Chương 225: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [225]
Since arriving in Teyvat, this was the first time he'd ever had a nightmare.
Beside him, Makoto stirred groggily, the thin blanket slipping down to barely cover her chest. Noticing his sudden movement, she shifted closer, leaning against his chest and wrapping her arms around him.
"What's wrong? You're acting all jumpy," she mumbled sleepily.
"I think… I had a nightmare," Luo Qing replied, still catching his breath.
"A nightmare?"
"Mm…"
"What kind of nightmare? Tell me," Makoto said, her voice heavy with drowsiness, her eyes still half-closed.
"Well…"
Luo Qing hesitated.
Aside from his dreams of a past life constructed via the Void, this was the first time he'd experienced such a vivid and terrifying dream.
In it, a silver-haired woman wielding a spear relentlessly pursued him, shouting, "Luo Qing! How dare you betray me!" as she aimed for his kidneys.
Stripped of all his powers, he fled for what felt like an eternity. Just as he thought he had escaped, a massive azure qilin appeared, blocking his path.
The qilin rammed him skyward, where the silver-haired woman speared him clean through.
Then, the qilin transformed into a blue-haired girl, who linked arms with the silver-haired woman. Together, they approached his lifeless body, their voices sweet and eerie:
"Luo Qing… now we'll never be apart again."
From somewhere, they produced an enormous forty-meter-long blade, which they swung down at his neck—
And that's when he woke up.
"Forget it?"
Makoto rubbed her eyes and looked at Luo Qing, who normally feared nothing, now wearing an uncharacteristic expression of distress.
She couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Climbing onto his lap, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head into the warmth of her ample chest, gently stroking his hair.
For context, they had spent the previous night in an intense "battle," and she wasn't wearing anything beneath the blanket.
The quality of this soothing treatment was top-notch.
"There, there. It was just a dream. Nothing to be scared of. Let's go back to sleep, okay?"
Makoto planted a light kiss on his forehead, her tone akin to comforting a child. Despite the teasing, it worked.
Or maybe it was the treatment.
Surrounded by Makoto's calming presence and the soft fragrance of cherry blossoms on her skin, Luo Qing felt his nerves ease.
He pushed the dream aside.
What could they do, chase me all the way to Sumeru?
And besides—
All I did was flirt with them a bit. I didn't even hold their hands.
What betrayal? What nonsense.
Back to sleep!
---
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows as Luo Qing woke from a peaceful slumber.
Sitting up in bed, he gazed at the clear blue sky and muttered to himself:
"How can nightmares have sequels…?"
"Who dreams about their head getting chopped off and still seeing it happen?"
"I haven't done anything to feel guilty about…"
"They wouldn't actually come to Sumeru, would they…?"
"This wasn't part of the story…"
"They won't come… right?"
After a brief session of self-reassurance, Luo Qing leaned over to kiss the sleeping Makoto before finally getting out of bed.
---
Today was the Akademiya's so-called "Divine Exchange Day."
As a recognized collaborator—if not a wholly trusted one—Luo Qing was required to attend.
Officially, the event involved transferring carefully curated canned knowledge into Lesser Lord Kusanali's consciousness.
This subtle mental manipulation was designed to keep her pacified, preventing her from awakening and challenging the Akademiya's authority.
Luo Qing's supposed role was to leverage his unique abilities to deepen her sleep and suppress any resistance.
At least, that was what Azar and the Doctor believed.
In truth, Luo Qing simply used the opportunity to chat with Nahida, reporting whatever progress—or lack thereof—suited him. If questioned, he would casually blame her divine nature for the slow results, all while enjoying his extended break.
---
Upon arriving at the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Luo Qing found Azar and his entourage already hard at work, surrounded by an array of equipment.
Learning from their previous mistake—when Luo Qing had "accidentally" burned out their transmission device—they had prepared multiple backups this time.
"Finally here?" Azar barely spared him a glance, focused on overseeing the transfer process.
