Everyone was led to a desolate part of the Desert.
“Dehya: Are we there yet?”
“Zaqi: We’re here.”
“Dehya: But there doesn’t seem to be anyone around here. What are they doing here?”
“Qixuan: Lumine, this is going to be good.”
“Lumine: Hmm?”
“Paimon: Don’t tell me they’re going to rob us?”
“Lumine: Paimon… Can you please shut your mouth!”
Just as Dehya was confused, Zaqi burst into laughter and said, “Do you even need to ask? Of course, it’s… just you fat sheep!”
Suddenly, many mercenaries appeared around them.
“Paimon: Uh… that… I didn’t mean it…”
“Lumine: …Sigh.”
“Qixuan: Hahaha, you’re killing me.”
“Dehya: Uh… While I admire your courage, but… are you really planning to rob us?”
“Zaqi: Hmph, cut it out, Dehya. Do you really think we wouldn’t hear about it? Our brothers have been watching these foreigners since they entered the Aru Village. Not only do I know you’re looking for Deliwah, but I also know some of your companions are from the Akademiya. All of you want to investigate the out-of-control mad sages.”
“Dehya: So, you’re allied with those people?”
“Zaqi: Hahaha, Dehya, as a mercenary, you’re always out working, so it’s normal for you to have incorrect information. We, who spend all our time in taverns, are more united than you think. But you were right about one thing: we all hope Sumeru falls into chaos, taking this opportunity to put the Akademiya in its place.”
“Dehya: Then, based on my impression of Deliwah, he certainly wouldn’t miss such a grand spectacle.”
Just then, Deliwah and Ngoul walked out from behind.
“Deliwah: Honestly, if I didn’t know what you said in the Aru Village, just hearing your speech about the Sand Barrier, I would have believed you were one of us too.”
“Dehya: Heh… Deliwah, and… Ngoul.”
“Ngoul: Long time no see, mercenary miss. You should know that we, the supporters of the Scarlet King, detest traitors.”
“Deliwah: Dehya, I thought as a Desertfolk, you would understand why the Scarlet King is superior to the Grass God, but I didn’t expect… you’re simply not worthy of joining us.”
“Dehya: What’s the benefit of joining you? Becoming a radical and kidnapping innocent sages? Even if those rumors are completely unsubstantiated?”
“Deliwah: Mercenaries truly are faithless creatures, driven only by money. How pathetic, just like rats.”
“Dehya: You’re not wrong. Mercenaries only care about money. My employer is my faith. As long as there’s profit to be made, anyone can become my friend, you know.”
“Zaqi: Enough talk. If you surrender now… you’ll suffer less.”
“Dehya: Alright, since you all know, it doesn’t matter. But are you sure you can beat us?”
“Zaqi: Hmph, even the Blazing Mane wouldn’t be able to fight so many people at once. That little flying thing clearly has no strength. That yellow-haired foreigner looks decent enough. And the white-haired one? She’s been chatting with that foreigner since the beginning. What kind of combat power could she have?”
“But I heard that one from the Akademiya is quite strong. If he were here, you might have a chance to escape. But you left him in the Aru Village. Do you think you’re so clever? Hahaha…”
“Qixuan: This, uh… what’s his name? Fried Chicken? Oh right, has he always been this brave? Or is he drunk?”
“Dehya: I don’t know. Maybe he’s drunk.”
“Zaqi: It’s Zaqi! Zaqi! Not Fried Chicken! Hmph, since you’re so ungrateful, I’ll deal with you first. Don’t say I’m bullying you. One-on-one, pick one.”
Lumine and Paimon stepped back together. Dehya told Fried Chicken to take care.
Fried Chicken didn’t understand, but he would soon.
Qixuan stepped forward and said, “Forget it, why don’t all of you come at once? Wouldn’t that be faster?”
“Zaqi: Hahaha… Good, you said it! Brothers, attack! Beat her down for me!”
More than a dozen mercenaries surrounded them with weapons.
“Lumine: I hope Qixuan-jie goes easy this time.”
“Dehya: It’s… alright…”
“Paimon: No, Qixuan-jie is very scary when she’s angry, but she doesn’t seem angry right now.”
Just as various weapons were about to strike Qixuan, a powerful aura emanated from her. Then, amidst the screams of the mercenaries and Fried Chicken, they were all turned into murals embedded in the walls on both sides, clearly having passed out.
