Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

Should he run?

Fu She couldn't remember anyone. He was fighting while his head was throbbing with pain, but the more his head ached, the more fragmented images appeared, urging him, interrogating him, and even questioning him.

He remembered that many years ago, this area of ​​the Rocky Abyss was not a desert; western Liyue was a grassland. A tall and handsome man stood atop a cliff, accompanying him as he gazed at Guili Village. The man was clad in heavy, rock-colored armor, holding a long spear and a saber, standing beside him with an air of authority and solemnity.

“Fushe.” The man stretched out his hand to him. “You’ve lost. Where can you run to? Why don’t you come with me? We’ll go to the Central Plains of the Northern Lands.”

Fushe looked at his hand, which was covering his forehead, and his dry lips moved slightly.

“The grasslands there are the most expansive, even enough to raise horses. We can go wherever we want. We can make a name for ourselves in the Central Plains, and everyone will remember our names. I want to name my kingdom Liyue. It will have the largest territory, the strongest wine, the most powerful soldiers, and the sharpest spears. Come, Fushe, let's go together.”

"Morax," he heard his past self mockingly say, "want to be the emperor of the Central Plains?"

It's laughable. Back then, all sorts of demons and heroes were rising up. What was Liyue? It was the best land in the Northern Continent, known as the "Central Plains"!

This land is protected by the Bishui River to the north, ensuring irrigation; the Tianheng Cliff to the south, protecting it from all enemies; the Jueyun Mountains to the west, providing natural depth; and the coast to the east, free from foreign invasion, ensuring its control over the world's maritime transport hub.

Ten thousand years before this land existed, no tribe or clan could have conquered it entirely, not even in an era when three moons shone. To say something so unrealistic is just a joke.

"It's not just a thought, it's inevitable." The man narrowed his eyes.

“Fine, then if you can become the emperor of the Central Plains, I will suppress you for two thousand years.” Fu She raised his fist and bumped it with his. The young man and the tyrannical Yaksha stared at each other, their eyes flashing with something unsettling.

Fu She could no longer make out what those shimmering things were, but he knew that if he had to come again, he would still pledge allegiance to this man. This man was the natural master of the Northern Lands, and his bravery, his unparalleled prowess, and his iron armor were all born for him.

"The whole army!"

Fushe suddenly shouted, "Do you want to be the emperor of Liyue?!"

No one understood what he was suddenly shouting about.

"In the past, the Rock King and I pacified the north and south of Liyue here. Now, can't we even defend it? I don't think so!" Fu She laughed. "Follow me into the underground! Seal the surface! Destroy the gate to the Beast Realm and completely sever their lifeline! I, Fu She, the Grand Marshal of the Tengshe, hereby promise that this battle will be won! All I ask is that you all die with me!"

Everyone was stunned, but then, the retreating army actually stopped. The fleeing soldiers turned their heads and saw Fu She's back in the long dust of the setting sun that was about to sink into the earth.

Someone hesitated.

Some people are disdainful.

Some people are confused.

Some people are angry.

Some people were overjoyed.

But most people remain silent.

The lieutenant silently raised his knife and turned around.

"We men of Liyue, isn't this the day we joined the army? Long ago, we dreamed of conquering the north and south, of turning the entire northern continent into Liyue's pastures with our horses' hooves, of herding sheep in the plaza before Winter Palace, and fishing on the Isle of the Sea." Fushe said softly, "The Demon God War ended two thousand years ago, but now this era has returned. Do you want to be the emperor of Liyue? Anyone can. I hereby make this covenant with you all! It will last until the end of time!"

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Everyone Has an Unhappy Childhood

Dawn has arrived.

But dawn was the coldest time of the night, and Yingda felt as if her blood was freezing. She rushed to the camp of Fushe, the front-line camp, but all she could see were collapsed stone tablets, which rose together with smoke and ashes amidst the burning ruins at the moment the sun rose.

There were no living people left; the ground was littered with either human and wolf corpses, or the sealed mouth of the abyss.

She had already urgently inquired with the Ji Palace, and the telegram replied that the restriction on the Maw of the Abyss was the ultimate form of the Supreme Divine Incantation, a supreme killing move set up by the young members of the military's magical families, allowing entry but not exit. Setting up such an incantation meant that Fushe's army was prepared to fight to the death—either all would perish to allow the beast tide to break through, or they would eliminate the Beast Realm Gate once and for all!

Yingda knew Fushe's situation; he was the one with the deepest karmic burden among his five brothers and sisters, and logically, he shouldn't have been involved in this war. However, as the marshal, he had to set an example. But how could Fushe possibly lead a group of remnants on such a mission? She held onto a sliver of hope that Fushe would be defeated and the ban would be lifted so they could escape. But if Fushe truly collapsed, it meant the beast tide inside was completely uncontrollable, and even if they escaped, they would be defeated generals…

Is it better to be a defeated general than to die? But if the army is routed, Fu She's personality will definitely lead him to cover the retreat for his comrades, so that would also be a dead end for him?

