"Haah… haah…"
After escaping from Yujing Terrace, Sushang leaned against a wall, gasping for breath.
"That was close… I almost got caught and eaten…"
Her mind kept replaying what she saw inside Wanmin Restaurant—
Those "meals."
If she had been captured by that twisted squad…
She'd probably end up the same way.
"So… what now?"
Only now did she realize—
In her panic earlier—
She hadn't paid attention to where she was going.
She was lost.
Just then—
From a distant street—
Footsteps echoed.
"Step. Step. Step."
A squad of Millelith marched forward.
Neat.
Orderly.
Disciplined.
"…Again?!"
Sushang tensed, ready to run—
But then—
She froze.
Something was different.
Clean uniforms.
Straight posture.
Sharp presence.
Completely unlike the twisted ones before.
"…Now this looks like a real army."
As a Cloud Knight, Sushang instinctively felt goodwill toward them.
But goodwill didn't mean trust.
She turned—
Ready to slip away quietly.
"Stop."
Too late.
The squad leader had already spotted her—
And in the blink of an eye—
He was in front of her.
"So fast?!"
Her heart dropped.
There was no escaping now.
The leader looked her up and down—
Then his eyes lit up slightly.
"So late at night… why is a young lady wandering alone?"
His tone was gentle.
His demeanor composed.
Completely normal.
"Uh… if I say I got lost… would you believe me?"
"I see."
He nodded.
"Then where is your home? I can have someone escort you."
"Ugh…"
Why are you being so nice?! I was just making something up!
"I… uh…"
"Oh, I understand your concern."
The leader smiled faintly.
"Recently, there have been people impersonating us, attacking civilians. We cannot allow you to wander alone."
Impersonating?
Sushang immediately thought of the twisted squad at Yujing Terrace.
Yeah… those guys were definitely fake.
Looking at this well-disciplined unit—
She was almost convinced.
Just as she was struggling to respond—
A figure approached from afar.
"What's going on here?"
She turned—
And her eyes lit up.
It was Ganyu.
"Ganyu!"
Relief surged through her.
This was the one who gave her the note.
She rushed over, grabbed her arm, and quickly explained everything.
Ganyu paused briefly.
Her gaze shifted between Sushang and the squad leader—
Then she nodded.
"Wait here."
She walked up to the leader.
"You and your men continue your patrol. I'll handle her."
"Yes, ma'am."
Without hesitation—
The squad left.
"…Phew… thanks."
Sushang finally relaxed.
If not for Ganyu—
She really didn't know how she'd get out of that.
Ganyu turned back to her.
"What are you planning to do now?"
"…Can I follow you?"
Ganyu studied her for a moment—
Then nodded.
"You can. But I have matters to attend to. Do not act recklessly."
"I understand!"
Sushang nodded eagerly, sticking close behind her.
Meanwhile—
The viewers had already noticed something wrong.
[Cloud Retainer]: That is not Ganyu. Most likely something disguised.
[Ningguang]: From the moment she appeared, she never addressed Sushang by name.
[Keqing]: And her behavior… doesn't match at all.
But Sushang—
Didn't realize it.
As they walked—
Sushang couldn't hold back her questions.
"Miss Ganyu, what exactly is happening here?"
"Earlier I saw you leave with Miss Keqing—was something urgent going on?"
"And that note… what does it mean?"
Ganyu stopped.
"…Miss Ganyu?"
Silence.
Then—
Ganyu suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Follow me."
They turned into several narrow alleys—
And hid in the shadows.
"What's going on?"
"He's here."
"…Who?"
Sushang blinked, confused.
"Miss Sushang," Ganyu said quietly,
"Stay here. No matter who you see—do not trust them."
"…Huh?"
"And—help me distract him."
"…Ah? O-okay…"
Before Sushang could ask more—
Ganyu vanished into the shadows.
Moments later—
A flash of green light streaked across the sky.
A figure landed on a rooftop.
Wearing a mask.
It was Xiao.
His sharp gaze swept the area—
Then locked onto Sushang.
"Miss Sushang. Have you seen any aberrant entities?"
His tone was cold.
His spear gleamed with deadly intent.
"…Xiao?"
So—
This was who Ganyu was hiding from.
Can I trust him…?
She couldn't tell the difference between masks.
Did he meet the rule?
Was he real?
After a moment—
She made her choice.
"…I saw Miss Ganyu head that way."
She pointed in the opposite direction.
Xiao nodded.
"Thank you."
Then added—
"Find shelter quickly. And… do not trust anyone in this city."
With a flash—
He disappeared.
Silence returned.
And somewhere—
In the shadows—
Something seemed to be watching.
Unseen.
Unnoticed.
Sushang stood there—
Still thinking she had made the right choice.
Completely unaware—
She had just thrown away—
Her only chance to survive.
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