After returning to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Xiu Yuan went about his day as usual.
That afternoon.
A dirt-covered Yuan Chen sprinted desperately through Liyue Harbor.
Even when he fell and rolled several times, scraping his knees bloody, he got back up and kept running as though he could not feel the pain.
"Faster... faster..."
Tears filled his eyes as he barreled through the streets like a madman. The people he bumped into froze in surprise, but before they could say anything, he had already vanished into the distance.
Bang!!!
The doors of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor were shoved open.
Every employee turned to look at Yuan Chen in surprise, and Xiu Yuan was no exception.
"Quick! Quick!! The Hilichurls have captured Hu Tao!!!"
His eyes widened as he screamed hysterically.
"What! Where!" Xiu Yuan flashed over in an instant, his eyes filled with anxious urgency.
It was the first time Yuan Chen had ever seen Xiu Yuan so furious, and for a moment, he froze in fright.
"At the foot of Mt. Tianheng!"
Whoosh!
Leaving a spark behind, Xiu Yuan vanished from the spot.
In an instant, a streak of flame shot through the crowd like a missile.
Please be safe... you have to be safe...
Boom!!!!
He stamped down hard, blasting a deep, scorched crater into the ground. His speed increased even further, and the fierce flames whipped into terrifying waves of heat by the rushing wind, distorting the very air.
Within moments, he reached the foot of Mt. Tianheng.
Looking up, he spotted three Hilichurls holding Hu Tao halfway up the mountain.
His eyes blazed with fury, and a crimson spear instantly appeared in his hand.
"Die!"
The instant the spear left his hand, it became a dazzling streak of fire and vanished.
The spear pierced straight through the body of a Hilichurl behind Hu Tao.
"Flame Flash Body Flicker!"
In an instant, Xiu Yuan disappeared from where he had stood at the foot of the mountain.
When he reappeared, he was already beside Hu Tao.
"Don't be afraid. Grandpa's here."
He held Hu Tao protectively against his chest with one arm and caught the spear with his other hand, impaling the Hilichurl near the cliff's edge before flinging it down.
Boom!!!!
He kicked the one near the rock wall straight into the stone. Countless lightning-like cracks spread outward from the Hilichurl embedded in the rock.
Just as Xiu Yuan thought it was over, a horde of Hilichurls charged up from the foot of Mt. Tianheng.
Among them were archers, an Unusual Hilichurl, and Hilichurl Brutes.
Every single one was at the maximum level of 100.
With no time to wonder why so many monsters had suddenly appeared, Xiu Yuan carried Hu Tao toward the summit, then leaped off the back of Mt. Tianheng.
"Ah!!!!"
Hu Tao had never experienced anything as thrilling as this kind of bungee jumping. Leaping straight off a mountain without any safety equipment was bound to terrify her.
But...
Xiu Yuan himself was the safest protection she could have.
Two-thirds of the way down, Xiu Yuan drove his spear into the rock face. The tremendous friction sharply reduced their falling speed.
They were no longer very high above the ground. Xiu Yuan kicked off the mountainside, pulled out his spear, and performed a backflip, landing easily.
The moment they landed, the Hilichurls were already charging toward them.
Xiu Yuan ran with Hu Tao until he reached a relatively flat stretch of ground, then gently stroked her soft hair.
"Be good, Hu Tao. Wait behind that rock for Grandpa. I'll clean this up in no time."
"But..."
Whoosh!
Before Hu Tao could say anything else, an arrow struck the grass beside her, frightening her into rushing behind the rock.
Xiu Yuan stood and spun his spear, deflecting every arrow that flew toward him.
Then he drove the spear into the ground behind him and swept it sharply along a straight line.
A terrifying wall of flame instantly surged skyward behind Xiu Yuan, shielding Hu Tao completely like a sturdy barrier.
Xiu Yuan glanced back and gave Hu Tao a gentle smile.
"Grandpa... you can do it!" she cheered, clenching her little fists.
"Mm." As Xiu Yuan smiled and spoke, he knocked away every arrow in the rain-like barrage. The sight left Hu Tao utterly stunned.
It was the first time she had ever seen her grandfather fight with a weapon.
She had always thought Grandpa was just a gentle undertaker. She had never imagined he could look this impressive.
Xiu Yuan turned back, his eyes instantly filling with savagery. His gaze looked ready to devour someone, brimming with murderous intent.
Dragging his spear, he surged forward at an incredible speed. His fierce spearwork was like the movements of a graceful dancer, smooth and fluid without the slightest stiffness.
Under Xiu Yuan's attacks, the mass of Hilichurls was torn to pieces, with more of them sent flying out of the crowd from time to time.
In moments, Xiu Yuan had fought his way into the middle of the Hilichurl horde.
Monsters of every kind surrounded him on all sides.
He slammed his spear into the ground and instantly pressed his palms together.
"Eight-Sided Fire!"
Boom!!!!!
Flames erupted around Xiu Yuan in the pattern of an eight-trigram formation.
The immense heat distorted the air, and the colossal flames swallowed the monsters whole.
Hu Tao's mouth fell open as she stared at her grandfather in disbelief, scarcely able to believe this was his power.
She had never, ever imagined her grandfather was so strong!
As the flames of the eight-trigram formation slowly faded, Xiu Yuan pulled the spear out of the ground before him and held it behind his back.
The entire horde of monsters had been wiped out in an instant!
Xiu Yuan walked slowly toward Hu Tao and waved a hand through the air, making the flames in front of her vanish completely.
"Grandpa! You're so ama-"
Boom!!!!!!
Before Hu Tao could finish, the scene before her abruptly changed in a flash.
Two armored warriors wearing demonic masks appeared before them.
One was red, the other purple.
Fierce sparks burst before her eyes as Xiu Yuan held his spear with a grave expression, blocking both of their attacks.
"Kairagi... why are they here..." Xiu Yuan gritted his teeth, his spear hand beginning to tremble.
These were not merely two ordinary Kairagi.
They were Kairagi at the maximum level of 100!
"Little Tao, stay far away... don't go back to Liyue..."
Xiu Yuan was afraid.
He was afraid this thoughtful child would try to run back to Liyue for help.
But the situation was too complicated. If she encountered more monsters along the way, things would become even worse.
"Grandpa..."
"Don't worry. Grandpa will deal with them soon."
Xiu Yuan spoke in a low voice, then unleashed an enormous burst of strength, knocking both enemies' attacks aside.
"Be good and listen."
"Okay... be careful, Grandpa."
With that, Hu Tao obediently ran behind a distant rock where she could still watch the battle, her eyes filled with worry.
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