Bonus Chapter!---"Come on, Miss Shenhe, I won't use my elemental powers."
Luo Qing gripped his Millelith Spear, pulling it from the sand, his face relaxed as he faced Shenhe.
But it was precisely this nonchalant attitude that irked Shenhe. Without another word, she lunged forward with her spear.
Shenhe's figure darted through the night, slicing through the air, leaving behind a streak of inky white. Her speed was far greater than it had been that day at Jueyun Karst, and her strikes were even more forceful.
Shenhe knew about Luo Qing's incredible speed, so she had to defeat him before he could activate that ability.
The gleaming spear tip aimed straight for Luo Qing's chest, but in the next instant, he casually lifted his right hand, holding the Millelith Spear, and flicked it to the side, deflecting her attack with ease.
Shenhe stared into his eyes and noticed that his irises were still the deep black of Liyue's common folk—they had not shifted to the golden slits that signaled the use of his extraordinary speed.
That meant he hadn't relied on that ability, merely using a simple flick of his wrist to parry her thrust.
Shenhe's hands trembled slightly as she gripped her spear. She recalled the weight that had surged through his weapon during that exchange—it was immensely heavy.
His spear was unimaginably dense.
"Miss Shenhe, don't hold back. You're free to use your elemental power," Luo Qing said with a lighthearted smile. His recent gacha draws had given him over twenty Physical Enhancement Cards, and after using them, his physique had become about 35 times stronger than an average adult's.
These cards enhanced overall attributes, including his reflexes.
Now, even a Vision wielder's speed seemed trivial to him. He didn't even need to activate his Time Zero ability to dodge Shenhe's moves.
"..."
Shenhe remained silent, lifting her spear. Ice crystals condensed at the tip as she formed a hand seal.
"Spirit of Ice, Transformation!"
Several ice-blue spirits materialized from the frozen crystals, hovering between the two of them, leaving a lingering, frosty mist before disappearing into the haze.
Just as Luo Qing's gaze shifted to the surrounding mist, Shenhe's figure blurred, lunging at him once again. At the same time, those spirits emerged from the icy fog, each armed with a spear, attacking from all angles.
They surrounded him from all directions, giving him no room to escape.
But instead of retreating, Luo Qing charged straight at Shenhe, his movements fluid as he dodged her spear and the spirits' strikes, leaving them all grasping at empty air.
Shenhe's eyes widened. His gaze remained as dark as the night.
Without even using his speed ability, Luo Qing was already moving this fast...
A surge of powerlessness washed over Shenhe. Yet, just for a moment, she shook it off and renewed her assault, thrusting her spear toward him.
Time passed slowly, with Shenhe's attacks growing more and more desperate. Yet Luo Qing remained solely on the defensive, never striking back.
Their abilities weren't even close to being on the same level, and Luo Qing couldn't fathom why Shenhe insisted on challenging him.
Was it really just because of that brief moment he had grabbed her waist?
...
Shenhe's attacks became more frenzied, as if she didn't care about maintaining her breathing or conserving her elemental power. In no time, she was leaning heavily on her spear, gasping for breath.
Meanwhile, Luo Qing stood there, completely unscathed.
"Why, Miss Shenhe?" Luo Qing's voice was gentle as he watched her struggle to catch her breath. He felt a twinge of sympathy.
In Snezhnaya, it was normal for men and women in the military to roughhouse, hugging and tussling as part of daily life. He'd gotten used to it.
How was he supposed to know that in Liyue, customs were so different? That just one touch on the waist would drive someone to chase him from Jueyun Karst all the way to Liyue Harbor?
He couldn't quite understand what was going on in Shenhe's head.
She had to know she couldn't beat him, yet here she was, willing to make a wager just for another chance to fight.
She was so stubborn.
After a brief rest, Shenhe attacked once more, but her strikes, like before, never found their mark. Exhausted, she stopped again, her chest heaving, glaring coldly at Luo Qing.
Seeing the resentment in her eyes, Luo Qing felt a pang of guilt, as if he had heartlessly betrayed her.
What was going on in this girl's mind?
Shaking his head, he flicked his finger, sending a small stone toward Shenhe's forehead.
The pebble struck her fair skin with a soft thud, leaving a tiny pink mark—much like a teacher reprimanding a daydreaming student with a flick of chalk.
The sudden sting left Shenhe momentarily stunned.
When she looked back up, Luo Qing was standing right in front of her, a hint of frustration on his face.
"You silly girl, why are you doing this? I just don't get you."
"I..."
Shenhe's voice faltered, her expression uncertain.
She couldn't find an answer.
"Alright, I surrender. Do whatever you want," Luo Qing said, crossing his arms in mock defeat.
He was always the type who responded better to softness than force, and Shenhe had been one of his favorite characters in the past. He couldn't bring himself to truly fight her.
If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have wasted his time at all!
"This doesn't count... I haven't beaten you yet..."
Shenhe shook her head, trying to stand up while leaning on her spear.
But before she could rise, another small pebble struck her forehead, leaving a second mark.
"Well, now I've won. You lost."
"..."
Hearing his words, Shenhe suddenly slumped to the ground, an inexplicable sense of relief filling her.
"You really do like to throw away your chances, huh," Luo Qing said, crouching down until they were eye-level.
Looking at the adorably stubborn Shenhe before him, he couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated. He asked softly:
"You knew you couldn't beat me, didn't you?"
"I..."
"If you knew that, why insist on fighting? And why make a wager? Didn't you think about what I'd make you do if you lost?"
"I..."
"You silly girl... weren't you worried I'd ask for something weird?"
"Ah..."
Shenhe struggled to respond as Luo Qing's questions bombarded her. Maybe he was right—perhaps she was a bit foolish...
"Alright, you lost, so now it's my turn to ask for something."
"I..."
"Alright then, here's what I want you to do..."
Luo Qing paused, waiting until Shenhe's eyes were focused solely on him before continuing.
"You're too naïve. I want you to stay in Liyue, learn the ways of this world, and only return when you've grown wiser. Understood?"
---
T/N: Shenhe was one of my favorites too! I made sure to pull for her and her weapon when she first came out... too bad I barely used her.
If there are any mistakes let me know!
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