After using Geo to break the Lawachurl's shield, Cryo restricted its movement. All that was left was to force it back to a safe distance.
"What are you waiting for? Go help the wounded!" Jiang Ning laughed seeing the Millelith staring at him in amazement.
"Oh! Right! Save the wounded, don't interfere with the young hero's battle!" The well-trained Millelith immediately began rescuing people systematically and reforming their perimeter.
One soldier who looked like a squad leader stepped forward and asked Shenhe: "Thank you for your aid. Do you need our assistance?"
"No need, just don't disturb my little brother..." Shenhe's voice was extremely cold, maintaining a distant demeanor.
"But..." The squad leader wanted to say more, but the battle was already nearly over.
After completely sealing the Lawachurl with Cryo and Geo adeptal arts, Jiang Ning finished it with a clean strike to its head. Amid the Lawachurl's death cry, it finally collapsed. Then it turned to ash, returning to the ley lines.
Jiang Ning had actually wanted to see if his strength, enhanced by the murderous qi, could match the Lawachurl's. But thinking it over, he decided against it. As someone following the villain's path, caution was essential. He'd wait to test himself against Zhongli later.
[Host, I was about to give you a quest, but you've already finished off the enemy?] The System's voice sounded confused.
Jiang Ning rolled his eyes: "That's your fault for being too slow."
[This isn't right. In your current state, you should have needed to wear down its shield through prolonged combat...] The System couldn't understand.
"You're one to talk. Shouldn't you know my physical condition better than me? Come to think of it, it's strange that in over two years, you've never shown me my personal status screen." Jiang Ning said.
[Well, for a villain system, if the opponent could see everything clearly, that wouldn't be very villainous... So, Host, you have an inherent buff.]
"What buff?" Jiang Ning grew interested.
[It's the 'How dare you look upon me? You wish to know all my trump cards? You court death!' buff. Host, you have a visual barrier that prevents others from seeing through your true capabilities.]
"Very practical... but why can't I see my own status screen?" Jiang Ning fell into thought.
[Well, a great villain must maintain their mystique... But Host, would you like to see the quest I was about to issue?]
"Sure, might as well, since we have time..." Jiang Ning said.
[As a villain, the value possessed by temporarily allied Millelith should belong to you, so you can't let others steal it. Kill the Geo Lawachurl, reward: Max Costume Design ability.]
"What use do I have for costume design ability?!"
[System]: "The final villains always seem to have excellent fashion sense... Host, if you don't learn about proper outfit coordination, you'll be wasting that face of yours." The System spoke with conviction.
"Alright, be quiet now, someone's coming."
[System]: "Got it!"
"Brother apprentice, your Geo element abilities... they've reached new heights."
Shenhe approached Jiang Ning's side, examining him carefully from left to right to ensure he wasn't injured anywhere, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"Yes, Mr. Zhongli's Geo element seems rather extraordinary," Jiang Ning said.
The Millelith squad leader hurriedly walked over, gave a military salute, and gratefully said to Jiang Ning: "As solid as stone, unmovable as the mountains! Thank you both for your help, or we would have surely lost many men this time."
"We're not immortals," Jiang Ning said.
The Millelith replied, "Then you must be disciples of the immortals? Either way, thank you."
"How did you know... never mind, I asked a foolish question."
Jiang Ning was initially curious about how the other party knew he was an immortal's disciple, but one look at his ethereal, cold senior sister beside him, and considering their use of two elements, it was probably obvious they were connected to the immortals.
"Please rest for a moment. Our instructor will arrive shortly and will provide satisfactory compensation for both of you," the Millelith squad leader said.
However, Jiang Ning waved his hand and said, "We simply couldn't ignore injustice, and besides, these are all fellow citizens of Liyue..."
Their master had protected Liyue for so many years, and as disciples, they should carry on their master's legacy.
The Millelith squad leader said, "But..."
"It's fine, it's fine. We need to get going, so we won't stay longer. Take care of yourselves."
With that, Jiang Ning waved goodbye and continued walking with Shenhe toward the Wangshu Inn. It had the feeling of doing a good deed without seeking recognition.
The Millelith members watched their retreating figures and earnestly performed another military salute with their spears.
Just as the two figures disappeared from view, an anxious voice rang out: "What happened here?"
The Millelith members turned around: "Lady Keqing?! Why are you here?"
The newcomer wore a dress primarily in white and purple, her slender legs wrapped in black stockings that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. The stockings had golden patterns, adding a touch of nobility to her appearance. Her rose-red eyes were full of heroic spirit, and apparently due to rushing here, her chest rose and fell slightly, bringing a hint of flush to her flawless face.
Her purple hair was tied in twin tails hanging behind her, with two cat-ear-like buns on top of her head. Sword in hand, she looked like a graceful female warrior. However, this warrior carried herself with the authority of a person of high status.
"Answer my question!" Seeing the Millelith members standing there dumbfounded, the young woman called Keqing furrowed her delicate brows and said coldly.
"The Geovishap King was dealt with by two disciples of the immortals," the Millelith quickly responded.
"Disciples of the immortals?" Keqing wrinkled her nose. Where did these immortal disciples come from?
"Never mind, as long as everyone is safe... Tell me exactly what happened, in detail." Keqing said.
"It went like this..." the Millelith squad leader hurriedly recounted everything that had just occurred.
"Seems they're quite skilled..." Keqing muttered.
"Continue your patrol and report any situations." Keqing ordered.
"Yes, Lady Keqing!" The Millelith members straightened their postures.
"By the way, which direction did those two go?" Keqing asked.
"They headed toward Wangshu Inn."
Keqing nodded, thinking she needed to visit Wangshu Inn anyway... might as well check out these two disciples of the immortals while she was there.