Genshin Impact: I am the Great General of Liyue

(Even though Huiyuan doesn't want to talk about her brother, she's still my best friend...)

With that thought in mind, Ying shifted her gaze away from Huiyuan.

The group searched along the trail, and an hour later, they found a group of minor abyss mages next to the collapsed ruins guard.

It's not an Abyss Apostle, just a fluffy little guy about the same height as Paimon. Don't worry about not being able to beat it.

Approach quietly, don't shoot... one chop to the neck and they'll be unconscious.

The threat was easily resolved, and Paimon inquired about the situation.

"Are these abyss mages... planning to ambush us?"

Din denied it, saying, "No, they were just rummaging through the remains of those ruin guards."

"Is that so...? Travelers seem to do this quite often... things like 'chaotic devices' and 'chaotic circuits'."

After Paimon finished speaking, Ying nodded heavily.

"Yes, those are all very important materials!"

Upon hearing this, Huiyuan revealed a meaningful expression and slowly moved closer to Ying.

"You didn't level me up to 90, did you?"

"Huh, what, level 90...?"

"Haha~ Just kidding, just using a meme. So what are you collecting these for? To sell them for money?"

"These materials are needed to polish weapons. How about I teach you next time how to use them to improve weapons?"

"No, I still feel that my own fists are more effective."

Upon seeing this, Ying showed a hint of disappointment.

If I could teach Huiyuan step by step...wouldn't I be able to take the opportunity to touch her hair to my heart's content? Huiyuan's hair feels amazing!

Before she could dwell on her fantasy for long, Ying began to ponder a question.

Why would an Abyss Mage be looking for these things...?

Seeing that the topic had returned to the main point, Dain, who was at the investigation site, began to answer.

"It can't be something so ordinary. The reason I've been investigating this area is because abyss mages frequently venture out from those ruins. They seem to be trying to find a 'specific precious item' among the remains of the ruins' guardians and bring it back to the ruins. However, judging from their disappointed looks, they haven't found it yet..."

"Then why didn't you grab them and question them properly earlier?"

Upon hearing Paimon's question, Dain shook his head.

"Of course I have no intention of showing mercy to these guys... but I have a gut feeling that this matter is of extraordinary significance to the entire Abyss Order. The truth cannot be obtained through torture. Or rather, these Abyss Mages are already facing a fear far deeper than any form of torture..."

After hearing this explanation, Paimon felt a chill run down his spine, and his hair stood on end.

What kind of horror could be even more terrifying than torture?

Without lingering there any longer, Dain finished investigating the scene, waved his hand, and continued to follow the trail of the abyss.

As they walked, Paimon started a conversation, saying, "Phew... Besides the Abyss Order, the Ruins Guardians are quite active around here too... It seems like the places where Abyss Mages lurk are also often frequented by Ruins Guardians. Is that some kind of coincidence?"

There are no coincidences in the world; everything is a seed sown in the distant past.

After Dain said this with certainty, everyone's eyes turned to him.

"Just like your appearance in that tavern... time is just waiting for it to sprout."

Hearing this, Ying was a little confused.

Does it mean...we're destined to meet, and we'll meet sooner or later? But...

"But I only heard about you by chance..."

Seeing that Ying didn't understand, Dai Yin didn't say anything more and just waved his hand.

"It's nothing, just some unnecessary sentimentality. The connection between the Abyss Order and the Ruins Guardians is certainly not a coincidence. Rather, they are branches extending from the same root system."

Upon hearing this analogy, Paimon asked, puzzled, "Roots? Branches? What do you mean...?"

"They all originated from the ancient kingdom of 'Kanria,' which perished five hundred years ago."

Paimon looked shocked upon hearing the name.

"Huh? Kanria?! So that's how it is... The Abyss Order and the Ruins Guardians are actually remnants of Kanria after its destruction?! Speaking of Kanria, that's a very ancient name... Oh, right. As a guide, I should explain it to the traveler. The kingdom of 'Kanria' is..."

Before Little Paimon could provide any explanation, Ying beat him to it and gave the answer.

“I know the name Kanria.”

"Eh...?"

"Because I have memories of Kanria."

Upon hearing this information, Paimon's face showed a very surprised expression, and Dain was also slightly surprised.

Only Huiyuan's face remained completely expressionless.

At this moment, Paimon asked uncertainly, "You have memories? But that was a kingdom that was destroyed five hundred years ago..."

Dain sighed, saying indifferently, "...Is that so? Everyone has secrets. You haven't asked me about time, and I won't either...but if you're willing to tell me, I'll listen. So—what kind of scene did you see in Kanria?"

Seeing the expression on Dai Yin's face, Ying glanced at Huiyuan and began to ponder.

(Yuanbao doesn't seem surprised... Does she know all this? Dain seems to know something too... Dain and Kanria... Let's just take this gamble. We can't hide it anymore... The person who woke me up, and the sea of ​​fire I saw as soon as I woke up...)

After Ying finished recounting the sea of ​​fire five hundred years ago and the deities she later encountered, her gaze drifted towards Huiyuan...

(I remember... Huiyuan seemed to have mentioned that deity. I even knew her name, the maintainer of the natural order...)

However, Huiyuan didn't seem to have any intention of explaining.

Seeing this, Ying didn't ask any further questions.

"So that's the complete sequence of events... I thought you met that strange deity right from the start..."

After listening to Ying's story, Paimon remarked with emotion.

Dain pondered and began to review the events.

"Hmm... After you came into this world, your first awakening was when your brother roused you from the meteorite. Then, your brother told you that the destruction of Kanria had caused a cataclysmic change in the world, and that you should leave this world called Teyvat with him."

Luminous's older brother, Sora, woke up before Luminous and seems to have been awake for some time. He appears to have a good understanding of the world of Teyvat.

After processing the information, Paimon asked, "The demise of Kanria? That's what he said?"

"That's right, that's what I heard back then. Yuanbao...you seem to know something?"