After Yun Xu's explanation, Lumine and the others accepted the fact that Shenhe was the divine maiden. Yun Jin, upon learning that the subject of her story was right before her, couldn't help but start asking her questions.
However, Shenhe shook her head, refuting the heroic deeds in the story, believing that she was not as brave as depicted.
But she didn't elaborate much, as those past events were difficult for her, the person involved, to speak of, even though they had long since passed.
Seeing this, Yun Jin knew that it was probably not a pleasant story, so she didn't press further.
Just like that, the group conversed as they left the cave, returning to the place where they had first met.
The village here was the setting for the story "The Divine Maiden's Farewell," and Yun Jin had initially come here to seek inspiration.
Back here, Yun Jin continued to show Lumine and the others around, while Yun Xu took Shenhe aside.
"Shenhe, when you go back later, please ask Director Hu next door if Ruo Li has returned. If she has..."
"Is Senior Brother not coming back with me?"
Hearing Yun Xu's words, Shenhe subconsciously asked.
"No, you go back first. I plan to make a trip to Guyun Stone Forest."
Yun Xu nodded his head.
"Alright..."
Shenhe could only agree.
Shenhe then bid farewell to Yun Xu and returned to Liyue Harbor alone.
Yun Xu told Lumine and Paimon that he would be leaving first, then also headed towards Liyue Harbor.
However, Yun Xu did not enter Liyue Harbor; instead, he used adeptal arts to ascend into the sky and flew towards Guyun Stone Forest.
In recent days, Yun Xu had been practicing with his spear frequently, and while his progress wasn't miraculous, he had certainly made some strides.
During his breaks, he would chat with Xiao, and coincidentally, he had learned some news these past few days.
There was movement from a monster in the sea, and its identity had already been confirmed.
It was Beisht, the follower of the God of the Vortex Osial, and also his wife, known as the lingering might of the vortex.
"A family should always be together..."
Yun Xu muttered as he landed on Guyun Stone Forest, then flipped his hand to take out a pill.
[Three Heads Eight Arms Pill (3-star): After consumption, one can temporarily gain the power of three heads and eight arms, but the three heads possess independent self-consciousness and can be imbued with color.]
In this past month, he had traded Osial's flesh and blood with Ruo Li for a good amount of volt locust wood, and in his spare time, he had refined several Three Heads Eight Arms Pills, some of which could be imbued with color.
After obtaining a head from Osial, Yun Xu had largely understood the true usage of this Three Heads Eight Arms Pill, as well as the One Head Two Arms Pill after it was imbued with color.
So he deliberately didn't imbue it with color, just waiting for Beisht to appear.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Yun Xu felt something, put away the pill, and looked suspiciously into the distance.
Over there, a group of Millelith were busy setting up ballistae called Guizhong Ballistae.
Although Osial had destroyed the three Guizhong Ballistae on the Jade Chamber last time, the Liyue Qixing had already mastered the technology to rerun simplified versions of the Guizhong Ballistae.
Among this group, Yun Xu also saw two acquaintances, one of whom had particularly striking purple, cat-ear-like hair.
The other was his Senior Sister, Ganyu.
They seemed to be in charge of commanding the Millelith.
"Yun Xu, why are you here?"
Although Yun Xu had no intention of getting closer, Ganyu sensed his aura and looked back at him.
"I'm here to catch fish to eat... What are you all busy with?"
Discovered, Yun Xu could only approach and briefly explain.
"Lady Ningguang asked us to set up defenses here. The things in the sea have recently started approaching Liyue Harbor."
Ganyu naturally trusted Yun Xu, so she explained to him.
"I see... Well, you all keep busy. I'm going to catch fish. Senior Sister, if you're free tonight, come to my place for dinner~"
Yun Xu nodded his head, not intending to disturb them.
"No, no need. I don't eat fish."
Ganyu quickly waved her hand.
Although Qilin are absolute vegetarians, Ganyu has the bloodline of half-human, half-Qilin, so eating meat would not cause any adverse reactions.
However, she had always been very disciplined, refusing to touch any meat.
After bidding farewell to Ganyu and the others, Yun Xu went around to the other side of Guyun Stone Forest, gazing far out at the sea from a high vantage point, sensing the aura in the water.
Her beloved had been re-sealed, and after waiting thousands of years and finally seeing hope, Beisht's heart was filled with resentment towards Liyue Harbor.
Yun Xu carefully sensed for a moment and could detect a delicious aura.
"Indeed, it's getting closer, but the speed is a bit slow. It seems it's still a bit wary..."
"How can I lure it over?"
"Ahem, wife, you wouldn't want your husband to be in the seal..."
"Still not working..."
Yun Xu pondered how to lure Beisht out of the sea.
With its cautious demeanor, without some provocation, it would probably take ten days to half a month for it to show itself.
After all, even though it harbored resentment, it wasn't stupid. How could it not know if the God of War was dead or not? He was underestimating the monster a bit too much.
"Hmm... I've got it!"
After thinking for a while, Yun Xu finally came up with a good idea.
He directly took out a whole jar of Osial's blood that he had preserved from his qiankun bag.
Then Yun Xu opened the jar and sprinkled the God's blood onto the sea.
The moment the blood touched the sea, it began to boil, and the released power carried Osial's aura.
"Here it comes..."
Sure enough, as the blood boiled on the sea surface, a reaction finally appeared in the depths of the ocean.
Several whirlpools appeared on the sea level, and three blue figures slowly emerged from them.
Beisht looked like a three-headed sea serpent, but only the parts above the water were visible, so it resembled three independent giant sea serpents more.
Its appearance was similar to Osial's individual heads, but not as pure as Osial. Compared to Osial, who seemed to be entirely composed of the water element, Beisht looked more like a creature made of flesh and blood.
As a follower of the God of the Vortex, it also possessed the ability to stir up huge waves, so when it appeared, the surrounding sea surface became turbulent.
At the same time, above Liyue Harbor, the Jade Chamber had already flown towards this area.
On the sea, a fleet anchored near Guyun Stone Forest also took action, aiming their Guizhong Ballistae at Beisht.
On Guyun Stone Forest, Keqing commanded the Millelith to operate the Guizhong Ballistae for aiming.
Ganyu, although holding a bow and arrow and standing by, had no intention of acting rashly.
"Fire!"
The fleet and the Guizhong Ballistae on Guyun Stone Forest fired simultaneously, and a dense barrage of attacks instantly landed on Beisht.
"Whoa, don't kill my medicinal ingredient..."
Seeing such dense firepower, Yun Xu couldn't help but worry about Beisht.
Although Beisht was not a God, it was a very powerful monster, and also a rare and valuable medicinal ingredient.
Although the firepower of the Guizhong Ballistae was powerful, having once suppressed even Osial, these were now merely simplified versions, much weaker in power.
After the initial assault, Beisht let out an angry roar, stirring up towering waves, intending to smash the fleet on the sea and wash away the Guizhong Ballistae on Guyun Stone Forest...