Once the Millelith had walked away and disappeared at the end of the road, Keqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, then jumped off Makoto's back.
"Big Brother, thank you so much today," she said.
"If you hadn't helped me, I would have definitely been caught and dragged back home."
Xiao Keqing's large, watery eyes were filled with gratitude.
"As a thank you, I want to invite you all to open a treasure chest!"
"We can share whatever's inside the treasure chest together, okay?"
Xiao Keqing was innocent and her thoughts were simple and pure.
She just felt that since Makoto had helped her, she should repay him.
This was also a part of her training.
Hearing Keqing's words, Makoto subconsciously raised an eyebrow: "A treasure chest?"
Speaking of which, Makoto had been in Teyvat for some time now, but he had never found a treasure chest by the roadside; this was the first time he had heard any information about one.
His ingrained DNA stirred.
One of the few pleasures on the continent of Teyvat, wasn't it just opening one treasure chest after another?
Xiao Keqing nodded vigorously: "Mhm, I found a treasure chest over in Guili Plains, and I originally planned to retrieve that treasure chest tonight."
Makoto nodded thoughtfully, then asked: "Why didn't you open the treasure chest back then?"
Hearing this question, Keqing pouted her small lips and said unhappily: "Because the terrain where the treasure chest was located was too high, I couldn't reach it at all."
"Even if I climbed to the highest point, I couldn't reach it by standing on my tiptoes."
Makoto was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that Keqing was dissatisfied with her current short legs.
At this, Makoto couldn't help but laugh.
He hadn't expected Keqing to be worried about her height.
The future Keqing would have long legs, so there wouldn't be any short leg problems at all.
Looking at Keqing's frustrated and annoyed expression, Makoto comforted her: "You'll definitely grow very tall in the future, and you'll have a pair of exceptionally long legs, don't worry."
Makoto also didn't want Keqing to be sad or upset because of her short legs, so he proactively changed the topic: "Speaking of which, how did you originally plan to retrieve the treasure chest?"
Keqing was the kind of person who would only act once she had a thorough plan.
Since she was going to open the treasure chest tonight, she must have a method.
Xiao Keqing reached up and took a hairpin from her hair, then handed it to Makoto to see: "I've been studying how to use a hairpin at home for a while now, and I've made some progress."
"I plan to use the hairpin to strike the stone beneath the treasure chest, making it fall down~"
Xiao Keqing's tone carried a hint of pride.
She had practiced hard for a long time to make the hairpin her secret weapon.
Soon, she could show Makoto and the others the results of her long training.
Watching Keqing's high spirits, Makoto also smiled and nodded: "Alright, then let's go see the treasure chest you mentioned."
As he spoke, Makoto also lowered his head and told Qiqi and Ayaka about the treasure chest.
Xiao Qiqi blinked her big eyes and said softly: "Qiqi doesn't know what a treasure chest is... but if Makoto is going, Qiqi wants to go with Makoto..."
And when Xiao Ayaka heard that they were going on an adventure, her fair and pretty face lit up with excitement.
She was naturally a mischievous and restless child.
Now that she heard she could go out and play, she was even happier.
"I'm really looking forward to tonight's treasure, Big Brother Makoto, let's go quickly!"
...
Soon, led by Keqing, Makoto and his group arrived at the foot of a mountain in Guili Plains.
It was a Luxurious Chest, its location very hidden.
If one didn't look carefully, they would completely miss it.
It was a genuine 'underworld' treasure chest.
Keqing's hairpin flew out, making a whooshing sound in the air.
The hairpin accurately struck a loose stone beneath the treasure chest, knocking it down.
After that, the treasure chest fell to the ground.
"Success!"
At this moment, Keqing's tender little face was filled with joy.
This was the first time she had accomplished something using her hairpin.
Her previous hard training had not been in vain.
Xiao Keqing hurried towards the treasure chest with her short legs.
Before she could open it, in the next second, red sealing chains appeared on the treasure chest.
Immediately after, the ground emitted an extremely dazzling, flame-like light.
Four Pyro Whopperflowers emerged from underground, surrounding the treasure chest and Keqing.
These four Whopperflowers were guarding the treasure chest.
If one wanted to open the treasure chest, they could only defeat them.
Just then, the Whopperflowers spewed out scorching and dangerous flames.
As soon as the flames touched the ground, they instantly burned a patch of grass to ashes.
Keqing had never seen such a situation.
She had only intended to open a treasure chest, but she hadn't expected to attract monsters.
Watching the flames coming towards her, Keqing quickly dodged to protect herself.
She was too young, and many of her basic skills were not yet perfected.
Currently, she could only ensure her own safety, but she couldn't defeat these Whopperflowers.
Weighing the pros and cons, Keqing still chose to temporarily avoid the confrontation.
There was no way; risking her life just to get a treasure chest was simply not worth it!
"Big Brother, let's leave quickly,"
"These monsters are too dangerous, let's not bother with this treasure chest."
Keqing said, pulling Makoto backward.
However, Makoto stood still.
A Luxurious Chest was right in front of him; there was no reason to give up on it.
Moreover, it was only guarded by four Whopperflowers, so the difficulty wasn't high.
Makoto turned to look at Qiqi beside him and said softly: "Qiqi, you protect Ayaka and Keqing's safety."
"As for these four Whopperflowers, just leave them to me."
As he spoke, Makoto moved.
He first used Kaedehara Kazuha's Elemental Skill, Chihayaburu, to gather the four Whopperflowers.
Then he used Venti's Elemental Burst, Wind's Grand Ode.
Although Makoto didn't have a bow and arrow in his hand, at this moment he could sense the Anemo energy in the world and condense it.
A swirling vortex appeared in Makoto's palm.
That vortex continuously Swirled, sucking the four Whopperflowers up and keeping them bouncing in the air.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Makoto summoned the weapon, Musou Isshin.
When Makoto held the katana with one hand, his entire aura underwent a drastic change.
At this moment, Musou Isshin combined with the Kamisato Art of Swordsmanship.
He was the swordsman standing at the pinnacle of Teyvat.
Makoto's hand moved, and the blade fell, eliminating the four Pyro Whopperflowers in the blink of an eye.
For a moment, Keqing and Kamisato Ayaka were too astonished to speak.
They had both practiced swordsmanship since childhood, so they naturally had unique insights into sword techniques.
Those few seemingly casual slashes Makoto had just performed would be absolutely impossible without decades of practice!
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