He changed Tiwat

The Abyss Mage had no will to resist. It hastily turned and fled, forgetting even to reactivate its elemental shield.

"Ice Body Born of Intent! Manifest!"

As the woman summoned, a spirit pounced on the Water Abyss Mage, knocking him off balance in mid-air.

Then, a light blue spear fell from the sky, piercing through its back to its chest and pinning it to the ground.

The Water Abyss Mage couldn't leave behind a single last word before dissipating into dust in the air.

The woman stared at the tip of the gun, head bowed in thought, and finally a serious expression appeared on her face.

"The disturbance of demons is a sign of impending disaster. Could it be as Master said..." she murmured to herself.

This light blue spear was given to her by her master before she descended the mountain.

The gun is named "Disaster Relief".

Her learned and talkative master said many things to her at that time—

"In the distant past, when even the Geo Archon was still young, a celestial star fell into the wasteland west of Liyue. As the star crashed to the ground, the wasteland directly impacted it, transforming into a vast and deep abyss from which precious stones and metals grew inexhaustibly, thus giving rise to Liyue's mining industry for the next thousand years."

"This spear was forged from something otherworldly within the Abyss of Layered Rocks. Legend has it that a wanderer seeking to ward off evil came to the mouth of the Crystal Sand Abyss and retrieved an ominous, water-colored crystal from its depths, which he then had forged into a weapon named 'Disaster Relief.' This spear has passed through the hands of countless loyal but ill-fated individuals, witnessing the beginnings and end of many battles and the carnage of demons. You are destined to be afflicted by the Lone Star Calamity, so this spear is perfect for you."

“‘Cessation of disaster’ means stopping the calamities that befall one’s body.”

Similar to the astrology prevalent in Mondstadt, Liyue also has methods of perceiving destiny through divination. Among these, there are two types of "fate" that people try to avoid at all costs.

Firstly, it indicates a life of loneliness, destined to be separated from family and friends, and to live a solitary life.

Secondly, those born under the "Robbery Star" fate are destined for many calamities and misfortunes, and their lives are fraught with danger.

After taking her in, the spirits divined her fate as a young child. The divination revealed that her destiny was afflicted by both the Lonely Star and the Calamity Star, indicating an extremely violent nature—a rare and inauspicious fate that could harm both herself and others. Having lived with this fate for a long time, she had long since become accustomed to it. The divine spear that her master spoke of, capable of "stopping personal calamities," was merely a useful weapon to her.

What interests her more are the people her master described as "loyal yet ill-fated."

"Who was the previous owner of this gun?" she asked.

After a long silence, the master sighed and replied, "The leader of the Yaksha clan under the Emperor's command, the Grand Marshal Tengshe, Fushe."

She was unfamiliar with this name.

Her master told her a story.

Five hundred years ago, a catastrophe struck. Demonic beasts invaded the Abyss of Layered Rocks, and the Thousand Rocks Army, under the command of the Rock King, defended the Abyss of Layered Rocks to the death.

The Yaksha Fusha suffered from karmic obstacles, gradually lost his mind, and wandered alone, his whereabouts unknown.

Perhaps sensing the aura of evil, perhaps driven by instinct, or perhaps fueled by a lingering obsession, the solitary traveler with four arms once came to the place where a celestial star had fallen in the wilderness.

Upon learning that the wandering traveler, who had come to exorcise evil spirits, had arrived here, the mountain people flocked to him: "Guests from afar, please accept our wine and listen to our story. The mountain wine may be sour and bitter, not as good as the nectar praised by the Emperor of Tianheng Mountain. But we mountain people treasure the rare stones and jades bestowed by heaven, and make a living by carving into the rugged cliffs. Thanks to the Emperor's kindness, although our lives are not perfect, we are still well-off and worry-free."

"However, the situation is not what it used to be; the grace of the stars is obstructed by the shadow of darkness. Today, though we lack the noble etiquette required for a pact, we still humbly beg for your salvation."

The visitor listened silently to the elders' pleas, and then silently drank the bitter wine in his cup.

He made no promises, nor did he rebuke the mortals for their rudeness. He simply accepted the "Disaster-Relieving Weapon" given to him by the mountain people and resolutely stepped onto the battlefield of the towering cliffs and deep abyss.

When the demonic army's banners hung high on the cliffs, blackening the cinnabar-colored earth, the fortified city of a thousand cliffs collided with the pitch-black army, and the separated cavalry perished. Like a cold star in the twilight, "Cessation of Disaster" flickered in the center of the vortex... Finally, when the twilight broke through the dark clouds, the filth finally sank into the depths of the abyss.

The "pacification of disaster" vanished along with the yaksha that wielded it, returning to silence. But those who fight without orders from a hundred miles away, who defend the people without oaths, probably wouldn't complain about such a fate...

