Chapter 294: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [294]
In the daylight, Luo Qing could barely make out her features through the faint blue glow outlining her figure.
It was unmistakable—she was the same ethereal presence he'd encountered in the Doctor's camp.
The Tsaritsa's spiritual projection.
"Your Majesty," Luo Qing murmured, bowing slightly in respect.
"Brighella..."
The Tsaritsa's voice was as icy as a snowstorm in Snezhnaya, and with just her words, the temperature seemed to plummet.
"Didn't Dottore inform you that I commanded you to wear this Pure Ice at all times? Yet you dared to cast it aside..."
"Do you think your wings have grown strong enough to defy my orders?"
"Or do you intend to betray Snezhnaya?"
"I wouldn't dare," Luo Qing replied with sincerity, his head slightly lowered.
For some reason, many of his colleagues who had had the rare opportunity to meet the Tsaritsa described her as utterly emotionless. Her cold demeanor often gave the impression of speaking to an unyielding block of ice.
But Luo Qing's two encounters with her painted a different picture.
Was it just my imagination?
It felt like the Tsaritsa had a personal grudge against him.
Sneaking out in the middle of the night to spy on him and Bu'er sleeping together? And now accusing him of betraying Snezhnaya?
"Then why did you discard it? Do you find the gift I bestowed upon you unworthy?"
"No, not at all..." Luo Qing shook his head, exhaling softly. He raised his gaze to meet hers.
"It's just that you hadn't responded for so long, Your Majesty. I thought this might compel you to emerge."
"To compel me?"
The Tsaritsa let out a soft hum, her voice colder now, carrying an unmistakable trace of irritation.
"Brighella, I granted you this Pure Ice in recognition of your achievements in recovering the Gnosis."
"It contains a fragment of my essence. Should your life ever be in danger, I would emerge from it to shield you. And yet you used it to summon me for... this?"
"Well..."
Luo Qing swallowed nervously.
"I understand your reasoning, Your Majesty, but..."
He hesitated before weakly adding, "...you shouldn't be using it to spy on my private life, either."
"Emerging in the dead of night as a spirit? That's terrifying!"
"..."
The Tsaritsa fell silent, the faint glow of her figure flickering as if her mood were unreadable.
"Your Majesty..." Luo Qing tentatively broke the silence, glancing at her nervously.
Before he could finish his sentence, a surge of icy elemental energy erupted from beneath his feet, encasing him in a solid block of ice within moments.
The Tsaritsa's control was impeccable. She didn't harm him, merely encasing him in a frost-covered shell like a decorative ice sculpture.
It felt less like a punishment and more like an icy tantrum.
"If you feel I've been spying on you, then discard it," the Tsaritsa said coolly. "I won't stop you."
With that, her spectral form dissipated, returning to the crystal.
Freed from her control, the Pure Ice began to plummet along the same trajectory Luo Qing had thrown it moments earlier.
"Ah..."
Luo Qing sighed as he watched the crystal arc through the air, then shattered his icy confinement with a thought.
With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved the crystal mid-flight, holding it carefully in his palm.
Examining the faintly glowing crystal, he couldn't help but compare it to the amulet that Ei had once given him.
Ei's amulet was powerful enough to deliver a single, devastating blow that could obliterate even a god.
Yet this Pure Ice seemed even more formidable—it could summon the Tsaritsa's spiritual projection directly.
What did I do to deserve this?
"Your Majesty, perhaps we can discuss this rationally?" Luo Qing tried again, holding the crystal up.
Unsurprisingly, the Pure Ice remained inert, its glow dim and unresponsive.
He knew she could hear him; whether she wanted to answer was a different matter entirely.
"Ah..." Luo Qing sighed again.
After waiting a few moments without any sign of her reappearance, he tucked the crystal back into his pocket.
Discarding it wasn't an option—not unless he wanted to be frozen solid for real next time.
Though it seemed absurd, Luo Qing couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't dealing with an all-powerful sovereign.
Instead, the Tsaritsa reminded him of a pouting girlfriend locked in her room, refusing to speak.
I can't even try to placate her...
