Bonus chapter for 100 powerstones! Just like every week, if we reach 150, another bonus chapter.
In fact, starting from now, if we are to reach 200 powerstones, I'll post 2 bonus chapters
.....
She's really back…
Keke's really alive!
"Mhm mhm… It was Paimon and my brother who brought me back~"
Yu Keke wriggled free from Qian Renxue's relentless petting, her gaze turning to Paimon and Aether, eyes brimming with the joy of surviving a near-death experience.
She had thought she was truly gone—never to see her brother, Paimon, or His Highness again.
But to her surprise, her brother and Paimon had actually managed to bring her back from the dead.
Having died once, she now cherished every person and moment all the more.
"That's wonderful!"
Seeing her revived, Qian Renxue was overwhelmed with joy.
Of all the people he'd spent time with lately, Keke had been by his side the most. They were always up earlier than Aether and Paimon, waiting in the courtyard before dawn.
During that time, he and Keke had shared countless conversations and forged a deep bond.
The reason he had dug through the earth at Blue Tyrant Academy was out of sheer rage and grief over Keke's death.
"Alright, I've gathered the firewood. Time to show off a little today!"
Aether clapped his hands and interrupted the somber mood.
When it came to food, he was a professional—especially with a full-time taste-tester always hanging around.
"Yay! Qinghe, you should stay and eat with us! The Traveler's barbecue is so good!"
Paimon pumped her little fists in excitement, practically drooling at the thought of delicious food.
"Of course."
Qian Renxue nodded.
"Here~ Since you were the MVP today, Paimon, this rabbit leg's for you."
Aether pulled off a golden-brown, sizzling rabbit leg from the spit and handed it to her.
"Mmmph~ Thanks…"
Already holding a rabbit leg in each hand, Paimon awkwardly took the new one by biting into it so she could free up a hand.
"Slow down. No one's stealing it from you. You're making it look like I've been starving you."
Aether smirked as he watched her juggling food in a frenzy.
"Hmph~ I earned this by going big! I'll eat it however I want!"
Paimon puffed out her cheeks, chomping into another bite mid-sentence.
"Here, Paimon—this one's for you too."
Qian Renxue, ever poised, took the rabbit leg he'd set aside and passed it to her.
"Thanks, Qinghe! You're a good guy too, hehe~ I won't hold back!"
Faced with food, Queen Paimon knew no shame or restraint. She chomped huge bites with gusto, her enthusiasm contagious.
"Heh…"
Qian Renxue chuckled softly. As they chatted and ate, he learned that Keke's resurrection was largely thanks to Paimon.
She might seem innocent and adorable on the surface, but in critical moments, she never let them down.
In fact, many of those "critical moments" were ones Qian Renxue had only heard about through Paimon's tales: fighting gods, facing the Raiden Shogun, resisting the Abyss…
Even just listening had made his heart race.
…
Now that Yu Keke had returned from the dead, and Qian Renxue had spent time with them all, what used to be a simple meal between two became a lively gathering.
But all good things must come to an end.
Watching Aether stomp out the fire, and seeing Paimon and Keke packed and ready to go, Qian Renxue's heart grew heavy.
"Brother… you're really leaving?"
"Yeah. It's time."
"Then… take care out there."
"We will."
Their exchange was brief, the air around them laced with a touch of sorrow.
"Right… I almost forgot—this'll be useful."
Qian Renxue hurriedly took out a golden card and handed it to Aether.
"This is a Soul Coin gold card. Much easier for traveling—works at major stores and auction houses. It has a one-million gold soul coin balance. Consider it a gift from me to you three. Please take it."
"Then I'll accept with thanks, Your Highness."
Aether tucked the card away under Qian Renxue's hopeful gaze.
Out in the world, who didn't need money?
It's not like he was Zhongli—no one was footing the bill for him.
Back in that world, they called him "Teyvat Labor Force" for a reason. Aside from traveling in search of his sister, he also had to earn a living—for both himself and Paimon.
Mainly Paimon.
After all, she was a bottomless pit burning through 300,000 Mora a month…
With Qian Renxue's gift, their next journey would definitely be smoother.
"Qinghe, I have something for you too."
Paimon flew over and reached out her hand to Aether.
Understanding immediately, he took out a dish of Adeptus Temptation from the Serenitea Pot. Starlight shimmered across its surface, and time itself seemed to still within it.
"This is… that dish that could help a Titled Douluo break through?"
Qian Renxue recognized it through the starlight—a powerful meal they'd shared the other night.
"Yup~ Here you go! This is my last one, and it's part of Paimon's exclusive collection!
The Traveler said it's useful for, um… what do you call it… cultivating your soul power or whatever, so I put a little magic on it.
Now it'll stay fresh even outside the Serenitea Pot. I hope it helps you grow stronger and keep yourself safe."
Last night, she and Aether had already planned it. Before they left, she wanted to give Qian Renxue a gift to commemorate their friendship.
After much thought—and lots of food-related brainstorming—they'd settled on this dish. It might actually be useful for him.
"Thank you… thank you, Paimon."
Qian Renxue accepted the dish carefully.
He knew this wasn't just an appetizing delicacy. To the entire continent, it was a miraculous item sought after by every Titled Douluo striving to advance their power.
"Um, Your Highness, I have something for you too."
Yu Keke had prepared as well. She reached into her bulging satchel and pulled out three tiny dolls.
They were miniatures of herself, Paimon, and Aether.
Paimon and Aether's dolls were made by her, and her own had been crafted by Aether.
Originally, she had planned to give them to Aether, but things had happened… and she'd never gotten the chance.
So she decided to give them to Qian Renxue as a memento.
"Thank you, Keke. I love it."
Qian Renxue accepted the gift and glanced at the trio, then down at the dolls in his hand. The ache in his chest eased ever so slightly.
In the golden glow of sunset, their shadows stretched long down the road.
Qian Renxue gently stroked the face of the little Aether doll in his arms. Watching the three figures walk farther and farther away, his lips quivered slightly.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally summoned the courage to call out with all his might:
"Brother!"
Aether turned around. From afar, he saw that beautiful figure standing there, tears glistening in those autumn-water eyes. One hand covered her mouth, the other waved at him with all her strength.
"Farewell, Qian Renxue," Aether called back with a smile, waving as he turned toward the road ahead.
"…Goodbye."
The wind stirred.
All the unspoken words that never made it out now drifted through the quiet sea, carried away by the evening breeze.
_
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