Chapter 72: Flight of the Geo Archon and a Sister's Quarrel
"Regarding this 'motorcycle'..." Xianyun adjusted her glasses, her eyes gleaming with the unmistakable fervor of an inventor. "I only caught a fleeting glimpse of it yesterday, but I immediately sensed that its internal mechanisms were exquisitely ingenious. It is completely distinct from the traditional creations found across Teyvat!"
She paced around the sleek machine, her hands clasped behind her back. "There are still numerous unanswered questions in my mind, and even several ideas for modifications and enhancements that I wish to discuss in detail with you, Rex Lapis!"
Yesterday, when Zhongli had returned from his chat group activity, he was just about to store the motorcycle away when he was spotted by Xianyun passing by. The adeptus, utterly obsessed with mechanics and engineering, immediately became excited. Through sheer, persistent persuasion, she had borrowed the vehicle from Zhongli, claiming she only wanted to study it and promising to return it by today.
Zhongli, long accustomed to the Cloud Retainer's impetuous nature, merely offered a faint, tolerant smile at her words.
"My return yesterday was somewhat hurried, and I failed to invite you in. That was my oversight," Zhongli said, his deep voice smooth and unhurried. He cast his amber gaze over the motorcycle. Xianyun had polished the chassis until it gleamed, and several new, simplified components had been expertly integrated into the frame. "It appears you have studied it quite thoroughly, Xianyun."
"Thoroughly is perhaps too strong a word, but one has indeed gained some deep insights!" Xianyun puffed out her chest, her face alight with a tinkerer's pride. "One observed that its original design was strictly limited to terrestrial travel. Therefore, I took the liberty of integrating my most proficient Windborne Ascent adeptal arts into its chassis!"
She pointed a slender finger at the new simplified parts flanking the engine block. They looked like elegant, metallic feathers.
"As long as you continuously channel adeptal or elemental energy into the core, you can activate the array. It will unfurl the Wings of Flowing Wind, allowing this vessel to soar through the very heavens!"
She crossed her arms, looking immensely pleased with herself. "As for the speed... while it may not match my own flight, it offers unmatched convenience. With sufficient energy, it can traverse any distance you desire!"
Zhongli's eyes flickered with genuine approval. A flying mount would save him considerable walking.
"Thank you for your trouble, Cloud Retainer."
"It was no trouble at all. You are far too polite, Rex Lapis." Xianyun waved a hand dismissively, though the smug curve of her lips betrayed her delight. "Why don't you test it immediately? Should you experience any discomfort, one can recalibrate the arrays on the spot!"
Zhongli nodded. He approached the heavy machine and swung a long leg over the seat. Even straddling a mechanical beast, his posture remained impeccably elegant, exuding the dignified aura of a god.
He engaged the ignition. The engine roared to life, a deep, guttural growl that vibrated through the stone of Mt. Tianheng.
"I shall be off, then," Zhongli said, offering a brief nod to Xianyun and the massive form of Azhdaha resting nearby.
Before Xianyun could even open her mouth to reply, Zhongli twisted the throttle. The motorcycle shot forward like a ballista bolt!
It hurtled straight toward the edge of the cliff. Just as the front tire breached the precipice, the simplified metallic feathers on the flanks flared with brilliant light. Two massive, translucent wings of pure, emerald-green Anemo energy erupted from the chassis.
The light wings beat once against the air, generating a massive updraft. The heavy motorcycle stabilized instantly, hovering in the sky before transforming into a blinding cyan-gold streak. It tore across the horizon, heading straight for Natlan, leaving only a swirling trail of wind in its wake.
"Now that is quite a spectacular result!" Xianyun murmured, her eyes sparkling as she admired her handiwork.
Meanwhile, Azhdaha sat near the mountain peak, his massive eyes wide as he stared at the retreating streak of light. The ancient Earth Dragon's gaze was filled with undisguised envy and a deep, burning longing.
"Morax—!" Azhdaha's booming, bell-like voice erupted, shaking the very foundations of Mt. Tianheng. "When you return! Remember to procure one of those contraptions for me as well! It needs to be bigger! Stronger! And capable of carrying my weight!"
Far off in the distance, Zhongli's figure had already dwindled to a mere speck of light. It remained entirely unknown whether the retired Geo Archon had heard his old friend's incredibly heavyweight demand.
The cyan-gold streak climbed higher, eventually vanishing completely where the clouds met the horizon.
Only the ancient Dragon King remained on the summit, staring up at the sky, his mind entirely consumed by dreams of flight.
Beside him, Xianyun blinked, a frown slowly forming on her face. 'Wait... wasn't he supposed to test the new functions? How did he just say he was off and vanish completely?'
At that exact moment, far across the continent in the fiery nation of Natlan, a tense scene was unfolding on a rocky ridge just outside the Scions of the Canopy tribe.
