Jiang Xiaofeng looked toward the entrance to Stormterror's Lair.
Then he took flight.
Afterward, Jiang Xiaofeng saw a large group made up of two Fatui Agents, two Electro Cicin Mages, and Fatui Skirmishers of six elements: Cryo, Hydro, Electro, Pyro, Anemo, and Geo.
At the head of this sizable force was a lavishly dressed woman.
"La Signora..."
Jiang Xiaofeng spoke his identity aloud.
Then he flew toward them.
La Signora, on the other side, seemed to sense something and raised her head as well.
"Everyone, stay alert!"
La Signora narrowed her eyes at Jiang Xiaofeng as he flew toward her. After giving her order, she continued forward with the two Electro Cicin Mages from the ranks behind her.
Soon, Jiang Xiaofeng got a clear look at La Signora.
Long white hair, a black crown, a long red dress, and two snow-white hemispheres half-visible at her chest...
Jiang Xiaofeng gave a cough.
He had to admit, La Signora had excellent taste in clothes.
Jiang Xiaofeng had to acknowledge that his heart had almost stirred at the first sight of her...
But he quickly collected himself.
La Signora had come for the Gnosis inside Venti, while Jiang Xiaofeng's true objective was to try devouring the Gnosis.
They were after the same item, so there was no way they would not clash.
Oh, perhaps La Signora had come looking for Venti, too.
After all, Venti had gone off to destroy Khaenri'ah, leaving Mondstadt vulnerable to attack, and La Signora's lover had died. It was understandable that she wanted revenge now...
Jiang Xiaofeng offered no opinion on that.
Between Venti and La Signora, one was willing to strike and the other willing to take it. Jiang Xiaofeng was hardly in a position to interfere.
Hmm... Jiang Xiaofeng would not mind if something happened between him and La Signora, either...
Of course, that was something he could only daydream about.
La Signora had willingly burned herself up and become the Crimson Witch of Flames for revenge. That alone showed how deeply she had loved his boyfriend.
Besides, La Signora was no longer the innocent little girl she had once been. She had long since lost herself in overwhelming power, unable to break free...
Perhaps there was still a chance to save her, but that had nothing to do with Jiang Xiaofeng anymore.
Jiang Xiaofeng set his sights on the Fatui Skirmishers.
How many cells would killing these "humans" yield...?
Jiang Xiaofeng pondered.
Soon, Jiang Xiaofeng arrived in front of La Signora and her party.
Jiang Xiaofeng looked at La Signora, and La Signora sized him up in turn.
After a long moment, La Signora suddenly smiled.
"You're actually wearing our Fatui uniform? Interesting."
"Do you want to join the Fatui?"
"I can put in a word for you, as long as you stay out of the way."
By the end, La Signora's voice had turned cold.
Jiang Xiaofeng picked at his "ear."
"Do all of you enjoy talking to yourselves this much?"
"If you want to fight, fight. If not, go on through. I'll come find you once you've brought out the Gnosis."
La Signora's heart gave a sudden jolt.
After all, once the Tsaritsa had assigned this mission to the Fatui Harbingers, there had been no intention of telling anyone else about the Gnosis. Even their own subordinates were rarely told.
But how did this fellow know I was after the Gnosis?
La Signora's previously elegant smile turned cold.
Tilting her head, she said, "Subdue him."
The two Fatui Agents charged at Jiang Xiaofeng.
Watching the two identical fellows release spinning blades and run around him, Jiang Xiaofeng shook his head and sent out Knife Dance.
The two Fatui Agents fell at once.
Jiang Xiaofeng looked at the gains displayed by the system and nodded.
These were special fellows, and since this was his second time killing them, the cell yield had decreased accordingly. The two Fatui Agents had provided only forty cells.
La Signora seemed to have expected this outcome. She stepped forward and raised her fair arm.
Jiang Xiaofeng looked at La Signora. "Nice figure."
He could not help it. La Signora could not even stand normally, instead twisting her body as she stood. Jiang Xiaofeng figured he might as well enjoy the view.
La Signora's expression visibly darkened. A burst of cold erupted from her hand, instantly engulfing Jiang Xiaofeng!
Jiang Xiaofeng's entire body was instantly frozen.
La Signora stopped attacking and slowly walked over.
Looking at Jiang Xiaofeng's flaming head, La Signora said flatly, "In the end, you're just a brat with a sharp tongue. You'll never amount to anything."
La Signora was about to order everyone to move on when she suddenly noticed Jiang Xiaofeng's body twitch.
Though surprised, La Signora reacted swiftly. She immediately raised her hand and released a blast of cold, while creating an icy barrier around herself.
Boom!
The ice encasing Jiang Xiaofeng was devoured by the flames on his head and soon vanished.
Jiang Xiaofeng raised a hand, wisps of cold rising from it.
"Nice elemental power. Did your Tsaritsa grant it to you?"
"If I joined the Fatui, would the Tsaritsa grant me this kind of power?"
Sensing the Cryo Archon's elemental power, dozens of times stronger than the Cryo Hypostasis's, Jiang Xiaofeng breathed it in greedily.
This was nothing natural elements could compare to. Elemental power created by a god was particularly addictive when brought into the real world.
It was like beer and cocktails. Beer tasted bad, but there were always people who drank it. Once those people tried cocktails, however, they would lose interest in beer.
Jiang Xiaofeng held his hand to his face and inhaled greedily.
Watching Jiang Xiaofeng act like some wretched addict, La Signora did not answer. Instead, she ordered an attack.
"Wait, wait."
Jiang Xiaofeng raised his hand.
La Signora ignored him and still ordered the Fatui Skirmishers to attack!
"Tsk."
Jiang Xiaofeng spread his dragon wings and shot into the sky, flying toward the center of the ruins.
As he flew, Jiang Xiaofeng held the Cursed Sword and blocked La Signora's attacks.
Before the Fatui had arrived at Stormterror's Lair, Jiang Xiaofeng had already sensed that Venti's party had emerged from beneath the ruins.
He had not gone to find them because he had just fought Aether and did not know exactly when they had come out.
So he had wanted to stall the Fatui for a while, then let them through once he had found nothing unusual about Venti and the others.
Then he could take the opportunity to reap the Fatui Skirmishers and harvest cells, before pursuing La Signora once she had taken Venti's Gnosis.
Who knew those fellows would simply watch from the center of the ruins, showing no intention of coming over?
Not only that, Jiang Xiaofeng's initial plan had essentially failed as well.
After all, Jiang Xiaofeng's original idea had been to collect cells by killing the Abyss creatures Aether brought with him.
But Aether had actually rushed over all by himself. Left with no choice, Jiang Xiaofeng had fought him first.
He had not even won.
Now, he could only set his sights on the Fatui.
But...
Seeing Venti's party standing by the tower in the center of the ruins, watching him, Jiang Xiaofeng immediately lost his temper.
"What are you doing?!"
Venti and the others said nothing.
Jiang Xiaofeng suddenly stopped.
As he looked at the calm expressions on their faces, his heart gradually sank.
"Tsk. Did you discover that I fought Aether and even made some kind of agreement with him?"
"Looks like Dvalin didn't manage to hold them back properly, either."
"Perhaps dealing with the Abyss is nothing to me, but you're people of Teyvat, after all. You won't accept anything connected to the Abyss."
Jiang Xiaofeng gave Lumine a long, searching look.
Fine. I hope that when you really meet your brother, you won't regret not coming to help me.