Chapter 240: Zhongli and Apep's Deal

Luo De didn't stay on the surface for long.

After briefly telling Yelan and the others about the underground situation, Luo De prepared to return to the underground mining area.

Now that the Cold Sky Nail has been completely released, the crisis of the Chasm is equivalent to being resolved at its root; the remaining problem is the leftover sludge and the mining area polluted by Abyssal power.

Luo De needs to go inform Cyno and the others about this.

Dada Liya also wants to go.

However, what's most important for him now is rest; given his physical condition, forcing himself to go down the mine will only add more trouble.

Yelan and Xiao respectively need to report the situation to Ningguang and Zhongli.

Therefore, this time only Luo De will go down the mine.

The Stone Guard at the entrance are still the same group as before.

Upon seeing Luo De come up from outside and want to enter the Chasm again, they were surprised; their first reaction was to refuse his request, and they stood ready with swords and guns, just one order away from attacking Luo De.

As for the reason,

That's naturally because they know Luo De and are aware he had already entered the Chasm.

Thus, when they saw Luo De again,

they naturally assumed that this Luo De before them was not the real person, possibly a demonic disguise trying to sneak into the Chasm.

Fortunately,

Yelan had already anticipated that this would happen.

Before parting,

she gave Luo De an official document signed by Ningguang and stamped with the Heavenly Authority Star Seal, to prove his identity was fine.

With this document,

things became much simpler, and the tense atmosphere vanished instantly.

The question also shifted from 'Who exactly are you?' to 'Does the Chasm still have a hidden exit unknown to the Stone Guard?'

This question is very important.

Over the years that the Chasm has been sealed, there have always been people secretly mining ore to sell for profit.

This is something explicitly forbidden by order of the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing.

Therefore, among the Stone Guard patrolling the Chasm, a considerable number are assigned to search for illegal tunnels and catch those smugglers who steal and sell ore.

Only after confirming that Luo De did not come from an illegal mining entrance did they finally let him pass, allowing him to return smoothly to the underground mining area.

In the following time,

Luo De was busy helping Cyno and Tighnari transmit messages, detecting the geological environment, sealing sludge outlets, and incidentally marking for them the forbidden zone locations that must absolutely not be entered.

As for the Lady,

After learning that Dada Liya was injured and had to return to the surface for recuperation, she voluntarily withdrew from the research team, bringing along the remnants of the Ninth Company back to the Liyue surface.

Her departure also made the Sumeru research team much more relaxed.

With such a distinguished senior present, even Cyno couldn't restrain her unrestrained and domineering conduct.

During Luo De's absence,

Because of her, the research team not only progressed slowly but also experienced more than one dispute.

Now that she's gone,

Under the leadership of Luo De, who is familiar with the underground situation, the research team's progress surged to several times its previous level.

Such smooth progress,

until Liyue officials stationed themselves and formally established several safe houses, supply points, and research stations for rest, did it finally ease somewhat.

Counting the time,

Luo De and the others have already been underground for nearly a month.

Considering the scholars in the research team who still have ordinary physiques, Luo De, Cyno, and Tighnari discussed and then decided to return to the surface for rest.

Staying long-term in the underground mine, dark as day,

in itself is an extremely severe test of the body.

Even though most of the scholars in the team are experienced, such prolonged underground life still caused some to develop symptoms akin to maladaptation.

The research team's return also received a personal audience from Ningguang.

This person, the current highest authority of Liyue in name, also held a victory feast for the research team in the name of the Liyue government.

After the banquet dispersed,

Luo De, slightly tipsy, was personally invited by Ningguang to the Jade Chamber.

Just like the first time,

the person who invited Luo De was actually Zhongli.

The difference is,

this time, waiting together with Zhongli for Luo De, it was not Venti but Apep, who has not reappeared since leaving the sealed space.

"Seeing me, are you surprised?"

Apep looks very relaxed, sitting opposite Zhongli, who is not in the main seat.

Looks like,

Before Luo De arrived, she should have been having tea with Zhongli.

"Indeed, I didn't expect you to be here."

Luo De honestly admitted his thoughts.

Who could have imagined that.

