บท 3: Appear Weak When You're Strong, and Strong When You're Weak - Chapter 3

(Yanfei) : "Geez, Hu Tao.. I always hear people saying that the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has an unorthodox approach to business. Seems like it's true."

(Hu Tao) : "Oh, well.. Business is like dancing with ghosts – unpredictable and thrilling! Unorthodox is just another way of saying I bring life to the lifeless, don't you think? Hehe~"

Hu Tao's playful curiosity and Yanfei's legal instincts kicked in. Hu Tao's eyes sparkled with interest, and Yanfei, adjusting her body position, couldn't shake the feeling of mystery surrounding him.

(Hu Tao) : "Hello, kid~ What's your story? Why are you here in Liyue?" Her voice carrying a playful note, grinned and asked. The flames surrounding her seemed to dance in rhythm with her curiosity.

(Yanfei) : "We haven't met someone quite like you before. Liyue is full of surprises, but you stood out a bit. Any particular reason you've found yourself here?" With a thoughtful expression, Yanfei chimed in. Her legal mind was itching to understand the stranger.

To be honest, I couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty. Should I play my cards close to my chest or be transparent and open with my answers?

It felt like a lose-lose situation, but deep down I knew I needed to see their reaction. After all, that's my main goal.

But then, being mysterious around Yanfei will surely arouse her suspicion. I mean, Hu Tao aside, Yanfei is Half-Adepti. She can certainly detect lies.

Other than kids that gets trained like Assassins, what other kids can avoid her suspicion?

Yanfei is an honest person, and I knew that any attempt to keep being mysterious from her would only be met with suspicion. As I pondered my next move, I could feel my heart racing with indecision.

-Well, let's just be mysterious, shall we? It's good to have interesting reaction once in awhile.

As I looked from Yanfei to Hu Tao and back to Yanfei, my mind started to race. Deciding to remain mysterious for the time being, I'll just give away as little information as possible for now.

With a subtle smile and an airy tone, I decided to keep my answers brief and mysterious.

(Mizu as Killua) : "My name is Killua, I'm from Snezhnaya," I said, making eye contact with the two of them. "I'm currently on a mission from the Adventurer's Guild to kill a Ruin Guard at Jueyun Karst. Who are you both?"

(Hu Tao) : "I have already introduced myself awhile ago, but let me do reintroduce myself again! I'm the 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue! My name is Hu Tao!" She replied to my question with a bright personality and smile. No wonder why Hu Tao is on Tier 1.

(Yanfei) : "Snezhnaya! That's a place with a chill in the air, isn't it?" Yanfei, with a curious look, joined the conversation.

(Yanfei ) : "I am Yanfei, a legal advisor here in Liyue. If there are any legal aspects to your quest that require clarification or assistance, I would be more than willing to offer my expertise." She replied with a smile, a kind-hearted gesture.

(Yanfei) : "Snezhnaya's legal landscape must differ significantly from Liyue, right? Have you encountered any legal intricacies on your journey so far?" Her question carried professional curiosity.

(Mizu as Killua) : "In Snezhnaya, legal matters are as intricate as the ice sculptures that adorn the surroundings. Luckily for me, I haven't been in a legal problem or anything," I replied, a faint smile playing on my lips.

I came up with a story that I hoped would be believable. If Yanfei asked for more information, I would come up with a lie to explain why I was here. But for now, I hoped that she would simply take my word for it.

(Yanfei) : "I see. I'm just curious, that's all," She replied, a slight hint of curiosity still present in her voice. But she knew better than to push her curiosity too far.

In Yanfei's mind, the young man had introduced himself as someone from Snezhnaya, a land far off and foreign to her.

She couldn't help if Killua had told her was true or not. Perhaps, she would find out the truth in the near future. For now, she decided to let it go and focus on the task at hand.

(Hu Tao) : "You said you're going to destroy a Ruin Guard, right? That's no small task! You must be quite skilled, aren't you?" Hu Tao's eyes widened with a mixture of excitement and intrigue.

(Yanfei) : "How do you plan to approach it, Killua?"

(Mizu as Killua) : "I've faced challenges in various places, but each mission requires careful planning and execution. As for my approach, I believe in assessing the situation, utilizing my skills, and adapting as needed. And I have Electro Vision. I'm not worried much after all." I met their gazes, my tone remaining polite and measured

(Hu Tao) : "Adaptability is key! I like that! And you got Electro as your Vision? That's quite rare in here! Liyue welcomes a fellow adventurer with open arms!" Hu Tao's playful enthusiasm bubbled forth as she said.

(Yanfei) : "It appears Liyue has welcomed another wielder of the Electro Vision. You must be quite special to be wielding one of those, aren't you?" She looked at him with a hint of surprise, her interest piqued by the fact that the young man had an Electro Vision.

It's understandable that Electro Vision users are rare. It is said to be possible to be counted with fingers throughout Teyvat.

(Mizu as Killua) : "It's nothing special," I said with a smile. "Just good luck, that's all." I hoped that my response would put an end to the conversation. After all, I have a quest to finish.

