Naturally, Keqing had no time to look at the group chat; she was already executing the mission.
The air was thick with the foul, coppery stench of blood—a smell so putrid it was almost nauseating. Fortunately, as a warrior who had faced countless battles, Keqing was long accustomed to such scenes. She was not fazed.
I can't afford to waste any time. I'll start by clearing the perimeter.
Su Han had said that for every moment she delayed, another innocent person would die. She had to complete this mission as quickly as possible.
Swoosh.
With a flash of violet lightning, Keqing vanished from her spot.
Her figure flickered through the forest, a phantom moving so fast that the sheer force of her passage sent countless leaves rustling to the ground. Within a few breaths, she found a Nichirin Blade on the ground and, at the same time, spotted her first demon.
The creature's skin was a grotesque, deathly pale, and it emanated an unimaginable stench of decay. But the most revolting sight was the human arm it clutched in its hands, chewing on it ravenously.
A purple glint flashed in Keqing's eyes as her body dissolved into an arc of pure electricity.
Boom.
With a clap of thunder, the demon's head was sent flying into the air. The creature never even registered Keqing's presence before it was annihilated.
The mountain was littered with the bodies of swordsmen. Following Su Han's advice, Keqing had picked up one of their blades. Combining it with her own explosive power, she could effortlessly eliminate these monsters in a single blow.
What followed was a masterclass in efficiency.
A whirlwind of lightning and swordplay, the Spider Demon Family was destined for utter destruction. None could escape Keqing's hunt. Her sudden appearance, of course, also shocked the surviving swordsmen. They had never heard of a "Thunder Hashira"—so who was this powerful warrior wielding the power of lightning?
Just one last target…
After eliminating the "Mother" Spider Demon, Keqing knew that only the Lower Rank demon named "Rui" remained. Once he was dead, the mission would be complete.
She paused, closing her eyes to sense the enemy's presence. Everything around her fell silent.
Suddenly, a flare of red light emanated from her right.
There you are.
Keqing's eyes snapped open, and she dashed towards the enemy.
At that moment, Tanjiro Kamado was locked in a desperate struggle with the spider demon Rui. Neither of them noticed Keqing's arrival.
"Hinokami Kagura: Waltz!"
"Blood Demon Art: Cutting Thread Cage!"
Their techniques clashed relentlessly. Flames severed countless spider threads. Just as Tanjiro pushed himself to his absolute limit, a graceful and impossibly fast silhouette appeared, surrounding the demon from all sides. Only then did he realize a third party had entered the fray.
"Starward Sword!"
Keqing's Elemental Burst erupted with furious power!
Swish-swish-swish!
A tempest of thunderous slashes instantly shredded every last spider thread and, at the same time, tore Rui's body to pieces.
If this demon can sever its own head as a trick, then I just have to be faster than it.
After thirty-six lightning-fast strikes, a final, decisive slash descended.
The Lower Rank demon was carved into nothing more than dust and ash.
Just then, the notification tone sounded.
[Ding! Congratulations on completing the 2-Star Multiverse Mission. You have been awarded 20,000 points.]
[Hint: You may choose to return immediately or remain for a short while.]
[Note: The maximum time you can remain is ten minutes.]
Keqing glanced at the utterly exhausted young swordsman and strode over.
"Hey. You're Tanjiro Kamado, right?"
"Y-yes… and you are?"
"It's better if I don't give my name. However, someone asked me to pass on a message to you." She paused for effect. "The Hinokami Kagura is Sun Breathing. It is the original, and most powerful, of all the breathing styles. Bye-bye, now."
With a wave, Keqing chose to return. Her body vanished into thin air before Tanjiro's astonished eyes.
The world brightened around her, and Keqing found herself back in the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang smiled at her. "Welcome back. Would you like to freshen up? I've already had Baixiao prepare a bath for you."
"Thank you, Lady Ningguang."
Having just slaughtered demons, she was indeed covered in filth. A hot bath sounded like heaven.
Ningguang then turned her gaze to Su Han. "Su Han, do you have your own place to live?"
"No, I've been staying at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," Su Han admitted with a shake of his head. It wasn't his fault; the price of real estate in Liyue Harbor was astronomical. Every inch of land was worth a fortune. Having only been in this world for a year, he certainly didn't have the Mora to buy a house.
Ningguang's eyes lit up. "In that case, why don't you stay here in the Jade Chamber? You have no combat ability, and now that the Lord of Geo has declared you a National Treasure, I fear you might be in danger living outside. This place, however, is guarded by the Millelith day and night. It is perfectly safe."
Fearing he might refuse, Ningguang clearly laid out the pros and cons.
Live in the Jade Chamber?
Su Han was ecstatic. Could such a wonderful thing really be happening? If he recalled correctly, Ningguang's floating palace had never housed another man. He would be the very first.
"Alright. I'll go back and pack my things."
"Excellent. I will have someone prepare a room immediately. If you have any other needs, you can tell me directly. Oh, and… the group has a private chat function. You can use that to message me as well."
The Multiverse Mission Group was proving more and more convenient. If she could, Ningguang would have added the entirety of Liyue to it. Unfortunately, its capacity was currently limited to ten people.
On his way to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Su Han finally received a notification from the group.
This was a privilege reserved for the Group Leader.
Or, one might call it, his special reward.