The grass dragon that is most at odds with the gods actually sits peacefully with Zhongli the Geo Archon.

There are still many things you wouldn't expect.

Apep took a sip of tea, lifted his chin at Zhongli, signaling him to continue.

Zhongli smiled helplessly.

Then he said: "Lord Apep and I have reached an agreement, but this matter requires your assistance, little friend."

"Do you need my help?"

Luo De tilted his head in confusion: "You two still need my help?"

One is the Grass Dragon King, the other the Geo Archon.

What could I possibly help with, something even those two can't solve?

"Little friend, please look."

Zhongli opened his palm and handed Luo De a grass-green crystal.

Inside the flawless, translucent jade-green crystal lay a pure streak of purple.

At first glance,

one would mistake this crystal for a new kind of precious ore.

However, when Luo De took it, he suddenly felt that the purple inside the crystal was familiar.

"This is."

"Fushe?"

Luo De quickly realized where this sense of familiarity came from.

It was the Fushe he had just seen once in the underground mining area.

If I remember correctly,

At that time, after bidding farewell to Xiao with his remaining consciousness, he simply vanished on the spot.

How is it that, like the Great Merciful Tree King, it retained a fragment of consciousness?

"Was it you who did this?"

Seeing that the crystal's shell is made of grass elemental energy, Luo De didn't need to guess to know who was responsible.

But he still didn't understand.

What does the Fushe's retained fragment of consciousness have to do with him, being kept by Apep?

Next,

Zhongli then proceeded to explain in detail the agreement he had reached with Apep.

Apep's request is very simple.

That is to go meet the Shato Dragon King sealed by Zhongli at the Southern Heaven Gate; of course, she guaranteed that it would be just a few words with the Shato Dragon King, without doing anything excessive, otherwise Zhongli would never have agreed to this.

Zhongli's request is even simpler.

He wants Fushe to return to the mortal realm, just like the Great Merciful Tree King.

.?

"Why are you asking me to do this? Isn't this a deal between you two?"

After hearing that, Luo De was even more confused.

"Please."

"The Great Merciful Tree King could come back to life because he and the spiritual light preserving his fragment of consciousness both originated from the Flower God; what does this Fushe have to do with him?"

"Besides,"

"Your deal with Apep doesn't let her figure out how to resolve it; instead you come to me for help— isn't that a bit absurd?"

"Hermanubis."

In response to Luo De's doubt, Apep said from the side, "Only by borrowing the power of Hermanubis and my own can we nurture this fragment of consciousness back to life."

"."

Luo De twitched the corner of his mouth.

"Can it still be done like this?"

Although he understood that he could indeed help them, Luo De was still reluctant.

"Why should your deal with Apep and Zhongli let you boss me around? And be on call at a moment's notice—I'm not Apep's vassal, so why must I unconditionally help her?"

"Heh—"

"See, I told you this human kid wouldn't agree."

Although Luo De said nothing, the change in his expression gave away his thoughts; Apep snorted coldly, gave him a sour look, and said, "There's something in it for you—this isn't free labor. Tell me now whether you agree or not; if you don't, I'll just leave."

Zhongli also urged from the side: "Little friend, don't worry; the reward I'll give you will surely satisfy you."

Just like that.

One god, one dragon—you speak, I speak; one plays the good cop, the other the bad cop, persistently tempting Luo De to accept their demands.

But no one would say what the benefit for Luo De actually is.

Thus, the headache-plagued Luo De had no choice but to ask himself: "Um... may I ask what my benefit is?"

"You'll know when the time comes."

"What nonsense."

"If you're doing it, do it; if not, forget it."

Apep's voice grew sharper, directly cutting off Luo De's intention to ask for clarification.

"Um."

"Can I go back and think about it?"

Seeing that no one was willing to clarify things, Luo De thought it over and still did not agree on the spot.

No.

You must give me an answer now.

Compared to the mild-mannered Zhongli, Apep's manner of doing things is much more overbearing, leaving Luo De no chance to wriggle out.

What else is there to say?

Apep's attitude has already made that clear.

Whether you agree today or not, you have to agree.

Luo De, who had never seen someone so generous, had no choice but to reply with a bitter face: "Fine, I agree."

(End of chapter)