"Why can't people just trust each other a little more?"
Gu Sanqiu shrugged. "That's easy. Trust is for people, not for you, Xingqiu."
Xingqiu's brow twitched as a vein popped on his forehead. "Your sharp tongue hasn't dulled, I see. Are you looking for a spar?"
"Perfect. I've been curious about this 'Three Absolutes' technique from the Guhua Clan. How about we go up there and have a little match right now?"
"Heh, no need for that. We haven't seen each other in so long; shouldn't we catch up like civilized people instead of acting like brutes? What's the point of fighting?"
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like something you would say. You're all about dueling and playing the hero, aren't you?"
"Hey, hey, playing the hero can be done in a lot of ways, fighting being just one of them. I am a scholar, after all. Engaging in brainless brawls is beneath me."
With a serious expression, Xingqiu wagged a finger. "Besides, that guy, Tartaglia—he doesn't exactly seem like a nice fellow. The fact that you brought him along means you're probably just as strong as him, so why waste my energy fighting you for no reason?"
"Smart," Gu Sanqiu chuckled. "But you're really okay bringing that friend of yours here? Aren't you worried he'll literally burn himself out?"
He nodded toward the stage, where Chongyun was currently battling, wielding ice and frost everywhere. "Hu Tao's not around at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor these days, so if he needs a good burial plot, you'll have to arrange that yourself."
"That's not it," Xingqiu waved his fan, cooling himself down. "We made a big discovery recently, so we came here to test its results. I figured the Everlasting Flame Seed would make for a good gift to mark our reunion."
"You're confident, huh? Have you mastered the Guhua Clan's Three Absolutes already? Otherwise, getting that flame seed might be a bit tricky."
"Not really. Not everyone's a freak like you, learning so fast," Xingqiu replied, pouting. "But seriously, when are those two going to finish their fight? The quicker we wrap things up, the quicker we can leave. This place is unbearable."
"Agreed."
Gu Sanqiu glanced back at the arena and tried to give Tartaglia a look.
Tartaglia's short swords flashed as he weaved through Chongyun's greatsword strikes, managing to chip away at his ice shield with precise thrusts.
The look didn't work.
"Ahem."
Gu Sanqiu coughed heavily, his eyes radiating unmistakable killing intent.
Tartaglia flinched. He felt a sinister aura coming from the audience!
This is my chance!
Chongyun's eyes lit up. Gripping his sword with both hands, an immense surge of frost began to form around his blade and body.
"Evil be purged!"
Giant swords of ice manifested with Chongyun's attack, raining down upon Tartaglia. The freezing energy was so intense that a thin layer of frost formed on Tartaglia's face.
"That won't work!"
Tartaglia focused, his short sword arcing upward as he deflected one of the giant ice blades, breaking free from Chongyun's assault.
"Phew, you almost got me there," Tartaglia said with a smirk, pointing down at Gu Sanqiu. "If it weren't for someone's sudden bout of bloodlust, I wouldn't have been distracted long enough for you to get the drop on me!"
"A draw then, right? You've had your fun," Gu Sanqiu called.
"Tch." Tartaglia clicked his tongue but still gave Chongyun a polite nod, attempting to speak in a more refined manner. He gave a formal acknowledgment, essentially saying, "You're strong; I acknowledge you," which left Chongyun—being the earnest and innocent type—blushing a bit.
No, I can't blush. Calm, calm...
While the crowd celebrated Chongyun's victory, thinking he'd reclaimed some honor for them, a few of the older generation and more serious competitors didn't look so relieved.
Tartaglia had fought a string of opponents and still managed to appear almost relaxed, even claiming a draw at the end. That alone was enough to unsettle them.
Is this really the level of strength someone his age should have?
For Gu Sanqiu and his group, though, this wasn't anything surprising. His plan had always been to stir things up and let these people learn a lesson.
As for Xingqiu and Chongyun, they were here to test if their recent discovery was effective, and running into Gu Sanqiu was just an unexpected bonus.
"Gu... Gu-dàren!" Chongyun's previously calm demeanor vanished the moment he spotted Gu Sanqiu. He immediately stood at attention, like a soldier awaiting inspection.
"Relax, no need to call me that here. Just don't go shouting that name around. I'm not some stubborn old man."
Gu Sanqiu eyed Chongyun up and down. "Xingqiu said you've found a way to suppress your Pure Yang body. How'd you manage that?"
Chongyun's condition was complicated. His desire to prove himself as a capable exorcist—driven by a grand ambition to rid the world of evil—was hampered by his overpowered constitution, which made the job almost too easy.
It was like a max-level character returning to the starter village, with low-level enemies dying before they could even land a hit, leaving the villagers to think he was a cheater.
In a sense, Chongyun was a born winner, though it seemed his body's abilities were almost too much for him to handle.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to this."
Chongyun grinned sheepishly. "Recently, Xingqiu and I went near Dragonspine, where we were lucky enough to find a block of ice that never melts. I've been carrying it with me ever since."
"And this," he added, carefully unstrapping a bag from his back. "Inside are all sorts of cursed items we've collected: a zombie's hundred-year-old eyeball, strands of a vengeful ghost's hair... I've got a whole bag full of this stuff."
"With these ominous artifacts around me, my Pure Yang body is constantly being drained, which helps me live a more normal life."
(￣△￣;)
Upon hearing what was inside the bag, both Gu Sanqiu and Tartaglia instinctively took a few steps back, eyeing Xingqiu with suspicion.
"You're still giving out these wild ideas, huh?"
Tartaglia frowned. "I haven't been in Liyue long, but even I know that bag's filled with some seriously taboo stuff."
"Actually, isn't everything in that bag a taboo?"
"But it works, doesn't it?" Xingqiu said with a casual shrug. "Now Chongyun can walk in the sunlight for short periods. You've no idea how hard it is to make ice pops in the wilderness."
"Don't underestimate those items," he added. "Even with my family's influence, gathering these things was a real effort."
Gu Sanqiu exchanged a look with Tartaglia before they both concluded:
"It's more likely everyone was eager to send those things off to you," Tartaglia added. "Probably even waived the delivery fee."
---
T/N: dàren. adult grownup title of respect toward superiors.
If there are any mistakes let me know!
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