Bai Luo's condition worsened. Initially, he could still walk on his own and even cook himself some food when he felt like it. But later, for some unknown reason, he couldn't even get out of bed. His feeble state made Katarina's heart ache as she cradled his head, unsure of what to do.
Bai Luo thought everything was fine—the scent of Mist Grass was a bit overwhelming, but his ribs were digging into his face. Also, for some reason, his appetite hadn't diminished at all. He could still eat a lot of fruit every day, though he dared not touch sunsettias anymore. Rumor had it they were too sour.
The Fatui didn't dare delay. Early in the morning, they set off for Liyue, where the doctors at Bubu Pharmacy were said to be highly skilled. Surely, they could save the Instructor.
Under normal circumstances, given the Fatui's reputation, Bubu Pharmacy would have outright refused them. But now, as heroes of Liyue and in the midst of a honeymoon phase with the nation, Bubu Pharmacy couldn't turn them away.
Past Wangshu Inn lay Guili Plains.
This was a vast wilderness that, a thousand years ago, had been a bustling city filled with blooming flowers. But dreams eventually fade, and paradise was ultimately destroyed in the chaos of war. The people who once returned now left again.
Only the ruins, marked by the passage of time, hinted at how prosperous this place had once been.
Once, there were two gods who cared deeply for mortals. Later, only one remained.
And then, there was nothing.
All that was left was the desolate Guili Plains.
"Now, our scattered people live in peace and prosperity, almost as if they've returned home. Perhaps we should call this place Guili Plains."
The Fatui group remained silent. Some were worried about Bai Luo's injuries, while others were weighed down by the oppressive atmosphere of the place.
And then there were those... thinking about what to eat for dinner.
After a week of almond tofu, it was time for a change of taste.
Guili Plains was vast, and by evening, the group still hadn't caught sight of Liyue Harbor. The main reason was Bai Luo, who had become a burden. Otherwise, with the Fatui's marching speed, they would have reached Liyue long ago.
Setting up camp was something the Fatui excelled at.
Or rather, surviving in the wild was a skill every Fatui member had to master, along with learning how to set traps around their lodgings.
Bai Luo's tent was the most luxurious, made of the finest materials, but it was still just a tent—nothing compared to a proper room.
In the past, Bai Luo would have been inspired to write some light novels from his past life, planning to submit them to Yae Publishing House when he returned to Inazuma.
That was until Katarina saw Bai Luo's handwriting at Wangshu Inn and, in a tone of genuine surprise, remarked, "Your drawing skills are quite impressive! Is this the endless water grass of Dihua Marsh?"
"..."
After that day, Bai Luo never picked up a pen again. Instead, he stood on the branch where the young adeptus often perched, gazing at the endless reeds in the marsh, and uttered a single word:
"Grass."
T/N: 草 (grass) is pronounced cǎo and is often used as a euphemism for 肏 (cào) which means fuck. Additionally, 草 can be used to express frustration. People use 草 to replace 卧槽means fuck to avoid the censorship( which usually things relate to 卧槽 are not allowed to post)
Katarina didn't understand what he meant but nodded to herself.
The Instructor must have had his reasons for doing this, right?
Meals in the wild were nothing like those at an inn.
A simple stewed meat dish, accompanied by some milk.
After figuring out Bai Luo's temperament, some of the Fatui boldly brought out Fire-Water, drinking heavily around the campfire.
Since Snezhnaya and Liyue had established diplomatic relations, there had been commercial exchanges, and authentic Fire-Water was now readily available. They weren't worried about running out.
As they drank, they boasted about their achievements and dreamed of the day they would return triumphantly to Snezhnaya, welcomed by cheering crowds.
No matter what their reputation had been before, this time they were truly here to be heroes.
"Where did this milk come from?"
Bai Luo instinctively glanced at Katarina's chest and asked warily. He wouldn't dare drink milk of unknown origin.
"We got it from Wangshu Inn," Katarina replied, confused.
Unlike Kseniya, who had been sent to Inazuma as part of the advance team, Katarina hadn't yet experienced the life of self-sufficiency in the wild and couldn't understand the satisfaction it brought.
"That's good."
Finally reassured, Bai Luo relaxed and drank the milk.
Though he forgot to ask where the large, black iron pot had come from, it didn't matter anymore. As long as it tasted good, that was enough.
As the night deepened, the camp was filled with the sounds of snoring and soft humming.
Some sang Fatui military songs, while others sang Snezhnayan folk tunes. Perhaps they were thinking of home or certain loved ones.
Bai Luo also seemed to recall something, though it felt hazy.
A young boy named Kolya, Katarina's younger brother, had fallen asleep on her lap. Having grown up in the "Hearth Home," they were considered children of the Tsaritsa.
And so, they had to serve the Tsaritsa, repaying her for raising them.
Looking at the two, Bai Luo finally remembered what he had been trying to recall.
And he realized what was missing by his side.
Little Collei.
...
Liyue Harbor, Northland Bank.
As the largest Snezhnayan building in Liyue and one of the Fatui's strongholds, the Northland Bank was often lit up even at night.
Nadia stood at the entrance as usual, performing her guard duties.
Though she was a woman, she wasn't one to back down in a fight. Once, she had nearly beaten a drunkard to death for causing trouble at the Northland Bank.
If it hadn't been for the intervention of Liyue's authorities, the drunkard wouldn't have survived.
Joke's on him—no matter how strong he was, could he possibly be stronger than a bear?
Sure, Nadia might seem delicate, but even bears would steer clear of her.
"Welcome to the Northland Bank."
Nadia, ever professional, greeted the figure emerging from the darkness with practiced ease. Her flawless Liyue accent left no room for criticism.
But the faint scent of blood and the subtle aura of malice made her instantly wary.
However, when she saw who it was, she couldn't help but shudder.
"Lord Tartaglia!"
Indeed, the man emerging from the darkness, drenched in blood, was none other than Tartaglia, who had been in The Chasm for several days.
From his refreshed demeanor, it seemed he had thoroughly enjoyed his battles.
"Good work."
"For the Tsaritsa!"
Tartaglia was in high spirits today. While at the supply station, he had received some good news: the Instructor was coming to Liyue, and he wanted to borrow something from him.
Well, wasn't that interesting?
He could lend him the ship, but only after a fight!
Initially, Tartaglia had only wanted to test Bai Luo's skills. But as Bai Luo continued to avoid him, Tartaglia became increasingly intrigued.
This curiosity had now turned into something of an obsession.
Whether it was getting beaten by Bai Luo or beating Bai Luo himself, as long as they had that kind of interaction, he would feel completely satisfied.
Not wanting to miss Bai Luo, he hadn't even bothered to clean up at the supply station. Instead, he rushed back to Liyue Harbor overnight, determined to intercept him.
But judging by the current situation... it seemed Bai Luo hadn't arrived yet?
Entering the Northland Bank, Tartaglia didn't disturb anyone and went straight to his room.
However, the bill on his desk caught his attention.
He hadn't spent any money recently, had he?
After removing his blood-stained clothes, Tartaglia casually glanced at the bill.
But once he saw it, he couldn't look away.
The string of numbers nearly made his heart stop.
Then he saw the name.
"Bai Luo?!"
That night, the sound of a whale's cry woke half of Liyue's lights.