At that moment, Lumine and Paimon walked over from not far away.
The moment Paimon saw Qiu Nian, she looked stunned.
Wait… wasn't this already the twelfth time they'd run into him in different places?
"This… isn't it getting a little too coincidental?"
Lumine spread her hands helplessly as she looked at Qiu Nian.
"It is quite a coincidence."
Qiu Nian nodded in agreement.
"It really is."
"But wait, isn't this Childe's story quest?"
"Qiu Nian, did your stroll somehow wander straight into Childe's story quest?"
Xuehua burst out laughing at the scene.
The chat quickly reacted.
[It's normal for other characters to appear in story quests]
[Yeah that's normal, but I'm curious what will happen when Childe meets Qiu Nian again]
[Does anyone remember Childe's voice line about Qiu Nian?]
[I do, it's hilarious]
Tartaglia — About Qiu Nian
"Mr. Qiu Nian… recently he's been… well, strolling around and admiring scenery every day, living an incredibly leisurely life."
"It's hard to imagine that an ancient god would spend his days doing something so idle."
"Damn it… he completely toyed with me."
"I'll never forget the humiliation of being defeated by him in a single strike."
"But since he lives so leisurely, that gives me an opportunity."
"As long as I work twice as hard to grow stronger while he relaxes, sooner or later I'll defeat him!"
"I'm really looking forward to that day."
"What's that? You think no matter how hard I try I still won't beat him?"
"Heh… hahaha…"
"By the way, Qiu Nian."
"The sword you lent me yesterday is incredibly useful."
"It feels even sharper than my Prototype Rancour."
Lumine said with a smile.
"As long as it suits your hand."
Qiu Nian replied lightly.
"Right, what were you two talking about just now?"
Paimon asked curiously, glancing between Qiu Nian and the Millelith soldier holding a White Tassel spear.
"Well, here's the situation…"
Daipai explained everything he knew.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances.
"Did someone wake those Ruin Guards up?"
Paimon asked.
"We're not sure."
"The information we've received is very limited."
"And those ruins are extremely eerie."
"You can occasionally hear clanking noises coming from inside…"
"Until headquarters gives approval, we're not allowed to enter and investigate."
Daipai shook his head.
"Being cautious is probably the right move."
Lumine nodded.
"For now, the best strategy is simply increasing patrols."
"That way we can prevent ordinary citizens from being harmed."
Daipai explained.
"Yeah…"
"If ordinary people ran into Ruin Guards, it'd be really dangerous…"
Paimon said worriedly.
"Do you need help?"
Lumine offered.
"Uh… I appreciate the thought."
"But… if you were to get hurt because of this, that would be unacceptable."
Daipai hesitated as he looked at Lumine.
Then he glanced at the small floating Paimon.
He simply couldn't bring himself to risk their safety.
"She's actually really strong, don't worry."
Paimon said proudly with her hands on her hips.
"You might not know this yet."
"She's the famous traveler who drove back a sea god."
"Just a few Ruin Guards probably won't be a problem."
Qiu Nian added calmly, revealing Lumine's recent heroic feat.
"Yeah, this might sound rude…"
"But I could probably beat ten of you."
Lumine said confidently, hands on her hips.
"I see… so you're the traveler who repelled the ancient god."
"I've been stationed here clearing monsters, so I didn't witness that battle myself."
"But I've heard the stories."
Daipai looked at Lumine with newfound respect.
"In that case…"
"Earlier I noticed some Ruin Guard footprints on the hillside."
"But I was busy warning travelers nearby and didn't have time to investigate yet."
Daipai pointed toward a path leading up the slope.
"So we start with that lead?"
"Leave it to us!"
Paimon said enthusiastically.
"However…"
"I believe Ruin Guards won't pose much danger to you."
"But this gentleman…"
Daipai hesitated as he looked at Qiu Nian.
It wasn't that he judged people by appearances.
But Qiu Nian looked exactly like a frail scholar.
"Although I'm just an ordinary person…"
"I'm sure the Traveler will protect me."
Qiu Nian said with a calm smile.
Ah, right.
This was Childe's story quest, wasn't it?
"This guy…"
Paimon stared at him in disbelief.
How could he say that with such a straight face?
Lumine paused for a moment.
Then she looked at Qiu Nian, who was smiling at her.
A mischievous grin appeared on her face.
"Yes."
"I'll protect him."
Lumine promised.
"Qiu Nian's smile looks so good!"
Xuehua stared at the screen in a daze.
"But how did he say 'the Traveler will protect me' so seriously?"
She burst out laughing.
The chat exploded.
["I'm just an ordinary person"]
["The Traveler will protect me"]
[The man who one-shot a Fatui Harbinger needs protection]
[Reality inversion]
[The ancient god who rivals the Geo Archon needs protection]
"Very well."
"Strong as stone, the Millelith never falter."
"My respect to you, Traveler."
"Once I finish this patrol, I'll come regroup with you."
Daipai saluted Lumine.
Qiu Nian, Lumine, and Paimon nodded and began heading up the hillside.
"Qiu Nian, you just came here to look at scenery, didn't you?"
Paimon asked.
"Since I happen to have nothing else to do right now…"
"I might as well accompany you two and take a look."
Qiu Nian replied casually.
In truth—
He just wanted to see Childe's famous comedic moments again.
Yes.
His goal was that simple.
He just wanted to enjoy the show.
"I feel like you're always completely free every single day."
Paimon said with a teasing look.
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