Chapter 35: Zhongli? Zhongli? I can’t tell them apart

[The houses that had been burned to charcoal were still emitting wisps of black smoke. The entire village was deserted. Dozens of charred monster corpses were scattered around. Judging by the traces, the battle had lasted at least half a month.]

"Still can't find it…" You muttered to yourself, surveying the devastated village. It has been two months since you left Mondstadt. In that time, you've searched everywhere for clues about the Flame Witch, but you've always been one step behind. The Flame Witch is elusive, and no one knows where she will appear next. Whenever you hear news about her and rush to the scene, more than a week often passes.

During these two months, you followed the Flame Witch's trail through almost all of Stone Forest and Wuwang Slope. You are currently in Qingce Manor.

It's strange. If the Flame Witch is indeed Rosalyne, she should have gone directly south to Liyue Port after passing through Stone Forest. Instead, she went west to Wuwangpo and Qingce Village after entering Liyue.

You wonder if you might be chasing the wrong person. Could Rosalyne not be the Flame Witch after all? Perhaps this is just a coincidence?

You're starting to think about giving up the pursuit.

Since you've been chasing the Flame Witch for two months without contacting anyone, the girl at Wangshu Inn must be very worried about you. Additionally, the Flame Witch has been missing for half a month, and there's no news about her in Qingce Village. A burned-down village cannot provide any more clues.

Perhaps the Flame Witch has quietly left this area, or maybe she was killed by some monster.

After considering this, you decide to return to Wangshu Inn first and then use the newly formed intelligence network to continue searching for information about the Flame Witch.

[21 years old: Another year has passed. You had expected to be reunited with Rosalyne last year and then to live peacefully together in Mondstadt... But instead, you're still staying at Wangshu Inn.]

[In the past year, you've been searching for news about the Flame Witch, but unfortunately, she has been missing since you lost her in Qingce Village. She is like a ghost, appearing without warning and disappearing just as suddenly. Except for the monsters and villages she burned, she has left no trace.]

[This year, you used carrier pigeons to contact the leader of Mondstadt and Tianquan Ningguang, and learned from them that Rosalyne neither returned to Mondstadt nor arrived at Liyue Port... Every time you think of this, you feel a sense of despair.]

[Under your coordination, the joint operation between the Knights of Favonius and the Qianyan Army went smoothly. With pincer attacks from the north and south, almost all the remaining monsters were eliminated at the border between the two countries. The remaining monsters are not a concern, and it can be said that the monster tide in northern Liyue has been completely resolved.]

[Afterward, Tianquan Ningguang transferred most of the Qianyan Army back to Liyue Harbor, with only a small number of soldiers remaining in small teams around Stone Forest to eliminate any remaining monsters.]

[After the monsters were largely eliminated, the immortals saw the situation was under control and returned to their secluded lives in the mountains. However, according to Zhongli, a few immortals stayed in Liyue Harbor to prevent any sudden resurgence of monsters.]

Boyang and Fushe are missing... A year ago, they led a team of elite Qianyan soldiers deep into the Rock Abyss and never returned. You are deeply saddened. Although you and Boyang didn't know each other for long, you fought side by side against the monster tide and the Yaksha obsession at Wuwang Hill. Fushe saved your life. Even though you don't want to think the worst, their year-long absence in the Geo Abyss makes survival seem unlikely.

[However, their sacrifice was not in vain. About half a month after they entered the Rock Abyss, a huge collapse occurred, and the endless waves of monsters ceased to appear.]

[At this point, all monster waves in Liyue have been completely resolved, and peace has finally returned.]

[Meanwhile, the intelligence organization under the girl's leadership has developed well. Although it's not very large, many people from the other six countries have joined and made progress.]

[According to the intelligence organization, the Cryo Archon has been vigorously developing the military strength of the Kingdom of Snezhnaya and reorganizing the army. The reorganized army is called "The Fatui." The Cryo Archon, who had no followers before, has also begun to recruit mortal followers known as " Eleven Fatui Harbingers." Currently, two known executives are "The Jester" and "The Fair Lady." their true identities, and their specific strengths remain unknown.]

[In the same year, Tianquan Zhongli sent another immortal to Wangshu Inn as high-end combat support for the intelligence organization. This was the masked dwarf who used the wind element, whom you had seen on the battlefield against the monster tide. After questioning, you learned his name is Xiao. Like Bosacius, he is a Yaksha, but he is the youngest and weakest among the five Yakshas... He might be the last Yaksha left in the world.]

[Xiao's arrival has greatly increased the safety of Wangshu Inn. Thanks to his protection, the girl has been able to focus all her energy on developing the organization.]

[22 years old: You waited another year at Wangshu Inn for Rosalyne, but there was still no news of her... Finally, you faced reality and had to admit that Rosalyne was dead.]

[That night, you held the girl and cried loudly, while she gently patted your back to comfort you. It was the first time you responded to her "comfort" willingly.]

[Under the girl's "comfort," you quickly recovered from the shock of Rosalyne's death, only to receive another shocking piece of news.]

[According to information from Liyue Harbor, Tianquan Zhongli died suddenly due to physical weakness from staying up late for many years.]

You were struck by lightning upon hearing this news.

"Are you kidding me? I must be the idiot here. How could my boss suddenly die before I get paid?"

The real Kujo Tsumugi couldn't help but complain.

No wonder Zhongli in the game's plot might think of pretending to be dead as a unique way to retire. It turns out he has a history of this kind of drama.

[However, before you could recover from the shock of Tianquan Zhongli's death, something even more shocking happened.]

[One day, while you were practicing swordplay as usual, a waiter from Wangshu Inn found you.]

[The waiter said that a nobleman in expensive clothes specifically wanted to see you and introduced himself as... Zhongli.]