Zhang Richu sucked in a sharp breath, his little heart pounding wildly.He stole a glance at Gu Baizhou—calm, handsome, unreadable. Maybe Father won't be that angry…?
Slowly he turned his head and saw his elderly father standing a few meters away, tears streaming down his face."You… do you know how many days you've been gone?" the man choked.
The sight broke Zhang instantly. His eyes welled up and he wailed, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have run off to play—I… I…"
Impressive reaction speed, Gu mused. He's already using the plan he mentioned earlier.
But Gu's own mind wandered back to the abduction: Those towering figures in elemental armor… they were human? Why steal children? To inject growth serums and brainwash them into tech-warriors, just as I guessed?
"Chongyun." Gu tapped the exorcist's shoulder. The pure-hearted boy blinked back from his thoughts. "Hm?"
"Have you seen people three meters tall, clad in elemental armor?" Gu asked.
"You mean the Fatui vanguard?" Chongyun recalled.
"Fatui? What a strange name…" Gu muttered. A group calling itself "The Fools" —what kind of leader chooses that?"Any history behind it?"
"The Fatui's roots? Perhaps. Centuries ago there were similar factions in Snezhnaya. Were they the ones who took Zhang Richu?"
"Yes." Gu quietly recounted the whole incident.
Chongyun's brow furrowed. "Without evidence, the Liyue Ministry can't charge people with diplomatic immunity. If we get a chance, let's bring a Feiyun Commerce Guild recording device and collect proof. We'll need to train even harder."
Gu nodded. At that moment, a man in a long robe approached—Zhang's father, Dongsheng. He grasped Gu's hand.
"My deepest thanks for saving my son."
"It was only a small effort," Gu replied politely.
"You're too modest." Dongsheng bent slightly. "If you don't mind, would you come to our home as a guest?"
"You must have a shop to run," Chongyun said with a smile. "We won't impose."
"True," Dongsheng admitted. "I've neglected business for days. At least come to the shop and take something you like. Otherwise my conscience won't rest."
Some Mora would be fine, Gu thought, but he refrained—these were people he might see often.He glanced at Chongyun, who nodded, and agreed: "All right."
"I'll cancel the missing-person report first," Dongsheng said, taking his son's hand and hurrying back inside the Ministry.
Through Liyue's Districts
Liyue Harbor could be divided into four main areas:
Feiyun Slope – the glittering commercial heart of pavilions and bridges.
Chihu Rock – the bustling streets of ordinary folk.
The Harbor – where a thousand sails gather.
Yujing Terrace – the seat of power and grand estates of the elite.
Soon Dongsheng returned. "Thank you for waiting. Please follow me."
He led them to a sizable general store in Chihu Rock.Its exterior looked plain, but inside were all manner of goods—produce, spices, daily necessities.
Gu pointed to several boxes of graphite pencils and a tall stack of writing paper."How much for these?"
"No charge!" Zhang Richu piped up instantly. "Take them!"
"Yes, free," Dongsheng confirmed, ruffling his son's hair, more pleased than pained.Liyue had been making graphite pencils for years; they weren't costly.
"This is fate," Dongsheng said, packing the items into a wooden box."Long ago I wandered the world. In Dihua Marsh I once faced death, but a masked adeptus saved me.This time, my son was saved by you. I'm truly grateful."
Masked adeptus… Dihua Marsh…Gu recalled the seaside woman he'd met with another child, patiently waiting for a promised miracle.
"Just a small effort," Gu said, accepting the box with quiet delight.Free stuff makes me happy!
"Shall we go to my home now? Perfect weather for training," Chongyun said, mint candy muffling his words. "Buying all this—planning to write letters?"
Elsewhere: Fatui Underground Arena
Far away in a hidden Snezhnayan arena, greenish lights glimmered in the gloom.A circular pit echoed with a boy's desperate screams that slowly faded, replaced by a wet, tearing sound.
Observers whispered from shadowed towers."Contestant 124: life signs terminated," intoned a cold mechanical voice.
At the highest gallery stood a man in a white morning suit, hands on the railing, and another bowing deeply behind him.
"Master, new scraps of a defeated god have been captured near Guyun Stone Forest," the subordinate reported nervously.
Tap…The man turned, shoes striking stone. Two floating spike-like devices hovered at his back.Thick pale-blue hair framed eyes of burning crimson. A black-and-white mask covered his face, a round gap on the right side exposing a faintly smiling mouth—mockery carved in flesh and porcelain.
"Will the new god-remnants adapt to human hosts?" he asked calmly.
"I… don't know, we haven't tested—"
"You truly don't understand."The man's cold voice cut like a blade. He tilted his head, crimson eyes gleaming, and extended a gloved hand.
"For millennia, countless gods have fallen. Their remains are everywhere. What I need is excellent material—human material."
"Yes, Master. I'll gather more subjects," the subordinate stammered, sweat dripping.
"Bring me a sample first."
"Yes, Master."
The subordinate dashed out, returning minutes later with a damp metal case.
Schlick… schlick… Tentacles writhed inside.
"Open it," the man ordered, tightening his white gloves.
Click.The lid sprang. A dark-blue blur shot upward—Thwack!
A grotesque octopus-like creature, claws at the end of each tentacle, slammed into the wall, blue blood spattering across the stone.