Lu Bu, the Thunder General, is my adoptive father in Genshin Impact.

"Understood!" Yura was fully prepared.

Of course, the "protector" Xiao Yi mentioned was not actually protecting him, but rather protecting those who tried to get close to him and preventing the citizens from being electrocuted. After all, he was currently focused on the analysis machine and could not pay attention to the creatures around him.

Suddenly, they heard a cacophony of shouts as hundreds of demented people, who had not yet inhaled pollen, rushed toward the two men in the square.

It is estimated that when Wendy released the pollen, they were on the outskirts of the city and were unaffected. At this moment, this group of people became the Doctor's last hope.

Xiao Yi is now fixed in place, and the lightning net that binds the machine from escaping is maintained, which also makes him an immobile high-voltage electric body. If any mortal touches him, he will be instantly reduced to ashes. Therefore, the doctor has bet all his chips on this point.

The Doctor manipulated all the remaining controlled units to rush towards Xiao Yi. In order to avoid harming innocent people, he had to release Thor's authority. At that time, the lightning net would also disappear, and the machine could take the opportunity to fly away from Mondstadt.

Yura frowned.

Her mission has been updated: isolate the controlled citizens from Xiao Yi, prevent them from getting close to him, and destroy the machine at a crucial moment.

Tremendous stress.

Helpless, in order to save all of Mondstadt, Yura had no choice but to flexibly relax the rules and injure the limbs of the citizens, rendering them unable to move and unable to approach Xiao Yi.

Although these people will suffer afterward, it's better than dying on the spot from touching Xiao Yi. After all, Yura is all alone and has no way to stop all the irrational people without hurting anyone.

Just as Yura was about to make the painful decision, unexpected support arrived.

Many sober, drunken adventurers, led by tavern owner Diluc, charged at the menacing citizens.

They weren't carrying weapons, but rather non-lethal tools like table legs and benches—tools that were easy to use to smash people with; they must have picked them up from the tavern.

The adventurers formed a human wall in front of Xiao Yi and Yura, effectively blocking the unstoppable force of over a hundred mentally challenged individuals, apologizing as they overpowered them with benches, chairs, and table legs.

Just as Yura was wondering why these helpers were out of control, one of them slipped through the net and pounced on Xiao Yi, who was focused on restricting the machine's movements.

At the critical moment, Lord Diluc jumped out. This tavern owner was even more heavyweight; while others might grab two table legs at most, he grabbed the entire table and sent the guy who was lunging at Xiao Yi flying far away.

Yura asked in surprise, "Where did you come from? And how did you achieve immunity...?"

Diluc took out a glass bottle from his pocket and replied simply, "The Angel's Gift has now become a safe house. The adventurers and I heard the commotion outside and came to help—although we don't know what you and he are planning to do, the act of destroying this machine is enough."

"As for why it is immune, this bottle contains the aura of the Wind God, which can block mental attacks."

"The tavern has become a safe house, so there must be ordinary citizens inside besides adventurers, right?" Yura frowned. "You took the bottle, what about those ordinary citizens?"

Diluc didn't answer, picked up the table, and continued fighting.

……

A Gift from the Angels, on the first floor of the tavern.

The surviving ordinary people huddled together, trembling, praying to the wind god that Mondstadt would overcome this massive crisis and asking the wind god to protect their controlled relatives and friends.

On the bar counter not far away, a young bard, dressed in lush green, lay flat with his eyes closed as if he were asleep.

The bard was someone Diluc had carried back from outside a few minutes earlier, and he had instructed the refugees not to throw the boy out no matter what happened.

After saying this, Diluc left with the adventurer.

……

As the saying goes, even a pack of wolves can't withstand a fierce tiger, and even a hero can't stop a crowd. The number of adventurers is ultimately limited. Even with Lord Diluc's help, they can't hold off more than a hundred people with tables, chairs, pots, and pans. The last line of defense is about to be breached.

