They looked over and saw several figures appearing on a hillside a short distance away.
Even through the haze, they could make out matching uniforms. These people probably belonged to some fairly formal organization rather than a band of mountain bandits.
"Lord Geo Archon, shall we eliminate them?"
Keqing raised her sword, ready for battle. Having experienced a small-scale Archon War, she naturally approached every situation with caution.
She was also worried that something might happen to Lin Yi again.
But after seeing the power of those three shots, her concerns might have been unnecessary.
"Don't rush into a fight. Even if they're here to cause trouble, we should show some restraint. What if they're here to get themselves killed so their side has an excuse to pick a fight and declare war on Liyue?"
That made sense, but Keqing did not put away her weapon.
She waited quietly with the others for those people to arrive.
There were actually quite a few people hidden on the far side of that slope.
Counting the densely packed crowd, there were a full hundred of them.
Something might be wrong. The three beauties shielded Lin Yi behind them.
But how could a grown man like Lin Yi cower behind women?
When the group finally reached them, they could clearly see that the newcomers wore the uniforms of the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
"What's going on? Aren't these people from the Feiyun Commerce Guild afraid their boss will find out they're causing trouble so brazenly?"
Yun Jin frowned. If a fight broke out against more than a hundred people, it would be troublesome.
After all, these were living people. Vision holders would not readily kill ordinary mortals unless they were truly provoked.
A moment later, Feihu, the leader of those hundred people, stood at the front.
He planted one foot directly on the remains of the Khaenri'ah Ruin Guard.
His flamboyant expression and pose looked like a declaration of ownership.
"Is something wrong with this guy? Doesn't Xingqiu of the Feiyun Commerce Guild know how he behaves?"
"Hey, you lot! If you've got no business here, get lost! This Ruin Guard's remains are our spoils!"
As soon as Feihu finished, the lackeys behind him chimed in.
Armed with one-star and two-star weapons, some not even worthy of being called trash, they dared to snatch food from the mouths of Vision holders-and even the Geo Archon himself.
They truly had no idea who they were dealing with!
"Please be reasonable. My lord personally destroyed this Ruin Guard. How can you make such a claim?"
Keqing stepped forward, hoping to settle the matter amicably.
But the people from the Feiyun Commerce Guild did not seem to recognize the standing this four-person exploration party held in Liyue.
Feihu continued clamoring, "Cut the crap! We worked hard to destroy this Ruin Guard. You're the ones trying to steal someone else's spoils. What's the meaning of that?"
Xiangling frowned at his words.
"Hey, aren't you adults supposed to be reasonable? You say these spoils are yours, but where's your proof? Where is it?"
"You want proof? Fine! Boys, show them the proof!"
Feihu and his men took shamelessness to its absolute limit.
A dozen or so lackeys carrying bows stepped out of the group.
Using bows that had lost their spring, they fired several shots at the Soldier Remains.
In the end, the arrowheads sticking out of the remains had only lodged conveniently in gaps between the mechanisms.
"These people really have no shame!"
Just then, one of Feihu's lackeys seemed to notice something and leaned over to whisper in his ear.
"Boss, there are Vision users among them. Did we pick the wrong people to bully?"
"Heh, who gives a damn about Visions? Even if a god showed up, these Soldier Remains would still be mine today! Would they really dare attack ordinary mortals like us?"
Feihu shouted loudly, deliberately making sure Lin Yi and the others heard him.
During their rule, the Seven had unanimously passed a resolution forbidding Vision users from attacking ordinary mortals except under extreme circumstances.
Who would have thought that this protection for mortal lives would become their excuse to challenge True Adepti and Adepti?
"You... you're utterly shameless!"
Xiangling was so angry that she wanted to attack, but Lin Yi held her back from behind, pulled out a Kun Leg prepared using his secret recipe over two and a half days, and stuffed it into her mouth.
With something delicious to eat, Xiangling immediately quieted down.
Meanwhile, Lin Yi walked out in front of Keqing and the others.
"Be careful, my lord. These people are determined to play dirty. They even dare turn the restrictive treaty against us."
Keqing cautioned him solemnly. Even now, she did not understand exactly how far things had to go to qualify as the extreme circumstances that permitted them to attack mortals.
It was not as though mortals had never rioted and attacked gods and their followers. Such things seemed to happen often in Inazuma...
Lin Yi patted Keqing's shoulder, and she drew back slightly in shy embarrassment.
"Don't worry. These punks are nowhere near ready to mess with me. Leave this to me."
Courtesy first, force second. Lin Yi wanted to see who had given these little bastards the courage to treat them with such contempt.
"Hey, you lot. Do you know who I am?"
Lin Yi likewise planted one foot on the Soldier Remains, but stepped even farther forward, directly onto Feihu's shoe. Wearing an icy smile, he ground his foot down hard twice.
Feihu yanked his foot away in pain.
Looking at Lin Yi again, he still could not recall who this man might be.
"Who the hell cares who you are? It's not like you could be the god of Liyue or Mondstadt! If you're not a god, what are you barking at us for? Boys, get ready to attack!"
Lin Yi shook his head at that. These fools still did not realize they had picked a fight with the very power they should respect. If they took one more wrong step, he could not promise to spare their lives.
"I've got nothing more to say to you bastards. Get lost now, and I can forget this ever happened and give your Feiyun Commerce Guild a chance. If you don't leave, you'll die!"
Lin Yi's temper visibly worsened. Not seeing his stunning wife Ningguang for the past two days had already left him full of pent-up frustration.
Now someone had willingly walked into his line of fire. It was the perfect chance to vent!
Sensing the fierce aura radiating from Lin Yi, Feihu began wondering whether he really had offended someone important.
But they had spent a long time robbing people and stealing treasure out in the wilderness. They had no idea that the man before them was the Geo Archon, someone far more powerful than even the boss of their Feiyun Commerce Guild!
"Screw you! You really think we haven't dealt with Vision users before? Boys, attack! We have to take this thing!"
Feihu ignited the conflict. A battle seemed unavoidable now.
Besides, extracting the crucial materials from the Ruin Guard's remains would take quite some time.
Even if the Electro Archon came today wielding the Milk-Scented Sword to snatch them, Lin Yi would not yield, much less to these punks!
"Keqing, Xiangling, Yun Jin, by my Divine Authority, I command you: you may use lethal attacks against these people!"
"What a joke! You really think you're a god?" Feihu roared with laughter, clearly unconvinced.
"Sorry, but this granddaddy of yours really is a god!"
Before you continue