Chapter 144. Inviting Someone
The wind on the summit thinned, as though even the mountain itself were listening.
The clash had ended, but the air still carried the residual tension of thunder and frost. Broken branches lay scattered across the stone paths. Several ancient shrubs had been cleanly severed. It had only been a spar—yet another quarter hour and a visible portion of Mount Aocang would have required restoration.
Futsu Mitama lowered his blade first.
"You've grown much stronger," he admitted with a quiet exhale.
Shenhe sheathed her Calamity Queller in one fluid motion. "You as well," she replied evenly. "I still have a long path ahead."
The exchange was sincere. Neither flattered the other.
He knew it clearly—without invoking Archon authority, victory would not be guaranteed. Even with it, it would not be immediate. Shenhe now stood firmly at the threshold of the Adeptus realm. Her talisman arts had matured. Her spear carried weight beyond technique.
Half a month ago, she had not been this formidable.
Now? She could contend evenly with entities at Adeptus tier.
That pace of growth was not merely impressive.
It was terrifying.
"Enough modesty from both of you." Cloud Retainer approached, composed as ever. "It is good that both your strengths have increased."
Her gaze shifted.
"But what brings you here? Could it be you came to see Aila?"
The question was calm—but deliberate. If only Futsu Mitama and Kuki had arrived, she would not have asked. But Yae Miko's presence altered the equation.
Yae Miko stood quietly to the side, expression serene, though her earlier internal turbulence had not entirely faded.
"I am here to take Aila back to Inazuma for a short time," Futsu Mitama answered respectfully.
"Why?"
There was no anger in Cloud Retainer's tone. Only inquiry.
"Has something occurred in Inazuma that requires her return?"
Shenhe added calmly, "Junior Sister is in a crucial period. Her talisman arts and spear techniques are stabilizing rapidly. Within a month, she should be capable of contending with an Adeptus."
After a year of secluded cultivation, she would likely reach Shenhe's present realm.
That assessment alone spoke volumes. Reaching Adeptus-tier within a year was not ordinary genius.
It bordered on anomaly. Cloud Retainer remained unperturbed.
"Aila's talent is astonishing. It matters little where she studies," she said. "But Mount Aocang is safer. If danger arises here, this Adeptus, my Old Friend, and Rex Lapis may intervene."
"If she goes to Inazuma…that existence would have to intervene."
The implication was unmistakable.
Yae Miko's smile twitched at the edges. So, aside from Ei, no one in Inazuma could guarantee protection?
Infuriatingly…not incorrect.
The realization struck sharply.
An Adeptus mentor. An Adeptus disciple. Another newly ascended Adeptus-tier combatant.
And that was merely one mountain.
Inazuma's ceiling suddenly felt…thin.
A flicker of resolve replaced her irritation. She would have to raise it.
Futsu Mitama spoke again, steady.
"Regarding Black Aila, True Monarch—you need not worry."
Cloud Retainer's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"
He explained. The encounter in the Abyss. Fatui. Black Aila's declaration.
The duel would not begin yet.
Aila was too weak.
Both were targets of a Harbinger-level experiment. To survive, they would need to approach weak Archon-tier strength. Only then would the fusion produce something viable.
If Aila remained below Adeptus level, Black Aila would wait. Once she reached it, the Abyss would release her. Because Black Aila also desired victory. And after inheriting Aila's memories—She desired him as well.
Silence lingered after the explanation. Even Cloud Retainer seemed momentarily taken aback.
A fated duel where one disappears upon defeat. Yet the stronger self voluntarily allowed the weaker to grow.
"Then she does this for you?" Shenhe asked plainly.
Futsu Mitama nodded once.
He did not embellish it. Black Aila's concession was strategic—but also personal.
A delicate balance now existed. Pride. Fairness. Desire.
Cloud Retainer eventually spoke.
"This Adeptus will not interfere. As long as Aila consents, this Adeptus will permit her descent. She has nearly reached a bottleneck. Tempering in the mortal world is appropriate. If not for that Black Aila, she would have descended earlier."
