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

“Yes, do you think we’re lovers? No, we just satisfy each other and take from each other. Rather than lovers, we’re more like playthings, or even pets.” Vanan stood beside him, and amidst the rumble of the earth, he finally spoke, “But what we love is your pride. You’re so proud that you think you can protect everyone, so you won’t abandon your toys and pets, your friends or women. That’s your promise.”

“I don’t remember making such a promise to you.” Shen Liang stroked Fanan’s face and looked directly into her eyes. “But you’re right, I will bring you back forever, and you must always be by my side. As long as I’m here, this promise will remain valid.”

"A promise that can only be broken by death?" Vanan smiled slightly.

"No, it will still work even if you all die."

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

The maw of the abyss burst open once more.

Unlike last time, the Thousand Rock Army, which was well-prepared, was mobilized almost instantly this time. They had waited for two months because they knew that the Maw of the Abyss would inevitably open again, regardless of whether Fushe succeeded or died in battle.

A black warhorse climbed to the top of the mountain, and the scout leaped down, clasping his hands in a fist behind Fanan: "Reporting to the general! A fierce battle is raging ahead! General Yingda's 10,000 Red Cloud Battalions, 3,000 Red Eagle Archers, and General Mi Nu's 20,000 cavalry have joined forces and are doing their utmost to hold back the beast tide from the Layered Rock Abyss! The beast tide numbers about 100,000. Our forces currently have the upper hand, but General Jinpeng has sent word that the rift is widening, and the number of beasts surging out next may surpass ours! We have already requested reinforcements from Yujingtai, but the number of beasts is estimated to exceed 500,000 within a day! If other armies do not come to our aid within three days, a gap may appear!"

The gap means that this part of the army in the Layered Rock Abyss may not be able to stop the onslaught of the beast tide. In fact, this is almost a consensus. Last time, several blockades were broken in just one day. It is not that Fa Nan is unaware that human strength is extremely difficult to fight against the monsters of the beast realm, but beasts are just beasts, while humans are humans. Humans can deploy troops and use tricks and schemes.

For example--

She nodded: "How are the self-regulating machines of the Kanria doing?"

"According to underground intelligence, Canria has more than 600 autonomous machines, of which 300 have already been deployed," the scout replied. "As for the remaining 300, they are expected to still be under maintenance."

"What do you think are the chances of 10,000 Red Cloud Camp soldiers and 20,000 cavalrymen defeating a 500,000-strong beast tide and 300 autonomous machines in a single day?" Fa Nan turned to ask Shen Liang.

“There is no chance of winning,” Shen Liang replied. “Even delaying will be difficult, but if I remember correctly, we theoretically have more than 100,000 troops.”

“With our elder brother gone, the Thousand Rock Army is no longer entirely under our control. We are ultimately just generals leading various personal guard units, while our elder brother was the marshal of the entire Thousand Rock Army. Currently, most of the army is actually in the hands of Jade Palace, controlled by the Liyue Seven Stars,” Fa Nan said calmly. “This is what we mean by seeking reinforcements.”

“I’m not familiar with Liyue’s system, but if Yujingtai chooses to preserve its strength in the War of the Nation, then you should go and cut off their heads.”

"Liyue is a country ruled by both humans and immortals. In fact, apart from Tianxuan, Yuheng, and Kaiyang, which cannot do without mining, the remaining seven stars may not want to devote their entire national strength to the war. They don't have much power in the northwest of Liyue to begin with, and their focus is not on mining. Even if the Laminaria Falls, the beast tide is unlikely to threaten Liyue Harbor. They might even find some benefits in this matter. It's difficult for me to force them, because the contract between the Emperor and the seven stars does not require them to give up an inch of land. On the contrary, in many people's eyes, the northwest part of Liyue is simply stingy, with only a few villages. If they give it up, they give it up."

"The biggest problem with the fall of the Laminariat is not the Laminariat itself. If the beast tide cannot be stopped, monsters from the Beast Realm may appear anywhere in Liyue. They are man-eating monsters."

"But Liyue Harbor will not be affected by her; Liyue Harbor has 40% of Liyue's population."

"Aren't the remaining 60% of the population scattered throughout villages and towns in Liyue considered human beings by the Seven Stars of Liyue?"

"In the eyes of the Seven Stars, Liyue Harbor is the majority of Liyue's resources. Those people don't even contribute much in terms of labor. Liyue is a commercial nation, and ultimately, they don't care much about producing resources... at least not to the Seven Stars," said Fanan. "Of course, they're not actually that hateful. They just feel that the sacrifices in a direct confrontation are too great. As long as Kanria is destroyed by the Emperor, even if we don't deal with the Lapis Lazuli War during this period, the war will naturally end. Then we can slowly clean up the ferocious beasts. If Rhinedoth is also dealt with, there won't be any new ferocious beasts."

