"Indeed."
Zhongli recalled that when Welt first appeared, Director Hu had approached him about the voice similarity.
She often joked, "Mr. Zhongli, you didn't secretly pull out a staff that can create black holes from somewhere, did you?" Among other things, she also frequently made him say lines like "Behold the shattering of the stars" in his usual serious tone.
Just thinking about the director... Zhongli felt his sighs growing more frequent.
"The same voice, and perhaps the same hidden power?" Tartaglia teased, glancing at Zhongli. "Just like how the consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is actually the Geo Archon... Could this Mr. Welt secretly be an Emanator of some Aeon?"
[The three continued forward and soon encountered an injured Cloud Knight soldier.]
[With Mr. Yang's reminder, March 7th quickly stopped his bleeding with Six-Phase Ice.]
["March, Stelle, there was just an intense battle nearby," Welt adjusted his glasses, a cold glint flashing beneath the lenses. "Let's search along the path. There may be other survivors."]
[The three pressed on and soon found a large group of wounded soldiers. Each of them warned of danger ahead and urged them to flee, but Stelle naturally wouldn't leave them behind and instead ventured deeper into the perilous zone.]
[Before long, they spotted a humanoid monster clad in armor, its body covered in branches.]
"Isn't that just Mara-struck?"
After witnessing Jingliu one-shotting Mara-struck monsters, Wind Pillar Shinazugawa Sanemi completely lost interest in such "cannon fodder." In his eyes, Mara-struck were no different from low-level demons—utterly insignificant.
"Do not underestimate them, Shinazugawa," the Stone Pillar said calmly, hands clasped together. "We've seen Jingliu's strength firsthand... It's far beyond our reach. Monsters she can kill in one strike may not be so easy for us—or even for Stelle."
"Before succumbing to Mara, these monsters were battle-hardened soldiers. Their strength should not be dismissed lightly, nor compared to lower-tier demons."
As the two conversed, the battle on the Celestial Screen had already begun. With Stelle and Mr. Yang present, the Mara-struck soldier was no match. However, strangely, after being defeated, the soldier would revive at full health and rise to fight again.
Sanemi's expression shifted slightly. He was finally willing to admit... these soldiers were indeed different from the "cannon fodder" he had imagined.
[Only after being killed multiple times by Stelle's group did the monster finally collapse for good, never to rise again.]
["What even was that thing?" March 7th genuinely felt like she was in a horror movie—one with abysmal survival rates!]
[Welt's expression was grave. "Let's keep moving forward."]
[Passing through a large gate, they heard urgent voices: "Miss Tingyun, be careful! They've fallen to Mara—they're no longer our comrades!"]
[Hearing voices, the trio quickened their pace. Inside the gate, they saw a group of Mara-struck monsters surrounding two Cloud Knight soldiers and a foxian girl, clearly with ill intent.]
[The girl's delicate brows furrowed as she assessed the dire situation. But when her gaze swept across the approaching group, she called out anxiously, "Hey! You there! Come help!"]
"So... so cute!!"
"This Miss Tingyun... is just as adorable as Miss Hina! Even her flustered expression is adorable! Her soft-looking ears, her fluffy tail... and her voice is so pleasant too!" Arataki Itto couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Uh... Boss, calm down. Miss Tingyun, like Miss Hina, is someone you can see but never touch," Kuki Shinobu said helplessly, massaging her temples.
"Also, didn't you complain earlier that part-time jobs don't pay enough?"
Kuki Shinobu spoke seriously. "This Miss Tingyun is exceptionally beautiful. I predict she'll become very popular in Inazuma soon. Why don't we rent a Kamera, take some photos of her, and then when she blows up—"
"I get it, Shinobu," Arataki Itto nodded sagely, patting her shoulder.
"Once she's famous, I can use her photos to join the 'Miss Tingyun Fan Club,' right? Didn't expect you to be so savvy, Shinobu~"
"Last time, I was too late to become president of Miss Hina's fan club. But thanks to your reminder this time, I'll definitely get ahead of the game—HAHAHAHA!" As if imagining something incredibly fun, Itto burst into hearty laughter.
"..." Kuki Shinobu stared at him blankly for two seconds. She wanted to say more but ultimately gave up.
"Never mind, Boss... As long as you're happy."
[Seeing people in danger, Stelle, March 7th, and Welt rushed to assist.]
[The girl called Tingyun sighed in relief. "Thank you for saving this damsel in distress~"]
["You should let us say that line—it sounds weird coming from you," March 7th scratched her head, feeling the phrasing was off.]
[Though the monsters were numerous, Welt simply created a simulated black hole, sucking them all in without giving them a chance to revive. The monsters perished without so much as a whimper.]
[With the crisis resolved, the two soldiers relaxed slightly. "Miss Tingyun, the Mara-struck have been eliminated, but we don't know how many more dangers lurk nearby. The situation is dire—please return to the Sky-Faring Commission with us at once."]
["Ah, yes, yes, no need to rush. I haven't even thanked our saviors yet—it'd be too rude to leave now."]
["This humble one is Tingyun, an Emissary of the Xianzhou Luofu's Sky-Faring Commission Trade Division. Might I ask for the names of my esteemed rescuers?"]
[Her sweet, soft voice, paired with the natural charm of a foxian's lips parting slightly, was like a fine wine—intoxicating to the senses.]
"The people of the Xianzhou speak quite like our Liyue, very refined."
On Mt. Aocang, the Adeptus Moon Carver couldn't help but remark, "Not only is this girl's voice pleasant, but her name is also well-chosen... 'Tingyun aiai, shiyu mengmeng' (lingering clouds, drizzling rain)—such profound imagery. Just from the name alone, one can tell her elders were learned and wise."
"Indeed, her manners in receiving guests are also impeccable..."
With just Tingyun's brief appearance and a few words, the Adepti on the mountain couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and familiarity toward the Xianzhou Luofu.
They faintly sensed that this might be a nation with a culture similar to Liyue's.