Yingda stared blankly at the black flames spreading across the ground. The flames were the color of those burned beasts, and they stung her skin. She had a strange feeling, as if this had happened a long time ago. Brother Fushe's arm always carried a warm aura and a reliable strength; he would always appear before her and pat her shoulder, even now.

She recalled living with her sister in a village outside Tianheng Mountain many, many years ago. They were adopted by a hunter family. The hunter family did not like the sisters because the Yaksha was always a symbol of bad luck. However, Yingda was precocious and beautiful, and her adoptive father hoped that they could marry his son.

Yingda matured early and accepted her fate of caring for her adoptive father in his old age, so she worked diligently without complaint. However, she soon noticed that her younger sister was growing increasingly beautiful, and in many people's eyes, Fanan was also a beauty in the making. Although it was considered unlucky, it didn't matter if it was only for breeding and satisfying desires. Many farmers in the mountains were bachelors or even childless their entire lives; compared to the unlucky image of the Yaksha (a mythical creature), women were more important.

Yingda sensed that her adoptive father wasn't planning to sell her to farmers; he was trying to sell her sister to a wealthy person. So she kept a close eye on the customers who associated with hunters. She knew her adoptive father was unsophisticated and if he wanted to sell Fanan for a high price, he could only approach the townspeople who came to buy furs and meat. Some of these people would buy Fanan. However, most people would leave in disgust when they saw the horns on Yingda Fanan's head, not even bothering to discuss the price. But there was one exception: a man who went up the mountain to see the two sisters almost every two weeks. He called himself "Tengshe" and said he came to gather herbs.

He was tall and burly, always wearing a white headscarf and a linen undershirt, looking like a rough man. But he spoke politely, showing respect even to a rough man like Ying Da's adoptive father, and even to Ying Da and Fanan.

Yingda disliked him, feeling that this grown man had taken a liking to her young sister, and refused to associate with him. However, Tengshe didn't mind Yingda's wariness; on the contrary, he got along very well with her family, even drinking and eating meat with her adoptive father. He often brought toys from town and books, telling Yingda, Fanan, and her adoptive father's mentally challenged son stories about the outside world, such as a young man named Yan Wang who was preparing to rise up in rebellion but lacked the power to do so.

Yingda didn't understand these things, but he was wary of him and didn't want him to have much contact with Fanan. However, his relationship with the hunter's adoptive father was too good, and even the ignorant little Fanan liked the various gifts he brought. Over time, Yingda would also encounter Tengshe when he went up the mountain to gather pig feed. During this time, Tengshe taught them to read and write and to practice martial arts. Yingda once thought that this strong man was going to take advantage of the little girl, but he just watched with a smile from the side. Knowing that Yingda was wary, he didn't even take the initiative to teach them.

Until her adoptive father's son turned fourteen, on that day, her adoptive father bought wine and meat, held a family feast, and invited neighbors, relatives, and friends. Drunk, he announced that from that day forward, his Yingda was getting married to his mentally challenged son. Yingda was stunned. She had always thought she could accept this fact, but when her adoptive father announced it in front of so many people, she realized she was unwilling. She wasn't just worried about Fan Nan; she was also afraid of herself. She didn't want to accept that mentally challenged boy who was born with some problems. She hadn't refused all these years because she felt she had no right to refuse.

Actually, that mentally challenged son wasn't that bad to her. Every day, he would just follow her around blankly, calling her "Sister Yingda, Sister Yingda." Yingda felt that if she were a human being, she should repay her adoptive father's kindness and take care of this mentally challenged son for the rest of her life. But when the time came, she backed down. However, she still didn't dare to say anything and could only respond with a silly smile.

Then she spent the whole day in a daze. In the afternoon, she was washing clothes by the river, and looking at the water, she suddenly had the urge to jump in. But then she thought of Fanan, and she couldn't understand it anymore. At that moment, she felt someone standing behind her. She suddenly stood up and bumped into the person's chin, causing him to stumble back several steps in pain. Yingda looked over and saw that Tengshe was holding a cloth bag, seemingly preparing to put her inside.

Just as Yingda was about to shout, Tengshe covered her mouth. Terrified, she instinctively summoned her Yaksha form and bit the man's wrist, causing him to howl in pain. Then, Yingda's arm hardened into a blade, ready to retaliate, but it struck the man's leg with a metallic clang.

She was surprised, and then she saw Fu She, who was covering her mouth, looking both in unbearable pain and relieved.

"Impressive, you little brat, you've already activated your bloodline." Tengshe said, "No wonder you're a pure-blooded Yaksha. Did you learn this from sparring with me all this time? You've been keeping it as a trump card."

