Chapter 14: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [14]
On the sands of Guyun Stone Forest, a group of hilichurls were roasting meat around a bonfire.
Suddenly, a spear swept out from the darkness, scattering the flames and knocking several hilichurls to the ground. Those hit by the attack lay motionless, their fates uncertain.
"Si-va ro-ma!"
The remaining hilichurls, realizing someone was crashing their little feast, cursed in their guttural language and grabbed their weapons, charging at Luo Qing.
A few minutes later, the hilichurls lay defeated.
Luo Qing wiped the grime off his Millelith Spear, deciding to keep it in hand rather than stowing it back in his system inventory. It would allow him to be battle-ready should any more monsters show up.
Though the night was deep, the jagged islands of Guyun served as clear markers, guiding him in the right direction.
After clearing out several more hilichurl camps, Luo Qing reached the central island of Guyun Stone Forest.
"This should be the place, right? So where is everyone?"
Holding the spear in one hand, he pulled out a map of the local Fatui outposts in Liyue and started comparing it to his surroundings.
Suddenly, a purple lightning moth flitted down onto his map, buzzing with crackling Electro energy.
Before he could figure out what it was, the moth opened its mouth and spat a bolt of electricity at his face. From behind him came a sultry female voice:
"Caught you~ Sneaky peeker~"
Luo Qing dodged to the side, turning to see a girl in a purple hooded cloak, wearing an eyepatch, holding a Mistgrass Lamp. Several more Electro moths swirled around her, their lights flickering like tiny lanterns as she smiled playfully.
"Seems like the outpost markings weren't too far off," Luo Qing muttered, slipping the map back into his coat. He was about to explain his identity as her superior when the Electro Cicin Mage cut him off without hesitation.
She raised her lamp high and shouted, "Go get him, my pretties! This is our chance for glory!"
The Electro Cicins surrounding her seemed to go berserk, their electric arcs growing brighter. They circled Luo Qing and unleashed waves of Electro energy.
"Hey! I'm your superior... What are you—" Luo Qing shouted as he dodged, trying to explain.
Though the girl was technically a subordinate, he didn't want to get too rough with her. If he did, she'd likely end up sprawled out on the ground, eyes vacant, tongue sticking out, fingers forming a peace sign.
"Superior, you say?"
The mage snorted with disdain. "Well then, my 'superior,' come play with me a bit~"
"You've got to be kidding me..."
As the mage chased Luo Qing across the sand, he suddenly realized the source of the misunderstanding.
He looked like any other Liyuean, holding a Millelith Spear — anyone would doubt his claim of being a Fatui officer.
Seeing the problem, Luo Qing rummaged through his pockets until he found a badge. With a sharp flick, he tossed it straight at the mage's face.
"Ugh, ow..."
With a thunk, the badge smacked her right on the forehead.
"You dare— hey, wait... What is... hey?!"
Her angry retort turned to confusion and then shock.
In a Cave at the Heart of Guyun
Luo Qing sat beside a standard-issue Fatui campfire, a bubbling pot of meat stew hanging above it. Judging by the smell, it had just finished cooking, but whoever prepared it hadn't gotten the chance to eat.
The Electro Cicin Mage, who had been chasing Luo Qing earlier, now stood nervously in front of him. Her previous swagger was completely gone, her hands fidgeting nervously behind her back.
"What's your name?" Luo Qing asked.
"T-Theresa... Leader of the 47th Advance Recon Team, assigned to Guyun Stone Forest..." Theresa stammered, her voice barely audible.
She couldn't believe her luck — she had just been hunting for some fresh meat, thinking she could toy with a random Liyuean for fun. Who would have thought she'd bump into her direct superior?!
[Frustration Value from Theresa +10]
Theresa's gaze lingered on the gleaming Fatui badge by the fire, her mind racing.
Every Fatui member was issued a personalized badge. Each badge indicated rank — a dull brown for recruits, a vibrant red for officers.
But the dark gold badge that now rested beside Luo Qing... she had only seen it in training manuals. It was the exclusive mark of the Fatui Harbingers.
Each Harbinger was known for their eccentric personality, and their movements were often unpredictable. With Fatui influence spread across Teyvat, some lower-ranking members had never even seen a Harbinger in person.
To ensure effective command, all Fatui personnel were required to memorize the appearance of the Harbinger badges.
That was why, at the sight of the badge, Theresa froze, unsure of what to do.
"Tell me, Theresa," Luo Qing said calmly, ladling a bowl of stew and setting it down beside him. "Do you know what it means to attack a superior?"
