"Oloren, how exactly do you know the Fatui are on that plain?"
Citra Lili narrowed her eyes and stared at her grandson.
"Grandma, I live out in the wilderness all year… I hear things."
Oloren scratched his cheek.
"What?! Oloren, did you forget what I've drilled into your head since childhood? The three cautions!"
"I remember.
Beware beasts.
Beware tricksters.
Beware… strange beings that appear from nowhere.
But the Fatui—"
He stopped abruptly.
"Actually… never mind. Grandma, there are things you're better off not knowing."
"Oh, heavens! I've lived two hundred years and never seen a child talk back to the Great Priestess like that!"
Citra Lili pointed at him, furious.
Liang Chuan coughed lightly.
"Maybe don't scold him in front of outsiders? Might leave a psychological shadow."
"Thank you, Grandpa," Oloren said gratefully.
"Take me to that plain."
Liang Chuan nodded.
"The Fatui aren't necessarily impossible to get along with."
"You too?"
Citra Lili frowned.
"Liang Chuan, you mustn't trust the Fatui! They're not good people!"
"It's just a difference in position.
If we're on the same side,
they might even become allies we can trust."
Liang Chuan smiled.
After all, when the Natlan Abyss fully erupts, the Fatui do a lot of heavy lifting.
Especially when a Harbinger is around — that sense of security? Absolutely overflowing.
From a big-picture perspective, the Fatui's actions are for the Tsaritsa's war against Celestia.
They're fighting for Teyvat's future.
Meanwhile, the twins from Khaenri'ah… arguably look more like the villains.
The vote was 2:1.
Even with Citra Lili objecting, the group still set off for the plain.
The plain lay southwest of the Misty Canyon tribe — far from both the tribe and the Sacred Flame Arena.
Unless necessary, Natlan tribespeople rarely approached this place.
Which was exactly why the Fatui could establish their base here.
A Perfect Location… with a Problem
"This place is incredible!"
Liang Chuan looked around, practically glowing.
"Fruit, water, game animals…
wood, stone, even ore!
This is the perfect site for a base!"
"But the monsters here are far too numerous."
Citra Lili's tone dropped.
"On the way alone, we passed five Hilichurl camps.
Slimes everywhere.
I even spotted two Abyssal Tumor Roots!
If not for you two,
I'd have cleansed those on the spot!"
"Please don't…
Let my people handle that."
Liang Chuan quickly stopped her.
They didn't even have a Bioenergy Terminal here yet — those monsters were walking currency.
"And the Fatui's base?"
Citra Lili turned to Oloren.
Oloren immediately fell silent.
If he exposed the Fatui base…
tomorrow Citra Lili would surely arrive with the entire ruling council in tow.
"You refuse to tell me?
Do you think I can't find them myself?"
Citra Lili glared.
"Let's ignore the Fatui for now.
We're here to pick a spot for my new base."
Liang Chuan gently stopped her.
"I think this place is perfect.
Wait here a moment — I'll test something."
Meanwhile… Back at the Players' Side
By now the players had finally transported all the Hilichurl corpses back to the Bioenergy Terminal.
The huge haul of bioenergy flooded the market.
Players like One Slash to Seal the Throat and Jump Up and Hit Your Kneecap
finally had enough currency to pay for their revives.
"This game is amazing!"
FlameFlare laughed.
"One Hilichurl camp —
we gained EXP, materials,
and a pile of credit points!
Only the final chest was a bit disappointing."
"But those credit points convert to real money."
I Really Eat Beef sighed in awe.
"Two days of gameplay earned more than half a month of my salary!"
"Exactly! I'm thinking of quitting my job and becoming a full-time player."
Another player chimed in.
"I've heard stories…"
I Really Eat Beef continued,
"Back in Fantasy Westward Journey, one piece of gear was worth a house!
This game's ceiling will only be higher.
Just the bioenergy trading alone nets us thousands already.
Imagine getting a top-tier weapon… we'd be financially free!"
"And don't forget—
we're the first wave of players."
FlameFlare grinned.
"That alone puts us on the wind's peak.
We can't NOT take off."
"You know what?
I'm sending in my resignation later today.
Once I hand over my work, I'm becoming a full-time gamer!"
"Hand over work? Send in a letter?"
another player scoffed.
"You're still acting like a wage slave!
It's the start of the month — forget the few days' salary!
Just leave the company group chat and block the boss."
"Uh… that seems a bit extreme…
Maintaining relationships is important."
"Relationships?
Did your boss treat you like a human?
996 as standard, sometimes 007 overtime!"
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
I Really Eat Beef suddenly howled.
"What now?!"
"I'm quitting too!
Full-time gaming!
And I'm dragging my friends and relatives in with me!"
"I already asked my parents to apply for accounts.
No idea why they haven't been approved yet."
FlameFlare muttered.
"Maybe the next batch of accounts won't be issued until the next update."
"Next update?"
I Really Eat Beef narrowed his eyes.
"You mean… now?"
At that moment—
Every player in Teyvat saw the same notification pop up.
[Genshin: Initiation — Version 1.1 Update Notice]
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
https://www.patreon.com/Mindsmithstudio