The Abyss Lector cautiously lifted his head to look at Lumine.
Golden hair, white clothes…
Her features resembled Aether's somewhat.
And by her side floated an unidentified flying companion.
There was no doubt—this was Lumine!
The Abyss Lector grew excited.
Ever since the disciples of Mount Shu had returned to Teyvat, the Abyss Order had scattered across Jueyun Karst.
All in hopes of finding Lumine as soon as possible.
Only he, having previously gone to the Initiation Ceremony, came back with no news.
Aether had punished him, relegating him to loiter uselessly at Liyue Harbor's gate.
He thought his chance at merit was lost forever.
But unexpectedly, the opportunity had come knocking!
The Abyss Lector silently congratulated himself—sometimes doing thankless work still earned reward.
This was fate repaying him!
But remembering Aether's repeated orders—that no one should address Lumine as "Princess" or bind her identity to the Abyss Order—
the Abyss Lector hastily corrected himself:
"Miss Lumine, we've been searching for you for a long time."
"Hah? Looking for me? You Abyss Order people—what, are you asking to be beaten?"
Lumine curled her lip, glaring at him impatiently.
"Lumine, I think his brain doesn't work too well…"
Paimon muttered under her breath.
Lumine nodded in full agreement.
"Even Paimon says his brain is broken. Then it must be really bad."
"Yes, yes!"
Paimon nodded firmly—then suddenly realized the problem, puffing up angrily at Lumine.
"Wait, you're saying my brain doesn't work either!"
"You said it yourself!"
Lumine winked slyly, putting away her flying sword.
"Bullying people with broken brains—if word gets out, they'll say a dignified Mount Shu Divine Physique picks on the weak."
"This time I won't kill you. Now scram, and stop bothering me."
With that, she strolled happily toward Liyue Harbor, hands clasped behind her back.
"Wait! Miss Lumine…"
Before the words finished, a sword's radiance pressed threateningly against the Lector.
Lumine half-turned her gaze, eyes like ice.
"I spared you because I can't be bothered. Call out once more, and I'll send you down for good."
The Abyss Lector looked pitifully at her.
"But… His Highness the Prince is your brother—Lord Aether."
Lumine froze mid-step.
Paimon also gawked at Lumine, then at the Lector.
Something didn't add up here—something big. And the next second, surely Lumine would kill to silence witnesses.
Lumine looked at the Lector in bewilderment.
"Aether… is with the Abyss Order?"
The Abyss Lector nodded repeatedly.
"Your brother is our Abyss Prince, the commander of the Abyss Order.
It was he who ordered us to seek you. In fact… Miss Lumine, please wait here a moment."
"I will summon His Highness, and you'll understand."
Without waiting for her response, he spread his hands and conjured a strange portal.
Lumine watched quietly. Soon, from within came the sound of footsteps—familiar footsteps.
Though they had been apart so long, Lumine recognized them instantly.
Her expression grew complicated.
Her long-vanished brother…
Had become the leader of Teyvat's greatest villainous faction?
Truly dramatic.
As she mused, a familiar figure emerged from the gate.
Even though Paimon had never seen Aether, she could tell at once—this was Lumine's brother.
The resemblance was too obvious.
Who else could it be?
Lumine knew too.
That subtle air of shamelessness—something only her brother could radiate.
Shamelessness recognized shamelessness.
So Aether really had become the Abyss' ruler?
But now that Lumine had joined Mount Shu as a cultivator, thinking it over—a prince of the Abyss was nothing special.
If this had been earlier, back when her journey was full of being wanted in Liyue, hunted in Inazuma, hounded in Sumeru, imprisoned in Fontaine…
Meeting Aether then, she might've drawn her sword first thing.
Why should she suffer hunger and hardship, while he lounged with an army of minions—minions who'd only made her life harder?
Back then, she'd have cut him down while spitting on him.
But now?
Now her life was better.
As a Divine Physique, every nation courted her. Mora was never lacking—Ningguang and the others even showered her with wealth.
In Mount Shu, cultivation resources were endless.
She lived like a true immortal, cultivating each day with nothing else to trouble her.
She even had Jiang Yan as her great backer.
By comparison, she had reason to pity Aether.
Stepping through the portal, Aether looked at her with a complicated, wistful gaze. Then he turned aside to the Lector:
"You've done well this time. Go back and claim a piece of peak Foundation-Establishment beast meat."
The Lector's joy overflowed, bowing repeatedly.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Then he disappeared back through the gate, leaving the siblings alone—plus one mascot.
Aether had no intention of dismissing Paimon. She was Lumine's partner.
Looking at his radiant, immortal-seeming sister, Aether sighed.