"sounds good."

"That's the difference between humans and immortals. In their eyes, the sacrifices are nothing more than some civilians outside who can't enter the city. Compared to the losses in war, these losses, even without considering personal interests, aren't much in the national interest. But I see it differently. This is about national dignity. I believe everyone's sacrifice is of equal value. Even if resistance requires more deaths, it's better than living in humiliation. At least in the face of war, there's no injustice where there's no choice." Fa Nan smiled. "The Liyue Seven Stars don't share our views, and there's nothing I can do about it. But there are some things I think we can still do."

Shen Liang looked at her and smiled, "I understand."

He drew a square sword from behind his back, flicked it lightly, and the sword emitted a clear sound. Then Shen Liang looked at the scout: "I am currently in a weakened state. Two months of fighting for Liyue have deprived me of the power to use my abilities, but I must now join General Fanan on this battlefield, facing the 500,000 beast tide with my mortal body. Go now and tell the Liyue Seven Stars, tell every noble in Yujingtai, using my telegraph machine. Tell them that Baal's son has already charged ahead for the people of Liyue. Tell them that if any Seven Star does not want to face my mother's wrath, does not want to be branded as 'watching the Goddess of Inazuma die,' and does not want to be stripped of their titles and clans by the Rock King after the war, then send someone to charge!"

Chapter 104 Moon Sea Pavilion Edict! No Mercy!

Six miles south of the Layered Rock Abyss, the cavalry of Tian Shu Star and over 20,000 elite private soldiers were still arrayed on the high ground. The esteemed Lord of Tian Shu Star no longer had the leisurely manner of sipping tea and smoking as he had when interrogating spies. He gripped the reins of his horse, his hands clenching and unclenching repeatedly, trying to calm himself and enter into thought.

Unlike the other Liyue Seven Stars, Shu not only has his own private army, but he was also one of the few humans involved in Liyue's military secrets. Shu's duty was to manage the domestic intelligence agency, a responsibility originally intended for Xiao. However, while Xiao was an excellent agent, he wasn't a good head of an intelligence organization. Therefore, Xiao was unwilling to hold military power, and this power naturally passed to Shu.

In other words, the other seven stars of Liyue could only control a portion of the leaderless troops after Fushe's fate became unknown, while the star of the Celestial Pivot had a legitimate right to control the troops; if he said no fighting was allowed, the army could not leave.

A scout dressed in plain clothes rode swiftly into the formation, then dismounted and knelt before Tian Shu Xing: "Urgent report! The Fanan tribe has made its first contact with the beast tide!"

Which side has the greater advantage?

The scout gritted his teeth: "The battlefield is too chaotic, but our army has already suffered casualties."

"Investigate again and report back!" Tian Shu Xing waved his hand.

No sooner had the first scout left than another arrived on horseback, shouting, "Urgent report! The Golden Roc tribe has used the Wuqi River as a stronghold to contain the beast tide on the opposite bank, and has annihilated countless enemies right there on the riverbank!"

"How many did General Jinpeng kill? How many died? Other military units?" Tian Shuxing asked anxiously.

"With the river as our base, one man can take on ten beasts! But the enemy's beast tide is truly endless. General Jinpeng has already ordered a retreat to rejoin Yingda's forces. Although it was a great victory, the number of casualties is unknown, but it seems to be extremely heavy."

"Investigate again and report back!" Tian Shuxing waved his hand again and said in a low voice, "Trading human lives for wild beasts, you call this a great victory? Ha..."

As someone with an intelligence background, Tian Shuxing had no shortage of scouts; dozens of them roamed the front lines, reporting every detail of the situation to him. But Tian Shuxing was still not satisfied, because he still couldn't deduce the battlefield situation from this information.

He was still unsure whether to participate in the war.

He was neither a traitor to his ancestors nor a coward who feared losing his life. But this battle was already controversial. Liyue had been investing nearly a year's worth of resources in the Laminar Abyss battlefield, with over 100,000 troops, including elites from various military branches. Personal guard units like the Red Cloud Battalion and Tiger Might Battalion were even deployed directly. Liyue had already invested too much; if they were to lose, they would suffer a severe blow.

In reality, many believe this battle was completely unnecessary. The manpower and resources lost fighting to the death in the Laminar Abyss might be greater than the cost of releasing the beast tide and then clearing it out. And what good would releasing the beast tide do? Liyue is vast and rich in resources, but the only densely populated area is Liyue Harbor. While the villages and settlements scattered elsewhere have been abandoned, can they really be completely threatened by the beast tide? Even if you gave Kanria ten thousand years, they couldn't create that many ferocious beasts.

