Just before dawn, Luo Qing finally decided he'd tormented Osial enough and returned to the shore.
After making plans with Teresa to meet up in Liyue Harbor someday, he set course back to the city.
Following several bouts of harassing Osial, he'd accumulated a total of 2,051 frustration points—enough for two sets of ten draws. Still, knowing that twenty draws likely wouldn't yield any big rewards, he planned to save up a little more—maybe enough for four or five sets—before making a go at it.
By the time he got back to the Northland Bank, the sun had risen.
As soon as he entered the lobby, he spotted Childe and Natalia standing at the front, clearly waiting for him. Natalia waved him over with a knowing look in her eyes.
Luo Qing approached, sensing he was about to get an earful. He glanced at Natalia's expression and then turned to Childe.
"Lord Childe, is there something you needed from me?"
"Where did you run off to? Your secretary and I have been waiting for you all night," Childe said, arms crossed and a slight tiredness visible in his eyes.
"Oh, just a little night fishing. Why? Were you interested in joining, Lord Childe?"
"..."
[+1 Frustration from Tartaglia]
"I swear, you're supposed to be a trainee Harbinger, but all you think about is fishing," Childe said, exasperated. He wore an expression of utter disappointment.
Back when he'd been chosen as a trainee, Childe had traveled all across Teyvat—if he wasn't fighting, he was on his way to another fight—grabbing every opportunity to boost his reputation and move up the ranks as fast as possible.
How could Luo Qing be so... casual? Didn't he want to become the Twelfth Harbinger, earn a codename, and gain the honor of meeting the Tsaritsa? Didn't he find the prospect... thrilling?
"Ah, I was just getting bored," Luo Qing replied casually, chuckling.
"Well, here's something to keep you occupied." Childe smirked, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"The power extracted from the replicated sigils in the research camp isn't sufficient. Our scouts recently found a new Adeptus domain, and it's said to contain many Adeptus mechanisms with a large amount of stored energy. I've been asked to send someone to escort the recovery team, but I'm swamped with other matters."
"So, you want me to go?"
"Smart as always," Childe said with a teasing smile.
"..."
Luo Qing was at a loss for words. So Childe was the type to boss others around.
"Where is it?"
"Jueyun Karst. If you're lucky, you might even run into that Traveler from last night," Childe chuckled.
"Jueyun Karst, huh..."
Luo Qing's brow furrowed slightly. The journey to and from that area would take at least a month—a rather long haul.
"Can I skip it?" he asked hopefully.
"Nope."
"..."
Jueyun Karst, Northwest Direction
Several weeks later, the group finally neared their destination.
The iron rule of Snezhnaya was to follow orders, and Luo Qing had no choice but to do as Childe said. He accompanied Ovilia's research team to Jueyun Karst, where they aimed to retrieve the Adeptus mechanisms hidden within a supposed abandoned domain.
Since the journey would take a long time, Luo Qing left Natalia and Sergei behind in Liyue Harbor to keep tabs on the latest movements of the Qixing and gather intel. They would report back once he returned.
"I say, Ovilia, are you sure there aren't any Adepti around this domain?" Luo Qing asked.
Unlike the picturesque scenes depicted in the game, the peaks of Jueyun Karst were impossibly numerous and steep. Luo Qing couldn't even tell which peak was Mt. Aozang and which was Mt. Hulao.
But he knew one thing for certain—there were quite a few Adepti residing in Jueyun Karst.
While they had a few Seals of Forbidden Knowledge, this mission was essentially a burglary. If they got caught, Luo Qing wasn't sure he could guarantee the safety of everyone in Ovilia's group.
If things went south...
Well, he'd just try to make sure they at least got proper burials.
"Rest assured, Lord Luo Qing. Our scouts have observed the site for some time. There haven't been any Adepti in the vicinity. It's most likely abandoned," Ovilia answered respectfully.
"Alright, I'll take your word for it."
Luo Qing fell silent, following the group while admiring the scenery of Jueyun Karst.
