Chapter 20
Although the rebuff was not unexpected, such a sudden appearance of Fatui weapons among seemingly ordinary servants was already an unpleasant surprise, due to which the captain managed to get wounded, but it also showed that this assault should be taken even more seriously.
And this was the very case when, due to my inexperience, I was forced to walk behind our tanks, periodically pinning down single targets with dendro structures that looked like thorn-covered vines growing right under the enemies. And they were surprisingly good for me.
- Behind! - the hydro-catalyst walking next to him suddenly exclaimed, and everything suddenly plunged into chaos. Servants who looked more like treasure thieves began to run out into the courtyard with prepared potions with electro and pyro filling, and what is more important, is what the catalyst warned about, as if from nowhere a man dressed in a mask and a cloak appeared behind us, who with twin blades covered in fire cut down Millelite, who tried to block the attack with a spear, and if not for the training with Ke Qing, as well as the recently increased physical characteristics, I would not have had the most enviable fate, I was able to pull out my sword at the last moment and successfully block the crossed short blades, which apparently wanted to behead me using the principle of scissors. Immediately from both sides of me, spears rushed at the assassin, which he avoided by jumping away. And while he couldn't change his trajectory, I created Dendro vines right under him, which immediately entwined him and, piercing him with thorns, pressed him to the ground with a groan full of pain. His torment was interrupted almost instantly by a spear thrust into his head.
It was unpleasant to admit, but the situation was too dangerous to leave him alive, giving him even a small chance that he would free himself from the bonds.
We were almost constantly bombarded with potions that crashed into the geo-shields and what's worse, our main attack force in the form of Ke Qing and a couple more geo-double-dealers with the Cryo-catalyst were busy with a team of Fatui skirmishers that had come out of the mansion, which consisted of cryo- and hydro-bombers, with an electro-hammer vanguard.
"We can't continue like this!" I shouted, slightly frightened, seeing how the shields began to crack.
"Yun Che. Use Elemental Burst." Ke Qing's shout reached me as the entire courtyard was suddenly illuminated with purple light.
- Great. Let's show them! - I roared, turning all my fear into anger, and holding the catalyst in my left hand, I called upon the same feeling I had experienced when I first used my elemental explosion. My core reserve instantly became half empty, and the entire courtyard seemed to become a combination of green and purple. In an instant, most of the opponents who did not have any protection were impaled, while those who were able to defend themselves ended up being entwined with vines that began to infect the bodies of the survivors with Dendro energy, followed by literally a split second of countless residual copies of Ke Qing that were connected to each other by a purple web of cuts, and then everything suddenly became silent before fountains of blood shot into the sky, irrigating everything with bloody rain.
- What a powerful explosion of the elements, - the hydro-catalyst standing nearby whispered in amazement.
"Yes, my wife is really strong," I said proudly.
- But I was talking about your elemental explosion. I can't even imagine how to escape from it without barrier techniques. - the girl, who was quite pretty by the way, rattled off under the impression. She had black hair, blue eyes, and was dressed in a Chinese kimono that combined white and red colors.
"Against truly strong and fast opponents, my elemental explosion won't be so useful," I replied with a slight smile, and almost immediately the graceful fingers of Ke Qing, who appeared at my side, dug painfully into my hand.
"You should take care of the wounded Jinhua," Ke Qing coldly addressed the girl, which surprised those around her quite a bit, and I looked at my wife's gloomy face with slight doubt.
I felt an almost burning jealousy from her. And although it was pleasant in a way, but still, wasn't it too much?
"You know how I feel," I said softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"I know," Ke Qing said quietly, blushing slightly, trying not to look me in the eyes.
- Oh great Lord of Stone, for what sins should I eat dog food, even in such a situation? - One of the younger Millelites complained, for which he was awarded a withering look from Ke Qing, and believe me, when your superiors look at you like that, it becomes scary. And this guy without the eye of God shrank all over under the laughter of his colleagues.
