Chapter 63: Knife in Hand, Follow Me: Save the Lesser Lord Kusanali, Slay the Virtuous Dog!  

"It's… so quiet here."

In the dark void of her consciousness, Nahida sat alone, enveloped in an oppressive sense of solitude.

There was nothing here.

No light.

No sound.

No other consciousness.

She was utterly alone.

This had been her reality since the day she was born.

"Am I… a qualified god?"

She spoke to herself, her voice carrying a longing for an answer, any answer.

But none came.

No one praised her, and no one criticized her.

For years, she had been chasing after that figure the Archon who came before her desperately wanting to be a worthy god.

To that end, she kept learning, listening to the voices of the people, and searching tirelessly for ways to heal the World Tree.

But she was confined to Jingshan Palace.

Replaced by the false god created by the sages.

She could do nothing.

All she could do was reach out to the people when she could, comforting and encouraging those in distress.

Her divine authority had been reduced to these minor, trivial acts.

She was supposed to be Sumeru's god!

Why, then, had she been relegated to the role of an insignificant bystander?

This injustice kindled a nameless flame within her heart.

"This feeling… is it anger?"

"Should I… be angry?"

Suddenly, Ye Xi's voice echoed in her memory.

*"You're too gentle, too indulgent, even to those who wrong you. That's why you've been reduced to this state."*

"The descendant was right…"

"As a god… have I been too weak?"

"If I weren't so lost, if I hadn't indulged the sages…"

"Could I have guided Sumeru properly?"

Nahida sat on the ground, curling into herself.

She longed to be saved, to escape this endless darkness.

She didn't want to stay here any longer.

But she couldn't do it alone.

This place had held her captive for 500 years.

"To be so powerless… needing others to rescue me…

"Am I even worthy of being called a god?"

Nahida thought of Ye Xi. He was likely fighting against the sages at this very moment.

But she didn't know how he would fare.

Even if she did, she couldn't help him.

Neither she nor Sumeru could free themselves.

All she could do was pray.

Pray for Ye Xi's success.

This was her only chance.

If this hope was dashed, she might remain imprisoned for another 500 years.

Though she was a god, she couldn't stop herself from praying.

"Please, let the descendant succeed…"

Suddenly, a voice responded to her thoughts.

*"Nahida, open your eyes."*

The voice startled her.

She looked up sharply, noticing the dark sky above her beginning to shatter like fragile glass.

Countless rays of light pierced through the cracks.

"Who's there…"

The gaps grew wider, spreading like spiderwebs.

*Crack, crack*

The darkness collapsed entirely, breaking into countless fragments that rained down like glittering dust.

Brilliant white light filled the void.

Nahida's eyes widened.

Her vision cleared, and she saw the interior of Jingshan Palace the cage that had held her prisoner for centuries.

Her small frame was encased in a pale green seal.

"Nahida, the seal is broken. Come out," a voice called.

She turned toward the sound and saw Ye Xi gazing at her, his eyes steady and determined.

"The descendant?"

She hadn't expected Ye Xi to return to Jingshan Palace!

As Ye Xi had said, Nahida felt the seal that had bound her for so long had finally been lifted.

The remaining seals in front of her were no obstacle at all.

With just a single thought, the barriers dissolved, vanishing into the air, and she slowly descended to the ground.

This familiar sensation left her deeply shaken.

For the first time since her imprisonment, she could feel the ground beneath her feet, her body free.

Yet, this newfound joy didn't dispel the doubts lingering in her heart.

"Descendant, this is our first meeting."

"If this is reality, then it truly is our first encounter."

Ye Xi smiled and said, "Call me by my name.

"There's no need for too many people to know about my identity as the descendant."

Hearing this, Nahida nodded. "Ye Xi, thank you for coming to save me.

"During my time in confinement, I've been reflecting on my mistakes."

"As you said, I shouldn't have been so lenient with the sages…"

As Nahida spoke, a commotion broke out outside Jingshan Palace.

"Quickly! This is Jingshan Palace!"

"Master Doctor has ordered that any intruders nearby be killed!"

"Surround the palace!"

A large group of Fatui advance troops and guerrillas swarmed up the winding path.

The number of soldiers was staggering nearly a third of the Fatui's entire force.

In moments, Jingshan Palace was surrounded from every direction.

"Hey, the guards at the door are down! Someone must already be inside!"

Two squads of guards, each numbering 3,000, lay unconscious at the gate.

Upon seeing this, a Fatui soldier quickly reported to their squad leader.

"What did you say!? Everyone, guard the palace exits! Don't let a single rat escape!"

"Yes, sir!"

With the order given, the Fatui soldiers aimed their weapons at Jingshan Palace, ready for combat.

---

*Inside the Palace*

Ye Xi interrupted Nahida's introspection. "We can save the small talk for later.