Many years later, the gun was brought out of the deep abyss and eventually ended up in the hands of her master.

The master said to her in the end: "I hope you can use your power to protect others. I will give you this 'Disaster Relief' weapon. If any calamity comes in the future, you will surely be able to use it to quell it."

Master seemed to have a premonition of calamity that would befall Liyue, and sent her down the mountain to quell it. The appearance of this Abyss Mage is probably a harbinger of this calamity.

Chongyun, who had been watching the white-haired woman's back without daring to make a move, could no longer suppress the questions in his heart.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your help, Miss. I noticed that the exorcism spell you used just now is somewhat similar to the magic I've learned since childhood. May I ask who you are...?"

The white-haired woman withdrew "Disaster Relief" into her divine eye, as if the battle had never happened. Ignoring Chongyun's hesitant expression, she turned to leave.

As Chongyun brushed past her, he heard her say, "My name is Shen He, a man from the mountains, not worth mentioning."

Just as Chongyun was about to ask further, he suddenly saw Shenhe turn around, bend down, and place his hand on Chongyun's forehead: "Compared to this, your body seems very hot. Are you alright?"

Feeling the cool touch on his forehead, Chongyun was startled and jumped back a small step, fumbling in his pockets: "I almost forgot, my popsicle..."

Born with a "pure yang body," he is always troubled by his easily overheated constitution and excessive "hot blood." If he is not careful, his yang energy will go berserk, causing drastic changes in his temperament. If he gets too excited in battle, he may even faint due to the yang energy going berserk. In order to suppress this constitution, Chongyun has tried all kinds of folk remedies. The most effective one so far is to always carry popsicles made from condensed ice slime liquid.

Chongyun didn't find the popsicle, but suddenly looked up and stared at Shen He's face.

He remembered something his parents had told him—

"Wait, Shen He... could it be that you are my... my aunt?!"

Chapter Seventy-Three: To master unparalleled martial arts, one must possess extraordinary spirit and willpower to endure suffering.

"Auntie?" Shen He tilted his head.

Chongyun nodded seriously and said, "My name is Chongyun, and I am the heir of the Liyue Exorcist Family. My parents once told me that there was an orphan of a distant relative in the branch family named Shenhe, whom we haven't heard from for many years. According to seniority, I should call that distant relative my aunt. They instructed me to keep an eye out for you when I go out to exorcise demons, and if I find you, I must ask you to come back to Liyue Harbor for a reunion."

“Back to Liyue Harbor, um…” Shen He nodded slightly.

Shen He didn't mind having a distant nephew; in fact, she was quite pleased.

Shen He knew she came from a branch of the Liyue exorcist family, but none of her relatives were still alive. To find "kinship" in this world was both unexpected and a pleasant surprise. She had been burdened with the fate of the Lonely Star and Calamity Star since childhood, and her family had always been a hidden pain in her heart. She often suspected that her fate had caused the deaths of her loved ones. Now, simply knowing that she still had family was enough to bring her comfort.

As Chongyun had said before, the exorcism magic she used was inherited from her family—of course, it was specially taught to her by her learned and talkative master, Liuyun Jiefeng Zhenjun.

The exorcist families of Liyue typically enshrine the sacred texts of the gods in their homes, and their magical arts are mostly passed down from ancient times by the Liyue immortals. It is not surprising that Master Liuyun Jiefeng knows her family's magical arts, and teaching her his own family's exorcism magic probably also had the intention of allowing her to recognize her relatives through this.

The incantation that Chongyun failed to finish reciting during the battle was her family's secret incantation for binding demons and exorcising evil spirits. This confirms that Chongyun and her are indeed related.

She had orders from her master, and going to Liyue Harbor was just a convenient stop along the way.

“I was already heading to Liyue Harbor anyway, so why don’t we go together?” Shen He said.

"That's wonderful!" Chongyun was so happy he almost jumped up. Although he hadn't succeeded in exorcising the demon on his trip, finding his aunt Shenhe was still a joyous occasion.

"If the elders in your family hear that you are still alive, they will be overjoyed. We should have a good get-together! By the way, if they knew about your amazing skills, they might even make a precious proclamation for you!"

"Hmm..." Shen He frowned, somewhat troubled. Chong Yun's enthusiasm made her a little flustered. She hadn't come down the mountain to find her relatives, and her destiny wasn't suited for too much contact with family. However, having just found her relatives, refusing Chong Yun's invitation seemed impolite in human society. Before she left the mountain, her master had repeatedly instructed her that once she entered human society, she must learn human etiquette and not cause trouble.

what can we do about it?

