Even though it was late at night, Yujing Terrace was still brightly lit. Ever since the passing of the Geo Archon, everyone from the Liyue Qixing down to the lowliest soldiers at Yujing Terrace had been burdened with endless tasks, making overtime work to handle state affairs a normal occurrence.
"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for?"
"Can I not go? I can give you Mora."
"Do I look like someone who lacks money?"
...Outside Yujing Terrace, the sounds of two men arguing could be heard. The Millelith soldiers standing on either side of Yujing Terrace frowned slightly. Making such a racket in front of Yujing Terrace was an act of extreme audacity.
With that thought, they took a step forward, reaching the foot of the stairs. However, upon seeing the newcomers, the Millelith soldiers clearly froze for a moment.
"This is..."
"Reporting to Yujing Terrace, one peeping Damselette culprit apprehended!"
Yu Jin pulled Childe, who had run behind him, forward, and straightened himself up as well.
"..."
"You... please wait a moment, I will notify Yuheng immediately." The soldier wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
This must be Harbinger Childe, right? This is definitely Harbinger Childe! He was actually apprehended by someone else?!
In the blink of an eye, the Millelith in front of him vanished, their speed so astonishing that it even surprised Yu Jin a little.
Before long, Yujing Terrace became noticeably noisier. It seemed the news of Childe being brought in by force had genuinely shocked people.
However, the first to come out to greet Yu Jin was not someone from inside Yujing Terrace, but Ningguang.
On one side of Yujing Terrace, a faint green light appeared in the night sky. Yu Jin looked up and saw Ningguang standing on a stone platform embedded with green gems.
And that platform was floating in the air. At this moment, it was carrying Ningguang, slowly descending from the Jade Chamber.
What if a strong gust of wind blew? Yu Jin looked at the small Plaustrite platform, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.
Most people in Teyvat couldn't fly, yet such an obvious safety hazard went unnoticed. Bad design!
Soon, the Plaustrite landed on the ground. As if by prior arrangement, the main entrance of the Yujing Terrace building opened as soon as Ningguang stepped off the Plaustrite.
Emerging from it were Keqing and Ganyu, standing ready for battle.
"Oh, familiar faces." Yu Jin glanced around, realizing they were all people he had met before.
Speaking of which, why are Ningguang and Keqing always the ones among the Liyue Qixing? Where are the other five? Slacking off every day?
"It's not surprising, I should have known it was you." Ningguang let out a sigh of relief when she saw Yu Jin.
She gestured subtly with her hands behind her back, and the crossbowmen hidden in the shadows retracted their weapons.
"I'm quite surprised. Do you want to try what it feels like to turn into a mop?" Yu Jin said, rubbing his hands together when he saw Ningguang.
He had been very confident about his role as a doorman. For this, he had even swung his polearm a couple of times, a rare occurrence, just to fit the Millelith atmosphere.
He hadn't expected Ningguang to tell him to clean the toilets, which almost made him furious.
"Ha... haha, let's skip that. Yu Jin, it's better for others to experience your transformation abilities."
"As for what happened before... I'll definitely give you a satisfactory answer once these commotions have passed."
Ningguang quietly retreated a few steps. She was genuinely afraid that Yu Jin would turn her into a mop. Such a thing could be accomplished with adeptal arts.
"Forget it, I don't need it now. Besides, by the time the commotions are over, I'll probably be long gone." Yu Jin shook his head. The task was done; whoever wanted to be the doorman could be it!
"Here, I'm handing this guy over to you." Yu Jin pushed Childe, who had his head down, forward.
"Uh... everyone's here, are they?" Childe looked up, greeting them while enduring the tingling sensation on his scalp.
"Childe..." Keqing looked at the Harbinger, who was clearly embarrassed and ashamed, and her eyes, as she looked at Yu Jin, were filled with curiosity.
"How did Senior subdue him? Childe's strength is not weak."
"Ah? Is he that strong? First like this..., then like this..., and that's it."
Yu Jin heard this and gestured to Keqing. But looking at her confused expression, she probably didn't understand.
