Jia Changjiang grinned confidently at Granny Ping. “I wagered on whether I could outwit and defeat the Conqueror of Demons. I won… so the Adeptus must honor our bet, right?”
“In this battle, victory is mine!”
His bold declaration drew a chuckle from Granny Ping. “Good, good. That’s how the young should be—spirited and full of vigor. Speaking of vigor, one of the current Qixing is much like you: energetic, already planning for the future years ahead.”
“It was just a lucky gamble,” Jia Changjiang said modestly. “I’m only in my twenties. Compared to an Adeptus with a millennium of experience, I still have a long way to go. Sometimes, a little trickery and strategy are necessary to bridge the gap.”
He patted his chest with a wry smile. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here, covered in all these wounds.”
“And honestly, if it hadn’t been the Conqueror of Demons I was up against, victory might’ve been impossible.”
Granny Ping laughed heartily. “Humility is good, but being too humble isn’t wise, young man.”
“On this continent, there aren’t many who could claim victory over the Conqueror of Demons—even by clever means.”
Jia Changjiang shook his head. “It’s not about comparing myself to others. It was difficult, yes, but…”
His grin widened, brimming with confidence. “Time doesn’t stand still. I’ll keep getting stronger. Next time, I won’t need tricks to beat him.”
“Because I’ll always be chasing higher goals.”
Granny Ping nodded approvingly. “Good, good. That’s the spirit the young should have.”
As she spoke, she poured a cup of tea and handed it to Jia Changjiang. “Drink this, then go find your two companions. Don’t let them wait too long in the teapot.”
“Thank you, Granny Ping.”
Jia Changjiang took the cup, downing the tea in one gulp. A tingling sensation coursed through his body, and he realized his wounds beneath the bandages were healing rapidly.
“Alright, I’ll head in now.”
He touched the teapot, and in the blink of an eye, the lid drew him inside.
—
After a brief moment of disorientation, Jia Changjiang found himself in a realm resembling a mystical domain.
The surroundings reminded him of Cloud Retainer’s abode, with a similar ethereal charm. Not far away, he spotted Lumine…
…furiously beating a spider the size of a barrel.
“Lumine? Why are you alone? Where’s Paimon?” Jia Changjiang asked.
Without looking up, Lumine hurled a white cocoon toward him. “Right here. Paimon flew around poking at things and got herself caught by this spider.”
Jia Changjiang sighed, tearing apart the sticky, element-infused webbing. Inside, Paimon emerged, teary-eyed and trembling.
“Mr. Jax!” Paimon cried, clinging to his face. “I thought I was going to be spider food!”
At that moment, Granny Ping’s voice echoed through the air. “Oh dear, I must’ve neglected my cleaning. So many cobwebs have gathered over the years.”
“The Bell of Cleansing Dust is further inside. You should be able to find it soon.”
Her voice faded as Lumine stood up, brushing off the remnants of her skirmish.
The three of them took a moment to marvel at the teapot’s interior, a sprawling haven filled with layers of intricate landscapes.
“It’s… enormous!” Paimon gawked, her jaw practically unhinged. “How does such a small teapot hold so much?!”
“I know, right?” Lumine murmured. “Living here would make life so much easier…”
“Let’s focus,” Jia Changjiang interrupted, already moving forward. “We need to find that bell. There’s still more work waiting for us.”
“Alright, alright. No need to rush!” Lumine grumbled, following him. Paimon fluttered close, wary of more spiders lurking about.
With her feeble combat abilities, Paimon knew this was no place for her to wander alone.
Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do you think Granny Ping might be an Adeptus too? She has this incredible teapot and the bell…”
“She could be,” Lumine mused, tilting her head. “But why would an Adeptus sell tea at Yujing Terrace? And she’s so kind and approachable…”
“If you hadn’t entered the teapot, would you have guessed she’s an Adeptus?” Jia Changjiang countered. “Remember what I said: true masters often hide in plain sight.”
After clearing out a few more spiders and element-infused slimes, they finally found the Bell of Cleansing Dust.
“Found it!”
Granny Ping’s amused voice returned. “Young folks are so quick. Now, let’s see how to bring you back out…”
A soft force enveloped them, pulling them out of the teapot and back to the terrace.
“Granny, are you really an Adeptus?” Lumine asked, her curiosity piqued. “Or maybe you’re connected to the Qixing?”
Granny Ping chuckled. “The Qixing… those children haven’t needed my help for a long time.”
“Granny, aren’t you curious why we need the bell? You handed it over so easily,” Paimon asked, still puzzled.
Granny Ping sighed. “Many Adepti have departed Liyue over the ages. But no matter the era, the Rite of Parting has always been handled with care and dignity before any other arrangements are made.”
“Yet now, all anyone talks about is catching a culprit. The delay of the Rite is a mistake—a case of putting the cart before the horse.”
She gazed off into the distance, her tone thoughtful. “Perhaps an old friend grew tired of the chaos and decided to step in… I wonder which one it might be.”
Her gaze returned to the trio. “Well, now that you’ve got what you need, don’t waste any more time. And give my regards to the one who sent you here.”
She smiled warmly. “Tell them: if they ever have time, they’re welcome to come by for tea. I don’t have much, but I’ll always have a teapot ready.”
“Granny,” Lumine ventured, her voice soft. “Could I come back for tea too? I feel… really at ease around you.”
Granny Ping blinked, then chuckled. “Of course, dear. If you ever have a moment, come visit.”
“Sitting here with a cup of tea, admiring the flowers, and enjoying the view… it’s a fine way to pass the time.”
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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