Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue. [36]
"Gu Fengxiang, about this desk..."
"Here, a 10,000 Mora bill. Keep the change—consider it a donation for your travel expenses."
After replacing the desk, Gu Sanqiu sat back down, chewing on a delivery meal from Wanmin Restaurant. He felt that even with Master Mao's culinary skills, eating in this soul-crushing office environment couldn't save him from the mental exhaustion that was starting to build up.
"Fengxiang, you've been going through reports here all day. When will we take action?" the secretary asked.
"Action?" Gu Sanqiu finished his dinner, pushed his chair back, and casually propped his feet on the new desk.
"You don't need to worry about that. The action has already started—it's just not something you can participate in."
"I've already coordinated with the Millelith. If anything unusual happens, they'll respond. And it'll be something very obvious."
Later that night, Granny Ping sat at a stone table, with the black-striped, white-furred face of the robed cat across from her. Each had a cup of tea in front of them, the fragrant aroma wafting gently into the cool night air.
"Ahh, after days of drinking tea, I've finally gotten rid of that fishy smell. My stomach's been feeling so bland, it's been downright boring."
"You sound like someone who just finished dieting and now wants to binge, only to realize you've gained back all the weight," Granny Ping said with a dry chuckle. "Stop being so dramatic."
The cat huffed. "Oh, come on. You're saying I'm being dramatic, but aren't you the one who invited me to tea, Granny? And by the way, where's that kid Gu Sanqiu? He usually shows up bright and early to mooch tea, but I haven't seen him these past couple of days."
"Little Gu's been busy, I suspect," Granny Ping said, glancing up at the sky. "It seems the bird he raised has arrived in Liyue Harbor with a team."
"Something important going on?" The black-striped cat flicked his tail lazily. "If that brat comes begging me for help, I might just be merciful enough to lend a paw."
"Oh? How about we make a bet then? Let's bet on whether or not Little Gu can handle this on his own," Granny Ping suggested with a smile. "If you lose, you give me one of your precious soul stones. If I lose, I'll lend you my Dust Bell for two days to play with."
"Hmph, no thanks." The robed cat rolled his eyes. "I already gave that brat a soul stone—don't try to squeeze more out of me."
"Besides, anyone who can say the things he says, and has the acknowledgment of the Gu family's Vision, isn't some armchair strategist. I'm not foolish enough to bet against you."
Granny Ping chuckled warmly. "Well, it seems your cultivation hasn't slacked off these past two years. Your brain's gotten sharper too."
"Who are you calling stupid, you old hag?!" the robed cat snapped.
"Jingle jingle—"
"Meow~"
---
Hiss—
Tendrils of colorless, odorless smoke seeped into the room. After a few minutes, the door creaked open.
Strangely, if anyone had witnessed this scene, they would have noticed that not a single person was visible. It was as if some phantom had done it all.
A shadowy eagle perched on the artificial mountain next to Gu Sanqiu, cawing and flapping its wings as it conveyed the events that had just transpired.
"Hmm, so that's how they're doing it," Gu Sanqiu murmured thoughtfully. "I didn't expect anyone to be using such an old method."
"Then again, even in a land filled with mystical powers, most people these days wouldn't know about this."
"Don't act rashly," he added. "Liyue Harbor is big, and there are likely staging points or middlemen involved. Wait until the big players show themselves."
The eaglenodded and took off into the night sky again.
Gu Sanqiu glanced up at the sky, watching as shadows of varying sizes flitted across the night sky. These shadows were his trump card for this operation.
As the leader of the shadow eagles, the bird had brought a capable team to Liyue Harbor, setting up the most precise aerial surveillance network.
Thanks to Gu Sanqiu's secret techniques and his precious elixirs, issues like exhaustion and poor night vision were of no concern—though it was a bit resource-intensive.
Still, Gu Sanqiu, with his wealthy background, wasn't concerned about the costs.
In the dark alleys, hidden from the Millelith's patrols, and even atop low rooftops, babies and young children were being moved swiftly by strange creatures.
If anyone zoomed in closer, they would see a shocking sight.
Underneath these children were large, black-furred rats, strange oversized insects, and even snakes. Each of these animals was covered in a layer of dark energy, moving with practiced skill. It was no wonder the Millelith had been unable to catch them.
Every city, no matter how clean, has its share of vermin. The real surprise was seeing such an ancient form of child trafficking being used. It had almost disappeared from history, so it wasn't the Millelith's fault they couldn't track it.
If it weren't for the shadow eagle's scouts spotting the animals' movements, and the Gu family's meticulously preserved records, Gu Sanqiu wouldn't have remembered this method himself.
After all, this was the first time he had seen such a tactic in both his lives.
"Heh, come to grandpa, little babies... come into my arms~"
The eagle locked its sharp eyes on a lecherous-looking old man. Though the man had some strange artifact hiding his appearance and location, it was useless in front of the shadow eagle.
"CAW—"
With a piercing cry, the eagle morphed and shot down like an arrow toward the old man, its metallic wings aimed at his throat!
"Beast, get lost!" the old man snarled, pulling out a whistle and blowing it hard. Three or four venomous snakes shot out from the shadows under the eaves, predicting the eagle's path and lunging with open jaws!
Slash, slash!
With a swift wingbeat, the attacking snakes were severed into pieces. The eagle's wings swept forward again, shattering the old man's protective talisman with a powerful gust of wind and a well-placed talon swipe.
"Damn it!" The sound of the Millelith's emergency assembly horn echoed nearby, and the old man, now exposed, glared at the eagle before turning to flee, determined to memorize its appearance.
From afar, Gu Sanqiu, hearing the eagle's cry, stubbed out his cigarette and launched a specially made Millelith flare into the sky.
Fwoosh—boom!
In the stillness of the night, the only people stirring were a few night owls, along with the Millelith stationed throughout the city. Upon hearing the flare's peculiar crack, their eyes sharpened in unison.
Action was underway!
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