Modern Teyvat, bound to the Abyss Spiral

"This is what happened..." Li Qingping relayed He Qun's words to Xianyun.

hiss!

Xianyun took a breath of cold air.

"You keep an eye on this place. I'm going to report to the Emperor!"

"Sister Xianyun, is the situation so serious?"

"That's where the Fulong Tree is. If something happens there, it's no joke!"

Volume 1: 109. Barbara: Lord Wind God is above, he is so powerful!

Li Qingping knew a little about the Fulong tree that Xianyun mentioned. It was a large tree of unknown species, with a thick trunk and golden branches and leaves. It also appeared in the Huishan Hall documents he reviewed.

He remembered the name of the document, "Regulations on Natural Resource Exploitation and Ancient Tree Protection."

"From Sister Xianyun's tone, it seems like there's something incredible going on down there."

Li Qingping actually wanted to investigate it himself, but he was too busy at the moment, so he could only send a message to Ye Lan, saying that the matter involved many people and that immortals had been involved, so she should be careful.

The news from his side traveled quickly, and the reply from the other end was even faster.

Ye Lan: "What a coincidence! I just came out of Grandma Ping's house and I have an idea. You need to keep a close eye on the young beauties over there. I am older and more experienced, so I can take care of myself."

Li Qingping and Ye Lan communicated frequently, but it was all business. Their focus was on simplicity and efficiency. Usually, one side would send a message, add an address, and Li Qingping would reply with a "I'll be there soon," and then the conversation would stop abruptly. There was almost no small talk.

But now there seems to be a change. Ye Lan starts talking more and more, and occasionally with a bit of teasing and self-mockery.

So how old is Sister Lan now?

She and the big boss Ningguang are best friends, so they are probably about the same age. Considering the time when Ningguang became successful, she should be at most 26 or 27 years old.

This is not old at all!

But this definitely couldn't be sent. Li Qingping pretended not to have seen the second half and put the phone away in his pocket.

"Excuse me, are you a staff member here?"

Li Qingping looked up and found a young man in the attire of the Knights of Mond standing in front of him.

The man had medium-gray hair and very recognizable emerald eyes, and his tone of voice was calm and polite when he asked questions.

"Yes, I'm a staff member here. How can I help you?" Li Qingping pointed to the badge on his chest to identify himself.

"Great! I've been invited to watch the concert tomorrow night. Could you take me around the venue?" The man smiled and handed over the invitation.

Li Qingping called over several Liyue police officers and confirmed the identity of the person in front of him.

"Director Li, this is Albedo, the representative sent by Mondstadt."

Li Qingping looked surprised. Barbara had just said that she would arrange for him to meet this powerful alchemist, but he didn't expect to meet him here.

He asked the police officers to withdraw and returned to Albedo: "Please follow me, Mr. Albedo."

"Just call me Albedo. May I know what Director Li's name is?" Albedo was also observing Li Qingping. He knew the importance of the position of Director in Liyue, especially since the person in front of him was so young.

"Li Qingping, it's too strange to call her that. Barbara and I are good friends."

"I don't actually know Barbara well, but I trust her judgment. You must be a very good person too."

Li Qingping was caught off guard and given a nice guy card, feeling helpless. However, he did not let down his guard against Albedo and began to test him in many ways.

After several exchanges, he had a general understanding of Albedo.

He was a man as rigorous as a scholar, yet possessed the sensibility of an artist. He was reserved and reserved when talking to Li Qingping, but when discussing alchemy, his brilliance would inadvertently flash and then fade away.

He understood that kind of confidence too well.

Li Qingping did the same when Kamisato Ayaka wanted to challenge his swordsmanship.

This is indeed a powerful alchemist!

Then Li Qingping would pay more attention to Albedo. He still remembered what the lady said before she rushed to Mondstadt.

——The alchemy for summoning the wolf from the beast realm comes from a stolen manuscript of an alchemist in Mond.

"A while ago, a wolf from the Beast Realm appeared in Liyue, and I even received a meritorious service for it. Now, Liyue has received reliable intelligence that the 'Non-Existent Flower' is planning to attack Barbara's concert. I know nothing about alchemy, so I hope you can keep an eye on it for me and prevent the 'Non-Existent Flower' from succeeding."

Li Qingping brought Albedo to the side of the stage and brought up the topic of the Wolf of the Beast Realm like an old friend chatting.

Barbara was rehearsing upstairs. She caught sight of Li Qingping out of the corner of her eye and found him chatting and laughing with Albedo. She began to feel uneasy.

She hadn't introduced them to each other yet, so how come they started chatting and seemed to be getting along so well?

Never mind, he has always been capable!

Barbara felt like she had endless energy and rehearsed even harder.

Below the stage, the smile on Albedo's face froze, and after glancing at the steel frame behind the stage, his smile returned to normal.

"I'm sorry to bother you. The manuscript of Summoning the Wolf of the Beast Realm was in my collection, and it was stolen accidentally."

"So alchemy is so amazing! I thought it was only useful for joining broken pieces together and saving money on glue."

Li Qingping had specially learned about alchemy some time ago, so he naturally understood that alchemy was more than that. He said this on purpose.

"Not really." Albedo shook his head. "The universe—the upside-down heavens, the earth—is a dream that time has forgotten."

He squatted down and picked up a piece of unused steel pipe on the ground.

"This is metal, the simplest form of a complex structure like life."

The piece of steel pipe glowed faintly and turned into ashes in Albedo's hands. He blew gently to blow away the impurities.

"I haven't yet grasped the true nature of alchemy. This is all I can do."

A Cecilia flower bloomed in the ashes, and Albedo handed it to Li Qingping.

“I call this rebirth.”