"It's been a long time, Lumine. I'm sorry I vanished so long. I hadn't planned to see you yet.
But with cultivation shaking Teyvat's balance, I had no choice…"
Before he could finish, Lumine raised her hand to silence him.
He blinked, then smiled bitterly.
"Right. You want to scold me. As your brother, disappearing without a word, hiding from you even knowing you searched for me…
It's not what a brother should do. If you want to curse me, go ahead."
But instead, Lumine only frowned at him in puzzlement.
"You're the Abyss Prince?"
"Uh… because of many reasons, things happened, so—"
"No excuses. Yes or no?"
Aether was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes."
Lumine's expression grew stranger—almost pitying.
"At the recent Initiation Ceremony, why didn't I see your people? No Abyss members among the outer disciples either."
"…Some went to try the trials. None passed."
"You just rewarded that guy with a piece of Foundation-Establishment beast meat?"
Pride flickered in Aether's eyes.
"That meat came from a black tiger beast we hunted. Supplies are scarce. But see? I treat my men well."
Lumine sneered.
"Someone earns merit, and that's all you give? What trash."
The smile froze on Aether's face.
"Tr… trash?"
"Ever tasted Refining Essence into Qi beast meat?"
He shook his head.
"Ever held a Refining Essence into Qi demon core?"
His voice weakened further. "No…"
"Then at least you've got martial manuals fit for mortals to cultivate with?"
Aether stayed silent.
Lumine sighed dramatically, shaking her head.
"I thought, as leader of Teyvat's greatest villain faction, you'd be living well.
But Aether… what kind of miserable life is this?"
"Your subordinates following you—truly pitiful."
Veins bulged on Aether's forehead. He glared furiously at her.
The touching, emotional reunion between siblings was gone.
All that remained was Lumine's pity, and Aether's exasperation.
Confirmed—this was indeed his sister.
That insufferable shamelessness, making him want to slap her—no one else but Lumine could manage it.
"Dear little Aether, you really are living worse than anyone."
Lumine sighed with false sympathy, though inside she was practically soaring with glee.
Then she looked at him with mischief:
"How about this—call me big sister, and I'll take you flying."
"What do you say? Just one 'big sister,' and I'll let you experience it."
"Refining Essence into Qi beasts, Refining Essence into Qi demon cores, elixirs for cultivators, spirit stones, artifacts…"
"Your big sister can spare you some."
"I could even take you to meet our sect master. If you beg me nicely, maybe I'll put in a word so you can join Mount Shu."
"Then you'd just have to call me senior sister too."
"Well? Think it over, Aether. Sometimes, when shortcuts appear, dignity isn't all that important."
Aether drew a deep breath, laughing coldly at her.
"In your dreams."
Lumine wasn't offended, smiling thinly at him.
"Don't be so rigid, Aether.
You were only born a few minutes earlier than me. Do a few minutes matter that much?"
His gaze grew dark and sharp.
"One second earlier is enough. I'll always be your brother. Don't even think otherwise."
"Is that so?"
Lumine tilted her head at Paimon.
With a knowing grin, Paimon clasped her hands.
A massive formation descended, layered with intricate spells, completely surrounding Aether.
Yet he remained calm, even mocking.
"You've only been cultivating for a few days. Your strength hasn't fully recovered.
And that emergency food by your side won't tip the scales.
You think you can threaten me?"
"Give up. No one knows you better than I. Without absolute certainty, do you think I'd come here?"
"Let me guess—you're at mid-stage Refining Essence into Qi?"
"Good enough against common archons, but against me? Wishful thinking."
Lumine didn't bristle. Instead, she slowly drew out an ancient longsword.
"You've guessed well. But did it occur to you—what kind of treatment would a Divine Physique like me receive in Mount Shu?"
Aether's face darkened.
From that sword, he sensed a lethal danger unlike any he'd known.
Only now did he remember—Lumine wasn't just a cultivator.
She was one of Mount Shu's top Divine Physique prodigies.
What kind of treasures and protection would such talent be granted?
As he faltered, Lumine's grin grew brighter.
"Guess whose sword this is?"
Aether's eyes trembled, shocked.
"Correct."
Lumine giggled.
"Before I left, the sect master gave me his top spirit weapon—Primordial Jade Cutter—for protection, and told me to comprehend the sword intent within to perfect my techniques."
"Now guess. A top-grade spirit weapon infused with the sword intent of a peak Union of Void and Dao cultivator…"
"Can you withstand it?"
She flicked the blade lightly, smiling.
"From this moment, Aether, the tables have turned."
"You have two choices."
"One—call me big sister."
"Two—I beat you until you do."
To read 220+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554