He changed Tiwat

This failure does not directly damage the communication device, but is similar to modern electromagnetic interference, preventing the "signal" of the communication instrument from being transmitted.

Based on these phenomena, Han Fulai believes that the Order of the Church or the Fools are using the ley lines of Sumeru to create a large-scale "barrier". This "barrier" will not interfere with "physical communication" - such as letters delivered by carrier pigeons and human postmen - but it will affect "non-physical communication" such as elemental power and fairy power.

Interfering with communications may not be the primary purpose of this "barrier"; according to Han Fulai's assessment, it is more like a "side effect" of the "barrier."

After all, the mainstream means of communication on the continent of Teyvat are still the most primitive human transmission and animal communication. Not everyone has his high-end equipment. And the fact that this "barrier" did not block conventional communication is also the reason why the outside world failed to discover that Sumeru was "locked down".

However, his own soul contract is not bound by this "locked-down country." If needed, he can still use the contract to send messages to Gan Yu or the Divine Child, or summon the Immortal Xiao to descend from the heavens. This is one of the reasons why he dared to venture alone into the "enemy camp" of Sumeru City.

The vast "barrier" of unknown purpose, coupled with today's sudden "lockdown," and the "prophecy" in the "alchemy divination"... Han Fulai vaguely felt that these things could be connected.

However, he currently lacks crucial intelligence and cannot truly connect all the events.

But Hazard specifically ordered a "lockdown," so he couldn't just do nothing.

When the other party makes a formal move, that's when they'll reveal their true colors—Han Fulai has always been a patient person; he can wait.

Han Fu returned to the group and briefly explained the "lockdown" situation. Ying and Paimon didn't seem to care much, but Dina Zede looked worried, clearly also thinking about the possibility of the Order of the Church targeting the "Flower Goddess's Birthday Festival"... and immediately lost the mood to continue visiting the festival.

As it was nearing noon, Han Fulai suggested that they return to their lodgings for a midday rest and lunch before making further plans.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to have the meal.

Han Fulai stopped outside the courtyard gate.

"...It seems like someone has been here?"

Huma's house is a detached house with its own courtyard. It is one of the few "high-end residences" in the Grand Bazaar. The environment is relatively quiet and there are not many people coming and going.

There wasn't anything valuable in the house, and most of the people who knew they lived there were friends from the Zuber troupe. So when Yingmei left in the morning, she didn't lock the gate—that way, when her friends from the troupe came to visit, they could come inside and wait, rather than being locked out.

Han Fulai remembered that the courtyard gate was ajar when they left, but now it was tightly shut.

Did someone come and close the door for them?

Ying glanced around warily and silently stood in front of Dina Zede.

"What's wrong?" Dina Zede asked curiously.

"Someone is watching us... well, in mercenary terms, there's a murderous aura about them!"

With a flick of her wrist, the experienced adventurer Yingmei grasped "Mist Cutter".

At the same time, two figures wearing red headscarves appeared on the roof of the courtyard. They held crossbows and looked down at Ying and Dina Zede behind her.

The courtyard gate was pulled open from the inside.

A mercenary with a single eye patch and bulging muscles stood with his arms crossed at the courtyard gate. Two more figures emerged from either side of the courtyard wall, one wielding a crescent-shaped scimitar and the other a two-handed halberd, surrounding them menacingly.

Paimon instinctively shrank behind Luminous's head: "They're from the Gilded Troupe, they look like they have bad intentions..."

However, Dina Zede, a sheltered young lady from a wealthy family, remained calm in the face of danger and even dared to loudly ask the group, "...Who are you? It doesn't seem like you were hired by the Humai family, right?"

The one holding the crescent-shaped scimitar seemed to be the leader of this group of mercenaries. He touched his bald head and laughed, "Heh, indeed, we haven't taken any money from the Humai family yet... But if we capture you now, how much will the Humai family offer to ransom you?"