"Nahida, it's time to leave here. I still need your strength."

As he spoke, he extended his hand toward her.

Hearing his words, Nahida's eyes trembled slightly. "Can I… really help?"

"Of course. Your power is vital for what's to come."

"I… will be needed too…"

Nahida could hardly believe it.

Just moments ago, she had been trapped in the realm of her consciousness, despairing over her inability to act as Sumeru's god.

Yet now, not only was she free from her 500-year cage, but she was also being asked to participate in the plan.

For the first time, she felt truly needed.

Nahida reached for Ye Xi's hand, and together, they moved toward the palace exit.

As she glanced back at the cage that had confined her, a strange sensation welled up within her.

Escaping that imprisonment felt like waking from an unimaginably long dream.

At that moment, even her understanding of herself and the world seemed sharper and more profound.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on these feelings.

"Nahida, we need to run."

"Eh?"

Before she could react, Ye Xi pulled her forward, forcing her to sprint alongside him.

---

*Outside the Palace*

"Hey! Someone's coming out!"

"Be ready! Prepare to attack!"

The Fatui soldiers stood at the ready, their eyes fixed on the palace gates.

Suddenly

Boom! 

The heavy stone gates burst outward with explosive force.

The twin doors flew through the air like kites with broken strings, crashing into the Fatui forces.

"Ah!"

The soldiers caught beneath the flying stone screamed in agony, their cries chilling to the bone.

As the dust and debris settled, two figures emerged from the smoke.

One was tall, the other petite.

"Attack! Attack now!"

"Kill them!"

"Take them down!"

The Fatui advance troops raised their weapons and charged at Ye Xi and Nahida.

Thunder hammers crackled with energy. Hydro gunmen and Cryo sorcerers began channeling their elemental attacks...

Tall and strong bodies surged forward. 

Seeing this, Ye Xi immediately grabbed Nahida by the back of her neck, lifting her effortlessly as though she were a kitten.

In his other hand, his palm transformed into the shape of a blade.

A moment later, a dull, rhythmic sound resonated in everyone's ears.

[Breath Style: Water Breathing – Third Form: Flowing Dance] 

Ye Xi envisioned a way to break through the encirclement.

In an instant, a torrent of water manifested in his palm, flowing with intensity.

At the same time, a Thunderhammer Vanguard raised his massive weapon, its surface crackling with arcs of electricity.

The hammer, charged with thunderous energy, came crashing down toward Ye Xi's head.

"Die!"

A victorious grin appeared on the faces of the Fatui soldiers.

But in the blink of an eye, Ye Xi's figure vanished.

He darted into the crowd, moving faster than the eye could follow, leaving only the faintest blur behind.

To the ordinary onlooker, he was utterly imperceptible.

Only Nahida could see him clearly.

As Sumeru's god, her vision surpassed ordinary comprehension. To her, Ye Xi's movements were as clear as daylight.

He weaved through the crowd like a fish gliding effortlessly through water.

The torrent of water in his hand danced gracefully, its form resembling a water dragon as it sliced through the air, grazing the necks of one Fatui soldier after another.

In mere moments, Ye Xi went from the gate of Jingshan Palace to the far edge of the encirclement.

And still, the Fatui hadn't even registered what had happened.

---

*Suddenly...*

Boom! Boom! Boom! 

A dozen Fatui soldiers collapsed to the ground simultaneously, their bodies hitting the stone path with dull thuds.

Each fallen soldier bore a fatal wound on their neck, blood gushing out uncontrollably.

The gruesome sight sent their comrades into a frenzy of panic.

"Ahhhh!"

"What happened!? What's going on!?"

"Hey, are you okay? Say something!"

The soldiers' formation crumbled into chaos.

To their eyes, Ye Xi and Nahida were right there in the middle of their ranks.

Then, in the blink of an eye, Ye Xi disappeared, and their comrades began dropping lifelessly to the ground.

By the time they realized what had happened, they were already drenched in their allies' blood.

It was as if they were being hunted by a ghost.

---

"The targets! Where are they!?"

The Fatui soldiers at the front of the formation searched frantically.

But the figures of Ye Xi and Nahida, who had been surrounded at the gate, were nowhere to be seen.

A startled voice called out from behind.

"They're here! Over here!"

The soldiers whipped around, their gazes following the shout.

There, standing on the guardrail at the edge of the path, was Ye Xi.

He looked down at them with a mocking grin, his gaze calm and steady.

"How... how is this possible!? How did he escape!?"

The captains of several squads stood frozen in shock, unable to comprehend what Ye Xi had done.

One of them, regaining his composure, barked an order:

"Don't let them escape! Attack!"

---

Jingshan Palace was perched at the highest point of Sumeru City.

The path leading away from it was narrow, and the edges were treacherously steep.

