Chapter 260

Su Bai's eyes shifted slightly, and he asked Ganyu with curiosity, "She..."

"She seems very angry."

"Did we provoke her?"

"Or is it that Guizhong, that fellow, dislikes others entering her territory?"

"Not at all. Guizhong... I mean, the Dust Archon is not that petty..." Guizhong hurriedly explained.

Cloud Retainer: "Guizhong, indeed still the same as always, insisting on establishing a hierarchy even in the midst of an argument."

Madame Ping: "But judging by her appearance, it seems she has already fallen to a disadvantage."

Kaeya: "I am curious, with this attitude of hers, does she truly not fear Su Ye striking her with a blade?"

Zhong Li: "Unlikely. Archons also possess the dignity of Archons. During the Era of the Divine War, an Archon killing another Archon is normal, but it is not said that an Archon would have nothing better to do than kill an ordinary person to prove themselves. Ordinary people suffer misfortune during the Era of the Divine War only because the scale of destruction is too vast to account for those common households."

"Could it be that because you, Lord Su Bai, just recklessly commented on the name of the Dust Archon, that is why she is angry?"

Ganyu had a sudden inspiration and thought of the reason for her anger.

"Oh, yes."

Su Bai suddenly understood.

He turned his gaze again toward the indignant Guizhong.

"After all, she is a subject of Hagnitus."

"It is normal to get angry upon hearing others speak ill of one's own Archon."

"Truly a very loyal subject."

Su Bai wore a smile, curiously scrutinizing the Guizhong before him.

Her temperament was excellent, and her face was beautiful.

One would think she was no ordinary subject.

At the very least, she should be a capable assistant by the side of the Dust Archon.

She might even be an existence like Zhong Li by my side.

The most interesting part is that she actually does not know my identity?

"Since you heard 3.3, I think you can turn back and convey a message to Guizhong."

"Before she falls, it would be best to find a reliable person to rely on."

"Hmm..."

Su Bai paused, acting exactly as if a sudden inspiration had struck.

"The Sword Archon of our Liyue is a very fine Archon. If your Dust Archon is truly as intelligent as the rumors say, she could, just like Maxius and Heulia, choose to ally with our Archon."

Upon hearing these words.

Guizhong was stunned on the spot.

Her previous anger immediately subsided by more than half.

She even felt an urge to laugh.

She had seen people boast, but never someone like Su Bai boasting in this manner.

Moreover, the feeling she got from him in this instant was as if he were a completely different person from when he slew the Storm Archon.

"A completely different person during wartime compared to leisure time."

"What a strange fellow."

Guizhong's beautiful eyes darted around.

She casually took out the Nine Linked Rings she had created some time ago.

Unfortunately, none of the subjects under her command could solve the Nine Linked Rings.

This made Guizhong, amidst her excitement, also worry about the intelligence of her subjects.

"Hmph! This is a clever mechanism I designed. Take it back first and have your Archon solve it before you bring me a message."

Su Bai looked closely.

Nine locking rings were interlinked.

"This thing..."

"Wait, brute force is not allowed."

"I mean, something like this cannot stump me; how could I possibly take it back to our Sword Archon? That would be an insult to our Archon."

As his words fell, Su Bai, under Guizhong's astonished gaze, completely dismantled the Nine Linked Rings.

"Alright, you can convey the message for me now."

Chapter 142: Guizhong is anxious; can I just stop playing?

Guizhong.

The Dust Archon, Hagnitus.

An Archon born from dust, yet her appearance resembles a spotless, graceful fairy.

Guizhong, who excels in using her mind to study the Essential Mechanism Arts, even when she likes to put her hands on her hips and puff her cheeks during arguments with others, possesses a unique intelligence and temperament.

That is not something an ordinary woman can carry off.

The immortal abode of Cloud Retainer on Mount Aocang.

Cloud Retainer excitedly spread her wings.

Guizhong's puffed-up cheeks while holding a grudge against Su Bai were as if an old friend from thousands of years ago stood before her.

"Guizhong..."

"You can finally return."

Based on the Experience of viewing from the past, Cloud Retainer...

In this cycle's story.

Guizhong's part should account for a sizable share, at least far more than the Yaksha who died earlier.

The only twist would be Guizhong losing her mind and butting heads with Su Bai to the bitter end.

But, judging by Guizhong's intelligence and wisdom, she wouldn't do something that foolish.

Moreover, with the precedent of Marchosius and Havria's surrender, although Su Bai is razor-sharp in battle, he is not someone who disregards the bigger picture.

Facing those who truly wish to surrender, he will treat them as people of Liyue just the same.

"Wait..."

Cloud Retainer's crane body gave a shudder.

"Guizhong must not keep arguing with Su Bai — what if she really gets him riled up..."

"No, no, no, that's impossible. Su Bai wouldn't go around chopping people for no reason either, unless it really reached a point where negotiation was impossible."

【Liyue.】

【The returning Su Bai recounted the matter of his encounter with Guizhong.】

【Zhong Li and the several great adepti listened, exchanging glances.】

【"You mean to say you've already sent someone to deliver a message to the God of Dust, Hagentus, urging her to see the times clearly and surrender to our Liyue?"】

【A blue-and-white immortal crane stood on the stone stool beside the stone table.】

【A face full of curiosity.】

【But, somehow this approach felt oddly off.】

【You find someone from the God of Dust's own people to persuade the God of Dust to surrender?】

【This...】

【"Unfortunately, that fellow seemed to be playing a bit of a rogue."】

【"She clearly agreed that after I dismantled her Nine Linked Rings, she would agree to deliver the message."】

【"But, after I took it apart, she anxiously said that last game didn't count, that she'd grabbed the wrong thing, and hoped to meet again tomorrow — if I could once more solve the little toy brought by 26, she would agree."】

【Su Bai sipped his tea and said casually.】

【"A little toy?"】

【Cloud Retainer and Geceniaping froze again.】

【The two exchanged a glance, seemingly catching some important information.】

【Legend had it that the God of Dust was especially fond of researching little contraptions with mechanical locks, using them to develop her subjects' intellect.】

【But, her subjects treated these so-called little toys as priceless treasures — there was no way they'd let just anyone dismantle them.】