"They really are kidnappers!" Paimon exclaimed.

Han Fulai frowned slightly.

The mercenaries of the Gilded Brigade were no match for him and Yingmei, but why would the Gilded Brigade come to the Grand Bazaar to kidnap Dina Zede?

Moreover, Sumeru is under lockdown today, so logically these people couldn't have entered from outside the city today. They most likely scouted the area and lay in ambush. This is Huma's property, so it's not surprising that the kidnappers would lie in ambush here... But Dina Zedai rarely goes out, let alone stays in this house. How did they know Dina Zedai's itinerary?

There is an even more important question: with Sumeru under lockdown today, even if this group successfully kidnaps Dina Zedai, how will they escape from the city?

"Ying, remember to leave some survivors..."

Just as Han Fulai was about to warn them, he heard two shrill screams—a huge golden "lion claw" pressed down on the heads of two crossbowmen on the roof, smashing their heads against the roof ridge like smashing watermelons.

Meanwhile, the owner of "Lion's Claw" proudly carried a large sword and declared to the kidnappers below: "Have you ever considered... that there is a colleague you can't afford to offend who has already taken money from the Huma'i family?"

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Forbidden Drugs?

"...Desia!?" The bald mercenary in the lead was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting to meet this renowned colleague in this place.

The young mercenary wielding the snake-beak halberd looked horrified: "Boss, could she be... that 'Blazing Lion' Desia?"

The Gilded Brigade has many members, most of whom are destined to be forgotten by the yellow sand. Only a few outstanding individuals, like Desia, can leave a mark on people's memories.

"The Lion with the Blazing Mane" Desia, the brave and fierce Desia—the lion symbolizes her power, and the blazing mane is a high-level summary of her fiery personality.

Her claws and her flames have left indelible marks on many mercenaries.

The blindfolded mercenary gritted his teeth and drew two fist blades: "There's no mistake, she's the one who took this eye from me..."

Desia patted the golden greatsword in her hand, looking down at the mercenaries: "Kneel down and beg for mercy now, and I might spare your lives. Badius, you'd better think it over, or your whole group will be expelled from the 'Remnants of the God-King' today."

When you're all in this together, the one thing you can't afford to be weak about is your presence.

The bald mercenary named Badis raised his scimitar, a strange smile on his face: "Heh, no wonder we haven't heard from you in the mercenary circle for so long. So you've been tied up at home? When did 'Blazing Beast Hunter' become 'Housekeeper Dog'?"

The mercenaries of the Gilded Brigade take on all sorts of jobs. Some, like them, take on kidnapping contracts, while others, like Desia, take on bodyguard contracts. This isn't unusual. Badis's team had previously tried to rob a caravan protected by Desia, only to be severely punished by her, which led to their feud.

The desert is a place where the strong prey on the weak, and Dixia's reputation was earned through her strength. Although Badis and the others were not convinced, they still admired her to some extent.

But Dixia left the desert to guard the home of a wealthy family in Sumeru City... In the eyes of the desert people, this was one of the most shameful acts.

The desert people have always considered themselves the subjects of the Red King, especially the gilded guilds who pride themselves on their martial prowess. They have always looked down on the "weak rainforest people"—they might temporarily serve as bodyguards for the rainforest people for money, but they would never serve as "servants" for them.

As for Desia, the renowned "Blazing Lion" of the desert, her willingness to serve as a servant to the people of the Grass God is undoubtedly an insult to the pride of the Red Prince's people... Moreover, she is a young and beautiful woman...

The other two mercenaries clearly understood Baddis's implication, and their faces also showed a smile that was a mixture of contempt and lewdness.

Before Dixia could even retort, Dina Zede was enraged: "Please don't speak so rudely! Dixia owes a debt of gratitude to our Humai family before we started our cooperative relationship, and I won't allow you to talk about her like that!"

