Strictly speaking, besides the Millelith and the night owls, the old man also heard the signal flare.
"Damn it! How did you bastards know I was here?"
Looking up at the eagle in the sky, clearly guiding others toward his location, the old man's face turned grim. This method, while not foolproof, was absolutely a high-level tactic compared to regular child trafficking operations.
The old man couldn't understand. Even if there were experts in Liyue Harbor, they would typically rely on detecting residual auras or something similar.
So, the question was, how could the aura of animals give them away?
The old man was utterly baffled. How had his secret technique been exposed? Now, even his concealing artifact was broken by some bird, leaving him no choice but to flee for his life!
Despite his apparent old age, the old man wasn't slow, even managing to blow a sharp, hurried whistle, signaling his comrades who were unaware of the situation to retreat!
"There he is, after him!"
Seeing the figure fleeing in the distance, the Millelith were invigorated. After chasing shadows for so long, finally seeing a target felt like a massive breakthrough. Now, catching up and beating this guy into submission became their top priority.
The old man glanced at the approaching Millelith, and as he realized how unnaturally fast they were closing the gap, panic began to set in.
Rats and snakes, the animals he used to transport the children, worked well in silence and secrecy, but standing up to the trained Millelith?
Rats? Forget it. The snakes might stand a chance, but those soldiers would just consider them a tasty snack—especially since snake meat is considered a delicacy!
What really alarmed him, however, were the two soldiers at the forefront, wielding axes and running faster than anyone else.
In the Millelith, regular soldiers wield white tassel spears, while only captains or highly skilled combat instructors are equipped with axes!
Typically, a squad might have one axe-wielding captain, with even the vice-captains carrying spears. But now?
He saw two axe-wielding soldiers in a single squad!
There's no way this wasn't a deliberate setup to catch someone. Even if the Qixing themselves declared it, the old man would have screamed, "You're lying!"
"Surrender, and you won't be killed!"
Similar scenes were unfolding all over Liyue Harbor. Startled residents grabbed their weapons and huddled in their homes, while wealthier households cried out that assassins were on the loose. Panic was spreading fast.
On the rooftops, archers among the Millelith nocked their arrows, aiming carefully before loosing them toward the fleeing old man.
"By order of the Xiangjun, these people still have information of value. Capture them alive if possible, but no pressure."
With these orders, there was an unspoken competition among the archers.
After all, who doesn't enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry? Each squad prided itself on having the best marksmen, and now, with a live target, this was a prime opportunity to settle those bragging rights.
Whoever made the perfect capture would hold bragging rights for weeks!
However, despite the rivalry, the Millelith knew their priorities. If something unexpected occurred, they would cast aside the competition without hesitation.
Whoosh—
From the sky, a small orb dropped straight toward the old man's head.
"Is this little thing supposed to hurt me?"
The old man felt insulted. He wasn't some frail elder; he'd kept himself in shape precisely to maintain the physical strength needed for his secret techniques!
With a flick of his hand, he sent an object flying, perfectly slicing the orb in half.
"Hmph, as if this could—ahhhhhhh!"
Unexpectedly, as the orb split open, a burst of color-shifting powder fell, coating the old man like seasoning.
The moment it touched his skin, he was overwhelmed by an unbearable mix of burning, stinging, and a sensation like being pricked by countless needles!
It felt as if someone had injected pure pain and discomfort straight into his veins!
"All units, take the pills!"
Seeing the old man's reaction and feeling a mild irritation in their own noses, the Millelith squad leader knew that Xiangjun's strategy was unfolding.
Each soldier reached inside their armor, pulled out a brightly colored pill, and swallowed it.
Item: Concentrated Fruit Preserves
Source: Qingchu Peak Third Convenience Store
Note: Dissatisfied with the potency of regular fruit preserves, the creator soaked them in concentrated fruit juice for a second fermentation. It turns out these preserves can protect your senses from extreme foul odors. The flavor's so strong it practically creates a protective bubble around you. Honestly, if you like sweets this much, why not just inject sugar directly?
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
More orbs fell like bombs from the sky. Empowered by Xiangjun's enhanced eyesight and strength, the birds' bombing accuracy rivaled that of professional esports players.
"Damn you, Millelith scum! You fight dirty! You have no honor!"
The old man coughed, gritting his teeth against the unbearable sensations as he staggered forward. His speed, however, had noticeably slowed, and the two axe-wielding Millelith were rapidly closing the distance.
Hearing the old man's curses, or perhaps just looking for something to break the silence, the squad leader remained stone-faced, barely suppressing a grin.
But, as elite soldiers, they remained professional. No laughing during a mission.
Well, at least they tried.
This whole operation was devised by a certain Xiangjun—one of Liyue Harbor's most well-known layabouts.
So what did it have to do with them, the disciplined, official military?
Absolutely nothing!
"Surrender, and you won't be killed!"
The reassuring cries of the Millelith echoed throughout Liyue Harbor, bringing some comfort to the frightened residents. The fact that the soldiers had the upper hand was clear, and parents of the kidnapped children clasped their hands in prayer.
They prayed for their children's safety, and for the brave Millelith to return safely.
---
"Xiangjun, what exactly is in those bombs you're using?"
Gu glanced at the secretary, who had spent the entire day combing through documents with him.
"It's a mix of Jueyun Chili powder, high-acidity raspberries, dried and crushed, along with some of my secret spices."
The real kicker was the powdered shell of the Flame Urchin Egg from the other day—that's where the real magic was.
"Even just a small hit will overwhelm anyone with extreme sour and spicy sensations. Forget resisting, managing to run after getting hit makes them a true warrior."
Gu tossed another orb into the air.
"The Millelith have the proper tools to protect themselves, but the traffickers don't stand a chance. It's the perfect method to slow them down; no need to turn the chase into a marathon."
---
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