"Long time no see, Tsaritsa. How have you been?" Yun Fan greeted her with a smile, then gestured for her to take a seat.
"We haven't interacted much, have we?" The Tsaritsa frowned. This guy was really acting familiar. Still, she didn't refuse and sat down in Hu Tao's former seat.
Then... she crossed her legs.
Seeing this, Yun Fan's corner of the mouth twitched. The Tsaritsa was really something else.
"Since the two of you have matters to discuss, I'll take my leave," Zhongli said, then left without giving them time to react.
"Uh... alright, Morax is gone. So, what brings you here to see me?" Yun Fan was momentarily stunned, then looked at the "Big Seele" before him with interest.
"Who exactly are you?" The Tsaritsa's gaze never left Yun Fan as she spoke.
"Me? The Divine Lord of Liyue, a traveler from another world, an old captain, a trailblazer..."
"Are you joking with me?" The Tsaritsa's beautiful face turned frosty. She felt Yun Fan was mocking her.
"Sigh..." Yun Fan sighed. He couldn't reveal the truth about the Primordial Laws, but what he had said was indeed the truth.
Seeing Yun Fan's troubled expression, the Tsaritsa raised an eyebrow. "If you don't want to say, I won't force you. Just tell me, what is your relationship with the Heavenly Principles?"
"I have no relationship with the Heavenly Principles," Yun Fan shook his head, giving the same answer as before. Then he asked curiously, "Did you come all the way to Liyue just to ask me this in person?" If that were the case, even if she was sensitive about the Heavenly Principles, it seemed like an overreaction.
The Tsaritsa remained silent, her beautiful eyes scanning Yun Fan up and down, as if trying to see through him.
"Even if you keep looking, you won't find anything," Yun Fan said, exasperated.
"Hmph!" The Tsaritsa snorted, turning her head away. After a while, she turned back.
"I want you to join me in opposing the Heavenly Principles. Name your price for the contract."
"Huh?" Yun Fan tilted his head. "You still owe me a promise. Why should I make another deal with you?" To be honest, Yun Fan was still confused about why the Tsaritsa had gone to such lengths to save La Signora. It wasn't that Rosalyne wasn't valuable, but the value of the bargaining chips on both sides was not equal.
"Then I'll fulfill it now. Name your terms."
"Well, how about Columbina..." Yun Fan started, then suddenly thought of something and changed his tone. "I want you to recognize me in the name of the Cryo Archon. If you agree, my previous condition will be considered fulfilled, and we can discuss opposing the Heavenly Principles."
"Are you sure?" The Tsaritsa looked puzzled. She hadn't expected Yun Fan's condition to be so simple. This guy was truly hard to figure out.
"I'm sure."
"Then our pact is formed. I, the Cryo Archon, hereby recognize you."
'Cryo Archon's recognition obtained. Reward: 2 lottery chances.' Hearing the prompt in his mind, Yun Fan's lips curled into a smile. Success.
"Now, let's discuss how to deal with the Heavenly Principles..."
The two talked for a long time, and soon the sun began to set. The evening glow cast a warm light on the Tsaritsa's cold and beautiful face, making Yun Fan wish, for a brief moment, that time could stand still. But he quickly shook his head, realizing he was getting carried away.
"Farewell, ally," the Tsaritsa said, her figure blurring before disappearing from Yun Fan's sight.
"I was going to ask her to stay," Yun Fan sighed, somewhat regretful. Just moments ago, he had formed an alliance with the Tsaritsa to oppose the Heavenly Principles. From now on, they were allies.
Of course, this was limited to him and the Tsaritsa.
As for why he agreed to the Tsaritsa's request, it was simply because she offered terms he couldn't refuse. Moreover, he had a premonition that one day, he would become an enemy of the Heavenly Principles.
...…
"Is... is this Jueyun Karst?" Paimon, dragging her exhausted body, looked up at the towering peaks that seemed to pierce the heavens. She collapsed to the ground, her face filled with despair.
Even Lumine wore an expression that screamed, "I'm done with life!" She hadn't expected Jueyun Karst to be so far from Liyue Harbor. On the map Ningguang had given them, it had looked like a short distance.
If she had known it was this far, she would have asked Ningguang to prepare a carriage. Her legs were about to give out.
"Stop lazing around. There's still a long way to go," Lumine poked Paimon's cheek and pulled her up.
"Wah..." Paimon whined but eventually floated up, following Lumine as they continued up the mountain.
After much hardship, the two finally reached the summit, arriving at the entrance to Mountain Shaper's abode.
"Adeptus, spare me! Adeptus, spare me! Please show mercy and spare my brother! I was blinded by greed, please have mercy, Adeptus..." A Treasure Hoarder, dressed in typical attire, knelt before a gate, continuously pleading and occasionally kowtowing.
"Traveler, what's that guy doing?" Seeing the man's strange behavior, Paimon perked up, her fatigue momentarily forgotten.
"Let's go take a look," Lumine said, curious. The two quietly approached the man from behind, and Paimon gently tapped his shoulder.
"Ah! Adeptus, spare me!" The Treasure Hoarder jumped in fright, immediately begging for mercy.
"We're not Adepti," Paimon shook her head.
"Not Adeptis?" The Treasure Hoarder dared to look up, seeing a golden-haired girl and a floating companion. He sighed in relief, then his expression changed again.
"No, if you're not Adeptus, then you must be their envoys! Envoys, please, you must save my brother!"
Seeing the Treasure Hoarder kowtowing again, Lumine facepalmed. Why couldn't this guy understand? She had already said they weren't Adeptus.
"We're really not Adeptus. We're here to seek the Adepti too," Lumine explained again.
"Envoy, you must be joking."
"..."