Fujin distributed the medicine prepared by Changsheng to the tea shops, personally handing it to the tea makers.
Years of bending to pick tea and stir-frying leaves in hot woks with bare hands had left these tea makers with various ailments, including sore shoulders and necks, joint discomfort, or scald burns.
Seeing their grateful smiles, she felt a slight comfort in her heart.
She had also specially brought some freshly roasted dry tea from the tea shops, planning to hold another tea party. This time, no matter what, she had to persuade Lingyuan, who always preferred staying deep in the mountains, to come out and meet Coppelia and Columbina.
However, on her way back along the Bishui River, the immortal power scattered in the water and soil keenly captured a familiar and powerful elemental fluctuation.
That was... her Lord's aura!
This aura flowed upstream along the river, extending toward the depths of the valley.
Her Lord had returned? Then the strongmen and soldiers she had taken should have returned with her, right?
Fujin's heart leaped with joy, but it was soon entwined with an inexplicable unease.
She immediately changed direction, swiftly moving downstream along the river channel.
In the waters near the valley mouth, she first saw several wooden warships leaning crookedly against the shore. The hulls were riddled with holes, the sails torn, covered in scorch marks and deep hack scars, telling tales of brutal combat.
Some soldiers, covered in blood and mud, were supporting each other, or dragging their heavy steps, as they staggered down from the damaged ships, moving deeper into the valley.
They wore bloodstained, dark, short hempen clothes, overlaid with crude leather armor. Their heads bore deformed or broken bronze helmets, and the halberds and swords gripped tightly in their hands were mostly snapped or blunted. They now presented a picture of utter defeat and disarray.
Fujin's heart tightened, and she immediately stepped forward to inquire.
The soldiers recognized this usually kind immortal and struggled to salute, but their wounds twisted their movements; they could only manage awkward bows.
"You... you really went to war?" Fujin's voice carried a faint tremble. "Did you win?"
The lead soldier shook his head, his face etched with the daze and exhaustion of a narrow escape. He rasped,
"We lost."
"Lost?"
Fujin's heart shook violently. How could they lose? The troops under Rex Lapis were fierce, and he himself was said to bear the 'boundless killing intent'—how could they possibly lose fighting alongside him...?
Wait! Her Lord hadn't specified their destination when leading the troops away... Could it be she wasn't accompanying Rex Lapis?
A terrifying thought pierced her mind like lightning, sending chills up her spine.
"Who... who did you fight?" she asked, almost afraid of the answer.
The soldier lowered his head, his voice heavy and clear:
"The Thousand Rock Army."
The Thousand Rock Army!
Her Lord... had truly gone to war against Rex Lapis?!
A chill surged from Fujin's feet to the top of her head, nearly making her unsteady.
In disbelief, with a last shred of hope in her voice, she confirmed:
"This... this was an order from her Lord personally?"
"Yes." The soldier's reply was resolute, tinged with helplessness. "An order from her Lord herself—we... dared not disobey."
Fujin felt as if struck by lightning, frozen in place.
Why? Why would her Lord clash swords with her old friend, the mighty Geo Archon? And her Lord had always known her own strength fell far short of his; in past talks of strife, she always prioritized avoidance—why this time, so abnormally, throw herself into the fire like a moth?
Was it the rules of war binding her? But from Coppelia's tales of Mondstadt, Archon wars didn't seem entirely inevitable... Her immortal friends had also mentioned that even amid the flames of war, the Geo Archon and Dust Archon always watched over each other...
The problem... must lie with her Lord herself?
Fujin suppressed the storm in her heart and urgently pressed:
"When her Lord gave the order... how was her mental state? Any abnormalities?"
The soldier's face showed recollection mixed with fear:
"Her Lord... was somewhat... mad? When mustering troops, her words were fervent, her eyes scattered yet wildly excited, muttering to herself one moment, howling the next... And... during retreat, her Lord... seemed to forget us entirely, gave no order to regroup. We scattered on our own, barely escaping on these broken ships..."
"...I understand." Fujin's heart sank to the abyss.
Just then, a wounded soldier staggered up to Fujin, his face full of terror, pointing downstream and shrieking:
"Immortal Fujin! The Thousand Rock Army... they've already come!"
Fujin whipped her head in the direction he pointed.
Through the morning mist on the lower Bishui River, neat ranks of warships with fluttering banners faintly emerged, parting the fog, sailing upstream straight for Chenyu Vale!
Fujin forced herself to calm down and immediately ordered the remnants:
"Hurry back to the tea shops and hide—don't alarm the people! I'll think of something!"
The remnants supported each other, retreating hastily into the valley.
Fujin stared at the approaching ship shadows on the river, suddenly recalling Changsheng's ominous premonition from days ago.
Changsheng's hunches were wrong nine out of ten times—why did this one come true?
Complex emotions tangled like knots in her heart: shock, confusion, worry, and a pang of betrayal from the most trusted one.
But no time for deep thought now. Fujin turned sharply, channeling full immortal power, racing toward Changsheng's cave abode.
...
Hearing the shocking news Fujin brought back, Changsheng's already pale face drained of more color.
Without hesitation, she threw herself into frantic material sorting with Fujin, her movements swift yet methodical. Coppelia and Columbina silently joined, the four working in tense, efficient silence to pack emergency herbs and antidotes.
Fujin glanced at Changsheng's busy profile, her face now shrouded in unprecedented gravity and seriousness.
Soon, several large packs of sorted medicine were pushed before Fujin.
Changsheng spoke rapidly:
"Distribute these to the tea shop residents quickly—they might be needed soon. This portion is for the wounded soldiers' injuries... And have everyone pack up immediately, prepare to evacuate."
She took a deep breath, her golden vertical pupils flashing resolve:
"Her Lord is lost to madness—we must plan for the worst."
Her gaze turned to Coppelia and Columbina:
"I will immediately seek an audience with her Lord, and I ask you two guests to lend me your aid in attempting to treat her 'ailment.' Hopefully, there is still a chance to save her."
Seeing Changsheng's calm command amid crisis eased Fujin's agitated anxiety somewhat. Changsheng's serious demeanor always inspired confidence.
"You... be careful," Fujin urged, her voice laced with worry.
Changsheng nodded, her voice soft but firm:
"I'll protect the two guests as best I can. After all... they are your friends." She paused, then added, "Our friends."
Nearby, Columbina looked up:
"I'll do my best."
Warmth and gratitude surged in Fujin's heart:
"Thank you."
Just then, Coppelia suddenly spoke to Fujin, who was preparing to leave:
"By the way, Fujin, once you've distributed the medicine, could you immediately check the condition of the Bishui River?"
Changsheng's face grew graver, and she added:
"Her Lord's abode is on Mount Mingyuan; its northern slope just happens to block the water flowing down from high elevations..."
Fujin instantly drew a sharp breath, a horrific possibility dawning in her mind:
"What if her Lord, in her madness, loses control of her power and destroys the mountain's structure...?"
The consequences would be unthinkable! Massive river waters would pour down, swallowing all of Chenyu Vale!
"I understand!" Fujin's voice held unprecedented urgency. "I'll go now!" She waved a hand, stowing the medicine, her figure transforming into a golden koi, streaking rapidly toward the tea shops.
___
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