Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

"Very good, Da Kun, temporarily block the news from this place."

"Take my token and wait outside the courtyard. If any more Qianyan soldiers or other personnel arrive, relay my orders to them."

While the others were somewhat at a loss and unsure of what to do, Ye Lan pondered for a moment and then directly gave an order to Da Kun.

"Starting from your main camp, cast a wide net and search outwards. Make sure to find the five Thousand Rock Army soldiers who are on duty here today and confirm their whereabouts."

"As ordered!"

Da Kun responded in a deep voice, and his chubby hands solemnly accepted the token symbolizing the highest command authority of the Thousand Rock Army.

He immediately turned around, firmly planted the butt of his spear on the ground with his backhand, and stood solemnly outside the courtyard gate like a heavy boulder, his eyes scanning for possible paths.

The two Thousand Rock Army soldiers behind him also acted immediately upon receiving the order. They gripped the shafts of their white-tasseled spears and ran steadily and swiftly toward the barracks, preparing to mobilize manpower to search for Hongyu and the other missing persons.

Once the three figures disappeared from sight, Ye Lan immediately turned to Shang Hua and Wen Yuan, who remained behind.

She lowered her voice and spoke urgently: "Shang Hua, search carefully along the canal. Wen Yuan, you are in charge of the nearby mountain area. Report back immediately if you find anything unusual."

Upon hearing Ye Lan's words, Shang Hua and Wen Yuan were both startled.

The instructions and tone gave them a sense of déjà vu, stirring up unpleasant memories.

The last time Yelan gave an order in this tone was when she was investigating the "monster cannibalism case" that shocked Liyue Harbor.

At that time, Liyue Harbor was facing an invasion of sea monsters, and the people of the port were in a state of panic. People died one after another, their limbs torn apart and scattered. The first to discover this were the people who went to the market in the early morning. They glimpsed a severed finger in the coastal ditch.

Ye Lan was given a critical mission and, together with Shang Hua and Wen Yuan, worked day and night to retrieve fish from the filthy ditch that reeked of decay.

The cold sewage soaked their clothes, and the pungent smell was nauseating. They groped inch by inch and pieced together piece by piece, barely managing to reassemble the fragmented remains of the victims into human form. The memory of bending over and searching in the filthy ditch was like a brand, deeply engraved in Shang Hua and Wen Yuan's minds.

At this moment, Ye Lan uttered the same similar command again, and a chill instantly crept up the spines of the two of them.

Shang Hua and Wen Yuan suddenly exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting each other's tense expressions and equally surprised and uncertain looks.

Ye Lan clearly noticed their gazes, and meeting their eyes, she seemed to see through their unspoken questions.

"Let's prepare for the worst. Of course, I also hope... that the Qianyan Army brothers who are guarding this place are safe and sound."

Ye Lan sighed heavily, as if talking to herself. As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Pei, who was already deeply mired in guilt, suddenly opened his eyes wide, then lowered his head heavily, his shoulders trembling slightly uncontrollably.

If he hadn't slacked off and practiced his skills while on duty tonight, how could those Thousand Rock Army soldiers have vanished into thin air, and how could Herria have disappeared without a trace? Now, the fate of the Thousand Rock Army soldiers guarding this place is unknown, and Wu Pei cannot shirk his responsibility for this.

When Wen Yuan and Shang Hua noticed that Wu Pei, this burly man, was now as listless as a frostbitten quail, their hearts tightened.

The two exchanged a helpless glance, wanting to offer words of comfort but unsure what to say. They could only nod solemnly to Ye Lan and turn away.

Wen Yuan walked heavily, circling around to the mountain behind the side room; Shang Hua, with a solemn expression, began searching along the irrigation ditch in front of the courtyard.

After the two left, Ye Lan slowly turned to Wu Pei, who was still standing there frozen in place.

Wu Pei was about to look up and say something when he unexpectedly met Ye Lan's emerald green eyes.