He frowned.
Wait, could she hear... everything last night?
---
Descending the cliff, Luo Qing found himself wandering toward his new Mondstadt residence.
The grand mansion, complete with twelve bedrooms, was nearly complete thanks to Kaveh's meticulous craftsmanship. Situated on Eagle's Shore, its scenic oceanfront view added a touch of serenity to the bustling landscape.
The front faced Windrise, while the backyard opened up to a pristine beach—a paradise of beauty and tranquility.
With only minor finishing touches left, most workers had already vacated the site, leaving Kaveh and a handful of skilled artisans to finalize the details.
As Luo Qing approached, Natalia, his overseer, greeted him with a respectful bow.
"Master," Natalia said, guiding him inside.
"The mansion is nearly complete. Master Kaveh estimates it will be ready for you within the week. Shall I inform the Lady of the house?"
Natalia knew all too well about the collection of women Luo Qing had "hidden" away.
She hesitated to admit it, but she hadn't anticipated Theresa's persistence paying off.
To her astonishment, Theresa had managed to worm her way into Luo Qing's affections, securing a place in his household.
And now she lazes around the house all day while the rest of us work. Ridiculous.
"If everything is ready, I'll have them move in soon," Luo Qing replied simply. "Anything else?"
"There is one issue," Natalia admitted.
She explained, "There are many monsters in the surrounding area. Since construction began, we've faced several attacks. Once you've moved in..."
"That's not a problem." Luo Qing waved dismissively.
With Ei, the resident shut-in Archon, stationed at home, it wasn't monsters he had to worry about.
Even a god wouldn't dare trespass.
---
T/N: aint no way he got gaslit
...he's late [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Chapter 295: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [295]
Wearing it meant that every move he made, every word he spoke, would be heard by the Tsaritsa. The thought of having no privacy whatsoever was... unsettling.
But not wearing it? Who could have imagined that the lofty Tsaritsa would sulk over something as trivial as his refusal to wear her gift? Who would I even complain to about this?
Unable to decide, he opted to keep the Pure Ice for now and headed downstairs. He was planning to visit Nahida to continue discussing the fate of the Void Network when he saw Makoto lounging on the sofa. She held a piece of stationery in her hand, reading it intently.
"Oh, you're back."
Makoto glanced up, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "How did you sleep last night?"
"Pretty well," Luo Qing replied casually.
"Hmph. I didn't sleep at all," Makoto muttered, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance as she turned back to the letter.
For the first time in her reign as the household's de facto "queen," she had suffered a sleepless night.
The muffled sounds from the room next door had driven her mad—turning, tossing, and hugging her legs tight against her chest in a futile attempt to ignore the heat coursing through her body.
How were those two making that much noise?
Her younger sister had claimed she'd been the same way before, but Makoto found that hard to believe.
"Here. This is for you."
She handed the stationery to Luo Qing without looking up.
"What is this?"
Luo Qing took the letter, frowning. It wasn't often he received handwritten correspondence.
"It's from Ganyu," Makoto explained. "She says the Lantern Rite Festival is coming up in Liyue. She wanted to come here to celebrate but can't get away from her duties. So, she's asking you to visit and spend the festival with her instead."
"The Lantern Rite, huh..."
Luo Qing scanned the letter briefly. It was exactly as Makoto had summarized: Ganyu missed him, and with the Lantern Rite approaching, she hoped he could come to Liyue, have a reunion, and share a meal.
"What do you think?" Luo Qing asked, glancing at Makoto.
"Of course, you have to go," Makoto replied nonchalantly. "But we'll go together. There's no way I'm letting you go alone."
"..."
"What, you don't trust me?" Luo Qing teased.
"Take a guess."
"..."
She was starting to sound like him.
"Mondstadt's house will be done soon," Makoto added. "We can move in next week and head to Liyue from there. It'll save time on the road."
"What about Ayaka?"
Makoto's words reminded Luo Qing of someone else.
"She hasn't visited in a while," Makoto said, her tone casual but pointed. "You're her supposed lover. Don't you think you should check on her?"