"You are...?" Yingda realized that this man's body was just as tough as hers, as he could withstand her hand strike.

"But even if you are so powerful, what use is it if you don't even have the courage to resist?" Tengshe said with a smile. "You alone can kill your adoptive father's entire family. They have no right to force you to do anything. You are a Yaksha, a killing machine. How come you are here every day chopping wood, washing clothes, cooking, and gathering pig feed?"

He untied his headscarf, revealing purple markings on his forehead. Yingda stopped resisting; she was stunned. She knew what those markings on her face and skin were—humans didn't have these things; only "Yakshas" possessed them.

“A girl like you who doesn’t dare to make a decision now will regret it for the rest of her life. So I originally wanted to kidnap you, even if it was a bit brutal, but I couldn’t. I offered a lot of money, but your adoptive father refused to sell both of you to me. He knows his son is unlikely to get married in this lifetime, so he won’t sell you.” The man said apologetically, “I’m a soldier, and it’s not easy for me to save money. I’ve left him enough to live on for the rest of his life. I hope he can have another son and not hold someone else’s daughter back. So, do you want to come with me?”

"Where are we going with a demon like you? To wander?" Yingda said coldly.

"How could that be? I'm a government employee, so naturally I'd join the army. The Northern Lands have been recruiting all along, and I've been keeping an eye on you two sisters for a long time. With your talent, you'll both become generals sooner or later!" Tengshe laughed. "I've already discussed it with your sister, and she's very willing. She just insists that I take you with me by force because she says you're having trouble making a decision and feel guilty. Actually, you have nothing to feel guilty about; I've already paid you. Of course, if you absolutely refuse to go, there's nothing I can do. But think about it carefully. Your sister, Fa Nan, definitely doesn't want to marry a stranger. Can you protect her? What can someone as conflicted as you fight for? If you ask me, just go now. It's better to follow a good leader and risk your life than to support your alcoholic adoptive father in his old age! Once you decide to join the army, the world seems much bigger!"

Now, Yingda suddenly recalled her first meeting with Fushe and realized that her decision to agree to join the army was too abrupt. How could she know if Fanan had agreed when she hadn't even met him? Perhaps Fushe turned to Fanan and said, "Your sister is about to join the army. Are you going or not? If you don't go, you can stay and marry a silly stranger," thus getting both sisters to join the ranks of the Rock King Emperor... Back then, the Emperor wasn't even the Emperor yet.

But Yingda knew why she had agreed. Although Fushe hadn't given her a good initial impression, he was actually like a father to her, not someone who treated her like a plow ox or a breeding horse, but someone who was kind to her out of a sense of kinship or even family. Even though she had called him "elder brother" all these years, an elder brother was like a father. For over two thousand years, she couldn't even remember what her childhood adoptive father looked like; all she could remember was Fushe, his broad arms shielding her from all the wind and sand. As long as Fushe was alive, she could feel like a young woman, a vigorous and energetic girl, still able to explore yoga poses in bed with the little princess from Inazuma…

But now the dream is over, and the floating dwelling is about to disappear.

Countless memories flooded back in an instant, piercing her chest like knives. She felt empty, utterly destitute, and once again became that lonely and lowly alien girl at the foot of Tianheng Mountain, toiling day after day, carrying her younger sister in a bamboo basket, chopping firewood, raising pigs, and pulling weeds, with no one caring or paying attention.

“Brother Fushe, brother is about to die, he’s about to disappear…” Yingda looked around the burning and ruined military camp, but for some reason, the image of his adoptive father’s foolish son from a thousand years ago flashed through his mind.

If she had chosen to forgo that freedom and instead lived a chaotic life like a pig or a cow, perhaps she wouldn't have had to worry about these things. Let that simple-minded boy handle everything; after all, he'll be her husband, and a husband should consider many things for his wife. These things aren't my concern...

From beginning to end, Yingda was not a resolute person. She knew her own weakness. She was powerless to fight against even a human foster father. Fanan could even execute Mi Nu with his own hands, but she didn't even dare to look at him.

She was never as brave as her younger sister.

Yingda was suddenly stunned.

"Husband... Liang'er, yes! Liang'er! I still have Liang'er!" a voice cried out in her heart. Then she turned and ran, quickly passing the soldiers and the military camp. "Liang'er! Help me! Save me! Save my brother!"

------------

Caiqiao Valley Campsite, Telegraph Base.

After Fushe led his army deep into the mouth of the abyss and set up a barrier, the entire Layered Rock Abyss was mobilized, and this camp is now largely ignored.

Yingda, Fanan, and Xiao are all fighting on the front lines. Even though Fushe has closed the mouth of the Great Abyss, the beast tide that surged out due to the earthquake widening the mouth still needs to be cleared, and all the armies are on the march. In fact, if Fushe hadn't been decisive enough, given the current vigilance of the various camps in the Layered Rock Great Abyss, many people might have died... Moreover, judging from the number of beast tides, all the armies probably wouldn't be able to stop them.

