Guili Plains.
This had once been the domain of the God of Dust, Guizhong. During the Archon War, a great battle was fought here. Zhongli and the other adepti had been unable to reach the front in time. Guizhong ultimately fell.
Guili Plains had been reduced to ruins. The surviving people fled to what would become Liyue Harbor. Only after the Archon War ended and Liyue was founded did life slowly return to the area.
Lu Lin crossed Mt. Tianheng heading north and reached the outskirts of Guili Plains.
A vital trade route to Wangshu Inn ran through here. With monsters rampant, the Millelith had temporarily sealed the road.
"Sir, the way ahead is closed for now," a Millelith soldier in full armor stopped him.
"I'm looking for Ganyu. Did she enter?" Lu Lin asked.
"Miss Ganyu went in several hours ago. There's been no word since," the soldier said.
Lu Lin didn't try to force his way through. Without Ganyu, charging in alone would be suicide.
As he was racking his brains, two figures approached in the distance.
The one in front was Xingqiu, whom he'd just met yesterday. Behind him walked a girl.
She had brown hair and wore black clothes, her hair tied into twin ponytails. On her head perched a talismaned hat decorated with a blood-red plum blossom; the pupils of her eyes were shaped like plum blossoms too.
Her slender calves were wrapped in white stockings, and she wore shorts that showed off her smooth, fair thighs, overflowing with youthful energy.
Floating around her was a small white ghost, baring tiny fangs as it drifted about, undeniably adorable.
"Mr. Lu? What brings you here?" Xingqiu called.
"Hey, Xingqiu. I came looking for Ganyu. I heard she's entered Guili Plains already. And you two…?"
"I see. Let me introduce you. This is Hu Tao, the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," Xingqiu said, gesturing to the girl. Then he turned to her. "This is Mr. Lu Lin, a good friend of Miss Ganyu's."
"Nice to meet you, Lu Lin. I'm Hu Tao, Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!" she said brightly, handing him a card. "Are you an adventurer? Here's my contact. If you ever need our services, get in touch. We have coupons. If you have companions, we also have a 'second tombstone half off' deal—"
"Director Hu, now is really not the time for marketing…" Xingqiu hurriedly cut her off as she veered off into sales pitch territory.
Lu Lin had recognized her the instant he saw her. He accepted the business card with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Director Hu. If I ever need it, I'll be sure to call."
"Mm~ Mr. Lu is straightforward. Very magnanimous—truly a dragon among men!" Hu Tao declared, clearly approving of the fact that he took the card without flinching.
"So what brings you two here?" Lu Lin asked.
"Sigh. I heard Xiangling went missing in Guili Plains. I was worried and wanted to help look for her. I ran into Director Hu on the way," Xingqiu explained.
He and Xiangling were very close friends; once he heard the news, he couldn't sit still.
"I came for the same thing," Hu Tao nodded. She didn't look as anxious as Xingqiu—not because she didn't care, but because she saw life and death differently from ordinary people.
"Ganyu went in ahead of us to find Xiangling. Guili Plains is extremely dangerous right now. Why don't the three of us team up? It'll be safer," Lu Lin suggested.
Hu Tao and Xingqiu both had Visions and could wield elemental power. With them, his chances of rescuing Xiangling were far better.
And since Ganyu had told Xingqiu yesterday that Lu Lin had saved her, Xingqiu trusted his ability. The three quickly agreed to form a party.
The Millelith didn't stop them this time; they trusted these Vision bearers.
Guili Plains was littered with ruins, remnants of the Archon War. Stray bits of old godly power still leaked out from time to time.
Thanks to the constant purging by the yakshas, true godly remnants were now rare. It had been a long time since monsters had rampaged on this scale.
A faint black mist shrouded the entire plain. The three hadn't gone far into the ruins before a group of Hilichurls blocked their path.
"I'll handle this," Xingqiu said, drawing his sword and charging in.
With a chivalrous heart and genius talent for the sword, his skills were extraordinary. Against Hilichurls, he was unstoppable.
After a brief flurry of blows, every Hilichurl lay dead at his feet.
"All done. Let's—huh?!" Xingqiu sheathed his sword and turned around.
There was no one there.
Lu Lin and Hu Tao were gone.
-------
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