Chapter 120: "The Fatui must love Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan's fluffy toys the most!
「 "General, we must retain all urgency!" Seeing Jing Yuan's unhurried manner, Fu Xuan felt anxious:
"At the Ambrosial Arbor…"
"No need to trouble yourself with searching, that is a Stellaron." Jing Yuan had already made his judgment:
"The traitor cast it into the blessed land where the Ambrosial Arbor resides, causing the Arbor to regrow—look, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus finally couldn't resist making their move."
Watching Jing Yuan speak so calmly, Fu Xuan gradually composed herself:
"A crisis is also an opportunity. Knowing the problem makes everything easier to handle."
With that, Fu Xuan looked towards the Ambrosial Arbor in the distance, ready to await the General's next command.
After waiting for a while, however, she found Jing Yuan standing with one hand on his hip, smiling faintly as he looked down at her.
"...It's my turn to come up with ideas again?"
"Of course, I'm sure you have a countermeasure at the ready, Master Diviner." Jing Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly; no one could discern the thoughts hidden beneath his deep golden pupils.
Having been constantly "fed pie" by Jing Yuan over the years, Fu Xuan was long accustomed to the current situation.
...Let's just consider it an assessment before becoming the next General.
After convincing herself, Fu Xuan rested a hand on her chin and quickly began to think: "From my perspective, convening the Cloud Knights is our immediate priority. We must head into the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, expel the Stellaron spirits, and prevent the Arbor's resurrection."
"Mhmm, as ever, the master diviner's omniscia provides the fastest solution." Jing Yuan first praised her, then his tone shifted:
"However, sometimes speed is not everything. I have known the Stellaron's location for a while now, so why have I held back our forces?"
With the General's prompting, Fu Xuan also realized something was amiss and lowered her head to ponder again.
Suddenly, the Diviner Fu seemed to have figured something out, and she abruptly raised her head, staring at him with a pair of round, amber eyes: "General."
Jing Yuan's smile deepened: "How is it?"
"...You're a scoundrel." 」
「 .....」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
Liyue, Luhua Pool.
"Hahaha, this Diviner Fu is really interesting. Why does she scold people like she's pouting?"
The ancient, dilapidated bluestone bricks were still wet with last night's rain.
Tartaglia sat by a collapsed ruin, engrossed in watching Diviner Fu's adorable little expressions on the light screen.
But he was so focused that he completely ignored the several Fatui officers kneeling on one knee before him, acting cautiously.
They had no interest in watching the sky screen; they didn't even dare wipe the sweat from their chins. They merely held up their hands like statues, presenting the Liyue intelligence they had painstakingly gathered.
After a good while, Tartaglia finally reluctantly tore his gaze away from the light screen. However, when he looked at the group, his expression was slightly surprised.
"Hmm? Why are you still kneeling? Alright… you don't need to be so cautious around me. I'm neither 'The Knave' nor 'The Rooster'; I don't care about these details."
"But, Lord Tartaglia, it is our subordinates' incompetence; we failed to gather more…"
"No need to blame yourselves. That Lady Tianquan is very troublesome… It's not your fault."
As Tartaglia spoke, his eyes suddenly darkened, and he quickly made a shushing gesture,
"—Alright, stop right there. Someone's coming."
Indeed, crisp footsteps were rapidly approaching.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense, but just as the leading Debt Collector was about to draw a corner of his short blade from his sleeve, a childish voice preempted him, instantly dominating everyone's thoughts.
"—Brother!"
A boy of about seven or eight years old poked his head out from the grass.
The Fatui wiped the sweat from their foreheads… they wondered if it was their imagination, but upon hearing that call, Lord Tartaglia's face instantly turned somewhat pale.
Teucer jogged over to Tartaglia, his eyes gleaming with admiration:
"Wow! Brother, are you selling toys to the Fatui uncles! So cool!"
"Uh, um… yes, Teucer, but why are you here?"
Tartaglia forced a smile.
"That Millelith uncle brought me here. He said Lady Tianquan knows where her brother sells toys, so he brought me."
Tianquan Ningguang? Tartaglia suddenly looked up and then noticed a fully armed Millelith standing not far behind Teucer, coldly staring at them.
Tsk…
That woman, she even knows my exact location?
Teucer looked around, his admiration growing stronger:
"Brother, you're so cool for still selling toys in such a remote place!!"
"Yes, yes, Teucer… As the best toy salesman in Snezhnaya, brother is discussing the latest toys with the uncles."
Being closely watched by the Millelith nearby, Tartaglia felt his toes almost clawing out the Tsaritsa's palace.
"Do the Fatui uncles want to play with toys too?"
"Of course, Teucer. Toys aren't just your friends; they're adults' friends too. For example… uh…"
Tartaglia's finger wavered, finally pointing to the leading Pyro Agent,
"For example, that uncle covered in fire, he especially loves Diviner Fu Xuan's plush toys."
"And that uncle with the big hammer, he really likes General Jing Yuan's plastic figurines."
"And that chubby uncle with the ice spear…"
"I like Brother Jing Yuan and Sister Fu Xuan too!"
Teucer's eyes sparkled,
"Brother, when you make their toys, can you give me one?"
"Sister Fu Xuan's plush toy, it would be best if it could make a sound when you squeeze it… I want that line, 'General, You're a scoundrel.'! That line is the most interesting!"
Tartaglia scratched his head, forcing a smile:
"Uh… I can, Teucer, but before that, I need to discuss the details of the toys with them. This is brother's job. Would you and that Millelith uncle go back first, okay?"
"Okay, brother, don't forget Teucer's toys!"
Watching Teucer leave with his own eyes, Tartaglia's tense body finally relaxed, and he let out a long sigh.
"Lord Tartaglia, that… pfft, about the toys…"
Although they tried hard to hold it in, a few Fatui couldn't help but laugh.
"First, withdraw one million Mora from the Northland Bank and have a toy merchant in Fontaine customize a few sets."
Tartaglia had no intention of blaming them, merely glancing sideways at the group,
"As for the requirements for the Fu Xuan doll… I shouldn't need to explain it again, should I?"
—
「 "Haha, pulling up the grass requires removing the roots." Jing Yuan laughed heartily:
"Just wait a little longer. The fact that the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus chose this moment to act means the Cloud Knights have already controlled the overall situation, and the traitors couldn't hold their patience. Now, we have a legitimate reason to catch them all in one fell swoop."
"You've been sitting on that this whole time? How will you justify the losses if something goes wrong, General!?" Fu Xuan felt this was far too risky.
Jing Yuan did not rush to refute Fu Xuan, merely smiling faintly: "Lady Fu, oh Lady Fu, I still have a surprise troop I haven't used yet."
As he spoke, Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan's gazes simultaneously turned to the side.
No sooner had Jing Yuan finished speaking than the Astral Express crew arrived… but this scene felt eerily familiar, as if it had just happened at the Divination Commission.
"We needed extra hands, and the Stellaron Hunters were kind enough to bring us together with the Astral Express — how could I look the other way?" 」
「 .....」