With all the Yakshas busy clearing out the ferocious beasts, Shen Liang's camp has nothing to do. He was originally the central point for reporting to the quartermasters at all levels, but now that war has broken out, the quartermasters seem to be reporting directly to the Yakshas from the front lines, and seem to have forgotten about the telegraph system.

Indeed, with military camps shrinking and large armies preparing for war, the army now basically follows the orders of the generals directly. Troops stationed outside the military often make their own judgments and commands, and are not under the command of the telegram.

Shen Liang turned his head and saw that Rosalyn had stayed up all night and had only just fallen asleep at dawn. Alice was alright; the two of them had just been chatting.

“The sorcerers’ divine spells and restrictions are from the inside out; in other words, they are so-called ‘killer spells,’ right?” Alice said.

A fatal seal is essentially tantamount to mutual destruction, and it's one of the many methods employed by sorcerers. Shen Liang understood Alice's meaning, because the sorcerers could only open the seal themselves. If they all died in battle without opening the seal, then the Maw of the Abyss would become a true death trap, where they could imprison the beasts underground forever and wear them down.

“But it’s no use. The gates to the Beast Realm are endless. If they can’t be closed, the monsters of the Beast Realm will eventually break through the barrier,” Shen Liang said. “So they must close the underground gates to the Beast Realm. This is the most important task. If a barrier was enough, Liyue could have had the sorcerers infiltrate underground to set up the barrier from the beginning… The people of Liyue have never lacked sacrifices.”

"But the Laminariat is the foundation of Liyue's nation, and a permanent ban is ultimately impossible. Without the Laminariat, there would be no 70% of the rock mines," Iris analyzed. "What do you think Fushe will do when he leads the elite Tiger Might Army underground?"

"We can't possibly confront the beast tide head-on," Shen Liang said in a low voice. "In fact, it's not like no one has ever been into the Deep Rock Abyss before, it's just too dangerous and the survival rate is low. If I were Fu She, knowing that fighting would only lead to death, I would choose to lie in wait. He only brought in about two thousand elite troops. If they split into multiple groups, some units can always remain hidden. Lying in wait gives us a chance. Besides, Kanria can't keep building up its army indefinitely; the underground space is only so big, and if there are too many beasts, they'll kill each other..."

"At least while the Kanriyans are still alive, they won't choose to mass-produce troops. They're not in a hurry to break through the barrier because their fundamental goal is to maintain their control over the Layered Rock Abyss. As long as they control the Layered Rock Abyss, Liyue will gradually decline, which will greatly help the Kanriyan War. They're not in a hurry; what they're in a hurry for is the Floating House. After all, besides ferocious beasts, there's also black mud underground, which will affect their minds over time."

"So Liang'er, what do you think will happen in the end?"

“The success rate of Fushe infiltrating and killing those Kanriyans is too low. The number of beasts is a hundred times that of them.” Shen Liang was silent for a while, then said in a low voice, “In the end, the entire Fushe force should be wiped out, while Liyue will take the initiative to break through the barrier and send a large army underground to fight the Kanriyan beast tide to the death.”

"So you're saying that Fushe couldn't actually do anything and just died in vain? Just to fight for a possibility?" Alice shook her head. "Admittedly... it's tragic, but ultimately it doesn't mean much."

“Alice, a plan is meaningful if it has the potential,” Shen Liang said calmly. “Without a plan, the success rate is zero, and that’s what makes it meaningful. Besides… saying that Fushe was only trying to gain the possibility of a decapitation strike isn’t entirely true.”

Alice couldn't understand what other meaning there was in Fushe's blind rush into the underground.

But then she saw it: the telegraph machine's jumper needle was jumping again! And that was the line that had been broken! Shen Liang had already removed the systems corresponding to those lines, but Alice remembered that after Shen Liang removed them, he installed the jumper needle system on other lines!

At the time, she was wondering if there were any new lines in this war zone, and what kind of communication Shen Liang was inexplicably connecting to... But now, the jumper on this line is moving at a rapid pace!

"It's here." Shen Liang stared at the telegraph machine and shouted decisively, "Alice, start taking notes!"

Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Abyss of the Entire Rock Calls to Shen Liang

The sixteenth hour after the Fushe Army entered the underground of the Layered Rock Abyss.

The rapid ticking of the needle pricked rhythmically through the paper, creating a series of small holes. A seemingly young boy, wearing bronze glasses that dimmed the ambient light, deciphered the telegram according to the sequence of the holes. The end of the paper was marked with the communication line number, written in Common Language as "35371".

“Using excuse 35371 to call the base station, current additional call interface count 1, Alice writes it down.”

Alice quickly wrote down the telegram that Shen Liang read aloud word by word.