"Hahaha!"
"Koji, that was wicked. The trauma you gave Welt must be huge."
Back in Teyvat, Lumine listened to Koji recount what had happened. She laughed so hard her eyes teared up.
No wonder Welt had panicked. If the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles suddenly appeared before her, she would too.
After all, being crushed once leaves scars that don't heal easily.
"But that Welt… I feel like I've seen him somewhere before." Lumine rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Koji blinked. Could it be Lumine had traveled through a Honkai world before?
But since Welt hadn't recognized her, it must have been in some bubble world. There were many linked to Honkai.
Back at Guili Plains, Guizhong wore a hat, diligently building.
Koji spotted a woman with red half-framed glasses and blurted, "That woman?"
"Rude. Which woman?"
Xianyun snapped back instinctively.
"Hehe, Xianyun, this is the one who revived Guizhong." Ping'er said with a smile.
"Ah, it's you. Thank you." Xianyun said sincerely.
The adepti had deep ties with Guizhong. Seeing her alive again, Xianyun couldn't hide her joy.
"You're Liuyun the Adeptus, right?" Koji nodded.
Her outfit gave the air of a literature teacher. No wonder she was the master of Ganyu and Shenhe. Her taste was good.
"I'm surprised you recognized me in human form." Xianyun said.
Usually she appeared as a crane. Only old friends had seen her human guise.
"Of course. We even met Ganyu before." Koji said.
"You've met Ganyu? Then that's fate indeed."
"Want me to tell you stories of my two disciples when they were little?" Xianyun perked up.
"Master!"
A white-haired, aloof woman appeared, holding a white flower and nibbling on it.
Hearing her master about to reveal childhood tales, even her icy calm cracked into killing intent.
Murderous aura!
Xianyun froze. She felt her disciple's intent clearly and fell silent.
Ping'er chuckled helplessly. After all these years, Xianyun hadn't changed.
"This is my disciple, Shenhe." Xianyun said meekly.
"Greetings. I am Shenhe." Her voice was flat, emotionless.
"By the way, why are you here, Lady Liuyun?" Lumine asked curiously.
"Call me Xianyun. Ping'er found me. Otherwise I wouldn't know Guizhong had returned." Xianyun muttered.
"You told her?" Koji looked at Ping'er.
"Yes. Only her." Ping'er confirmed.
"Don't worry. If it's Rex Lapis's arrangement, I won't speak of it. But… he really trusts mortals too much." Xianyun frowned.
A country without a god's protection—if struck by a god-level enemy, could they endure?
She had seen what god-death meant.
If Morax truly died, Liyue Harbor itself could be annihilated instantly.
Still, if it was his will, there must be purpose.
"Xianyun, mortals have endless potential. Remember the Millelith of the Archon War." Ping'er said softly.
Xianyun paused. True enough. The Millelith had been formidable then.
Formations of Millelith could stand against gods.
"They were strong, but today's Millelith are not the same." Xianyun said.
"Yes. The lineage was broken. Almost all perished. It's no longer wartime." Ping'er sighed.
If Morax wished, he could rebuild them.
But the age was different. He lived in semi-retirement, appearing only at the Rite of Descension.
"Xianyun, one question. Shenhe's outfit—the top half looks just like Ganyu's, doesn't it?" Koji asked.
Lumine thought back. It was true.
"This…"
Xianyun faltered, unsure what to say.
"You two, come help me." Guizhong turned, her pretty face smudged with dust.
Her sisters chatting while she worked irked her.
"Got it, Guizhong." Ping'er and Xianyun smiled and joined in.
"To have two adepti and a god help you build… Koji, isn't it glorious?" Lumine teased.
Even the Qixing didn't enjoy such luxury.
"And you won't live here?"
"Of course I will! We're buddies. No need to be polite."
Lumine said shamelessly.
"You're such a rotten sister." Koji muttered.
Aether: I agree.
"Is that tasty?"
Paimon asked Shenhe, watching her eat Qingxin flowers.
Shenhe shook her head. "No. It smells faintly sweet, but after a few, only bitterness, sourness, and astringency remain."
"Shenhe, let us take you out to eat in Liyue Harbor." Lumine offered.
She was wealthy now. Seeing Shenhe eat flowers, she assumed Shenhe lacked good food.
"Worldly meals are indeed delicious, but I train in the mountains. Indulging in flavors hinders cultivation." Shenhe replied calmly.
"Shenhe, eat what you like. Don't overthink. Even I love a bowl of Adeptus' Stew."
Xianyun said. Shenhe couldn't stay in the wilds forever.
But she worried. With Shenhe's personality, worldly affairs might lead to conflict.
If provoked, Shenhe could easily lash out.
In dealing with people, Shenhe was less capable than Ganyu.
"Xianyun, this child is your disciple?" Guizhong asked curiously.
So ethereal, Shenhe looked more like an adeptus than the adepti themselves, especially with her white hair.
"Yes. Shenhe's affinity is excellent. But living so long in the mountains with me, she knows little of the mortal world." Xianyun sighed.
Truthfully, she herself had ignored the mortal world for years. She wasn't suited to teach such matters.
She had meant to entrust Shenhe to Ganyu. With her years in Liyue Harbor, Ganyu surely knew how to navigate people.
(End of Chapter)
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