"Who exactly is it? Do you know who spread the news that we eliminated Beisht? White Oriole."
The next day, it was unclear who spread the news, but now the entire Liyue Harbor knew that it was they who had fought Beisht in the waters of Liyue Harbor yesterday.
This caused considerable trouble for Durandal and the others, making it impossible for them to go out on the streets now; they could only stay at home, unable to do anything.
Lumine, that fellow, also didn't know how she did it. She said she was good at disguises, then put on a very Fatui-style mask and went out, not knowing if she was recognized.
Only Durandal and Shenhe were left at home. Fortunately, they were accustomed to acting alone, so even being unable to go out wouldn't have too much of an impact.
"I'm not very clear. By the time I heard this rumor, it had already spread everywhere. Do you need me to investigate, Lady Durandal?"
White Oriole naturally knew that the commotion at the time was caused by her Lady, but how others knew, she wasn't very clear.
Could it be the Fatui? But this wasn't bad news; at most, it just made it inconvenient for Durandal and the others to go out for a short time.
Could it just be a simple attempt to annoy Durandal? They shouldn't be that bored.
"There's no need to waste effort on such things; just do your job. Your power is currently in the ascend stage. Temporarily set aside the villa matters and focus on ascending."
With just one glance, Durandal could understand White Oriole's situation, clearly seeing that she was in the ascend stage.
Besides managing the villa, White Oriole also didn't forget to train. By now, she had skillfully mastered the power the magic orb brought her, and only needed an opportunity to ascend.
"Lady Durandal, thank you. But my current schedule won't affect my training, please rest assured."
"...Suit yourself, as long as it doesn't affect the villa's management. As long as there are no mistakes here, it's fine for you to establish a new organization outside."
"! Durandal & 1 ~ { 0 > { 1 = @ 7 ~ 4#5 @ | Small + > Say = Group > * 1-0 { - Note & < Number # 3 | / 41%7 ## 4 / 5 } 9 * 4 } 9 + 8 One $ Zero ~ = ① * & ⑦ < < ④ | Five } Wine / Seven / Two | + Three { ⑦ +# ② < Three ~ * Zero Zero { ④ / ⑨ / @ ⑧ 9 # Note # Number { | 7
White Oriole looked at Durandal in surprise. She didn't expect her little actions to be discovered by Durandal. She had thought Durandal hadn't noticed because she had never paid attention to her.
Although she had obtained the magic orb from Durandal and her life had undergone tremendous changes, she had not gained Durandal's attention. Her gaze had always been fixed on the people she cared about.
A minor character like her could not possibly capture the attention of a great figure like Durandal. She knew this well, yet she was surprised that Durandal actually knew what she was doing.
"You obtained my magic orb, which means you have my approval; you are my person. I naturally know what you are doing outside, and I understand that your ambition is great."
The day she became her housekeeper, Durandal knew White Oriole was a very ambitious human.
Fortunately, her ambition was not used for evil deeds; she simply wanted to accomplish something great.
Fortunately, she wasn't an evil person, otherwise Durandal would have taken back everything she possessed at the first opportunity. This was also why she didn't stop her.
"Since you want to do it, then work hard to do it well. I am very curious about how far you can go, White Oriole."
"Lady Durandal..."
This affirmation from Durandal made White Oriole's heart race, her body temperature rise, and an indescribable joy spread throughout her.
"If you need Mora, you can use the Mora I keep at the villa. Whether you profit or lose with that Mora, the amount of Mora cannot change. Can you do that?"
"Thank you for your support!"
The Mora Durandal kept at the villa was no small sum. This Mora was equivalent to an interest-free loan, which was even more favorable than borrowing from Northland Bank or Liyue's money houses.
With the funds provided by Durandal, White Oriole's plans could be put into motion and would soon yield results.
White Oriole left with an excited heart. Watching White Oriole's receding figure, Durandal smiled and said, "Humans..."
She was quite interesting. She belonged to the most talented kind among ordinary people. Although she couldn't stand at a high point like some, she would become one of the most important components in the operation of Liyue Harbor.
White Oriole's matter could only be considered an enjoyable diversion; the most important thing was still Shenhe.
She had to say, she was very satisfied with Shenhe's performance yesterday. In operating the Ice Puppet Escort in battle, she could find almost no flaws.
Secondly, there was the move she used in an emergency, the technique that Froze the entire space-time.
