Chapter 046: The Hilichurls Are Coming!

After a few rounds of drinks and a hearty meal, all the fatigue seemed to melt away.

"This is the second-best meal I've ever had," Shao Yun praised sincerely.

Noelle, hearing this, looked puzzled and asked, "What was the first?"

Shao Yun fell into a reverie, a smile tugging at his lips as if he could still taste the strong, fishy flavor of the original grilled fish. He then shared the story of how he first met Lumine and Paimon.

As he spoke about the grilled fish Lumine had handed him that day, Shao Yun's lips curled slightly, as if he could still savor the taste. He slowly began to describe the flavor of that fish.

"Honestly, the fish she grilled wasn't exactly delicious. It had a strong, almost unbearable fishy taste. But at that moment, I devoured it like it was the best thing I'd ever eaten. I even swallowed the bones."

After saying this, Shao Yun looked up at the sky, a faint layer of nostalgia in his eyes. He continued, "Noelle, can you understand that feeling? When you're starving, on the verge of collapse, even a pot of soup made from rotten cabbage, spoiled tofu, and burnt rice crusts can taste like the most exquisite delicacy, something you'd call 'Pearl, Jade, and White Jade Soup.' The taste, the feeling I had back then—it's hard to put into words."

Noelle, listening to Shao Yun, nodded in understanding. "I can understand," she said, her voice carrying a hint of empathy, as if she too had been touched by the special circumstances Shao Yun described.

Then, her eyes filled with curiosity and a desire to understand more about why Shao Yun had chosen to travel with Lumine and Paimon.

She asked, "Is that why you decided to travel with Lumine and Paimon? Just because of a fish? Was there nothing else?"

Shao Yun lowered his gaze slightly, falling into a brief moment of contemplation. His brows furrowed slightly as he weighed the various factors in his mind. After a moment, he looked up, his gaze firm, and nodded with a faint smile.

"That's a big part of it," he said, his voice carrying a sense of honesty.

"After all, I didn't have anywhere else to go. Lumine was willing to take me in, so I followed her," he added, his tone tinged with gratitude and relief.

After saying this, he couldn't resist adding a playful remark.

"If she hadn't taken me in, you'd probably be seeing me in the Treasure Hoarders by now. Who knows? Maybe I'd be breaking into the homes of Mondstadt's wealthy!"

Noelle, hearing this joke, was momentarily stunned, but then she burst into a smile brighter than the sun.

"Hahaha, we really should thank the Honorary Knight then. Otherwise, Mondstadt wouldn't have a single peaceful day!"

Seeing Noelle's smile, Shao Yun began to imagine an alternate path he could have taken upon arriving in Teyvat.

If he had arrived in Teyvat with nowhere to go, he might have met someone like Dutch or Hosea, formed a new gang, robbed the rich to help the poor, and searched for the dream of Tahiti, only to fall apart and meet destruction once again.

Thinking of this, Shao Yun chuckled bitterly and scratched his head.

After sharing his own story, Shao Yun naturally turned the conversation to Noelle.

"Noelle, honestly, I really admire you," Shao Yun said, his voice filled with sincerity. "Taking the Knights' exam so many times and never giving up—that kind of perseverance and determination isn't something everyone has. If it were me, I probably would've given up long ago."

He paused, then added with a teasing tone, "By the way, did no one ever tell you that there's an age limit for the Knights' exam?"

Noelle, hearing this, gave an awkward smile. She scratched her head and said sheepishly, "No one really told me. Maybe because of the Spark Knight, I always thought there wasn't an age limit."

Shao Yun then steered the conversation toward Noelle's peers.

He asked curiously, "Among the people your age in Mondstadt, are you the only one so focused on taking the Knights' exam?"

Noelle shook her head slightly, a complex expression on her face.

"There are quite a few people my age who are pursuing their dreams. But not many are like me—failing the exam multiple times and still persisting. Most people in my situation would probably choose an easier, more comfortable lifestyle, like joining the Adventurers' Guild."

At the mention of the Adventurers' Guild, Noelle's eyes lit up with amusement as she recalled a funny incident.

"A month ago, Guild Master Cyrus came to me specifically, hoping I'd join the Adventurers' Guild. He said with my skills, I could become a great adventurer on par with Mondstadt's legendary adventurer, Stanley, within five years."

Shao Yun couldn't help but laugh. "Guild Master Cyrus is quite the character, trying to poach you from the Knights. Doesn't he fear getting beaten up by the Knights?"

(TL/N: NPC?)

He then added, somewhat puzzled, "But seriously, Noelle, haven't you ever considered joining the Adventurers' Guild? Maybe life there would suit you better."

Noelle shook her head without hesitation, her voice filled with determination. "Even though Guild Master Cyrus was very enthusiastic and the Adventurers' Guild offered great benefits, my heart has always been set on becoming a Knight. It's been my dream since I was a child, the goal I've been striving for tirelessly."

She turned her gaze toward the Knights of Favonius headquarters in the distance.

For so many years, that place had become a symbol of her dreams. It wasn't something she could just give up on.

"After your guidance, I have a clearer understanding of my own abilities. I believe that if I keep working hard, I'll pass the next Knights' exam!"

Shao Yun, seeing Noelle's fighting spirit, couldn't help but be inspired. He praised her, "That's great. Sticking to your dreams is a good thing."

He then added with a teasing tone, "If you don't pass the next exam, I'll slap the examiner! If someone as capable as you can't become a Knight, then the Knights of Favonius might as well disband."

His words were filled with humor and teasing, but more than that, they were words of encouragement and support for Noelle.

Noelle, hearing this, burst into laughter. She knew Shao Yun was joking, but his care and support warmed her heart.

Just then, a bright red figure streaked across the sky like a burning flame.