The doctor's voice echoed throughout Mondstadt:

"The citizens are getting close to you. Make a choice, Thor's adopted son: will you contact the lightning net to let me leave, or will you watch these ordinary people die?"

"If you don't choose, I'll kill you!" Xiao Yi shouted. "Yura, now! Shoot it through!"

Without hesitation, Yura raised the Mora in her hand, aimed it at the evil machine that was threatening Mondstadt, and unleashed the power that Xiao Yi had given her without reservation.

Mora transformed into a purple beam of light that surged toward the giant machine, piercing through the lightning net and penetrating the columnar instruments. The deafening roar of the mechanical mechanism, pushing it to its limits, echoed throughout the city.

The citizens who had been fighting the adventurers were like puppets with broken strings. After they stopped attacking, they began to shake their heads and soon all of them collapsed and lost consciousness.

The doctor angrily questioned:

"What have you done? Do you really want all the people of Mondstadt to perish with me? Fine, as you wish, this free city-state will cease to exist..."

The machines covered by the lightning net began to emit a pure white light, which must have been the shockwave the doctor had threatened earlier when the mind control device was destroyed.

However, the situation was completely different from what the doctor had expected. The shockwave was blocked by Xiao Yi's lightning net, and the giant net constructed of energy expanded like a balloon. When it reached its limit, it was not burst, but instead slowly shrank back.

Xiao Yi gritted his teeth and gripped the end of the net tightly.

The doctor said in disbelief:

"You actively absorbed the entire mental impact?"

"Otherwise what?" Xiao Yi mocked. "Someone like you would never have thought of doing something like this!"

The lightning net shrank to its limit, firmly enveloping and restricting the doctor's device. Xiao Yi released his grip on the net, summoned his halberd, and then leaped high into the air, hurling the halberd at the machine that was not yet completely destroyed.

"This halberd, for the Knight of the West!"

Second shot.

"This halberd strikes the citizens of Daedmund!"

The third shot.

"This strike is for deceiving the flowers!"

The fourth shot.

"This halberd is dedicated to the Wind God!"

The fifth shot.

"This spear belongs to me and my wife!"

The sixth shot that sealed the deal.

Instead of throwing it, Xiao Yi directly stabbed it into the hole pierced by the Yura electromagnetic cannon, injecting a large amount of energy to destroy the machine.

"The final strike, Miss Daiyura!"

The illegal structure exploded and scattered like brilliant fireworks, sending waves of light across Mondstadt Square. The adventurers present couldn't help but raise their hands to shield their eyes from the intense light.

Xiao Yi landed back next to Yura.

“I have to admit, it’s really cool,” Yura said, turning her head away. “And thank you.”

Xiao Yi said with a displeased expression, "You just...did you...shoot that double-sided coin out...?"

"Huh, it's something important?" Yura's eyes widened in disbelief. "Yes, I'm sorry, I'll do anything!"

……

In a remote and filthy street, the injured doctor struggles to crawl forward—he fell here due to the explosion of his device.

As long as I get to that place, as long as I get to the secret passage the Fools set up in Mondstadt, my knowledge and my wisdom will enable me to rise again and take revenge!

He hadn't climbed far when he saw a figure in the distance, staggering towards him.

It was Yura, also heavily injured, dragging a golden greatsword.

No, it's not Yura Lawrence, it's just a con artist!

The doctor was secretly delighted. He knew that the modified Deceitful Flower would obey his commands perfectly. He hurriedly called the imposter over and asked it to help him escape.

Chapter 193 Goodbye, Doctor, and My Cowardice

Rewind to half an hour before the mind control device exploded. Xiao Yi and his team had just finished formulating a plan to spray pollen, and the four operatives were leaving the underground base.

Yura walked at the very back, remaining silent throughout.

She creates an electric arc between her index finger and thumb, constantly adjusting the amount of current. This is equivalent to a warm-up exercise, allowing her to manipulate force more precisely in actual combat.

Number 47, Xiao Yi and Gan Yu walked in front.

