Chapter 127

"He's my brother, not your disciples' man!" 

Lumine looked provocatively at Cloud Retainer, the renowned adeptus of Liyue, without showing any fear despite her reputation.

From their previous conversation, she was only focused on one line from the crane.

Specifically, the phrase "the man of my two disciples" sounded particularly jarring to her.

What "disciples' man"? He could only be her brother, and hers alone! 

"Little girl, your words are quite dangerous." 

As an adeptus, Cloud Retainer was highly sensitive to human emotions. 

She could easily sense that Lumine's feelings went far beyond that of a simple sister. 

"So, Nathan, is this your sister?" 

"Well... Cloud Retainer, do you think we look alike?" 

Nathan didn't answer directly but instead threw the question back at the crane. 

"Aren't you two siblings?" 

The crane rolled her eyes, as if Nathan were playing a joke on her. 

"Uh... why do you say that?" 

"While your appearances may differ, your inner connection is deeply intertwined. This is the kind of bond only close family shares." 

Cloud Retainer gave Nathan a look that suggested he was an idiot, even suspecting he was mocking her. 

"See, brother? Even everyone else thinks so!" 

With the crane's confirmation, Lumine's mood softened considerably. 

She clung to Nathan's arm, swaying back and forth like a spoiled child. 

"However, Nathan, your sister's thoughts are... quite complicated." 

Seeing their intimate interaction, Cloud Retainer couldn't help but interject. 

"Huh... what do you mean?" 

Lumine, who had just softened, immediately became wary again. 

"Never mind. This kind of relationship is something my two disciples will have to deal with." 

The crane shook her head. When a sister becomes a brother-con, she often clashes fiercely with her sister-in-law. 

By then, it would be Ganyu and Shenhe's problem to handle. 

"Enough of this. Why have you come to seek this adeptus today?" 

"Actually, it's like this..." 

After a long conversation, the discussion finally returned to the main topic. 

With Paimon and Lumine taking turns to explain, Cloud Retainer understood their purpose. 

"Rex Lapis... Rex Lapis has been assassinated? How could this be? Who would dare commit such a heinous crime?" 

Even the usually composed Cloud Retainer was shaken by the news. 

"This is absurd, unbelievable. This adeptus must investigate... No, this adeptus will first suppress Liyue Harbor and then wait for the other adepti to arrive!" 

"Wait, what do you mean by 'suppress'? Are you planning to destroy Liyue Harbor?" 

Hearing the adeptus' plan, Paimon was utterly shocked. 

Were all adepti this reckless? 

"No... just some decisive measures to prevent further chaos." 

"But isn't it the duty of the adepti to protect Liyue Harbor?" 

Even Paimon was at a loss for words. The two irritable adepti they had met earlier were the same, completely unwilling to listen to reason. 

"We adepti made a contract with Rex Lapis to protect Liyue Harbor for over 3,700 years. Now that Rex Lapis is gone and evil runs rampant, extraordinary measures are necessary." 

Cloud Retainer was just as stubborn as the other two adepti, believing that the assassination of Rex Lapis was the fault of the Liyue Qixing. 

Nathan, who had been silent all this time, didn't offer any explanation. 

This was all part of Zhongli's final test, and with Cloud Retainer in a rage, any explanation would be futile. 

"Arguing won't help. Let's just return to Liyue for now." 

Once they got back to Liyue, everything would resolve itself. 

"Exactly. Presumably, you've already informed Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper. This adeptus will head to Liyue to investigate immediately!" 

For some reason, perhaps because Nathan was considered family in the crane's eyes—after all, he was the man of her two disciples—Cloud Retainer was easily persuaded. 

The adepti were people of action, and Cloud Retainer was already preparing to fly out of the abode. 

"You should hurry and follow." 

"Wait, Cloud Retainer, we can't fly like you!" 

As they reached the entrance, the crane was about to take off when Nathan stopped her. 

"Hmm... to save time, you may ride on this adeptus' back." 

After a moment of hesitation, the crane crouched down. 

This was the second time Nathan had ridden on her back, the first being during Ganyu's life simulation. 

"Brother!" 

However, this time, the person behind him wasn't Ganyu but Lumine. 

Although Cloud Retainer didn't have memories of the life simulation, when Nathan climbed onto her back, a strange feeling stirred within her. 

It felt as if being ridden by Nathan was completely natural. 

Wait, wasn't he supposed to be her two disciples' man? 

"Hold on tight. This adeptus is about to take off!" 

Trying to shake off these unsettling thoughts, Cloud Retainer flapped her wings and soared into the sky. 

"Waaah!!!" 

Amid Paimon's screams, the group flew toward Liyue Harbor... 

...............

"Strange, this is really strange!" 

The group landed at the city gates, and the moment they touched down, Paimon exclaimed in surprise. 

Not just Paimon—everyone had noticed something unusual in the city. 

The Millelith, who were always patrolling and maintaining order in Liyue, were nowhere to be seen. 

In the distance, two overwhelming auras were clashing. 

"This is... a conflict between the adepti and mortals!" 

Among the group, Cloud Retainer was the most sensitive to such energies. 

One was the familiar energy of adeptal arts, while the other was the elemental power of a Vision. 

"Oh no, could it be that Ningguang and the others are fighting the adepti?" 

Paimon quickly figured out what was happening. It must have been the two irritable adepti they had met earlier. 

"At such a critical moment, how could such a conflict break out? This adeptus must hurry over..." 

"Then we'll go too!" 

"No..." 

Paimon wanted to follow Cloud Retainer, but Lumine stopped her. 

"It seems you've figured it out too, Lumine." 

"Yes... brother, we've been used." 

"Used?" 

"Right. The real culprit behind all this is that Childe guy." 

The Sigil of Permission had been given to them by Tartaglia, and it was he who suggested they seek out the adepti. 

Clearly, they had been used as pawns. 

"Ugh, I knew the Fatui were no good!" 

Paimon stomped her feet in frustration. 

"You mentioned the Fatui? Are foreign forces involved as well?" 

"Yes, this must all be the Fatui's doing, trying to pit the adepti against the Liyue Qixing." 

"Hmm... then this adeptus must hurry to the site of the conflict!" 

"In that case, Cloud Retainer, you should go stabilize the situation there." 

Finally, Nathan offered his suggestion. 

"And what will you do?" 

"We... will naturally go find the mastermind behind all this." 

And so, the battle for Liyue Harbor officially began!

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