Bab 270: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [270] [400 PS]
This bonus chapter is a small gift—may it bring you a touch of tranquility.
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After a brief clash of wills, the recently ascended Scaramouche found himself defeated.
The barrier surrounding that small residential area was far stronger than he had anticipated. Even with his consciousness fully focused and directed, he couldn't breach it.
The euphoria of his godhood was quickly overshadowed by this unexpected failure.
Frowning, Scaramouche withdrew his awareness, deciding to fully integrate the power of the Gnosis and solidify his divine authority before attempting to overcome that barrier again.
---
Inside Ei's Room
Sensing the probing consciousness retreat, Ei strengthened her barrier further with a thought.
"Are there other powers in Sumeru? But this force…" she murmured to herself.
The probing presence didn't seem to originate from the World Tree or the Void. Instead, it felt similar to her own—rooted in Electro.
It resembled her "Musou no Hitotachi," using Electro as a medium to perceive the world.
But wasn't Sumeru the domain of the Dendro Archon?
Why would there be another existence here, one comparable to a god—and an Electro user at that?
She pondered for a while but ultimately shook her head, brushing the matter aside.
Why should I concern myself with such trivialities in someone else's land?
Satisfied that her barrier held firm, Ei returned to her light novel. She'd leave such questions for Luo Qing when he got home.
---
Meanwhile…
The sound of a flush echoed from the bathroom at the far end of the second floor.
Luo Qing emerged, patting himself on the back.
To better integrate the design of the "Teleportation Toilet" with the house's decor, he'd placed it inside the bathroom.
Over in Mondstadt, Kaveh and Natalia had already hired skilled workers, and construction was underway.
With Luo Qing's financial backing, the project would likely be completed in about a month, ready for immediate move-in.
If everything proceeded smoothly, the timing would align with Lumine's return from the desert, her rescue of Nahida, and her inevitable clash with Scaramouche.
As he stepped out of the bathroom, Luo Qing realized he hadn't been keeping up with Lumine's progress recently. He considered using the Void to check on her whereabouts and activities.
Just as he was about to head downstairs, the door to a room on the left side of the hallway opened.
Shenhe and Ganyu stepped out together.
"Eh? Luo Qing, why are you here…"
Ganyu lowered her head, her expression flustered.
"Hmm…"
Luo Qing glanced at Ganyu's uneasy demeanor, then at Shenhe, noting a hint of awkwardness in her expression as well.
"What's going on with you two?" he asked, puzzled.
"Um…"
Ganyu clasped her hands behind her back, avoiding his gaze. "We…"
"I'll explain," Shenhe interjected in her usual calm tone, cutting through Ganyu's hesitation.
"The time has come for us to return home," she stated plainly.
"Return?! What's going on?!" Luo Qing exclaimed, alarmed.
Are they mad at me? Is this the classic 'wife heading back to her family in a huff' scenario?
"Is it uncomfortable staying here? Something wrong with the place?" he asked tentatively.
"N-no, not at all!" Ganyu waved her hands hurriedly, her voice soft. "It's very comfortable here, especially with you around…"
"But my six-month leave is nearly over. Counting the travel time back, it'll take just about six months…"
"Can't you extend it for another six months?" Luo Qing leaned forward hopefully.
"I… I can't," Ganyu replied hesitantly. "I've already taken half a year off. If I ask for more, I'd be breaking my contract with the Geo Archon…"
As part of her agreement with the Geo Archon, Ganyu had pledged to assist the Liyue Qixing for generations. Taking six months off was already pushing the limits of that contract.
If she extended her leave any further, she was certain Morax would not be pleased.
"I see…" Luo Qing murmured, momentarily at a loss.
"Ganyu, are you sure it's not because of any problems here?"
"N-no, it's not that," Ganyu reassured him, her voice tender. "I love it here. I love having breakfast together with everyone and playing games in the evenings… but I can't neglect my responsibilities in Liyue."
"Luo Qing, may I return?" she asked, her eyes shimmering with a hint of pleading.
Initially, she had planned to leave a letter behind and quietly slip away with Shenhe. She'd feared that if Luo Qing asked her to stay, she wouldn't have the heart to refuse him.
Work is work. She had to go back.
"Hmm…"
After a moment's thought, Luo Qing stepped closer, gently ruffling Ganyu's hair. "Alright, let me escort you both."
"Okay…"
Ganyu nodded, stealing a quick glance at him.
For some reason, the fact that Luo Qing didn't try to stop her made her feel a little… disappointed.
