"Hmm… alright, with you and your sister here, I feel more at ease. But don't be back too late, okay?"
"Mhm, mhm! Don't worry, thank you, Acting Grand Master Jean!" After thanking Acting Grand Master Jean, Ying hurried back to the detention center to release Klee…
On the way back to the hospital…
"Hehe~ I didn't expect Sister Ying to have teleportation abilities, you're so amazing! (✪▽✪)"
"Hmph, hmph~ It's not just teleportation, I can even turn invisible~ When I have some free time, I'll show you again~ (^～^)"
"Really?! That's great!"
"Yep, Klee, remember this. When we get to the hospital, you just need to keep an eye on those two. Make sure they don't leave your sight."
(Hehe~ Klee can even defeat an ancient Geo-Specter, so a mere Succubus is no problem at all! (⌒▽⌒))
"Mhm, mhm. Huh? Why did the sky suddenly get dark?" Klee agreed, and suddenly noticed the sky had become dim in an instant. She curiously asked Ying.
"Dark? It really is?! Is it going to rain?" Ying looked at the pitch-black sky, speaking with a hint of confusion.
"Whoa?! Over there, far away, I suddenly see so many super giant snakes, Sister Ying!"
"Super giant snakes? Giant snakes?!"
Hearing Klee's words, Ying immediately panicked. She quickly jumped to a high spot and took out her telescope to look in the direction Klee was pointing.
"This?! It's really a primordial one?!! Has the Harbinger already released it?! That shouldn't be right. It hasn't even been an hour since he left, and they were discussing and fighting with Lumine. It shouldn't be that fast?"
"No matter what, I have to go help quickly…"
Ying quickly jumped down, scooped up Klee, and hurried towards the hospital. They soon arrived at Paimon's hospital room…
"I'm back! Why is there no one in the hospital?"
"You're back just in time, Ying. Just now, a group of Millelith soldiers ran into the hospital to tell everyone to evacuate. Paimon and Paimon weren't planning to leave, so we waited for you. What happened?"
Seeing Ying return, Paimon immediately flew over and asked. Paimon lay weakly on the hospital bed, motionless, clearly having endured significant torment.
"The primordial one Osial has been released. They've probably been taken to an air-raid shelter or something. I need to rush over to help Lumine now. You two stay put in the hospital and absolutely do not come out. Klee, you're in charge of watching them, understand?"
"Mhm, Klee understands!"
"Alright, I'm leaving then."
After instructing the three, Ying immediately ran out of the hospital, intending to rush towards Lumine's location. However…
"Help! There are monsters!"
"Someone save me… ah!"
"Monsters?!"
Ying looked in the direction of the screams in surprise. She saw a group of ordinary people desperately running towards her, and closely following them were some creatures that resembled humans…
"Those monsters are… Hilichurls?!"
Upon identifying the monsters, Ying quickly drew the Skyward Blade and eliminated the Hilichurls chasing the citizens with a few Anemo blades.
"Are you alright?"
"N-no… no problem…" a man said, trembling.
"Af… af… after… there are still… many! Many!"
"Yes, many, many. And some strange, super giant lizards. They suddenly rushed over."
"Giant lizards?"
(They must be talking about young Geo-Specters…)
"Hurry and run, little girl. You can't defeat them. Go quickly find the Millelith for protection."
"Mhm, you all go first. I'll stall them for a while."
"But you'll lose your life, little girl."
"Don't worry, I'm very strong (^_^)"
Seeing that they couldn't persuade Ying, the crowd could only run behind Ying to notify other citizens to escape together. Ying, meanwhile, leaped to a tall building and took out her telescope again to observe.
"My goodness… a dense mass. This number, it's like a zombie horde… and not just lizards, Slimes, wait… those flying creatures that look a bit like wolves, what were they? I've been here too long and can't remember clearly… But where did they come from? Logically, with such a massive number, the Millelith shouldn't have been unaware?"
"Ah… I see the Millelith. But there are so few of them, and they're retreating. I guess they were caught off guard by the sudden monsters…"
(The main force of the Millelith is likely concentrated on the primordial one Osial. Even if they wanted to send troops, it would take a considerable amount of time. Therefore, the city of Liyue is currently very empty. I need to do something…)
"No matter what, I'll save them first!" Ying's eyes became firm, and she quickly ran towards them. Although she didn't know them, she still wanted to protect these powerless people because her idol once said that with great power comes great responsibility.
"Hurry and retreat! Run faster! We must deliver the message to the Seven Stars!"
"Villagers still at home, lock your doors and windows! Absolutely do not open them!"
"Captain, leave me behind. Taking me will only slow you down," a soldier, being dragged along by two people holding his arms, said weakly.
"Shut up! Do you think you can be a savior and stay here by yourself?! I tell you, absolutely not!"
"Captain, please listen to me. You're already out of strength. If you keep carrying this burden like me, we'll all die here…"
"I said no, and I mean no!"
"Captain! The Seven Stars are still waiting for you to deliver the information! If we all die, no one will inform them!"
"Enough talk!"
"The monsters behind us are catching up, Captain!" a soldier responsible for covering the rear reported in a hurry.
"What?!"
The Millelith soldier, known as the captain, immediately looked back. Upon seeing the group of Hilichurls holding fire sticks, he immediately issued combat orders.
"Don't panic. A few of you, escort the wounded and continue to retreat. The rest, follow me to eliminate these monsters!"
"But…"
"Execute the order!"
"Yes!" The soldiers gritted their teeth. They knew the situation did not allow them any hesitation; swift decisions had to be made.
"Kill!" The Millelith captain roared, raising his spear and lunging at the Hilichurls.
"Aow~~~ Aow aow~~~"
"Aow~~~"
Groans and wails spread across the battlefield. The Millelith wielded their spears and fought fiercely against the Hilichurls, who vastly outnumbered them. However, the sheer number of Hilichurls soon inflicted casualties on the Millelith.
"Ah!"
A Millelith soldier was struggling against the Hilichurl in front of him when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a spear deeply embedded in his stomach, which was then violently pulled out. Blood spurted out. The Millelith soldier clutched his abdomen in pain and knelt on the ground.
"That's… our… weapon…"
"Xiao Wu!"
The Millelith captain, enraged, forcefully swung his spear, creating distance from the Hilichurls in front of him. He then rushed over to shield Xiao Wu from the subsequent attacks.
"Xiao Wu, are you alright?! Can you still stand?!"
"Captain… retreat quickly… there are too many…" Xiao Wu's face had turned extremely pale. Looking at his captain, he spoke intermittently.