Cross through Teyvat, and you'll become stronger by taking the hits!

In the last few days before winter, Lu Li began to think about how to say goodbye to acquaintances.

He wandered in winter from the age of eight, and at the age of thirteen, he was recruited into the Fools' Clan for training because of his outstanding talent.

Lu Li now knows quite a few people in the Fools. Among the Fools recruits who were his peers, he also knows a boy named Ajax.

He was about a year older than Lu Li. Although he looked like a young boy when they first met, Lu Li recognized him based on his personality.

However, compared to Lu Li, who was only a lieutenant at the age of eighteen, Ajax has now been promoted to executive officer and has been granted the title of [Prince] Tadalia.

However, as far as Lu Li knows, Dadalia has already left for Winter to carry out his mission.

"I guess I'm just not cut out for saying goodbye in person... Oh well, I'll just write each of them a farewell letter."

After much deliberation, Lu Li made this decision.

He knew that once he left, he didn't know when he would see his acquaintances again, and even Columbia would probably have to wait several years.

"To Her Excellency Columbia..."

Next, Lu Li temporarily put aside his daily training and focused on writing a farewell letter.

He planned to mail the other people's letters together, but by the time they received them, Lu Li had already left.

Lu Li kept the letter he had given to Columbia for the time being, intending to give it to the treasure-stealing weasel named Xiaobai for safekeeping when he left, so that it could deliver it to Columbia.

It was quite familiar with Columbia and could roughly understand what Lu Li meant.

While Lu Li was busy writing farewell letters, his application for early retirement was finally approved and issued along with a veteran's certificate and a commemorative medal.

In this way, Lu Li will be able to catch the merchant ship two days later.

Although Zhi Dong is not his homeland, Lu Li was accepted by the Fools as a homeless orphan, and this kindness cannot be faked.

A soldier like him should have been wholeheartedly fighting for the great ideals of the Ice Queen, but Lu Li had reasons for having to leave.

By staying in Winter Solstice, Lu Li, as a confidant of Columbia, will have no further opportunity to engage with the main storyline of this world, because the Ice Queen will not assign any missions to Columbia, and as a soldier, he has no right to act on his own. It will be difficult for him to encounter any other "main characters" outside of the Winter Solstice faction.

Without being able to reach them, Lu Li cannot shield them from harm and thus cannot receive system rewards.

In this way, when Columbia decides to break away from the Fools in the future, Lu Li will not only lack the power to protect her, but may also become a burden to her.

This is why Lu Li had to leave.

As for the Queen's kindness, he will one day return to Winter following the "main storyline," and then he will have another chance.

If all else fails, they can also help protect some of the fools who are destined to suffer on the road.

……

What's going on with these kids?

"Who are you? Mind your own business. They're all going to be sent to the Doctor... uh? Enforcer...!"

"I saved these children, so why are they all so afraid of me?"

"Hmm? This child's eyes... it's like they've lost their soul..."

"But he kept looking at me..."

"Don't be afraid, come to me, it's all over now..."

On the evening that Lu Li received the certificate and medal, Columbia came to the courtyard of Lu Li's residence again.

But this time she didn't sing to disturb Lu Li. Instead, she held the white treasure-stealing weasel and stood quietly under the moonlight, reminiscing about something.

"Perhaps if we had sent them to the Fireplace House back then, they would have considered it their home and wouldn't have thought about going home..."

"Hmm... no, back then the House of Hearths was still managed by Kujavina."

With a hand gently stroking the head of the treasure-stealing weasel, Columbia strolled around the yard talking to herself.

As she walked to the window, she tilted her ear slightly to listen and heard only Lu Li's steady breathing.

"She's asleep..."

Colombia leaned on the windowsill, and through the gaps in the curtains, she could vaguely see Lu Li on the bed.

Goodnight, Lu Li.

……

Two days later, at the port of winter.

A lithe girl, wearing an executive officer's coat and with her eyes closed, appeared beside Lu Li, who was waiting for the ship to dock.

"Lu Li, if we have a chance to meet again in the future, come with me on another date."

Seeing that Lu Li hadn't noticed her, Columbia whispered something to him from behind.

"Holy crap?"

Lu Li, who was holding onto her suitcase, was startled.

"...There will be an opportunity, Lady Columbia."

After turning around and realizing it was Colombia, Lu Li breathed a sigh of relief and then replied as follows.

Columbia was the only one among his acquaintances who knew the exact time he left, but Lu Li hadn't seen her while waiting for the ship and thought she wasn't coming. Unexpectedly, she appeared just as the ship was about to dock...

"Okay, then next time we go on a date, I'll share half of the deluxe hot dog with you, instead of eating it all myself."

Columbia nodded gently, making her decision.

She felt a bit full after eating when she went back last time, and she overestimated her stomach capacity.

"Uh, so you have a big misunderstanding about dating, Lady Columbia..."

As the merchant ship docked, Lu Li was speechless for a moment, but picked up his suitcase.

"No, didn't you tell me that before?"

"A date is just two people going shopping together and eating delicious food..."

A smile appeared on Columbia's face as she recalled the memories.

"Hey, Lady Columbia, don't just pick and choose what you want to remember! Did I say that...?"

"Ah, the ship has stopped. Anyway, Lady Columbia, goodbye, take care."

Colombia's memories left Lu Li speechless. After seeing that it was time to board the ship, he could only say goodbye to her and head towards the port with his luggage.

"Lu Li, why did you leave Zhidong? Did someone bully you?"

Just as Lu Li was about to leave for winter, Columbia couldn't help but raise a hand and call out to him.

"Hmm? No, Lady Columbia, I just hope that you won't be bullied."

"When we have the chance to meet again, I will definitely have the strength to protect you, Lady Columbia."

Upon hearing this, Lu Li stopped and turned around to answer Columbia's question.

"...Why do you want to protect me?"

Columbia tilted her head in confusion.

In terms of strength, she felt that she was still stronger than Lu Li.

Upon hearing her question, Lu Li was momentarily dazed.

That happened eighteen years ago...

"Because I was born into this world to protect you."

Lu Li answered seriously, then turned around, waved, and walked towards the merchant ship with his luggage.

"To protect me...?"

Lu Li's answer only deepened Columbia's confusion, leaving her somewhat bewildered.

The merchant ship did not stay at the port for long. After the cargo was loaded and unloaded, Colombia heard the ship's horn and the ship slowly sailed out to sea.

The merchant ship will arrive at Liyue Harbor in as little as seven days.

If everything goes well...

……