If they were to fight to the death, the personal guards of a few Yaksha generals would be one thing, but the Seven Stars of Liyue's forces were also a vital force. If they were to be deployed to the battlefield and fail to achieve victory, the cost would be unbearable for the entire Liyue region. The Thousand Rocks Army would be wiped out, and without the ability to defend itself, they might not even be able to hold onto Liyue Harbor!

Defense is always easier than offense. At least by keeping these troops stationed in Liyue Harbor, no matter how many beast tides come, they won't be able to take Liyue's own territory! This is the safest plan! Those Yakshas are so willing to risk their lives because they are soldiers. Soldiers always like to kill, but they ignore the consequences!

"Father! Why aren't you going to fight? We must provide support while our army can still form a defensive line! If the defensive line breaks, providing support will only be sending us to our deaths!" Tian Shuxing's son rode up and dismounted. He was a young man already dressed in heavy armor. He had been in the military since childhood and was Tian Shuxing's only son.

"Even if we win now, all the credit will go to those Yakshas, ​​and it will have nothing to do with us, the Seven Stars of Liyue!" Tian Shuxing shouted. He was already anxious, and seeing his son making such a fuss only made him more annoyed. "Besides, it's not impossible that the entire Thousand Rock Army will be wiped out. The enemy has a beast tide of 500,000, a full 500,000!"

"So we'll let our brothers fight to the death in front of us while we watch the show?" The son was even more agitated and furious than his father. "When have we Liyue people ever been so despicable! If something like this happens, how can we face the people of Liyue Harbor? They'll be cursing us behind our backs!"

"Nonsense! Just shut up and wait while we discuss adult matters!"

“I’ve already left you with a grandson. I’m not a child anymore. If you don’t go, Father, I’ll lead the troops myself.” The son glared at his father, showing no sign of backing down, and said, enunciating each word clearly, “When I joined the army, my brothers and I sang ‘No Clothes.’ Now it’s time to fight alongside you against all odds. This is what you taught me, Father!”

"You!" Tian Shuxing was so angry that he wanted to whip his ignorant son to death, but his son just gritted his teeth and glared at him. In the end, the father softened.

He remained silent for a long time before finally patting his son on the shoulder. "Junfang, you have indeed grown up and become a man. You have inherited the courage inherent in the people of Liyue, but there are still many things about Liyue that you don't understand."

Jun Fang was taken aback.

"You knew all along that you would fight to the death with your comrades, defend your homeland, and pay any price. But in my eyes, everything can be weighed: human lives, territory, wealth, prosperity, development, reputation—these things are all measured. As the leader of a nation, you can't act on impulse. It's the immortals' business if they want to fight, but is fighting really good for Liyue? War consumes money, halts construction, and kills many people. Being invaded also halts construction and might kill some people. So what's the difference between resisting and not resisting?"

“Of course there’s a difference! We must let Kanria know that we are inviolable, the strongest nation in the Northern Lands!” Jun Fang shouted.

Tian Shu Xing smiled bitterly, "My son, Liyue's strength doesn't rely on the Thousand Rock Army, but on the Emperor. Our enemies aren't mortal armies, but monsters. These are things we'll have to pay a heavy price for. Why should we attack instead of defending? The Yakshas only know how to fight. War is their pleasure, their military achievements, even their fame, their everything. But we are human. We need to live a normal life. This is the difference between mortal and immortal thinking... Think about it carefully. No matter how many of us die, how many immortals will die? The immortals have only sent a few Yakshas into battle. What price did they pay? They used tens of thousands of lives to fill the Laminaria Abyss to satisfy their fighting desires. But we could have ignored the Laminaria Abyss. How long could Kanria cause trouble?"

Junfang stared blankly at his father, feeling as if his father had become a stranger. "But... but we are Liyue people! How can we watch wild beasts devour our people?"

"People are divided into different classes, my son! For example, which is more precious, your life or the life of those common soldiers? If we go to war with the enemy, they might capture you but not kill you because they can exchange you and me for hundreds of millions of Mora!" Tian Shu Xing roared, glaring at his son. "Do you understand? All the farmers and hunters outside Liyue City combined don't earn as much as the shops on the two streets of Feiyun Slope! So what if wild beasts eat them? How much can they eat? People will run away too. How much can we lose? As long as the garrison in Liyue Harbor is still there, Liyue's foundation will not be shaken. We could have been complacent! But these Yakshas insist on going to war. If we are defeated, Liyue Harbor might be in trouble. These immortals who only know how to be fierce and ruthless have never considered the opinions of humans. They are the ones who are driving Liyue to its death!"

