Ying endured the pain in her feet and stood up.
"They actually knew my thoughts... No, I have to charge forward. Running away will be the end..."
After a moment of thought, Ying charged towards the one holding an axe on the farthest side. The Hilichurl Brute saw this and immediately swung its axe down. Ying dodged its attack with a sidestep, then used its body to leap up, intending to get past.
But just as she leaped into the air, she was grabbed by another Hilichurl Brute.
"Ah?! Let... go!"
Ying frantically tried to break free, but the Hilichurl Brute was too strong. Compared to it, Ying was like a hamster against a big cat.
Seeing this, another Hilichurl Brute raised its axe and swung it horizontally at Ying.
Ying hastily summoned the Dawn Sword and unleashed a wind blade at the axe handle, cutting it off and causing the attack to miss. She immediately slashed at the hand of the Hilichurl Brute holding her. After several sword strikes, although it didn't sever the hand, it was painful enough for the brute to let go.
Without time to savor her escape, Ying dashed towards the cliff edge. Just as she was about to leap off, she was pinned to the ground by another Hilichurl Brute...
"Waaah?! ≥﹏≤" Ying quickly reversed her grip and unleashed a Whirlwind Strike at the Hilichurl Brute's face, interrupting its actions, and then jumped off, activating her Wind Glider.
"Phew... I almost croaked."
As Ying, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly noticed the sky darken. She looked up to see what was happening, and the first thing she saw was a Hilichurl Brute falling from above...
"Huh? Is it raining... What the heck?!"
Ying frantically controlled her Wind Glider to fly in another direction, trying to avoid its body, but to her surprise, the Hilichurl Brute extended its hand and grabbed her legs...
"Waaah?! Ouch, ouch, ouch! You're so heavy! Let go quickly (＞﹏＜)"
"Huh?! Are you crazy? Why are you grabbing my Wind Glider? Do you want to take me down with you?!"
Ying quickly took out the Dawn Sword and stabbed at the Hilichurl Brute's eyes. After several strikes, it finally let go and fell.
"Phew... Waaah?!"
Just as Ying was about to use her Wind Glider to fly away, she was once again grabbed by a Hilichurl Brute.
"Let... go... This is bad, my hand is also caught?!"
"No, if this continues, I'll be splattered into a meat patty... Let go of me!"
Ying channeled almost all the Anemo power within her and burst it out, forcefully breaking free from the restraint. Just as she was about to hit the ground, she opened her Wind Glider again.
"Hah... Hah... Why are there two more falling from above?! Do you have to do this (＞﹏＜)"
Even with all her effort to dodge, Ying was still struck by an axe from one of the Hilichurl Brutes, causing her Wind Glider to crash...
Time passed...
"Cough... cough..."
"Host, are you alright?!"
"How could I... be alright... Cough... I'm so... pathetic... Almost got... killed by a few... Hilichurl Brutes."
"Host, don't say that. Your combat power to survive and defeat six Hilichurl Brutes is already amazing..."
"Haha... Speaking of which... this is the second time... I've been chased back to the starting point... Phew... This water... this beach... the feel is really... familiar..."
"So tired... so sleepy... I want to sleep..."
"Host, you're being carried away by the waves! Do you hear me, Host? Wake up first so I can teleport you to a safe place before you sleep! I don't have permission without you saying so, Host!"
A while later...
Amber tracked the footprints all the way to Starsnatch Cliff. Seeing the chaotic footprints at the edge of the cliff, she immediately leaped down and used her Wind Glider to reach the bottom of the cliff.
"The footprints disappear here, and there are no traces of recent travel nearby. Strange... This... it looks like the Honorary Knight lured them over the cliff to fall, but why run so far instead of confronting us together... Is there a hidden reason..."
"Acting Grand Master Jean mentioned a mysterious person has appeared recently, who looks exactly like the Honorary Knight. Could it be her that the Knights saw?"
After searching the vicinity for a long time without finding any clues, Amber could only return to Mondstadt to help clean up the aftermath...
One day later...
Amber: "Ah, it's you guys! The Honorary Knight has returned triumphantly~"
Paimon: "Hehe, Lumine had quite a time with Tu... uh, Tevyat!"
"Mm-hmm, you guys returned yesterday, right? Acting Grand Master Jean returned to Mondstadt before you, and she's already told everyone about your deeds."
"Oh, and guess what... the person impersonating you appeared again yesterday."
Lumine: "Huh? Did she do anything bad?"
"Um... not really. Instead, she helped the Knights in Whispering Woods lure away six Hilichurl Brutes. I followed the footprints and found out she tricked them to the cliff to fall, but I couldn't find any trace of her..."
"The things she did while impersonating me were all beneficial to Mondstadt... She doesn't sound like a bad person."
"Mm-hmm, it really feels like she's another you. Lumine, do you think you might have a twin sister that you just don't remember?"
"In my memories, there's only me and my brother. I definitely don't have another older or younger sister."
"Then that's really strange... Ah?! We were talking too much and almost forgot about the mission!"
"Is it these things beside us? They look like they were left by Hilichurls."
"That's right. These Hilichurls actually launched a full-scale attack on Mondstadt City while Acting Grand Master was away. Fortunately, I scouted their movements early on. The Hilichurl settlements were unnaturally migrating towards Mondstadt City. We cleared out quite a few Hilichurl camps before, otherwise, Mondstadt City would have been in real danger."
"But why did these Hilichurls suddenly..."
"It is strange. Hilichurls shouldn't have the organizational ability to launch a full-scale attack... So we suspect the Abyss Order is behind this... Ah, I'm so sorry. You just went through a major battle, and I'm bringing up such serious matters. You should rest well first."
"It's okay, then we'll be going."
"Mm, the crisis is finally over. Please take a good rest for the next few days~"