"U-um... Lord Luo Qing, I didn't mean it! I just wanted to..."
"Wanted to what?" Luo Qing pressed.
"Uh... I just thought..."
Theresa's cheeks flushed as she fidgeted, clearly unwilling to finish her sentence.
"Speak," Luo Qing ordered.
"I-I've been here for months without seeing a soul... When I saw you, I thought you were just a random Liyuean, so I wanted to have a little fun... scare you off a bit..."
"..."
Now it was Luo Qing's turn to be speechless.
"And what exactly was your plan to 'have fun'?"
"Well... I-I thought I'd give you a little zap?"
Theresa peeked up, only to flinch when Luo Qing's face hardened. She hastily explained:
"B-but, Lord Luo Qing, my pretties wouldn't have harmed you! At most, you'd feel a little tingle — just enough to scare you away! That's all I've ever done to anyone who wanders here... I've never given chase before!"
"And what about how you made them chase me earlier?"
"Uh... that..."
"Fine," Luo Qing sighed, patting the ground beside him and nodding at the stew. "Take a seat. This was your dinner, right? Eat up — I have a task for you."
"Yes! Thank you, Lord Luo Qing!" Theresa's face lit up, a relieved smile spreading across her features. She removed her eyepatch, revealing deep blue eyes that shone with gratitude. Sitting down on the rug, she cradled the bowl of stew and sipped it carefully.
The Electro Cicins, now much calmer, hovered near her Mistgrass Lamp, their tiny eyes blinking at Luo Qing curiously.
As she took another sip, Theresa's face relaxed in contentment. The stew was made from prime hilichurl meat, simmered with concentrated broth packets she'd brought all the way from Snezhnaya — a meal she was proud of.
Feeling emboldened by Luo Qing's forgiving nature, Theresa shifted closer, her voice lowering to a curious whisper.
"Um, Lord Luo Qing... what rank are you?"
"Apprentice," Luo Qing replied without looking up, his gaze fixed on the fire.
"Apprentice...? Is that even a rank for a Harbinger?"
Confusion creased Theresa's brow. Clearly, word of Luo Qing's appointment as an Apprentice Harbinger hadn't reached her remote post.
Although she didn't fully understand, there was no doubting the legitimacy of the dark gold badge.
"Are you going to eat, or should I just send you on the mission now?" Luo Qing asked, sounding exasperated.
"O-oh, right!"
Theresa obediently buried her face back in the stew. As she sipped, she couldn't help but steal glances at Luo Qing's profile.
She had to admit, he was pretty handsome for a superior.
How would he compare to the infamous Childe, who was rumored to be arriving soon?
Not that Childe would visit this forgotten, desolate outpost... right?
---
T/N: So... he looks like any average Liyuean...but he has blonde and blue eyes. Works for me .
╮(￣▽￣"")╭ ╮(￣▽￣"")╭ ╮(￣▽￣"")╭ ╮(￣▽￣"")╭ ╮(￣▽￣"")╭ ╮(￣▽￣"")╭
Chapter 15: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [15]
Though Guyun Stone Forest formed a series of islands thanks to the spikes of rock, it remained part of the deep ocean. Just a short distance away from the shore, the seabed dropped into darkness, its depths unseen.
After Theresa finished her dinner, Luo Qing led her to the central beach of Guyun.
The rocky formations circled the heart of the sea, and below its central depths lay the prison of the Vortex God, Osial.
Looking out at the water, the ocean under the night sky was inky black, and the distant calls of sea beasts echoed faintly through the waves.
With a thought, Luo Qing pulled out a set of rope harness equipment from his system inventory. After a few adjustments, he anchored it firmly to the ground.
"When I dive down, if you see the indicator light turn red, press this button. Understand?" Luo Qing pointed at the device's button, directing his instructions to Theresa.
Originally, this task was meant for Sergei and Igor, but having two Snezhnayans at his side would have drawn too much attention. Since Guyun had an established Fatui outpost, Luo Qing chose to delegate the task to Theresa — it would be easier for him to work alone.
"Lord Luo Qing, are you really going down there?" Theresa asked, glancing at the seemingly bottomless depths with apprehension.
"Yes."
As he spoke, Luo Qing tied the other end of the rope securely around himself, pulling out an underwater breathing mask and strapping it to his face.
"Lord Luo Qing, I swear I'll guard this spot with my life!" Theresa's eyes shone with determination as she saluted in the Fatui's military fashion, clearly moved by the trust he placed in her.
"Good spirit. Alright, I'm going in. Keep an eye on the indicator."
Luo Qing gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before diving into the water.