"Still recalling yesterday's feeling? That move is not something you can use right now."
It was regrettable that, although a move comparable to the Seven Archons had been created, Shenhe, at her current level, was unable to perform it.
If she were to force its use, the time she could Freeze would probably only be an instant, and her body would be unable to move for a long time due to severe overexertion, possibly even leading to other serious problems.
"I... I can't quite believe I actually did something like that. Frozen time and space? Is... is such a thing really possible?"
Shenhe had very little understanding of time and space, but she understood how astonishing what she had done was.
Although she had a certain confidence in her own strength, she still couldn't quite believe she had managed to do such a thing.
"However, that was only possible because you were by my side. And I can't guarantee that I can do it a second time."
That feeling was difficult to grasp; at that moment, she only thought of protecting Lumine and nothing else. If she were to try and find the ability to freeze time and space again, it would probably be impossible.
"It's not that it can't be done, but that you haven't yet reached the point where you can wield such an ability, Shenhe. Even the Seven Gods, do you think they can freeze time and space? Even the most powerful Tsaritsa, can she achieve this level?"
She might be able to unleash unmelting ice, but to freeze time and space, she probably wouldn't be able to do it.
It's not that she doesn't have enough power, but rather that she has been powerful since her birth. She can deal with opponents with a single move, so why would she expend great effort to freeze time and space?
Shenhe comprehended this ability at a critical moment when she wanted to protect someone important. Judging by the Tsaritsa's behavior of letting her subordinates run rampant in various countries, she would never be able to comprehend this point.
Although this was just Durandal's personal opinion, she believed the Tsaritsa definitely couldn't do it.
"I believe that only you in all of Teyvat have comprehended this power. The reason you comprehended this power is that your desire to protect Lumine received a response. You have kept this feeling in your heart. So I believe you can still unleash it; you just lack enough power."
Durandal held Shenhe's hand and said, "You won't possess this power for a short time. Until you have the strength to use it, let me provide you with the power you need. After all, we will be together for a while, won't we?"
"Together... Yes, we will be together, always together."
Shenhe repeated a few sentences, as if she had figured something out, her eyes lit up, and she held Durandal's hands, repeating it over and over.
For some reason, Shenhe's gaze, which hadn't been seen for a long time, reappeared, that gaze containing strong emotions was very dazzling.
"All in all, you unleashed that ability in an emergency, so it's understandable that there would be some rustiness. For the next period, you should pause other training and train this ability with me. It will become a game-changing force at critical moments and must be mastered proficiently."
This is where Durandal's strength was evident; the energy required for the moves was consumed from her, and the fatigue generated by training could be eliminated by her.
With her help, any training could proceed smoothly without worrying about side effects, a perfect healer.
"Just like when we trained Ice Puppet Escort together before?"
"Just like that time, if you master multitasking proficiently, you can also fight alongside the puppet simultaneously."
"But I need to maintain a constant link with you to connect my consciousness to the puppet. Even if I succeed in doing that, I won't be able to join the battle. Unless..."
Shenhe looked at Durandal, and a picture flashed in her mind: her holding Durandal in one arm, wielding calamity's bane in the other, and fighting enemies alongside the puppet.
It must be said that such a scene was truly beautiful, filling her with a strong Yearning.
However, this plan was clearly not feasible. If it was just standing still and holding Durandal's hand, she wouldn't have any objections, but if it meant holding her and moving through enemies, she probably couldn't accept it.
In any case, the new training plan was thus finalized, but Durandal had no immediate plans for training, as the Lantern Rite Festival was approaching, and she now only wanted to relax and enjoy the festival.
There were still so many people watching outside, and from time to time, people from some prominent families in Liyue Harbor wanted to meet her.
Today, she would stay at home with Shenhe and go nowhere. If the Seven Stars of Liyue had any sense, they should know what to do.
Shenhe was also very happy with Durandal's choice; daily interactions without other people's interruptions were exactly what she wanted.
On the other side, Lumine, who had successfully received a commission through disguise and left Liyue Harbor, suddenly realized something and her gaze sharply turned towards Liyue Harbor.
"What's wrong, Traveler?"
Today, besides completing their commission, they also planned to collect materials for making lanterns. Once they collected a certain amount, they could make lanterns at home.
This was a good plan, but she always felt like she had missed something.
Perhaps... she shouldn't have gone out today?
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