [Shop] capable of neutralizing divine corruption.
Once the foreign influence was cleared, his vision would naturally be restored.
"That's wonderful!"
Zhu Zi's eyes sparkled with joy, her expression radiating genuine happiness. It was clear that this Inazuman girl was sincerely glad for him.
It seemed his earnest effort in massaging her earlier had not gone to waste.
Yaoyao was equally delighted.
The little girl didn't overthink the matter; she simply wished for the well-being of those around her.
Shenhe opened her mouth as if to speak, but after a moment's hesitation, she said nothing. Yet the subtle fluctuation in her clear gaze suggested she, too, felt happy for him.
---
Madame Ping observed Xia Zhi declining an adeptus' offer of assistance. Her eyes behind her glasses flickered with intrigue, but she didn't probe further.
It was his privacy, after all. If he chose not to disclose the details, that was his right.
Besides, she wasn't the [Herbal Master] and couldn't guarantee a cure for such a mysterious ailment anyway. She had come largely because of Yaoyao's pleading and her own curiosity about the man who had helped Xiangling.
Although her initial goal wasn't achieved, she felt the trip had been fruitful in other ways.
---
They chatted for a while longer until it was close to dinnertime. Xia Zhi asked Shenhe to pack two boxes of mooncakes for Madame Ping and Yaoyao.
"One box is plenty."
"Please, don't be modest. Share them with your friends if you'd like."
"In that case, thank you."
"Meeting an adeptus is an honor for me."
"I may be an adeptus, but there's nothing lofty about me. I've simply lived longer than most mortals—it's hardly worth calling an honor."
Xia Zhi smiled, finding Madame Ping to be as unassuming and kind-hearted as a regular grandmother.
"We're planning to eat dinner at [Wanmin Restaurant]. Would you and Yaoyao like to join us?"
The little girl's eyes lit up with anticipation. She still vividly remembered the delicious [Treasure Basin Dragon Hotpot] Xia Zhi had made the previous day. Maybe he'd cook something equally amazing tonight!
She resisted the urge to immediately agree, instead looking at her master with an adorable, expectant gaze.
Madame Ping gently patted Yaoyao's head and smiled. "Very well. It'll be livelier with more people."
Yaoyao's face broke into a delighted smile. "Yay! Let's go!"
Madame Ping nodded, then picked up the two boxes of mooncakes. A faint light flashed in her hand, and the boxes disappeared.
---
Zhu Zi stared in shock. "Huh? They vanished!"
Xia Zhi feigned confusion. "What vanished?"
"Boss, the mooncake boxes just disappeared!"
"Really?"
Madame Ping chuckled. "They didn't disappear; I simply stored them away."
"Stored them? Where?" Zhu Zi asked curiously.
"In another space."
"Another space? What kind of space?"
"It's a small pocket realm I created using my adeptal abilities."
"That's amazing!"
---
Xia Zhi blinked in mild surprise.
Isn't that just like my inventory system?
Wait… so you have one too?
---
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