"The calibration for the Shouki no Kami is nearly complete," Azar muttered, staring at the unconscious Nahida trapped in her cage.
"Soon, we'll move to the final step. You and that Doctor had better ensure she doesn't wake up prematurely and disrupt our plans."
"Why so nervous?" Luo Qing chuckled, casting a glance at the sleeping Nahida.
"She looks perfectly serene to me."
"Hmph." Azar scowled. "Her consciousness has already infiltrated the Void multiple times, causing significant computational losses and delaying our progress.
"The Akademiya is no place for dead weight, so you'd better live up to your reputation as that Doctor's ally."
"Oh?"
Luo Qing tilted his head, his smile fading as he stepped closer to Azar.
"Perhaps you've forgotten—our relationship is a partnership, not a hierarchy. Isn't that right?"
"Hmph, and what if I—urk!"
Before Azar could finish, a wave of nausea overcame him. Clutching his stomach, he began retching uncontrollably.
In mere moments, the contents of his stomach spewed onto the floor, and an alarming pressure built in his lower body.
"You… what did you… do to me?" Azar croaked, his face pale.
Luo Qing knelt to meet Azar's panicked gaze, his tone icy and deliberate.
"I understand your ambition to create a god. But don't forget—until you succeed, Sumeru is without divine protection."
"Today, I'll let this slide. But next time you speak to me without respect, it won't just end with a little vomiting and diarrhea."
With a derisive snort, Luo Qing straightened up, glancing disdainfully at Azar's mess.
"Tsk. What did you eat last night? It reeks."
Turning to the stunned guards, Luo Qing waved a hand dismissively.
"Take your so-called Grand Sage away. Clean up the floor while you're at it."
"..."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, hesitant to act.
They had long heard rumors of the Fatui Harbingers' ruthlessness, but witnessing it firsthand left them rattled. Luo Qing's casual defiance of Azar sent a clear message: he was not to be trifled with.
In the end, they chose survival over loyalty, hauling Azar—still vomiting and retching—out of the sanctuary.
No amount of Mora is worth dying for.
---
Greetings, esteemed reader.
Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.
Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.
With sincere regards,
Zhongli
Chương 226: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [226]
The guards carried away Azar, who was retching miserably as he was dragged off.
The remaining scholars, who had been preparing to upload the canned knowledge into Nahida, froze in place, unsure whether to leave or continue their work.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to eat anyone."
Luo Qing chuckled softly. "Go on, do what you need to. Also, prepare the transmission device for me...
I'd like to have a little heart-to-heart with your dear Lesser Lord Kusanali~"
"..."
The scholars were momentarily speechless.
As expected, the Fatui Harbingers were all a bunch of lunatics.
But Luo Qing's overwhelming strength left them no choice but to remain silent. They pretended not to have seen Azar being carried away moments earlier and returned to their work.
It wasn't long before one of the scholars brought the transmission device over for Luo Qing.
Direct mental communication with a deity was extremely dangerous. The vast spiritual energy of a god could easily overwhelm and reduce someone to a fool.
However, last time, when Luo Qing had been subjected to an outpouring of mental power from the Lesser Lord Kusanali, even the transmission device had shattered under the strain—yet Luo Qing had emerged completely unscathed.
This had greatly shocked the scholars, who now planned to carefully record Luo Qing's state during this interaction with Nahida, hoping to uncover a safe method to control her.
Luo Qing picked up the helmet of the transmission device and placed it on his head.
The next moment, as a staff member activated the device, his vision went completely black.
Unlike last time, when only Nahida's figure radiated light in the darkness, this time, faint starlight sparkled around her, casting a soft glow that dispelled the oppressive loneliness of the void.
Luo Qing willed himself forward, approaching Nahida.
Curled up like a small cat, Nahida suddenly opened her eyes. She didn't meet Luo Qing's gaze, instead staring down at her knees as she murmured softly,
"They're... saying those awful things about me again..."
"I know I'm not good enough..."
"But still..."
Her expression was tinged with sadness, and after speaking, she buried her face back into her knees.
