Dehya's question about Tighnari's whereabouts put Collei in a difficult spot.
Tighnari had made it clear before he left: anything concerning his movements was tied directly to the safety of Alhaitham and Cyno. No matter the circumstance, she must not reveal their location.
Seeing Collei hesitate, Dehya didn't press further. She lowered her voice.
"You don't need to tell us where he went. At this point, Alhaitham has dragged us onto his thief's ship anyway.
I just want to know, did Tighnari go to arrange an escape route for them?"
Collei remained silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
That was enough. Dehya didn't push any deeper. She shared a look with Nilou, and the two stood.
With Collei's condition now confirmed, the next step could no longer be delayed.
They had to reach Liyue, find the "milk" that supposedly cured Eleazar, and then bring the Traveler to Sumeru.
"You're leaving already?" Collei asked, unable to hide her worry.
Nilou nodded lightly.
"Dunyarzad's illness can't wait. We must hurry to Liyue.
Thank you, Collei. We'll keep your recovery a complete secret."
"Once everything in Sumeru is settled," Nilou added with a gentle smile, "I'll invite you to the Grand Bazaar to watch me dance."
Collei finally relaxed. After a moment, she added:
"Nilou, Dehya… I don't know the details of whatever my teacher and the others are planning, and I don't know what your roles are.
But he told me this much: Sumeru City is no longer safe.
If danger comes, you can seek refuge either in the desert… or here in Gandharva Ville."
The two exchanged a meaningful glance. They nodded, thanked her, and hurried toward the passage leading to Liyue.
Watching their figures disappear into the cave, Collei's heart grew heavy.
She understood perfectly well why Tighnari and the others kept her out of their plans, they wanted to protect her.
But now that her Eleazar had been cured, Collei no longer saw herself as someone who needed protecting.
Even without being told, she'd already pieced together what their true goal must be.
This was a plan aimed at the Akademiya itself.
She couldn't assist in such a dangerous operation, but she could at least protect Gandharva Ville and ensure they had a safe retreat.
Sighing softly, she turned and walked back toward the village.
Meanwhile, Dehya and Nilou traveled through the cave with renewed determination.
Compared to their cautious approach toward Gandharva Ville, their steps toward Liyue were firm and confident.
After all, Collei's recovery had removed their greatest anxieties.
Now they needed Liyue's help… and to bring the Traveler to Sumeru.
The cavern wasn't dark; luminous minerals glimmered along the walls.
They walked without speaking for some time, until Nilou finally whispered:
"Dehya… Dunyarzad's treatment gives us hope, but…
Do you really think we can overthrow the Grand Sage?"
Dehya let out a helpless sigh.
"Do we have any other choice?"
"At this point, Alhaitham has already dragged us into his scheme.
The only path left is forward. If I'm right, Cyno will stay inside the Akademiya, partly to help us, partly to watch us."
"Alhaitham… I haven't interacted with him much, but he does everything flawlessly. He won't leave loose ends."
"He knows our resentment toward Azar. He knows how we feel about the current Akademiya.
He knew we would join him."
"And even if we ran to warn them, the Acting Grand Sage isn't without power."
Dehya didn't fear Cyno, but he was unquestionably formidable. Unless absolutely necessary, she preferred not to face him.
Nilou looked troubled. How had she ended up dragged into the very center of a plot to overturn Sumeru?
Seeing her unease, Dehya nudged her shoulder with a small smile.
"Look at it this way, if we pull this off, Sumeru will change for the better.
At least we're doing something for its future."
The tunnel was not long. Before long, daylight shone ahead.
"That's Liyue," Dehya murmured.
They exchanged a nod, quickened their steps, and stepped out into the sun.
Compared to Sumeru, Liyue felt less lush, more grounded and ancient.
This was the first time either of them had set foot in the oldest nation of Teyvat.
Dehya opened her mouth to comment, but brilliant reflections suddenly flashed from all directions.
She instinctively shut her eyes.
When she opened them,
They were surrounded by more than a hundred Millelith soldiers.
Ranks neat. Faces stern. Armor gleaming with a hard, razor-sharp presence.
Several even carried strange weapons, barrel-like contraptions resembling firearms, aimed directly at them.
A cold sense of death radiated from those dark muzzles.
The Millelith.
Known as one of the most elite military forces in all of Teyvat,
and now, Dehya could see those stories were no exaggeration.
Against a normal group of one hundred, she could win easily.
But one hundred Millelith of this caliber?
She could only surrender.
Liyue truly is terrifying…
A captain stepped forward, his gaze steady and unreadable.
"You two from Sumeru… What is your relationship with the Akademiya?"
Dehya instantly remembered Alhaitham's warning.