Shen He thought long and hard, and suddenly came up with a solution. His master had once said that if he encountered any difficulties, he could ask that person for help. If he said he needed to see that person, he wouldn't have to see Chongyun's family.

“I’m going to Liyue Harbor to find someone,” Shen He said.

"Who?" Chongyun asked curiously.

Shen He searched her memory for that person's appearance. She had once tasted a dish called "Prosperous and Peaceful Times" made by that person on the Jade Capital Terrace.

"His name is Han Fulai."

"Ah! You're looking for that great hero Han!" Chongyun clapped his hands. If Chongyun had any hobby, it was listening to the storytellers in Liyue Harbor, and he especially loved listening to stories of great heroes slaying demons and monsters.

The story of Han Fulai making a pledge at the Qunyu Pavilion to defeat Oser had already spread widely in Liyue Harbor through storytellers, even inspiring admiration in Chongyun. Furthermore, his mischievous friend Xingqiu frequently referred to Han as "Brother Han," calling him a rare elite figure in their Guhua faction, a true hero who served his country and people, his words brimming with pride.

During his brief meeting with Han Fulai at Qingce Manor, Chongyun did not witness the great hero display his martial arts skills. However, through the embellishments of the storyteller and Xingqiu, Chongyun had already imagined a peerless martial arts master named Han.

"What, you recognize him too?" Shen He asked.

Chongyun nodded and sighed, "Alas, if I had unparalleled martial arts skills like that great hero Han, I wouldn't have let you see me make a fool of myself just now... Aunt, your kung fu is truly enviable."

"Oh? You want to learn my kung fu?" Shen He's icy eyes flickered.

"Of course! Becoming as strong as you would be a piece of cake for eliminating demons and protecting the righteous path!" Chongyun scratched his head, a little embarrassed. Every passionate young man dreams of becoming a great hero, and Chongyun was no exception.

“I’ll teach you.” Shen He looked completely at ease. She had lived in the mountains since childhood and had never been prejudiced against any sect or faction. Of course, she wouldn’t care about any sect’s secrets. Moreover, in her opinion, the kung fu her master taught her was very ordinary. Anyone could become as strong as her as long as they were willing to work hard.

"Really!?" Chongyun's eyes sparkled as he looked at Shenhe as if he were looking at a divine martial arts manual that had fallen from the sky.

“Of course. Master said that the best time to practice martial arts was ten years ago, and the second best time is now. So let’s start training now,” Shen He said. “Follow me, we’ll get to Liyue Harbor before dark.”

"Huh? Get to Liyue Harbor before dark? By running?" Chongyun's eyes widened.

"Ah... was it too slow? I'm sorry, I thought you wouldn't be able to keep up, so I slowed down for you without permission." Shen He's apology was sincere.

Chongyun shook his head like a rattle drum.

"No, no, no, it takes twenty hours to travel by carriage from Qingxu Pool to Liyue Harbor!"

"Twenty hours... It's a bit slow, but we can still enjoy the scenery along the way. Okay, let's get to Liyue Harbor within twenty hours." Shen He seriously considered Chong Yun's suggestion.

"Huh? Just like that... running for twenty hours straight?" Chongyun's jaw almost dropped.

Shen He nodded nonchalantly, “When I was a child, my master arranged a daily routine for me, requiring me to travel back and forth between Aozang Mountain and Jueyun Mountain three times a day to collect elixirs, which would take about twenty hours in total.”

"No, don't we need to rest?" Chongyun clicked his tongue.

“Rest…you mean meditation? I heard my master say that once your cultivation reaches a certain level, you don’t have to be so particular about the posture for meditation. Immortals can even meditate while standing…I suppose my master can meditate whether he’s flying or running. I’m still far from being good enough. Don’t worry, once we get to Liyue Harbor, I’ll allow you to meditate for four hours.”

After Shen He finished speaking, she took long strides and started running. Even though she had controlled her speed to take care of Chong Yun, she was already faster than a galloping horse.

Chongyun took a deep breath and followed Shen He's retreating figure, but a slight doubt lingered in his heart—"Is this really a level of cultivation that humans can accomplish?"

Chapter Seventy-Four: The Pre-determined Bidding for the Qunyu Pavilion Project

As noon approached, a large crowd gathered at Yujingtai Square.

If business people saw this scene, they would probably be very surprised, because the group of people gathered on Jade Capital Platform at this moment are almost half of the business elites of Liyue Harbor.

In fact, these merchants came here for a big deal—the big deal of Tianquan Ningguang!

Han Fulai was not wearing his usual blue uniform from Moonsea Pavilion today, but instead wore a Liyue casual outfit and mingled among the merchants.

Surrounded by Qianyan Army, Ningguang, as always, walked with elegant steps up the steps of Yujingtai Square.

She looked around at the businessmen below the stage and said loudly, "I have gathered you all here today to announce something important."

