Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

Jiang Bai stayed on Haiqi Island for a few more days, both to rest and to observe the sacrificial ceremony.

Ah Mao left the day after he was released. He went to Narukami Island to atone for his past actions.

This was something he had prepared for long ago.

After leaving Inazuma, Jiang Bai did not return to Liyue Harbor first, but instead took Sun and Moon to Mondstadt.

"Long time no see, Klee!"

Seeing Keli, dressed in red and carrying a small schoolbag, skipping along, Jiang Bai took out a lollipop.

"It's Brother Jiang Bai!"

Klee excitedly pounced on her.

It has indeed been quite a while since I've seen Brother Jiang Bai.

Jiang Bai caught her and picked her up, exclaiming, "Oh dear, you've gotten heavier!"

Little Klee's height hasn't changed much from last year, but she's definitely gained a lot of weight.

"The backpack must have been filled with too many bombs..."

Chapter 828 The Knights' Expedition

Jiang Bai reached out and lifted her backpack; it was indeed very heavy.

Carrying such a heavy backpack around every day, won't it stunt your growth?

Where have you been lately?

"In the Wind Dragon Ruins, the big dragon carried Klee everywhere; it was so much fun!"

Keli exaggeratedly spread her arms wide to describe to Jiang Bai just how exciting and fun it was.

Ever since the Stormterror incident, Klee has been going to play with Dvalin whenever she has free time, and Dvalin seems to like the little guy quite a bit.

"You have to take me with you next time, I want to fly on Dvalin's back too..."

"No problem, no problem!"

Jiang Bai led Ke Li forward slowly, chatting about topics that children would find interesting.

Although he came to see Abedo, he had come all this way and wasn't in a hurry, so it wouldn't hurt to rest and relax a bit.

Kaiya strolled over from the street corner, flipping a coin with a rather lazy air, and looked at Jiang Bai with some surprise.

"Hey, isn't this Jiang Bai? What brings you to Mondstadt?"

Jiang Bai, being a very close friend, put his hand on his shoulder and said, "Of course I miss our cavalry captain!"

"Oh my, I'm so honored." Kaiya seemed completely oblivious to the lie, smiling as she continued on.

"What has Captain Kaeya been up to lately?"

"Patrolling around, having a few drinks, there's not much to do."

"But you, busy man, didn't you go to Sumeru? How was your time there?"

"I learned a lot over there," Jiang Bai said with some emotion.

Compared to Sumeru, which harbors various hidden dangers, Liyue and Mondstadt are truly peaceful.

"Oh, tell me about it." Kaiya raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

You should know that Kanria is located beneath Sumeru, and Sumeru is the country with the most secrets.

Unfortunately, he didn't know much about Sumeru, and hadn't been there many times.

"If you want to hear my story, shouldn't you prepare some fine wine and food?"

"Klee wants to hear a story too!" Klee blinked her eyes and jumped up to attract their attention.

Looking at the backpack that Keli was bouncing and swaying behind her, Jiang Bai was really worried that the bomb inside would explode with a bang.

"Okay, okay, Klee will listen too!"

"Come on, come on, let me take you to the Deer Hunter for some honey-glazed carrot and pork stir-fry!"

"Brother Kaya, Klee wants to eat grilled fish!"

"no problem!"

Sitting outside a not-so-crowded restaurant, sipping a refreshing drink, and enjoying the warm breeze, it was truly a delightful experience.

"Long, long ago, there was a gigantic tree that connected the world, holding all its secrets. But then, the tree fell ill. The guardian spirit of the tree exhausted its own life to heal it, but the great spirit left behind a seed..."

Jiang Bai recounted the events of Sumeru in a fairytale-like tone, which Keli listened to with great interest.

"...The seed grew into a new little fairy, but the little fairy was imprisoned...Later, with everyone's help, the little fairy healed the big tree..."

"It sounds like another major event has occurred," Kaiya remarked with emotion.

Although Jiang Bai spoke in a fairytale tone, he could still glean many details from the story.

During this time, he also learned a lot of information from Sumeru, but this information came from merchants and adventurers who traveled around, and they only knew the general outline.

But even from these few words, it is clear that Sumeru is undergoing a tremendous change.

The person in front of you is a direct participant in this experience.

"It was indeed a big deal, but fortunately it had a happy ending, which is something the audience was happy to see."

Jiang Bai picked up his wine glass and clinked glasses with him.

"Haha, if you were to publish a biography, you'd probably become the next legendary adventurer."

"Farewell, I am just an ordinary soul-ferryman in the Hall of Rebirth, but I have a proper job."

"Nothing special? Are you being modest or boasting?"

Why can't we have both?

"You truly are worthy of my praise. I am ashamed of my own inferiority..."

Keli held her sweet drink in both hands, biting the straw, looking at Jiang Bai and then at Kaiya, clearly not understanding what they were saying.

The adult world is so complicated.

Jiang Bai suddenly changed the subject, "When is your Grand Master returning? I haven't seen him yet."

