Chương 252: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [252] [400 PS]
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After dealing with Azar, Luo Qing's consciousness returned to the dreamscape.
By now, the dream had looped countless times. Lumine and Paimon had started noticing the repetitive cycles and, with Nahida's subtle guidance, began piecing together the truth of the dream.
Unlike the others trapped in the dream, Nahida existed outside its constraints. Her consciousness functioned like an audience watching a play, observing Lumine and Paimon navigate the endless loops.
Whenever Lumine seemed confused, Nahida would project a version of herself into the dream to provide hints and guidance.
The Lumine and Paimon they saw, however, were merely constructs within the dream—shadows of their true selves.
Nahida's real body remained outside the dream, silently observing.
"Making progress?"
Luo Qing's consciousness reappeared beside Nahida.
"They're quite the fascinating pair of travelers," Nahida said softly, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Even after brief interactions in the dream, she found herself moved by Lumine and Paimon's unwavering bond and lively spirit.
No matter how daunting the situation, their camaraderie and determination seemed to promise a way forward.
...Even if Paimon wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Conversations with her could be a little... taxing.
"Well, when all this is over, you should meet them in person," Luo Qing said casually. "Maybe even share a good meal together."
"Luo Qing..." Nahida murmured.
She understood his suggestion: to step into the real world, to exist in Sumeru as more than a fleeting presence in dreams.
But for someone like Nahida, who had been gaslit by the Akademiya for so long, taking such a step required immense courage.
For now, it still felt too far out of reach.
"Luo Qing," she said after a moment's hesitation, her voice quiet yet uncertain. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why are you helping me like this?"
Nahida tilted her head slightly, her emerald eyes glimmering with confusion. "You're a Harbinger of Snezhnaya, aren't you?"
By all accounts, Luo Qing seemed trustworthy—a friend, even. But the fact that he was a Fatui Harbinger remained an undeniable barrier, given the tensions between Snezhnaya and the other nations.
"To my knowledge, the Fatui operate on strict principles of equivalent exchange. So, Luo Qing... what is it you want in return?"
"Such a clever little Dendro Archon," Luo Qing teased, ruffling her hair again as he leaned in closer.
"Of course, I have my reasons."
"...I see."
Nahida's disappointment was palpable.
If he had said something like, "Helping a friend is its own reward," she might have let him continue patting her head.
But now...
"What do you want, Luo Qing?"
Though her small stature and soft demeanor made her seem like a child, Nahida had lived for five centuries. She knew how to conduct herself in a negotiation.
Taking two steps back, she straightened her posture and adopted a serious expression.
No more head pats during negotiations—it ruins the atmosphere.
"What do I want?" Luo Qing echoed, a little amused.
This was the first time he'd seen Nahida so serious.
She had always been his gentle, thoughtful little Archon, but now she looked like a proper ruler.
Still cute, though, he thought.
"Well, Nahida," he began, his tone light but deliberate.
"I want... you."
"Eh?"
"...Your Gnosis."
Nahida fell silent.
For a moment, she thought he'd meant something else entirely. But now it seemed he was no different from the other Fatui Harbingers—seeking her Gnosis as part of their schemes.
"It's not with me anymore," she said quietly.
"I know. It's in the Akademiya's hands," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly. "But I'm not interested in negotiating with those self-righteous hypocrites. You're the rightful owner of the Gnosis, aren't you?"
"..."
Nahida lowered her gaze.
Ever since learning the truth about her divine nature, she had worked tirelessly to be a proper Archon.
But now, she wasn't even sure if she deserved to reclaim the Gnosis.
"So, let me guess," Nahida said, piecing it together. "You've been helping me—encouraging me to break free and lead Sumeru—just so you could negotiate for the Gnosis."
Before Luo Qing came along, Nahida had known only isolation and the Akademiya's relentless gaslighting.
His kindness had felt so genuine, like that of an older brother.
