Alhaitham glanced back at Mt. Tianheng one last time.
From here, there was nothing remarkable to see anymore, just a towering, ordinary mountain rising against the sky.
Yet only those who had personally stepped inside would understand what kinds of secrets it concealed.
Secrets powerful enough to overturn all of Teyvat and shake the world to its core.
With a soft sigh, Alhaitham spoke quietly.
"We're leaving just like this… It still doesn't quite feel real."
"Reluctant to part with it?" Lumine teased, smiling brightly.
Alhaitham didn't bother being tactful. He nodded decisively.
"For anyone, a world that strange and wondrous is an irresistible temptation, let alone for a scholar."
"I thought the same back then," Lumine replied casually, waving her hand as she led him toward Liyue Harbor.
"I still do. Once Sumeru's problems are settled, you'll have plenty of time to get familiar with that world. For now, let's focus on what matters."
She continued as they walked.
"Let's pick up some alchemical potions and supplies. Even though the most troublesome Fatui forces are already being handled by Acting Grand Master Jean and the others, dealing with the Eremites is still a hassle."
"If we can avoid casualties, all the better. Once you start settling into that other world, you'll need a lot of manpower."
"Perfect timing, too, I'll explain our overall plans for developing that world along the way."
Alhaitham straightened, fully attentive now.
Exploring and developing an entire world without guidance would take an absurd amount of time just to draft plans alone.
Since Lumine was willing to explain, it couldn't have been better.
After spending roughly another day in Liyue Harbor, Lumine finally returned to the desert with Alhaitham.
They were immediately met by an anxious Candace.
From her, they learned that Dehya and Cyno had not returned since leaving. Worse still, a massive tremor had shaken the desert the day before.
With no other choice, Lumine and Alhaitham mounted a dragon once more and headed straight for the source of the disturbance.
They eventually found Dehya and the others near the Mausoleum of King Deshret.
With them was a rugged, imposing man.
After Dehya's brief explanation, it became clear that he was Rahman, leader of the largest Eremite mercenary band in the desert, and the reinforcement they had secured.
Dehya only gave a rough overview. There were clearly many more details, but Lumine didn't press further.
She had once asked why Dehya hadn't turned to her own Eremite band instead.
It wasn't that Dehya feared losses among her people.
Rather, her group, Blazing Beasts, while elite, was not large enough for a conflict on this scale. They simply couldn't turn the tide.
Moreover, most of Blazing Beasts' members weren't even in Sumeru at the moment.
The Eremites didn't operate exclusively within Sumeru.
As mercenaries, they went wherever the Mora was.
The Treasure Hoarders were much the same, not a Liyue-native organization either.
It was just that since Liyue had grown stronger, their business there had dried up. Even merchant caravans were now beyond their ability to rob.
With no choice, they shifted their operations elsewhere. These days, Treasure Hoarders were most concentrated in Sumeru and Fontaine.
No one mentioned what had happened at the Mausoleum of King Deshret.
But judging from Rahman's hollow, shaken expression, Lumine guessed that his faith had taken a serious blow.
After a day to recover, his mood had visibly improved.
Alhaitham and the others discussed the concrete details of the plan. Lumine didn't take part, her role was simple.
She would deal with the false god.
Everything else, they could handle themselves.
Although conditions in the desert were still harsh, Lumine, Aaru Village's benefactor, was treated with the utmost hospitality.
She and Paimon lacked nothing to eat or drink, spending their days sightseeing and enjoying local food.
While it couldn't compare to the refined dishes of places like Xinyue Kiosk in Liyue, it had its own distinct charm.
At the very least, Paimon never complained.
Then again, considering she could even stomach dishes made from ingredients like slime condensate, there was very little she refused to eat.
Only one day remained before the official start of the war.
Cyno had already departed at noon with his forces. Lumine didn't know the details of his operation, but Dehya and the others trusted him completely.
Standing at the entrance of the village chief's house, Lumine looked out over Aaru Village, now brimming with life thanks to its restored water supply.
The elderly and the young alike were watering the ground.
A newly planned area had been laid out, stitched together into farmland using the soil Lumine had brought.
Potatoes and other crops had already begun to sprout.
Life was still hard, but the villagers' spirits were high.
"I never imagined," Lumine murmured softly, "that something as simple as soil and water could bring hope to so many people."
"They all look like they're looking forward to the future now."
Paimon was just about to respond when a steady, composed voice sounded behind them.
"For the people of the desert," the voice said, "food and water are life itself, more important than anything else."
"You've given them an endless source of both. That's the same as giving them hope to live on forever."
"You are the benefactor of all desert folk."
Lumine turned around and waved cheerfully.
"Good afternoon, Uncle Rahman! Feeling less depressed now?"
Rahman laughed heartily, scratching his head.
"Depressed… maybe a little still. But I've thought some things through."
"I still don't have much goodwill toward those people beyond the sand wall," he admitted.