Yanfei found herself curious to know more about the young man, but she quickly quelled her thoughts.

(Mizu as Killua) : "If there's nothing else, I'll have to go now. My apologies, it was nice speaking with you both, but I need to get going now," I said politely, breaking away from Yanfei and Hu Tao, getting back on task.

As I gave a final bow and a polite farewell, I quickly headed off to Jueyun Karst, determined to find that Ruin Guard and complete my mission.

I still had a long way to go and the Ruin Guard was not going to wait for me to finish my conversation with Yanfei. I needed to focus and stay focused if I wanted to complete my quest.

As they watched the horizon where I had disappeared , Yanfei turned to Hu Tao with a curious expression.

(Yanfei) : "What are your thoughts on Killua?" She inquired, her legal mind perhaps seeking insights beyond the surface.

(Hu Tao) : "Killua is a mystery, and I love mysteries! His mission is no small feat, and that's intriguing. I can sense a spark of excitement and competence in him. Liyue could use more adventurers like him, don't you think?" Hu Tao's eyes sparkled with a mischievous gleam as she replied.

Yanfei nodded, acknowledging Hu Tao's perspective.

(Yanfei) : "Indeed, the unknown is always fascinating. From a legal standpoint, he seems polite and composed. I'll keep an eye on his journey and be prepared for any legal matters that may arise."

Setting aside the encounter with Yanfei and Hu Tao in the back of my mind, I turned my attention to the task at hand.

Looking around me, making sure there's nobody around me, I teleported to Jueyun Karst and began searching for any sign of the giant mechanical creature. But there was no sign of it anywhere.

It was impossible to miss its towering size and ominous appearance, but knowing that it was hiding somewhere within the vicinity made my heart race. I knew that if I didn't keep my head on a swivel, I would wind up face to face with the deadly robot.

For a moment, I was filled with a sense of confusion. Had I been given the wrong directions? I hoped not, as it would complicate matters even further if I had to teleport back to Liyue to talk to Katheryne all over again.

But I decided to keep my worries to myself for now and continued on, hoping to find the Ruin Guard or any clues that might lead me in the right direction.

-After what felt like hours of wandering through this labyrinth of a forest, I couldn't help but feel frustrated and discouraged.

I had hoped to make quick work of this mission, so I could return to Katheryne and report my success. But with each passing moment and each new dead end, my hope was rapidly decreasing.

I was starting to feel defeated, not knowing how much longer I could continue searching for this elusive Ruin Guard. Maybe I have passed it by unknowingly? But that's impossible.

Though I have tracking expertise being as Killua, I still couldn't find a simple giant robot. How embarrassing is that?

Having exhausted every avenue available to me, the only option left was to employ Gojo's Rikugan.

As I used the ability of Rikugan, it was as though the moment I had used the power, the very place itself had finally opened up to me, revealing the target of my objective.

But I was shocked to see the Ruin Guard laying its back on a tree on Mt. Aocang. How did it get up there? Did one of the Fatui Harbinger brought it there? Or did the Ruin Guard walked on its own?

Upon seeing the Ruin Guard currently inactive, not only I was surprised at just how easy it was to find this Ruin Guard, but I was also taken aback by how much lazy Cloud Retainer is.

I mean, aren't you worried that the surroundings might be destroyed by the Ruin Guard? Can't you just blow the Ruin Guard to the cliff, making it fall?

Cloud Retainer is said to be powerful that she can destroy Liyue alone. A Ruin Guard is certainly nothing but a bug to you, no? I can't comprehend how the Adepti thinks.

Teleporting to Mt. Aocang, I tried to remain cautious and stealthy. After all, I didn't want to attract any unwanted attention. I just want to finish the quest as quickly as possible.

(Mizu as Killua) : "The weak point of Ruin Guard is its eye. Destroying it in game makes it immobile for few seconds. This should be easy since I'm Killua."

In the first part of the series of Hunter x Hunter, Killua doesn't use any weapons in combat.

Instead, he relies on several assassination arts passed down to him through his family which includes adjusting his fingernails into claws. These claws are sharper than knives and can tear a limb easily.

Adding Nen to my fingernails to make it way sharper, with one swift jump and a powerful strike to its eye, I easily subdued the Ruin Guard by taking its eye and all of its limbs before it could react.

(Mizu as Killua) : "Too easy..." I muttered, disappointed that the Ruin Guard didn't put up much of a fight.

As I stood over the defeated Ruin Guard, I felt a sense of pride at my accomplishment. Not bad for my very first mission.

(Mizu as Killua) : "Well, it seems like it's not disappearing and leaves few items just like in the game. I gotta take out the Chaos Device myself manually."

I decided to manually extract the valuable items by hand. It didn't take long, but I knew it was necessary. After all, the items, while they're not essential for me, maybe there useful in the future? They're useful in game and I couldn't afford to waste anything..

(Mizu as Killua) : "Alright, now that's done, I can go back and report it to-"

(Cloud Retainer) : "Who dares to trespass one's place?!" Suddenly, an angry voice resonates from the surroundings.