- ...Captain Lu Bo, are we ready to continue? - Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Ke Qing completely took control of her emotions and asked an important question. Still, no one expected that the resistance would be so strong. According to a rough estimate, Ke Qing and I killed about 40 people with our elemental explosions, although, to be honest, I was surprised that the Fatui skirmishers did not survive this either. After all, in the game, it was necessary to cause many more elemental reactions to knock down the shield. However, there was also a time limit between repeating the reaction due to the game's conventions.
(Lu Bo)
- We only have one out. Qing Ming was attacked by the debt collector Fatui and lost consciousness, along with a couple of broken bones. The devil was strong, though. And to be honest, you surprised me, Mr. Yun, at first glance you wouldn't say that you were so strong. - the big guy looked at me with a note of respect.
"It's all thanks to my wife, if it weren't for her training, I'm afraid I would have lost my head already." After these words, Ke Qing gave off a sense of anxiety, and I felt her squeeze my hand again, only this time it wasn't painful.
- I see love can turn the head of even the eternally calm and collected Mrs. Ke Qing. - the captain chuckled and, before the embarrassed girl could say anything, he continued. - We should continue, Qing Ming will be taken to BuBu Hut, and the shieldmen still have enough strength for a couple of elemental skills, and I seriously doubt that Tang Hao has even half of what we have managed to cope with in his bins.
- I should also have enough strength for another elemental explosion and a couple of elemental skills. - attracting the surprised looks of the soldiers.
- Yes, I think I can also repeat the explosion of the elements a couple more times, - nodded Ke Qing, not paying attention to the owners of the eye of God who began to doubt their lives.
- Ahem, then there is no reason to delay, - Lu Bo cleared his throat and was the first to move towards the mansion, and the rest immediately followed him, taking up formation.
"Why did everyone look at us so strangely?" I whispered to Ke Qing.
"I'll explain everything at home," the girl shook her head.
***
In the spacious hall, which despite the extremely expensive decoration seemed almost empty, one could see a rather large, muscular man standing opposite a small altar, on which one could see a small closed suitcase with a snowflake engraved on it and a huge hammer standing next to it.
- Stupid whore, all that was required of her was to marry me, why the hell did she climb into the bed of some rootless bastard. - cursed the man who managed to correctly compare the sounds outside with the fact that his guards had failed to cope with their task. However, hearing the footsteps of enemies approaching the hall, he was not afraid, but on the contrary, he only calmed down and smiled, starting to open the suitcase.
Soon, a squad of Millelites burst into the hall along with Ke Qing and her husband.
"Surrender, Tang Hao, you have nowhere to run." Lu Bo's powerful voice rang out.
- Run? Ha... Haha. Hahaha. - Tang Hao laughed, finally opening the suitcase, which contained a strange purple heart that for some reason continued to beat.
- I'm afraid it's not me who has nowhere to run. It's you. - the man said gloomily, stretching out his hand to his heart, but halfway there he was stopped by a vine that suddenly wrapped around his hand and, digging its thorns into his flesh, pulled him away from the suitcase.
- Sorry, but there will be no boss fight today. - I said, pleased with myself.
- Argh, I won't give in to you! - Tang Hao literally roared and despite the fact that the flesh of his hand was literally being torn apart, he rushed back to the suitcase trying to reach with his other hand, which the next moment was cut off by Ke Qing, who appeared in front of him.
Naturally, being so close, she noticed the contents of the suitcase and closed it with a sharp slam, after which it was as if the threads of Tang Hao, who was ready to fight, were cut, and he stopped struggling, falling to his knees.
"Damn idiots. Li Yue is doomed anyway," Tang Hao said gloomily, not paying attention to the pain and the blood flowing from his torn to shreds arm, while the stump of the other was burned by electricity even at the moment of the sword strike.
"What do you mean?" Ke Qing asked, lifting the man's chin with the tip of her blade.