Childe, standing nearby, heard Yu Jin's casual tone and immediately became furious. What did he mean, "Is he that strong?"
Childe could guarantee that if Yu Jin hadn't been there, he could have torn through the entire Yujing Terrace right now.
However, Childe then caught sight of Yu Jin's gauntlet-clad arms and decisively suppressed his inner thoughts.
His hands were still aching intensely, and if he had spoken his thoughts aloud just now, it probably wouldn't be just his hands that hurt.
"Judging by your expression? Disagree?" Yu Jin said, his tone unfriendly, as he saw Childe looking him up and down.
"No, no, no! Absolutely not!" Childe wiped his cold sweat and hastily explained.
"May I ask, Mr. Yu Jin, why did you apprehend Childe?" Ganyu asked, suppressing her inner shock as she saw Childe's meek demeanor.
Could a dignified Harbinger have such a docile side? Live long enough and you'll see everything.
"He was peeping at a Damselette." Yu Jin took a step back, pointing at Childe with a look of disgust.
"You... well, yes, that's true." Childe wanted to retort but ultimately gave up.
Falling into the hands of the Liyue Qixing was far better than falling into Yu Jin's hands. Childe now understood that he couldn't go against Yu Jin; obeying him and getting away from him was the best solution.
"Peeping... at a Damselette?" Ganyu's expression froze, and her gaze towards Childe also became one of disgust.
Could a dignified Harbinger have such a hobby?
Feeling the strange looks from all around, Childe had a bitter taste in his mouth, but to get rid of Yu Jin, he endured it!
"Understood, we will handle this matter appropriately, Yu Jin, rest assured!" Ningguang nodded, and the Millelith hidden in the shadows came out. Childe was fitted with special shackles.
Although these shackles could not permanently control a Vision-wielder of a Harbinger's strength, they could temporarily restrict him.
"Congratulations! You've got a pair of bracelets; look, they're quite valuable." Yu Jin patted Childe's shoulder, smiling as he spoke.
Childe's eye twitched. In a way, Yu Jin's words had some truth to them. Because shackles that could restrain Vision-wielders were indeed very expensive!
"Bye-bye!"
"Goodbye!"
After a brief farewell, Yujing Terrace fell silent once more.
"Phew! That damn guy is finally gone." Childe, wearing the shackles, sat directly on a nearby stone lion, reverting to his unruly self.
"Hey! You all, how long are you going to keep these shackles on me? Do you really think you've caught me?" Childe said, somewhat impatiently, looking at Ningguang and the others who had not moved for a long time.
The identity of a Harbinger was especially useful after committing an offense.
"No rush. How can it count if we don't make you cough up some blood this time?" Ningguang snorted, looking at the arrogant Childe.
"How much? Name your price." Childe jumped off the stone lion, his expression calm.
"Money? This isn't a problem that money can solve this time. Do you think we don't know about those little tricks of the Fatui?"
"Ganyu, go to Northland Bank and call Damselette over. Also, have her bring the list of spies in Liyue. If even one doesn't match up, Childe will'stay' in Liyue for another month."
"Understood!"
Ganyu nodded and quickly ran towards Northland Bank.
"You know Damselette?!" Childe was greatly alarmed. The news of Damselette's arrival was top secret, and she hadn't left Northland Bank since coming to Liyue. How did Ningguang know about her?
"Calm down. I naturally have my own methods." Ningguang looked into the distance, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she said teasingly:
"Damselette is much stronger than you. I have no clue about her objectives. I just wonder if you, as her colleague, understand them." Ningguang turned to look at Childe, a mocking expression on her face.
She was certain that Damselette's plan was highly confidential, so much so that even Childe didn't know about it.
How pitiful, being deceived by his own colleague and not even knowing it. Ningguang shook her head, looking at the pensive Childe.
"Damselette, wasn't she here in Liyue for recuperation?" Childe scratched his head when he heard this.
According to Damselette, she seemed to have suffered significant DMG in Mondstadt and had to come to Liyue to recuperate, nothing more.
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