The deafening clap of thunder that rang out was even more intense than the storm already raging over Yashiori Island.
Everyone who heard it felt their hearts skip a beat.
"What a huge thunderclap!" Paimon was stunned. She instinctively dove into Lumine's arms, hugging her head tightly.
"What's going on?"
"Why did the thunder suddenly get so loud?"
Chaos broke out in the military camp. All the soldiers were looking up at the sky, and a chilling tension quietly swept through the Watatsumi Army.
"It's said Raiden Shogun can summon thunder! Could this be an enemy attack?!" Teppei reacted quickly. After glancing around, he rushed out of the tent.
Rumors of Raiden Shogun's appearance spread like wildfire, sending the camp into even greater panic.
Inside Lu Chen's tent, however, an eerie silence remained.
Lu Chen struggled free from Lumine's embrace and took a step back under her confused gaze.
He looked toward Ei—expressionless, her gaze locked onto Lumine.
The killing intent in the air grew heavier, undisguised and suffocating, as though at any second it might slice open the girl's delicate throat.
"Strange..."
Lumine frowned slightly, trying to sense the source of the hostility in the air. She gently pushed Paimon aside and summoned her Traveler's Handy Sword.
Ei's fingers twitched slightly, and a faint arc of purple lightning flickered in the air.
That tiny movement made Lu Chen's heart pound—he was terrified she might draw "Musou Isshin" the next moment. Lumine definitely couldn't withstand that strike.
"Wait, wait!" Lu Chen stepped between them immediately.
The purple lightning faded. Ei looked at him in surprise, disbelief written in her eyes.
From her expression, Lu Chen could almost read her thoughts: You're defending her?
No, I'm not! He blinked hard, trying to explain with his eyes.
He knew too well—if he dared take Lumine's side again like last time, Ei might very well lose it and slash him herself.
So he obediently stepped to Ei's side and gently held her wrist.
That small gesture finally softened Ei's expression. The murderous pressure in the air eased as well.
Though in truth, Lu Chen only wanted to stop her from drawing her sword too hastily...
His emotions had gone on a wild rollercoaster in just a few seconds. Nahida, who had silently been playing the invisible observer, now gave him a deeply sympathetic look.
Lu Chen turned to her with pleading eyes. Nahida quickly shook her head like a rattle drum, as if to say: Don't drag me into this—I'm not brave enough to interrupt right now...
"Lu Chen? Who's this?"
Lumine narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the mysterious woman opposite her. She couldn't see her face clearly, but everything about her screamed difficult to deal with.
"She's, um, my..." Lu Chen glanced at Ei, about to make a formal introduction.
"Ei," she said simply.
"Huh?" Paimon blinked. She didn't pick up on the awkwardness at all. "Traveler, your names sound so similar!"
"Yeah..." Lumine still felt something was off but couldn't quite say what.
"Uh..." Lu Chen tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Looks like things have calmed down outside. Why don't you tell me what you and Paimon have been up to these past few months? I've been really curious..."
The moment he said that, Paimon clenched her tiny fists, looking upset.
"Don't even get me started! That day, when we went to rescue Thoma and you got struck by that evil Raiden Shogun... The Traveler and I ran while crying our eyes out... Then we were chased all over the city by the Tenryou Commission... Eventually, the whole place was hunting us down!"
"Evil woman..." Lu Chen twitched at the corner of his mouth. He glanced awkwardly at Ei, unsure whether to laugh.
Ei remained unmoved.
After Paimon finished venting, Lumine sighed. "Luckily, Thoma came up with a plan, and the Watatsumi resistance took us in. They've been good to us. I met many like-minded friends, and over the past few months, I've helped them break several Shogunate sieges..."
She glanced around cautiously, then motioned Lu Chen over. "Come here—I've got something that can only be told in private."
"Uh..."
Lu Chen looked toward Ei. Even through her flawless disguise, her purple eyes were full of sarcasm.
"Go on," she said coolly. "Your little travel companion wants to speak to you privately."
Lu Chen, fighting for his life, shook his head and turned to Lumine.
"Ahem! Let's just talk here... We're all on the same side, right?"
"Really?" Lumine frowned slightly.
"Well... okay." She lowered her voice and said carefully, "This is top-secret military info."
Lu Chen's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?"
Lumine grew serious. "We've been secretly planning a surprise assault on Tenshukaku. Now that you're back, you have to be part of it. The mission to assassinate Raiden Shogun depends on us!"
"Pffft—" Nahida, who had just taken a sip of water, choked and sprayed it everywhere.
At that moment, Ei's gaze turned oddly contemplative. She raised her head slightly, seeming to examine Lumine very closely.
Lu Chen gave a strained smile, frantically shooting her warning glances.
"Uh... since it's military intel, maybe keep the details to a minimum..."
"But... you're Lu Chen!" Lumine said, puzzled. "Don't tell me you don't want to join?"
Lu Chen half-joked, "Actually, I defected to the enemy ages ago..."
"Hahaha! That's hilarious!" Paimon burst into laughter, floating mid-air. "You're totally kidding! There's no way Lu Chen would betray us!"
"Paimon, you really give me too much credit..." Lu Chen said with a sheepish smile.
He looked at Lumine. "Actually, I came here to bring you good news."
"Good news?"
"Yeah." Lu Chen nodded. "Watatsumi Island and the resistance want to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree. I can help you make that happen—on one condition: the war ends immediately."
"End the Vision Hunt Decree?" Lumine's eyes widened. "Lu Chen, you're not messing with me, are you?"
"How could I lie to you...?"
"You think something like the Vision Hunt Decree can just be undone like that? Did Raiden Shogun's lightning fry your brain?"
"..."
Lu Chen stared at her wide, disbelieving amber eyes. She looked adorably flustered.
Short golden hair framed her face, with two small braids at the ends. The white flower pinned in her hair added a clean, pure air. From afar, she had the grace of a princess.
But anyone who knew her knew she was the opposite of lofty—she had a tomboyish, casual personality. And she was wonderfully shameless. The kind who would join Lu Chen on Mondstadt's bridge to secretly shoot pigeons just for fun.
She hadn't changed much from a few months ago, but there was a sharper edge to her now—probably from the battlefield.
"You should believe me. Even if you don't trust my words, trust the power I have now."
Lu Chen raised his hand toward a corner of the tent. Before their eyes, a worn-out spear was gently lifted by invisible Anemo energy. Then, with a surge of intense Pyro, the spear was melted down in seconds.
The temperature dropped rapidly. The molten iron reshaped itself into various weapons. Throughout the entire process, a translucent Geo shield surrounded everything, ensuring not a single trace of danger leaked out.
In just a few seconds, Lu Chen had casually demonstrated a flawless elemental coordination routine—his mastery far beyond what he showed during their travels.
And that was just scratching the surface of his true power.
"What have you gone through?" Paimon flew up to him, amazed. "You're insanely strong now!"
Lumine nodded. "Yeah, Lu Chen's gotten really powerful!"
She thought for a moment. "In that case... we've got an even better shot at assassinating Raiden Shogun if we go together!"