Xiao was neither blind nor deaf.
On the contrary, as a Yaksha, his senses were incredibly sharp. He had detected Su Ming the moment he flew toward Wangshu Inn.
Although the various Adepti didn't visit each other often, Xiao frequently sought Cloud Retainer's help to suppress his Karma or simplify his monster-hunting duties with convenient sigils and mechanisms.
Through these interactions, Su Ming and Xiao had become familiar with each other.
Back then, Su Ming would constantly pester him to teach him a few moves.
Xiao didn't care how Su Ming was able to fly. Cloud Retainer had so many inventions that seeing something new wasn't surprising. He didn't even consider that Su Ming's own strength had undergone a metamorphosis.
He had heard Su Ming looking for him, so he had simply waited.
Unlike the original story where Lumine and Paimon arrived as strangers with a Sigil of Permission, Xiao knew Su Ming. He was Cloud Retainer's disciple.
Whether the business was urgent or not, out of courtesy and duty, he had to show himself.
Thus, the meeting was smooth. There was no "disappearing act" like in the original plot. Su Ming didn't need Almond Tofu as bait to lure him out just to talk.
Su Ming began to explain the situation, detailing his purpose and the sequence of events.
"Rex Lapis... was assassinated?!" The perpetual ice on Xiao's face finally cracked.
"Yes. Uncle Moon Carver has summoned the Adepti for a meeting. I was worried those two outsiders wouldn't be reliable, so I came to find you personally."
"This cannot wait. You should head out immediately, Xiao."
Xiao sighed. "Whether in the past or now, I never imagined a Liyue without Rex Lapis..."
"Very well. I shall go to the council... Wait. How... I just cleared the monsters from the surrounding area a few days ago!"
Xiao, who was about to leave, suddenly stiffened and spun around.
Su Ming sensed it too and looked into the distance.
Beneath the mirror-like surface of Dihua Marsh, something was surging.
"Evil is restless... why so suddenly?"
Xiao muttered, his expression grim. He turned to Su Ming. "Evacuate the civilians. the managers and owners here are the Tianquan's people; they know what to do."
With that, he vanished using Lemniscatic Wind Cycling.
"Evacuate? I don't think that will be necessary."
"Since these idiots were kind enough to deliver themselves to my door, let's see just how strong I've become."
Su Ming moved in a flash, appearing downstairs.
At the same time, Lumine sensed the anomaly.
Even though her strength was nowhere near its peak, it was enough to realize something was wrong.
Paimon was startled by Lumine's sudden seriousness. "What's wrong, Lumine? You look awful."
"Over there... something is wrong."
Lumine looked toward the stone bridge. She felt as if something was about to burst out from beneath it.
Soon, as if to prove her point, the water exploded. Several adult Geovishaps, wreathed in ominous black energy, burst from the riverbed.
But that was only the beginning. Accompanied by the shaking of the earth, a massive Primo Geovishap followed them onto the land.
Behind the Primo Geovishap, three Hydro Abyss Mages appeared in the air with piercing, cackling laughter.
As two of the Abyss Mages waved their staffs, countless Hilichurls, a dozen Mitachurls, and a Stonehide Lawachurl were summoned.
The impact of the Primo Geovishap hitting the ground sent a shockwave that could be felt even at Wangshu Inn hundreds of meters away.
Like the smaller vishaps, the Primo Geovishap and the Hilichurls were all wreathed in that same malevolent black aura.
Many merchants, travelers, and guests were knocked off their feet.
Items on the tables smashed to the floor.
Fine delicacies and expensive wines were wasted on the ground.
However, the guests had no time to complain about the mess; they had all seen the horror outside.
"Monsters! Run for your lives!"
"Millelith! Where are the Millelith! Someone call the Millelith!"
Chaos erupted instantly. Lumine looked up toward the top floor in a panic.
The moment she looked up, she saw two streaks of light one green and one blue shoot from the top floor. In a blink, they reached the spot where the Geovishaps had appeared.
The green figure landed, spear dancing. In a single motion, he knocked several Geovishaps back dozens of feet. But as he went to pursue them, the Primo Geovishap blocked his path.
"That must be the Conqueror of Demons," Lumine guessed, watching the young man pressure the Primo Geovishap.
The Geovishaps that had been knocked back didn't flee. Instead, seeing Xiao occupied by the larger beast, they curled into spheres and began rolling rapidly toward Wangshu Inn.
Lumine's expression grew grim as she gripped her ever-reliable Dull Blade.
Anemo energy began to swirl around her, and she started gathering the Geo element she had recently acquired, preparing to meet the enemy.
Unlike the "traveler" in the game who could only use one element at a time, the real Lumine could control all the elements she had mastered simultaneously.
But before she could move, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Take a break. Leave this to me. It's a good chance to test the results of my training."
Lumine turned to see Su Ming standing behind her with a gentle smile.
A freezing mist emanated from him, causing the temperature to drop several degrees. Paimon let out an involuntary shiver.
Lumine thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'll leave it to you, then."
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