Chapter 194: If the Snezhnayan envoy who had ripped out the Wind God's heart bumped into a Mondstadter

Luo De's agreement was much more readily given than the lady had imagined.

In the lady's supposition.

Given her diplomatic tactic of pressuring with Snezhnaya's national power, Luo De ought to have made excuses.

But reality was otherwise.

Luo De seemed unable to hear the subtext in her words, agreeing outright and even setting a time with her.

What further puzzled the lady was.

Luo De even said he would personally show her the way as a guide.

"That new city has recently been under my management; no one knows it better than I."

"Oh, right."

"Nadixa is also there; you wanted to see the Dendro Archon, didn't you? Perfect—going there you'll get to see her."

Luo De enthusiastically gave the lady a rundown of Hope City's situation, chattering on until she grew impatient, then laughed and left the guest reception hall.

Just as he stepped outside.

Luo De's face changed expression.

He flexed his wrist, glanced sideways behind him, gave a light laugh, and hurried away.

Want to interfere in Sumeru's internal affairs.

If A Zha Er were still in power, it would probably have been settled already.

But now.

This isn't something Snezhnaya can just interfere in whenever it wants.

After going out.

Luo De turned left directly and headed for the Great Sage's office.

Same as when A Zha Er was still in power.

The most heavily guarded place in the Academy remains the Great Sage's office, with even more guards stationed here than at the Pure Virtue Palace.

Fortunately.

With Luo De's status, the guards never dared to stop him, allowing him unhindered access to see the current Great Sage, his teacher Na Fei Si.

"Yo, look who's come?"

"This isn't the great hero of Sumeru, the Red King's divine envoy, is it? How does someone as busy as you find time to visit this old man?"

As usual, the master and disciple's opening exchange still began with Na Fei Si's sarcastic tone.

As a disciple.

Luo De is actually not very qualified.

Although he has many reasons, such as going on business to Mondstadt, or helping the Dendro Archon open a new oasis, etc.

But that he has rarely come to see his teacher lately is a fact.

Na Fei Si is not one of those mild-tempered scholars.

On the contrary.

At the Academy he is famous for his hot temper.

Such a temperament means that in his daily handling of Academy affairs he occasionally imposes severe penalties on law-breaking scholars, causing wails of misery throughout the Academy.

Anonymous reports were sent to Nadixa like snowflakes.

The content was nothing more than scholars unanimously considering Na Fei Si's methods too radical, thus hoping the Dendro Archon would order a re-election of a mild-mannered Great Sage to reduce scholars' daily pressure.

The result was that those anonymous letters all vanished like a stone sunk in sea, receiving no feedback at all.

This left those scholars who felt guilty or were plotting uneasy, worrying whether their issues had already been discovered by the Dendro Archon.

What they didn't know was.

Na Fei Si, who never applied for evaluation, became Great Sage precisely because Nadixa intentionally made it so.

In chaotic times, heavy penalties should be used.

This is something Luo De once said to Nadixa.

Although Sumeru currently has nothing to do with chaos, Luo De believes the Academy's five hundred years of wanton misconduct have turned Sumeru into a mess.

To quickly sort out this chaotic situation, we really need a ruthless person.

Thus, after careful consideration, Nadixa chose Na Fei Si, who had no desire to become Great Sage, to become Great Sage.

Indeed, the results were remarkable.

This hot-tempered Great Sage tolerates no nonsense; his strict enforcement of the law can be called the strictest in Sumeru in nearly five hundred years.

Moreover, it's not just Academy affairs; when Nadixa's document reaches him, if he sees something extremely excessive, he likewise flies into a rage and deals with it severely—be they officials, wealthy merchants, or even foreigners, he shows no mercy.

Fortunately.

When Luo De came, judging from Na Fei Si's state, he likely hadn't encountered any troubles; at least he was just speaking sarcastically, not launching into criticism right away.

"Hehe, Teacher, I've come to see you."

Luo De laughed as he bowed to Na Fei Si.

"Look at me?"

"I guess you have something to ask me!"

