"Wait, I'll listen, I'll listen!!!"
"I'll do whatever you want, just put me down!"
Whoosh~
The little staff in Beruru's hand hovered just centimeters from the Abyss Herald's forehead.
One more inch and his life would be over.
He still carried heavy duties. He could not die here.
The Abyssal transmission network under Liyue wasn't even finished yet.
He couldn't die before completing that.
"Hmph~"
Beruru snorted softly and pulled back her staff.
The thorned vines that had nearly crushed the Abyss Herald dissolved back into elemental essence and faded away.
Thud.
Once tall and imposing, the Herald now collapsed to the ground in tatters.
The pain almost knocked him unconscious.
These damned humans. And that floating little spirit. He would remember this.
Once he returned to the Prince, he would denounce their crimes.
Not daring to leave even one harsh word aloud, the Herald opened a portal without delay.
Ignoring his injuries, he scrambled in headfirst.
"Wisdom Lord, will he really obey?"
Beruru's eyes showed unease.
If the Herald ran off without carrying out the task, what then?
"I left a mark on him."
Taro's lips curled into a faint smile.
"No matter what he does, he won't escape. As long as he uses the Abyss transmission network, my goal is achieved. The rest is up to fate."
Truth be told, if he wanted to find Aether, he had plenty of ways.
He didn't need to bother with an Abyss Herald.
But this trick would force the Abyss to repeatedly use their transmission network.
That way, he could harvest the coordinates of their network all across Teyvat for free.
Too convenient to pass up.
Leeching off the Abyss? Very comfortable indeed.
In less than half an incense stick of time, the Herald had already given him almost fifteen new coordinates.
Most were in Liyue.
Three pointed toward Mondstadt, two toward Sumeru, and one… oh ho, Natlan.
Sadly, nothing from Inazuma, Fontaine, or Snezhnaya.
And the Herald was cautious—only one-way networks, no linking nodes.
Forget it. Let him be.
"Wisdom Lord, shall we go deeper into the Abyss? That shroom-beast is still inside. Its aura changed, but it hasn't faded."
Beruru looked toward the bottom of the Chasm.
Taro glanced at the party menu and map, then shook his head:
"No rush. Three companions still haven't arrived."
Though he wasn't with Huoliya, Yingda, and Fan'nan,
he always kept track of their progress.
On the party display, Yingda's EXP bar was nearly full, about ninety percent.
Huoliya's was only one-third filled.
As for himself—hard to tell at all. He needed too much.
"Companions?"
Beruru tilted her head, eyes full of hope.
"Are they like Wisdom Lord?"
"Not quite."
Taro shook his head.
"They are family."
"Family…"
Beruru's eyes lit up.
"Then Beruru is family too?"
She didn't yet fully understand the word,
but knew it must mean something important.
"Of course."
Taro nodded and patted her small head.
"Mm-hmm, family!" Beruru cheered, wings fluttering.
"Remember to suppress your aura."
"Yes, Wisdom Lord!"
She quickly hid her energy, instantly appearing harmless.
Taro turned his gaze.
On the map, a red dot sped toward him.
The duel's outcome had been decided.
Whoosh!
A figure surged from the passageway, cloaked in murderous aura.
"Stop!"
Beruru's eyes widened. She raised her staff to strike.
How dare this savage aura approach the Wisdom Lord!
"An ally."
Taro tapped her head with a finger.
"Eh?"
Beruru blinked, quickly hiding her staff and flashing a wide, innocent smile.
"Sensei~~~"
A gentle call echoed.
Fan'nan's killing aura dissipated instantly.
Like ice melting, her face softened, eyes warm as spring.
Taro smiled and nodded.
"Good work, Fan'nan."
"Mm."
She shook her head.
"To ease Sensei's burden is no hardship. For Yingda and me, this isn't toil but opportunity."
"Sensei~~~"
A fiery glow and a high-pitched call came from the tunnel.
In an instant, Yingda's figure condensed at Taro's side.
"Eh~~~"
"You're already here, Sister? I hurried so much!"
Seeing her sister beside Taro, Yingda wilted.
She had rushed desperately, only to be late again.
Still, at least Huoliya hadn't arrived first.
"Not too slow."
Taro tapped her forehead.
"And don't be so reckless."
"Mm-hmm~"
Yingda rubbed her forehead, smiling without complaint.
She desperately wanted to win, to prove herself.
But she had lost. Still, Sensei's concern warmed her.
Hehe, happy~
"Eh, Sensei, what's this little one?"
Her eyes suddenly locked on the floating spirit.
"I'm Beruru, Belldandy. Wisdom Lord's dependent—and family!"
Finally, noticed. Beruru puffed out her chest proudly.
"Wisdom Lord? Who's that?"
Yingda frowned, unease creeping in.
"Wisdom Lord is Wisdom Lord."
Beruru zipped behind Taro, hugging his head affectionately.
"???"
Yingda and Fan'nan blinked.
Sensei… the Wisdom Lord?
But that title was used for the God of Wisdom.
Yet the Geo Archon had said Sensei was a traveler from beyond the sky.
Hardly something the Dendro Archon could claim.
"Little one, are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Yingda narrowed her eyes, displeasure in her gaze.
Even she hadn't hugged Sensei like that.
And this tiny thing dared claim it? Outrageous.
"Hmph~"
Beruru huffed.
"Wisdom Lord is the Creator, the Great One, the—"
Taro's face darkened and he cut her off.
"Stop~"
This was going way too far.
A little flattery was nice, but too much made his toes curl in shame.
(End of Chapter)
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