Under the night sky, a golden streak of light cut through the void, heading straight for Jueyun Karst with unstoppable momentum.
Whoosh— In theory, Yun Fan, who had reached a level comparable to the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, could reach the adepti's secluded abode in just a few breaths.
However, Yun Fan slowed his pace, unsure of how to face what awaited him. He decided to use this "long" journey to think of a strategy.
"Huh? Are we already here?" Yun Fan was startled by the scenery before him. The surroundings unmistakably indicated that they had entered the Mt. Aocang area.
"Well, since I'm here, I might as well face it. I'm a grown man—how hard can this be?"
With that thought, Yun Fan arrived at Cloud Retainer's abode and raised his hand to knock on the door.
But just then, a calm and familiar voice came from behind him, interrupting his action.
"Shenhe?" Indeed, the one who had called out to him was the Ice Maiden, his fiancée whom he hadn't seen in a year—Shenhe.
"You're back." Shenhe brushed aside her white hair, her stunning beauty fully revealed under the moonlight. Every movement she made exuded an otherworldly grace.
Unstained by the mud, untainted by the filth. This long-forgotten line of poetry resurfaced in Yun Fan's mind. As he looked at Shenhe, he was momentarily entranced.
A few moments later, Yun Fan regained his composure and smiled gently. "Yes, I'm back."
———
"Where have you been this past year?" Under the moonlight, Yun Fan and Shenhe sat back-to-back, sharing stories of what had happened during their time apart.
"I went to Mondstadt and helped a certain lazy friend with some minor troubles," Yun Fan said, a faint smile appearing as he thought of Venti, the carefree bard.
"You seem happy. Did you make many friends there?" Due to the Red Rope of Fate, Shenhe's ability to perceive emotions was poor, to say the least. But perhaps because of her connection with Yun Fan, she could roughly sense his mood.
"Yes, in Mondstadt, I made many new friends. There's Jean, the hardworking and dedicated Acting Grand Master; Amber, the enthusiastic and helpful Outrider; Klee, the innocent, fiery Spark Knight; and Lisa, the enigmatic and alluring Librarian..."
Yun Fan recounted his experiences in Mondstadt, occasionally letting out a happy laugh.
"There's also Noelle, the perfect maid who's always ready to help, and..."
At this point, Yun Fan glanced at Shenhe, whose expression remained unchanged. Unfortunately, since they were sitting back-to-back, his gesture had no effect. After a brief pause, he continued, "And someone as important to me as you, Shenhe."
After saying this, Yun Fan gently held Shenhe's back to prevent her from losing her balance when he stood up. Then, he moved in front of her, meeting her gaze with sincerity and without a hint of evasion.
"Is that so? I understand." Shenhe's face remained as calm as ever, but upon closer inspection, Yun Fan could see a trace of sadness in her eyes.
"Shenhe..." Yun Fan's heart ached as he pulled her cold body into his embrace, letting her head rest against his chest.
"Perhaps I'm greedy, but I must say this—I won't let go. You are destined to be mine in the future!" Yun Fan tightened his arms around Shenhe, his voice filled with determination and solemnity.
"Mm," Shenhe responded softly. If Yun Fan had been facing her, he would have seen a faint blush on her usually icy face and a slight smile curling her lips.
"Yun Fan, you really are a scumbag," Shenhe's sudden words nearly made Yun Fan spit out blood.
After a moment of stunned silence, Yun Fan asked with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Who taught you that word?" Yun Fan couldn't believe that Shenhe, who had spent most of her life in the mountains, would know such modern slang. Someone must have told her.
"Huh? Is that not the right word? But Master has been telling me that you're a scumbag and that I should call you that the next time I see you," Shenhe said, tilting her head slightly as if deep in thought.
Sigh, of course it's you, Cloud Retainer, Yun Fan thought helplessly. It was no surprise that Cloud Retainer had taught Shenhe this, but she wasn't wrong—Yun Fan was indeed a scumbag.
"By the way, Master is inside the abode. Do you want to see her?" Shenhe stood up from the rock and brushed the dust off her clothes.
"Mm, no, that's alright. I already saw her during the battle against the demon god at Guyun Stone Forest," Yun Fan shook his head. His instincts told him it was better not to meet Cloud Retainer.
"Alright," Shenhe didn't press further, simply nodding in agreement.
"Uh... Shenhe, I might have to leave Liyue again soon," Yun Fan scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Indeed, he had just returned, and now he was about to leave with another woman. As a fiancé, he was really dropping the ball.
"Master said that a man's ambitions lie beyond the horizon. Go and do what you must. I'll always be here waiting for you," Shenhe didn't say much, simply stating her stance. She would always wait for her fiancé.
"Shenhe... thank you."