"Hehe, when did you develop that heart, kid?"

Na Fei Si grew more displeased as he spoke: "Tinari is like this, you are also like this, one by one, showing no respect for teacher at all—I've gathered a bunch of whatever disciples; back then I really was hot-headed, hum—"

Luo De said nothing, silently lowering his head to endure the scolding.

Until Na Fei Si finished speaking, he then stepped forward, accompanied by a smile, and gave Na Fei Si a back rub and shoulder massage.

"Hmm, stronger than your senior brother, still somewhat conscientious."

Nafis enjoyed himself comfortably for a while, then asked again: "Speak, what do you need me for?"

"I want to borrow some people."

Luo De answered honestly.

"Borrow people?"

"To that Hope City?"

Nafis frowned slightly and said: "The Dendro Archon has already sent many people there; I find it hard to spare any more manpower."

Nafis said.

Luo De gently shook his head and said: "I know the Dendro Archon values this project highly, but I also cannot neglect the Academy's normal operations. Now, under the Dendro Archon's call, more than half of the scholars have gone to that new city; sending more people there, are you trying to work me to death?"

This time, Nafis's tone was much gentler than before.

Even though he felt Luo De's request was unreasonable, he did not refuse righteously; he merely stated the reality of the Academy's current manpower shortage.

"I'm not borrowing scholars from the Academy."

"I want to borrow Azhaer."

Luo De's words made Nafis sit up straight involuntarily, and he snapped his head back, asking: "What do you want him for?"

"Who is Azhaer? A criminal who imprisoned the Dendro Archon and blasphemed the gods."

"Plus his title of Great Sage."

"Making his guilt even worse."

"According to Nadixa's judgment at the time, he was not allowed to leave Way Achievement Forest for life, and had to remain there in seclusion, reflecting on his mistakes."

"Now what does Luo De want with him? 'Just a matter.'"

"I need to use his brain."

Luo De chuckled.

His voice was very calm, but Nafis sensed a chilling killing intent in those words.

"No exaggeration."

"Even knowing Luo De's killing intent was directed at Azhaer, Nafis couldn't help but shudder."

"You want to kill him?"

Nafis hesitated and asked: "But the Dendro Archon's side—"

"What he wanted to say was simple."

"That is, Nadixa's order at the time was not to kill Azhaer, to spare his life, and even to provide him with a full medical team, all so he could enjoy his twilight years in peace."

"Although the Dendro Archon's mercy caused some controversy at the time, since it was the Dendro Archon's order, Luo De now wanting to kill Azhaer isn't that defying divine will? Nafis doesn't care about Azhaer's miserable life, which only exists thanks to the Dendro Archon's mercy."

"What he cares about is whether his disciple will lose the Dendro Archon's trust because of this, and possibly face the Dendro Archon's harassment thereafter."

"In that case, Luo De's formerly bright future would be completely ruined."

"Defying divine will."

"This matter is neither big nor small."

"If we really weigh it, Luo De might not even be able to stand firm in Sumeru."

"However, Nafis's concern was met by Luo De with a tone of utter indifference: 'It's fine; I have plenty of ways to kill him without angering Nadixa.'"

Nafis didn't know what to say.

"To be honest."

"After his exile, Azhaer's life has not been good."

"As the current Great Sage."

"He from time to time receives reports sent from Way Achievement Forest."

"No one knows who leaked the location of Azhaer's place of reflection."

"Either someone goes there to release a few funguses, or someone goes there to call out names and scold people in various ways; moreover, some even bring Azhaer-themed roly-poly toys to charge people to hit them."

"Azhaer has several times been so angry he vomited blood."

"If it weren't for the medical team Nadixa arranged, Azhaer would likely have been angered to death many times over."

"Anyway, his current miserable state."

"Even knowing he deserves it, Nafis still inexplicably feels heartache looking at him."

"For a scholar."

"To lose one's reputation and integrity is the harshest punishment."

"And Azhaer now not only has lost his reputation and integrity, but is also reminded every day that he has lost them."