Whatever happens,
Do not admit to having ties with the Akademiya.
Liyue had no fondness for them.
A single misstep would turn things very ugly.
Dehya answered at once:
"I am Dehya of the Sumeru desert.
This is Nilou, a dancer of the Grand Bazaar in Sumeru City."
"We have no connection to the Akademiya."
The captain studied them briefly, then gestured.
"Register your identities. And be warned, if you are hiding ties to the Akademiya and continue to conceal them…"
"Minor offenses mean expulsion. Major ones mean fines and imprisonment."
Dehya didn't seem bothered. She raised an eyebrow with a crooked smile.
"So the Akademiya really is unwelcome in Liyue? Interesting."
Her casual remark made the Millelith captain's expression ease noticeably.
He had encountered quite a few Akademiya officials disguised as travelers lately,
and their "scholarly" air made them easy to identify at a glance.
More importantly, none of those people would ever speak like Dehya.
He was now convinced these two were ordinary Sumeru citizens, and his demeanor softened.
He motioned for several soldiers to step forward and register their information.
"We don't know exactly what the Akademiya has done," the captain continued,
"but we follow the instructions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Qixing.
Any visitor from the Akademiya must be strictly investigated."
"Whatever the reason, that's the Akademiya's problem. You two needn't worry,
Sumeru's common folk aren't treated with prejudice here."
"Welcome to Liyue."
When the registration was done, he turned to leave, but Dehya suddenly called out.
"Wait. There's something we want to ask."
He stopped and looked at them calmly.
"Do you know the Traveler?"
"The Traveler? You mean Miss Lumine…"
The captain's expression warmed instantly.
"Of course. Miss Lumine is the Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius,
and she assisted Lord Zhongli during the Rite of Parting."
"She is a friend of Liyue, and the Tianquan herself considers her a younger sister.
Everyone in Liyue knows her name."
"You two know Miss Lumine?"
Dehya and Nilou exchanged a look.
Alhaitham had not mentioned this part.
The Tianquan's adoptive sister?
That made the Traveler practically nobility in Liyue.
Finding her seemed easy enough.
Meeting her… perhaps not.
Dehya sighed.
"We don't know Miss Lumine personally.
We were asked to find her.
Can you tell us where she usually appears?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Dehya felt the shift.
The Millelith soldiers' gazes sharpened, deepened,
as if assessing potential threats.
The captain's expression hardened.
"Apologies. That is classified information."
"If you wish to reach Liyue Harbor, head southeast. The road is straightforward."
Without waiting for their response, he signaled his unit and departed.
Watching the Millelith disappear, Dehya pressed her fingertips to her temple.
"This is going to be troublesome…
Finding the Traveler won't be simple."
After a moment of silence, she exhaled.
"Forget it. Let's head to Liyue Harbor first.
We need that cure, whatever that 'milk' is,
and then we find the Traveler."
Nilou agreed; there was no better plan.
The two set off toward the harbor.
Meanwhile, in the MC World…
Lumine, unaware that someone was crossing nations to find her,
was teasing Zhongli with barely contained delight.
She nudged Ryen with a grin.
"He's nervous, right?"
Ryen only smiled.
Zhongli's face remained calm, dignified as always…
but his eyes betrayed a swirl of emotions he couldn't quite hide.
Cloud Retainer nodded approvingly.
"At last, the Lord of Geo has come to his senses.
Our guidance these past few days has not been wasted."
"After a thousand years, Guizhong shall finally return.
This time, I must show her my masterpiece,
the Ultimate Redstone Cannon!
Let us see how she argues her way out of defeat now."
Madam Ping stood with her hands behind her back, her smile tinged with nostalgia.
"When Guizhong passed, I was still a young woman.
In the blink of an eye, I have become white-haired."
"Time spares no one…"
Paimon, perched on Ryen's shoulder, tilted her head.
"Madam Ping only looks old because she wants to!
Look at Menogias, he's around the same age and still runs around looking young."
"And Venti is three thousand years old but looks like a little kid!"
"Madam Ping isn't old at all!"
Madam Ping laughed and gently pinched Paimon's cheek.
"You sweet little thing. No wonder Ryen likes you so much."
"But with you calling me 'Grandma Ping' every day,
even if I weren't old, you'd make me feel old."
Paimon blinked innocently.
"Then… should Paimon call you Sister Ping instead?"
Madam Ping answered only with a mysterious smile, then turned toward Zhongli.
The Lord of Geo…
He was anxious.
Truly, visibly anxious.
Even an adeptus who had lived millennia could see it,
and Cloud Retainer and Madam Ping could barely hide their amusement.
~~----------------------
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