On the outskirts of Stone Gate, Liyue.
Two martial artists were fighting disciples of the Guhua Clan. Concealing himself, Li Qiuzhi walked toward the little boy who had been tied up and tossed aside.
Lumine was ready too, prepared to join the fight at any moment.
Before long, Li Qiuzhi reached the little boy's side. He suddenly revealed himself, startling the boy and making him scream.
Everyone fighting was distracted by the sound. They stopped for a moment and looked over.
Seeing a stranger approaching his "paymaster," Qiu Shicai was alarmed and hurried over using his light-footed movement technique.
Li Qiuzhi chuckled, picked up the little boy, and ran back.
He had done this deliberately to draw the kidnappers' attention and make them chase him.
Lumine was lying in ambush a little farther back, ready to give him a surprise.
Sure enough, it did not take long.
As the middle-aged man chased him over, Lumine suddenly emerged from the woods beside the road and knocked him unconscious with swift efficiency.
After all, he was only somewhat strong by ordinary people's standards. Against Lumine, who was already level 42, he had no power to resist whatsoever.
Indeed, Lumine and Paimon had gained two levels during their half-month journey to Liyue. Their progress had been extremely fast.
It was only to be expected of someone so powerful that she had once been able to look up at the night sky, point to any star, and travel there.
The remaining young man in a headscarf was astonished by this and tried to flee at once, but the Guhua Clan disciple Sun Yu and his junior sister Xiao Que'er blocked his way together.
"Get out of my way!"
Yao Liang shouted furiously.
"Hmph, dream on! Do you really think you still have a chance?"