He shoved his son hard, causing him to stumble, and stared at him coldly: "Don't forget one fact: as long as we protect Liyue Harbor, no matter how many people die outside, once the Emperor returns and takes action, everything will be peaceful. Those impoverished people in the mountain villages and manors will naturally be rescued by the Emperor; they can just hide! Don't let the people in the city die with them!"

At this moment, the guards of Tian Shu Star suddenly pointed to the distance and shouted in surprise, "General! The cavalry of Tian Quan Star, Tian Ji Star, and Yao Guang Star are coming down the mountain!"

Tian Shu Xing was startled. He spurred his horse and galloped several steps towards the other large tents to the south. Sure enough, the horse farm, which was usually deserted under the blazing sun, was in turmoil. Nearly ten thousand people were dressed in light armor, mounted their horses, and were fully armed. Some were shouting, some were drawing their swords, and some were slapping their horses to make them neigh. Various noises filled the air, and the red banners were raised high. The cavalrymen spurred their horses and galloped westward like black ribbons of cloth, heading directly towards the location of the Abyss Mouth, where the decisive battle was now taking place!

That was the cavalry contingent of Tianquan and Tianji, followed by a slightly slower but already leading infantry force, their chariots being pulled out of the deep valley. That was the elite force of Yaoguang, the "Shenji Battalion" of Liyue, numbering less than a thousand. Many of their chariots and cannons were crafted using Celestial techniques, possessing even greater power than the mountain-opening cannons used for mining!

"These old foxes want to steal the credit?" Tian Shu Xing was stunned.

Aside from this, he couldn't think of any other reason why the other seven stars had all descended the mountain. Originally, Tian Shu, Tian Quan, Tian Ji, and Yao Guang weren't particularly interested in the mining industry; their businesses weren't closely related to minerals. Therefore, upon learning that Fu She was likely dead, they each took control of their private armies and secretly agreed that they would only act if they were certain of absolute victory. They would only advance together if they were absolutely certain of securing the greatest military achievement. Therefore, they wouldn't be reckless, because leaving their armies behind would ensure their own safety, and even protecting Liyue Harbor would yield immeasurable profits.

Tian Shu Star understands the other seven stars very well; they are all shrewd and calculating rulers, and it's impossible for them to be as impetuous as their son.

but……

The earth trembled from the hooves of the horses. The three Seven Stars' cavalry numbered over 20,000, and their infantry exceeded 50,000, almost equal to the number of troops on the main battlefield! This was a full-scale attack, with absolutely no reservations. And then, Tian Shu Xing discovered a caltrop chariot pulled by four fine horses amidst the cavalry, its black and red banner flying high. He was nearly driven mad, for he knew what it was—a chariot bearing the royal banner meant that the Seven Stars themselves were inside! Tian Quan, Tian Ji, and Yao Guang, and even some of them, had joined the cavalry charge!

"They've gone mad! They've gone mad!" Tian Shuxing had no idea why his "friends" had suddenly become so aggressive. Just as he was about to send scouts to inquire, a fiery red steed carrying a man galloped down the mountain and headed straight for the military tent! No one around dared to stop them. Tian Shuxing's guards instinctively tried to step forward, but were instantly knocked down by the warriors on horseback with their scabbards! Just as he was about to draw his sword to protect his guards, the warriors suddenly raised a white cloth.

"A telegram from Yuehaiting, urgent, three thousand li away! Anyone who blocks my way shall die!" the person on horseback roared, and it was actually a woman's voice.

"People from the Red Cloud Camp?" Tian Shuxing recognized the warrior's red horse and slender figure immediately; they were elite troops under the command of the vanished Fire Rat General Yingda. Although the Red Cloud Camp was also leaderless, they were all women, so they naturally belonged to the Fanan camp. As the queens of light cavalry, they would never do this kind of scout work; if they did, it would mean that something earth-shattering had happened.

Moreover, what about Yuehaiting's telegram?

Tian Shu Xing wasn't quite sure what a telegram was, but Yue Hai Ting was thousands of miles away from the front lines. What instructions did Yue Hai Ting have?

Although the Liyue Septate appears to be at the pinnacle of power, even the Celestial Star knows that the Moonlit Pavilion is a highly unique institution. While seemingly the Septate's secretariat, its leader, Gan Yu, actually reports directly to the Geo Archon. She doesn't interfere with the Septate's actions on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean she lacks power. All of the Septate's plans require Gan Yu's approval, while Gan Yu's plans only require the Geo Archon's approval.

