『 [ Do you have to be suspicious around me, too? ]
Yanqing asked, feeling puzzled.
[ You know, the last time we came to Xianzhou, the first one to welcome us was… ]
Stelle explained briefly, stopping just short of saying too much.
[ I get it. Better safe than sorry. ]
Yanqing nodded, showing his understanding.
[ Honestly, this is the first time I've seen such a bustling scene on the Luofu. ]
March 7th looked around at the lively surroundings, finding it very novel.
[ I was actually a bit worried before. The Ambrosial Arbor crisis just passed, so holding the Wardance Ceremony seemed a bit rushed. ]
[ But looking at the Starskiff Haven now, the General chose the right time. ]
The sight of the Starskiff Haven made Dan Heng feel that Jing Yuan's decision to hold the ceremony now was indeed appropriate!
[ Yes, among these passersby, there are not only residents of other Delves, but also guests who have traveled from afar like you three. ]
[ With the Wardance Ceremony just around the corner, the passenger flow in the Starskiff Haven has surged by several levels. ]
[ The Cloud Knights' security work is also several times busier than in the past. ]
[ The General said that to get the Luofu back on its feet after the disaster, this Wardance Ceremony is exactly what is needed. ]
[ To showcase martial virtue, appease the public, and boost morale. It also serves as an opportunity to invite guests from friendly nations to visit, promoting trade and peace. ]
[ Speaking of which, the Alliance is taking this ceremony quite seriously. Both the Zhuming and Yaoqing Xianzhou have sent envoys to offer congratulations! ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Making it this grand?"
Stelle: "The other two Xianzhou have both sent delegation groups?"
March 7th: "Hehe, could they be here to support the Luofu Xianzhou?"
Furina de Fontaine: "This festival must be very important, right?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Is it similar to the Charmony Festival?"
Dan Heng: "Not quite…"
Dan Heng: "In terms of grandness, compared to the Charmony Festival where the avatar of Harmony descends, it is still slightly lacking."
Dan Heng: "In fact, this is just a unique anniversary."
Dan Heng: "Logically speaking, there is no need for the Alliance to send any delegations at all."
Welt Yang: "Just as little March said, perhaps they are just here to bolster the Luofu's prestige."
Welt Yang: "After all, the members of the Xianzhou Alliance stand and fall together. Since the Luofu has suffered this disaster, it is only natural for the other Xianzhou to come and show their care."
....
『 [ The Xianzhou Zhuming? ]
Stelle showed a puzzled expression.
[ Yes, I wonder if you have heard of its reputation as the 'Forge of Ten Thousand Stars'. Fifty to sixty percent of the Cloud Knights' weaponry technology is provided by it. ]
[ The Xianzhou Zhuming has always been famous for its skilled artisans. I heard that General Huaiyan of the Zhuming is himself a leader among craftsmen. ]
[ Ah… if I could have the honor of obtaining a sword personally forged by him, I would probably wake up laughing in my dreams. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yunli: "Grandpa, did you hear that?"
Yunli: "This little brother Yanqing really admires the swords you forge!"
Huaiyan: "Haha, it's all just empty fame."
Huaiyan: "Actually, the swords I forge are not much better than those of other famous masters."
Jing Yuan: "Oh, Master Huaiyan is far too modest!"
Yanqing: "Yes, in Yanqing's heart, the swords forged by General Huaiyan can probably be called the best in the world!"
Stelle: "So, how awesome are these swords exactly?"
Stelle: "Can they split a planet with one slash?"
Yunli: "I don't think so."
Yunli: "After all, if weapons could be that powerful, what would be the point of people?"
Yunli: "In my opinion, whether a weapon is powerful or not depends on its master!"
Yunli: "As long as you talk to your weapon more, have heart-to-heart chats, and understand it better."
Yunli: "That way, you can make your weapon share your thoughts, thereby unleashing greater power!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Wait a minute!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Is Miss Yunli talking about weapons?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Or rather, is the weapon in your mouth really the kind we understand?"
Yunli: "A weapon is a weapon, isn't it?"
Yunli: "Things like swords, sabers, axes, and the like."
Paimon: "B-But, how do you have a heart-to-heart with those things?"
Paimon: "They clearly can't talk at all!"
Yunli: "They can. Why wouldn't they?"
Yunli: "I often chat with weapons."
Yunli: "With all due respect, you need to use your heart to perceive and feel, so that you can establish a resonance with your beloved weapon!"
Lumine: "Uh…"
Lumine: "Looking at Miss Yunli's serious face, she doesn't seem to be joking."
Lumine: "Can you really communicate with weapons and foster feelings?"
Lumine: "Hmm, I'll try it when I have some free time…"
....
『 [ By the way, Yanqing, where should we go next? ]
After chatting for a while, seeing that they were getting a bit off-topic, March 7th asked.