Xiao Yi suddenly said, "After this matter is resolved, what will you do? Besides you, there are still dozens of Yura-like Deceptive Flowers in Mondstadt. Their fate is also a question. You are the most rational among them, so perhaps their future should be arranged by you."

"Who knows what the future holds? I might not even survive this crisis," Number 47 said with a wry smile. "After all, I'm the weakest member of this team, practically useless except for being immune to mind control..."

Gan Yu interrupted, "Don't say that. Although this team was formed temporarily, everyone has a unique role. Maybe we'll have to rely on you in the end!"

Fake Yura knew that Gan Yu was just being polite and comforting, so she didn't say anything more.

Xiao Yi noticed the awkward atmosphere and changed the subject, saying, "Since you think the 'future' is uncertain, let's not talk about the future, let's talk about the 'present' instead—actually, I think it's too lenient of the Doctor to let him live and face Mondstadt's judgment after doing something like this."

Mondstadt has always adhered to the rule of "freedom for all" when it comes to judging the most heinous criminals, providing all adults with the opportunity to participate in the trial. Therefore, if the Doctor is captured alive, he will basically be subject to a public trial by the Knights of Favonius in conjunction with the Church and the citizens.

Xiao Yi had heard of Mondstadt's laws, which were arguably the most lenient of the Seven Kingdoms. This guy would probably only get a life sentence at most, but if the Winter Kingdom's diplomats interfered, they might just find some excuse to extradite him back to their country.

If that's the case, the doctor wouldn't even have to go to jail; he could simply go through some procedures and continue to commit evil in other countries, providing wicked inventions for the masses of fools.

Yura47 didn't understand Xiao Yi's words and stared blankly at him, while Gan Yu next to her immediately understood the meaning behind his words.

She asked Xiao Yi, "Do you want to execute the doctor on the spot?"

Xiao Yi thought to himself: As expected of you, you are so in sync with me. This is the way to eliminate future troubles!

“What do you mean by ‘execution’? That’s too harsh a term,” Xiao Yi corrected. “It’s called accidentally killing the operator inside the instrument while destroying it. However, that is, the premise is that the Doctor is actually inside.”

Gan Yu didn't say anything more. There was nothing to condemn about her husband's words and actions. If this had happened in Liyue, she would have thought of shooting the Doctor in the head with an arrow.

Compared to the previous incident where Tartaglia released a Daedric Prince in Liyue, plunging the people into crisis, the Doctor's current actions are even more despicable, directly using the people as weapons. It is difficult for anyone to accept such inhumane behavior.

Therefore, Gan Yu tacitly agreed to Xiao Yi's idea.

"To be honest, I think it might be better to hand him over to you rather than kill him myself." Xiao Yi changed the subject, while keeping a close eye on Number 47.

"Huh?" Fake Yura exclaimed in surprise, "Leave it to me?"

Xiao Yi explained seriously:

"First of all, the Doctor must die, that's the most basic thing. However, in a sense, the Doctor and I don't have any deep-seated hatred. I just find that guy annoying—but you are different. He uses you, and the Deceitful Flowers, as tools, and disregards your lives..."

"Therefore, it is most appropriate to hand it over to you. In the current situation, it is not an exaggeration to call you the representative of all the con artists. If you do not want to take action, the second most suitable person to deal with the doctor personally is Miss Yura herself, who is walking behind you."

Yura 47 hesitated for a long time before answering, "Although he uses us as tools, our very existence is due to his technology..."

"What? At this point, you're going to treat this guy like a father?" Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes, slightly speechless. "He created you just to achieve his goal."

“I know you’re right.” Number 47 remained silent for a long time again. “Even so, it’s possible that the personality he implanted beforehand is still at play. When the time comes, I don’t think I can bring myself to do it.”

"Forget it, we'll see when the time comes. I can't guarantee the Doctor will be unharmed when the machine is destroyed." Xiao Yi casually shrugged. "Also, if you really are going to do it, I'll teach you a famous line that fits the situation..."

Xiao Yi leaned close to Number 47's ear and whispered, "You just need to do this first, then that, and finally this and that..."