- This country is led by fools who blindly rely on the protection of the archon and only thirst for more and more pestilence. You boast that we have the largest number of carriers of the eye of God. Fontaine, led by the Archon, who has no military glory and rather serves as a symbol, makes entire armies of mechanisms that are capable of easily dealing with these weaklings one on one. Mondstat, without the support of its god, is increasingly luring more and more brilliant scientists to its side, Albedo is an alchemist who can be so dangerous that she can lead to a catastrophe in any region. Lisa Minchi is supposedly a sweet and slightly lazy librarian who had a chance to join the legendary witches' sabbath, for some unknown reason she refused and not counting the army that constantly conducts exercises and expeditions preparing for the future, there is also the damn Elf from the Sabbath, who is certainly not inferior in strength to the archons. Snow, except for the harbingers, each of whom individually has incredible power, is probably the closest to Kaenri'ah in technology, and even damn Natlan, despite its seemingly tribal system, has in fact long surpassed us in technology, having the ability to arm ordinary warriors so that they will be no worse than ordinary bearers of the eye of God, not to mention constant hardening in wars against the abyss. And what do we have? Bows and arrows? Spears and swords? Adepts who are so arrogant that it feels like they are ready to destroy Li Yue with their own hands? We only have our Archon, just like Inazuma, who is approaching her death. We ended up among the most technologically backward countries, while being the richest in Taivat. - the more he spoke, the more he became heated, and it seemed that a little more and he would begin to spit poison. - And you! You were the one who could understand me the most! And instead of me, she chose some rootless bastard! We could have used Fatui together and changed this country!
"You may have become a little smarter, but unfortunately, you are still a fool," Ke Qing said coldly. "Fatui cannot be used without paying an exorbitant price."
"Pay the price? It doesn't matter what the price is, as long as the goal is achieved!" Tang Hao roared.
- Your actions only proved that my choice was correct. And the adepts care about what is happening in Li Yue, because we are here. - Having said this, Ke Qing knocked the man out with a blow from the hilt.
- Lu Bo, make sure he survives and keep him under heavy guard, they will come to him for interrogation soon. And we need to visit another place. - She ordered and, taking the suitcase with the strange heart in her hands, headed for the exit, pulling me along with her.
The Millelites, who heard Ke Qing's words perfectly, watched us with reverent eyes. After all, the Disciples are an extremely important part of Li Yue's history.
When we left the mansion and headed towards the funeral home, I still couldn't resist asking.
- Are you sure it was worth revealing our formation on the path of the Adepts? After all, we are not strong enough now to call ourselves such.
- It was necessary, the opinion about the Adepts' attitude against Li Yue does not come out of thin air and if necessary, I will personally take responsibility for stopping such rumors. - Ke Qing said seriously, until she suddenly stopped and, looking into my eyes, continued. - And about the strength, you are not entirely right.
- Ordinary god eye owners are usually unable to use elemental burst, and those who can stand out from the others, especially in terms of endurance. Without the core, with your current endurance, you could already use elemental burst with just the god eye, and with the core even several times, in this regard, you have already reached a level exceeding the truly strong god eye owners, and you only lack skills and experience.
- Um, well, is the level of the Adepts, I don't know, something close to destroying a small mountain?
"After receiving the second element and our… first time, I think I can accomplish such a feat." Ke Qing hesitated slightly, recalling how we had received a rather noticeable increase in our abilities.
"Seriously?" I asked, stunned.
- When I said about using the elemental explosion a couple more times, I was being quite disingenuous. - Ke Qing was embarrassed for some reason and quickly looked around to make sure there were no strangers nearby and continued. - In fact, now I have a feeling that even from a dozen such attacks I won't get tired at all, that I can do much more now. So… I expect that we will do this every day.
"Of course," I smiled, looking at how sweetly my wife's face blushed.
- And by the way, don't you dare talk sweetly to other girls alone, got it?! - Ke Qing, flushed with jealousy, suddenly poked me in the chest.
- But you know that I didn't feel anything like that towards that healer.
- But she was quite interested in you, - she answered me sharply, pressing her finger even harder, which made it hurt a little. - Do you understand me?
"Yes ma'am," I saluted playfully, accepting her demands.