"Why care about what they say?"
Luo Qing placed a hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair as he spoke.
"No matter how much they deceive themselves, trying to downplay your existence, you are Sumeru's Archon. That fact will never change, will it?"
"But I'm such an unworthy Archon..."
"I can't resolve their doubts or guide Sumeru's path..."
"If a god isn't loved by their people—if they're barely remembered—what's the point of such a god..."
Nahida's voice was heavy with dejection.
It reminded Luo Qing of himself back in the day—scrolling through melancholic comments on music apps in the dead of night, silently weeping in bed.
"Who says you're not loved?"
Luo Qing countered, "The Grand Bazaar still has many who remember you, doesn't it?"
"For instance, the girl you once guided in her dream—the one with Eleazar. She's now the main sponsor for the next Sabzeruz Festival, all because of you."
Nahida blinked, surprised. "Luo Qing, how do you know about her..."
"I guessed."
"..."
"So don't pay too much attention to those pedantic scholars."
Luo Qing continued to ruffle her hair.
He had to admit—her hair felt amazing.
"They've let their pursuit of knowledge warp their principles and morality, turning into grotesque academic machines—frivolous and detached from the people they claim to serve."
"Isn't this the time for you, the God of Wisdom, to bring them back onto the right path?"
"But..."
"No buts. If you keep hesitating like this, I won't let you enter my dreams anymore~"
"..."
Nahida fell silent.
Her curiosity and fondness for Luo Qing's vivid dreams had opened a door to a new world for her—one she couldn't resist exploring.
How could he use that against her?
After a long pause, Nahida's wide eyes darted nervously, and she hesitantly opened her mouth, her tone almost pleading.
"Luo Qing... I... I'd like to prepare a little more..."
"I won't take long..."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course, my dear little Lesser Lord Kusanali~"
Luo Qing pinched her cheek affectionately, his voice indulgent.
"But don't take too long, or I might just get upset and leave Sumeru~"
"Eh...?"
"Mm... I'll try my best..."
"By the way, the Traveler should be arriving in Sumeru soon. She's an interesting one—you might enjoy interacting with her."
"The Traveler..."
Nahida murmured the name under her breath, her gaze toward Luo Qing subtly shifting.
She had communicated with the Traveler in secret before. At that time, she had concealed her identity—nobody else should have known about it.
How did Luo Qing know?
"I'll remember that..."
Nahida nodded softly.
"Good. Then it's settled."
Seeing that her mood had improved, Luo Qing smiled in satisfaction.
"See you in our next dream, Nahida."
With that, he willed himself out of Nahida's mental space.
The Void required no hardware—only a mind to operate it. It offered unparalleled computational power and infinite storage, all in a portable form.
Compared to the internet of his previous life, it was a hundred times more powerful.
Thus, an idea sparked in Luo Qing's mind—to refine the Void into a new kind of internet, leveraging his past-life knowledge.
And then, with the help of someone like Dori, the best water army head around, he could easily guide public opinion and stir the pot...
In his previous life, he'd surfed the web for over a decade, sometimes enraged by absurd online discourse.
Here in Teyvat, with its simple-minded populace, even a slight push would likely send them spiraling into chaos.
Elsewhere...
After Luo Qing left, Nahida hesitated for a moment before willing herself back into the Void. She searched the Akademiya's database for information about Luo Qing.
Their interactions had mostly taken place in dreams, and the only thing she knew about him was that he came from another world. She had assumed he was like the Traveler, wandering Teyvat.
But his knowledge of her private conversations unsettled her.
Perhaps Luo Qing wasn't as simple as she'd thought.
Before long, streams of information about Luo Qing appeared in the Void.
Nahida's gaze grew more complicated as she read.
"Luo Qing... Twelfth Fatui Harbinger... Code name: The Brighella..."
"He belongs... to the Cryo Archon..."
---
T/N: released Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds
Greetings, esteemed reader.
Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.
Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.
With sincere regards,
Zhongli
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