Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

Amidst the flying sand and swirling stones of the battlefield, terrifying roars never ceased.

Amidst the flashing blades and glints of swords, a flying stone severed a strand of hair that the person couldn't dodge in time.

Its owner watched in astonishment as the severed hair drifted away.

They should all have been given to that traveler who descended from another world. When did they return?

The enemy gave him no time to breathe; a fatal blow was about to fall.

At the critical moment, layers of giant rocks appeared out of thin air, blocking the enemy's proud and powerful attack.

The immortals set up a barrier to prevent mortals from accidentally entering, which should buy them some time.

Liyue has been returned to its people, and the demon gods should also be suppressed by humans.

However, if the restlessness in one's heart is not quelled in time, when it erupts, it will probably not be more harmful than the demon god here to Liyue.

Since this old man has devoted himself to Liyue for thousands of years, let him indulge himself for once.

"Ok?"

The demon before him stopped attacking, gazing up at the sky, waiting for something.

His inability to control his turmoil impaired his perception.

Belatedly, he also looked towards the sky.

This aura was too familiar; how could he not recognize it after such close contact?

The demon shrank back, like a venomous snake lurking in a cave.

Unlike venomous snakes, it prefers to crush food with its teeth rather than with venom.

His anxiety intensified; he had never been so calm before.

*

Passing through the clouds, the traveler falls from the sky.

Why do I always fall from the top down? The teleportation point is so inhumane.

Five-star review!

The enormous body perched in the mountains caught the attention of travelers.

Why not use this demon god as a stepping stone?

Isn't its posture a little strange...?

The demon on the ground aimed at the traveler's descent path, opened its huge mouth revealing rings of serrated teeth, and charged towards the traveler.

The traveler also discovers the demon god approaching at an alarming speed.

They're here! So fast!

Why not try using water elements?

Blue light gathered at her fingertips.

The light was so dazzling that even the demon god hesitated and remained suspended in the air.

Tick-tock, tick-tock...

Two drops of water fell on the demon's face.

Eh?

Is it because I'm not skilled enough? What is this?!

The traveler expected to spout water like Navelette!

What were those two drops of water just now?!

If it doesn't work, try again!

This time, I must be just like Navisette!

The traveler's actions were considered provocative, and the demon roared throughout the valley.

A foul stench wafted into the traveler's nose.

Ugh! Disgusting!

I didn't do it on purpose. I want to use the water element normally even more than you do!

Again!

The water element patterned runes were gradually drawn in mid-air, and at that moment, the enraged beast charged towards the traveler.

zizi...

Thin streams of water flowed from the talisman...

From now on, we should use rock element.

Before the traveler could even switch elements, she was picked up by someone.

Because the speed was so fast and so sudden, the traveler was so frightened that he hurriedly pointed his "water gun" at him.

Then, the face he had been longing for was sprayed with water.

Ok……

Zhongli...

"I didn't mean to! Mr. Zhongli, are you alright?" The traveler, in a panic, withdrew his supernatural powers.

Water droplets slid down his long eyelashes, some from the corners of his lips, some from his cheeks, and some from the corners of his eyes. The unruly droplets stained the corners of his eyes with a touch of red.

By the way... Mr. Zhongli, your eyeshadow isn't waterproof.

……

Zhongli closed his eyes, waiting for the water droplets on his forehead to slide down to his eyes.

"Let me wipe it off for you!" The traveler wiped the water droplets off his face with his sleeve.

The face is soft, that's great, it's a living Zhongli!

"Miss Traveler, has the plan to take you home failed?" His eyes were no longer as gentle as before, but rather somewhat cold.

"I really didn't mean it." The traveler thought he was angry with him.

"That's alright. What's the answer to the question I just asked you?" He wouldn't allow the traveler to interrupt again.

"Actually, it was a success," the traveler replied.

"Then why are you still in Liyue?" His gaze grew increasingly stern.

“I’m back, Mr. Zhongli.” The traveler pursed his lips, waiting for his reaction.

"Why?" His expression was not what the traveler had expected.

"Because..." Before the traveler could finish speaking, the demon god, who had been standing aside, once again activated its massive body to launch an attack, raising clouds of dust.

Beneath the dust and mist, Zhongli carried the traveler to the ground.

"Do you want to stay?" he asked, his back to the traveler.

“Yes. After I went back, I understood my mission, and I want to fulfill it,” the traveler replied.

Of course it’s for you!

The traveler roared inwardly, but she probably would never say those words aloud in her life.

"You are too weak to survive in an era of chaos caused by demons and gods, so how can you talk about a mission?" Zhongli's words were not as gentle as before; he told her the reality directly.

"I've become stronger..." For the first time, the traveler felt as nervous as if he were speaking to a stern elder, and his words lacked confidence.

……

Zhongli did not respond to what followed.

Is this the end of the conversation?

The traveler even wished that the demon would attack quickly to fill the awkward silence.

"And... I want to see you..." The noise completely drowned out the sentence.

"See me?" Where the traveler couldn't see, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, then trembled a few times as he tried to control the upward curve before returning to calm.

Damn, he heard me even when I was speaking so softly?

"Yes, I hid something from you, which led you to doubt my abilities. Now that I'm back, I want to tell you everything." The traveler covered up his slip of the tongue.

Yay, another day of successfully crushing on someone.

Oh right, I already confessed to her before, and she just said "I know" and then nothing more. I guess it's over.

I'll just do the same and let this go.

Let bygones be bygones.

"I feel like I haven't eaten in ages. Let's hurry up and finish this, then go to Wanmintang for a meal. I'm so hungry," the traveler said, clutching his stomach.

Let's just let bygones be bygones.

I'm definitely starving right now, my stomach is practically touching my belly.

Traveling with someone who doesn't need to eat means you'll inevitably go hungry often.

The demon emerged from the ground, separating the two.

Zhongli instinctively reached out to the traveler, but the traveler did not seek his help as before, and escaped danger on his own.

Only then did he realize that the clothes the traveler was wearing were not the ones he had given him, but Fontaine's clothes.

For him, less than a minute had passed since he saw the traveler off. What happened to the traveler during that time?

*

The demon's attention was focused on the traveler, and every time the traveler distanced himself from it, it would follow.

The demons she had encountered in the past seemed to be easily attracted to her.

Is there something about me that attracts them?

The traveler's use of Geo elemental power was not as skillful as Zhongli's, and it was a bit too early for her to face the demon god. The shield she created was shattered as soon as it took shape.

"Leave this one to me. Xiangling is on duty at Wanmintang today, so we should go there early to queue up." Zhongli, who was beside the traveler, picked her up with one hand, dodged several attacks, and suspended her high in the air.

The hand holding the Piercing Rainbow Spear released the spear. The spear's falling speed was not fast due to the influence of elemental force. When its sharp edge touched the ground, the earth rumbled, and a crack spanning the entire Azure Water Plain opened instantly.

The heavens move with all things, mountains and seas take on new forms, and stars emerge from barren lands, shining as brightly as the sun.