She paused.
"Pure cultivation without tempering breeds fragility. This situation…may be beneficial."
With a light motion of her wings, wind flowed into the cave dwelling.
Futsu Mitama bowed.
"Thank you, True Monarch."
He had expected resistance. He had prepared arguments. He had even prepared to involve Zhongli—Rex Lapis—if necessary. Yet matters resolved cleanly.
Then Cloud Retainer added calmly:
"I shall entrust my two disciples to you. Both require tempering. And it is time this Adeptus personally observes how the Liyue Qixing intends to sustain the era of humans and Adeptus."
Futsu Mitama nodded automatically.
"Yes, yes, I will definitely—"
He stopped.
Wait. Two disciples?
A breeze stirred. Within the cave, footsteps approached.
And somewhere behind him, Yae Miko's expression shifted ever so slightly—because Inazuma had just gained not one returning prodigy—but two.
Cloud Retainer walked slightly ahead, sleeves drifting like quiet clouds.
"Shenhe will accompany you."
It was not a suggestion. Shenhe showed no visible reaction. As always. But her grip on Calamity Queller shifted slightly — acknowledgment, not hesitation.
Futsu Mitama blinked. "To Inazuma?"
"Even had you not arrived," Cloud Retainer replied calmly, "Shenhe would soon descend to temper herself through combat. Her path cannot stagnate."
The meaning was clear. Potential without conflict was unrefined ore. Aila and Shenhe were both at the threshold of something greater. But thresholds meant nothing without pressure.
Cloud Retainer's gaze turned toward Futsu Mitama.
"You are strong enough to serve as both whetstone and shield."
That was the closest thing to trust she offered.
Yae Miko's smile curved ever so slightly. Yae Miko immediately saw the political geometry unfolding.
Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko, as retainers and family tied to the Shogunate, were restricted. Open intervention in the civil conflict carried consequences.
But Shenhe? A Liyue Adeptus disciple. No Inazuman allegiance.
If she stood with Sangonomiya Kokomi and the Resistance, the high-end combat gap would narrow dramatically.
The board shifted.
Shenhe noticed the fox's calculating gaze.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. She did not understand politics. But she understood intent. Before that silent clash deepened—
Footsteps.
Aila stepped from the cave shadows. Aila did not speak. She pressed the cracked pocket watch.
Time distorted for a breath.
Futsu Mitama reacted instantly this time. He saw the acceleration. He opened his arms.
She collided into him—and kissed him without hesitation.
The summit froze.
Shenhe tilted her head.
"Master. Why is Junior Sister biting him?"
Cloud Retainer paused.
"Do not inquire excessively."
Even she required processing time.
Yae Miko slowly turned toward Kuki Shinobu.
"No jealousy?"
Shinobu exhaled. "I am immune to your provocation."
Aila stepped back, expression composed once more.
"Forgive my rudeness, Young Master."
But there was something sharper beneath it. Black Aila's actions in the Abyss still lingered in her memory. Same origin. Different will.
Futsu Mitama simply rested a hand atop her head.
"You've grown stronger."
It was true. Her aura was denser. Sharper. Less unstable.
"Not enough," she replied softly.
She intended to reach Shenhe's realm. Or surpass it.
Cloud Retainer concluded the matter. Both disciples would descend. If danger exceeded their capacity, they would return immediately to Mount Aocang.
"And should matters escalate," she added calmly, "this immortal will request assistance from Rex Lapis."
Rex Lapis. Absolute confidence.
—
As they approached the outer road toward Liyue Harbor, the Chat Group chimed.
The air itself seemed to pause.
Yae Miko did not hesitate. She opened the interface.
[Yae Miko: @Futsu Mitama @Aila @Kuki Shinobu Should we add Shenhe? ]
Instant reaction.
[Azhdaha: Why. ]
[Guizhong: Oh? The Cloud Retainer's disciple? I'm curious. ]
[Zhongli: Aila is also her disciple. ]
The subtle reminder carried weight.