He had to admit, the landscape was breathtaking. Towering stone peaks, connected by wooden bridges and pathways, cranes calling in the distance—it truly felt like an otherworldly paradise.
Before long, they arrived at the entrance to the so-called abandoned Adepti domain.
The domain was hidden behind a waterfall, the water cascading down from the peak of a cloud-piercing mountain before flowing toward Dihua Marsh. They slipped past the edge of the waterfall to find the entrance—a massive gate inscribed with golden symbols. Like every Adepti abode, it was sealed with a protective array.
Luo Qing reached out and touched the gate. The moment his fingers brushed against it, he was pushed back by an invisible force.
"The door's locked. Got any ideas?"
"Naturally. Lord Luo Qing, please stand back a bit," Ovilia said with a nod. He gestured to a soldier carrying a large wooden crate. The soldier approached and opened it, revealing bundles of explosives.
Everyone retreated to a safe distance outside the cave, leaving the explosives expert behind to set the charges.
A moment later, there was the scratch of a match lighting, and the expert sprinted out of the cave without looking back. A few seconds later, a deafening explosion rocked the mountain.
"Alright, Lord Luo Qing. Let's head in," Ovilia said, beaming.
"..."
Luo Qing was speechless. Were they not worried about attracting the Adepti?
He followed Ovilia and the others inside. The entrance had been blown wide open, the once-secure protective array left in tatters. Clearly, the Adepti hadn't anticipated anyone attempting such a direct breach.
Every Adepti domain was its own little pocket realm, and this one was no exception.
After navigating through twisting passages, the cave opened up into a vast chamber. Massive floating islands, connected by golden, ribbon-like pathways, hovered in midair.
And on each island were various Adeptus mechanisms, all of different shapes and sizes—some resembling oversized rice cookers, others like colorful lanterns.
Ovilia's face lit up with glee at the sight. He wasted no time ordering his men to start packing up the machinery.
Luo Qing moved closer, reaching out to touch one of the mechanisms. For some reason, the objects felt oddly familiar to him.
"Could this... be her domain...?"
A complicated expression crossed Luo Qing's face, and he turned to warn Ovilia.
"Ovilia, move quickly. This place might not be abandoned."
"I... I understand, Lord Luo Qing."
Though Ovilia's eyes flickered with a trace of reluctance as he glanced at the intricate mechanisms and golden symbols around them, he immediately urged his team to speed up.
Time ticked by, and just as Ovilia's group was about to finish packing up the last of the energy-filled mechanisms, the sound of footsteps echoed from the cave's entrance—a sharp, steady clicking, like high heels striking stone. Despite the noise of the team's activity, the sound was impossible to ignore.
Luo Qing's gaze snapped to the cave's entrance.
There, a tall, silver-haired woman with a chest that seemed to embrace the world itself and a long spear in hand walked in with an imposing stride.
She wore a half-mask, her white, feather-like sleeves swaying as she moved. Red cords accentuated her figure, tracing her perfect curves. Her slender waist, like that of a water snake, was utterly mesmerizing.
Her breathtaking beauty even made the Fatui soldiers pause, unable to tear their eyes away from the sight of her.
"Hey, don't just stand there gawking! Hurry up and pack everything—now!" Luo Qing snapped, his voice cutting through the soldiers' daze.
Even though it was the first time they'd met after his reincarnation, Luo Qing recognized her instantly—the unique makeup, the icy blue Vision.
She was unmistakable.
The Adeptus disciple, the Calamity-Warding Goddess—Shenhe.
Shenhe's brows furrowed at the sight of the Fatui invading her master's domain. With a sharp, commanding voice, she shouted, "Who dares trespass in an Adepti abode?!"
With a single push of her toes, she launched herself forward, spear aimed directly at Luo Qing.
---
T/N: Please consider Ovilia different from the other scientist Oviro... maybe twins? hahaha...
If there are any mistakes let me know!
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