"Ganyu, is it? I've heard about you from Cloud Retainer."

This is bad. If they question every one of them, we're bound to get exposed!

Tianfeng Douluo saw the Millelith questioning Bi Ji and Pufferfish Douluo. His expression shifted again and again, and he gritted his teeth. "No, I have to get out of here—now!"

With that thought, he wasted no time. He released his Martial Soul, and as his Spirit Rings pulsed, he soared into the air and sped off into the distance.

The commotion drew nearly everyone's attention.

Earlier.

Lumine had noticed something was wrong and was just about to slip away when another commotion suddenly erupted nearby.

At once.

All the Millelith turned their attention toward it. "Look! It's the assassin!"

"Capture that fiend!"

Lumine was a little startled, but seized the confusion to quietly sneak away.

Ningguang noticed her furtive movements.

"Seal off the entire harbor. Sketch and issue wanted notices for everyone behaving suspiciously!"

"Yes!"

Clearly, Ningguang had also noticed those strangely dressed people.

As a result, Lumine was caught up in the trouble through no fault of her own. In the end, Tartaglia rescued her as well----

By comparison, Chen Fan was hardly affected. He simply changed into another outfit with Qiqi, then helped Bi Ji change too, allowing them to safely evade the Millelith's inspections.

"Where are we going now?"

At last, after they'd evaded the search, Bi Ji wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.

To be honest.

That last scare had really shaken her.

Though she was a Ferocious Beast who had lived for more than five hundred thousand years, she didn't have much combat ability. What was more, the Emerald Swan was kind by nature and didn't want to hurt other living beings.

Fortunately, she'd kept her wits about her, and the commotion outside had given them an opening. Otherwise, she really wouldn't have known what to do.

"Someone will come by in a moment."

Chen Fan gave a mysterious smile at Bi Ji's question, making her stare at him in surprise. "What?"

Just then.

A figure with long blue hair, dressed in a white short qipao decorated with golden patterns, walked over. "You two, Lady Tianquan would like to see you."

Her blue hair was gathered into a ponytail behind her head and fell naturally down her back. Most striking of all was the single cowlick on top of her head, along with the two small black-and-red qilin horns growing from either side.

At first glance, Bi Ji almost mistook her for a Soul Beast that hadn't fully transformed—

Or perhaps a Spirit Master's Martial Soul Possession?

The newcomer was Ganyu, Lady Tianquan's secretary, known as the secretary of the Liyue Qixing!

"Uh...?"

Bi Ji was a little dumbfounded. She stared at Ganyu, who wore formal attire but seemed to have a curious look in her eyes, then glanced at Chen Fan.

This woman in formal attire—if she remembered correctly, she was that Lady Tianquan person, wasn't she?

Why was she here?

Could she have come to arrest them?

But... hadn't she and Chen Fan already evaded the Millelith?

What was going on?

"Please, lead the way."

Chen Fan replied, then smiled at Ganyu. "Ganyu, is it? I've heard about you from Cloud Retainer."

"Huh?"

Ganyu froze. "You know my teacher?"

This man knew her teacher?

Wait!

He'd heard about her from her teacher?

Could that matter be—

Ganyu: (°A°!!

"Of course. I've always been curious how someone managed to eat so much they burst a giant beast—"

The moment the words left his mouth,

Ganyu's face turned visibly red. She hurried over and clapped a hand over Chen Fan's mouth. "N-no, please, I'm begging you, don't say it!"

At the same time, she thought miserably, Does my teacher really tell everyone everything? She's telling people about that incident with me—

1!

Bi Ji, meanwhile, was quite curious. Eat so much that a giant beast burst?

What could have made a giant beast burst?

She thought about it for ages, but even after they reached the Jade Chamber, she still couldn't figure it out.

"Lady Tianquan invites you inside!"

After going in to report, Ganyu came back out and looked at Chen Fan, her face awkward and embarrassed. She murmured a few words, then hurried off.

How humiliating!

Her teacher really did tell people everything!

"Welcome to Liyue, traveler from afar."

As soon as Chen Fan entered, he saw Ningguang, who had been waiting for some time in her chair. She smiled and rose to greet him. "I've heard a little about your glorious exploits in Mondstadt."

"Others have heard about you, too."

By "others," she meant the other members of the Liyue Qixing besides herself, Lady Tianquan.

Chen Fan was a little surprised.

So the story of La Signora pinning him down and beating him in Mondstadt had made it to Liyue?

That couldn't be right.

As far as he recalled, there hadn't been any witnesses.

Wait!

A spark of insight flashed through Chen Fan's mind. Had Anemo Archon Barbatos seen it?

And then... had that god of freedom sneaked over to Liyue and told Rex Lapis, who passed it on to the Adepti, until finally the whole Liyue Qixing knew?

It seemed plausible enough, but... Chen Fan felt that the timing was too rushed.

So—

Was it Yelan?

"It was just luck."

Chen Fan let the thought pass without comment. "May I ask why Lady Tianquan invited me here?"

At that, Ningguang smiled faintly. "I didn't have any particular reason at first, but..."

As she spoke, she pointed behind her. A man with green hair, gold-rimmed glasses, and a smile on his face walked over. "Hello, traveler from afar. Thank you for looking after Qiqi."

When he came closer, Bi Ji noticed that a white snake was draped around him.

The newcomer was Baizhu, the owner of Bubu Pharmacy!

At that, Chen Fan understood.

He had changed Qiqi's clothes, but after she'd been gone all night, Baizhu would surely have gone looking for her. If he couldn't find her, he might well ask the Liyue Qixing for help. And with the Millelith sealing off all of Liyue Harbor, it wouldn't be hard to recognize Qiqi, with the talisman stuck to her forehead.

So—

"I found this child in the woods yesterday, just as she was about to be buried alive, so I brought her back."

After a pause, Chen Fan ruffled Qiqi's hair and gently set her down. "I just didn't know where to take her, so I kept her with me."

"Sorry for the trouble."

After examining Qiqi's condition, Baizhu looked rather surprised.

He noticed that Qiqi seemed to be showing signs of recovery, but couldn't explain why.

Even with his profound medical knowledge, he was at a loss when it came to Qiqi's condition. He couldn't explain this change in her, either.

"Now that she's been found, I'll take my leave."

"Until next time."