Lu Li felt like he had a very tiring and long dream.
The dream was an endless purple space.
He held a black short sword, practicing the starting stance of his created "Abyssal Sword Art" over and over again.
Each time he swung his sword, his arm felt as heavy as if it were filled with lead.
But his muscle memory became clearer.
In the dream,
Lu Li's body was no longer that of a five-month-old infant, but a child of about seven or eight years old.
In the dream, Skirk's voice would occasionally be heard, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Lu Li didn't know how long he practiced in the dream, until the short sword seemed to become an extension of his arm.
When he woke up, Lu Li felt sore all over, as if he had really gone through a special training session.
Besides that, Lu Li felt that his control over his body had significantly improved!
His fingers could precisely make gripping movements, and he could even feel the swirling energy vortex in his dantian (energy center), a rich energy he had never felt before.
"Did I really cultivate in my dream?"
Lu Li pondered in his mind, then his thoughts were interrupted by a strong feeling of hunger from his stomach.
Lu Li turned his head to look at Skirk in the center of the cave.
Skirk was practicing a new set of sword techniques, her movements much slower than usual, with light trails lingering in the path of each sword stroke.
"Hungry... hungry... !"
When the word "hungry" came out, Lu Li himself was stunned.
Although his voice was childish and milky, it was indeed a clear and discernible word; he could finally speak, finally no longer needing to babble.
What was even more delightful was... the coordination between his throat and tongue was much smoother than expected. Could it be that his control over his body from practicing sword in his dream extended to his vocal organs?!
Hearing Lu Li call out "hungry."
Skirk's sword momentum suddenly paused, she turned around, her silver-white long hair tracing an arc of light, her eyes flashing with an unbelievable gleam.
"This child can speak? Only five months old..."
Skirk took two steps in three to reach the hammock, reaching out to pinch Lu Li's cheek as if to confirm this wasn't an illusion.
Lu Li pointed to his mouth, then patted his stomach.
"Hungry!"
Lu Li's pronunciation was even clearer and more forceful this time.
Listening to Lu Li call out "hungry."
Skirk suddenly burst out laughing. This was the first time Lu Li had heard her laugh so heartily in these past few months.
It was as if a burden had been lifted.
After so many years of being tormented and trained by Surtalogi, this was the first time she felt relaxed.
However, this only lasted for a few breaths; Skirk quickly returned to her usual state.
"To protect this child and ensure he grows up smoothly, I must work harder and become stronger."
Skirk's belief in wanting to become stronger became even more solid!
As usual, Skirk took out a crystal bottle from the leather pouch at her waist, with milky white liquid sloshing inside.
"Here, little genius."
Skirk habitually brought the bottle to Lu Li's mouth, but saw Lu Li extend his two chubby little hands and firmly grasp the bottle.
Finally regaining control over his body, Lu Li wanted to eat by himself this time.
Seeing Lu Li holding the bottle, Skirk raised an eyebrow and let go.
Lu Li held the bottle and drank with proper form, tilting his head back. A few drops of milk slid down the corner of his mouth, which he wiped with his sleeve.
"Burp~"
After finishing his milk, Lu Li let out a satisfied burp, and handed the empty bottle back to Skirk, who had a slight smile on her face.
Skirk took the bottle, then suddenly knelt on one knee.
She was at eye level with Lu Li in the hammock.
Skirk's expression became exceptionally serious, and her silver eyes held emotions that Lu Li couldn't understand.
"Listen, little one."
"Although I don't know your origins, or how you came to be here, by being with me, you will face a destiny of destruction in the future."
"So I will teach you to become strong, so that even if you leave me, you can survive alone in this world."
Skirk's voice was soft, yet carried firmness and determination.
After speaking.
Skirk then remembered... Lu Li was still a small baby and probably wouldn't understand what she was saying.
"Never mind, pretend I didn't say anything."
While Skirk was speaking, Lu Li stood up on the spider silk hammock.
He gently touched Skirk's head with his small hand.
"I... want... to become strong."
Lu Li's vocal organs were not yet fully developed, so his speech was not coherent, but he could still express his meaning.
Hearing Lu Li's voice coming from above her head, Skirk was very surprised. This child could actually understand her words, and he even wanted to become strong.
Moreover... at only five months old, he could stand up. Wouldn't he be able to train soon?!
"Very good, my name is Skirk."
"From today onwards, I am your master."
Listening to Skirk's self-introduction, Lu Li completely confirmed that the world he was in was Teyvat.
This was Skirk's training in the Abyss of Teyvat, retracing her master Surtalogi's path to power, and finding a way to defeat him.
For a moment, Lu Li was also delighted.
Having Skirk as his master would allow him to cultivate powerful combat skills.
Tartaglia, after only three months of training, saw his combat power greatly increase and became a Harbinger of the Fatui.
Since he also possessed incredible comprehension, wouldn't he be invincible upon his debut after further study?!
Afterwards.
To live a free and happy life on the continent of Teyvat, and then become strong enough to destroy the Abyssal Dragon with a single sword.
Wouldn't he then be able to marry Skirk?!
Thinking of this, Lu Li was incredibly happy, and subconsciously called out the words "Wife!"
Hearing Lu Li call her wife, Skirk's face suddenly turned red.
"Call me Master!!!"
In all these years, no one had ever dared to be so presumptuous in front of her.
Realizing he had blurted out what he was thinking.
Lu Li was afraid Skirk might accidentally break his little arms and legs.
After all, Skirk's strength was immense, and Lu Li's current body was too weak and fragile.
So he quickly changed his words: "Master! Master!!!"
He would call her wife later, when he was strong enough.
Skirk calmed her emotions, "Since you can stand up, then let's learn to walk."