Chapter 55: Broken! Become A Stand-In Messenger! Forced Not To Be Human!
Deserts and plains are the closest places to the stars.
Lying in the desert and gazing at the starry sky, I feel as though the stars are falling before me, as if I could reach out and grasp them with my hand.
Dehya, her breathing gradually stabilizing, leaned against Ye Xi, savoring the tranquility of traveling among the stars.
"So happy…"
Dehya whispered softly.
The desert night was cold, but the warmth of the campfire made the chill bearable.
Ye Xi admired her silently.
Dehya was truly remarkable, from her clear sapphire-like eyes to her honey-toned skin. She was beautiful and radiantly healthy, and her figure exceeded his expectations.
The sense of accomplishment from taming this fiery lion was indescribable.
Even Ye Xi couldn't help but appreciate the tenderness of the moment.
Just as he was lost in thought, a faint, ethereal sound echoed in his ears.
*[Ding~]*
*[Mission Completed: "Open Branches"]*
*[Hint: There are now five members in the branch: Ayexia, Dunyarzad, Collei, Jeht, and Dehya.]*
*[System Upgrade!]*
*[Numerical Panel Unlocked!]*
Ye Xi hadn't expected the system to upgrade.
As he wondered about the changes, a data panel appeared before him, detailing all his current abilities:
*[Physical Strength: 48]*
*[Thunder Element Power: 57]*
*[Spiritual Power: 3]*
*[Abyss Power: 11]*
*[Superpowers: Electromagnetic Gun, Forced Calmness, Primary Healing, Black Flame]*
*[Electromagnetic Gun Uses Remaining: 3]*
*[Xianshu: Immortal Breathing Technique]*
*[Swordsmanship: Khaenri'ah Court Swordsmanship, Water Breathing]*
*[Relic Guards: 50 units]*
The panel gave a clear overview of the abilities and bonuses Ye Xi had accumulated recently.
Closing the data window, another prompt appeared.
*[Mission Completed: "Open Branches"]*
*[Abyss Power +19]*
*[Congratulations! The "Abyss Power" Panel is Unlocked.]*
Curious, Ye Xi inspected the newly unlocked Abyss Power. It resembled a branching tree, with each branch representing a specific ability.
Apparently, Abyss Power could unlock a range of skills.
*[Abyss Power: 30 – Unlock the "Substitute" Ability?]*
Ye Xi was perplexed. Substitute!?
Could it be the substitute he was imagining?
Without hesitation, Ye Xi selected *[Unlock]*.
Moments later, a card-drawing interface appeared on the screen.
*[Click to Extract a Substitute!]*
Ye Xi was surprised by the turn of events. Drawing cards in Teyvat? This was too exciting to resist!
He pressed the extraction button, and countless avatars spun across the screen.
Finally, the selection stopped on a card. It was number 21 from the major arcana of the tarot deck *The World*!
*[Congratulations! You have obtained the Substitute – The World!]*
*[The World: Pauses time for 10 seconds. Melee Speed: A. Growth Potential: High.]*
Ye Xi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"A stand-in messenger!?"
Thanks to his *[Forced Calmness]* ability, he resisted the urge to leap up and cheer.
Still, it was a golden legend!
Ignoring the subsequent system rewards, Ye Xi immediately tested the summoning process.
As he focused, a phantom appeared before him, floating in the air.
Unlike the World he remembered, this phantom was clad in ornate ice-blue armor and a platinum helmet. It lacked exaggerated muscles and had no discernible facial features or expressions.
Though it wasn't the romanticized version he'd imagined, it was undeniably cool.
This manifestation seemed tailored to Ye Xi's current power level, matching the stand-in messenger The World.
Testing its presence, Ye Xi let the phantom hover near Dehya. To his relief, she showed no reaction, her gaze fixed on the stars above.
This confirmed that the stand-in was invisible to others.
Amused, Ye Xi grumbled inwardly about the system's relentless interference with his human connections.
