Chapter 69

In Liyue, those who knew Jiang Ning were aware of one thing.

You could joke about him freely, even call him short to his face.

At worst, you'd get a beating.

But you absolutely could not disparage those close to him.

Last time, the Treasure Hoarders in Guili Plains made this mistake.

They spoke vulgar words about Shenhe right in front of Jiang Ning.

As a result, Jiang Ning became angry, and by the time the Millelith arrived, there were no Treasure Hoarders left.

Only scattered pieces of flesh remained, the scene so gruesome that even the Millelith felt chilled seeing Jiang Ning's demeanor.

After that, Jiang Ning's infamous reputation spread among the Treasure Hoarders.

The Treasure Hoarders in Liyue became much more cautious.

But this was Mondstadt, and Shenhe watched with joy as Jiang Ning stepped forward.

Shenhe didn't care about their vulgar words; she only cared that her junior disciple would get angry for her sake. This made her feel good.

As for those Treasure Hoarders... if her junior didn't deal with them, she would kill them herself.

However, it was clear Jiang Ning had no intention of letting Shenhe intervene.

He drew out the Skyward Spine and took his stance.

Since they were Mondstadt's scum, he'd send them to the afterlife with a Mondstadt weapon... though actually, with his necromantic powers, Jiang Ning wouldn't even give them the chance to reach the afterlife.

"Oh, what a fat sheep we've caught."

Though they didn't recognize what Jiang Ning was holding, anyone could tell it wasn't ordinary.

"This'll fetch a good price!"

The Treasure Hoarders continued laughing.

Jiang Ning was puzzled - were these people brainless?

To dare attack two people who ventured out of the city carrying such valuable items...

Even putting that aside, the Vision his senior sister wore wasn't just for show.

Were they really this bold?

[Host, do you think it's because the Knights of Favonius are too incompetent?]

"Possibly," Jiang Ning thought.

However, he had no intention of wasting time with these folks.

He immediately channeled Cryo energy, formed hand seals, and opened with an elemental burst.

"Cryo Divine Change!"

The surrounding temperature dropped instantly, even creating a localized blizzard.

Yet Jiang Ning showed no signs of excessive strain.

Thanks to the Skyward Spine in his hands, Jiang Ning had discovered during practice that it could replenish his elemental energy during battle.

Thus, at times, Jiang Ning's fighting style had become much more uninhibited.

When Jiang Ning began forming hand seals, these men realized something was wrong. When the temperature started dropping and Cryo elements began dancing around, they knew to run.

But it was too late.

Their feet were frozen to the ground by thick ice, their bodies gradually shaking and stiffening.

"Ah! My legs!"

"Mercy! Please spare us!"

Cries and pleas for mercy filled the air, but Jiang Ning remained deaf to them, even finding them too noisy.

With a thought, he filled their mouths with rocks.

Though these people hadn't broken any contract, borrowing Rex Lapis's method wasn't bad - the punishment of stone-eating.

"Now that the annoying noise is gone, Senior Sister, these people insulted you. How would you like them to die?"

Jiang Ning spoke these terrifying words with a smile.

Shenhe shook her head: "In this aspect, I'm not as creative as you. Junior Brother, decide as you please."

She didn't know where her junior disciple had learned this from, but he never killed those who spoke vulgar words the same way twice.

Jiang Ning said, "Then it's simple. This one whose eyes wandered - let's gouge them out. This one who rubbed his hands - let's look at those hands. And this one... and this one..."

Jiang Ning casually determined how each would die while chatting.

At this moment, Jiang Ning wasn't the gentle and well-behaved youth others saw him as, but rather like a demon king.

His words terrified these men; the weaker-hearted ones simply fainted.

Jiang Ning was a man of his word, carrying out his planned methods one by one.

After sufficient torture, he finally ended their lives.

But that wasn't enough - exercising his power as the God of Death, he denied them even the chance to reincarnate.

"Senior Sister, shall we go?"

Jiang Ning said.

Shenhe nodded.

Jiang Ning acted as if he'd just killed a few insects, and as for Shenhe, as long as Jiang Ning was happy, anything was fine.

...

After this small interlude, there were more small interludes.

On the way to Starfell Valley, Jiang Ning encountered more than one group of Treasure Hoarders.

He even saved two or three Mondstadt adventurers who were surrounded by Slimes and Hilichurls.

The problem was, two Hydro Slimes surrounding an adventurer - couldn't they even run away instead of just crouching there and crying for help?

This left Jiang Ning increasingly bewildered.

How had Mondstadt not perished yet?

Or was this all just a facade?

Jiang Ning decided to have a serious talk with Ningguang about Mondstadt's situation when he returned.

Finally, they arrived at Starfell Valley.

It was an open plain of grassland, with a towering tree in the center, and before the tree stood a Statue of The Seven.

How to put it... as expected of Barbatos, the statue was androgynous, and that divine outfit, if anyone actually wore it, would give people their first impression as...

Quite provocative.

"It's completely different from Liyue..." Jiang Ning took a deep breath, smelling the fragrance of grass and earth.

Shenhe nodded slightly: "This place seems to lack the weight of Geo elements, replaced by the freedom of Anemo."

"Well, it is the land of freedom," Jiang Ning said.

But Jiang Ning still preferred Liyue.

Last night when he wanted to buy something to eat, nothing but taverns were open.

It was only just past eight.

In Liyue, there were shopping streets during the day and night markets after dark.

Whatever daily necessities you needed, you could buy them twenty-four hours a day.

Jiang Ning stomped the ground, a ball of Geo energy appearing in his hand, and suddenly said:

"However, I think we should return early. The Geo elements tell me that Mondstadt seems to have gained some ominous presence."

Shenhe was puzzled: "I... don't sense anything."

Jiang Ning said, "Perhaps it's because Geo elements permeate the earth... and this is Master Zhongli's Geo energy. The adepti's power should have some special properties."

Just like how Sister Ganyu's Cryo element had a trace of qilin essence, which Jiang Ning could use to slightly heal others if he wanted.

"Hehe, young man, I can't pretend I didn't hear that."

A slightly frivolous voice rang out.

Jiang Ning's eyes sharpened: "Who's there?!"