Meanwhile, Angie stood awkwardly before the three gods.
Mondstadt, Liyue, and Sumeru... Ugh, I don't think I've done anything too bad to them, have I...?
"Ahem... May I ask why the three of you have sought me out?"
Rukkhadevata, the gentlest of the three, sensed the faint tension in Angie's eyes. "Don't worry," she said softly. "Our purpose here is actually to your benefit."
Venti chimed in, "The Traveler must have told you about your Pure Soul, right?"
"Yes," Angie replied.
Venti produced a Cecilia Flower, identical to the one he had given the Traveler earlier. "If you encounter any insurmountable danger, simply crush this flower. We will sense it immediately."
Angie stared at the flower, speechless.
According to the Anemo Archon, this seems to be a life-saving trump card that can summon all three gods.
But I'm a Fatui from Snezhnaya! Even if I don't bear any grudges against Zhongli's nations, our relationship shouldn't be this close. How could this be happening...?
Despite her doubts, Angie dutifully accepted the Cecilia Flower from Venti.
After handing over the flower, Venti stepped aside, allowing Zhongli to take his place.
Zhongli drew a letter from behind his back and handed it to Angie. "I entrust this letter to you for delivery to the Cryo Archon. Ensure it reaches her hands personally."
"I will," Angie replied.
Zhongli nodded slightly, cautioning her, "You possess a Pure Soul, making you a target of the Abyss. Should they succeed in capturing you, the situation would worsen drastically. Prioritize your safety above all else. Make good use of the defensive treasures you possess and that Cecilia Flower. Furthermore, once the Cryo Archon has read the letter, she will know what must be done."
Angie's expression grew serious. The fact that three Gods had personally come to warn her indicated the gravity of the situation.
Until now, Angie had never taken her possession of a Pure Soul very seriously. Now, however, she had no choice but to recognize its significance.
After Venti and Zhongli, Rukkhadevata stepped forward with a floral wreath and approached Angie.
Angie cooperated by tilting her head slightly, allowing Rukkhadevata to easily place the wreath on her head.
The moment the wreath touched her head, it vanished as if it had never existed.
Angie looked at Rukkhadevata with a questioning gaze. Rukkhadevata smiled faintly but offered no explanation.
Venti chimed in, "Hurry back to Snezhnaya now! And don't forget to deliver the letter to the Cryo Archon!"
-
Two hours later, Angie was on a ship returning from Liyue to Snezhnaya.
Black lines filled Angie's forehead. At her wit's end, she snapped at Tartaglia, who stood before her, his gaze fixed on her face.
"Are you ever going to stop? Don't you get tired of staring like that?"
Tartaglia remained stubborn, clutching the black bracer in his hand, refusing to break eye contact or say a word.
Angie: "..."
What exactly did Lumine say to him? Since boarding the ship, Tartaglia had been insisting Angie wear the black bracer, following her everywhere like a lovesick fool, his gaze fixed on her face. When asked, he refused to explain.
Her usual tactics—getting angry and pulling his ear—were useless. Tartaglia was as stubborn as a bull.
"Fine, fine, I'll take it," Angie relented. "Just stop looking at me like that."
With no other choice, she accepted the black, rather ugly bracer.
Only then did Tartaglia relent, ceasing his relentless gaze but remaining rooted beside her, unwilling to leave her side.
Angie didn't mind. She settled on the deck, gazing out at the endless expanse of the sea.
After a long silence, Angie nudged Tartaglia with her elbow.
"Hey, are you worried I'll die at the Abyss's hands?"
Tartaglia's voice rose in pitch. "Don't talk about death! You'll be fine. If the Abyss wants to get to you, they'll have to step over my corpse first!"
"Sigh..." Angie sighed. It seemed he really was that concerned.
She told Tartaglia about Venti and the others' earlier actions. Hearing that they were equally invested in her safety finally calmed Tartaglia down.
"Little Sister, this matter is no small thing. Your safety is crucial for the entire Teyvat. After we return, you mustn't leave Snezhnaya again, understand?"
Angie stared back at Tartaglia, mirroring the intense gaze he had given her earlier.
Tartaglia averted his gaze. "This is the best course of action. If Her Majesty the Tsaritsa knew, she would want the same."
Angie shook her head. Impossible. She could never obediently remain confined in Snezhnaya.
Nor would Her Majesty the Tsaritsa ever issue such an order.
For Angie now, Snezhnaya wasn't the safest place. With the protection of three Gods, any location was equally secure.
And if she couldn't go out, how would she stir up trouble?
-
Player World
No matter how envious and heartbroken the players were, not a single one of those million Primogems would ever belong to them.
The Kaiyang Martial Summit event already offered an abundance of Primogem rewards. Even without counting the single Intertwined Fate earned for each arena match victory, the Primogems from other event activities alone were more than sufficient.
Players had struck it rich during this event. From the initial pool of over a thousand contestants to Lumine's final 1v1 battle against Angie, she participated in numerous arena matches, earning an Intertwined Fate for each victory.
While the later matches were indeed challenging, many opponents relied on specific mechanics rather than overwhelming stats. Plus, the earlier matches were quite easy.
Everyone had accumulated a significant number of Primogems during the event, even Jiang Mumu.
Next up: Qingxu's gacha.
The entire player base eagerly awaited the second half of the gacha, with countless players eager to pull for Qingxu.
It wasn't just Qingge's fans extending their affection to her sister; Qingxu's dashing and spirited appearance had captivated many. Players believed that within a few years, Qingxu would undoubtedly reach her sister's legendary status!
Moreover, the prolonged vacancy of the Kaiyang position, which had remained under acting leadership, fueled speculation among players.
The Kaiyang position has been reserved for Qingxu all along!
After bidding farewell to Venti and the others, Lumine and Paimon encountered Kaeya and Amber in Liyue Harbor.
Rosaria was preparing to take Bennett and the others back to Mondstadt, while Kaeya and Amber were headed to Sumeru.
"Kaeya, why are you going to Sumeru?" Lumine asked.
"I'm on official business, under orders," Kaeya replied. "As you know, Mondstadt's wine industry is a major source of revenue for the city. This trip to Sumeru is primarily for research purposes."
"Then... what about Amber?" Paimon asked.
"Since we're already in Liyue, Sumeru isn't that far," Amber explained. "I want to visit Collei, and since Captain Kaeya is going too, I decided to join him."
"Well then, I'll escort you part of the way," Lumine offered. She had no pressing matters at the moment, and the Lantern Rite in Liyue was still some time away.
Since discovering another use for the Serenitea Pot, Lumine occasionally employed this method, but only among close friends.
Five days later, in Fontaine.
Fidelle disembarked from the Aquabus. Just as she was about to head to the Palais Mermonia to report on her mission to Lady Furina, she noticed a surging wave of Maison Gardiennage guards.
The approximately sixty guards were lined up on both sides of the road, standing at attention and saluting.
A faint smile played on Fidelle's lips as she gazed down the road.