[ Ah, look at me, just standing here rambling on about so much. ]
[ The General called me to bring you to the Palace of Astrum for a short visit. He hasn't seen you all in a long time and wants to hear about the Express's recent situation. ]
Yanqing scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
[ Hehe, it's funny how he tries to act all mature, but whenever it comes to something he's interested in, you can really see his childish side ]
Seeing Yanqing like this, March 7th quietly teased him to Stelle.
[ Yeah, he's adorable. ]
Stelle nodded in agreement.
[ I agree. ]
March 7th agreed. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "Ah, this…"
Yanqing: "You two, please don't tease me like this!"
Yanqing: "I'll get embarrassed too!"
Stelle: "Hahaha."
Stelle: "The way the childish Yanqing behaves is just so cute."
March 7th: "Yeah, yeah, it's a kind of gap moe!"
Paimon: "Normally, in Teyvat, kids of Yanqing's age would probably still be playing around everywhere, right?"
Paimon: "Yet Yanqing is already so mature and stable."
Paimon: "Is this what they call 'other people's kids'?"
Qingque: "Oh, he is the General's top disciple after all!"
Qingque: "Of course he's extraordinary!"
Qingque: "But becoming a Cloud Knight Lieutenant at such a young age, with such a heavy burden, I really feel deep sympathy for him!"
Fu Xuan: "Haha, I'm laughing to death!"
Fu Xuan: "Qingque, do you think everyone is like you, just wanting to slack off?"
Fu Xuan: "If you were even a little bit ambitious, with your talent, would you end up as a library administrator?"
Qingque: "Lady Fu Xuan, I'm just an ordinary low-level employee, what talent do I have?!"
Fu Xuan: "Sigh, you can't carve rotten wood."
Fu Xuan: "It really infuriates me!"
Stelle: "Tsk tsk tsk, Lady Fu Xuan's journey to discipline Qingque as an employee still has a long way to go!"
....
『 While the four were still chatting casually, a series of terrifying roars suddenly came from the distance!
[ All units, assemble quickly! Focus on protecting the crowd. ]
Immediately after, the Cloud Knights who discovered the abnormality quickly assembled and began to head in the direction of the roars.
[ I just said that security on the streets must not be compromised, and now something has happened. ]
[ Apologies, everyone, I have to go check out the situation first. ]
Seeing this, Yanqing hurriedly said to the three beside him.
[ You really have the same jinxing mouth as March. ]
As soon as Yanqing finished speaking, Stelle couldn't help but complain. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Oh crap, what you fear most always happens!"
Stelle: "I knew it, wherever we go, it's bound to be troublesome!"
March 7th: "It wasn't my jinxing mouth this time!"
March 7th: "It was Yanqing's!"
Yanqing: "That… don't blame me either!"
Yanqing: "I just mentioned it casually…"
Paimon: "Waa… that roar just now sounded like a wild beast, so scary!"
Paimon: "Could some fierce beast have suddenly appeared?"
Lumine: "If that's the case, it would be fine."
Lumine: "Just a beast, it shouldn't be too difficult for those battle-hardened Cloud Knight soldiers, right?"
Jiaoqiu: "Sigh, unfortunately, this cry is not from any real animal or beast."
Feixiao: "Disgusting sound, I really want to split them all to death with one axe!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Eh?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Can you tell what it is just by the sound?"
Furina de Fontaine: "It seems you are very familiar with that thing."
Jiaoqiu: "Naturally, those things, even if they turned into ashes, I would still recognize them!"
Mavuika: "I can hear the scent of deep hatred…"
....
『 [ Hey, what's that supposed to mean?! ]
Stelle's words made March 7th very dissatisfied.
[ We'll go with you. ]
Dan Heng didn't say much else, only telling Yanqing this.
Hearing this, Yanqing didn't decline and just nodded. At this moment, the roaring monsters had already arrived not far from them.
They were fighting with the Cloud Knight soldiers. Seeing this, the four rushed forward!
[ Borisin? ]
[ Why would Borisin appear here? ]
[ Hmph, don't think you can run wild! ]
Getting closer, Yanqing finally saw what was causing the trouble.
It was indeed the Abominations of Abundance with human bodies and wolf heads, the Borisin!
So without another word, he directly controlled his flying swords and began to slay the Borisin! 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Yanqing: "Damn it, I didn't expect it to be the Borisin causing trouble!"
Yanqing: "How on earth did these Borisin appear in the Starskiff Haven?"
Jing Yuan: "Haha, as expected, this ceremony has finally stirred up waves."
Stelle: "General Jing Yuan doesn't seem surprised at all?"
Huaiyan: "Of course, he wouldn't be surprised."
Huaiyan: "Because he already expected it in his heart."
Feixiao: "Fishing expedition, right?"
Feixiao: "As expected of the Divine Foresight, really full of schemes!"
Feixiao: "I like it!"
Jiaoqiu: "Ahem… what do you mean by 'full of schemes'?"
Jiaoqiu: "General Jing Yuan is clearly wise and resourceful!"
March 7th: "So, General Jing Yuan had other purposes for holding this ceremony?"