To some extent, if Gan Yu were to display even a hint of ambition, her ruling position could even surpass that of the Liyue Seven Stars. After all, she has been in charge of Liyue for over a thousand years, and the scope of her governance is unimaginable to any previous Liyue Seven Stars. Therefore, the Celestial Star holds her in extremely high esteem.

Gan Yu usually maintains the proper role of a "secretary." She is gentle and humble, and rarely makes any requests. But today, she unexpectedly sent him an urgent report, and in such a direct and rude way... she threw it in front of him?

Tian Shu's mind was in complete chaos, but at that moment, the female cavalryman had already reined in her horse in front of him. She didn't even dismount, but simply stared coldly at Tian Shu: "Urgent report! From the next ruler of Inazuma, the successor of Lightning, Princess Pandora, the God of Fire, has led the Thousand Rock Army into the battlefield to support our forces. He has lost his divine power and is now only a mortal, in dire straits. Every soldier of Liyue must immediately participate in the rescue. Anyone who disobeys will be considered a traitor and executed without mercy, as stipulated by the Moonsea Order! This is equivalent to the Emperor's decree!"

Tian Shu Xing was so frightened he almost lost his footing. He hurriedly asked, "That little demon god who's not even twenty years old? He went into battle by himself? You saw it with your own eyes? Do you have any proof?"

"You don't have to go." The female cavalryman just smiled coldly, turned around, and rode away.

Chapter 105 The Heavenly Nail That Saved the World

Tian Shu Xing felt as if the world was collapsing, his mind filled with disbelief.

But his son reacted even faster, urgently saying, "Father! We must go into battle! What if the young prince dies here..."

"Damn it! Damn it!" Tian Shuxing lashed out with his whip, turned around and roared at the messenger, "Cavalry, form ranks! Form ranks! Advance! Don't you dare stand there like a jerk! Advance! If you delay even a minute, I'll chop off your head!"

The troops of Tian Shu Star instantly realized what was happening. The cavalry mounted their horses, the vanguard descended the mountain, and the infantry carried out their chariots to follow closely behind. The royal banner was unfurled!

Tian Shu Xing donned his armor and rode a swift horse, leading the charge! He was nearly going mad, panting heavily, but he and his cavalry rushed to the battlefield at breakneck speed. He wasn't actually afraid of death, but he feared the instability of his foundation.

"Good...good! Well done! Lightning Cool...Demon God Pandora!" Tian Shu Xing lay on horseback, gritting his teeth, "As expected of the offspring of the Thunder Ruler, you have the demeanor of your mother!"

Tian Shu Xing had met Shen Liang a few times. In his eyes, demon gods were immortal beings who lived as long as the heavens. The little demon god, who was not even twenty years old, was not mature enough and probably could not even compare to mortal boys and girls. Therefore, he had never valued this demon god.

It's a very simple logic. Even if he's a demon god, he's still the demon god of Inazuma. The Liyue Immortal Clan wouldn't allow General Lei Dian's child to be in danger. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, the retaliation could be devastating, perhaps even comparable to the Kanria crisis. Therefore, the possibility of Shen Liang going into battle is simply nonexistent. Moreover, Tian Shu Xing knows that there are differences even among demon gods. Shen Liang is a juvenile demon god, not even free to exercise his powers. He's just a mortal, and could even be considered a powerful ordinary human.

But he is, after all, the child of the Inazuma Supreme! If the Inazuma Supreme's child dies on the battlefield of Liyue, what good will it do even if the Rock Abyss is saved? They will either face the vengeance of a powerful demon god comparable to the Geo Archon and the Regent for the loss of their child! He is the successor of Inazuma, and in the eyes of the Shogunate, the still-childish God of Fire is essentially the future Seven Regents. For the people, he is also a national enemy, and even a nationwide revenge is a possibility!

This nationwide revenge isn't just for Kanria; it applies to Liyue as well. Tian Shu Star can't guarantee how much rationality a woman who has lost her child can possess. Even if Inazuma acts rationally, he should at least make these opportunists pay the price! The Geo Archon will never protect them. At that point, these Liyue Seven Star nobles and wealthy merchants will have to negotiate with the enraged Thunder God Baal themselves. The Thunder God will undoubtedly torture them with the cruelest punishments imaginable, even implicating their descendants.

Therefore, he understood why the other seven stars rushed off the battlefield without even consulting him. Everyone knew that if they arrived late and something happened to Shen Liang, they would lose everything. No matter what reasons they gave—for Liyue Harbor or for the sake of the majority of the people—it was all meaningless.