After entering the Stone Gate, Star and Yelan returned to their silent state.
However, this time was different from before. After the intense lip-to-lip exchange just now, the atmosphere between them seemed to have become even more awkward.
Star was fine, having been through so many people after all, he wasn't so shy as an inexperienced young girl, and he quickly recovered.
But Yelan wasn't. Although he wasn't a squeamish person, after all, he was the one who initiated this with Star, and it was so... intense.
Yelan was even worried about how Star would view him in the future. He truly didn't know why he couldn't control himself at that moment and did such a thing.
Even now, recalling it, his mind was full of thoughts of going further. If it weren't for the limitations of the environment, he might have really taken Star right then and there.
...
"Ah, it's them," Star suddenly said, also pulling Yelan's attention back.
Yelan looked up at the two people, a man and a woman, sitting on the ground not far away, discussing something unknown.
"Let's quickly resolve this matter," Yelan said, gently shaking his head and discarding the random thoughts in his mind. He refocused his attention on the immediate task.
That should be the end of this Domain, a very spacious area. A typical Domain would have a treasure chest in the middle at its end, but there was no trace of any treasure chest here.
Presumably, it had been monopolized by these two, otherwise, Hua Chu hadn't brought any property, and Jian Qiu himself was just a poor scholar; they wouldn't have had the capital to elope to a foreign land.
"Is there no escaping after all…?" Jian Qiu stood up, resolutely shielding Hua Chu behind him.
"How did you discover this place?"
Yelan has a very good quality: she never wastes too much breath on her targets during an arrest.
Anything that needs to be said is saved for the interrogation.
"Hmph…" Yelan let out a soft hum, and then a thread of Hydro element quickly shot out, binding the two still standing in place tightly.
"Alright, you two, it's better to come back with me obediently.
I'm not interested in hearing your stories." Yelan gently tightened her grip on the Hydro element thread in her hand, and the two were involuntarily pulled in front of her.
"It's better not to struggle, or if your clothes get torn and your skin gets injured, the higher-ups will think I'm abusing criminals," Yelan kindly reminded them.
Although she often did similar things during interrogations, the higher-ups were probably already used to it.
"Damn it, you…"
"Jian Qiu, don't say anything more."
The man gritted his teeth, seemingly wanting to say more, but he was quickly interrupted by Hua Chu.
When they committed this act, they had considered the possibility of exposure.
Hua Chu wasn't too upset, just a little embarrassed that it happened so quickly.
"But how are we going to get back?" Aether glanced at the two, then asked Yelan.
He was actually quite curious about the story between these two, especially the person who acted as a substitute; why didn't they linger at the border?
But since there was no plan to interrogate here, they would talk about it back home.
Indeed, it was getting late.
The only problem was that this place was underground in Wuwang Slope.
It wouldn't be difficult for the two of them to go up, but taking two prisoners who could escape at any moment was another matter entirely.
"The others will be here soon; no need to worry."
Yelan had something to contact the Millelith.
Once everyone arrived, getting these two up wouldn't be difficult.
---- A moment later -----------
"Wow, they actually hid down here?" Hu Tao looked down with surprise, then shifted her attention to the two people and Aether.
"So, the things in that Domain are gone too?"
She was very familiar with Wuwang Slope and naturally knew about the hidden cave system underground, but she had never been down there herself, and generally, no one would discover the secrets below.
So, she hadn't even considered that possibility when searching.
She didn't expect these two to actually hide down here.
"It seems so." Aether nodded; he hadn't seen any treasure chests or anything similar just now.
Perhaps the original chests here had been dealt with by the two to acquire supplies.
"What a pity… But now, they're probably going to have their crimes compounded," Hu Tao sighed helplessly and said.
"Crimes compounded?" Aether was slightly taken aback.
"Is it illegal to take things from these Domains?"
If that were the case, wouldn't all the treasures Adventurers obtained during their various expeditions be illegally acquired?
"Usually, it doesn't matter, but not here.
After all, this place is so close to the border, involving many things…" Hu Tao didn't finish her sentence, just shrugged.
"But no matter what, they've finally been apprehended," Lumine interjected, then glanced at Yelan in the distance, a strange smile on her face.
"So, how was your time with her?" She leaned closer to Aether and whispered.
Aether's expression instantly stiffened; Lumine's question was clearly not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
However, he didn't need to lie.
He and Yelan did have some intimate contact.
To be honest, if it weren't for the environment at the time, he felt that he and Yelan might have gone a step further.
Being so close to him, it really wasn't good…
"It was… pretty good," Aether rubbed his head and turned his head to the other side.
"Really?! That's great, go, Aether!" Lumine visibly brightened.
Yelan was clearly an important figure, and her identity was definitely not simple.
If Aether could directly win her over, he wouldn't have to worry too much about the future.
"What… go?" Hu Tao looked at the two with some confusion, unable to understand what riddle they were playing.
"Nothing, nothing.
I'm going to find Paimon first.
I'll treat you to a big meal tonight." Lumine smiled and waved her hand, then turned and headed towards Paimon.
"?" Hu Tao watched Lumine leave with a face full of question marks, then looked at Aether.
"Uh… really nothing, nothing." Aether gave an embarrassed smile, looking awkwardly at Hu Tao.
He was too ashamed to tell Hu Tao that Lumine wanted him to use a honey trap to seduce a high-ranking official in Liyue.
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!