Paimon flew up to check.
“Paimon: Wow, this is even deeper than Cyno’s time.”
“Lumine: Alright, Paimon, come back.”
Paimon flew back.
“Qixuan: Sorry, Dehya, I went a bit heavy-handed, but I just made them ‘reflect on their mistakes’ for a bit.”
“Dehya: It’s nothing, just a bunch of arrogant fools. Actually, before coming to the Aru Village, I had already heard about them. Zaqi could be said to be the most deeply hidden among them. Originally, my plan was to find Deliwah first, then him.”
“Paimon: So, was what you said earlier true?”
“Dehya: Which part?”
“Paimon: Mercenaries only care about money, as long as there’s profit to be made, they’ll… something something.”
“Dehya: Do you care a lot?”
“Qixuan: Paimon might think Dehya doesn’t consider us friends, only because of money, right?”
“Paimon: Uh… No… not at all.”
“Lumine: Alright, Paimon, Dehya isn’t that kind of person.”
“Dehya: How can you tell?”
“Lumine: You’re still acting even without an employer, and… we’re already friends who’ve faced death together, aren’t we?”
“Qixuan: Wow!”
“Paimon: Wow!”
“Dehya: …Hahaha, you’re making me a little embarrassed. Don’t worry, even if you don’t have money, you’re still my friends.”
“Paimon: Why does that feel a bit strange? But, Dehya, as a Desertfolk, do you also hate the Grass God?”
“Dehya: Heh… you’re quite perceptive. Indeed, I don’t detest the Grass God like other Desertfolk. I’ve heard many good things about Lesser Lord Kusanali from Dina. Her piety and gratitude, I’ve seen with my own eyes. Dina is, at most, an ordinary person. If a god truly had no love for humanity, she wouldn’t repeatedly put on a show for small figures.”
“Recent events have made me realize even more that everything is caused by the Akademiya sages. The radicals, who blindly believe in the Scarlet King and view the Grass God as an enemy, are merely deluded. I’m still clear-headed, so I can’t bring myself to point my finger at someone who hasn’t done anything wrong like them.”
“Paimon: Dehya…”
“Lumine: Dina must be very happy to see Dehya like this.”
“Dehya: Haha, since things here are done, come lend a hand. We… uh, will detain them and take them back to the Aru Village.”
Since they were embedded too tightly, Lumine used her Geo element to smash them out, then tied them up and took them back to the Aru Village.
……………
“Dehya: The culprits are all here. The rest is up to you.”
“Candace: Alright, please wait for my news.”
“Paimon: Candace, you look much better. Do you need our help?”
“Dehya: Candace is fine, trust him. Besides, he has been guarding Aru Village for years and is very good at interrogating criminals. As for these scumbags, hmph… I hope they live until tomorrow.”
“Candace: Alright, then everyone please gather here tomorrow morning.”
“Paimon: So tired, let’s go, let’s rest.”
“Qixuan: No kicking the blanket tonight, Paimon.”
“Paimon: I never do!”
………………
Early the next morning… Dehya had already arrived.
“Paimon: Dehya, we’re here!”
“Dehya: Quite punctual, aren’t you.”
“Lumine: How’s Candace doing?”
“Dehya: Should be soon.”
Since everyone was idle, Paimon asked if Dehya and Candace had been friends for a long time.
“Dehya: We’ve known each other for a while. He’s a very interesting person, skilled in combat.”
“Paimon: I know, I know! In Liyue’s terms, it should be called ‘very martial’!”
“Qixuan: What if the opponent isn’t martial?”
“Dehya: Then I think Candace would beat them until they called him their ancestor. But he’s also a strong-willed, very principled person, unlike us mercenaries, whose lives are quite chaotic.”
“Paimon: I think you’re pretty good too, you know.”
“Dehya: Really? Haha, then thank you, little Paimon.”
Just as everyone was chatting, Cyno walked out from the side.
“Paimon: Eh? Cyno’s here too, you’re up early.”
“Cyno: Yes, I was here yesterday too, helped a little.”
“Paimon: A little help? What could it be?”
“Cyno: Sharing some interrogation techniques.”
“Qixuan: Puhahaha, Paimon, are you still curious?”