"This man is a disciple of Rhinedort." Lei Dianzhen was also alarmed.

"What's the background of Rhinedort?" Li Qingping asked in his heart.

"The strongest alchemist in Kanria, a country where alchemy flourishes."

"Wouldn't that put me on the same level as the chief disciple of the invincible swordsman Raiden Zhen?"

"That's fine if you insist."

Originally, Lei Dianzhen's voice was a little low, but after hearing Li Qingping's analogy, he couldn't help laughing.

"Should I make friends with this famous alchemist's disciple and expand my network?"

"If you think life is too boring and you want to die, you can try it."

Li Qingping: ???

Teyvat is too dangerous. Just making a friend can bring such a big disaster.

"What's the meaning!"

"It's meaningless. Trouble always comes to you anyway. And with me here, you can't avoid the disaster." Lei Dianzhen said in a lazy tone.

Li Qingping lost his previous surprise and regained his composure.

Lei Dianzhen was carrying a big responsibility, and he was mentally prepared.

"I understand. Just get along normally."

Li Qingping didn't even plan to ask who Rhinedort was. Lei Dianzhen would naturally tell him when the time came.

"Are you scared?" Albedo sighed softly, "It's okay, you're not the first one, Alchemist..."

He felt lost, as if he had posted a message in an active chat group with thousands of people saying how bright the stars are tonight, only to be instantly drowned out by the heated conversations of others, without even causing a splash.

"No, I just feel bad that you must be so lonely. Born in an era when alchemy is declining, you probably won't even find anyone to discuss it with in depth. I'm different. I learn popular swordsmanship, and I can meet powerful seniors. I can also find someone to satisfy my urge to masturbate."

Li Qingping's words hit the nail on the head, like a sharp sword cutting off Albedo's years of worries.

Everyone Mond knew was very enthusiastic towards him. Although they had only a vague understanding of alchemy, they still showed him enough respect.

It might be a bit harsh to say it's just a place to live, but Mondstadt is not home to Albedo.

Mond is a pond of water, and he is like a rootless duckweed floating in the pond. Every day he meets the indigenous people here, and speaks the clichés that he has already prepared in his mind, which makes him feel a little tired.

On weekdays, I can hide my heart in countless alchemical experiments, but once the night is quiet, I always feel sad.

And now, for the first time, Albedo felt that there was someone in the world who understood him so well besides his teacher!

A bosom friend! This is a bosom friend!

"To be able to have this feeling, your swordsmanship must be very powerful!" There were emotional fluctuations in Albedo's words, and he could hardly suppress his inner excitement.

"Normally, my swordsmanship might not be the best in the world, but you are definitely the most powerful alchemist I have ever met."

"I think you must be the most powerful swordsman I have ever seen."

Upon learning that Albedo had arrived at the gymnasium, Kaeya, who had come over, was stunned.

What's going on? Why is Albedo, who always keeps a proper distance from others, praising others in this tone? It sounds like just a perfunctory social expression.

Is this still the Albedo he remembers?

and....

Why is it Li Qingping again!

What kind of magic does this guy have? It’s understandable that he is handsome and fascinated Barbara, but Albedo is of the same sex, how can this be reasonable!

"Representative Albedo, I'm still looking for you." Kaeya felt numb when he spoke.

He and Albedo were of equal rank in the Knights Templar, and normally they were just nodding acquaintances, but now the other party was the Mondstadt representative sent by Captain Jean, so he had to show some respect.

"Captain Kaeya, Captain Jean asked me to convey her gratitude to you. You have worked hard during this period." Albedo turned around and treated Kaeya as he did in Mondstadt.

"Not at all." Kaiya was just feeling miserable and just wanted Captain Qin not to settle accounts with him afterwards.

Albedo is still the same Albedo, and Kaeya can only attribute the problem to Li Qingping.

This man has so much stuff!

"I have something to say to Representative Albedo." Kaeya looked at Li Qingping.

"Don't bother me. I'm here waiting for Barbara to finish rehearsal."

Kaeya brought the somewhat reluctant Albedo to the side.

"Are you the only one here?"

Albedo nodded. "Captain Qin said she heard the oracle from the Wind God and specially arranged for me to come to Liyue."

"Is it related to the Fatui envoys visiting Liyue?" Kaeya was a little surprised that the Lord Wind God who had disappeared for a thousand years had reappeared.

"I'm not sure, but I feel like Liyue is pretty good right now. How's your relationship with Director Li? He seems like a nice guy!"

"...I don't know, I'm not sure, don't ask me."

"Do you have a conflict?" Albedo asked curiously.

Kaia smiled wryly and shook his head.

"Captain Jean also asked us to send Barbara back to Liyue after this concert." Albedo did not ask any more questions.

"Barbara has been out for too long." Kaiya appeared calm on the surface, but he was cheering in his heart.

Barbara's return to Mond meant that he no longer had to be her bodyguard, so that no one she dated in the future would be traced back to him!

On the other side, Barbara had already completed a rehearsal process.

Li Qingping unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it over. Barbara took it and drank half of it without hesitation.

"I wish I could maintain this state tomorrow!" Barbara sighed.

"It will definitely be better than today," said Li Qingping.

The rehearsal scheduled for the morning went unexpectedly smoothly, and Barbara found the director and expressed her desire to go over the process again.

The director thought the same thing, and the two hit it off immediately, and the gymnasium became busy again.

The protagonist made a grand entrance from the elevator in the center of the stage. Everything went according to the director's script until the stage behind Barbara made a creaking sound.

Li Qingping noticed something unusual at the first moment.

The stage background support collapsed in an instant, and the huge live broadcast display screen and the broken steel pipes fell from a high altitude.