Chapter 21: Chapter 80
Compared to the grand arrival, Bai Luo's departure was much more low-key, and he brought only a small number of people with him.
During the diplomat incident, many people had died. Then, when Diluc took the blame for Collei, more people were eliminated, and when the preacher left, he took a batch of people with him.
If Bai Luo took any more people with him now, Anastasia might cry. Before these events, she could at least hold some authority over the Knights of Favonius, but ever since the instructor came, why did the Fatui seem to suffer so many losses?
Now even a minor officer in the Knights was bullying her, and she just couldn't understand how it had come to this.
Outside Mondstadt
"Acting Grand Master Jean, Captain Kaeya, there's really no need to be so formal," Bai Luo said.
He had chosen to travel in a slime-drawn carriage, but seeing Jean and Kaeya leading the way personally made him want to say something.
It was excessive—really excessive!
Upon learning that Bai Luo was heading to Liyue, Jean and Kaeya had mobilized half the Knights of Favonius to escort him, and they even included Eula's guerrilla squad.
To be clear, Bai Luo had only brought four Fatui agents with him, and they were only responsible for handling the formalities with the Liyue branch of the Fatui. Otherwise, Bai Luo might have preferred to travel alone.
"No, no, you deserve such treatment," Kaeya replied, fully armed. He even added an iron plate over his usual eye patch, making him look like he was preparing for a battle to the death.
The whole group looked less like they were protecting Bai Luo and more like they were ready to ambush him if he changed his mind and decided to return to Mondstadt halfway.
Bai Luo was deeply moved and quietly drew his dagger.
The journey proceeded smoothly, with no Treasure Hoarders or Hilichurls blocking the way—and certainly no Fatui, though to be fair, the Fatui were traveling in the center of the group.
Even the Hilichurls would wisely hide upon seeing such a formidable Knights escort.
After passing Dawn Winery, they reached the Stone Gate, where the Knights finally halted. They knew that going any further might alert the Millelith of Liyue.
It wasn't that the Knights couldn't handle the Millelith; with half of the Knights present, they could easily defeat the border guards. But doing so would surely lead to a diplomatic incident—something neither side wanted.
Liyue and Mondstadt were neighboring nations, and their Archons, Morax and Barbatos, were close friends. A conflict between their forces would be awkward for both gods.
Speaking of these two gods, there's an amusing story.
It is said that when the old nobles of Mondstadt were desperate, they once wanted to betray Mondstadt and incorporate Mondstadt into Liyue through a contract, and the price was to save their lives from Barbatos Little did they know, the contract god they signed with was none other than Barbatos in disguise.
The mischievous Barbatos had spent years trying to imitate Morax's handwriting to prank the still-active Archon next door, though he never succeeded. Ironically, his hard-earned skills came in handy in this unusual situation.
At the Stone Gate, under the vigilant eyes of the Millelith, Bai Luo stepped down from the slime-drawn carriage.
"Thank you, Knights of Favonius."
"You're welcome!"
"Everyone, thank you for the hard work on this journey."
"It wasn't hard!"
"Until we meet again."
"We won't meet again!!"
"..."
After Bai Luo and his group crossed into Liyue's territory, the Knights of Favonius cheered, with some even hugging each other in tears.
He was gone!
He had finally left!
The instructor had left, and Mondstadt was saved!
The instructor had left, and Mondstadt was finally at peace!
Their behavior didn't go unnoticed by the Millelith border guards, who exchanged increasingly puzzled glances as they watched Bai Luo and his group.
"Greetings, I am Shao Yuan of the Millelith! Please present your travel permits, registration documents, or merchant licenses!"
Shao Yuan, a Millelith soldier, stepped forward, stopping Bai Luo's group.
Though he recognized them as Fatui, the reactions of the Mondstadt Knights made him wary. These people might not be who they claimed to be.
"Come on, Shao Yuan, aren't you due to be transferred back to Tianheng Mountain soon? Little Jiang has been waiting for you—don't mess this up by offending the Fatui now!"
A fellow soldier, known for being somewhat absent-minded, rushed over to remind Shao Yuan.
Recently, relations between Liyue and Snezhnaya had been smooth, with many Fatui members already stationed in the Chasm. The Fatui were practically allies now.
If Shao Yuan caused trouble, he might lose his chance to return home—something the rest of the soldiers had worked hard to secure for him.
"You saw how the Mondstadt people reacted. We need to verify whether these are truly Fatui. If we let dangerous people in… well, Liyue's safety is more important than my personal situation."
Shao Yuan's expression revealed his inner struggle.
His wife and child had been eagerly awaiting his return to Tianheng Mountain. After his post there, he planned to resign from the Millelith to care for Little Jiang's illness.
But despite the personal cost, Shao Yuan stood by his decision. As he had said:
The nation comes first; only when the nation is safe can the family be safe.
"There's no need for alarm, Millelith comrades. This gentleman's papers are in order—I can vouch for him," a voice interrupted.
The sound of footsteps echoed as a group of Fatui approached from the Liyue side of the Stone Gate, preventing what could have become a tragic misunderstanding.
In theory, Bai Luo's group and the Liyue Fatui should have arrived simultaneously, but Bai Luo had underestimated how eager the Knights of Favonius were to send him off.
The speaker was a Fatui Electro Cicin Mage. The regiment commander and Childe had entered the Chasm, leaving her as the most suitable person to receive Bai Luo.
Shao Yuan took the documents handed to him by the Electro Cicin Mage and carefully read through them. Once he confirmed that the papers bore the seal of Liyue's Qixing, he stepped aside and allowed Bai Luo's group to pass.
Bai Luo glanced at the Millelith soldier, but said nothing as he followed the Electro Cicin Mage into Liyue.
Once they had distanced themselves from the Millelith, the Electro Cicin Mage and her team respectfully bowed to Bai Luo.
"Members of the Ninth Fatui Regiment, Electro Cicin Mage Katerina Schneizzevna, reporting to the Instructor! Please give your orders!"
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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