No Fatui agent had ever explored the ocean floor where Osial was sealed. Even Luo Qing couldn't predict what would happen next.
The immense pressure required a strong body, and the challenge of breathing underwater made it impossible for ordinary Fatui soldiers to venture down. Yet, testing the replicated Unsealing Talisman's effectiveness required accessing Osial's seal directly, leaving the task squarely on Luo Qing's shoulders.
The talisman's effects were still uncertain, and though it was a copy, no one knew if it might disrupt the Geo Archon's seal. Should Osial regain movement, one wrong move could mean a watery grave.
That was why he needed the rope. In an emergency, it could pull him up — at least ensuring he'd leave a body behind if things went wrong.
As he descended deeper, visibility worsened. Thankfully, his enhanced eyesight allowed him to discern faint outlines amidst the murky water.
The freezing cold and crushing pressure made Luo Qing's body tense, and he hesitated momentarily. Just as he considered resurfacing, a faint golden formation appeared below.
Without hesitation, he swam towards it.
As he approached, a powerful force pulled him into the formation.
Light enveloped his vision, and after what felt like an eternity, it faded, leaving him in darkness once more.
"Uh..."
Luo Qing blinked, finding himself atop a circular platform deep beneath the ocean. The icy waters and relentless pressure were gone, and the rope securing him had snapped.
Behind him, the same golden formation that had pulled him in shimmered gently.
Removing his mask, Luo Qing realized he could breathe normally here.
Surveying his surroundings, he saw that the bases of the stone pillars were inscribed with golden runes.
Below the platform, in the blackness, something huge and dark blue shifted, its movements barely perceptible.
"So, Old Man Zhongli left a way for Liyueans to check the seal's integrity, huh?"
He thought back to the golden teleportation circle and this breathable platform, piecing together the likely purpose of this hidden place.
His musings were interrupted as two massive lights ignited in the abyss, glowing like brass lanterns. More pairs of lights followed, all focusing on Luo Qing like the cold eyes of the deep.
He realized these weren't lanterns — they were Osial's eyes.
Each pair of eyes was a single head.
It seemed the platform was at the very heart of the seal.
Osial's heads floated around him like predators, eyeing him as if they could tear him apart if they had the chance.
Fortunately, Luo Qing wasn't prone to fearing massive creatures. Steadying himself, he regained his composure.
Pulling out the Unsealing Talisman that Ovelor had given him, he channeled the talisman's power.
The talisman floated, glowing faintly, before dissolving into pure energy that seeped into the formation at the stone pillars' bases.
He could see the seal's glow dim slightly.
"Looks like it worked," Luo Qing muttered. The talisman's test was complete, and there was no reason to linger.
Just as he prepared to leave through the golden formation, a deep, guttural voice echoed from behind him.
"Impudent human, daring to trespass into my domain."
"Hmm?"
Luo Qing turned to see the central head of Osial glaring at him, its voice echoing from the darkness.
"Are you... talking to me?"
Luo Qing inspected the surrounding seal again. Although it was weaker than before he used the talisman, it was still intact. Osial's body remained trapped.
"You've been sealed here for so long, and you still think this place is your 'domain'?"
Feeling confident that Osial couldn't lash out, Luo Qing decided to stick around for a chat.
"Vile, pathetic worm! How dare you mock me! Once I break free, I will tear you limb from limb!" Osial's voice roared with fury.
"Yeah, yeah. Talk to me when you're actually free," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly. He figured it was time for a little Snezhnayan provocation.
"It seems like you can't even move right now, huh?"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Osial +10]
"Huh? That much already?"
Luo Qing was genuinely surprised. A simple jab at Osial had given him a full ten points of frustration value!
Normally, such a high value only came from causing significant mental discomfort, making it a rare occurrence.
Of course, acts of extreme violence would yield similar results, but Luo Qing, raised with a sense of honor, preferred to avoid such actions.
But if taunting Osial earned this many points... it would be a shame to pass up the opportunity.
It seemed Osial had temporarily regained the ability to speak, possibly due to the effects of the talisman, but it was clear he couldn't move. If he could, Luo Qing would've been slapped into the depths by now.
Taking advantage of this golden opportunity, Luo Qing reached into his system inventory and pulled out a high-strength spray can. Grinning mischievously, he approached Osial's main head.
[High-Strength Spray Paint: Lasts one year, completely resistant to all forms of cleaning]
"What are you doing, human?!"
"Hold still. I'm going to write 'Loser' right across your face."
[Frustration Value from Osial +10]
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
388 Power
stone 
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