But now, the idea that all his actions were calculated filled her heart with a quiet sadness.
"It's not entirely like that," Luo Qing said, reaching out to pat her head again.
But Nahida deftly stepped back, dodging his hand.
"No head pats," her expression seemed to say.
"If I were only after the Gnosis," Luo Qing continued, "I'd just take it."
His voice was calm but carried an undertone of confidence.
"The Akademiya's defenses wouldn't stop me. They're just a bunch of academics with barely any real combat power. I could take on their entire armed division and barely break a sweat."
For someone of Luo Qing's caliber, defeating the Akademiya was less about physical might and more about leveraging his mastery over the Akasha and his psychic manipulation abilities.
Compared to nations like Liyue and Inazuma, Sumeru's defenses were laughably feeble.
Nahida didn't respond, her silence weighted with thought.
For the first time, she saw a glimpse of the ruthless Fatui Harbinger beneath Luo Qing's usual playful demeanor.
His words were true—the Akademiya's reliance on intellectual prowess left them vulnerable to individuals like him.
"Speaking of which," Luo Qing said, his tone suddenly playful as he leaned in. "Nahida, what if I told you... if you don't leave that cage soon, I'll start killing one Sumeru citizen every day?
"I'll kill the men and sell the women. What would you do then?"
"...!"
Nahida's eyes widened, her mind reeling.
"I..."
"Luo Qing, I won't let you hurt my people!" she said firmly, her expression hardening.
For the first time, her gaze carried the resolve of a god willing to stand against even her closest allies to protect her nation.
"Relax, I'm joking." Luo Qing grinned, chuckling as he ruffled her hair in one swift move.
"See? That's the spirit. You've got the resolve to protect your people. So why let those Akademiya fools keep you in a cage?
"Listen to me, Nahida. Tomorrow, step out of that cage, take down Azar, and reclaim your place as the ruler of Sumeru. What do you say?"
"...?"
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T/N: my goodness you guys almost reached 800 PS and activated your noble phantasm!!! (currently at 711 PS when scheduling this chapter) phew maybe you'll activate it next week...
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Chương 253: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [253]
As much as he enjoyed teasing her, he wouldn't actually harm Sumeru's citizens just to force her hand.
If I ever tried something that extreme, she'd probably erase me from existence via the World Tree.
Watching her fall silent, Luo Qing decided not to press further. After saying a few parting words, his consciousness withdrew from the dream and returned to the Akasha.
Beyond Sumeru City, other places like Port Ormos and Aaru Village were similarly trapped in the Endless Dream.
The dreams floated like vivid, colorful bubbles across the Akasha, endlessly replaying the same day.
Luo Qing had no interest in these illusions, nor did he have any intention of interfering. Overthrowing the Akademiya and defeating Scaramouche's god-creation plan were Lumine's responsibilities, not his.
His focus was elsewhere: figuring out how to convince Nahida to preserve the Akasha system and integrate it into his own abilities.
The Akasha's capabilities were a perfect match for his mind-control expertise. If he could safeguard the system, he'd gain the power to manipulate anyone wearing an Akasha Terminal, no matter the distance.
And if the opportunity arose, studying the Dendro Gnosis wouldn't be off the table either.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Luo Qing prepared to withdraw his consciousness and return to a good night's rest.
But suddenly, from the dark edges of the Akasha, a faint green light flickered.
Small, weak, and unassuming—yet undeniably real.
It seemed to exist at the very heart of the Akasha, yet also impossibly far away.
"Huh?"
Glancing at the dream bubble where Nahida remained, Luo Qing noticed she was oblivious to the faint green glow.
She was still assisting Lumine and Paimon, helping them unravel the dream's mysteries.
She doesn't see it?
The anomaly intrigued him. Luo Qing had traversed the Akasha many times before, but this faint green glow had never appeared.
Is it because they're using everyone's collective wisdom tonight?
After a moment's hesitation, Luo Qing directed his consciousness toward the mysterious light.
He wasn't sure how long he traveled. By the time the dream bubbles were no more than faint specks of light behind him, the green glow still seemed impossibly distant.
But Luo Qing's instincts told him to keep going.
Something is waiting for me there... calling to me...
At last, the glow grew closer, as if sensing his presence and moving to meet him halfway.
The faint green light resolved into a small, translucent bubble, no larger than an egg.
Unlike the typical basketball-sized dream bubbles, this one was much smaller, and its shimmering surface was nearly as delicate as gossamer.
Peering into it, Luo Qing caught glimpses of a serene, verdant world:
A waterfall-fed lake cradled a lush green island.
On the island, vines and trees formed a cozy wooden cabin, its windows adorned with vibrant flowers.
A swing, crafted from vines and set amidst a field of radiant blossoms, swayed gently in the breeze.
And on the swing sat a graceful woman, humming softly to herself.
"Who is she?"
Luo Qing's breath caught.
The bubble's translucent surface distorted her figure slightly, obscuring her features, yet something about her presence felt deeply familiar.
Turning back toward the distant dreamscape, he saw no sign of Nahida following him. The dream bubbles shimmered faintly, now no more than stars on the horizon.
It's as if this light exists only for me...
With a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, Luo Qing reached out, pressing a fingertip gently against the bubble's surface.
The barrier dissolved into a stream of emerald light, drawing him into the scene within.
Inside the dream bubble, Luo Qing stood amidst the lush greenery, surrounded by the sound of birdsong and the scent of flowers.
The woman on the swing remained facing away, her delicate figure swaying slightly with the breeze.
For a moment, Luo Qing felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
Have I seen this before?
It was like a memory from a distant past—or perhaps a vision of a future yet to come.
"Excuse me..." Luo Qing called out softly, stepping closer to the swing.
The woman stilled, the swing slowing to a gentle halt.
"You've finally come," she said, her voice clear and serene, like a stream flowing over smooth stones.
The woman turned to face him, and Luo Qing froze.
Her long, snow-white hair cascaded down her back, delicate and radiant as if crafted by nature itself.
Her emerald eyes, deep and kind, seemed to hold the wisdom of ages.
Her pale, flawless skin gleamed like polished jade, and her movements exuded an ethereal grace, like a leaf dancing in an autumn breeze.
As she rose and stepped toward him, her flowing skirt brushed the grass, her presence both gentle and commanding.
"Who... are you?" Luo Qing asked, though the answer already lingered in his mind.
The faint green glow, the serene beauty, the unmistakable air of divinity—there was no doubt.
"You already know, don't you?" she replied, her voice soft yet carrying a timeless depth.
"The Great Lord Rukkhadevata... Buer..."
She nodded, her emerald eyes locking onto his.
"Indeed," she said simply, her gaze seeming to pierce through time itself.
She stepped closer, her movements unhurried, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Resting her head lightly on his shoulder, she pulled him into an embrace.
"It's been so long, Luo Qing."
"..."
Luo Qing stood frozen, his mind racing to make sense of her words.
Did I hear that right?
The former Dendro Archon, dead for five centuries, was greeting him like an old friend?
How?!
He had only been in Teyvat for a little over a decade. How could he possibly have a connection to someone who had perished half a millennium ago?
"Do we... know each other?" Luo Qing asked cautiously.
"Yes..."
Buer released him from the embrace, taking a step back. Her emerald eyes, warm and distant, seemed to drift into memories far older than she was willing to share.
Her thoughts seemed to wander back to the Forbidden Cataclysm, the skies filled with crimson filth.
Back to the World Tree, where she had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a figure amidst the chaos.
"We don't just know each other," she said, her voice carrying a trace of amusement.
"...We've fought side by side."
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T/N: WHJAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT
frig u guys im eliv im gonna stop the updates here (tomorrow ill give out 12 chapters) (HEHEH THAT WAS FOR PATREON)
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