Ahemar and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata below him were both struck speechless.
Honestly—was all that pomp and self-introduction really necessary?
Ahemar exhaled lightly and said in a calm, detached tone,
"Then, may I ask, Immortal Lord… what business brings you here today?"
Jiang Yan idly flipped the glowing sphere of compressed energy in his palm. At Ahemar's question, he chuckled softly.
"You've gathered your armies right on Liyue's border, and you're asking me what I'm doing here?"
"I should be the one asking—you've assembled such forces. What exactly are you planning?"
His gaze sharpened, locking onto Ahemar's. If the Crimson King harbored even the slightest malicious intent, Jiang Yan wouldn't hesitate to let this orb detonate right here in Sumeru's rainforest.
He'd been itching for a good testing ground, anyway.
Ahemar's eyes narrowed, staring back just as hard. He didn't fear Jiang Yan himself—
but the faint pulse emanating from that sphere made his heart clench with unease.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Ahemar finally said,
"I've stationed my troops here merely to prevent your war from spilling into our lands."
"I have no intention of invading your nation."
His voice was steady, even faintly dignified.
"Oh~ so that's how it is."
Jiang Yan nodded with a smile.
"Forgive my suspicion, then. After all, one mustn't harbor malice—but neither should one be naïve, wouldn't you agree?"
Ahemar inclined his head slightly. That, at least, he could understand.
"Good. Then let's leave it at that. The war has ended, and once we've cleaned up Chenyu Valley, we'll leave a small garrison there."
He smiled, eyes still curved in that infuriatingly pleasant way.
"But if I find out you're up to anything… even the slightest hint of movement…"
His tone didn't change, but the temperature in the air seemed to drop.
"I'll let you both have a taste of what's inside this little thing I'm holding."
"I believe," he added mildly, "the two of you already have some idea what kind of power that means."
Ahemar's expression darkened instantly.
This was no longer a veiled warning—it was a naked, outright threat.
And yet he had no choice but to endure it.
If not for the dread that sphere inspired, Ahemar's infamous temper would've already driven him to strike Jiang Yan where he stood.
"Please rest assured, Immortal Lord," the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata spoke up softly, stepping forward to ease the tension. "We only wish to safeguard our nation's peace."
"See?" Jiang Yan grinned. "So much easier on the ears when a lovely lady speaks."
"Let's keep it that way, then. I've got another kingdom to go 'warn,' so I'll take my leave."
With a light tap of his foot on the air, he spun in place and shot off toward the northeast, trailing a faint streak of golden light.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata watched him go, then placed a gentle hand on Ahemar's shoulder.
"Ahemar, are you alright?"
His face was expressionless—cold and stiff as stone. Thinking he was angry, she hurried to comfort him.
"I'm fine," he said quietly, exhaling as if to calm himself.
But who wouldn't be furious after being threatened like that?
Especially someone as proud as the Crimson King.
Still, Ahemar had no choice.
What could he do when a lunatic showed up at your doorstep holding something that could wipe out half the Sumeru rainforest—
and was immune to the blast himself?
You yield. You had to yield.
The land of Valivijay (as Sumeru was then known) was still under the joint rule of the Three Kings. He couldn't allow one reckless outburst to destroy the paradise he, the Flower God, and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had built together.
"The situation's settled. Let's return."
No trace of emotion could be seen on his face—his mask of calm perfection.
Even the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata couldn't read him at that moment.
But she knew one thing for certain—
Ahemar was furious inside.
"Ahemar…"
She began, but he raised a hand to stop her.
"No need to say it. I'm fine."
"Besides, our goal was simply to secure the border."
"So, in that sense… we succeeded."
His eyes drifted to the eastern sky, where Jiang Yan had vanished. They gleamed faintly with a dangerous light.
"But the grudge formed today…"
His tone dropped into a low growl.
"…I'll repay it, one day."
From that moment onward—
Jiang Yan's name was written firmly into the Crimson King's little black book.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan circled around the outskirts of Chenyu Valley. After scaring off the demon gods lurking on Fontaine's borderlands with a single, threatening visit, he finally returned, satisfied, to Chenyu.
"You're back again?"
Azhdaha, still overseeing the battlefield cleanup, spotted him descending from the clouds.
Of course, she already had a pretty good idea what he'd been doing—but she played dumb anyway.
"Heh, nothing much," Jiang Yan said breezily. "Just went for a stroll. Thought I'd drop by to check in."
A terrible excuse—no one with half a brain would believe it.
Sure enough, Azhdaha gave him a look that screamed Are you serious right now?
"If that helps you sleep at night," she muttered.
"Alright, alright. Seeing that everything's fine here, I'll be off then."
Jiang Yan waved his hand, already preparing to leave.
Azhdaha was utterly speechless.
Really?
You pop in, say one line, and act like you came to "check" on us?
What exactly could go wrong with me here, huh?!
She didn't say it out loud, but the exasperation was written all over her face.
Jiang Yan, blissfully unaware—or perhaps pretending to be—pressed his foot lightly against the ground. His body shot into the air.
Behind him, four small black whirlwinds unfurled, spinning like a set of wings.
In the blink of an eye, he became a streak of light heading straight for Liyue Harbor.
To prevent any loss of focus that might destabilize the orb, he held it in his arms like a massive pillow, hugging it close as he flew.
It made him look uncomfortably like a human bomber.
Hmm… should I swing by Inazuma next? Drop a "Teyvat-style Little Boy"?
The mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he chuckled.
But that was all—just a thought.
Even Jiang Yan wasn't that heartless.
Back in Liyue Harbor, Morax had already arrived ahead of him.
Without delay, he summoned Cloud Retainer and Guizhong.
After listening to his report, the two Adepti exchanged grim looks.
"That reckless brat—where is he now?!"
Guizhong slammed the table with such force that the tea cups jumped.
The last time, that boy had run off to duel Andrius on his own. And now he dared to touch the residual energy of over ten self-detonated demon gods?!
If no one put him in his place soon, he'd be storming the heavens next!
Even Cloud Retainer's normally calm eyes flashed with anger.
Clearly, she too was furious at Jiang Yan's utter disregard for his own safety.
If his strange power had failed to hold…
He wouldn't even have had a body left to bury!
Does that fool plan to make my beloved disciple a widow?!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Morax watched the two raging women before him—and silently took a cautious step backward.
Forgive me, Jiang Yan, he thought to himself.
You're on your own now.
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