Qiu Bai rubbed his chin with one hand, seemingly deep in thought.
"No, it's not surprising."
"I figured Zhongli would say something like that too."
Lumine looked at Zhongli apologetic expression and spoke slowly.
"Are you ready?"
Paimon glanced at Lumine, asking with a trace of doubt.
"Maybe."
Lumine smiled and nodded at Paimon.
At the very least, after everything Zhongli had just experienced with Qiu Bai, with Azhdaha and the other adepti, It made her feel that Zhongli wasn't that kind of person.
"You seem to understand this world more and more."
"This continent still holds many past events... many secrets..."
Zhongli stood with his arms crossed, gazing at the river not far away.
The moon had already risen, its bright light reflected softly on the flowing water.
"They've endured the passing of too much time—forgotten by people, or simply abandoned."
"But you might be the one to uncover them and hold them once more."
Zhongli turned to look at Ying and spoke gently.
"On your path toward that person, you may face more hardships."
"But as long as you believe that the path leads somewhere true, then everything has meaning."
Zhongli lifted his head, staring at the full moon hanging in the sky as he spoke softly.
Lumine innocent face also tilted upward, following his gaze to the moon above.
Meanwhile, Qiu Bai still stood in place, his brows furrowed.
"What exactly is going on here?"
"There are too many questions in my heart."
Qiu Bai frowned deeply, speaking silently to himself.
He was born a thousand years ago, only just awakened within the Chaos Orb. Why did Azhdaha say he looked familiar? They had only met once, after which he fell into a deep slumber.
And judging by Morax expression it seemed like he remembered something too.
Qiu Bai recalled when Azhdaha said he looked familiar, Morax let out a quiet sigh.
The more he thought about it, the stranger it all seemed. A thousand years ago, Morax wasn't exactly welcoming toward unfamiliar Archons or deities.
So why was he so friendly to him? Calling him "friend" right from the start?
Even if it was just Morax, why were the other adepti also so kind to him? At that time, he'd only spent a few decades with them.
And to adepti, a few decades was nothing more than a fleeting moment.
Could it be that the immortals back then had their intelligence lowered?
That's just impossible.
Why would they willingly call me "Immortal Lord"?
"Just what is going on here?"
"And my age clearly I was born a thousand years ago."
"So why does it say I'm over five thousand years old???"
The more Qiu Bai thought about it, the more wrong it all felt.
And Qiu Yue was only born five hundred years ago, so why did it seem like he had been gestating for so long?
"System, does the time I spent gestating count toward my age after birth?"
Qiu Bai suppressed his doubts and asked the system within.
[Host, you only gestated for one thousand years.]
[And due to the aura of creation, you were even born three hundred years early.]
the system replied to Qiu Bai.
"What?!"
"Even if we subtract a thousand years..."
"Where did the extra three thousand years come from?!"
Qiu Bai eyes widened in shock, brows tightly furrowed, as he spoke inwardly to the system.
[Host, the system does not know either.]
[But the system's data is never wrong.]
[Host... you truly have existed for over five thousand years.]
The system calm voice echoed within, even carrying a trace of confusion.
Qiu Bai remembered clearly.
The first time he opened his status panel, it had said he was four thousand years old.
He'd been a bit puzzled, but hadn't paid much attention, thinking maybe it had just included the time before his birth.
But if he had only gestated for a thousand years, then what about those three thousand missing years?
[I was bound to you when your gestation reached one thousand years.]
[So even the system doesn't know where those three thousand years came from.]
[But one thing is certain—host, you have undeniably existed for over five thousand years.]
The system mechanical voice responded, but even it sounded a little puzzled.
"Heh... is that so? Things are getting more and more interesting."
"Seems like stepping into the mortal world was the right decision."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Qiu Bai lips.
Even the system didn't know, now that's when things start to get fun.
What happened in those three thousand years of blank history, the years even he himself didn't know about?
And judging by Morax expression, even if he knew something he probably wouldn't tell him.
Looks like it's time he found the answers for himself.
Qiu Bai slowly returned to his senses, looking at Lumine, Paimon, Azhdaha and Zhongli in front of him.
"After this is over, I'll go ask Cloud Retainer."
"See if she has any clues."
Qiu Bai stretched lazily and smiled to himself.
"Let's head back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. It's getting late—Director Hu must be getting worried."
"Also, I'd like to introduce Azhdaha to her."
Zhongli said with a smile, arms crossed as he looked at Ruotuo.
"Yay! So much happened today—it was wild!"
"Finally, we can get some rest."
Paimon quickly nodded and grinned.
"Mhm, you guys go ahead. I've got something else to take care of."
"Morax, let the director know for me,"
Qiu Bai said to Zhongli with a smile.
"Understood. Then we'll be off for now, old friend."
Zhongli smiled at Qiu Bai, then led Azhdaha, Ying, and Paimon toward Liyue Harbor.
"See you later!"
"Qiu Bai!"
Paimon turned around and waved happily at him.
"Take care, Qiu Bai."
Lumine also turned back, placing one hand over her chest as she spoke to him.
"I will."
Qiu Bai smiled as he watched their backs fade into the distance.
In the next instant, he vanished.
And when he reappeared, he was already beside a stone table in Jueyun Karst.
Around the table sat Skybracer, Cloud Retainer, Ping'er, Moon Carver, and Mountain Shaper.
They had all taken on human form, sitting and sipping tea, chatting about something with relaxed expressions.
"You scared me, you rascal."
"Can't you show up a little further away next time?"
Cloud Retainer scolded, slightly annoyed at Qiu Bai sudden appearance.
"Come on, squeeze in, make some space."
"What are you all chatting about?"
Qiu Bai grinned mischievously and squeezed in beside Cloud Retainer, causing her cheeks to flush slightly.
"Heh, just catching up like old times."
"It's been a while since we've all gathered—chatting under the moonlight felt just right."
Ping'er said with a smile from across the table, watching Qiu Bai and Cloud Retainer.
"By the way, there's something I want to ask you all."
Qiu Bai leaned in closer to Cloud Retainer, practically touching her and slowly spoke to the adepti in front of him.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)