Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [345] [30 PS]

"Let's go. Those guys are probably waiting for us ahead."

Venti glanced at Gu Sanqiu again, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"I'm serious—you really need to hold back. I'm worried that one punch from you could turn those little guys into fireworks."

Gu Sanqiu shot him a sidelong glance. "You seem awfully confident in my abilities."

Venti rolled his eyes. "Of course I am. Even though Dvalin was restrained, he's not someone an ordinary person can face off against. The fact that you could hold your own speaks volumes."

"I used trump cards against him. And not just any trump cards—the kind buried so deep I only pull them out when I have no other choice."

Tapping into the black willpower was like living on borrowed time. If he ever failed to pay back the debt—or couldn't close that dangerous floodgate—he'd be finished.

As a power lurking within his soul, amplifying every aspect of his capabilities, it warranted twelve levels of caution.

It's like training a technique that boosts HP, only to find it suddenly ramps up attack, defense, and mana as well. If that doesn't set off alarm bells, nothing will.

Venti twitched at the corners of his mouth. "Sometimes, I wonder if you're actually Morax's biological son. What kind of family treats 'trump card' like this? Is there some misunderstanding about what it means?"

Gu Sanqiu shrugged. "How so? The more trump cards, the better. Who ever said you can only have one? Nobody."

"Barbatos, are you saying this young one should hold back?"

A cold, commanding voice echoed from ahead. A massive blue-and-white wolf strode forward, flanked by Razor and several adult wolves.

"Something like that," Venti replied nonchalantly, glancing at the wolves who seemed eager for a challenge. He plopped down where he stood and waved dismissively.

"If it's just these little ones, they probably won't even break through this guy's defenses."

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere shifted. Aside from Razor's ever-neutral expression, the previously curious wolves now radiated battle intent, their eyes locking onto Gu Sanqiu.

"Do you have to make things harder for me?" Gu Sanqiu muttered with a deadpan expression. The earlier vibe of friendly sparring had now escalated into a full-blown desire to prove superiority.

"What's there to worry about? Take a page out of your old man's book—pop a shield, let the enemy exhaust themselves, then mop up. That's how Morax taught plenty of folks a lesson," Venti said breezily.

"As his earthly ward, I don't expect you to block Archons, but holding off these pups shouldn't be an issue."

From nearby, the wolf king Andrius seemed to be deep in thought. "Pop a shield… and trounce Archons…"

Recognition dawned in his piercing eyes. "Morax's ward?"

"That's right," Venti confirmed.

Andrius studied him seriously. "Thanks are in order. I thought I was doing you a favor, but it seems the favor's mine to return."

Huh?

Gu Sanqiu frowned at Venti. "What kind of game are you playing here? Explain."

"Allow me," Andrius interrupted, stepping closer. "When Barbatos approached me, I assumed he wanted my help to train a novice, which would've been a debt owed. But now it's clear—my young ones are the ones who will benefit from this spar."

Andrius lowered his gaze to his pack. "Do not hold back. Go."

"Awwooo!"

The wolves howled in unison before charging at Gu Sanqiu, their movements coordinated and ferocious.

"Razor, you too," Andrius commanded. "A battle with Morax's ward is a rare opportunity for growth."

"Understood."

Razor unsheathed his blade and slipped into the pack's ranks, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Earthquake Wave!"

Gu Sanqiu stomped, sending ripples of Geo energy coursing through the ground. The tremors surged toward the wolves, disrupting their footing and limiting their mobility.

The wolves at the rear immediately skidded to a halt. Blue energy flickered across their bodies as they howled, summoning ice pillars to stabilize the shaking terrain and provide the vanguard with platforms to maneuver.

Whoosh!

With elemental energy enhancing their agility, the wolves darted and weaved through the ice pillars, their movements forming dazzling streaks of light.

The pack's encirclement tactics, combined with their elemental mastery, turned them into a whirlwind of deadly precision.

"For an ordinary opponent, this would be a nightmare to deal with," Gu Sanqiu observed as the luminous streaks closed in, each one concealing razor-sharp fangs and claws.

"But your moves are far too predictable."

Thud!

With a gust of wind, Gu Sanqiu raised his dragon-scale shield without even glancing back. One wolf, encased in a layer of icy crystals, crashed headfirst into the shield.

"Whine…"

The wolf yelped but didn't back down. Instead, it reared up and latched onto Gu Sanqiu, its icy aura spreading to lock his joints in place.

Seeing their opening, the other wolves surged forward, aiming to overwhelm him in one decisive strike.

"You'd do well in a battlefield scenario," Gu Sanqiu quipped. "This suicide-bombing tactic would make you a deity of war."

"Immovable as Stone."

With his Geo shield active, a shockwave of energy blasted outward, sending the wolves flying. The ice-covered wolf clinging to him was thrown back into the ice pillars.

"This isn't a hunt, kids," Gu Sanqiu said coolly, brushing off his clothes. "This is combat. This is war. The tricks you use for hunting are of little use in a real fight."

"Your elemental power, your claws, even that move where you encased yourself in ice—those are the tools of a warrior."

He could see the issue right away.

Ordinary wolves would aim for the throat or belly, going for a quick kill. But these younglings had unconsciously applied hunting techniques to combat scenarios, a tactic that fell short against more experienced opponents.

Not that it was entirely wrong—just underdeveloped.

By activating his shield, Gu Sanqiu had turned his defensive move into an offensive shockwave. It was a clear example of expanding upon learned techniques.

The wolves, however, hadn't yet realized the gulf in their capabilities.

That was the danger of being a "big fish in a small pond." It wasn't unique to wolves; many humans suffered the same delusion. But for creatures like these, enlightenment came even harder.

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T/N: woof woof