"What happened here?" Granny Ping furrowed her brow tightly. The moment she saw Zhongli and the three Yakshas, she hurriedly rose from her recliner and rushed over.
She knelt beside Bonanus and touched the wound on her chest with her aged, withered hand. The wound was bloody and still oozing black smoke.
What... had happened?
"Was there an invasion? And what about Menogias?" Granny Ping asked, confused.
"First, try to save them. The rest can wait."
Zhongli's expression was grave. His brow was deeply furrowed, forming a sharp crease. It was rare for him to show such emotion.
Thousands of years had passed. Since the loss of his companions, his face had not betrayed such feeling. It was somewhat unexpected, yet perhaps not so unexpected.
A contradiction...
Granny Ping nodded. First, she conjured a green, glass-like orb from her hand. Though no one knew what it was, it was surely useful.
What could be said for certain was that this orb was one of Granny Ping's adepti artifacts, and only she could make it, even if its name remained unknown.
She floated the green orb directly above Bonanus's chest wound. The moment it touched the injury, it emitted a soft green glow, as if trying to heal.
"Bonanus's injuries are severe. Call Ganyu. We need Qilin blood."
Granny Ping could sense a strange power within Bonanus fighting against death, a power unfamiliar to her.
But there was no time to dwell on that now.
Hearing this, Zhongli said nothing. He closed his eyes, as if sending a message somewhere.
---
Inside Ganyu's Office
Ganyu was completely focused on her work, processing the mountain of documents that needed review today. She had to finish them as quickly as possible.
But halfway through, the bell on her chest chimed softly. This presence... Rex Lapis was summoning her!
Without hesitation, she set down her papers, took a deep breath, and vanished from her office without a sound.
---
Back with the Three Yakshas
Xiao's face was pale. He leaned weakly against the side, his throat dry, his entire body aching incessantly.
His eyes were hollow, as if death could take him at any moment.
Seeing this, Granny Ping felt a pang of pity. The green orb's glow surrounded Xiao, hoping to ease his suffering.
"How is Sister Bonanus...?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"We will help her. First, let's stabilize your injuries, or you won't be far from death yourself."
Granny Ping frowned. Xiao's entire body was seeping blood, the wounds horrific. She couldn't imagine what they had endured.
Not just externally—there were also many non-fatal puncture wounds inside... Such an attack was chilling.
The green orb was remarkably effective. Xiao's pain suddenly eased. He could feel warmth spreading through his body, the green light healing him.
The wounds that had been oozing blood slowly began to close. Xiao felt his body grow heavier and heavier, until finally, unable to bear it any longer, he collapsed and fell asleep.
"Rest well..." Granny Ping sighed softly. Who would have thought such an incident could occur in this peaceful era?
No one had expected the Conqueror of Demons to end up like this. His strength was well known to all.
"Ping, how are they?" Zhongli asked, his tone heavy.
"Menogias's injuries aren't severe. He's simply in some kind of coma. He should wake in four or five days."
"Xiao is in worse shape, but thankfully no fatal wounds. The attacks missed his vital areas. He'll need a quiet place to recuperate for a while."
"But... Bonanus's condition is strange. Logically, having been pierced straight through the chest, she should have already passed."
"Even for an adeptus, a fatal wound means death. Yet there is a strange power inside her, clinging to her last breath."
Hearing this, Zhongli stroked his chin thoughtfully. This must be the work of that otherworldly god... truly remarkable.
"I have no good solution for Bonanus. I can only offer minimal help. We'll have to wait for Ganyu to try Qilin blood..."
Granny Ping responded quickly, shaking her head gently. She didn't know if Qilin blood would work.
The artifact had done what it could—only a small measure of help. Bonanus would need more.
Qilin blood not only protected the Qilin from evil but also possessed powerful healing abilities.
During the Archon War, this trait was especially prominent. It could save mortals, help the Qilin themselves, and even aid injured adepti.
But one thing had to be noted: some mortals could not withstand Qilin blood.
The blood of the Qilin lineage contained immense power and was an extremely rare treasure in Teyvat. However, they did not sell it to outsiders.
After temporarily stabilizing the three's injuries, Granny Ping wiped the sweat from her brow, exhaled, and asked Zhongli again.
"Do you have any idea what happened? And now Menogias—someone who should be dead—why is he here?"
"There's no need to reveal too much about this matter. I hope you can understand."
Zhongli shook his head. According to the contract he had signed with Bonanus, he could not. And even without that contract, he would not.
Hearing this, Granny Ping nodded slightly. Very well, then she would not ask further. Rex Lapis must have his reasons. She need not overthink.
"I understand. But with another adeptus suddenly returning to Liyue, we'll need to give the public a proper explanation. Especially since this adeptus is already dead in everyone's memory." Granny Ping said with some concern.
"I will ask Ganyu to spread the word. Don't worry about it." Zhongli shook his head lightly. He would handle it.
Rex Lapis's personal word still carried great weight in the eyes of Liyue's mortals.
With that, he looked at the three who had either fallen asleep or fallen unconscious. This operation had been a heavy loss. He hoped Bonanus would pull through...
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Ganyu appeared on the rooftop. She leaped down and pressed a hand to her chest.
"I answer your summons. What has happened?" As she spoke, her eyes kept drifting to the three fallen Yakshas behind Rex Lapis.
At first glance, Ganyu couldn't believe it. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. The moment she truly saw them, her face paled.
What happened? Had the Yakshas met with some disaster? Wait—was that man in the brown-black clothes Menogias? How?
He should be dead. How was he here now?
Zhongli caught Ganyu's shocked and confused expression. He cleared his throat and said calmly:
"I know you have questions, but there's no time to explain. Bonanus needs you." He stepped aside to make room.
"I understand!"
Snapping out of her daze, Ganyu nodded seriously and quickly knelt beside Bonanus.
She placed her hand over Bonanus's chest, as if examining the wound. Whatever she was doing, Ganyu would not waste time on unnecessary actions.
After a few seconds,
Ganyu raised her right hand, and with her left, she formed a blade of ice. It was sharp, radiating cold.
It seemed she intended to cut her palm with that icy blade... but it was radiating cold! Wouldn't the wound freeze on contact?
Slash!
Without hesitation, Ganyu sliced open her palm. The blood did not freeze from the ice. It floated gently from her hand like a vivid rose.
The blood hovered in the air, then dispersed into tiny droplets, enveloping Bonanus in a dark red glow.
The red mist was not eerie at all; instead, it felt warm and gentle.
Ganyu pressed her hands together over her chest, closing her eyes, doing... something.
Zhongli and Granny Ping stood by, watching silently, not interrupting.