"Perhaps some people have already heard the news, but I do indeed plan to rebuild the Qunyu Pavilion recently."

As we all know, Jade Pavilion suffered severe damage in the Battle of Ocel. Given Ningguang's high regard for Jade Pavilion, she certainly wouldn't allow it to float in ruins above Liyue Harbor. Recently, rumors have circulated that Ningguang intends to rebuild Jade Pavilion and will publicly solicit bids from all sectors of society, offering very generous terms.

Given Ningguang's personality, if she intends to rebuild the Qunyu Pavilion, it will undoubtedly be larger and more magnificent than before! This is a golden opportunity to make money, and many merchants are already eager to get involved. Most of the merchants gathered here have heard the rumors of the Qunyu Pavilion's reconstruction, and today, hearing Ningguang summon them to announce this important news, they naturally want to come to Yujingtai to find out for themselves.

Upon hearing Ningguang's declaration, a young ore merchant named Hongfei crossed his arms and nodded repeatedly: "Rebuilding the Jade Pavilion? That's a huge undertaking..."

Chang Gui, the bespectacled building materials merchant next to him, stroked his chin, recalling recent market trends: "The rumors are indeed true. No wonder building material prices skyrocketed recently..."

Zhicheng, a middle-aged businessman with a small mustache, muttered to himself, "The Qunyu Pavilion is of great significance to Lord Ningguang. If we could establish a connection with her..."

Han Fulai observed from the sidelines, secretly amused. If these people's calculations could be made to sound, the Jade Capital Terrace would probably already be filled with the clicking of abacus beads. Unfortunately, their schemes were ultimately futile.

At this moment, the ore merchant Hongfei stepped forward and asked Ningguang on behalf of everyone, "Lord Ningguang, is there anything we can help you with?"

Ningguang smiled and waved her hand, "No need to rush. After the news spread a few days ago, many people contacted me through various channels, wanting to join this project. Right now, I do have a few things I'd like to entrust to you all."

"The project site has been selected and all kinds of building materials are ready, but there are still three crucial items missing. These three items are the 'Mingxia Floating Life Stone', the 'Thousand Wonders Core', and the 'Immortal Talisman'."

Upon hearing Ningguang's words, the merchants present exchanged glances and shook their heads. Most of them had no clue about the three items Ningguang mentioned.

Changgui looked up at Ningguang and asked, "This... forgive my bluntness, but apart from the Floating Life Stone, I have never heard of the other two."

The merchants below immediately echoed in agreement.

Ningguang smiled and replied, "Only floating stones of sufficient size can be called 'Mingxia,' which is the foundation for ensuring that Qunyu Pavilion can ascend into the sky. The Qianqi Core is the core of the mechanical structure within Qunyu Pavilion. As for the immortal talismans, their function is to effectively combine mechanical devices with immortal techniques, and they are equally indispensable."

"Although these are three rare items, with your connections and abilities, it should only be a matter of time before you find them all."

"Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and efficiency is key. I will purchase the materials you gather at a good price, using Liyue Coins, recently introduced by the Liyue National Bank, for payment. Furthermore, the first three people to gather all the materials will have the opportunity to ask me a question. I will answer whatever the question may be. I believe this reward will not disappoint you."

After Ningguang finished speaking, she glanced at everyone present, seemingly quite looking forward to their performance. Han Fulai and Ningguang exchanged a glance, and Han Fulai gave her a knowing smile.

The group of merchants around Han Fulai immediately stirred.

Changgui muttered to himself, "This thing is hard to find, but if we could find out about Liyue Harbor's plans for next year..."

“That’s an astronomical deal. Whoever gets the information from Lord Ningguang will have the upper hand!” Zhicheng interjected.

"Haha, what a coincidence! I just heard the rumors about the Floating Life Stone not long ago. Everyone, excuse me, I must take my leave!" Hongfei laughed, cupped his hands in greeting, and immediately took his leave. He had already paid someone to inquire with Ningguang's staff and obtained information that Ningguang needed the Floating Life Stone, waiting only for on-site confirmation. As a mineral merchant, he naturally had ways to obtain the Floating Life Stone.

Changgui gritted his teeth, "Damn it..."

However, Changgui had already formed a business alliance with several other businessmen. He turned to his allies and said, "Let's hurry up and set off, we can't let others beat us to it!"

Most of the businessmen present shared the same thought: whether it was finding connections or building relationships, they had to act quickly, and most of them left immediately.

After watching all the merchants leave Yujingtai, Han Fulai stepped forward and bowed to Ningguang.

"Lord Ningguang."

"Xiao Han, there's no one else here," Ningguang said with a smile.

"Yes, Sister Ningguang." Han Fulai also smiled.