[Raiden Makoto: Miko. Explain. ]
[Yae Miko: The Resistance lacks high-end combatants. If Shenhe joins, we can focus on Kunikuzushi without splitting forces. ]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: Shenhe? The Adeptus disciple? ]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Is it appropriate to involve a Liyue Adeptus in Inazuma's internal conflict? ]
[Venti: I, for one, support more chaotic energy—]
[Raiden Makoto: You are not helping. ]
[Albedo: From a purely analytical standpoint, Adeptus-tier combat power would significantly rebalance the battlefield. ]
[Azhdaha: If she is strong, let her fight. ]
[Guizhong: You're all terrifying. ]
Futsu Mitama finally typed.
[Futsu Mitama: Miko. Your eyes earlier were calculating. ]
[Kuki Shinobu: She was scheming. ]
[Yae Miko: I prefer "strategizing." ]
[Aila: What did I miss? ]
[Shinobu: Fox mathematics. ]
Silence lingered in the group chat.
The logic was undeniable. Shenhe possessed Adeptus potential. No political attachment to Inazuma. Temperament suited for combat. The only variable—Her will.
The group's notification icon pulsed.
All eyes shifted toward Shenhe walking silently beside them. She had no idea she was currently the center of a geopolitical debate conducted through an otherworldly interface.
Futsu Mitama glanced at her.
"Shenhe."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"If Inazuma is turbulent…would you consider traveling there?"
She did not hesitate.
"If it is necessary."
No politics. No calculation. Just purpose.
The Chat Group froze for half a second.
Yae Miko's smile deepened.
Decision pending. But the board had already shifted.
[Albedo: "I think this is feasible, because Shenhe has a good personality, and if she interferes, it will be of great benefit to the upcoming trip to Inazuma. It's just, why would she join the team again?"]
[Klee: "Klee is also very curious!"]
The group chat was still active.
Futsu Mitama suddenly typed.
[Futsu Mitama: "It's this late, and Klee still isn't asleep?" ]
A second later—
[Albedo: "Klee!" ]
[Klee: "Waaah!!! Klee's going to sleep right now!!!" ]
Somewhere in Mondstadt, a tiny red blur likely dove under blankets.
The chat calmed.
Then Aila continued.
[Aila: "Senior Sister just broke through and needs tempering. But recently, most matters in Liyue have been taken over by the Millelith and the Liyue Qixing." ]
[Aila: "Master said that if Senior Sister went down the mountain now and forcefully offered help, it would be a slap in the face to the Liyue Qixing. So he made her stay on the mountain." ]
Instant reaction.
[Keqing: "Cough—cough—cough!!!" ]
[Zhongli: "Hmm. That assessment is correct." ]
[Guizhong: "It's not easy, having to consider the feelings of the younger generation." ]
[Azhdaha: "Looking at it this way, letting Cloud Retainer's disciple go to Inazuma for training might actually be a good thing." ]
That was the turning point.
[Yae Miko: "Exactly. I think this is a win-win situation. Shenhe needs combat, and the Resistance is about to engage in a major battle." ]
[Yae Miko: "Moreover, even if she encounters danger, there's still me, Futsu Mitama, Aila, Kokomi, Kuki Shinobu, and others." ]
[Yae Miko: "And if she truly encounters danger, she can assume the role of a Liyue envoy — similar to how a certain Fatui Harbinger once operated. Even if the Tenryou Commission wanted to kill her, they wouldn't have the authority." ]
Her logic was airtight.
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "I don't know why, but I feel my status can be lowered a bit more." ]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Kokomi, you are the soul of the Resistance!" ]
[Kokomi: "Thank you… Actually, I just want to quietly read books. The Resistance is so tiring. When I first raised this banner, I never imagined it would come to this." ]
[Raiden Makoto: "I also never imagined it would evolve into this." ]
[Guizhong: "I also never imagined that after awakening, I would immediately hand over the art of mechanisms~"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Poor Kokomi. At most in half a year, the Resistance will likely disband. You won't be so tired then." ]
[Yae Miko: "Hehehe Yes With a little troublemaker like you around, things become much smoother. So~ what do you think?" ]
[Futsu Mitama: "I'll ask for her opinion." ]
He wouldn't casually drag someone into the Chat Group. Zhongli, Venti, Yae Miko, Guizhong — those were special circumstances.
