On the plains of Liyue, Lumine was running frantically, hugging Paimon.
They traveled day and night, not daring to stop and rest even at night, constantly rushing. Now it was already late morning again.
"Damn it! Why are they chasing me?"
Lumine hadn't expected the Seven Stars of Liyue's wanted order to be issued so quickly (it hadn't been issued), nor had she expected this group of Millelith to chase so desperately (they weren't chasing)!
Paimon was held backward by Lumine, her butt facing forward and her head backward, acting somewhat like a rearview mirror.
She made her hand into a goggle shape and looked behind her: "I can understand that obeying orders is a soldier's duty, but they have such a strong sense of conviction. What exactly is supporting them?"
They are very convinced, we have zero tolerance.
Behind them, Aiko was also shouting to her brothers: "Everyone keep up, don't fall behind! Now that the Geo God has been assassinated and demons are rampant, Liyue is in troubled times!
All the monsters along this path are obstructing the little Magus (Hilichurl: They entered my detection range, what else would I do?), which means we are doing the right thing! These monsters must want to prevent the Adeptuss from communicating with each other, and defeat Liyue Harbor and the Adeptuss one by one!
We Liyue people have received the grace of heaven, and now is the time to repay it! We must escort the little Magus to the Adeptus's abode, Jueyun Karst!"
"""Oh!!! Millelith are solid, Unyielding!"""
Lumine stumbled from the roar in front of her. It was terrifying, was this the conviction of soldiers? It was enough to shake her mind!
Truly terrifying!
Along this journey, traversing mountains and rivers, climbing peaks, braving wind and rain, cutting through thorns! Lumine finally arrived above Jueyun Karst, clutching Paimon. This place was the Moon Carver True Lord's dojo.
Just as she stopped, before Lumine could even catch her breath, a voice like a grand bell resounded.
"Who are you? Why do you trespass into Jueyun Karst?"
Following the sound, at the end of the mountain path, atop the steps, was a giant Adeptus deer bathed in golden light!
Its scales were like jade, its eyes like stars, its fur glowed faintly, and intricate white patterns adorned its back.
Lumine glanced back, reacting quickly. She released Paimon and took out the Talisman of Forbidden Covenants: "Adeptus, please look at this item!"
"Oh?" The Adeptus deer tilted its head slightly: "A Talisman of Forbidden Covenants? I didn't expect a human to possess such an item. Very well, I am the Three-Eyed and Five-Manifested Adeptus, Moon Carver True Lord! Traveler, what is your purpose in coming here?"
Before Lumine and Paimon could reply, Moon Carver suddenly looked up the path Lumine had come from and snorted coldly: "Hmph! Disturbing the peace. Send them away, but do not kill."
Lumine's heart tightened, and she quickly looked back, indeed seeing a group of Millelith panting heavily, and her heart immediately sank.
They chased all the way here?
And the newly arrived Millelith also heard Moon Carver True Lord's self-introduction. Many of them wept with joy; our mission is complete!
Aiko's lips moved slightly, but she controlled her emotions and shouted, "Form ranks!"
The Millelith soldiers immediately stood in rows, but not in an attacking formation; instead, they formed a square.
Aiko immediately shouted: "We have escorted them all the way here, clearing the way of demons and killing monsters! Now we have finally escorted them to the Adeptus's location!
Millelith, hear my order, retreat!"
"""Yes!!!"""
With that, the Millelith marched away with neat steps, turning their heads and leaving.
Lumine and Paimon were stunned in place.
Lumine was now breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, and after traveling day and night without eating, she was starving and parched. Her remaining moisture seeped from her pores, sticking her wisps of hair to her forehead.
Her shoulders trembled as she watched the retreating figures of the Millelith along the mountain path, her voice seemingly tinged with a slight sob: "Couldn't you have said something earlier?!"
Skirk in the Realm of Wonders Hall closed her eyes and sighed. She decided that when Orion returned from WangSheng Funeral Parlor, she would definitely give him a good scolding, letting this wretched teacher who neglected his disciple taste what high heels made of Abyssal Power felt like... "How preposterous?!"
Moon Carver True Lord was furious, simply because he had learned the truth of the Geo God's assassination from Lumine's mouth!
For a moment, the mountains trembled, and the winds and clouds changed dramatically. In his rage, Moon Carver True Lord unleashed his Adeptus power without reservation!
Although Adeptuss could not easily move mountains and fill seas like the Geo God, exerting their full strength to shake mountains was not difficult. At this moment, this immense power was unleashed recklessly, causing Lumine to feel immense pressure.
Fortunately, the True Lord quickly noticed Lumine's state. He swiftly reined in his aura, merely saying with a tone of disappointment: "The Seven Stars of Liyue are truly disappointing. How could someone assassinate the Geo God during the Rite of Descension? And how could the common folk observing be detained here?!"
He gazed into the distance, at the dim setting sun. The scenes of the Geo God enlightening him, taking him as a disciple, and teaching him cultivation were still vivid in his mind.
The encouragement upon mastering spells, the ruler for mistakes made, the Geo God's majestic figure leading the Adeptuss, the sigh of sorrow when Guili Plains was established and then destroyed by floods, all the past events... In the Adeptuss' hearts, the Geo God's majesty was unshakable, and his strength was unfathomable! But... but they had seen too much... In the Archon War, they had witnessed too many Gods fall. Which of those Gods, when alive, wasn't a formidable force? Which one didn't lead a region? But in the end, didn't they all turn into a handful of yellow earth, becoming the mountains and trees of Liyue?
—Geo God, could it be that you are finally unable to escape this calamity?
The True Lord gazed at the sky, oblivious to the complementary colors appearing in his eyes, as the great sun gradually turned crimson.
"Alas—"
With a heavy sigh, Moon Carver True Lord looked at the traveler before him: "I now know of this matter... However, this is a grave issue, not one I can decide alone. It requires informing the other Adeptuss.
But with the passage of time, the Adeptuss have either secluded themselves in the mountains or entered the mortal world, making them difficult to find... Never mind, take this Talisman of Forbidden Covenants and deliver a message for me as well."
Lumine carefully held the Talisman of Forbidden Covenants, not letting it get wet with sweat: "Inform the Adeptuss... but how do I find them?"
"Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper, these two frequently reside here, though their whereabouts are usually uncertain. There is also the Conqueror of Demons who often stays at Wangshu Inn; you can also seek him out.
Just tell them to gather at Cloud Retainer's abode when the time comes. I imagine Cloud Retainer will not leave her dwelling these days.
I, this Adeptus, must first go to Liyue Harbor to ascertain the truth. If this matter is true... Hmph!"
After speaking, he glanced at the panting Lumine again. His antlers glowed, and a golden light entered Lumine's body. All the sweat on Lumine's body vanished, and her stamina fully recovered!
Lumine and Paimon were overjoyed, but when they looked up again, they found that the True Lord had disappeared, leaving only a distant voice echoing through the mountains.
"Gather some wild fruits, catch some meat, eat, and then go! You have a good heart, which is commendable, but you must also know yourself and discern truth from falsehood. Rest well before you act."
Lumine gazed at the sky, feeling the surging Adeptus power within her, and could only bow in the direction of the voice.
"Thank you, True Lord."
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