"For scholars who seek truth, truth, and reality, the gods created Sumeru City as a paradise... Yet you people seek to defile it."
Chu Xi, the inconspicuous bystander, stepped forward to stand beside Silaya:
"You know Sumeru City was created by the gods, yet you obstruct the very ceremonies that celebrate them. Isn't that forgetting your roots? If you tried this in Liyue..."
Grand Sage Azar: "You are not from Sumeru. Refrain from speaking in matters that do not concern you. Otherwise, the guards will escort you to where you belong."
Chu Xi: "..."
Nilou: "No, I believe the gods have never rejected art, just as the Goddess of Flowers once offered her dance to our deities."
Azar lost his patience: "With your limited knowledge, I doubt you're qualified to debate me. What you should be doing now is finding someone to dismantle these ridiculous decorations immediately."
As Azar spoke, he had already left the stage, turning to Setaria beside him to issue instructions.
"Upon our return, have the Scribe draft a decree banning public artistic performances before the next Jnagarbha Day. We will then announce it to the public through the Akasha."
"Yes, I'll notify them immediately."
Azar glanced back at the crowd on the stage, muttering to himself, "The Sabzeruz Festival... you may as well celebrate the birth of the God properly."
Just then, Azar noticed Silaya watching him. When she realized he had caught her eye, she flashed him a harmless smile.
Azar scoffed inwardly. Those who refuse to serve the Akademiya, no matter how talented, will always be nothing but trouble.
-
Azar's actions immediately ignited the players' fury, with Chen Xiyao nearly leaping to her feet in rage.
"Shut up, you old geezer! Aaaaargh!"
This was Dunyarzad's most anticipated Sabzeruz Festival! She had even snuck out, spent all her money, and relied on the efforts of Dehya, Nilou, Silaya, Chu Xi, and the others—how could it be canceled?!
If... if Dunyarzad hadn't seen the Sabzeruz Festival...
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, her face flushing with heat.
[Damn it! Is this guy really the Great Sage? He's utterly disgusting!]
[Just as Alhaitham said, Lesser Lord Kusanali has been ostracized from the Akademiya's ruling circle. Now they won't even let her celebrate her birthday!]
[Ha! Guards taking Chu Xi away? She's the Old Man's Vision wielder! You think he won't teach them a lesson with his Geo Spear?]
[Argh! I want to barge in there and tear that old man's mouth apart!]
[Lumine, you were so brave in the first three nations. Don't back down now!]
[If the Traveler gets involved, Nilou and Dunyarzad will probably be the ones to suffer in the end.]
[What did Azar mean by his last words?]
-
Zubayr Theater.
"Nilou, are you alright?"
Nilou's voice was filled with disappointment. After preparing for so long, they had been forced to stop the performance.
"Ah, Dunyarzad, did you see? The Great Sage ordered us to halt the show..."
Dunyarzad: "Hmm..."
"Let's move the performance to a different location—somewhere the Akademiya can't find us! Ah, but how would we notify the audience? And what about the atmosphere and sets?"
Not wanting to disappoint Dunyarzad, Nilou continued brainstorming: "Or we could just have people block the entrances to prevent interruptions... Hmm... No, they threatened to investigate the organizers earlier. If we're discovered..."
"It's alright, Nilou. Don't worry."
"But, Dunyarzad, you've been looking forward to the Dance of Sabzeruz so much! I know the Sabzeruz Festival is really important to you, and I don't want you to have any regrets..."
"It's enough for me that you care so much, Nilou. That makes me happy."
Nearby, Silaya, having learned the players' current situation from her main account, Jiang Mumu, quietly pulled Chu Xi away.
Lumine and Paimon noticed their departure, but given the circumstances, they didn't pay much attention.
The two hurried away from Zubayr Theater.
"Silaya, where are we going?" Chu Xi asked.
Silaya pulled an eye mask from her pocket. "Come on, I'm taking you to do something big!"
Chu Xi took the mask with a puzzled expression. After watching Silaya skillfully put hers on, she remained confused.
This thing doesn't even cover her face, and we haven't even changed our clothes yet...
She didn't dare voice her doubts or ask questions. Since Silaya had given it to her, she might as well wear it.
This was exactly the effect Silaya wanted. If the mask covered everything, how would Lumine and Paimon see? How would the players see?
Besides, this conceptual item might actually be useful. After all, a certain blonde Traveler had once infiltrated the Fatui using a similar eye mask.
Her photo had even leaked, earning her the title of the Fatui Harbinger's twelfth seat!
Grand Sage Azar held the highest authority in Sumeru, so Silaya naturally couldn't act against him at the Zubayr Theater.
She was affiliated with the Akademiya, or at least she had been. If she took action, the Great Sage would be unlikely to cause trouble for Zubayr Theater.
After this, Silaya planned to leave Sumeru City. Brother Kaveh had vanished somewhere, but there was no need to worry about him. And certainly not about Teacher Alhaitham.
A barefoot person fears no one wearing shoes. The specially crafted club she had made was already itching for action.
Silaya and Chu Xi moved swiftly. Both were Vision wielders, their physical capabilities far surpassing those of ordinary people.
Though Chu Xi had only recently obtained her Vision, her speed was already remarkable.
They quickly crouched behind a haystack near the Great Sage's likely route.
Silaya retrieved a burlap sack from her Vision Space.
"We'll start like this, then do this..."
Chu Xi's eyes lit up as she listened.
Silaya had never beaten someone with a sack over their head before.
She pulled out a neatly trimmed wooden stick and handed it to Chu Xi. "I'll trap them, and you can hit them anywhere but the back of the head. Let this old ingrate know the consequences of forgetting his roots!"
Chu Xi took the stick and nodded vigorously.
"Silaya, what about you?"
"Whatever works for me," Silaya replied casually.
With that, she summoned a massive club from her Vision Space—five or six times larger than the one Chu Xi held.
Chu Xi's mouth dropped into an "O" shape.
This... won't kill them, will it...?
"Shh, they're coming!"
At the end of the road, Grand Sage Azar and Setaria approached together.
Silaya quietly handed Chu Xi a sack, pointed at Setaria, indicating she should just trap her, then pointed at herself, signaling to trap and beat Azar hard!
Chu Xi gripped the wooden stick tightly and nodded.
As Setaria and the Grand Sage drew near, Silaya and Chu Xi sprang from behind, trapping both in sacks in one swift motion.
They tied the sack openings shut, and then...
"Ah, are you rebelling?! Ugh, stop it! AHH~"
Azar's pained screams echoed from within the sack. Silaya's massive club crashed down on his knee, eliciting another agonized cry.