After bidding farewell to everyone at home, Luo Qing set out with Ganyu and Shenhe.
As they walked, Luo Qing suddenly remembered that Shenhe had already left the mountains—why was she going back now?
He turned to her curiously. "Shenhe, do you have something to take care of back home too?"
"Yes," Shenhe replied succinctly.
"What kind of thing?"
"A very important matter. I need to consult my master and accompany my senior sister on the way," she said plainly.
"And what is it exactly?" Luo Qing pressed.
"It's…"
Shenhe started to answer but then stopped abruptly, her face turning crimson. She averted her gaze and mumbled, "Immortal secrets. None of your concern."
"Ah… got it."
Seeing her unwillingness to elaborate, Luo Qing dropped the subject.
Still, judging by her flushed expression, it seemed like no ordinary matter.
On Shenhe's end, she silently exhaled in relief when Luo Qing didn't pursue the topic.
Her mind wandered back to a certain night not long ago.
After finishing her nighttime training, she had been heading back to her room when a muffled sound caught her attention. It came from downstairs.
Curious, she suppressed her presence and followed the sound to its source.
At the staircase landing, she froze.
What she saw was a scene she would never forget.
There, on the sofa, sat the Snezhnayan girl Theresa. One hand covered her mouth, while the other wrapped around Luo Qing's neck, pulling his face into her modest chest.
Although she had lived among mortals for some time, Shenhe was not entirely ignorant of human relationships.
She understood what she saw.
And she was deeply shocked.
From that moment on, the image of that nighttime encounter burned itself into her memory.
It would resurface in her dreams, albeit with one small change—the girl on the sofa was no longer Theresa.
It was her.
Each time she woke from such dreams, Shenhe would find her tightly bound red cord loosened, her breathing labored, and her arms wrapped tightly around her senior sister.
An uncontrollable impulse stirred within her, urging her to untie the cord and go to Luo Qing…
But she resisted.
This was something she felt she had to consult her master about first.
Could she remove her red cord… and then seek out Luo Qing?
---
Ah, Reader. You've stayed for the bonus chapter—how delightful.
Even amidst the quiet of eternity, there's joy to be found in shared moments like this.
If you wish to offer your strength, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each effort helps to shape a world where such moments can thrive.
Our time together may be brief, but it is not without meaning. The Shogun and I will continue to watch over this journey, steadfast and unwavering. Until we meet again, may your steps remain steady on the path you walk.
— Ei
Bab 271: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [271] [800 PS] Tapisserie Éternelle (1/4)
By your resolve, Tapisserie Éternelle has been unleashed—this is but one of the four treasures you have earned!
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After escorting Ganyu and Shenhe out of the city, Luo Qing decided to give Ganyu his last remaining "Teleportation Toilet" to facilitate easier travel between Sumeru and Liyue.
He insisted that she install it in her personal quarters once she got back to Liyue.
Having spent enough time in Sumeru to understand the device's peculiar yet practical function, Ganyu felt a little conflicted but ultimately nodded in agreement.
Before parting ways, Luo Qing took a moment to share a kiss with both Ganyu and Shenhe, stamping his own "seal of approval" as a farewell gesture.
He watched them walk away until their figures disappeared entirely before turning back toward Sumeru City.
By the time Luo Qing made it home, the day had stretched on a bit longer than expected.
After updating Makoto about Ganyu and Shenhe's departure, Luo Qing settled onto the sofa. He focused his thoughts and projected his awareness into the Void.
Although Lumine no longer wore a Void Terminal, Alhaitham still did—and Luo Qing had discreetly marked Alhaitham's terminal for tracking long ago.
Following the trail through the Void network, it didn't take long before Luo Qing located Alhaitham's position.
With a flick of his will, Luo Qing slipped his awareness into Alhaitham's mind. Moments later, Alhaitham's point of view unfolded before him.
The man was seated at a long wooden table, engrossed in a discussion with several others.
Across from him sat Lumine, Paimon, Dehya, Cyno, and others. Judging by their numbers and the intensity of the conversation, this must have been the moment they were finalizing their plans to retake Sumeru City.
"Moving faster than I expected…"
Satisfied with their progress, Luo Qing was about to withdraw his consciousness from Alhaitham's mind when a flicker of curiosity held him back.
What goes on inside this Grand Scribe's head on a normal day?
Unable to resist, he skimmed through Alhaitham's thoughts and memories.
"Studying, reading, sleeping, studying, reading, planning the rebellion…"
Yep. Just as I thought—a textbook scholar's brain.