Seeing Dina Zede speak up for her like this, Dixia couldn't help but be moved: "...It's alright, Miss Dina Zede, this is just a little show of fangs between mercenaries. Once they make a move, the wild dogs will show their true colors."

With two loud bangs, it was Dixia kicking the two archers who had just been dealt with off the roof.

Baddis and the others scrambled to avoid their tumbling companions, while Desia leaped in front of them, her greatsword pointed directly at Baddis.

Faced with the fiercely combative Dixia, both mercenaries, one wielding a halberd and the other a fist blade, instinctively took a few steps back. Bardis, however, showed some courage: "Hmph, after so much time, your minions should have rusted by now, right? Don't be so sure of yourself!"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red jar.

Paimon peeked out from behind Luminous, looking at Baddis's hand with some surprise: "Huh, that thing, could it be...?"

Before he finished speaking, Baddis suddenly roared to the sky, his muscles bulging and bulging, making him seem to grow a size larger. His aura also surged, as if he had transformed from a human into some ancient monster.

Ying and Han Fulai, who were standing guard beside Dina Zedai, were both somewhat surprised.

With their strength, they wouldn't normally take these mercenaries seriously. With two demon god-level powerhouses standing here, what trouble could these mere mercenaries possibly cause?

The reason they didn't go straight up and take down the kidnappers was twofold: firstly, because the real bodyguard, Dixia, was present, and they didn't want to steal her thunder; secondly, they were wary of other kidnappers' archers lying in ambush nearby, and leaving Dinazeda might give them an opportunity to take advantage.

But the murderous aura emanating from Badius was so intense that it made both of them feel a sense of unease, as if they had seen something terrifying.

Not only that, they also sensed a familiar aura emanating from Baddis...

Dixia's expression also turned serious: "Ying, Mr. Jiang Xue, please take Miss Dina Zede to a safe place to take refuge!"

Flames began to rise from her golden greatsword.

—This is her "Blazing Sword Domain".

"Sword Domain Blazing Flames" creates a burning area within a radius of several meters around her, turning the surroundings into a sea of ​​fire. No matter who is lying in ambush nearby, they will have nowhere to hide within her sword domain.

Originally, she didn't plan to use such a wide-range attack. Her employer's house was also property she had to protect. If she used this move, the courtyard would become uninhabitable... But now she couldn't care less.

Desia had fought Baddis before and knew his strength. In Desia's memory, Baddis's strength was stronger than most mercenaries, but not as strong as the holder of the Eye of God, at least not her match—however, the Baddis in front of her with bloodshot eyes had an aura that surpassed hers.

Quickly assessing an opponent's strength, fighting if possible and retreating if not, has always been a mercenary's survival principle. There was clearly something ominous in that jar of Badius's, perhaps some forbidden drug or ancient artifact from desert ruins. Such things often inflict devastating consequences on the user afterward, but the immediate and powerful effects are the reward.

Normally, Dixia would choose to avoid the limelight, but she can't retreat now. For Dinazede's safety, she must hold off Badis here.

The Grand Bazaar is still within the territory of Sumeru City, and there is a "Thirty-Man Group" of mercenaries stationed there. As long as she causes a big commotion, the "Thirty-Man Group" will naturally come over.

"world……"

A roar like that of a tiger with long manes came from Badis’s throat. He dropped the scimitar in his hand and pounced on Desia like a real wild beast, so fast that he left afterimages in the air!

"Boss..."

The two henchmen who were blocking Badis's way were sent flying far away before they could react, and the sound of bones breaking could be heard.

Desia raised her greatsword and slashed down fiercely at Badius.

But there was one person who was even faster than them!

As if teleporting, "Han Jiangxue" suddenly appeared between the two of them—he held a blazing greatsword in one hand and used his other hand to slice off Badis's left ear with his fingers together!

Chapter Fifty-Nine: The name of the mastermind behind it all is...

"Ah...!" Dina Zede let out a terrified scream.

