Somewhere in the Wilds of Liyue
After finishing her commissions within Liyue Harbor, Yanfei led Bonanus out into the wilderness. Bonanus wasn't entirely sure where they were, this area didn't ring any bells.
In short, it was vast. Particularly vast. Towering mountains everywhere, with Sweet Flowers lining both sides of the path. If this were her previous life's game, resource collectors would be losing their minds.
They'd strip it bare.
Sweet Flowers aren't rare in Teyvat. They grow in abundance—wild ones, cultivated ones, everywhere you look. Shortages simply don't happen.
For the people of this world, Sweet Flowers are indispensable. They can be processed into sugar or used as food seasoning.
They can even be made into medicine, useful for clearing throats and reducing heat. It's fair to say most people in this world rely on Sweet Flowers.
As wonderful as Sweet Flowers are, one must exercise caution when gathering wild specimens. Normal Sweet Flowers can simply be snapped off at the root.
But if you encounter one with suspiciously tough resilience, don't force it. It might be a Whopperflower.
Trust me, ordinary people can't handle those things. Over the years, quite a few flower gatherers and merchant hires have met their end at Whopperflowers' hands.
Those who survived can count themselves lucky—either patrolling soldiers happened to pass by when danger struck.
Or they were strong enough to defend themselves. Either way, it's dangerous.
Beautiful things often conceal danger. Everyone should know this—it might just save your life.
---
Following Yanfei's Lead
Along the way, Bonanus peppered Yanfei with endless questions. She just couldn't stay quiet, like a country bumpkin seeing the world for the first time.
Yanfei didn't mind. She patiently answered each query.
They'd been moving quickly, so Bonanus hadn't properly appreciated the scenery—except during their few rest stops.
Those times, she'd looked her fill.
"Little Yanfei, is that a flower on that mountain?"
Bonanus pointed excitedly at a white bloom high up the slope. That looks like a Qingxin Flower.
She was intimately familiar with Qingxin—in her previous life, she'd gathered them as Xiao's ascension materials. Countless days of in-game mountain climbing had resulted in quite a few unfortunate falls.
"That's a Qingxin Flower. They typically grow on sunny mountain peaks. Often used in medicine, but they can also be used in cooking."
"Those are wild Qingxin, having absorbed months of sunlight and rain. Their quality certainly surpasses cultivated ones."
"You have sharp eyes, Sister Bonanus—spotting them at a glance."
Yanfei explained with a smile. Whenever she was out in the wild, she'd occasionally spot a certain little zombie climbing high mountains for Qingxin.
She knew a thing or two about these flowers—reading had its benefits. More importantly, Senior Ganyu loved eating Qingxin.
Every year on Ganyu's birthday, Yanfei would personally climb the mountains to gather wild Qingxin, selecting the finest blooms as her gift.
"After we finish this commission, I might climb up and pick a few Qingxin myself." Bonanus grinned.
What's the point of gathering Qingxin? Oh, it's extremely useful!
I can tease Ganyu with them, or have Zhongli make medicine. Honestly, the most important reason is I want to taste them myself.
In my previous life, I remember Ganyu's voice line: "Qingxin Flowers are very sweet." I'm curious about the flavor.
Shaking these thoughts from her head, Bonanus refocused. Business first—gather Qingxin after finishing the commission.
Stretching casually, she asked:
"If I remember correctly..."
"Little Yanfei mentioned helping the Millelith with something. What kind of task is it?"
Yanfei simply shook her head. Sister Bonanus might not believe this, but this commission is purely about fighting.
Not that there's anything shameful about it—it's just weird for a legal consultant to assist the Millelith in surrounding enemies.
Sighing at the thought, Yanfei explained:
"This commission came from the Millelith, sent yesterday morning."
"According to the message: inside a certain cave, four to five Abyss Mages have been gathering large numbers of Hilichurls. This poses a potential threat to Liyue's people, so the Millelith must intervene."
"They said dealing with Abyss Mages requires more than just the Millelith—they need Vision holders. But the Qixing are all tied up with troublesome matters of their own."
"So they came to me." Yanfei wasn't bothered. She'd participated in similar suppression operations before—considered it good exercise.
Bonanus nodded thoughtfully. She felt sympathy for the Hilichurls—cursed beings, suffering for years.
Their background, their suffering—anyone who understood even a little would feel heartache.
But necessity was necessity. If you threaten me, no matter how pitiful you are, you must be eliminated. That was an unchanging truth.
Better to end their suffering in darkness than let them linger in agony. Release might be the kindest option.
"So little Yanfei only needs to deal with the Abyss Mages?" Bonanus asked with interest. She'd never seen the Millelith in combat.
In this world, that is—not in her previous life's game.
I wonder what tactics those towering soldiers use. Quite curious!
"I'm not sure yet. We'll hear the Millelith's plan first. I just need to coordinate with them."
Yanfei shook her head again. First, assess the situation. Abyss Mages aren't easy opponents.
"Don't worry, I'll help too." Bonanus smiled. Finally, a chance to do something. No more standing around.
More importantly—fighting gives karmic debt...
"With you here, Sister, I feel reassured." Yanfei smiled back. A great adeptus like Sister Bonanus is incredibly powerful. This sense of security is wonderful.
"But if there's no danger, I won't intervene." Bonanus put on a serious expression, using the tone of a senior lecturing a junior.
"Of course. This is training for me too." Yanfei pressed a hand to her chest. She was confident in her abilities.
As a Vision holder with combat experience, Yanfei frequently traveled throughout Liyue—not just the Harbor, but other regions requiring her legal expertise.
Traveling meant traversing the wilderness, facing its dangers. Most common were Hilichurls and Treasure Hoarders, often lurking in mountains or along major roads.
Some foolish enough to ambush Yanfei had learned the hard way—beaten and handed over to the Millelith.
Bonanus didn't doubt Yanfei's strength. But caution was still necessary. Accidents always struck first.
"Good. But still, be careful." Bonanus warned sincerely.
"Don't worry, Sister Bonanus!" Yanfei nodded in acknowledgment.
The two chatted happily, completely unaware of the figure watching from a nearby peak.
Arms crossed, expression cold, the figure observed them. It was Xiao—unable to shake his concern for Bonanus, he'd come to keep watch, just in case.