"Do exorcists really possess this kind of power nowadays? I thought Chongyun only knew how to banish evil spirits."
"Heh, don't be foolish. Chongyun is a Vision bearer. Of course he's strong. We just underestimated him."
"Exactly. You can't treat a Vision user like a commoner. Their potential is terrifying."
"Being an exorcist is just his specialty, it doesn't mean it's his limit."
Around Liyue Harbor, the crowd buzzed with a mix of awe and fear as they stared at the frozen seascape. They hissed through their teeth—partly from the biting cold, partly from sheer shock.
"Holy Morax... the harbor mouth is frozen solid. How are the ships supposed to leave?"
"Uh... good question."
"It should melt soon, right? The sun is coming up."
Eventually, the practical concerns set in. Commerce was the lifeblood of Liyue, and Chongyun had just put a literal freeze on assets.
Yuehai Pavilion.
High above, Ganyu watched the scene unfold, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
Last night, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor nearly burned down.
This morning, Chongyun nearly cleaved the harbor in half with a blade of ice.
What is happening to this city?
Bubu Pharmacy, the mountainside.
On a cliff overlooking the harbor, a man with green hair and glasses stood watching the frozen spectacle below. A white snake was draped around his neck.
Baizhu rested his chin on his hands, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Chongyun... how does that boy possess such terrifying elemental power?"
He knew of the young exorcist. Born into a famous clan, cursed (or blessed) with a congenital abundance of Yang energy.
But in all their previous encounters, Baizhu had never sensed this level of Cryo potency. He had seen Chongyun in the wild, hacking away at Cor Lapis with a claymore. The boy was strong, yes, but not "freeze the ocean" strong.
Baizhu had just returned from gathering herbs on Mt. Hulao. He was about to descend back to Bubu Pharmacy when he saw the flash. A blade of ice energy, massive and overwhelming, had scarred the sea.
Why the sudden explosion of power? Was he hiding his true strength all this time?
Impossible. Baizhu dismissed the thought. He had examined Chongyun before. His elemental reserves were standard for his age. He shouldn't be capable of this.
Is it related to his Pure Yang Spirit?
No, that manifests as heat, not cold.
Baizhu stroked his chin, his golden snake eyes narrowing with intrigue.
"Fascinating."
"That... that was incredible."
Having successfully fled the scene, Chongyun and Xingqiu stood panting beneath a restaurant awning, safely away from the Millelith patrols.
Chongyun was still trembling with excitement. He looked at the cheap Cryo blade in his hand, then thought back to the technique.
He had only mastered the Second Art of the Six Arts of the Cold Arrogance.
There were four more.
"You can't achieve that with just an elemental weapon," Xingqiu said, his eyes shining. "That was definitely the power of the manual."
The Six Arts book from the Jar Shop was absurdly powerful.
Xingqiu's mind raced. If Chongyun's technique is this strong... then my 'Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens' combined with the 'Six Pulse Divine Sword' must be god-tier.
When he had fused the Flying Immortal skill orb, he felt a surge of understanding far beyond any martial art he had ever studied. But feeling it and seeing the results were two different things. Chongyun had just provided the visual proof.
"Yes," Chongyun nodded vigorously. "And that was only the second move. The 'Ice Encapsulates Three Feet.' I still have the later forms to learn."
"Wait, only the second move?" Xingqiu looked at him weirdly. "And it's already this destructive?"
"I suspect the final move is the strongest," Chongyun mused. "But the others might be variations. The second form focuses on freezing and defense."
"Alright, alright. You've done enough training for one morning. Let's go," Xingqiu said, grabbing Chongyun's arm. "We need to check on my 'Secret Room Escape Horror House.' I set it up next to the Feiyun Commerce Guild warehouse last night."
"Okay."
Chongyun nodded, following his friend.
As the sun fully rose, casting a warm golden light over Liyue, the duo arrived at the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
A large crowd had already gathered.
"Strange, where is Young Master Xingqiu? He told us to come here today to experience something new."
"What is that thing? That building wasn't there yesterday. It looks... wrong."
"It must be the 'prop house' the Young Master mentioned."
"Incredible. It appeared overnight."
The crowd pointed at a strange, black structure sitting next to the traditional guild warehouse. Its architecture was alien—twisted, dark, and decorated with grotesque imagery that clashed violently with Liyue's elegant aesthetic.
"Young Master Xingqiu is here!"
Someone spotted the blue-haired boy approaching.
"Young Master!"
A guild worker standing by the entrance of the Horror House rushed over. His face was a mix of relief and terror.
"What's wrong?" Xingqiu asked, raising an eyebrow. "How was the test run?"
He had ordered this worker to test the facility while he went to get Chongyun's weapon.
"Young Master Xingqiu... I suggest we don't let people in there," the worker stammered, his lips trembling. "I... I almost didn't make it out. The things inside... they can scare a man to death."
Xingqiu: "..."
Is it that bad?
Felix had mentioned he could adjust the settings.
"I'll see for myself," Xingqiu said, stepping forward. "If it's too scary, I'll tone it down."
"Wait for me!" Chongyun hurried after him.
The two entered the ominous black structure.
"Why is there such a crowd near the Feiyun Guild?"
Childe (Tartaglia), the 11th Fatui Harbinger, was strolling down the street with Ekaterina, his subordinate. He spotted the commotion and paused.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"Lord Harbinger," Ekaterina asked softly, "shall I investigate?"
"Lord Tartaglia!"
A familiar, overly enthusiastic voice called out.
"Ugh."
Childe froze. He turned around slowly, eyebrows twitching.
Standing there was Xie Jun—the man who had borrowed 200,000 Mora from him yesterday.
"It's you again," Childe said, trying to maintain his smile. "Here to pay me back early? I admire your punctuality."
This guy had borrowed 100,000 Mora initially, promised to pay in two days, defaulted, and then borrowed another 200,000 yesterday. Childe had somehow agreed to it.
Surely, he was here to settle the debt.
"You owe me 300,000 Mora in total," Childe said magnanimously. "Tell you what, I'll waive the interest. Let's call it a friendship fee."
He just wanted the principal back. He hadn't even set an interest rate to begin with because he was too confused at the time.
"Um, Lord Tartaglia... I'm not here to return the money."
Xie Jun rubbed his hands together, stepping closer with a shameless grin. He extended his hand, palm up. "I spent it all yesterday. So... I was wondering if I could borrow another 200,000 Mora? Just 200,000. I promise I'll pay you back in a few days."
"What? Not returning it?"
Childe frowned. The audacity of this man.
He opened his mouth to refuse. To yell. To summon his hydro blades.
But instead, his hands moved on their own. He reached into his belt, pulled out a heavy coin pouch, and placed it into Xie Jun's hand.
"Here is 200,000 Mora."
Childe froze.
Why did I do that?
He wanted to say "No." He wanted to punch this guy. But the moment Xie Jun asked, Childe felt a bizarre compulsion to agree. A soft-heartedness that overrode his logic.
He stared at Xie Jun with dead eyes.
"Thank you, Lord Tartaglia!"
Xie Jun grabbed the money, ecstatic. The 'Begging Bowl' really works! As long as I ask for something reasonable, no one can refuse me!
"Thanks again! See you tomorrow!"
Xie Jun turned and sprinted away before the Harbinger could change his mind.
"See you... tomorrow?"
Childe stood there, the wind blowing through his ginger hair.
A chill ran down his spine.
He's coming back tomorrow?
For the first time in his life, Childe felt true fear.
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