"But if it means the desert folk can live better lives… then I can let the rest go."
Lumine nodded in wholehearted agreement.
"Exactly! I once heard someone say that in this world, aside from life and death, everything else is a small matter."
"Hah!" Rahman looked at her in surprise.
"That's an open-minded way of thinking. But you're right, besides life and death, everything else is just a scratch."
"Oh, right. I still haven't thanked you properly."
Lumine scratched her cheek, puzzled.
"Thank me?"
Rahman nodded solemnly.
"I won't thank you on behalf of the rainforest people, like I said, I still don't like them."
"But you brought an inexhaustible source of water," Rahman continued, his voice steady,
"and land that can be farmed forever."
"You brought hope for the desert people to live on in the future. As one of the desert folk myself, that is no different from giving life to all of us, and to all our descendants."
"To put it plainly, I've spoken with Candace. From now on, my brothers won't need to worry about food or water anymore. If we need water, we can come and take it directly. Food can be traded, at very low prices."
"Everyone's life has become easier because of you. As their leader, I must thank you."
Rahman bent deeply at the waist, his voice heavy and sincere.
"You gave my brothers hope to live. You are our benefactor. I'm a rough man, I'm not like those rainforest folks who know how to dress things up with pretty words."
"I promise you this: if you ever have any request, even if you ask us to fight a god, we won't hesitate for a second."
"We all owe you a life. The people of the desert must know how to repay kindness!"
Seeing how serious Rahman was, Lumine scratched her cheek.
"You don't really need to take it this seriously. It was just something I did casually."
"No," Rahman straightened up and shook his head.
"To you, it might not be much. But to us, it's a blessing on par with that of King Deshret himself."
"I can't control others, but among my men, anyone who dares forget this kindness, I'll deal with them personally."
"We don't have the rainforest's abundant resources to repay you. All we have is our strength and our lives."
"We have nothing. So when someone gives us a future, we must repay it. That's our creed."
Lumine fell silent for a moment, moved, then deliberately changed the subject.
"So, what's your plan? Having Cyno send your people in as criminals to work from the inside?"
Rahman shook his head.
"We considered it at first, but Cyno said it would cost us too much."
"If there's no other way, it's the last resort. But right now, we don't need complicated plans."
"We just need to fight our way in."
"Cyno will lead his men to operate near Sumeru City, drawing off the Thirty Corps' numbers."
"We'll coordinate with the Grand Bazaar inside the city and push straight through. After that, it's up to you."
Lumine nodded thoughtfully.
"Looks like Alhaitham was really stimulated by what he saw in Liyue. Otherwise, there's no way he'd agree to something this aggressive."
"Maybe so," Rahman chuckled.
"He hides it well, but the impatience in his eyes doesn't fool us."
"If that's the case, your people won't suffer losses, right?"
At that, Rahman lifted his chin with a hint of pride.
"My brothers fight every day in the desert, racing against death. How could those pampered Thirty Corps soldiers in Sumeru City compare to us?"
"Cyno's taking three hundred men, enough to draw off a thousand of the Thirty Corps."
"The remaining five hundred of us will charge straight in. With support from the Grand Bazaar, taking them down won't be a problem."
"And the most troublesome Fatui, haven't you already taken care of that?"
Hearing this, Lumine finally relaxed.
"In that case, when do we act?"
"Tomorrow morning, most likely," Rahman replied, arms crossed as he gazed at the newly lively Aaru Village.
Unbidden, he imagined the better days awaiting the desert people once this was over.
"Cyno will quietly cross the border tonight with his men and head for Sumeru City. I hear there's supposed to be support from someone named Tighnari along the way."
"Three hundred people… quietly?" Lumine looked at him in surprise.
Rahman shrugged.
"They'll definitely be discovered, but that's exactly what we want. Just a bit of misdirection."
"The garrison over there will be forced to split their forces. We'll advance straight through, seize Caravan Ribat, and then follow behind Cyno from a distance."
"They draw the attention, we strike at the heart. It's risky, sure, but Alhaitham said something like…"
"That fool Azar trusts the Akasha too much. He won't notice data that's already completely skewed. That's our chance."
"I didn't really understand what he meant," Rahman admitted,
"but I agree with him completely. That so-called Grand Sage really is an idiot!"
Lumine couldn't help but laugh.
"You're refreshingly straightforward, Uncle Rahman. But you're right, Azar really is an idiot."
"See? That's what I said!" Rahman laughed.
The two chatted casually for a while.
When the moon rose high above the treetops, Dehya and Alhaitham finished handling the last of the preparations.
The four exchanged looks, setting aside their relaxed moods.
Under cover of moonlight, they gathered the main force and quietly set off toward Caravan Ribat.
Candace stood at the entrance of Aaru Village, watching as the army kicked up clouds of sand and vanished into the distance.
After a long moment, she let out a quiet sigh.
"May you succeed…"
Once this is resolved,
The entire desert will finally welcome better days.