Jiang Yan's words carried unmistakable threat.
The Abyss Sovereign understood that if Jiang Yan said something like that, then he truly meant it.
And more importantly—
The Abyss Sovereign knew Jiang Yan had no interest in joking with his enemies.
"Wood Spirit Immortal Lord... what a pity."
"With strength like yours, yet you willingly remain in a tiny place like Liyue."
"What exactly is it about Liyue that attracts you?"
At last, the Abyss Sovereign voiced a question that had troubled him for years.
Across all of Teyvat, Jiang Yan was the only person capable of suppressing him so completely.
Even the Heavenly Principles could merely restrain him, forcing him to operate in the shadows.
But Jiang Yan was different.
Though he could not permanently kill the Abyss Sovereign—
He could render him utterly powerless.
You can regenerate?
Then I'll kill you over and over until you no longer have the strength to rebuild.
If the Abyss Sovereign possessed a soul, Jiang Yan would have erased him from the root long ago.
"What attracts me?"
Jiang Yan repeated softly before shaking his head.
"It's not Liyue itself."
"Liyue was built by my own hands."
"What attracts me has never been the nation."
"It's the people living within it."
"Humans. Gods."
"Perhaps…"
He paused midway and suddenly grimaced.
"Forget it."
"Why am I even explaining this to you?"
Halfway through speaking, Jiang Yan found himself cringing.
Why was he having a philosophical discussion with the Abyss Sovereign?
It wasn't as if the guy planned on joining Liyue.
"Even if I explained it, you wouldn't understand."
He rolled his eyes and ended the topic.
The Abyss Sovereign had actually been listening carefully.
Only for Jiang Yan to abruptly stop talking.
For a moment, he nearly choked from frustration.
"You…"
A trace of irritation entered the Sovereign's raspy voice.
"Forget it."
He sighed.
If Jiang Yan didn't want to continue, what could he do?
"Still... I hope one day you'll come to understand."
"The Heavenly Principles are nothing but tyrants."
"They have no right to rule over Teyvat."
"If you ever change your mind..."
"Come to the Abyss."
"Our gates will always remain open for you."
The Abyss Sovereign still refused to give up on recruiting him.
"Heh."
"Don't worry."
"I doubt that day will ever come in this lifetime."
Jiang Yan replied with a thin smile.
"Hmph!"
The Abyss Sovereign snorted coldly at the firm refusal.
"In any case... take care of yourself."
Dark mist spread around him.
Then his figure disappeared completely.
Jiang Yan made no effort to stop him.
Even if he did, he couldn't truly kill him.
Besides, this incident hadn't been a direct attack against Liyue.
There was no need to waste energy dragging the fight out.
Right now, healing Heruvia was more important.
Jiang Yan lowered his head to look at her pale, unconscious face.
Though the Horse Talisman had stabilized her condition—
The Abyssal corruption had already seeped deep into her body.
Removing it would take considerable effort.
Just as Jiang Yan prepared to leave the mine with Heruvia—
His ear twitched slightly.
He turned his head toward a massive rock near the wall.
His eyes narrowed.
There—
Barely visible—
A little yellow cowlick was bobbing up and down behind the stone.
Jiang Yan suddenly smiled.
So it was this guy.
Just from that distinct yellow cowlick alone—
There was no mistaking him.
One of the twin protagonists of Teyvat.
The Traveler's brother.
Aether.
"Hey."
"You hiding behind the rock."
Jiang Yan called out loudly.
"If you don't come out now, I'm leaving."
The cowlick jerked sharply.
Then, under Jiang Yan's gaze, Aether slowly stepped out from behind the stone.
"How did you find me?"
Aether's eyes were deep and wary as he looked at Jiang Yan holding Heruvia.
He held hostility toward the so-called Wood Spirit Immortal Lord.
After all—
This man was one of the figures responsible for Khaenri'ah's destruction.
Though Aether had traveled through Liyue before, he had only ever seen Jiang Yan from afar.
But now—
He had witnessed Jiang Yan's strength firsthand.
Terrifying.
Even the Abyss Sovereign—the ruler of the Abyss—had no power to resist him.
Compared to that—
Aether himself was insignificant.
"How could I not notice you?"
Jiang Yan rolled his eyes and pointed at Aether's head.
"With that ridiculous cowlick of yours?"
"No matter where you hide, it gives you away."
Aether: ...
"Alright."
"What are you doing hiding here?"
Jiang Yan asked.
"Judging by the aura around you, you should be one of the Abyss Sovereign's people, right?"
Aether neither confirmed nor denied it.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"I want to ask you for a favor."
Jiang Yan raised a brow.
That request genuinely surprised him.
"What favor?"
Aether hesitated.
His eyes flickered with uncertainty.
He wasn't sure whether this man could be trusted.
"Could you…"
He hesitated again before finally speaking.
"When my sister arrives in Liyue…"
"Could you look after her?"
"Hm?"
Jiang Yan frowned.
"Your sister?"
He knew Lumine, of course.
But why would Aether ask him to take care of her?
If Jiang Yan remembered correctly—
They weren't close enough for that kind of request.
Wait.
Don't tell me—
This guy wants to become my brother-in-law?!
Seeing Jiang Yan's expression, Aether instantly realized—
This man had definitely misunderstood something.
Though he had no idea what Jiang Yan was imagining—
He instinctively felt it was absolutely not anything good.
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