Seeing Su Yuan's sincere expression, "Cloud Retainer" revealed a complicated look—one that was hard to describe.
"Su Yuan, boy… you really think this One's art of mechanisms is that impressive?"
"Cloud Retainer" looked at Su Yuan, half-believing, half-doubting, and asked.
Noticing her reaction, Su Yuan thought: Looks like the talk-no-jutsu might just work!
He hurriedly responded:
"Of course! You don't need to belittle yourself, Cloud Retainer. Your art of mechanisms—across all of Liyue, or even the entirety of Teyvat—no one can rival you!"
Su Yuan knew very well that Cloud Retainer loved to talk.
If he could help her regain her confidence in her mechanism craft through mere conversation and bring her back from the eerie state, that would be the best outcome possible.
However, her next words left Su Yuan completely speechless…
"Then let me ask you this, Su Yuan. If my art of mechanisms is truly unparalleled and peerless as you claim…"
Cloud Retainer took a deep breath and said slowly:
"Then why is it… that not a single one of my mechanized creations managed to defeat—let alone kill—even one of you?"
"You suffered no casualties. Barely paid any price at all. And yet you effortlessly destroyed all of my constructs…"
"If what you said is true, Su Yuan—that my mechanized constructs are unparalleled in the world—then why couldn't they even manage to stop you all, let alone kill a few of you?"
"So that means… Su Yuan, you're just flattering me, aren't you? You're lying to me, trying to fool me, right?"
"My art of mechanisms… it's not nearly as amazing as you say."
"If it really were that impressive… I wouldn't have lost back then."
Seeing this situation unfold, Su Yuan felt a creeping sense of dread in his heart.
Cloud Retainer… what she said actually made a bit too much sense…
If her mechanism skills were truly formidable, then why weren't they able to hinder any of them?
They had just easily dealt with those constructs—wasn't that, in a way, denying Cloud Retainer's achievements in mechanism craft?
Su Yuan cursed inwardly—why hadn't he thought of this angle earlier?
Since they were trying to use persuasion to bring "Cloud Retainer" back to normal, they shouldn't have defeated those mechanical constructs in such an overwhelming manner...
Even if they had to fake it, they should've pretended to be evenly matched, and only narrowly claimed victory…
"Sigh… Su Yuan… Yanfei… Morax…"
Cloud Retainer looked at Su Yuan, then glanced at Yanfei and Zhongli beside him.
She sighed and slowly said:
"Mechanism arts... truly do have their limits..."
"In my long life, I've come to understand one thing—"
"The more one studies the art of mechanisms, the more one realizes its limitations."
"If back then, I hadn't been so obsessed with mechanism craft, and instead focused on strengthening myself, then maybe… just maybe… I could have saved Guizhong..."
"Cloud Retainer, what are you trying to say?" Zhongli looked at her with a grave expression.
"I'm done with mechanism arts, Morax!!!"
"Cloud Retainer" suddenly burst into wild laughter, and the eerie power around her surged violently, engulfing everyone present!
Su Yuan immediately sensed something was wrong.
What now?
Could it be that because we defeated all of the mechanical puppets she created so easily, it only further shattered her confidence in the path of mechanism arts?
And now… she's even given up studying mechanisms entirely?
If that's the case, doesn't that mean we can no longer bring her back to normal by helping her regain her confidence in her craft?
"Cloud Retainer!!!" Su Yuan quickly shouted, "Please, calm down first!!!"
"Have you ever considered the possibility that… it's not that the mechanical constructs you created with mechanism arts are too weak, but rather that we're simply too strong?!"
"Think about it—Zhongli, or rather Morax, is the founder and protector of Liyue. He's a god of war who has lived for over a thousand years!"
"His strength isn't something that can be measured by ordinary standards!"
"The mechanical constructs you created, Cloud Retainer—on an ordinary battlefield, they'd be unstoppable forces! Gods would fall before them, Demons too!!"
"Hmph!!! Su Yuan, I'll give you Morax, fine!"
Cloud Retainer spoke furiously:
"But what about you? I know you. You're not powerful at all. So how do you explain it? How could someone like you defeat the mechanical constructs I created?"
"If even a weakling like you can take them down… doesn't that just mean everything I created is complete garbage?!"
Seeing that Cloud Retainer was still open to communication, Su Yuan quickly continued:
"Cloud Retainer, this is actually a misunderstanding!"
"Didn't you notice? The power I just released—it didn't even belong to me!"
"It was the power of Tartaglia, also known as Childe—one of the Eleven Harbingers of the Fatui!"
"Tartaglia is a warrior born and bred for battle, and what's more, he trained under the Abyss!"
"In some ways, the power he carries might even surpass that of Zhongli's. So isn't it perfectly reasonable that I was able to defeat your constructs using his strength?"
"Su Yuan, do you really mean that?"
Cloud Retainer looked at him, half in doubt.
"Cloud Retainer, when have I ever said anything insincere?"
Su Yuan replied earnestly:
"It really isn't that your mechanical constructs are weak—it's just that we're too strong…"
"My mechanism arts… are really that powerful…"
The eerie aura radiating from Cloud Retainer began to noticeably weaken.
She lowered her head, murmuring to herself.
Seeing this, Su Yuan felt a sudden turn of hope—things were looking up again!
It seemed like talking her down might actually work!
Seizing the opportunity, he pressed on and said:
"Exactly! Cloud Retainer, don't you remember? Your constructs completely caught Yanfei off guard at the start!"
"If Zhongli hadn't intervened in time, Yanfei might've already fallen to your mechanical creations!"
"Among all of us, only a very few can handle your mechanical constructs with ease. The vast majority are still completely helpless against them!"
"Doesn't that just go to show how exceptional your mechanism arts are?"
"My mechanism arts… are still exceptional…?"
Cloud Retainer looked down at her own hands, murmuring to herself once more.
Su Yuan thought to himself, Almost there—at this rate, Cloud Retainer might recover from her eerie transformation very soon!
"Oh? You're saying my mechanism arts are amazing?"
"Well then, thank you for the compliment, Su Yuan!"
Just then, a voice echoed from within the cave dwelling, and a figure appeared before everyone…
"Dottore!!! I knew it was you!!!"
Su Yuan turned to face Dottore, speaking with intense anger.
But soon, Su Yuan realized something was off…
Why did Dottore say I praised his mechanism arts as amazing?
---------------
Exclusive access : 400+ch on paetron
Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz