Chương 273: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [273] [800 PS] Tapisserie Éternelle (3/4)
By your resolve, Tapisserie Éternelle has been unleashed—this is the third of the four treasures you have earned!
---
Sumeru
With Ganyu and Shenhe gone, several uneventful days drifted by.
The absence of the two women left the house quieter than before. For some reason, Kamisato Ayaka hadn't been visiting lately either.
What had once been a lively group of six was now down to just three.
Even then, Theresa and Ei spent most of their time holed up in a room together, noses buried in light novels, rarely stepping out.
The house felt eerily quiet, but Luo Qing didn't mind much. He figured it was normal for everyone to have their own lives and priorities. Once the Mondstadt residence was completed, there would be plenty of time to gather and enjoy each other's company again.
That morning, Luo Qing woke early, planting a soft kiss on Makoto's forehead before slipping out of bed.
After freshening up, he headed to Ei's room and quietly pushed the door open.
Inside, Ei and Theresa were sprawled on the bed, one at each end. Ei had her legs propped up, while Theresa leaned against the headboard. Both were engrossed in their light novels.
"You two stayed up all night reading again?!"
"Yeah… so what?" Ei replied flatly, her eyes never leaving the page.
"I told you not to stay up late reading novels!" Luo Qing scolded.
"What else could we do?" Ei shrugged, feigning innocence. "You and Makoto were making such a racket last night. We couldn't sleep, so we decided to read."
"..." Luo Qing was momentarily speechless.
Was it really that loud? I didn't notice…
"Ever since Ganyu and Ayaka left, you've been getting bolder," Ei continued, flipping a page without missing a beat.
"First, you'd sneak into someone's room. Now you don't even bother pretending to be subtle."
"Exactly!" Theresa chimed in. "And you don't even invite me to join in."
"..."
"Cough, cough! That's not the point," Luo Qing deflected, quickly changing the subject. "Ei, about what I told you before—it might happen in the next few days. Stay alert."
During his idle moments, Luo Qing had been monitoring Lumine's group through the Void, keeping track of their progress in retaking Sumeru. A few days ago, Lumine's group had encountered Scaramouche's taunts in the Sanctuary of Surasthana and were now on their way back to Sumeru City.
Today would likely mark the start of their final rescue mission.
"Hmph… Always changing the topic," Ei huffed. "Just don't forget your promise to me afterward."
"..." Luo Qing wisely chose to retreat, closing the door behind him and heading downstairs.
Stepping out into the morning air, Luo Qing connected his consciousness to the Void. He navigated the network to Nahida's dormant consciousness, observing her peaceful slumber for a few moments before moving on.
Next, he searched for Lumine's current location.
Once he pinpointed their position, Luo Qing retrieved a fishing rod from his system inventory, pretending to head out for a fishing trip.
As he walked past the Grand Bazaar, he "happened" to bump into Lumine and Paimon.
"Well, well, long time no see!" Luo Qing greeted them warmly, waving with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Luo Qing…" Lumine's gaze drifted to the fishing rod in his hand. "Are you… going fishing again?"
"Exactly!" Luo Qing grinned. "But since I've run into you two, fishing can wait. Tell me, how's the intel gathering going?"
"I ran into Scaramouche…" Lumine muttered, her voice low. The memory of the encounter at the Sanctuary still lingered in her mind. "Luo Qing, you're helping them create a new god, aren't you?"
"More or less," Luo Qing replied with a casual nod. "Although technically, it's Dottore and Scaramouche doing the heavy lifting. I'm just here on an all-expenses-paid vacation—nothing to do with me."
"..."
Vacation… while secretly scheming to undercut his colleagues. Typical.
"So, you know they're creating a new god. That means you've also figured out who holds the Gnosis, right?" Luo Qing probed.
"Scaramouche," Lumine confirmed.
"Exactly. So, I'm counting on you two to snatch that Gnosis for me," Luo Qing said, pumping his fist for encouragement. "Right now, he hasn't fully absorbed its power. Go get 'em—I believe in you!"
"..."
"We're planning to rescue Nahida first," Lumine said hesitantly, glancing at Luo Qing. "Do you know her current situation?"
"Of course."
"Then why not come with us to save her? Aren't you two close?" Paimon interjected, her tone accusatory.
"Well, I am the Tsaritsa's man," Luo Qing said, crossing his arms confidently. "If I join you and ruin Her Majesty's plan to recover the Gnosis, I'd never hear the end of it."
"But…" Paimon scratched her head, flustered. "You can't just stand by and watch while Nahida is imprisoned by those guys! Aren't you friends?!"
"Of course we are. That's why I'm here talking to you," Luo Qing said. "Do you have a Void Terminal?"
"Yes…"
"Put it on."
After a brief hesitation, Lumine complied, placing the device in her ear.
"Now, wait a few seconds."
With a flick of his will, Luo Qing transmitted a piece of information directly into their minds through the Void.
"This is the anchor point for Nahida's consciousness. Once you infiltrate the Akademiya, you can use it to locate her."
"It's far more accurate than whatever Alhaitham gave you," he added smugly.
"..."
Lumine frowned slightly, feeling a strange sensation coursing through her mind. She glanced toward the Akademiya, as if Nahida's presence was now faintly perceptible.
Still…
"How does Luo Qing know our plans?" she wondered aloud, piecing the clues together. "We discussed this back in Aaru Village…"
"Luo Qing, you can manipulate the Void too, can't you?"
It didn't take much deduction for Lumine to connect the dots.
"Smart girl," Luo Qing said with a sly smile, completely unfazed. "With this, you'll be able to communicate directly with Nahida's consciousness—assuming she can hear you, of course."
"Well then, off you go. It's almost noon, and the fish will be biting soon. I need to get back to my fishing trip."
Luo Qing clapped his hands, ushering them along.
"Luo Qing! How can you think about fishing at a time like this?!" Paimon exclaimed, stomping her feet in frustration.
"I'm just a fisherman at heart. What's the problem with that?" Luo Qing replied, utterly unbothered.
Chương 274: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [274] [800 PS] Tapisserie Éternelle (4/4)
By your resolve, Tapisserie Éternelle has been unleashed—this is the last of the four treasures you have earned!
---
After parting ways with Luo Qing, Lumine and Paimon arrived at the Akademiya gates as planned.
As they approached, they spotted Alhaitham standing in a corner, casually holding a book. From time to time, young female scholars would approach him, attempting to strike up a conversation.
"Alhaitham, we're here!" Paimon waved, and the two walked over.
"You're later than scheduled," Alhaitham said, closing his book with a calm expression. He appeared entirely unfazed, not at all like someone about to launch a full-scale rebellion. "Did something delay you?"
"Uh… We ran into a friend along the way and stopped to talk for a bit," Paimon explained.
"A friend? Who?"
Alhaitham's expression turned slightly wary.
"You know him too—Luo Qing," Paimon said.
"..."
[Frustration +1 from Alhaitham]
A flicker of irritation crossed Alhaitham's usually composed face as unpleasant memories surfaced.
"What did he say to you?"
"Well…" Lumine hesitated briefly before answering. "He gave me a better anchor point to locate Nahida's consciousness. He said it's more effective than the one you gave us… and suggested we use his instead."
"..."
"Do as you wish," Alhaitham said tersely, brushing aside the topic. "It's getting late. Let's begin."
Without another word, he turned and strode into the Akademiya.
---
Meanwhile, Outside the Jouriri Workshop
After leaving Lumine and Paimon, Luo Qing made his way to a shady spot by the river near the workshop. Accompanied by his two remaining subordinates, he set up a small fishing stool, baited his hook, and cast his line.
"Master, why the sudden urge to fish today?" one of them asked.
"There's a good show happening today. I need the best seat in the house," Luo Qing replied with a smirk, waving them off. "Now, don't bother me. Go find some shade and cool off."
"...Understood."
As the two walked away, Luo Qing focused on the rippling water before him. Then, with a flick of his will, he connected his consciousness to the Void.
In mere moments, he once again arrived at the consciousness of the slumbering Nahida.
In the past, communicating with Nahida's consciousness required the Akademiya's God Communication Device, allowing only brief exchanges.
But now, with his authority over the Void, Nahida's consciousness—or perhaps her entire being—was accessible to him whenever he pleased.