A figure walks out from a tunnel, a graceful bird enveloped in drifting clouds. Her eyes, the color of the sky, fixates upon Killua with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

(Cloud Retainer) : "I am Cloud Retainer, guardian of Mt. Aocang. State your purpose, for this sanctuary is not a realm to be entered lightly," She declares, her voice carrying the weight of ages and the wisdom of the skies.

(Mizu as Killua) : "I... I didn't realize. I mean no harm! I'm just here to destroy a Ruin Guard!" I didn't expect that Cloud Retainer would come out from her abode, but as soon as she's here, I knew that I had to pretend to sense the gravity of the situation and had to pretend to stammer.

As I stood atop the fallen Ruin Guard, unknowingly clutching the Chaos Device in my hand, Cloud Retainer's eyes narrowed, and a subtle tension gripped the air.

With a swift and graceful movement, Cloud Retainer descended once again, her gaze fixed upon the Chaos Device.

(Cloud Retainer) : "An artifact from a Ruin Guard. What intentions do you harbor, meddling with the constructs?!" She mused, her voice carrying a tinge of concern

(Mizu as Killua) : "I defeated the Ruin Guard to finish a quest! I didn't mean to disrupt anything! I'm just a humble adventurer seeking to navigate the challenges of Liyue!" I quickly explained as I just realized that I was holding onto Chaos Device.

(Cloud Retainer) : "One can't believe such a lie. The constructs of this machine disrupts the natural order. One cannot allow such actions to go unpunished."

The Adeptus, deeply connected to the balance of nature, misunderstood the situation, assuming an intrusion of the her place that she safeguards.

A gust of wind stirred around Cloud Retainer as she summoned her Adeptal powers, and the air crackled with energy.

(Mizu as Killua) : "I had no intention to disturb the balance or anything! Please, I meant no-"

But Cloud Retainer, attuned to the energies of Adeptal powers, was already in motion. Ethereal powers manifested around her, and with a swift motion, she directed a controlled burst of sharp wind towards me.

Swiftly evading Cloud Retainer's Adeptal assault, my agile movements surprised the Adeptus. As I countered the attacks with a combination of precise dodges, I continued to plead my case.

(Mizu as Killua) : "I understand your duty to protect this place and all, Cloud Retainer," I exclaimed, weaving through the ethereal forces that surrounded me. "But I'm not here to disrupt the balance intentionally. I defeated the Ruin Guard to finish a quest, and I hold no ill intentions towards anyone or anything!"

Cloud Retainer, momentarily taken aback by my ability to evade her attacks, observed with a mix of surprise and contemplation.

The gusts of wind and elemental forces that she commanded were met with a skillful dance from the strange young man, leaving her momentarily uncertain.

(Mizu as Killua) : "I hold no quarrel with the Adepti. I seek only to explore and appreciate the wonders of Liyue. Perhaps there's a way we can find common ground without resorting to conflict!"

Cloud Retainer, her expression softening slightly, considered his words. The intensity began to wane as the Adeptus contemplated the stranger's sincerity. Seizing the opportunity, I spoke earnestly.

(Mizu as Killua) : "I bear no grudge against the Adepti. I respect the sanctity of these peaks. Let us find a way to coexist peacefully, for the good of the place!"

Cloud Retainer, still hovering in a state of readiness, studied the stranger with a lingering suspicion but also a hint of curiosity

Cloud Retainer ceased her Adeptal assault. Now being free from the attacks, I took few courageous step towards Cloud Retainer.

(Cloud Retainer) : "Now, tell one why have you ventured onto Mt. Aocang? And why are you carrying that artifact from Ruin Guard?" Cloud Retainer inquired, her voice carrying a blend of authority and curiosity. The ethereal atmosphere around her softened, yet a discerning gaze remained fixed on the adventurer.

(Mizu as Killua) : "I came from Liyue to finish a quest to destroy a Ruin Guard that roams around Jueyun Karst. I am simply carrying this artifact because it's one way to show an evidence that I have destroyed a Ruin Guard to the Adventurers' Guild. I didn't fully comprehend the significance of Mt. Aocang, and for that, I apologize."

Cloud Retainer, her eyes reflecting the ever-changing sky, considered the traveler's words. The mountain's aura seemed to settle, embracing a newfound calm.

(Cloud Retainer) : "Seems like what you're saying is the truth. One misunderstood your intentions. One also seek forgiveness."

(Mizu as Killua) : "It's fine! I assure you, my intention was never to disrupt the sacred harmony of these peaks. I was simply doing a job."

(Cloud Retainer) : "A job, huh.. Would you consider visiting one's abode? One is most likely welcome you in because one is curious about you. And one is trying to make a student to understand the humans and their daily lives. Is it possible for a polite yet skillful person like you to visit for a few moments?"

Wait, I didn't expect that.. What does she mean "trying to make a student to understand the humans"? Is it Shenhe? It could be, right?

Not only I had interacted with Yanfei and Hu Tao today, but also Cloud Retainer and Shenhe! It would be exciting!