"Who knows when they'll be back? But a letter did arrive a while ago saying they'd reached their destination..."

Kaiya didn't hide this information from Jiang Bai. They were all acquaintances, so there was no need to test them.

However, it's impossible to tell everything; only appropriate details can be revealed.

"Oh? I had no idea where the Knights went on their expedition."

"I'm not entirely sure either. All I know is that it's a very dangerous place, far from Mondstadt. Even Acting Master Jean doesn't know much about it."

The expedition was orchestrated by Grand Master Falgar. Its destination and reasons remain unknown; all that is known is that it is a secret from the past that must be unraveled.

This is the secret: the expeditionary force took away nearly 80% of Mondstadt's fighting force.

If it weren't for the Grand Master's prestige within the Knights and the Archbishop's strong encouragement, such a secretive expedition would not have been supported.

"Since it's so far from Mondstadt, why bother with such a long expedition?"

Jiang Bai had never heard Ning Guang or Ye Lan mention this matter.

It's possible that, due to its confidentiality, he was not within the scope of what was known.

Just like he had never met the other Seven Stars, especially the one in charge of military affairs.

While the fact that most of the Seven Stars are unwilling to reveal their identities is one reason, it is also a reasonable guess that this person has not been in Liyue for the past few years.

Kaiya swirled the wine in the middle of the glass and then refilled it.

"Because this is not just a matter for Mondstadt, but for the entire Teyvat. Five hundred years ago, the Knights of the Sanctuary's expedition failed, and now that they have accumulated so much, it is time to resolve some issues that should have been resolved long ago."

Back then, the Grand Master used this same argument to persuade the Knights of the Order to take away their elite troops.

"The Grand Master wrote that he encountered the captain of the Fatui's executioners in the North. At present, the two sides are in the same boat, and there is nothing else."

The commander's letter was filled with casual conversation, mentioning the expedition only briefly. In short, the letter was a report that everyone was safe.

The North is too far from Mondstadt to use birds for communication, so only primitive human labor can be used, making this letter all the more precious.

"Does the Grand Commander write to us frequently?"

"About once a year."

Who wouldn't want to write more letters? But there's no way around it; it takes a knight half a year to deliver just one letter.

Chapter 829 How long until the days of freedom?

"Besides the army of the Winter Fools, have the expeditionary force encountered any other forces?"

"I'm not sure about that. As far as I know, the northern border where the expeditionary force is currently stationed is a very large area. Perhaps other countries have also sent troops there, but they just haven't encountered them."

The northern border is not in the Winter Kingdom, but far north of the East Kingdom.

It is not part of the territory of the Seven Kingdoms, and like the Abyss Palace, it is a border region near the abyss.

However, unlike the Abyss Palace, there are no remnants of civilization there, only countless indescribable abyssal monsters.

"The monsters there are exceptionally dangerous, and the Knights are having a very hard time dealing with them, but fortunately there have been no casualties so far."

"I really want to go and see it..."

Jiang Bai really wanted to see what the Northern Territory looked like and how dangerous it was.

Unfortunately, it's too far. It's at the northernmost point of Teyvat, farther than the desert to Mount Meru.

"That's not a good place."

Since he can't go yet, Jiang Bai hasn't talked much about this topic.

Have you met Ms. Alice?

Upon hearing Jiang Bai mention her mother, Keli, who was battling the grilled fish, looked up.

"Mother?"

"Of course I've met her. Ms. Alice is a very... interesting person."

Kaiya really didn't know what word to use to describe Alice's personality, so he could only reluctantly use "interesting".

Jiang Bai patted Keli's head, "It's been so long, and we still haven't met this famous adventurer."

"Mom is far away, doing something very important, and can't come back for the time being."

Keli is very sensible. She knows that her mother is doing something important, so she doesn't cry and make a fuss to have her mother with her.

"It's protecting the barrier, isn't it?" Jiang Bai had heard Abedo mention it before.

“Yes, Mom said the Teyvat barrier is getting weaker and weaker. Klee doesn’t quite understand, but she knows it’s a very important thing.”

Jiang Bai looked at the leisurely pedestrians and the bustling, free, and peaceful Mondstadt, and sighed deeply.

"I have a feeling that the days of peace and tranquility are numbered."

Kaeya's gaze also fell upon the free people of Mondstadt, and he gently swirled his wine glass without saying a word.

How much longer does he have to live in freedom?

Claire keenly sensed the unusual emotions of the adults.

She asked nervously, "Are there bad guys? Is a fight about to break out?"

Kaeya patted Klee's head. "Haha, it's okay, there are no bad guys, Klee, don't worry."

"really?"

"Really, you can ask Brother Jiang Bai if you don't believe me."

Keli turned to look at Jiang Bai.

"Really?" Jiang Bai blinked his left eye.

Although it is unclear what Alice's true identity is, she must be extraordinary to be able to guard the barrier.

As long as the barrier doesn't experience a large-scale collapse, Teyvat is not yet facing its doom.