These mercenaries attacking the Traveler were indeed elite—they had some real strength—but compared to the Fatui's combat squads, there was still a gap.
Compared to the Traveler's combat power, they were even less worth mentioning. How were these people supposed to stop the Traveler?
Everyone didn't know. The Doctor was playing saturation interception—the rainforest should be filled with his people.
The only regret was that the interceptors ultimately weren't the Traveler's match. It was saturated, but they couldn't stop her at all.
The Traveler broke through the encirclement and arrived at Gandharva Ville to find Tighnari. She didn't find Tighnari but found Collei instead.
Collei's condition had worsened somewhat—Eleazar was becoming more severe. This made readers very worried, but while worrying, a sliver of hope also arose.
Dunyarzad needed treatment for Eleazar, and Collei did too. It had been mentioned repeatedly. Based on everyone's past experience reading the prophecy book, there was a high chance of concluding—
—There would definitely be a way to completely cure Eleazar!
How high? Probably 99.4%. The probability of being wrong was as low as pulling a 5-star.
In the story, the Traveler asked Collei where Tighnari was. Collei said Tighnari's master had just gone to Pardis Dhyai.
This was quite strange. Normally, Tighnari wouldn't leave Apam Woods—he was practically a location-bound spirit of Apam Woods.
Leaving in such a hurry now—perhaps he went to shoot an endorsement for Collei's master?
No, that didn't make sense. For endorsement photos, he should bring Collei along—they were both image ambassadors. So what was he going alone for?
Collei in the book was also curious about this. When Tighnari left, he didn't even say anything to Collei—just left a note, looking very hurried.
As for where Pardis Dhyai was that Tighnari went to, Collei told the Traveler it was like a research base for the Amurta faction. Tighnari used to go there often.
Readers understood—this was providing the Traveler with a "hideout"! In the future, resisting the Akademiya and the Doctor could use this "hideout" to build a "network" and then commit guerrilla crimes.
Unfortunately, everyone didn't expect that this hideout had just been established and hadn't been put into use yet before it was discovered.
When arriving at Pardis Dhyai, Katheryne (Nahida) was waiting there for the Traveler. She seemed to have calculated long ago that the Traveler would come looking for Tighnari.
Seeing this scene, readers breathed a sigh of relief. Great, Nahida is fine.
Although everyone felt Nahida wouldn't be in trouble, they were still worried until actually seeing her. Now their suspended hearts could finally settle.
However, the Traveler was still very cautious. Although she also breathed a sigh of relief, she remained vigilant and asked:
["It's Nahida's consciousness, right? It hasn't been tampered with by 'the Doctor,' has it?"]
One can only say the Traveler was able to commit crimes across three nations and avoid capture even when wanted for a reason.
Besides being very skilled at running away herself, her vigilance was quite high—at least toward people. Toward various tracking devices, not so much.
Plus, with little sister Lumine's robust, calf-like physique, catching her was harder than catching a pig for New Year's.
However, regarding the Traveler's vigilance, Paimon felt it somewhat ruined the atmosphere. This was such a touching reunion!
[Nahida spoke up for the Traveler: "Paimon, the Traveler being wary of the current me is very wise. After all, 'the Doctor' has demonstrated technology similar to controlling people's consciousness…"]
["What happened when I faced 'the Doctor' alone after we parted—you have no way of knowing."]
["Just like after a catastrophic rainstorm, the puddles on the ground can sometimes disguise themselves as the sky."]
Understood—this is definitely Nahida herself.
With this inexplicable yet quite fitting metaphor, confirmed to be the real one. This is Nahida's anti-counterfeit mark.
If anything, these few people in Sumeru are quite easy to distinguish true from fake: a mad Alhaitham, a Cyno who doesn't tell cold jokes, a Nahida who doesn't use metaphors, and an enthusiastic and lively Tighnari—if any of those, it's fake!
At this moment, the real Nahida told the Traveler what happened afterward.
Although the Doctor "controlled" Sumeru people's subconscious, it wasn't engraving into the brain—it was a kind of "illusion."
Nahida was very skilled at breaking illusions, so she successfully transferred her consciousness at the moment before the Doctor captured it.
In translation: the Doctor whiffed his ultimate—an ultimate hit on an empty-shell Katheryne.
However, this didn't let everyone relax, because the Doctor's ultimate has no cooldown! He can fire as many as he wants!
Nahida also told readers a piece of information: the Doctor has the ability to tamper with the Akasha, so capturing her in the Akasha is just a matter of time.
This means direct contact with the Doctor results in "instant death." Even avoiding him now has a time limit—what kind of overpowered perverted boss is this?
Now time became even more pressing—there was a sense of urgency like being "chased by time."
So the Traveler also quickened her pace, entering Pardis Dhyai with Nahida to find Tighnari.
Tighnari wasn't there, but Haypasia was.
This was truly a long time no see. For the Traveler, it was after experiencing over a hundred cycles—over a hundred days—before seeing her again.
For readers, it was waiting for updates for a long time.
Whether inside or outside the story, everyone had a joy like reuniting with an old friend.
Haypasia in the story was also very happy, because after coming to Pardis Dhyai, no one talked to her. The Traveler came at just the right time.
This made Collei find it strange. Haypasia wasn't someone difficult to get along with—why didn't anyone talk to her?
Readers had the same doubt and were thinking: Could she have bad breath?
How about eating some mint? Fresh breath brings us closer.
Of course Haypasia didn't have bad breath. She had just passed the "Forest Dweller's Ramblings Phase" and entered the "Silent Completion Phase." She had achieved enlightenment.
Through Haypasia's efforts, she successfully connected to WiFi—but connected to the wrong one...
No wonder it's called the neighbor's ramblings phase. Connecting to the neighbor's WiFi—wouldn't she get verbally abused?
The one still on her face was also looking forward to others connecting. The other party didn't abuse her—just turned ramblings into deceptions, fooling her completely.
[Haypasia laughed: "Haha… Being able to share this sublime joy with you all is truly comforting!"]
While saying this, in the illustration, Haypasia was even hugging herself, looking like her brain was trembling—as if she had "skated on ice."
Haypasia watched blankly. How do I look half-crazy like this? But my brain logic is still there—what's going on?
Clearly her thinking ability was still normal, but this speech and behavior always felt a bit off.
She looked like a normal person, but seemed like only on the surface?
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Lines · Furina: About Believers
"Hmph hmph, when it comes to how to converse with believers, you should learn more from me. Ha-ha-ha—!"