"These soldiers seem to have been killed not long ago... Should I go chase him? But I don't know where he ran off to..."
"Oh? I didn't expect you to be here faster than me. Truly worthy of being the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt~" Childe walked in slowly from outside the door, saying with a smile.
"Childe? What do you mean, did you not kill these Millelith?"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't slander me, I was helping your sister just now."
"What?! What happened to Ying?!" Hearing Childe's words, Lumine panicked and quickly asked.
"Hahaha~ You really love your little sister, don't worry, she's not in serious trouble, but... I didn't come here to tell you these things. As friends, I'll give you a warning, leave here quickly, otherwise... don't blame me for being merciless..."
"Hmph... you think you can beat me?" Lumine retorted unyieldingly.
"Hahaha~ Whether I can win, we'll know when we try~" Childe chuckled, streaking through the sky like a ray of light towards Lumine, instantly appearing before her and throwing a punch.
Lumine raised her arm to block Childe's punch, and at the same time, kicked him hard in the abdomen.
Childe's body spun violently after being hit, and he swung a fist at Lumine's chest, but Lumine blocked it in time.
The two exchanged blows, their punches growing faster and faster, each attack infused with their own elemental power, so destructive that they even annihilated the surrounding buildings.
*Bang!*
Lumine's punch landed heavily on Childe's stomach. The strong Anemo energy on her fist seemed to become excited, spreading wildly in all directions. The aftershock alone sent a large amount of Mora from the surrounding pond swirling into the air.
Even though Childe used all his might to absorb most of the attack, he was still forced back dozens of steps by that punch...
"Cough cough... As expected of the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt, your combat power is indeed formidable. It seems I cannot defeat you without activating my Delusion..."
Childe clutched his abdomen, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at Lumine seriously.
"Stop fighting, you can't win against me... Is it worth it, for her?"
"Hahaha... If it weren't for the Tsaritsa, I wouldn't be who I am today. Even though I want to be friends with you, on this matter... I can only apologize."
"Friends... If that's the case, then don't blame me for ruining your mission." Lumine shook her head. Just as she was about to attack Childe again, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Hehehe... As an Eleven Fatui Harbinger, you actually want to be friends with your enemy. Don't you find that ridiculous?"
"This voice... Scaramouche?!" Lumine cautiously observed her surroundings, trying to find the source of the voice.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to recognize me so quickly. That truly makes me happy~" Scaramouche chuckled, emerging from behind the Geo Archon's divine body, looking at the two with a playful expression.
"Hmph... I'm also very happy. Happy to meet you again, allowing me to avenge Ying!"
Lumine snorted coldly, her hands clenched into fists, her eyes filled with hatred as she glared at Scaramouche before her, her voice laced with an overwhelming killing intent...
"Hehehe~ Don't be so hasty. I'm here to tell you both that the Geo Archon's divine body does not contain the Geo-Stone you are looking for."
"What did you say?! So... I was tricked by the God of Geo?!"
"I'm sorry, my purpose for coming here was to stop him, but now, my purpose has changed from stopping him to eliminating you!" Lumine ignored Scaramouche's words and drew her Aquila Favonia, pointing it at him.
"Hahaha~ You want to fight me? You're not qualified yet. Let me introduce you to my new toy~" Scaramouche laughed wildly, extending his right arm. Dozens of talismans floated from his body, swirling around him.
"What is that?!"
"Invincible Seal?! How do you have it?!" Childe asked in surprise, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Hehehe... Childe, you should thank me. I've helped you carry out the Ice Queen's backup plan. Let Liyue become a little more chaotic~"
Scaramouche burst into laughter. Just as Lumine's Aquila Favonia was mere centimeters away from him, he vanished into a mass of purple mist.
"What?!" Lumine looked at the spot where Scaramouche had been in disbelief, clearly not expecting him to dodge her attack in such a situation.
"Backup plan... The God of the Vortex, I didn't expect him to actually release it... How did he know about this plan..."
"Did you just say God? Please explain in detail!" Hearing Childe's words, Lumine felt a sense of dread and hurried over to ask.
"Hmm... Forget it, since it's already been released, I'll tell you." Childe stared at Lumine for a moment, seeing her serious expression, and spoke with a sigh.
"The God of the Vortex, Osial. During the Archon War, he was sealed in the sea by the Geo Archon Morax with a Geo spear. If he were to break free and wreak havoc in Liyue Harbor, it would likely endanger many weaklings..."
"But in the end, it's the law of the jungle. The world belongs to us strong individuals. I usually don't bother with those boring and uninteresting weaklings."
(Doesn't bother...)
Childe's words made Lumine unable to resist asking, "Really? Even your family?"
"Family... Hey, that's clearly a different topic..."
"Yes, it is, but can you truly bear to see those people experience the tragedy of broken families and separated loved ones?"
"Then that's their fault for not having the ability to protect their families."
"Mm... Perhaps you are right. You have no obligation to protect them..."
"Hahaha~ Since you think so, then I..."
"But... I believe Ying will definitely protect those who are in danger. She will absolutely not stand by and watch someone get hurt in front of her, even if she is surrounded, she will first care about the condition of others... I don't know if your family wants you to be a hero... but I know I don't want her to be a hero..."
"Uh... What does this have to do with me?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to say it... *Hoo*..."
Lumine closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Childe, you said we were friends, right? If it's possible, please take care of Ying for me, and don't let her get close to that God of the Vortex."
Paimon and the others wouldn't be foolish enough to get close to the God, but Ying might not be so...
"Uh-huh... Why don't you let her come with you? Although her combat power is inferior to yours, she should still be able to contribute something, right?"
"Because... I don't want her to get hurt. Just like a sister wouldn't want her younger sister to get hurt in any way..."
"Protecting family... Tsk... You really know how to hit my weakness... Fine, fine. Anyway, thanks to that guy Scaramouche, my mission is considered complete. Let's just say I'm building some goodwill for the Fatui..."