Through the Akasha, Azar's eyes widened in fury. The Sanctuary of Surasthana was in complete disarray. Pillars, instruments, and decorations lay shattered and scattered, creating a chaotic and embarrassing scene.
Most importantly, at the center of the sanctuary, the green barrier that had imprisoned Lesser Lord Kusanali was gone, and the Dendro Archon herself was nowhere to be found.
"Damn it! How did she escape?!" Azar slammed his fists on the table, his face darkening like a coal smeared with white powder.
"We must capture her..." Azar manipulated the Akasha, issuing a command to all Sumeru guards.
Ding! Every guard in Sumeru received the order to search for Lesser Lord Kusanali. Soon, news of her "disappearance" spread through half of Sumeru City.
"Disappearance? Heh..." Alhaitham, who was browsing through ancient texts in the Akademiya's library, sneered. He knew all too well what kind of people the sages were.
His position as the scribe had given him access to the Akademiya's hidden secrets. He was certain that Lesser Lord Kusanali hadn't simply disappeared. But he needed to investigate further to understand what had truly happened.
In a small alley in Sumeru City, Lesser Lord Kusanali, who had just escaped the sanctuary, was taking a moment to rest. "Irminsul, guide me," Nahida closed her eyes, using her authority as the Dendro Archon to communicate with Irminsul.
How had she escaped?
Though Nahida was only 500 years old and not skilled in combat, she was still the successor of the previous Dendro Archon, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and the purest branch of Irminsul.
In terms of power, she was at least at the level of an Archon. If she had truly wanted to quell the rebellion before Dottore's full-strength clone arrived in Sumeru, the sages would have long been executed by the people of Sumeru. There would have been no need for the Traveler's involvement.
But given Nahida's temperament, even if she had dealt with the sages, she would have likely imprisoned or exiled them. How pitiful.
If it weren't for the prophetic dream she had received through Irminsul, foreseeing the destruction of Sumeru, Nahida would never have taken such drastic action. After all, the title of "Teyvat's Greatest Kindness" wasn't for nothing.
In practicing the name of "love," even the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya would have to bow before her.
"The direction of Liyue... no, it should be Liyue Harbor," Nahida placed a hand on her chest. Finally, she received Irminsul's response.
"Is that person in Liyue Harbor?"
"Over here! Lesser Lord Kusanali is here!" Just as Nahida was deep in thought, an unwelcome voice interrupted her.
A group of guards had appeared nearby, spotting Nahida. They quickly relayed the information through the Akasha, calling for more guards to join the search.
"My apologies, my people. Now is not the time to return. Please take a nap," Nahida's small hands glowed with a faint green light. With a gentle wave, specks of fluorescent powder scattered over the guards.
Thud, thud, thud...
The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed continuously. In just a few moments, all the guards who had come to "search" for Lesser Lord Kusanali had fallen to the ground, fast asleep.
Nahida, meanwhile, continued her small steps, heading toward Liyue.
The next day...
"Traveler, we're finally back in Liyue! Let's go to Wanmin Restaurant for a good meal!"
After bidding farewell to Xiao, the Traveler and Paimon hurried back to Liyue Harbor. Despite their haste, they had still been delayed by two days.
"No, we don't know what's happening in Liyue Harbor yet. We can't just goof off. Paimon, don't let Venti's habits rub off on you," Lumine patted Paimon's shoulder, speaking earnestly.
"Huh? How can you say that..." Paimon lowered her head, looking dejected.
"Alright, cheer up. How about this? Instead of going to Ningguang, I'll take you to the Northland Bank to find Tartaglia. He'll definitely treat us to a feast at Liuli Pavilion or Xinyue Kiosk. How does that sound?" Seeing Paimon's disappointment, Lumine couldn't help but suggest a compromise.
"Liuli Pavilion?! Really? Let's go find Tartaglia right away!" At the mention of Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk, Paimon's gloom vanished. She grabbed Lumine's arm, her excitement evident.
"You..." Lumine poked Paimon's cheek affectionately. The texture was still as good as ever, though the large forehead was a bit of an eyesore.
The two quickly agreed and headed toward the Northland Bank. Along the way, Paimon fantasized about the feast they would have, even mentally listing dishes: "Moon Pie, Grilled Tiger Fish, Heart of the Valley, Dragon Beard Noodles... hehehe."
"Ouch!" Paimon, lost in her thoughts, didn't notice Lumine suddenly stopping. She bumped into her, clutching her now-red nose in pain.
"Traveler, why did you stop?" Paimon asked, confused.
"Paimon, did we take the wrong path?" Lumine hesitated, her voice uncertain.
"Wrong path? Huh?!" Paimon followed Lumine's gaze, her jaw dropping. The Northland Bank, which had once stood proudly, was now half-destroyed, its former glory gone. A group of Fatui soldiers surrounded the area, working to repair the damaged structure.
"The Northland Bank... what happened to it?!"