Some fought tirelessly through the night;
others traveled under starlight without rest.
The one traveling day and night was a purple-haired, purple-dressed girl with a sharp and heroic air.
She had a delicate, fair face with a serious expression. Her hair was styled into twin buns shaped like cat ears, with twin tails flowing down. Her elegant purple attire was both refined and practical, paired with patterned black stockings—cute yet subtly alluring.
She was the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing — Keqing.
Keqing had been extremely busy.
When the monster riot first broke out, she personally led a team to Qingce Village to eliminate threats and investigate the cause.
Even after the source in Guili Plains had been resolved by Ganyu and Lu Lin, she did not immediately return. Instead, she continued clearing scattered monsters nearby.
From Qingce Village to Dihua Marsh, crossing rivers and pushing northeast toward Jueyun Karst, she systematically swept through enemy territory all the way to Cuijue Slope.
Hardworking didn't even begin to describe her.
To maximize efficiency, she had been camping alone outdoors for days under harsh conditions.
"This area is mostly cleared. Wangshu Inn has that mysterious adeptus guarding it. Guili Plains is stable. I'll rest tonight and return to Liyue Harbor tomorrow."
She muttered to herself while roasting meat over a small fire.
After finishing dinner and preparing to rest—
Suddenly, the frantic flapping of birds caught her attention.
It was late. The moon hung high, casting faint silver light over the forest shadows.
Most birds should have been roosting by now.
If so many were startled into flight, something must be wrong.
She glanced toward the direction the birds had flown from.
The valley of the Pyro Regisvine.
Had something happened to it?
She had inspected it earlier that afternoon to ensure it wasn't corrupted by Abyss energy. But she had gone in the afternoon—Lu Lin and Xiangling arrived near dusk.
They had just missed each other.
This required investigation.
Without hesitation, Keqing rose and headed toward the valley.
At the Valley Entrance
Before she even stepped inside, she froze.
A sound drifted out.
Clear. High-pitched. Breathless.
Filled with unmistakable pleasure.
Keqing was not naïve. She was well-read and worldly.
She knew exactly what that sound meant.
"Who would do something like this here?" she muttered, flustered.
She turned to leave—
But stopped.
This was Cuijue Slope—dangerous terrain. Even Vision holders avoided it casually. The Pyro Regisvine still lurked nearby.
What if something happened?
But how could she just walk in and interrupt them?
That would be mortifying.
Keqing might be knowledgeable in theory, but in practice she was still untouched. Confronting people mid-act was far beyond her comfort.
After some thought, she decided to wait outside.
She would intervene after they finished—or step in if danger arose.
Still, irritation bubbled in her chest.
"Are people really this reckless now? Seeking thrills in a place like this…"
Then—
She stiffened.
That voice…
It sounded familiar.
Was that Xiangling?
Keqing often dined at Wanmin Restaurant; she and Xiangling were close friends.
Now that she focused carefully—
It was unmistakable.
She sat against a large rock and listened.
Between rhythmic, breathy sounds came broken fragments of speech.
"…Lu… Lu Lin ge… so… so fast… I… I'm…"
There was no doubt.
It was Xiangling.
Keqing didn't suspect coercion. The joy in that voice was obvious.
And Xiangling, as a Vision holder, wasn't someone easily overpowered.
Still—
She hadn't known Xiangling's voice could sound so… captivating.
"What am I even thinking…"
Her thoughts became a tangled mess.
Then the sounds rose sharply—reaching a peak so intimate it made Keqing's knees feel weak.
Moments later, quiet.
She waited a few minutes.
Should she go remind her friend not to choose such dangerous locations?
But how could she say something like that?
Before she could decide—
The sounds resumed.
"Again?!"
Books said such things didn't last long. From the startled birds until now, over half an hour had passed.
Not only had they not finished—they seemed even more spirited.
The shifting, melodic sounds burrowed into her ears.
Her throat felt dry.
She considered leaving—
But what if Xiangling needed help later?
After struggling internally, she stayed.
She would stand guard.
Yet how could she rest?
An inexperienced girl, listening to such intimate sounds—made worse by the fact it was her friend.
Her heart beat faster.
Was it really that pleasurable?
The sounds from the valley grew softer, then stronger again—like waves.
Keqing felt heat spreading through her body.
Her lips parted slightly. Her breathing grew uneven.
Gradually, her expression blurred, dazed.
One hand instinctively slid beneath her purple skirt. The other slipped inside her collar, moving downward.
At the valley entrance, faint sounds of water and soft murmurs joined the rhythm echoing from deeper within.
Two melodies blending into a single, secret symphony.
Sadly—
The night swallowed it whole, and no one bore witness.
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