"\"Ah——\""

"Thinking of the medical report sent last time from Way Achievement Forest, Nafis sighed and said: 'His body, his days are numbered.'"

"Originally, Nafis intended to use this to gain Luo De's sympathy."

"But instead."

"Before he finished speaking, Luo De eagerly said: 'Then why don't you help me issue a note to bring him over? If we delay and he dies, his head won't be worth anything.'"

"I"

"\"Forget it. \""

"Nafis, unable to retort, could only ask again: 'Are you sure the Dendro Archon won't blame you?'"

"\"Oh, don't worry, just relax. \""

"Luo De waved his hand and said: 'Nadixa will understand me.'"

"\"Alright. \""

Nafis stopped arguing with Luo De, recorded a command to bring the former Great Sage Azar to Xu Mi Cheng, uploaded it into the void, and told Luo De: "Alright, I'll let you know when they arrive; you just come pick them up then."

Thank you, teacher.

Luo De chuckled.

After saying that, he sat down with Nafis and chatted a lot, basically all about Hope City.

Until it got dark.

Luo De then waved goodbye to Nafis and headed to Mondstadt's Envoy's Residence.

He wanted Rosalin to realize that Xu Mi is not something Snezhnaya can easily push around.

Mondstadt's assistance is still necessary.

Luo De looked at Nafis's register.

Quite a few people from the Knights of Favonius came, and many of them were familiar faces.

Besides Kaeya, the chief envoy, and Diluc, the deputy envoy, there was also Luo De's senior sister, Lisa the librarian of the Knights of Favonius, and the notorious troublemaker, Spark Knight Klee.

Upon seeing that last name.

Luo De raised an eyebrow.

Spark Knight Klee.

She's young, not over ten years old, but already holds an official title as a Knight of Favonius.

Her destructive power comes from her mother, the witch Alice who destroyed the Wind Dragon's ruins.

Wherever she goes, it ends up a mess.

And she's infamous for the "I know I was wrong, I'll do it again" type of troublemaker.

As for why the delegation would let such an uncontrollable troublemaker come, it starts with Albedo, the Knights of Favonius's Investigation Captain and Chief Alchemist, on the list.

Klee's mother followed the Knights of Favonius's Grand Master Jean on an expedition.

Thus Klee was entrusted to Albedo's care.

Now Albedo has been sent here for technical exchange; this round‑trip will take a long time, so he naturally can't leave Klee alone with the Knights of Favonius and must bring her to Xu Mi.

"A little guy who loves explosions."

"Not bad."

With that comment, Luo De, led by the gate‑keeping Knight of Favonius, formally met the Mondstadt delegation.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries.

Only Kaeya and Diluc stayed behind; everyone else temporarily left.

Before leaving.

Qin had given instructions.

For this mission, everything is led by Kaeya, so Lisa and the others wouldn't be appropriate to stay and interfere here.

"Diluc, sir, are you returning to the Knights of Favonius?"

Luo De laughed and asked first.

"No."

Diluc, as usual, calmly said: "This time I'm here to help at Qin's invitation."

"Oh, I see."

Luo De nodded and didn't pursue the matter further.

Diluc not returning to the Knights of Favonius isn't really surprising.

Being able to accept Qin's invitation and join the delegation is already pretty good.

Next.

Luo De raised a question that made both Kaeya and Diluc twitch.

"By the way, I have a question for you."

"After I left, has the Wind God ever been attacked?"

The Wind God's identity is no secret to Diluc and Kaeya.

But the Wind God being attacked is a big secret in Mondstadt, known only to a few.

Now Luo De bluntly asked that, which really made the two frown.

"Lord Wind God was indeed attacked; how do you know this?"

After a brief silence, Kaeya asked that question.

"Don't worry about that."

"I'm asking you one question now."

"If you ever encounter the person who once attacked the Wind God, what would you do?"

Luo De grinned: "I'm confident I can make that guy admit he attacked the Wind God; when the time comes, with both human and material evidence, what will you do?"

(End of Chapter)