In a world woven from fantasy and the unknown, the city of Sumeru on the continent of Teyvat was shrouded in an eerie, dark cloud. This cloud did not come from nature, but from a mysterious strategist who had crossed through time and space—Chen Gong.
Chen Gong had once devoted himself to his ideals and his lord in the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, plotting and planning far and wide. A sudden temporal storm swept him into this strange world filled with elements and magic. Once he grasped the structure and power system of this realm, the ambition in his heart ignited at once. He set his sights on the prosperous and mysterious Sumeru. A city brimming with wisdom and magic—if he could seize control, it would become a solid foundation for him to stand firm in this world.
The guardian of Sumeru was none other than Nahida, the Dendro Archon, who embodied both wisdom and kindness. Though small in stature, like a young child, the green light of wisdom shining in her eyes seemed to penetrate the mysteries of all creation. Since her birth, Nahida had been constantly learning and growing, striving to protect every inch of Sumeru's land and every one of its people.
When Chen Gong led his army—composed of soldiers from another world and mysterious creatures—to the gates of Sumeru, the entire city fell into a tense atmosphere. The people were filled with anxiety, and the soldiers stood ready for battle. Nahida stood upon the city walls, gazing at the dark mass of enemy troops outside, without a trace of fear in her heart—only unshakable resolve to defend her home.
Chen Gong rode a warhorse emanating a faint ghostly light, slowly advancing to the front line. He shouted loudly:
"Nahida, I respect you as the Archon of Sumeru, and I know your wisdom is extraordinary. Today, I seek no needless bloodshed. Let us instead compete in wits. If you defeat me, I will withdraw my army at once and never invade again. If I win, you shall surrender Sumeru to me."
Nahida replied softly:
"Chen Gong, I accept your challenge. But you will not succeed. Sumeru is the home of my people and me. I will defend it with all my strength."
The battle of wits began. Chen Gong spoke first:
"I have an object that glows in the dark, floats on water, and dances in the wind. Do you know what it is?"
Chen Gong secretly felt triumphant. The riddle seemed simple, yet hid a subtle trap. He could not believe Nahida would guess it so easily.
Nahida closed her eyes. After a moment, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly, and she whispered:
"It is a firefly. It shines dimly in darkness, sometimes rests and floats on calm water, and when a gentle breeze blows, it flutters to the rhythm of the wind."
Chen Gong was startled. He had not expected Nahida to solve the riddle so effortlessly. But he quickly regained his composure and continued:
"Very well, you have answered the first correctly. Next, I have a chess puzzle here. If you can solve it within half an hour, you win."
With that, he ordered his men to set up an intricate chessboard before the lines.
Nahida stared at the board, rapidly analyzing every possible move and variation in her mind. Time ticked by. She frowned in thought, then smiled confidently. Just as the half-hour was about to end, Nahida placed a decisive piece and successfully solved the puzzle.
Chen Gong's face darkened. Yet he still had one final trick. He pulled an exquisite box from his robes and said:
"This box holds a secret. If you can guess what it is and open the box, you win. But you only have three chances."
Nahida looked at the box and fell into deep thought. Using her knowledge of all things and her sharp perception, she began to guess. The first time, she was wrong. The second time, still incorrect. A glimmer of victory appeared on Chen Gong's face—he believed he was finally going to win.
Yet Nahida did not give up. She took a deep breath and focused once more. Suddenly, a crucial clue struck her. She spoke slowly:
"The secret inside this box is your true purpose for coming to this world. You not only want to occupy Sumeru, but also use its power to return to your original world. Am I correct?"
Chen Gong's pupils shrank instantly. He had not imagined Nahida would truly guess the secret. He gritted his teeth and said:
"Fine, you are indeed clever. But this round, I am the winner."
The truth was that before Nahida had answered, Chen Gong had secretly cast a magical trap on the box. The moment Nahida spoke, regardless of whether her answer was right or wrong, the trap would declare him victorious.
Though filled with anger and regret, Nahida kept her promise. However, she had long prepared, laying an ambush within the city. As Chen Gong's army prepared to enter, countless Sumeru soldiers and elemental creatures poured out from all directions, surrounding them completely.
Chen Gong realized the danger at once, but quickly calmed himself and directed his army to resist. Just as the two sides clashed fiercely, Zhang Liao of Lü Bu's forces arrived with a contingent of elite cavalry. Waving his spear, Zhang Liao charged into the enemy ranks like a ferocious beast, cutting down ambushers wherever he went.
With Zhang Liao's aid, Chen Gong's army gradually gained the upper hand and successfully broke through the encirclement. Chen Gong looked at Zhang Liao, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes, and said:
"Thank you for your assistance, General. I shall repay this kindness in the future."
Zhang Liao nodded:
"There is no need for thanks. My lord heard you were in trouble and ordered me to come support you."
After this thrilling battle of wits and combat, Sumeru was temporarily out of danger. But both Chen Gong and Nahida knew this was only the beginning. In the days to come, there would be many more contests and conflicts between them. And this dispute, spanning time and worlds, would continue to unfold across the continent of Teyvat. No one knew what stories and outcomes the next clash would bring.