But this?
This involved politics, war, and reputation.
—
The strategic reality was harsh. The Resistance lacked high-end combat power. Even adding Aila and Kuki Shinobu would still leave a gap.
The Tenryou Commission had elite squads. The Fatui had elite operatives.
And at the center of danger—Scaramouche
He would likely be handled by Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko.
But what about the strong squad led by—Kujou Sara
Sara herself was formidable. As a general she held back for her troops' sake. But if she moved freely on the battlefield?
She alone could tilt engagements. If Aila, Shinobu, and Kaedehara Kazuha fought that squad, the outcome would likely be stalemate.
Shenhe's addition could be decisive.
—
Futsu Mitama turned to Shenhe.
"Shenhe. May I ask you for a favor?"
She turned, holding freshly picked Qingxin.
"What?"
She hesitated, then silently handed him the Qingxin.
"Here."
"Pfft~"
Yae Miko laughed openly.
Shinobu covered her face.
Aila was unfazed. Senior Sister was powerful — but socially…minimal.
Futsu Mitama shook his head slightly.
"I don't need Qingxin. I need to explain something."
She put the flower into her mouth and calmly said, "Speak."
He explained the Resistance, the Tenryou Commission, the Fatui's involvement, the imminent purge.
When he finished—Shenhe swallowed the Qingxin.
"The Fatui are involved?"
"Yes."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Last time, Il Dottore nearly escaped."
She did not name him, but the intent was clear.
"This time, no Harbinger will escape. The Fatui have caused chaos in Liyue. Debts must be repaid. And you have helped Liyue many times. Assisting you is natural."
There was no hesitation. No calculation. Only clarity.
Futsu Mitama exhaled slowly.
"Then…I will take you somewhere. Do not be alarmed. It may challenge your common sense."
He opened the Chat Group interface.
Invitation candidates appeared:
Shenhe
Cloud Retainer
Mountain Shaper
Moon Carver
Xiao
"…?"
Were all Adeptus nearby?
No.
His perception detected nothing. Which meant—The invitation range had expanded.
Interesting.
He selected Shenhe.
A prompt sounded in her mind.
"Ding! Are you willing to join the Teyvat Continent Loving Family Chat Group?"
Instantly—Calamity Queller appeared.
More than a dozen talismans formed a ring. Two ice puppets manifested beside her.
Highest alert.
"Don't get excited!" Yae Miko said quickly. "Look for 'Yes' and 'No'."
Shenhe saw them. Her instinct said do not touch. Her master had warned her of unknown taboos. But she looked at Futsu Mitama.
He nodded.
She clicked Yes.
—
The world shifted.
A translucent interface unfolded before her.
Group Announcement: "Ding!!! Welcome Shenhe to the Teyvat Continent Loving Family Chat Group."
[Guizhong: "Welcome, welcome!!! Another fierce general from Liyue! Mr. Zhongli, I'm right, aren't I?"
[Zhongli: "…"
[Azhdaha: "Hahaha! Another from Liyue is always good. Especially Cloud Retainer's disciple."
[Keqing: "Hello, Shenhe."
[Futsu Mitama: "@Shenhe Welcome. This is a place for chatting. Those names are real. I know you have questions. Everyone will answer them."
[Yae Miko: "You can speak using your thoughts."
[Aila: "Senior Sister, try speaking. Don't just stand there."
[Kuki Shinobu: "It's normal to be stunned the first time."
[Albedo: "This reminds me of when I first joined. Nostalgic."
[Klee: "@Shenhe Hello big sister!!! Klee gets to see you again~"
[Albedo: "KLEE! GO TO SLEEP! WHAT TIME IS IT?!"