---
Returning to the system panel, Ye Xi noticed another prompt.
*[Congratulations! "Beast Master" Ability Unlocked!]*
*[Beast Master: After forming a contract, you can command the contractor to perform any task.]*
Looking at Dehya beside him, Ye Xi couldn't help but smirk.
How fitting to gain the ability to tame beasts right after taming a "lion."
The two abilities stand-in and beast mastery were the system's latest rewards. The former was practical, while the latter seemed less useful.
As Ye Xi pondered, footsteps approached.
Turning, he saw Jeht tiptoeing over.
She quietly settled beside Ye Xi, seeking warmth without disturbing Dehya.
The desert night grew colder, but the trio shared a peaceful moment by the fire.
After a while, Dehya let out a sigh.
"What should I do? How will I explain this to the lady when we return…"
Jeht chuckled. "Worried now? You weren't thinking about that when it happened!"
"Don't worry. The lady is kind. She told me yesterday that she wants to get along with me."
"Of course, I know Miss is gentle." Dehya sighed again. "But it's still awkward. I went out with Master Ye Xi and… well, stole her man. I don't even know how to face her."
Jeht thought for a moment before her eyes lit up. "Why not spend the night with Master together? Build emotional connections!"
"That's too shameless!"
Caught in the middle, Ye Xi sighed as the women bantered.
"Enough, go to sleep. We need to leave early tomorrow."
"The Flower God's Birthday Festival is soon. Don't you want to celebrate?"
Jeht cheered, "Yes!"
Dehya smirked. "Or are you just eager to watch Miss Nilou dance, Master Ye Xi?"
Ye Xi didn't answer, opting instead to pinch Dehya cheek.
The desert night was serene, punctuated only by the sound of golden beetles rolling sand balls.
Exhausted from the day's battles, everyone soon drifted into a deep sleep.
The ruin guards stood watch, ensuring no monster dared approach.
---
As dawn broke, the sun's warmth dispelled the night's chill.
Ye Xi awoke to find Dehya humming nearby, clearly in high spirits.
Holding two orbs in her hands, she exclaimed triumphantly, "Master Ye Xi, thank you for giving me the Vision!"
One orb was her original fire-element Vision, and the other was a newly acquired grass-element Vision.
At the same time, a system prompt echoed in Ye Xi's mind:
*[Ding~]*
*[Dehya has obtained a Grass Element Vision! Fire Power +18!]*
*[New Skill Unlocked: Xianjia Boxing – Sky-Splitting Cunjin!]*
Surprised, Ye Xi couldn't help but marvel at this unexpected turn of events.
Suddenly, Dehya gasped in astonishment.
"What? What?"
"This sudden memory… it seems to be some kind of boxing technique!"
"Inch strength? What is that?"
"Could it be another reward from Master Ye Xi~?"
Dehya was surprised as memories suddenly surfaced in her mind.
It felt like gaining knowledge from the void!
Meanwhile, Jeht couldn't help but feel envious.
"Master, I want one too!"
"How can Dehya have two Visions?"
"I've never seen anyone with two Visions! It's not fair!"
Jeht had believed that possessing a Vision had already changed her fate, but to her shock, Dehya now had two.
Did that mean Dehya was stronger than her?!
Dehya, hearing this, crossed her arms triumphantly.
As the two girls argued, Ye Xi began processing the memory of the **[Xianjia Boxing]** technique that had appeared in his mind.
**[Xianjia Boxing Method (Body Training): Gain an inch of strength, acquire spiritual energy through the Xianjia breathing method, and focus your power!]**
Understanding its significance, Ye Xi realized that the **Xianjia Breathing Method** was for cultivating Qi, while the **Xianjia Boxing Method** trained the body.
The ability to harness inch-strength with precision could prove useful to him.
He refocused on the group. "Alright, alright. Let's head home first we can talk more along the way."
"Home?"
Dehya was momentarily stunned before a warm smile spread across her face. "Yes, home!"
