The Mutated Hilichurl King

Next, Ganyu got a good look at Bai Ye's combat prowess.

He pulled out a pile of handheld crossbows from his sleeves and used his Anemo elemental power to fire arrow after arrow.

These Treasure Hoarders were all pinned to the ground by Bai Ye.

"Big brother, we were wrong."

"We won't dare again..."

"I have an eighty-year-old mother and a child under 1.6 meters..."

The last one got another beating from Bai Ye.

He dared to mention 1.6 meters to me.

What kind of person are you, daring to tell me your child is also 1.6 meters.

After the beating, Bai Ye felt refreshed.

He then tied them all up.

"You all go back to Liyue Harbor yourselves and hand yourselves over to the Millelith. Remember, the one who caught you is Bai Ye. Tell the Ministry of Civil Affairs to leave the bounty for me."

Although he now had a long-term income, getting some extra cash was always good.

"Hurry up and go!"

Bai Ye kicked the leader's butt hard with his booted foot, while also reloading his handheld crossbow.

Seeing the situation, the Treasure Hoarders couldn't delay any longer and naturally ran off one by one towards Liyue Harbor.

The place Bai Ye came out from wasn't too far. Bai Ye could see them all the way back to Liyue Harbor with his own eyes.

As for whether they would escape after getting out of the handheld crossbow's range.

Don't forget, Ganyu was still by Bai Ye's side at this moment.

After watching them get caught by the Millelith, Bai Ye and Ganyu continued forward.

After walking a considerable distance, Ganyu chatted with Bai Ye about what had just happened:

"There really are so many Treasure Hoarders. Even if you cleared out all of Liyue, Treasure Hoarders from other places would still come. There's no way to eradicate them completely."

"Who says there's no way?"

Bai Ye pointed to Guili Plains ahead, which was still in ruins.

"If we make good use of this land, whether it's turned into farmland or a new city is rebuilt here, once all this land is developed, where will the Treasure Hoarders have space to survive?"

Treasure Hoarders are people who can't stand the light of day. As long as all of Liyue is developed, the Treasure Hoarders will have no room to survive.

Moreover, many of the Treasure Hoarders are young people who couldn't find work in Liyue Harbor and fell astray. With new construction, there will naturally be new job opportunities. Will they still become Treasure Hoarders?

"Develop the entire Guili Plains?"

Ganyu was shocked by Bai Ye's ambition.

"Guili Plains alone cannot completely guarantee that Liyue will be free of monsters and Treasure Hoarders. We should develop all of Liyue."

"Completing all of this is still too far off. Let's focus on the present first. We should investigate the situation by the roadside in Guili Plains next."

Ganyu said to Bai Ye.

"Mm-hmm."

Bai Ye nodded.

The two continued on their way.

After walking a bit further, Ganyu said to Bai Ye, "I also want to see the day you can fully develop Liyue."

"Well, I can't do it alone. I'll need your help."

"These things might require the Geo Archon's decree."

Ganyu pondered for a moment and said to Bai Ye.

Liyue was still in an era of divine rule. The development of Liyue primarily needed to follow the will of Rex Lapis.

Bai Ye said nothing.

He had already calculated the time. After this year's Rite of Descension, Liyue would undergo a major change.

They followed the road north.

Bai Ye went to inspect the road conditions, while Ganyu checked if there would be any dangers if roads were to be built.

Ganyu's side was fine; she didn't find any dangers.

Bai Ye's side, however, was not so good.

Liyue's roads were, at best, compacted dirt paths. If it rained heavily, the roads themselves would become muddy and impassable. Then, if vehicles were to drive on them, the situation would be truly disastrous.

Bai Ye felt that before developing vehicles, he might need to work on construction materials first.

He walked along, contemplating solutions.

The two walked from day into night.

Night fell.

The road ahead was no longer suitable for travel, so Bai Ye and Ganyu decided to rest by the roadside for a while.

Setting up a campfire was easy enough.

There were still quite a few Hilichurls in the Guili Plains.

Bai Ye and Ganyu found a Hilichurl camp, and Bai Ye engaged in a friendly discussion with the Hilichurls.

The Hilichurls were incredibly welcoming to Bai Ye and Ganyu's request to stay the night, generously offering up their own space.

"Come back tomorrow morning, bye-bye."

Bai Ye removed the Handheld Crossbow from above the Hilichurls' heads, signaling them to leave quickly.

It was unclear if the Hilichurls understood Bai Ye, but after he lowered the Handheld Crossbow, they rapidly fled towards the depths of the Guili Plains.

Bai Ye and Ganyu sat by the campfire.

"Here, try this. I packed some food from the Wanmin Restaurant," Bai Ye said to Ganyu.

However, upon seeing the bento box Bai Ye offered her, Ganyu reacted as if she had seen some monstrous beast.

"I don't need this, not at all," Ganyu said to Bai Ye, swallowing hard.

"Why not? This is delicious," Bai Ye asked, puzzled.

It was just a simple stir-fry made by Xiangling, not something like Luosifen or stinky tofu. It shouldn't have such a potent effect, right?

Bai Ye couldn't understand.

Besides, you were clearly swallowing. You looked so eager, so why are you so scared?

Bai Ye was bewildered.

Ganyu continued to back away.

At that moment, Bai Ye's expression changed instantly.

"Watch out behind you!" Bai Ye shouted immediately.

At the same time, he picked up his Handheld Crossbow and fired towards Ganyu's back.

Ganyu also felt a gust of foul wind from behind her.

She quickly stopped in her tracks and rolled towards Bai Ye.

As she rolled to Bai Ye's side, Ganyu reached out her hand.

Bai Ye extended his hand and pulled Ganyu up.

In a very short amount of time, they helped Ganyu escape the trap.

A figure several meters tall landed on the ground, creating a large crater.

Only then did Bai Ye and Ganyu see that it was a Hilichurl King.

Those Hilichurls are really petty. Just freezing them for one night, and they have to call for revenge? Bai Ye thought to himself, then picked up his Handheld Crossbow again to shoot at the Hilichurl King.

However, the Hilichurl King didn't retreat; instead, it took a few steps forward, taking the hit directly.

"Something's not right," Bai Ye murmured.

Using the firelight, he and Ganyu could see distinct black energy emanating from its body.

"It's been influenced by something," Ganyu said to Bai Ye.

Seeing this, Bai Ye set aside his Handheld Crossbow.

Now it was time for him to showcase his Art of Automata.

Although he had only recently mastered the Art of Automata, Bai Ye believed it would be more than capable in his hands.