I noticed the sun was starting to set. I'm not sure if this will be the last step in the preparations but all I know for sure after this task is done I'm gonna be hitting the hay. We can always resume the next day after. We arrived at Yujing Terrace and saw an old lady who we presumed was Madame Ping.
"Is that her?" I asked.
"Maybe, let's go ask." said Paimon.
We walked up to her and heard her say something. Her back was faced to us and she was observing some flowers in front of her.
"All things must change..."
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. I just thought it a great shame that so many of these Glaze Lilies have wilted."
"What happened to them?" asked Paimon.
"Back in my day, people said that Glaze Lilies can read human hearts. If they heard beautiful sounds like laughter and singing, they would bloom joyfully. But if they heard too much wild gossip or slander, they would wither away."
"...So that means these flowers feel what's happening in Liyue." said Paimon.
"Yes, the rumors of Rex Lapis' death are no small matter. They are everywhere. Some say it was a Fatui plot. Others say that the Qixing made it all up, and still others think that That Which Lies in the Deep is breaking free"
That Which Lies in the Deep? You know I kind of what to know who or what that is but at the same time I don't want to because it sounds evil.
"This harbor is like a mountain of dry tinder. One spark and the fire will consume us all.. Well, I shall say no more. This old woman's grown too old and naggy... Did you have something to say, youngster?"
"We'd like to borrow the Cleansing Bell." I politely said.
"Ah, that old trinket... I remember it being here with me, but I've grown old. I can't quite recall where it is exactly. An old friend of mine used to wear it on his person, back when I was young... He saw me gazing at it often and gave it to me. But he told me then that if someone should come to borrow that bell, I should not be loath to part with it. It has been many years, and who knows how many times someone has come to borrow this bell. Still, though I can't recall when it started, it's been a long time since anyone has come to borrow it. Ah, these old bones are so slow to look for things. I doubt you can wait that long..."
"We can look for it ourselves." I said.
"That's right granny. We'll follow you back home, and search for it ourselves! And... Um, we can help with chores if you have any too!" said Paimon.
"Alright, children, there is no need to worry. I didn't place the bell very far away." Madame Ping chuckled.
"Eh? Do you live near here, granny? Whoa, but this is Yujing Terrace. It's gotta be expensive!" said Paimon.
"Haha, an old lady like me can't afford to buy a place in this city. See this ceramic teapot? My entire household is in here."
We saw a large teapot on the table in front of us. Paimon and I looked at each other and then back at the teapot. How can someone live inside a teapot?
"...How does that work?" asked Paimon.
"Well, in you go, Paimon." I said.
"What!? There's no way Paimon would fit in there! And why do you need Paimon to go in, anyway? Can't you just lift the lid and look inside?"
"Looks like this bell is really really small bell if it fits in here." I said.
"Hohoho, youngsters. I simply mean that the bell is somewhere inside this teapot, and you are quite welcome to borrow it - if you can find it."
YOU ARE READING
Beyond the Stars
AdventureAd Astra Abyssosque This is the story of Tevat's most greatest adventurer. It all started out when two siblings were separated by an unknown, nefarious god. The brother taken and consumed by darkness while the sister was left alone powerless in a wh...