Disappointed, Luo Qing shook his head. He'd been hoping to find something a little spicier.
He exited Alhaitham's mind and prepared to log off from the Void when a powerful pulse of awareness emanated from the direction of the Jingliu Workshop.
Curious, Luo Qing redirected his consciousness toward the source.
"This is…"
Luo Qing's gaze locked onto the awakened Scaramouche at the head of the Perfected God. He was slightly taken aback.
He's awake already?!
Had Scaramouche already fully absorbed the power of the Gnosis?
Luo Qing swallowed hard, considering whether to approach him directly for a conversation.
But before he could act, Scaramouche abruptly lifted his head. His gaze, as if piercing through space, seemed to lock directly onto Luo Qing's awareness.
"That place again…"
Sensing that the probing consciousness originated from the residential area, Scaramouche's irritation flared.
He was a god now—yet some unseen force kept challenging his authority.
Feeling his divine dignity affronted, Scaramouche silently vowed that once he had fully mastered the power of the Gnosis, he would leave the workshop and personally visit that house to uncover the truth.
Back in his own home, Luo Qing retracted his awareness with a wince.
The image of Scaramouche's enraged expression lingered in his mind.
Did he notice me? No way… right?
Troubled, Luo Qing stood up and headed upstairs. He stopped at the second room on the right and pushed the door open.
"What are you doing?! How can you just barge in without knocking?!"
Ei's startled voice greeted him as she hastily pressed her light novel against her chest and scooted further into her bed.
Her loose kimono left her clad in little more than a pair of panties, so she instinctively tugged the blanket over her exposed legs.
"This is serious business," Luo Qing said, shutting the door behind him as he walked toward her bed.
"If it's serious, then talk! Why are you taking off your shoes? It's not even nighttime yet!"
Panic flashed across Ei's face as she pulled the blanket tighter, retreating further into the bed.
With Ganyu and Shenhe now gone to Liyue and Ayaka off at the Grand Bazaar with Nilou, the only people left in the house were Makoto, Theresa, and herself.
And Ei had heard… rumors.
Rumors about how her elder sister and Theresa had shared Luo Qing's bed on occasion.
If Luo Qing made a move on her now, those two were more likely to cheer him on than stop him. They might even offer guidance!
"There's nowhere else to sit, so I'm just squeezing in," Luo Qing said nonchalantly.
"You—!"
Speechless, Ei watched as Luo Qing shamelessly climbed onto the bed, settled behind her, and casually wrapped an arm around her waist.
"I wanted to ask you something," he said.
"Then ask!" Ei huffed, frowning as she grabbed his wandering hand. "Ask your question, but stop touching me."
Luo Qing rested his chin on her shoulder, his gaze falling on the light novel in her hands. "Remember that puppet you abandoned?"
"You mean…"
Ei's expression shifted, memories of a certain young boy surfacing in her mind.
"So, you do remember," Luo Qing said, nodding. "He's in Sumeru now."
"And?" Ei huffed dismissively, her attention drifting back to her novel.
By now, she no longer resisted Luo Qing's displays of physical affection. If she had, she wouldn't have let him cuddle her to sleep that one night—or sniff her chest.
"I set him free ages ago. Where he is or what he does has nothing to do with me."
"But he doesn't see it that way~," Luo Qing teased, chuckling. "He's still holding onto a grudge against you."
"..."
Ei's eyes lingered on the page in her hands for a moment before flicking back to her book.
"Let him. That's his choice. It has nothing to do with me."
"Tsk, you're such a cold-hearted parent," Luo Qing remarked, planting a kiss on her shoulder. "What will you do if he comes seeking revenge?"
"Revenge…"
For a moment, Ei's gaze turned vacant, but her voice soon regained its usual calm.
"If he wants a fight, so be it. I'm here in Sumeru. Tell him that if he thinks his strength is sufficient, I won't mind facing him in battle."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie?" Ei scowled, yanking Luo Qing's hand out of her kimono.
He's so shameless! Touching me when I'm not wearing anything underneath!
"If that's all you wanted to say, leave. Stop interrupting my reading."
"Come on… let me sit a little longer…" Luo Qing muttered, pretending to settle in further.
While enjoying Ei's company, Luo Qing's mind wandered. He wondered if he should warn Lumine once she returned, just in case things escalated.
If this mother-son pair really ended up fighting, Sumeru City might end up with a new "middle parting."
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
238 Power
stone 
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