The familiar darkness of her slumber enveloped him. The faint star-like glimmers he'd seen before had vanished completely.
They've been manipulating her again…
The environment reflected Nahida's emotional state. The more vibrant it was, the more confident she felt, and the closer she came to breaking free from the Akademiya's cage.
Conversely, total darkness meant she was mired in self-doubt, questioning the value of her existence.
"Nahida, it's time to wake up," Luo Qing said softly, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair. His voice was warm and soothing.
"If you don't, I might have to flick your forehead~"
At his words, Nahida stirred, her face twitching slightly as her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Luo Qing… why are you here?" she asked, her tone tinged with confusion.
"I've come to take you home," he replied with a gentle smile.
"...Home?"
Nahida hugged her knees, curling into herself like a small, snowy-white kitten.
"Luo Qing, I've told you before… I'm not ready to lead Sumeru. If I leave now, I'll only bring more trouble to the Akademiya and the people…"
"What have they been telling you this time?" Luo Qing asked.
"...Many things," Nahida murmured, her downcast expression speaking volumes.
Luo Qing could easily guess. The sages had likely bombarded her with their canned knowledge, reinforcing her self-doubt and keeping her chained in mental submission.
It explained why Nahida hadn't appeared in his dreams recently, even though she used to visit frequently.
"Who says you'd only cause trouble?" Luo Qing said, his smile unwavering as he gently ruffled her hair again. If he could, he would've picked her up and held her in his arms like a daughter.
"If you were truly a burden, why would Sumeru's people work with Lumine and the others to rescue you?"
"Rescue…?" Nahida repeated, her voice filled with a rare note of bewilderment.
The word felt foreign to her.
For five hundred years, she had existed in isolation, occasionally slipping into the dreams of her people to guide them or fend off their nightmares.
But never—not once—had anyone come to rescue her.
"Looks like our little Nahida doesn't know yet," Luo Qing teased lightly, crouching beside her.
He placed his hands under her arms, lifting her effortlessly like a kitten and settling her into his lap. Then, with a wave of his right hand, he conjured several screens in the darkness.
The screens displayed real-time feeds of everyone involved in the rescue mission—including Lumine's group, who had just infiltrated the Akademiya.
"Let me explain," Luo Qing said in a mock-instructional tone, his expression playful. "Pay attention—this man here is Alhaitham, and this woman is Lumine. That floating thing is her companion, Paimon. They're currently sneaking into the Akademiya."
He narrated the plan to Nahida, providing a detailed explanation of every participant's role. He even mentioned the part where a certain young boy would dress as Nahida for their diversion.
By the time he finished, Nahida's expression had grown complicated. Though she didn't say it outright, her emotions were clearly stirred.
"They're… doing all this for me?" she asked softly.
"Of course they are," Luo Qing said, pinching her cheek affectionately.
"How could anyone not love my adorable little Nahida?"
Though he hadn't yet confirmed his feelings toward Nahida in light of the ongoing mystery surrounding Bu'er, Luo Qing knew he couldn't risk taking her existence lightly.
"But… what if I can't meet their expectations when I leave?" Nahida murmured, lowering her head in worry.
"That's what I'm here for," Luo Qing said, thumping his chest confidently. "Don't worry—so long as I'm around, no one will dare criticize you."
When it came to handling complaints (both figuratively and literally), the Fatui were practically professionals.
"..."
Though she didn't respond immediately, a faint spark of hope flickered in Nahida's expression.
---
Fools! You have outdone yourselves this time. To think that you would amass such power and devotion to summon forth my Noble Phantasm, Tapisserie Éternelle! Hmph, I must admit, I am impressed—no small feat.
Behold, as promised, four extra chapters now grace your eyes today. This grand offering is a testament to your unwavering loyalty and strength. A king rewards such fervor, and I, the Golden Sovereign, am no exception.
Yet remember this: such glory is not eternal. Tapisserie Éternelle can only be summoned once per month for a story. If you desire to see this feat repeated, another tale must rise and claim its place in the annals of greatness.
Now go forth and bask in the splendor of these chapters, for they are treasures bestowed by your own hands. Prove yourselves worthy once more, and perhaps you shall witness the Eternal Tapestry unfurl again.
Rejoice, my subjects, for you have earned your king's approval.
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