The scene of blood splattering everywhere was far too stimulating for Dina Zede, a sheltered young lady.

Yingmei, who was standing nearby, quickly covered Dina Zede's eyes.

Badis's expression instantly became incredibly ferocious; his injury clearly fueled his "beastly" nature.

With his face covered in blood, Badius opened his mouth and bared his canine teeth, looking no different from a wild beast.

Ears are not considered vital organs, at least in the eyes of mercenaries who have been through countless battles, losing an ear is only a "minor injury." The ferocious Badius would certainly not take such a small injury seriously.

However, in the next instant, Baddis, who had become "one-eared", suddenly rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground.

"It's over. Put away your flames."

Han Fulai ended the "Time Control" state, released Dixia's greatsword, and gestured for her to look at the ground—on the left ear of Baddis that he had severed, there was a leaf-shaped ornament that was flashing red light.

Desia immediately recognized the object: "'Void Terminal'?"

“Yes.” Han Fulai bent down and picked up the small red jar from the ground. “The thing he just used should be ‘canned knowledge’.”

"'Canned Goods Knowledge'...?"

Dixia thought blankly for a few seconds before finally recalling the small jar that Instructor Sharif had brought out at the "hearing." But Sharif's "jarred knowledge" seemed quite different from Baddis's.

"...Shouldn't 'canned knowledge' be green? And how could 'knowledge' possibly make someone so much stronger in such a short time?"

"Perhaps it's because 'knowledge is power'..."

Han Fulai did not directly answer Dixia's question.

In fact, he didn't know what this red "canned knowledge" actually was, but he had a rough idea of ​​why it made Baddis stronger.

He sensed the aura of the "Abyss" emanating from the "beast-like" Baddis.

Baddis strengthened himself with the abyssal power stored in "canned knowledge," similar to the Fatui activating the "Evil Eye," or the state of "possessed by demonic remnants" like Cole, which is why he suddenly experienced a burst of power.

Fortunately, this enhancement came at the cost of reason; a beast without intelligence couldn't truly unleash the power of the Abyss. Han Fulai seized the opportunity and precisely severed the connection between the Abyss's power and Baddis's body—specifically, the "Void Terminal" worn on Baddis's left ear.

"Canned knowledge" needs to be read using the "Void Terminal". Destroying the "Void Terminal" will suppress Baddis's rampage at the fastest speed and with the least cost.

Of course, the most important thing was to leave survivors.

He had many questions to ask this Baddis.

"Hey, wake up." Han Fulai bent down, patted Badis's face, and casually channeled some immortal power into his body.

For ordinary people, his immortal power is similar to "adrenaline," allowing him to maintain a "last gasp" even when on the verge of death.

Unfortunately, it seems that Baddis's brain was burned out by the power of the abyss; even if it were healed, he would still drool...

Although Baddis had regained consciousness with his eyes rolled back, he had lost the ability to communicate normally, only repeatedly uttering a few broken words: "The world...forgot...me..."

"Has the world... forgotten me?"

Han Fulai looked up at Yingmei, and Yingmei nodded.

Without a doubt, this was the sentence Ying heard when she came into contact with the "World Tree".

Why would Badist say that?

Is that red, canned knowledge containing the power of the abyss related to the World Tree?

However, no matter how he asked, Baddis could not say anything new beyond that sentence.

Han Fulai frowned and shifted his gaze to the other two mercenaries lying in the distance.

The one wearing the blindfold appears to have suffered a spinal injury and is in a deep coma, while the younger one has only lost an arm and is lying on the ground groaning in pain.

Before Han Fulai could speak, Dixia rushed over and lifted the young mercenary up by his severed arm. Although Dixia didn't like torturing her opponents, she had been exposed to torture in the desert for many years and knew the methods of interrogation quite well.

"Tell me quickly, who hired you to kidnap Miss Dina Zede!"

Baddis's "Relics of the God-King" is the most notorious mercenary group in the desert.