Ye Lan's eyes did not hold the thunderous rage Wu Pei had anticipated, but rather a bottomless disappointment that weighed heavily upon her.

In an instant, regret and shame transformed into sharp blades, piercing Wu Pei's heart.

Lord Yelan values ​​him so much that he even imparted to him the exquisite and unique martial art of "bone shrinking," but what has he given back to Lord Yelan?
A major disaster caused by his dereliction of duty.

Wu Pei was almost overwhelmed by this overwhelming regret, his body tense as he awaited the expected harsh rebuke or severe punishment.

However, the expected storm did not materialize. Ye Lan merely looked away wearily, her voice indifferent:
"As for you, Wu Pei, go back to the Yanshang Tea House and stand guard. Think carefully about what happened tonight."

No scolding came; this punishment was almost perfunctory compared to the mess Wu Pei had made. But Wu Pei felt that the deep, unyielding disappointment in Ye Lan's eyes was more piercing than any lash.

His throat tightened, and he had no strength left to apologize. He could only awkwardly clasp his hands in front of Ye Lan's back before his steps faltered and he staggered away into the night leading to the teahouse.

After everyone had left, Yelan took a deep breath and stepped into Heulia's room again.

She decided to find some more clues before the others arrived.

However, Ye Lan was in a hurry and did not notice that the soles of her shoes quietly rolled over two circles of light white salt stains that were almost blended into the dust the moment she stepped into the room.

Those were Heuria's long-dried tears for Ninglan.

On the other side, at the South Wharf Pier of Liyue Harbor.

Ningguang looked up and saw a dazzling red signal flare on the horizon.

But her fingers only paused slightly, and the cold expression on her face vanished in an instant.

Tianquan Star calmly finalized the details of the shipwreck salvage with Beidou, demonstrating the composure characteristic of the seven stars of Liyue.

After the handover with Beidou was completed, Ningguang turned to Zhongli and the Traveler, and gracefully nodded in thanks:

"Thanks to the help of several people, Captain Beidou will handle the aftermath of the shipwreck properly."

"The compensation regulations for the Lantern Festival Coupons will be posted on the General Affairs Department's bulletin board and major exchanges around tomorrow morning. Please make sure to go there to redeem them."

"great!"

Paimon excitedly did a somersault in the air, while the Traveler nodded calmly, his amber eyes reflecting the lights of the dock.

Ningguang's gaze finally settled on the red-haired foreign boy, a polite smile playing on her lips:
"Your Excellency Famas, would you do me the honor of visiting Yujing Terrace? Tianquan Star would like to offer a small cup of tea as a token of our gratitude."

Famas tilted his head, and upon hearing this, merely shook his head indifferently, the hem of his clothes fluttering lightly in the slightly salty sea breeze.

"I don't have time, I have other things to take care of."

The boy's refusal was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Besides the perceptive Ningguang, Zhongli also clearly noticed the anomaly in the sky, and a hint of understanding flashed in his usually calm eyes.

As the god of war, Famas was even more aware of the hidden undercurrents behind the signal flare.

However, one of them was a carefree guest who had been relieved of his heavy responsibilities, while the other was a stranger from another land who was indifferent to the internal affairs of Liyue.

Zhongli, equally composed, stood with his hands behind his back and bid farewell to Ningguang, saying, "Now that this matter is settled, I will not trouble you any further."

After saying this, Zhongli seemed afraid of being entangled by Famas, and turned to walk towards the direction of the Hall of Rebirth.

Famas nodded slightly in acknowledgment and walked in the opposite direction from Zhongli.

"Hey!"

Seeing that Famas was about to leave alone again, Paimon became so anxious that he stomped his feet in the air and flew around him several times like a small cannonball.

"Famas! You've probably gone off to do something fun again, haven't you? You didn't take us with you again!"

Hearing Paimon's words, the boy continued walking, leaving behind only a promise carried on the wind:

"Don't worry, I will naturally accompany you when you set off for Inazuma." (End of Chapter)