For someone who had been homeless, the concept of a home was deeply moving. The **Ye Family Courtyard** was now her sanctuary.
From that moment, she was no longer a wandering desert mercenary but a woman with a place to belong.
---
On the way, Ye Xi began teaching Dehya the Xianjia Breathing Method.
When Dehya discovered the strange power it granted, she excitedly tested it.
Using her newfound inch-strength, she punched the ground, creating a massive crater in the sand.
The sheer force of the punch startled everyone.
"If this had hit someone's head…" Dehya muttered, eyes wide in awe.
Jeht, watching in stunned silence, eventually managed to stammer, "That... that's terrifying."
Ye Xi, however, simply nodded in approval. "This is the boxing technique of an immortal."
The realization of its power made Dehya smile with unmatched joy.
Meanwhile, Jeht grew visibly jealous.
"Jeht," Ye Xi said with a smirk, "after Water Breathing, there are still many more advanced techniques for you to learn."
"Eh?!" Jeht eyes lit up. "Master, how about I keep you company tonight? Please?"
While her request sounded innocent, her true intent was simply to stay by Ye Xi's side. Seeing an opportunity, she leaned into it.
Ye Xi, of course, couldn't refuse such an affectionate request.
Next to them, Dehya pouted and exclaimed, "Jeht, you're so sneaky!"
"Didn't I let you take the spotlight last night? Aren't we best friends?"
"That doesn't count! This is a completely different matter!"
---
As their conversation continued, the desert atmosphere shifted.
The wind grew harsher, and sand began swirling in the air a clear sign of another approaching sandstorm.
"This one looks even worse than yesterday's!" Dehya remarked, shielding her face.
"Thankfully, we're almost at Kawanyi Station," Jeht added.
Ahead, the ruins' guards reached the sandstorm barrier, just in time to avoid the worst of the storm.
When they arrived at the station's checkpoint, Ye Xi decided to dismiss the conspicuous ruin guards to avoid drawing attention.
As they approached, they heard a heated argument nearby.
"Miss Candace, are you really going to resort to force?!"
"I don't want to fight, but I will if you don't let them in!"
"It's not happening! We can't allow it!"
Looking over, Ye Xi saw two guards barring a group of people from entering. Among them were a mother and child, and an elderly man leaning on a cane.
Standing in front of them was a young woman with a shield. Her honey-colored skin glistened under the desert sun, and golden leg rings adorned her slender legs. Her heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one gold, gave her an air of mystery.
She was Candace, the guardian of Aaru Village.
Ye Xi observed quietly as the old man stepped forward, pleading, "Please, let us through! The sandstorm is too strong, and there are children here!"
But the guards were unmoved.
"Miss Candace can enter, but not the elderly or children!"
"We can't take the risk of smuggling you in. You know the rules!"
Despite the little girl's tearful eyes, the guards refused to budge.
Dehya clenched her fists in frustration.
"Who is that?" Ye Xi asked.
Dehya explained, "That's Candace. She's been helping desert children get an education in the city. But the anti-sand walls… they protect from sandstorms but also isolate us desert folk."
Jeht sighed. "The city strictly controls who can pass through, and the elderly and children are usually denied entry."
Dehya stepped forward, ready to confront the guards, but Jeht stopped her.
"Don't act recklessly you'll only make things worse."
Ye Xi, however, saw an opportunity. Helping Candace could establish goodwill with the desert people and earn him a strong ally in the region.
"Let's see what's going on," Ye Xi said, his voice steady and authoritative.
Hearing his words, Dehya and Jeht felt a surge of gratitude.
Candace turned at the sound of a familiar voice.
"Dehya?! What are you doing here?"
"Sister Dehya!" the little girl exclaimed, running to hug her leg.
"We'll catch up later," Dehya said, addressing the guards. "Abuak, these are my friends. Can't you make an exception for them?"
Abuak frowned. "Dehya, you know we can't. Rules are rules."
At that moment, Ye Xi stepped forward.
"Then how about giving *me* face?"
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