Lumine, Paimon, Mualani, and Chasca stood in a tight circle around Vichama.
The legendary scout of the Scions of the Canopy was in agonizing shape. Having forcibly salvaged Mallko's ancient name, his body was now suffering a violent backlash from the Abyss. Dark, viscous energy pulsed beneath his skin. He gritted his teeth so hard his jaw trembled, large beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead as he fought to suppress the immense pain.
Lumine's golden eyes narrowed, her expression turning deadly serious. She made a split-second decision.
"Mualani, Chasca," Lumine commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument. "You two take the damaged Soul Perception Stone and head back. Explain the situation to Wayna immediately. Paimon and I will escort Vichama back to the temporary camp."
"But..." Chasca hesitated, her brow furrowed. She opened her mouth, likely wanting to suggest a tribal technique to resist the Abyssal erosion, but Mualani quickly grabbed her arm. The Hydro catalyst user gave Chasca a knowing look and gently but firmly pulled her away.
Left alone, Lumine and Paimon moved to Vichama's sides. Supporting his heavy weight between them, they began the slow trek toward the hidden temporary camp Vichama had set up earlier.
Vichama's consciousness was slipping. His head lolled forward, and low, unconscious groans escaped his lips as the Abyssal corruption flared.
Lumine glanced over her shoulder. Once she was absolutely certain Mualani and Chasca were out of sight, she turned to her floating companion.
"Paimon! Now!" Lumine whispered urgently.
"Understood!" Paimon's usually cheerful little face hardened into a mask of pure concentration. She did not hesitate for a second, extending her tiny hands toward the scout's chest.
It was a familiar routine by now. Paimon tapped into that strange, inexplicable power she possessed, a force capable of purifying the darkest taint. A soft, pure light radiated from her palms, sinking into Vichama's chest and forcibly drawing out the violent Abyssal energy.
"Phew... Done!" Paimon let out a long breath, her posture relaxing. She seemed to be getting more and more skilled at this. She reached up, wiping a bead of non-existent sweat from her forehead. "That was a close one!"
Lumine let out a breath she did not realize she was holding, flashing Paimon a warm look of approval.
With the corruption purged, Vichama's breathing steadied. His consciousness slowly began to return, the dark veins receding from his skin. Relieved, the duo adjusted their grip on the scout and quickened their pace, safely delivering him to the camp to rest.
After settling Vichama down, Lumine and Paimon stepped out of the camp to regroup with the others.
As they approached the meeting point, they heard raised voices. From a distance, they spotted Chasca locked in a fierce argument with a young woman. The stranger was dressed plainly, but she carried herself with a strict, scholarly demeanor. Her facial features bore a striking resemblance to Chasca's, though her expression was currently twisted into a mask of stubborn fury.
This was Chuychu, Chasca's sister.
Wayna stood a short distance away, his arms crossed, watching the two sisters clash. He shook his head, a look of utter helplessness on his face.
Noticing Lumine and Paimon approaching, Wayna leaned in and lowered his voice. "That's Chuychu, Chasca's sister. She's an exceptional physician, but... well, you can see how they get along."
Lumine stood quietly on the sidelines. She watched the two sisters, observing the nearly identical stubbornness etched into their faces. Beneath the fiery anger and sharp words, Lumine could see the raw, desperate worry flashing in Chuychu's eyes.
She understood it instantly.
A familiar ache bloomed in Lumine's chest. Her thoughts drifted to Aether. She remembered that deep, blood-bound connection, the terrifying, suffocating fear of losing her twin, a fear so intense that it often disguised itself as anger, transforming into sharp reprimands and protective walls.
She understood it all too well. As someone who shared an unbreakable bond with her own sibling, Lumine could clearly feel the thick, unresolvable love and concern bleeding through the cracks of the sisters' argument.
"Do we... need to go over there and stop them?" Paimon asked softly, her hands wringing together as she watched the red-faced sisters yell at each other.
Lumine gently placed a hand on Paimon's shoulder and shook her head.
"No," Lumine whispered, her gaze softening. "This is between them. They're sisters. Any outside intervention right now might just make things worse. Some knots can only be untied by the people who tied them."
As Lumine predicted, the explosive argument did not last much longer.
Chuychu stared at Chasca's unyielding, defensive posture. Slowly, the fire drained from the physician's eyes, replaced by a heavy, crushing exhaustion. All her anger melted into a long, trembling sigh.
She looked deeply at Chasca one last time. Her gaze was a complex swirl of grievance, confusion, and an undisguised, desperate worry.
Without another word, Chuychu turned on her heel. She walked away quickly, her shoulders slumped, her retreating back exuding a deep sense of loneliness against the rugged Natlan landscape.
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