"I see... I understand! By the way, have you seen Qiqi?"
"Mmm, I have."
"Really?! Where is she?" Hu Tao immediately perked up, clearly eager to demonstrate the knowledge she had just acquired.
Ying pondered for a moment before replying, "Mmm... she's hiding. You won't find her today."
"Huh?! Why not?"
"Because she's quite scared of you. I'll send Qiqi back later. Ah~ of course, I'll take the opportunity to help her understand your apology. That should help you, right?"
"That would be so, so helpful! I love you so much, Ying!" Hu Tao hugged Ying and planted a hearty kiss on her cheek.
"Ahem... Alright, alright, let go of me now. We're on the street, you know? Aren't you afraid of being discovered? Σ(|||▽|||)" (Whoa... first time a girl's kissed my cheek... feels a bit exciting(//∇//))
"What's there to be afraid of? What's wrong with a little intimacy between girls?"
"This is a bit too intimate, don't you think..."
"Hahaha~ Okay, okay, this Hall Master is leaving now. Don't forget to tell Qiqi I've repented, alright~"
"Okay, okay, I get it. Hurry up and go."
Ying watched Hu Tao leave, then walked over to a nearby box and tapped it. "Hey~ she's gone now. You can come out." wΑp.kanshu伍.net
"Mmm... Thank you... You're a good person." Qiqi slowly emerged from the cardboard box and hugged Ying's leg in gratitude.
"Hahaha~ Mmm-hmm, where do you live?" Ying playfully pinched Qiqi's cheek.
"Up ahead... but... Qiqi needs to find herbs... Glaze Lilies... so can't go... back yet."
"Herbs? Ah~ do you want me to help you find them?" Ying thought for a moment and then asked cheerfully.
"Can... I?"
"Of course! Come on, come on~ I'll teleport us outside!"
"Uh... Host, have you forgotten you need to accept a quest..."
(Oh dear~ not accepting it then! Accompanying Qiqi is more important (^～^))
"Ah, this... Alright then..."
Ying took Qiqi's small hand and had the system teleport them near a waypoint...
"Phew... I'm still a bit tired... but I feel much better than before... and this is even with Qiqi with me?!" Ying shook her head, trying to shake off the fatigue, and was somewhat surprised by the change in the teleportation this time.
"Mmm, after being tormented so many times, it's only natural that the Host's spiritual energy would be strengthened."
(Ah, this...)
"Are... are you alright..." Qiqi, shaking Ying's small hand, asked with a bit of concern.
"I'm fine, fine. It's just a minor side effect. Let's go," Ying pinched Qiqi's cheek again. For some reason, Ying found herself liking Qiqi more and more, and thankfully, Qiqi didn't seem to mind the gesture.
"Okay... Over here... there's..." Qiqi led Ying to the base of a stone wall and pointed upwards.
"Wow~ it's quite high..." Ying looked at the Glaze Lily growing on a protruding rock on the cliff face, estimating it to be about 20 meters above the ground.
"Mmm... Qiqi... climb..." As Qiqi spoke, she tried to climb up, but Ying quickly pulled her down.
"No, no, no! I have a better way."
"A better... way?" Qiqi tilted her head in confusion, looking at Ying.
"Mmm-hmm, watch this~" Ying took out the Skyward Blade from her backpack and sent a wind blade towards the herb. To her surprise, the attack's power far exceeded Ying's imagination, slicing off not only the herb but also a ring of stones around it.
"What the heck?!" Ying quickly scooped up Qiqi and dodged to the side to prevent her from being hit.
"Bang!!"
A dull thud echoed as the rocks landed heavily on the ground, shattering into several pieces.
"Hiss... Did I use too much Anemo energy? No... it must be the weapon. I didn't expect a five-star to be so much stronger than a four-star with similar energy... No wonder Hu Tao destroyed my two four-star one-handed swords in just a few hits..."
"Thank... you..."
After ensuring Qiqi wasn't hit, Ying looked at the Skyward Blade in her hand, lost in thought, until Qiqi tugged at her clothes, bringing her back to reality.
"Ah... it's nothing, nothing. It's just a small matter. Rather, I ruined your Glaze Lily..."
"It's okay... There are... many others around..."
"Many? Phew... That's good. As an apology, how about I get all of them for you today, okay? (^～^)"
"Mmm... Your name is... what... Qiqi wants... to remember it..."
"My name? It's Ying, as in 'shimmering crystal' Ying~ Remember it?"
"Mmm... Note... remembered..." Qiqi took out a notebook from her person and diligently recorded it.
"Heehee~ Qiqi is much cuter than that little devil Hu Tao who always bullies me~"
"Mmm... Hu Tao... buried Qiqi... scary... Qiqi... ran away..."
"Hahaha~ It was indeed scary. Cough cough... But she's actually repented, you know~"
"Repented...?"
"That's right. The reason she was looking for you earlier was to apologize and tell you how remorseful she is about how she treated you before." Seeing that her persuasion seemed to be having some effect, Ying immediately intensified her efforts.
"Hu Tao... regrets it..."
"Mmm-hmm, are you willing to forgive her?"
"Qiqi... probably willing... but... Qiqi is afraid..."
"Afraid, huh... Mmm... How about I go with Qiqi to see Hu Tao? If she dares to lie to you, I'll deal with her for you!" Ying waved her small fist in the air.
"Mmm... Thank you... Ying is a good person..."
"Heehee~ I do enjoy helping people. Since we've decided, let's hurry and collect the Glaze Lilies. If we finish early, maybe we can go see Hu Tao too (^～^)"
"Mmm... Then let's... speed things up..." Qiqi pointed out a few locations nearby where Glaze Lilies could be found. After confirming Ying had memorized them, she walked to another area to pick them. Seeing that Qiqi wasn't too far away, Ying confidently turned back to continue with the "mission" Qiqi had entrusted her with.
After a long while...
"Just... a little more... I can reach it... ≥﹏≤" Ying stretched her tiptoes with all her might, trying to pluck the Glaze Lily from the stone wall.
"Argh... ha... no... still can't reach it... It's all your fault for making me shorter, System!" Ying stomped her foot angrily on the ground, pouting.
"Emm... Host, are you sure it's just a little bit? Even at your closest point, there's at least a basketball's distance between you two..."
"Hmph... I don't care, it's your fault (￣へ￣)"