March 7th: "Oh no, we really can't escape the fate of being tool-workers again!"
Jing Yuan: "Eh, that's not true!"
Jing Yuan: "You are my distinguished guests, my secret weapon. How can you say you are tool-workers?"
Jing Yuan: "With your help, for me, it is like rain after a long drought, like adding wings to a tiger."
Stelle: "So, General, after this job is done, can you give us that retired warship flying in the sky as our salary?"
Jing Yuan: "This… about that…"
Jing Yuan: "Ahahaha…"
Jing Yuan: "Oh, Yanqing's strike just now was not bad, fast and steady, very much like my style back in the day!"
Yanqing: "Ah? Why did the General suddenly praise me?"
Fu Xuan: "Because the General is stingy and doesn't want to give it, so he is changing the subject."
Jing Yuan: "Ahem… Fu Xuan, whose side are you on..."
Stelle: "Hmph, the General is so stingy!"
Boothill: "Hahaha."
Boothill: "This is so muddle-fudge-ing funny."
Furina de Fontaine: "Seriously, is little brother Yanqing this strong?"
Furina de Fontaine: "At such a young age, his flying sword play is too slick, isn't it?"
Xingqiu: "Sword-controlling technique, this must be the sword-controlling technique!"
Xingqiu: "To think the Xianzhou Alliance has such a wonderful method, I am truly envious!"
Paimon: "Wow, that's so cool!"
Paimon: "With just a finger, the flying sword rushes up and pokes several big holes right through the enemy!"
Paimon: "If Paimon also knew such a gorgeous sword technique, would I still be chased all over the place by Hilichurls?"
Lumine: "The problem is, Paimon can't learn it at all, right?"
Lumine: "After all, this obviously isn't something simple."
....
『 Under Yanqing's lethal flying swords, these few Borisin were no match at all.
Soon, they were killed one after another.
A moment later, Yanqing raised his hand, preparing to slay the last Borisin in front of him.
To his surprise, the opponent did not fight him head-on, but turned and fled!
Seeing this, Yanqing naturally controlled his sword to pursue, but missed.
The Borisin escaped onto a wall, trying to use it to flee.
Seeing this scene, Yanqing raised his hand, preparing to strike again.
But suddenly, a petite girl's figure brushed past him, directly snatching his sword, then, with unparalleled speed, she leaped onto the wall, throwing the short sword in her hand like a spear, directly pinning the fleeing Borisin to the ground.
Then, as if that wasn't enough, the girl lifted her giant sword, which was as large as a door panel, and slammed it down fiercely!
BOOM—!
Dust and smoke rose, and Borisin was finally completely dead. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Holy crap, whose little girl is this?"
Stelle: "Is she that fierce?"
Stelle: "Is that door-sized sword for real?"
Stelle: "Was that Borisin smashed into meat paste?"
Huaiyan: "Oh, girl, your wide-open fighting style is still too crude."
Huaiyan: "For a young girl, it's better to be a bit more ladylike."
Yunli: "Grandpa, I think you're getting senile."
Yunli: "Why care so much when killing enemies?"
Yunli: "If you can smash them to death with one strike, why bother doing it slowly?"
March 7th: "Eh? So this is Miss Yunli?"
March 7th: "It's really… uh… a bit unexpected."
Furina de Fontaine: "So… so ridiculous!"
Furina de Fontaine: "She's clearly such a cute girl, but her strength is too immense!"
Furina de Fontaine: "That sword, from what I can see, must weigh over a hundred pounds, right?"
Lumine: "It feels… it feels like it could be used as a shield."
Paimon: "Is this really a sword??"
Yunli: "Strictly speaking, 'Old Iron' can't really be considered a sword yet."
Yunli: "Because it's still just a sword-prototype!"
Hu Tao: "Old Iron? Is that the name of that giant sword?"
Hu Tao: "That's really unique!"
Navia Caspar: "Miss Yunli doesn't look very old either, right?"
Navia Caspar: "Yet she has this kind of strength."
Navia Caspar: "Should we say a great master produces a brilliant disciple?"
Stelle: "Tsk, looks like if I get the chance, I also need to find a powerful master."
Stelle: "Preferably the kind who can directly teach me to become an Emanator!"
Silver Wolf: "Then you might as well just apprentice under an Aeon."
....
『 After eliminating this last Borisin, Yunli leaped down, pulling Yanqing's sword out of the Borisin's corpse, then, using the sunlight, she carefully observed it.
[ Thank you for your help, miss… ]
Yanqing walked forward at this moment, preparing to thank her.
However, before he could finish, Yunli's expression suddenly changed.
[ Oh no, no time to chat… ]
Muttering a sentence, Yunli swiftly grabbed her giant sword with one hand and Yanqing's short sword with the other, and began to run off into the distance.
[ Could you give me back my... ]
Watching Yunli leap across the rooftops and walls, quickly fading into the distance, Yanqing swallowed back the words he hadn't finished saying! 』
『 ....』