"Huh?"
Chongyun, who had been fiddling with the Evil Repelling Talisman, paused at Xingqiu's words and instinctively looked up.
Far below, several small black dots had gathered.
They looked like people.
"Seems like it," Chongyun said, sounding uncertain.
The distance was too great to see clearly.
"Has your Talisman not found anything yet?" Xingqiu asked curiously. "Which direction is it pointing?"
"That way."
Chongyun activated the Evil Repelling Talisman again.
A streak of black light burst from the compass, snaking silently toward the distance.
"Let's go."
Seeing the black light, Chongyun immediately started walking in that direction.
"This thing should really just pinpoint the exact location," Xingqiu sighed, following behind. "Having to chase down trails manually is such a hassle."
"Better than finding nothing at all," Chongyun replied without turning back, his voice tinged with excitement. "Before, hunting evil spirits felt like running around like a headless fly. With this compass, at least we have a general direction. It helps a lot! Look, we've already exorcised one on the way here."
Chongyun was genuinely thrilled.
On their journey here, the compass had led them to an evil spirit, which they promptly dispatched.
The moment he exorcised it, Chongyun felt a rush of pure satisfaction.
It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in a very, very long time.
Thanks to this compass, he was finally feeling the thrill of being a true exorcist again.
"True," Xingqiu nodded. They had successfully dealt with a spirit earlier.
Soon, the pair crested a hill overlooking the area.
"Below us, at Lingju Pass."
Chongyun looked down at the ancient ruins, his gaze locking onto the cluster of black dots.
As they got closer, the figures resolved into focus. There were eight of them.
"Aren't those... Fatui?"
Chongyun's expression turned to one of shock. "Since when do so many Fatui gather out here? What are they planning?"
Their uniforms were identical to the delegation stationed in Liyue Harbor. He knew there were guards at the Northland Bank, but why were there so many out here in the wilderness of Lingju Pass?
"And that guy... isn't that Childe?"
Chongyun frowned as he spotted the man standing at the front of the group. "He's one of the Fatui Harbingers. Why is he gathering so many people here? Are they planning to excavate the ruins for treasure?"
"I've heard that Fatui Harbingers have a mandatory ritual: inducting new recruits," Xingqiu mused, stroking his chin.
"Every batch of new recruits from Snezhnaya must undergo an induction speech from a Harbinger to be baptized by the will of the Tsaritsa. It's a longstanding tradition."
"These guys must be fresh recruits just arrived in Liyue. Since Childe is the only Harbinger currently in the region, they're waiting for his lecture to be bestowed with that 'honor'."
Xingqiu was quite knowledgeable about Fatui operations.
"But why send recruits to Liyue?" Chongyun frowned. "To dig up our treasures?"
It was the only reason he could think of. He had never seen so many Fatui in the wild before; usually, it was just one or two skirmishers. Now there were seven or eight.
"Liyue's land hides more treasures than Mondstadt," Xingqiu nodded. "It attracts countless adventurers, so naturally, the Fatui would come too. There's not much Liyue can do about it. As long as they don't enter the city or areas under strict Millelith control, we turn a blind eye."
"They're likely here for the treasures in Lingju Pass. Once the speech is over, they'll probably start searching the ruins. Otherwise, why hold the induction here of all places?"
Down below.
"From this day forth, you shall begin to fulfill your oath to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa, sparing no effort to bring victory to Snezhnaya."
Childe stood before the new recruits, his expression solemn. "Like the polar blizzards sweeping across the land, like the permafrost of the Zapolyarny Palace that never melts, let the bitter cold penetrate the marrow of our enemies. Her Majesty expects your loyalty, ruthlessness, and meticulous caution."
"For the challenges we face are severe. Our enemies, for example..."
"Hm? Who's there?!"
Childe's pupils suddenly constricted.
Hydro energy surged around him, instantly condensing into a bow. In a fluid motion, he turned, drew the string with a Hydro arrow manifesting nocked, and fired toward the hill behind him.
BOOM!
The water arrow tore through the air with terrifying speed.
It all happened in a split second.
Hum!
A blade of water energy whistled through the air, intercepting the arrow and slicing it cleanly in two.
Childe, now fully turned around, narrowed his eyes as he spotted Xingqiu and Chongyun standing on the hill.
It's them.
The Second Son of the Feiyun Commerce Guild and the heir to the exorcist clan.
A Hydro Vision holder and a Cryo Vision holder.
What are they doing here?
Lingju Pass was one of the Fatui's covert staging grounds; people rarely came here. Let alone two Vision users.
Were they spying on him?
He hadn't sensed anyone trailing him on the way here. So they probably weren't following him specifically.
Thoughts raced through Childe's mind. Behind him, the Fatui recruits tensed, raising their weapons and aiming at the intruders with hostility.
"What a grand display of power, Childe," Xingqiu called out from the slope, a book in his right hand and a light smile on his face. "Attacking so decisively... were you trying to silence witnesses?"
This guy really doesn't hesitate, Xingqiu thought. Sensed a presence and immediately fired a lethal shot. If that had been a civilian, they'd be dead.
Beside him, Chongyun stared down at the Harbinger blankly. But behind him, his Claymore began to radiate a visible, chilling aura that slowly spread across the ground.
He had no quarrel with the Harbinger, but if Xingqiu fought, he fought.
"I didn't expect to run into the Young Master of the Feiyun Guild here," Childe laughed heartily, the tension in his stance relaxing. "I thought it was some rat spying on my new recruits."
"But I trust Young Master Xingqiu wouldn't do something as low as peeping. May I ask what brings you to Lingju Pass? If I can be of assistance, the Fatui are happy to help."
Recognizing Xingqiu, Childe abandoned the idea of fighting.
Aside from Xingqiu, Chongyun was a threat. The boy had frozen a chunk of Liyue Harbor with a single strike—his power was formidable. Fighting both while trying to protect these green recruits would be a headache.
Besides, he had no grudge against them. Fighting two powerful locals with influential backgrounds for no reason was just bad business.
It was just an induction speech. If they saw it, they saw it. Everyone knew he was a Harbinger anyway. At worst, Liyue would know another batch of Fatui had arrived.
On the flip side, building a relationship with Xingqiu and Chongyun could be beneficial. He had been bored lately since he couldn't find Zhongli.
"If the Fatui can help us find evil spirits, that wouldn't be bad," Xingqiu replied with a faint smile. "Can you find spirits?"
"Uh."
Childe blinked. Find spirits?
He glanced at the stoic Chongyun. He knew enough about the exorcist to understand the context.
"Apologies, but the Fatui cannot find spirits," Childe shook his head. "I cannot help you there."
Evil spirits in Liyue were dangerous. The weak ones caused madness; the strong ones were terrifying. Sending his fresh recruits to hunt them would be sending them to their deaths.
Even if they could find them, he wouldn't help. It was too risky for zero gain.
"That's a shame," Xingqiu smiled. "Then let's leave it at that."
He turned to Chongyun. "Ignore them. Let's find ours."
"Mhm."
Chongyun nodded and began walking down toward the ruins of Lingju Pass.
Hunting spirits was much more interesting than fighting Childe. And there was no need to fight.
"Going into Lingju Pass to find spirits?"
Childe watched them leave, his brow furrowing.
If they go deep into the ruins, they're going to conflict with our next operation...
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