"Fuu, this task already sounds dangerous."
"Do we really have to do this?"
Walking out of the Adventurers' Guild, Paimon's face was still full of worry.
"This is the only mission that fits," Lumine flipped through the handbook in her hand and spoke softly.
"This mission was issued by Tianquan Ningguang to the Adventurers' Guild."
"If we can complete it, we'll get a chance to meet one of the Qixing."
"This is the only lead we have to find the Geo Archon."
"If we miss this… I really don't know what else to do."
Their journey through Mondstadt had been turbulent.
But at the very start, she had still been able to fulfill her wishes.
Even though she found no clues about her brother.
At least the process had been relatively smooth.
But this trip to Liyue…
Utterly fruitless.
And now, Liyue itself was in a precarious state.
People avoided talking.
Everything about the Archons was shrouded in secrecy.
Whenever she tried asking about gods, she was shut down again and again.
Truly blocked at every turn.
If Mondstadt was like a beginner's village, then Liyue now was… absurdly difficult.
"If only we had come earlier."
Paimon stomped her feet angrily.
"All because of that bard, saying nothing until it was too late!"
Lumine gave a small sigh, muttering to herself.
How could this be blamed on Venti?
Would arriving two days earlier or later really have changed anything?
She should've thought of getting a letter of introduction from Jean before coming.
If they had gained access to the Qixing earlier, wouldn't that have saved them from all this running around?
Misstep, misstep.
"Fuu, how about we find a few more adventurers to join us?"
"We don't know anyone here, who are we supposed to ask?"
"Well… how about the Wangsheng Tavern? Plenty of people there!"
"Fine. Let's go. And we can stop by Wanmin Restaurant for a meal."
"Yay! Food!"
"Paimon…"
"Hey, can't help it! You need to be full to have energy to work!"
"What work do you even do? All the fighting is on her. You just float around. Tired from what?"
"Ahhh, forget it, let's just go already!"
"Alright!"
Fine. No point arguing. Off to eat.
Elsewhere—
"Yo, my friend~"
Childe greeted cheerfully at the doorway.
"Here I am again today to play with you."
At his words, four people turned their heads in unison from their tea.
Yingda's eyes darkened, Senna's gaze glowed faintly, and Huo Liya gave her usual squinting smile.
"Your injuries, are they healed already?"
Looking at the sudden visitor, Taro raised an eyebrow.
"Come in and talk. You're not here to spar again, are you?"
"Better say it now—my control over my strength is still a bit unstable. I might… accidentally kill you."
Childe twitched at the corner of his mouth.
That sounded painfully honest.
Not a threat, but it hurt to hear.
He waved a hand quickly.
"No, no! Nothing like that! After the last time you thrashed me bloody, I've learned my lesson."
"Challenging you is nothing but asking for suffering."
He wouldn't spar with Taro again even if it killed him.
And he certainly didn't want to make him an enemy.
This man… was terrifying.
A bottomless abyss at a glance.
That same feeling he had only ever gotten from Her Majesty the Tsaritsa, or from the top-ranked Harbingers.
That level was still far above him.
Untouchable.
"You, a battle maniac, not fighting?"
"That's rare."
Taro put down his teacup and smiled.
"Alright then, what do you want?"
"We're heading to the Chasm soon."
"What a coincidence~"
Childe rubbed his hands together.
"How about… we go together?"
"Coincidence? Please."
Taro shook his head.
"Your acting is pathetic."
"We've got business at the Chasm. No time to play with you. Yingda, see him out."
"Yes, sir!"
Yingda rose, her eyes locking on Childe, cold and sharp.
Her look alone carried the message: stay, and you'll die.
"What a pity~"
Childe shrugged, but showed no anger.
"Then, until we meet again in the Chasm. See you."
He waved and turned to leave.
No joining them now, but who said anything about not "coincidentally" running into them below?
Even if there was a risk of being kicked away again, he'd seize any chance he could get.
See you in the depths, friend.
Childe set off at once. He was a man of action.
Once Childe was gone, Yingda returned to the hall.
"Sir, it seems he really is heading for the Chasm."
"Doesn't matter," Taro said casually.
"No chance we'll run into him."
He had single teleportation, group teleportation, portals—so many ways to move.
What did Childe have?
If they met, that would be the real miracle.
"Let's move. Yingda, Senna, and I—"
"I'll come too," Huo Liya said calmly with a smile.
"I've been recovered for a while now. If I don't move around, I'll get moldy."
She didn't like fighting much.
But she needed to see what was happening.
She couldn't beat other Archons, sure… but clearing out small fry? She could handle that.
"This woman…"
"She's a nuisance," Yingda thought to herself.
If Huo Liya came along, the chance of any quiet moments alone would vanish.
Annoying.
"Fine."
Taro nodded.
"Just as well, there are things I need your help verifying."
"You may be weak, but at least you're still at a Tier 2 lifeform level."
Huo Liya's face stiffened.
"Boss, that's a bit harsh."
"But don't worry, I won't get depressed."
So what if she was weak?
It wasn't like she didn't try.
Forget it, no point complaining.
"Don't whine," Taro said bluntly.
"There's a lot to do once we head down. Increasing your combat power is part of that."
"Same goes for Yingda and Senna."
"Huh?"
Huo Liya blinked.
"I can still get stronger?"
She was a god, yet weak.
Not entirely her fault.
Her authority was intact, but from her birth, everything had gone wrong.
It wasn't that she didn't want to resist, or didn't try.
She had tried.
And failed. Every single time.
So she gave up.
But if she could become stronger…
How could she refuse?
(End of Chapter)
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