Shao Yun squinted at the figure in the sky, muttering to himself, "Who's imitating Diluc? What's going on? Did Lumine win a lottery?"

The red figure rapidly closed the distance to the ground, descending at a speed that could only be described as reckless, even suicidal.

It looked like it was heading straight for their location, like a meteor out of control.

"Noelle, run!"

BOOM!

The two immediately stood up and backed away. The next second, the figure crashed into the nearby table.

The table shattered into pieces, debris flying everywhere, leaving a mess.

The figure then collided with the stove, which collapsed under the impact, scattering embers and raising a cloud of dust.

In the dust, the red figure lay on the ground, revealing disheveled hair and a face covered in dirt, making it hard to recognize who it was.

Shao Yun coughed, brushing off the dust from his clothes, his face filled with anger. "Who the hell are you? How did you get your flying license? You almost killed us with that reckless flying!"

The person on the ground was gasping for breath, their lips moving weakly as they mumbled, "Help... please..."

Shao Yun, already furious, thought the person was trying to beg for mercy. He was seething, thinking, "No amount of begging will save you. I'm reporting you to the Knights and getting your license revoked..."

But as Shao Yun leaned closer to get a better look, he froze. He couldn't believe his eyes. The person lying there, covered in dirt and looking utterly disheveled, was Amber!

Shao Yun's anger instantly dissipated, replaced by shock and concern. He quickly crouched down and asked anxiously, "Amber, what happened? Are you okay?"

Amber grabbed Shao Yun's pant leg, struggling to lift her head. Her eyes flickered weakly as she managed to say, "Hilichurls... hilichurls..."

Ah, hilichurls. Those basic monsters of Teyvat, along with the Fatui and mint, are the ubiquitous units you can find everywhere in Teyvat. But they shouldn't have scared you this much, right?

Shao Yun quickly helped Amber sit on a nearby chair.

Falling from such a height, even if her legs weren't broken, her internal organs must have taken a hit.

Seeing how badly injured Amber looked, Shao Yun pulled out a healing potion from his backpack and poured it down her throat.

"Don't talk. You look seriously hurt. Here, drink this," Shao Yun said with concern.

However, Amber frowned, her face twisting in pain as she gagged.

"Ugh... it's so bitter. Ugh."

Shao Yun, seeing this, grew even more worried. He gently patted Amber's back, trying to comfort her.

"Bear with it. The potion's bitter, but it'll make sure you're okay."

Under Shao Yun's reassurance, Amber gradually stopped gagging and mustered the courage to drink the potion.

After a while, her condition improved slightly, but her face was still pale, showing signs of weakness.

Noelle patted Amber's back, helping her catch her breath. Even after drinking the potion, Amber still looked like she was about to pass out.

Worried, Noelle said, "Don't worry. If it's just a few hilichurls, I can help you deal with them."

Amber, her face pale, was still in pain despite the potion. It would take time for the medicine to take effect, and during that time, she would have to endure indescribable discomfort.

Her eyes were slightly red, tears welling up as if they might spill at any moment.

Hearing Noelle's words, she shook her head weakly, her voice trembling. "It's not just a few hilichurls..."

Noelle frowned, thinking it might be a small hilichurl tribe.

"Is it a dozen or so? That's just a small tribe. We can handle it with a few more Knights."

Amber's brows furrowed again, and she shook her head, dismissing Noelle's guess.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

"It's not a dozen," she said with difficulty, each word heavy with dread. "It's... cough..."

Suddenly, a violent coughing fit interrupted her. Amber bent over, clutching her chest as she coughed violently. Her face turned even paler, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Shao Yun, watching Amber, felt a pang of worry. Was the potion not working fast enough?

Without hesitation, he pulled out a basic healing tonic from his backpack and poured it into Amber's mouth.

If this didn't work, he'd have to increase the dosage!

Amber gagged again after drinking the tonic, but her complexion improved slightly. At least it was working.

Seeing her condition stabilize a bit, Shao Yun picked up where Noelle left off.

"If it's not a dozen, then it must be dozens. That's a bit tricky."

He patted the revolver at his waist, speaking confidently.

"But don't worry. I'll help. A few shots should do the trick."

Amber took a deep breath, then suddenly grabbed Shao Yun's face with both hands, her expression filled with fear.

"It's thousands of hilichurls!" she said clearly, each word hitting Shao Yun like a hammer.

Her voice, though not loud, was filled with urgency and certainty, impossible to ignore.

"All the hilichurls in Mondstadt are heading this way!" Her words were like a thunderclap, ringing in Shao Yun's ears.

Her hands still gripped his face, as if trying to impress the gravity of the situation onto him.

Shao Yun was stunned into silence, his eyes wide as he stared at Amber's serious, determined face. He could feel her tension and anxiety—this was no joke.

Shao Yun remembered the system's warning: "Major story event, proceed with caution." It wasn't about Noelle's gratitude after all—it was about the hilichurls attacking Mondstadt!

"Oh, damn it!"

Shao Yun immediately pulled out a telescope from his backpack and scanned the area outside the city.

However, no matter where he looked—the nearby plains, the dense forests in the distance, or the winding mountains—he saw no sign of the hilichurls Amber had mentioned.

Shao Yun couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical, but seeing Amber's serious expression, he knew she wasn't joking.

"Are you sure? I don't see anything," Shao Yun said, lowering the telescope and frowning at Amber.

Amber nodded, her eyes filled with unwavering certainty.

"The hilichurls are still a bit away from Mondstadt. They'll be visible by sunset. I didn't dare stop to rest. I've already warned Springvale."

Hearing this, Shao Yun looked up at the setting sun. The fiery red orb was slowly sinking, which meant the hilichurls would be visible in less than an hour.

"What the hell..."