"You're right," Luo Qing muttered, guilt creeping in. He hadn't seen Ayaka since that one night when they had... grown much closer.
"Something might have happened. I'll visit her tonight."
"Good."
Makoto smirked knowingly but then glanced at the stairs.
"And what about Bu'er?"
Luo Qing followed her gaze, realizing that the house was unusually quiet.
"Is she still sleeping?"
"She woke up, but when she couldn't find you, she went out to look for the Little Lord Kusanali," Makoto replied.
She and Nahida were two people from entirely different eras—one before the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah, the other after. They shared no common history or understanding.
"I see. I'll head that way too."
With that, Luo Qing left the house.
---
Liyue, Aozang Mountain
On the summit of the sacred mountain, Shenhe sat alone on a lotus pedestal within a tranquil cave.
The crimson ropes that she always wore had been completely undone. She sat cross-legged, her expression calm as she meditated.
But soon, her serene expression began to falter.
Her cheeks flushed pink, and her breaths became shallow. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she struggled to maintain her posture.
Moments later, her composure crumbled entirely.
She fidgeted, her body twisting slightly, unable to resist the sensations coursing through her. Her meditative pose gave way to a duck-like sitting position, legs folded awkwardly beneath her.
"Ah..."
Nearby, the avian form of Cloud Retainer sighed deeply.
With a wave of her wing, the crimson ropes lifted from the ground and wrapped themselves around Shenhe once more.
"I'm sorry, Master..." Shenhe murmured weakly. The ropes' return brought her some relief, quieting the torrent of emotions within her.
"You foolish child," Cloud Retainer said, shaking her head. "Is this what you call training?"
When Shenhe had announced her intention to descend the mountain for worldly experience, Cloud Retainer had been overjoyed.
A human like Shenhe belonged among mortals. Staying on the mountain forever wasn't an option.
But half a year later, Shenhe had returned with a startling confession: she had fallen in love with a man.
She had even boldly admitted to wanting to consummate their relationship and sought her master's permission.
Cloud Retainer had nearly keeled over on the spot.
The man's name?
Luo Qing.
Hearing that, she had actually fainted, her bird head drooping in defeat.
"Shenhe, we adepti may lack experience in mortal relationships, but even we understand that such matters are of grave importance. You must think carefully," Cloud Retainer warned. "And that man, Luo Qing... he..."
"Master, you don't have to worry," Shenhe said, her tone gentle but firm. "Sister and I have already reached an agreement."
"Sister... Ganyu?!"
Cloud Retainer's eyes narrowed.
[Frustration +10 from Cloud Retainer]
If Luo Qing had been in Liyue at that moment, she might have clawed his face off for daring to ensnare both her disciples.
My poor, foolish disciples... He touched your waists once, and you're ready to give him everything?
Cloud Retainer sighed deeply.
"You managed two hours today," she finally said. "It's progress, but you still have a long way to go before you can shed the crimson ropes entirely."
"But Master..."
Shenhe's voice was soft, almost pleading.
"The Lantern Rite is approaching. Sister said Luo Qing will come to Liyue. If I don't go..."
"What if you don't?" Cloud Retainer huffed. "Does spending the Lantern Rite with your master not satisfy you?"
"That's not what I meant, Master..." Shenhe's tone grew weaker, her exhaustion apparent.
Since returning to the mountain, her master had forbidden her from leaving. Until she could fully control her emotions without the crimson ropes, she was grounded.
Cloud Retainer had insisted it was for Shenhe's own good. Without restraint, the consequences of losing herself to passion could be catastrophic.
But the Lantern Rite was so close now...
She wanted to see Luo Qing.
---
Oh, you're still here? Nice. While I'm out here juggling revival matches and reminding villains why they should reconsider their life choices, someone's behind the scenes making sure my story reaches you. Gotta admit, they're doing a pretty solid job.
If you want to help keep this whole thing running smoothly, here's the link: [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Think of it as… supporting your favorite underdog. Everyone loves an underdog, right?
Anyway, time to get back to saving the day. See you in the next chapter—don't forget to stay out of trouble (that's my job).
— Xia Luo 🕸️
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