"Where do I go from here?"
A gentle expression crossed Xiao's face.
He raised his head slightly and looked into the night sky, recalling what had happened an hour earlier.
Cool water and a gentle breeze swirled around his body, healing his wounds and replenishing his strength.
That familiar sensation soothed him, bringing him an inexplicable sense of security.
He opened his eyes and saw that familiar figure.
The instant he saw her, a glimmer lit his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
He sat up, regaining his usual composure, and asked coldly, "Why are you here? Before I collapsed, I could still sense you far away in Mondstadt."
"Hmm? Can I take that to mean you were keeping an eye on me right up until you collapsed?" Ellin blinked.
Xiao's eyelid twitched. "How pointless!"
"All right, all right!" Ellin grinned. "Don't forget, my adeptal title is the Immortal Venerable Who Hears Cries and Subdues Evil!"
"When someone is in danger, I will surely come to their rescue!"
"..."
Xiao fell silent, clearly at a loss over the girl's antics.
Seeing that Xiao did not believe her, Ellin paid it no mind.
She said, "Remember when we first parted ways? You told me that if I ever ran into danger, I should call your name, and you'd come help me right away."
"Not long after we parted, I called your name. Remember?"
"Actually, after we parted, my extraordinary insight allowed me to grasp your ability to hear calls and respond."
"When I called you over that time, I wasn't just playing around, nor was it simply because I wanted you to come eat grilled Chi Tiger Fish."
"That was when I memorized the aura of your soul."
Ellin hugged her knees and looked up at the sky, sighing. "After