Aether stood in the halo of light not far away, wearing a gentle smile.
"Lumine, come home with me. We will be together and never part again." He reached out his hand to Lumine.
Lumine's eyes instantly welled up, and tears fell uncontrollably.
She missed her brother so much—so much that she was willing to believe everything before her was real.
She almost subconsciously reached out to take his hand, her mind completely ceasing to think.
Just as Lumine's fingertips were about to touch Aether's hand, a majestic voice exploded, instantly shattering the illusion before her: "Solidify!"
Zhongli's voice carried a unique weight and majesty, instantly drowning out "Yunqin's" music.
Lumine snapped back to reality, panting heavily.
Not far away, the musical bow in "Yunqin's" hand was already pressed against Tartaglia's throat. If pushed forward even a single centimeter, it would pierce his throat.
Zhongli took a step forward, placing himself between "Yunqin" and Tartaglia.
A Geo element shield expanded around him, blocking "Yunqin's" bow.
"Yunqin" tilted her head, a mocking smile curving her lips as she spoke with clear disdain: "Are the citizens of another nation truly worth your protection?"
Her voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
The shield around Zhongli instantly expanded, and a powerful shockwave spread outward with him at the center, sending Tartaglia flying.
Lumine quickly rushed over to catch him, but the aftermath of the shockwave still forced her back several steps, leaving her arms numb from the impact.
Tartaglia slumped on the ground, panting heavily. His face was as pale as paper, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat.
The illusion brought about by the music earlier had almost drained his consciousness. Coupled with the immense toll of the Foul Legacy, he was practically exhausted, lacking the strength to even lift an arm.
Just then, a figure flew down from above.
The figure descending from on high was none other than Cloud Retainer.
Her gaze immediately locked onto Zhongli, her eyes bursting with undisguised joy, and even her voice trembled slightly with excitement: "Rex Lapis! I knew it..."
Zhongli's gaze suddenly hardened, and he slowly shook his head.
Cloud Retainer swallowed the rest of her words.
With Lumine, Paimon, and Tartaglia present, it was indeed inappropriate to expose the identity of Rex Lapis at this moment.
She quickly restrained the excitement in her eyes, instead turning a wary gaze toward "Yunqin," her adeptal energy flowing quietly around her, ready to respond to any sudden developments.
"A match is meant for sparring. Tartaglia has already lost his ability to fight. Weapons are blind; let this be enough." Zhongli took a step forward, speaking as he looked at the bow in "Yunqin"'s hand.
"Yunqin" laughed. "Let this be enough?"
"Do you know what I saw in his dreams? How many innocent lives those hands of his have slaughtered?" She slowly withdrew her bow, the mockery in her eyes almost overflowing. "A bloodstained piece of trash like this is worth you lowering yourself to protect him?"
"I have long taken the Fatui's actions in Liyue into consideration. Even if punishment is required, it is not your place to execute vigilante justice." Zhongli sighed softly.
"Yunqin" clenched her fists, the mockery in her eyes replaced by surging indignation.
"The wicked are sheltered under the wings of a god... Then what about me?" Her voice carried a grievance seemingly suppressed for a thousand years, like a lost child's accusation. "I was once a blank slate too, completely untainted by blood, yet my rightful existence was usurped by this girl, Yunqin!"
"Why does she get to enjoy the teachings of the Adepti and the company of friends, while I am forced to remain trapped in this shell, like a shadow that cannot see the light of day?"
Before she had even finished speaking, the Hydro Element surrounding "Yunqin" suddenly flickered violently, like a candle swaying in the wind, alternating between bright and dim.
The bow in her hand, losing the nourishment of the Hydro light, gradually turned transparent before finally melting into a puddle of clear water. It dripped through her fingers and soaked the dirt beneath her feet, leaving a dark, circular stain.
A bout of intense dizziness struck her. Her body swayed, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Even her lips lost their color, and the light of the Hydro Element around her began to dissipate.
"Yunqin!"
"Get lost!"
Cloud Retainer instinctively stepped forward to support her, only to be interrupted by a sharp shout from "Yunqin."
"Hypocritical Adepti, hypocritical Gods, don't touch me with your filthy hands!"
The Hydro Element around her completely dissipated, and her Vision lit up once again with the warm gold of the Geo element. However, the light was as faint as a dying candle in the wind, ready to extinguish at any moment.
The hatred in "Yunqin's" eyes almost materialized as she glared fiercely at Zhongli and Cloud Retainer. "Next time, Liyue won't be so lucky!"
"The seal suppressing me is gradually loosening. When I truly reclaim this body, those contracts that once bound me will all become empty, meaningless words!"
As her words faded, her eyes suddenly lost their focus. As if drained of all support, her body went limp and she collapsed straight to the ground.
Cloud Retainer quickly stepped forward and caught her securely, channeling her adeptal energy through Yunqin's pulse to examine her condition.
Lumine, Paimon, and Tartaglia stood to the side, exchanging bewildered glances.
"That Yunqin just now... why did she suddenly faint? And what did she mean by seals and contracts?" Paimon muttered softly as she floated over to Lumine's side.
Lumine was equally perplexed. Looking at the "Yunqin" slumped in Cloud Retainer's arms, her mind flashed with memories of her appearance in the Serenitea Pot, her ruthlessness during the duel with Tartaglia, and her pale, fragile expression right now. Her thoughts were a tangled mess.
"Since your minds are plagued with questions, follow me to the Mt. Aocang Adeptal Abode." Zhongli looked at the chaotic scene before him, a hint of exhaustion in his tone. "Everything regarding Yunqin and the secrets she harbors, I shall explain to you in full."
Cloud Retainer glanced at Tartaglia with a hint of hesitation in her eyes, subtly signaling Zhongli with a look.
After all, Tartaglia was a Fatui Harbinger sent to Liyue by Snezhnaya. Yunqin's secrets concerned the safety of Liyue—how could they be so easily revealed to an outsider?
"No matter." Zhongli shook his head.
"Though he is a representative of Snezhnaya, he and Yunqin are very close."
"If he truly views Yunqin as a comrade, just as he claims, then he should know how to keep a secret."
Tartaglia fell silent for a moment, a trace of solemnity flashing in his eyes.
Finally, he slowly nodded. "If she is in trouble, I am willing to lend a hand—no matter who she is, she is my friend."
-
The group supported the unconscious Yunqin as they headed to the Mt. Aocang Adeptal Abode.
After entering the adeptal abode, Cloud Retainer gently placed Yunqin on a soft, cushioned couch and tucked her in with a blanket.
Looking at Yunqin's furrowed brows, which remained tightly knit even in her unconsciousness, Cloud Retainer's eyes filled with worry. Her movements were as gentle as if she were handling a fragile treasure.
Zhongli walked to the center of the adeptal abode. His gaze slowly swept over Lumine, Paimon, and Tartaglia, finally resting on Yunqin on the couch.
He took a deep breath, his voice deep and solemn: "Yunqin is a descendant of Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex. She bears the pure blood of a god."