"Was it you who saved me?"
"Mm... thank you."
Bailu stared dumbfounded at the scene before her, as if still struggling to process what had just happened.
Tatsuke smiled. "No need for thanks."
"Coming here was suicide for them."
Bailu shook her head, finally relaxing enough to plop down onto the ground.
"Phew..."
Even for someone as resilient as her, brushing so close with death had left her exhausted. She grabbed her gourd and took a few deep swigs of the calming medicine inside, finally steadying herself.
Looking up, she studied the man before her with a mix of awe and curiosity.
"You're way too strong!"
"You wiped out all those assassins in, like, a second?"
"I didn't even see how you did it..."
Just then, another voice—bright and playful—echoed from the alley entrance.
"Oh? What's all the commotion here?"
Bailu immediately scrambled to her feet, clutching her gourd nervously.
Tatsuke patted her head reassuringly. "Don't worry, she's with us."
Sparkle strolled in, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the corpses.
"Wow, these deaths are so artistic! Who knew you had such a flair for murder?"
Tatsuke smirked but said nothing, letting his actions speak for themselves.
Sparkle then noticed Bailu and crouched down, pinching the little dragon's cheeks.
"Aww, you're just as adorable as in the game! The only difference is you're real~"
"You've got a gourd, and so do I!"
She quickly handed Tatsuke the gourd containing the sealed Phantylia.
Tatsuke held it up to his ear, listening as a sultry voice whispered:
"Young man, shatter this gourd and free me. I shall grant you three wishes."
"Switching from a Destruction Emanator to a genie now?"
"Don't worry, you'll have your chance to shine soon enough..."
Without hesitation, Tatsuke tossed the gourd into the Perfect Age-Obsolescence Utilizer.
The gourd shattered instantly, and from within bloomed a golden flame.
The flame twisted and condensed, forming the silhouette of a woman with a knowing smirk.
"Now then, let me fulfill your wish~"
"Lend me your body, and my desires shall become yours—"
She attempted to phase-shift out of the space—only to freeze in shock.
Her powers were being drained. Rapidly.
A terrible realization struck her.
But it was already too late.
---
Bailu's Gratitude
"You saved me, so I have to repay you!" Bailu declared, tapping her chin in thought.
"Hmm... what can I give you...?"
"How about this—from now on, if you or your friends ever get sick or injured, come find me! Free treatment for life!"
Tatsuke chuckled. "That won't be necessary."
"Then... could you take me to the starskiff docks?" Bailu asked sheepishly.
"Not planning to stay out longer?"
"With the Dragon Elders sending assassins, the Alchemy Commission must be in chaos right now."
"This isn't the time for fun. I should go back and check on things."
"Didn't expect you to be so responsible."
Leaving Sparkle to handle the aftermath—whether anonymously reporting the incident or disposing of the evidence—Tatsuke escorted Bailu to the docks.
He also made sure Sparkle reported the shady game shop owner. Under Xianzhou law, the man would likely spend the next decade sewing prison uniforms.
At the docks, they were immediately swarmed by Alchemy Commission medics who had been frantically searching for Bailu.
"Lady Bailu! Thank the heavens you're safe!"
"We got word the Dragon Elders sent assassins—even your maid was one of their spies!"
Bailu waved a hand, silencing them.
"Relax, everyone! I'm fine, aren't I?"
"Thanks to this guy here—... huh? Where'd he go?"
---
The Beach Showdown
Back at the Alchemy Commission's shoreline, Dan Heng's expression darkened.
The Dragon Elders' confidence suggested they'd prepared countermeasures specifically for him.
"Traitor, surrender!"
A blue net descended toward Dan Heng. To his shock, his attacks dissipated harmlessly against it.
He summoned a water dragon from below, but the net seemed impenetrable—no gaps, no weaknesses.
Just as the situation grew dire—
BOOM!
The cloud-weaving barrier shattered as a colossal golden blade sliced through the air.
Reinforcements had arrived.
Jing Yuan strode forward leisurely.
"Did you truly think I wouldn't notice the Dragon Elders' schemes?"
The Divine Foresight loomed over the beach, its presence towering alongside Dan Heng's water dragon.
"Jing Yuan?!"
The Dragon Elders paled. His arrival turned their desperate gamble into a hopeless rout.
Some even considered fleeing—
Until a crimson flash and a silver streak tore through the battlefield.
Jingliu and Blade had arrived.
Such disturbances might evade ordinary citizens, but not them.
Jingliu's blood-red eyes scanned the Dragon Elders coldly.
"I've slaughtered plenty of your kind before. How kind of you to deliver yourselves to me this time."
Her words sent chills down their spines.
With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a glacial sword—its edge gleaming like moonlight.
Simultaneously, her plain attire dissolved, replaced by the battle-ready garb familiar to Honkai: Star Rail players.
This was the form optimized for war.
For slaughter.
"Jingliu?!" someone gasped.
"Retreat! She's Jing Yuan's master—and she's Mara-struck!"
Jingliu's lips curled.
"Did you learn of me through that game?"
"Good. Then let me show you the reality of this blade."
---
Aftermath
Minutes later, not a single Dragon Elder remained standing.
The two who tried to flee were swiftly cut down by Blade.
Brushing off imaginary dust, Jingliu turned to the others.
"Well then, shall we resume the story?"
Dan Heng nodded silently, his gaze conflicted.
Jing Yuan clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't dwell on it. These were extremists. Their elimination ensures lasting peace."
"That doesn't sound like something the Luofu's general should say. Shouldn't you treat all citizens equally?"
Jing Yuan grinned.
"Who, me? I just got here. These Dragon Elders plotted treason and were slain by a mysterious woman. All I can do is call the Cloud Knights to clean up."
As the four began walking back, a tiny figure came sprinting toward them at full speed.
"Hey!!"
"Are you guys okay?!"
Bailu skidded to a halt, panting heavily.
"Thank goodness... I made it in time!"
"The Dragon Elders rebelled! They were trying to kill us both!"
"They wanted to replace me and experiment on you to create a new Imbibitor Lunae!"
Dan Heng opened his mouth but found no words.
Jing Yuan, however, smirked.
"Worry not, Lady Bailu."
"We're unharmed. But as for those Dragon Elders... well, let's just say they've met their end."
To be continued…
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