“Lumine: Puh…”
“Paimon: Uh… so, you taught Candace how to interrogate others?”
“Cyno: Exactly.”
Just then, Candace walked out, likely finished.
“Candace: Everyone, please come in.”
“Dehya: Let’s go, let’s go in and see.”
……………
“Paimon: Candace, we… Whoa, you look so angry!”
“Candace: Ah? I couldn’t hide it? Sorry…”
“Dehya: You know? Killing intent, even if you try to hide it from your eyes, will seep out from the corners of your mouth.”
Candace’s current appearance looked like he wanted to devour the criminals in front of him.
“Candace: It seems my self-control is still lacking. However, it’s normal for me to be angry, everyone here should understand, right?”
Candace looked at the three people in front of him.
“Deliwah: Understand, understand…”
“Ngoul: Please don’t hit us anymore, we’ll die…”
“Paimon: Looks like Cyno taught him well… (whispering).”
“Lumine: A great teacher produces great students!”
“Qixuan: *Cough cough*, if you don’t want to be beaten, then confess honestly, otherwise, want to try ‘reflecting on your mistakes’ again?”
The three shook their heads frantically.
“Candace: Heh… you yourselves are afraid of death, yet you put others in danger. How ridiculous. The mad sages you speak of are called ‘village guardians’ in Aru Village. They are a part of Aru Village, we even consider them family… yet you treat these important villagers as tools. Tell me, how should I treat you?”
Candace’s tone changed again, and killing intent surged.
“Zaqi: Ah!!! Please spare me, spare me.”
Zaqi cried, clutching his head.
“Dehya: Serves you right.”
“Candace: As Desertfolk, I understand one truth better than you: even if the Scarlet King is resurrected, it will only bring war… No one likes war. We who live here don’t truly care who is the god? Who rules everything? Even if it’s arduous and tiring, we want to maintain our current lives. The arrival of war will make people lose everything, and that will be a responsibility you cannot bear!”
Candace emphasized his tone when he said the last sentence, and it also carried a hint of threat.
The three immediately apologized.
“Zaqi: I will tell you everything I know as compensation, please spare us…”
“Candace: Speak.”
“Zaqi: Even if you don’t believe me, I have to say, we didn’t spontaneously want to do these things. Someone indeed spread rumors in the tavern, informing us that the Scarlet King would be resurrected. That mysterious person said that the mad sages are the best ‘sacrifices’ to resurrect the Scarlet King. As long as we have their lives, our wishes can be fulfilled.”
“Cyno: Call them ‘village guardians.’ I don’t want to hear incorrect terms anymore.”
“Zaqi: Yes, yes, that mysterious person told us to spread the news that the Scarlet King was about to be resurrected, and he also instructed us… as a thank you, he said he would help facilitate the Scarlet King’s resurrection.”
“Lumine: Where are those ‘village guardians’ now?”
“Zaqi: I, I don’t know.”
“Cyno: One.”
“Zaqi: Eh?! What do you mean?”
“Cyno: The number of times you wear out someone’s patience. If it exceeds three, I’ll kill you.”
“Zaqi: Wait! I’m not lying, we really don’t know! It was him…”
“Cyno: Two.”
“Zaqi: He told us to use incense every night to lure those guys out the door. Once they were out of the Aru Village, we just had to meet at a crossroads, and the mysterious person would come and take them!”
“Cyno: …”
“Zaqi: It’s true, it’s all true! Everything I said is the truth, you must believe me. If you don’t… if you don’t, ask those two!”
The other two also nodded hastily.
“Cyno: Indeed, it’s the truth. Traveler, continue asking.”
“Lumine: Do you have any guesses about the mysterious person’s identity?”
“Zaqi: You must believe me, if I knew him, I would have said his name just now, and I wouldn’t risk getting beaten to keep his secret!”
“That person always wore a cloak, and his face was tightly covered. He said he was an emissary of the Scarlet King.”
“Uncle Anpu: Everyone… I have a thought.”
“Candace: Uncle Anpu? Do you mean?”
Just then, Cyno walked over and swiftly knocked out all three of them.
“Dehya: So clean!”
“Qixuan: Looks like he’s done that a lot.”
“Paimon: Agreed.”
“Cyno: Speak.”
“Uncle Anpu: I think… that mysterious person might be from the Akademiya.”
………………