[Ayaka: "This is Kamisato Ayaka. Please take good care of me."
Shenhe stood silent for several seconds.
Then—A small line of text appeared.
[Shenhe: "This is convenient."
The chat exploded again.
The moment Shenhe's first line appeared, the group fell into that familiar rhythm again.
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "I am Sangonomiya Kokomi, fourth-in-command of the Resistance. Please guide me."
Futsu Mitama blinked.
[Futsu Mitama: "Fourth-in-command? Aren't you the leader of the Resistance?"
There was a brief pause before the reply came.
[Kokomi: "No, I'm not the leader. The ones above me are too senior. I wouldn't dare call myself the leader of the Resistance."
In Watatsumi Island, someone quietly pushed responsibility upward without hesitation.
[Yae Miko: "Oh? Then who exactly are these 'too senior' figures~?"
Kokomi did not respond to that.
Outside the interface— Shenhe stood motionless.
But she was not stunned by the existence of the Chat Group anymore. She had already accepted that impossible things could exist. What froze her was something else entirely.
Two names.
Azhdaha
Guizhong
The ancient dragon who once fought beside Rex Lapis. A being spoken of in solemn tones during Adeptus gatherings. A name that carried the weight of contracts, erosion, and time.
Guizhong. The God of Dust.
The gentle yet brilliant deity who stood in the Guili Assembly during the Archon War. The one who faced a hostile god to protect her people — and fell upon the plains that later bore her name.
These were not obscure figures.
They were pillars of Liyue's history. Shenhe had grown up hearing about them from Master. They were legends. Revered. Mourned. Feared. And now—
They were…chatting.
[Guizhong: "Oh my, Shenhe has gone quiet~ Did we scare her?"
[Azhdaha: "Hmph. Young ones today are too easily startled."
Shenhe's fingers tightened slightly around Calamity Queller. Her breathing remained steady, but her eyes were sharp.
[Shenhe: "You are… the Dragon King Azhdaha?"
[Azhdaha: "Dragon King? Hahaha! That title has been buried in stone for a long time. But yes. It is I."
A faint pause.
[Shenhe: "And you…are Lady Guizhong?"
Guizhong responded almost immediately.
[Guizhong: "Still being remembered after all this time~ How touching."
There was no denial. No evasion. Only casual confirmation.
Shenhe's world view shifted again. These were existences that even Adeptus treated with gravity.
Yet here they were in a "Loving Family Chat Group."
Her gaze moved instinctively to another name.
Zhongli had not spoken much
But Shenhe understood.
If Azhdaha and Guizhong were present—
Then this Zhongli…
Her mind reached the obvious conclusion.
[Zhongli: "You may ask what you wish, Shenhe."
His tone was calm. Measured. The same as the storyteller in Liyue Harbor. Yet to Shenhe's ears, it carried the weight of mountains.
For a brief moment, she wondered whether Master knew about this.
Then another thought surfaced. If this Chat Group could gather such beings—
If even Guizhong, who had perished in the Archon War, was present—
Then what exactly was this place?
Her vigilance did not rise.
Instead—Curiosity replaced it.
[Shenhe: "Is this some kind of realm?"
[Guizhong: "Not quite. Think of it as a bridge."
[Azhdaha: "A strange one."
[Yae Miko: "A very useful one~"
Futsu Mitama watched her carefully.
He could see the shift in her expression.
Not fear.
Not doubt.
Understanding.
Slow, but steady.
Shenhe finally exhaled lightly.
["I see." Then she added another line. "If Master joins and sees Lady Guizhong here…she may faint."
The chat paused.
Then—
[Guizhong: "Oh my. Now I'm tempted to join just to see that reaction~"
Azhdaha burst into laughter in text form.
Zhongli remained silent.
And Futsu Mitama realized something important.
Shenhe was not shaken because the Chat Group existed.
She was shaken because history itself was typing back at her.
And that—Was far more destabilizing than any unknown taboo.
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