Zhu Yuan gradually understood Sam Li's meaning, finally realizing why he had chosen to work as an ordinary employee at the Hare's House.
She fell silent, lost in thought.
Qingyi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Sam Li. Zhu Yuan and I will keep your secret."
Sam Li spoke softly, "Thank you—"
Still, even if his identity were to be fully exposed, it wouldn't make much difference. At worst, it would only shock Hu Tao, Xiangling, and Nicole for a while.
Zhu Yuan quickly nodded. "We'll keep it secret..."
Now that she knew Sam Li was actually Liyue's Geo Archon, all of her worries had vanished completely. She had heard Cloud Retainer speak many times about the Archon War, about the Geo Archon's might and his victories throughout history.
Zhu Yuan had even thought that if the Geo Archon could somehow come to New Eridu to help, the Hollow Zero crisis would surely be resolved.
She never imagined the Geo Archon had already arrived.
Just as Zhu Yuan's thoughts drifted, a familiar voice rang out from ahead.
"Young friends, could it be these two mundane fellows you seek?"
Startled, Zhu Yuan exchanged a look with Qingyi and hurriedly said, "Senior Qingyi, Geo Arc—ah, Mr. Sam Li! Let's go take a look!"
Having just learned of Sam Li's true identity, Zhu Yuan instinctively addressed him as "Your Geo Archon." Realizing her slip, she quickly corrected herself.
Sam Li smiled. "It's fine. Just call me Sam Li, as before."
With that, the three of them walked together toward Cloud Retainer's voice.
When they entered the abandoned building where Cloud Retainer stood, Zhu Yuan looked around in confusion. "Miss Adeptus, where is the Bangboo you mentioned?"
Qingyi glanced about as well, her expression puzzled. There was no sign of the Golden Bangboo or the Platinum Bangboo anywhere.
At that moment, Cloud Retainer let out a cold snort. "Come out already! Must this immortal smash the cabinet to pieces before you do?"
Hearing this, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi turned their eyes toward a battered cabinet by the wall.
The cabinet trembled once, and the next instant, its rotted door was kicked open. Two small figures—one gold and one white—tumbled out, landing right in front of them.
It was the Golden Bangboo and the Platinum Bangboo they had been searching for all along.
However, before Zhu Yuan or Qingyi could grab them, the two Bangboo suddenly sprang to their feet and bolted. Their speed was astonishing—so fast that even the two women couldn't react in time.
"Senior! Stop them!" Zhu Yuan shouted.
Qingyi immediately snapped out her nunchaku. "How cunning! Where do you think you're going? Stop right there—!"
Even before she finished speaking, she had already flung the weapon forward. It flew over ten meters, embedding itself into the wall and blocking the Bangboo's escape route.
Startled, the Golden and Platinum Bangboo turned and sprinted in another direction.
For all their poor combat ability, their skill in running away was truly top-notch.
Just as Zhu Yuan rushed forward to chase them, Cloud Retainer calmly produced two rings shimmering with rainbow light and tossed them toward the fleeing Bangboo.
In an instant, the rings caught up to them, expanding as they fell from above and snapping tightly around each Bangboo's waist.
Both were bound instantly and fell helplessly to the ground.
Zhu Yuan hurried over, grinning with relief. "Finally caught you—!"
Golden Bangboo looked up at her in a panic.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm-da, mm-hmm mm-hmm (Let us go, we'll give you billions of dennies)!"
That might have worked on Nicole, but not on Zhu Yuan.
She said seriously, "I'm not interested in your dennies. Please come with us to the New Eridu Public Security. Don't worry—we won't hurt you."
Having lived in the hollows for years, the Golden Bangboo wasn't naive enough to believe the Public Security's "kind promises."
Seeing Zhu Yuan refuse to release them, the Platinum Bangboo yelled,
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm-da, mm-hmm-da (This is Outer Ring Bangboo Town, not the city center! Let us go right now, or when Boss Azhdaha gets here, you'll be sorry!)"
Hearing that, Qingyi couldn't help but laugh.
The Platinum Bangboo grew annoyed. "Mm-hmm-da (I'm going to shout)!"
Qingyi chuckled. "Go ahead. Even if you scream yourself hoarse, no one will come to save you."
At that, both Bangboo began shouting at the top of their mechanical voices.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm-da (Azhdaha! Azhdaha! The bad guys captured us! Save us!)—"
They had barely finished crying out when Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Azhdaha arrived, following the sound.
When Azhdaha appeared, Golden Bangboo immediately brightened.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm-da, mm-hmm-da (Boss Azhdaha! It's these two bad officers—they dared to cause trouble on your turf!)"
Platinum Bangboo quickly added, "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm-da (Boss Azhdaha, please save us)!"
Hearing that, Azhdaha's gaze hardened as he looked at Zhu Yuan and Qingyi.
Zhu Yuan quickly spoke up, "Mr. Azhdaha, please don't worry. We won't harm the Golden or Platinum Bangboo. We need to take them back to the city to handle matters related to Hollow Zero. Mr. Sam Li is aware of everything."
Sam Li nodded calmly. "Rest assured, they'll be fine."
Since Sam Li had spoken, Azhdaha had no reason to object. "Then proceed as you said."
The two Bangboo froze, their round eyes filled with disbelief.
What was going on? Why was Boss Azhdaha listening to these humans?
Golden Bangboo cried out again, "Mm-hmm-da (Boss Azhdaha, don't trust them)!"
Platinum Bangboo slumped weakly. "Mm-hmm-da (Boss Azhdaha, don't abandon us)!"
Azhdaha said gently, "Don't be afraid. With me here, they won't dare harm either of you."
After successfully capturing the Golden and Platinum Bangboo, their mission in the Outer Ring was complete.
Standing amid the ruins of Bangboo Town, Azhdaha looked around quietly. A wave of sorrow welled up in his chest.
His home had been destroyed once again.
Just then, Moon Carver's voice echoed from ahead.
"Azhdaha, come quickly! Help gather all the Bangboo together—only you can get them to listen."
Zhu Yuan added, "I've already contacted the New Eridu Public Security. They'll send several transport vehicles soon to take all the Bangboo back to the city for repairs."
Hearing that, Azhdaha turned and slowly walked toward Mountain Shaper, Moon Carver, Zhu Yuan, and the others.