A single misstep could send someone plummeting hundreds of meters to their death.

Ye Xi's position at the guardrail was a clear dead end.

Encouraged by the captain's command, the soldiers charged toward him.

Seeing this, Ye Xi casually tossed Nahida into the air.

"Eh!?"

"Eh!?"

Nahida's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected Ye Xi to throw her.

Below her lay the sprawling city of Sumeru, shrouded in the darkness of night.

Suspended mid-air, hundreds of meters above the ground, she was moments away from a catastrophic fall.

The Fatui soldiers froze, dumbstruck.

Why would he throw his companion into the abyss without warning?

---

"Farewell, everyone"

Ye Xi smirked, leaned back, and let himself fall, plummeting toward the city below at incredible speed.

"They're trying to use Windgliders! Guerrillas, ready your guns!"

Upon hearing the order, the Fatui guerrillas rushed to the edge of the guardrail and aimed their muskets at Ye Xi.

But as Ye Xi fell, he raised a single fist.

[Explosive Strength: Sky-Shattering Punch] 

The entire platform felt as if it had been struck by an air cannonball.

Bang! 

The pathway exploded, causing the Fatui soldiers standing on it to lose their balance and plummet toward the trees below.

"Ahhhh!"

It was as if dumplings were falling from the sky.

The Fatui soldiers screamed as they fell, their cries ending abruptly when they hit the ground. Their bodies were shattered upon impact, leaving only silence behind.

Those who were fortunate enough to avoid the punch watched in terror as their companions met their gruesome end. Their hearts were gripped with fear.

They had never imagined that the solid platform beneath their feet could suddenly burst apart.

"D-Did the Khaenrin do this!?"

"What a terrifying punch! How can someone be this strong!?"

"We can't fight him! We can't win against that monster!"

The sheer power of the punch was mind-boggling. If it could shatter the road with such force, a direct hit would undoubtedly obliterate anyone instantly.

---

Up in the Air 

Ye Xi used his ability, [Walk on the Wind], to glide to Nahida and catch her in midair.

Nahida's eyes glistened with tears as she clung to him.

"I thought I was going to die!" she cried.

"Why didn't you warn me first?"

Like a lifeline, she clutched Ye Xi's arm tightly, her body trembling from fright.

Seeing her panicked expression, Ye Xi couldn't help but laugh. "I thought you could fly."

"How could I!?"

Even though she was a god and wouldn't die from a fall, the experience of free-falling from such a height was terrifying.

For Nahida, this was her first time experiencing such a thing, and it left her shaken.

It turned out that leaping from a great height was much faster than walking down carefully, but it wasn't an experience she wanted to repeat.

---

Landing 

After safely landing, Ye Xi quickly headed to their predetermined meeting spot.

---

Outside the Grand Bazaar's Gate 

Dozens of Ruin Guards stood like grim reapers, striking fear into the hearts of the Fatui soldiers. None dared to approach.

Corpses of the fallen lay scattered everywhere.

The Ruin Guards had been deployed by Ye Xi to protect the Grand Bazaar.

To prevent excessive destruction, he had disabled their missile launch systems.

Nearly 50 Ruin Guards were stationed there.

Had the missiles been operational, Sumeru City might have been reduced to rubble. Instead, the guards relied solely on palm strikes and spinning attacks.

Even so, the Fatui soldiers were powerless against them.

It wasn't that they lacked the strength to defeat the Ruin Guards.

If they could lure one out and focus their firepower, they might be able to destroy it.

But the problem was that the Ruin Guards were coordinated, fighting as if controlled by a single mind.

They never gave the Fatui a chance to isolate and attack one at a time.

Forget 50 guards; even four attacking together were too much for the Fatui to handle.

---

"Sir, we need to retreat! We can't break through!"

"That's right! Even someone with a Vision wouldn't stand a chance against dozens of Ruin Guards at once!"

"We can't keep sending our men to their deaths!"

The squad captain sighed. "If the defenses here are this strong, this must be a critically important location for the Khaenrin."

"Send someone to report to Master Doctor!"

As the soldiers discussed their next steps, a sudden glow illuminated their surroundings.

"What's that!?"

They turned and saw black and white flames rising behind them.

"It's fire! Get back!"

"Ahhhh!"

The flames engulfed one soldier in an instant, spreading across his body like a deadly tide.

His piercing screams filled the air as the flames consumed him entirely, reducing him to a lifeless husk of charred remains.

Witnessing this horrifying sight, the remaining Fatui soldiers panicked and scattered.

But the flames moved faster than they could run.

Screams echoed through the area.

In a short span, the gateway to the Grand Bazaar was littered with scorched bodies.

---

Ye Xi, carrying Nahida, approached the Grand Bazaar, opened the gate, and stepped inside.

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