"Lumine, do you think Su Han made some strange potion or something?"
"It doesn't seem likely."
"Why?"
Paimon was extremely confused. Making monsters like hilichurls obedient had to involve some kind of method.
But if it was not medicine, then what?
Lumine pointed at a hilichurl that looked like a foreman and said, "Look at its eyes. They look no different from ordinary hilichurls, but its gaze is actually very lively."
"Huh, that really seems true. Wait, it noticed us. It's coming over."
Following Lumine's words, Paimon looked over.
She discovered that the hilichurl really was different. Their voices had likely been too loud and attracted its attention.
As the hilichurl walked toward them step by step,
Lumine instinctively placed her hand on her sword.
However, the creature's next action completely exceeded their expectations.
The unusual hilichurl actually took out two apples from its clothes and handed them over.
Paimon stared in shock and said to Lumine, "It seems like it wants us to eat them. Does that mean it's conscious?"
"That seems to be the case."
Lumine gently accepted the apples.
The hilichurl immediately began dancing with excitement.
It clearly looked very happy.
Although Paimon really wanted to eat the apple, she was worried it might be poisoned.
So she whispered, "Do you think this could be a trap?"
"This is Su Han's territory. It should be fine."
Lumine wiped the apple and took a bite.
Juice burst between her teeth.
The taste was incredibly refreshing.
"So sweet. So fresh."
"Then I want one too."
The two quickly finished the apples.
Yet they still felt confused about why the hilichurl had given them food.
At that moment, a young girl walked over and explained, "This hilichurl means that it's happy to have met new friends."
"Huh? You can understand their language? Wait, aren't you the one from Mondstadt?"
Because Lumine frequently handled commissions,
Paimon recognized nearly everyone in the city.
She suddenly remembered that Su Han had hired someone from Mondstadt. Could it be her?
Ella shook her head. "No, I can't understand them completely. I can only communicate simply. I didn't come here just for money. I also want to study the hilichurl language."
When Su Han hired her, he mentioned that there were special individuals in Liyue who could teach her.
That was why Miss Ella agreed to come and try.
At that moment, a Black Serpent Knight approached from the distance. Watching the dancing hilichurl, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Mr. Connor said that you resemble the young ones of our tribe, so you should eat more. Only then can your bodies grow strong enough to resist the cold and monsters."
Hearing this,
Paimon and Lumine finally understood what the hilichurl had meant earlier.
"So he treated us as his own people. But aren't hilichurls…"
Paimon originally wanted to say monsters.
But after eating the food it had given them, the word somehow would not come out.
Lumine asked curiously, "You can understand him?"
"Yes. I am also a Khaenri'ahn. My curse was simply more severe. However, due to my strength and Lord Su Han's blessing, I was able to regain consciousness."
The Black Serpent Knight spoke politely,
giving others a feeling similar to being in Mondstadt.
Paimon asked in surprise, "Wait, are you saying all these hilichurls are Khaenri'ahns?"
"Yes. It is a long story. We once believed it to be a curse from the Heavenly Principles and the Seven Gods. But as our minds gradually cleared, we realized matters were not so simple. For now, surviving is the most important thing."
The Black Serpent Knights still harbored hatred toward the gods who destroyed their nation.
However, after learning about the suffering across the Seven Nations,
they gradually came to understand how terrifying Khaenri'ah's disaster truly had been.
Su Han did not require them to atone for anything, but in their current state, remaining under supervision here was the best option.
It was far better than the radicals who spoke of purification.
Because so-called purification actually meant destroying them.
The Dragon Vein's power was different. Its continuous and gentle energy granted both the Black Serpent Knights and hilichurls new life.
At present, there were two thousand hilichurls within the camp.
When they first arrived, the hilichurls were violent and impossible to calm.
Yet after only a few days, astonishing changes appeared.
Not only did their minds become clear,
they even developed emotions and feelings.
The current foreman was the best example.
Listening to the Black Serpent Knight's explanation, Paimon and Lumine finally realized how much Su Han had truly done.
"I didn't expect him to have done so many things. I thought Su Han just slacked off every day."
"You think Su Han is like you? All you do every day is feel sleepy and hungry."
"I'm not like that. I just like sleeping and eating."
Paimon tried hard to defend herself, but it seemed completely ineffective.
Venti and Zhongli observed the mining operations, their eyes filled with surprise.
"I never expected these sinners of Khaenri'ah to gain new life here. Truly remarkable."
"I also did not expect the Dragon Vein's power to be so great. It seems I underestimated Su Han."
The hilichurl curse was extremely terrifying.
Even gods were unable to remove it.
Yet Su Han's Dragon Vein restored their clarity and even allowed them to rediscover themselves.
From this alone, one could see how extraordinary the Dragon Vein truly was.
After observing for a while, Venti asked, "Should we set up a seal? Sooner or later, someone will notice this place."
"Later. There is no urgency."
The old gentleman still had many matters to confirm.
As for a seal, it made little difference whether one existed or not. Xiao was guarding this place, so nothing could go wrong.
The more everyone learned, the greater their admiration for Su Han became.
More than two thousand hilichurls obeying commands perfectly were simply the ideal workforce.
Paimon approached Su Han and asked, "How did you even think of hiring hilichurls?"
"It's simple. Leaving them alone would only cause chaos, so managing them is better. And I haven't mistreated them. Their daily meals include fruit and all kinds of meat."
Su Han handled matters with genuine humanitarian principles.
Anyone working for him would never be treated unfairly.
Even if they were hilichurls, as long as they worked hard, they were his employees.
Naturally, Su Han would not behave like certain heartless capitalists who denied food and drink or forced workers to eat spoiled leftovers.
Why mention leftovers?
Because nearby there was a pig farm, also managed by hilichurls.
Leftover dishes,
remaining food,
and even spoiled fruit could be fed to the pigs.
This was called ecological recycling.
This was professionalism.
Moreover, Su Han could save a large amount of Mora this way.
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