When Childe saw Keqing arrive, he immediately withdrew the surging battle intent and Hydro energy around him. He spread his hands and put on that harmless, sunny smile again, as if he hadn't been the one to launch a sneak attack just moments ago.
"Lady Yuheng, what are you saying?"
"I merely admired the Knights of Favonius for a long time. My hands got itchy, so I thought I'd have a friendly sparring exchange with them."
"Between warriors, testing one another's skills is perfectly normal, isn't it?"
"Friendly sparring?!"
Keqing's brows shot up as she pointed at the Knights of Favonius still groaning on the ground.
"This is what you call friendly?! Childe, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about those two words?!"
Childe shrugged, smile unchanged.
"That can't be helped, Lady Yuheng. Sparring can get out of hand sometimes. They were simply too weak. Surely that isn't my fault?"
Keqing was furious, her chest rising and falling. Faced with such shameless rhetoric, even she momentarily couldn't find the right words to refute him.
At that moment, Yi Chen—who had been silent—spoke up.
"She's right, Lady Yuheng. This was friendly sparring."
The moment the words left his mouth, both Keqing and Childe froze.
Yi Chen stepped forward to stand beside Keqing.
"And honestly, I find this kind of exchange quite interesting. So I propose that tomorrow, we hold an official spar."
He looked straight at Childe.
"Would Lord Childe be willing to properly 'play' with me—a probationary knight of the Knights of Favonius?"
His tone was calm, but the icy killing intent beneath it was unmistakable.
If Childe were allowed to continue acting so arrogantly, the Knights of Favonius would be completely humiliated. Yi Chen would never tolerate that.
Keqing grew anxious and shot Yi Chen a warning look, signaling him not to be reckless.
Childe's reputation as a battle maniac was infamous across nations. Even among the Fatui Harbingers, he was known for overwhelming frontal combat power. Even she herself couldn't claim a guaranteed victory against him.
Could this "probationary knight" really not see that she was trying to de-escalate and protect them?
Yi Chen, however, turned his head and gave Keqing a confident look—as if to say Leave it to me.
Keqing froze.
That gaze was steady and resolute, nothing like an impulsive junior knight. It was the look of a seasoned commander in control of the situation.
Against her own expectations, she felt a trace of trust.
Yi Chen turned back to Childe and added,
"I also hope Lady Yuheng will act as referee, to ensure the 'fairness' and 'friendliness' of the spar. What do you think?"
At this point, Keqing knew she could no longer stop it.
She took a deep breath, suppressed her worry, and spoke with the authority of the Yuheng Star.
"Very well! Since both sides agree, Liyue will host the match and provide the venue and arbitration! Tomorrow at noon, a special area outside the city will be designated for your spar!"
"But—before that, if anyone engages in so-called 'sparring' privately again, don't blame Liyue for turning hostile!"
Childe was delighted. His goal had not only been met, but exceeded—he would get a proper fight and continue applying pressure to the Knights of Favonius.
He nodded, smiling confidently, and turned to leave with his men.
Then Yi Chen's cold voice rang out again.
Everyone—Keqing, Childe, even Kaeya—looked at him in confusion.
Yi Chen's Mangekyō Sharingan quietly surfaced.
He didn't look at Childe.
His gaze swept over the Fatui soldiers.
The next instant—
Something bizarre happened.
The Fatui troops who had been standing proudly suddenly went slack, as if all their bones had been pulled out. Their eyes went unfocused, and before they could even grunt, they collapsed one after another, falling into deep unconsciousness.
Only Childe remained standing.
He hadn't even reacted yet—just a brief mental disturbance, and all his subordinates were down.
Only then did Yi Chen nod lightly and gesture.
"Now, you may take your people and leave."
Childe's smile vanished.
For the first time, genuine anger ignited in his eyes.
He stared at Yi Chen and ground out through clenched teeth:
"A probationary knight? Heh… very well. I'll remember you. Tomorrow, I'll tear you apart with my own hands."
Yi Chen met the threat with an even colder gaze.
"If you can do it, then come and try."
Seeing Keqing's darkened expression and the Millelith soldiers ready with spears, Childe forcibly suppressed the urge to attack. He snorted and strode away without another word.
The unconscious Fatui would be handled by their own people.
Once Childe left, the tense atmosphere finally eased.
The Millelith helped the Knights of Favonius support their injured comrades and escorted them to medical care, dispersing the onlookers.
Keqing turned to Yi Chen and Kaeya.
She took a breath, maintaining her official composure.
"Mr. Yi Chen, Captain Kaeya—today's incident was due to insufficient defense on Liyue's part. Medical expenses and compensation for the injured knights will be fully covered by Liyue."
But when she looked at Yi Chen, the seriousness on her face nearly cracked. Deep in her eyes flashed unmistakable satisfaction and admiration.
Only she knew how good it had felt to see Yi Chen knock out those Fatui lackeys so effortlessly.
She had long despised their arrogance—constantly pushing boundaries in Liyue Harbor with that 'Snezhnaya rules the world' attitude.
But diplomacy forced restraint.
Yi Chen had just done exactly what she had always wanted to do—but couldn't.
She coughed lightly, turned slightly, and while adjusting her sleeve, whispered rapidly in a voice only the three of them could hear:
"…Well done."
Then she instantly returned to her Yuheng Star demeanor, as if that praise had never been spoken.
Kaeya and Yi Chen both heard it clearly.
Kaeya stroked his chin, looking at Yi Chen with increased interest.
This guy wasn't just winning Ganyu's favor—now even the famously strict Yuheng Star approved?
Yi Chen smiled faintly.
"You flatter me, Lady Yuheng. Just doing my duty."
Keqing nodded, then asked seriously,
"Tomorrow's spar—are you confident? Childe is no ordinary opponent. He's battle-hungry and extremely experienced. You—"
She hesitated, concern slipping through.
"If you wish to withdraw now, I can manage the situation."
Yi Chen shook his head, completely relaxed—almost eager.
"Don't worry. He can't beat me."
This wasn't arrogance, but absolute confidence in his strength… and in his system-granted cheats.
Keqing recalled his earlier gaze and the instant takedown. Her worry faded significantly.
"Then I wish you victory tomorrow."
She turned briskly to handle the aftermath, disappearing into the busy crowd.
Kaeya elbowed Yi Chen.
"Impressive. Before learning 'how to make money,' you've mastered 'how to win hearts.'"
Yi Chen rolled his eyes.
"Enough. Go check on the injured."
Kaeya chuckled, then turned serious.
"Tomorrow you're really fighting that lunatic? Want me to plan tactics? Eighty percent off, special rate."
Yi Chen walked toward the residence.
"No need."
What he cared about now was what came after beating Childe—and whether to mention the fight in his letter to Acting Grand Master Jean.
…Better write about learning Liyue's business practices first.
The fighting?
He'd explain later—if she asked.
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