NOVEL WEB Chapter 92: Chapter 92: The Ausbilder Must Have His Reasons for Doing This
Bai Luo's injuries had worsened.
Initially, he could still walk on his own and occasionally cook a little something when he was in the mood.
But for some unknown reason, he now couldn't even get out of bed.
His weakened and lifeless appearance made Katarina's heart ache as she held his head, at a complete loss for what to do.
Bai Luo reassured her that he was fine, though the fragrant aroma of the Wuxu Herb was a bit too captivating, and the sensation of his ribs pressing against his face was uncomfortable.
Strangely, his appetite hadn't diminished at all—he could still eat plenty of fruits every day.
However, he absolutely avoided the Sunset Fruits; their infamous sourness was not something he dared to try.
The Fatui members didn't delay and set out early in the morning for Liyue, where the renowned doctor at Bubu Pharmacy was said to have extraordinary skills.
They were confident the doctor could save their Ausbilder.
Under normal circumstances, given the Fatui's reputation, Bubu Pharmacy would have outright refused to help them.
However, with their newfound status as heroes of Liyue and their current amicable relations with the region, Bubu Pharmacy couldn't turn them away.
After passing Wangshu Inn, they arrived at Guili Plains.
Guili Plains was a vast expanse that had once been a bustling city adorned with flourishing flowers thousands of years ago.
But beautiful dreams eventually end, and this paradise was destroyed in the chaos of war.
Those who came returned only to leave again.
The ruins, marked by the passage of time, bore silent testimony to the grandeur that once existed here.
Once, two gods devoted to humanity resided here, but in the end, only one remained.
Then, even that god disappeared, leaving behind nothing but the desolation of Guili Plains.
The name, Guili Plains, signifies the hope that those who leave might return to find peace and prosperity once more.
The Fatui members remained silent during their journey, some worried about Bai Luo's condition and others subdued by the oppressive atmosphere of the place.
Some, however... were wondering what to eat for dinner.
After eating almond tofu for a week straight, it was about time to change things up.
Guili Plains was vast, and by evening, they still hadn't caught sight of Liyue Harbor.
If not for the burden of carrying Bai Luo, they could have reached their destination much faster given their usual marching speed.
Setting up camp was something the Fatui excelled at.
In fact, learning to survive in the wild and set up traps around their camps was a mandatory skill for all members.
Bai Luo's tent was the most luxurious, made from the best materials, but it was still just a tent—not comparable to a proper room.
Normally, Bai Luo would use such moments to indulge in some creativity, writing light novels based on memories of his past life.
He planned to submit them to Yae Publishing House when they eventually made their way to Inazuma.
That was until Katarina saw Bai Luo's writing at Wangshu Inn and, with an astonished tone, remarked:
"Sir, your drawing skills are amazing! Is this supposed to be the continuous aquatic grass of Dihua Marsh?"
"..."
After that day, Bai Luo never picked up his pen again.
Instead, he stood on the branch often occupied by the young adeptus, gazing at the endless reeds in the marsh and uttering a single word:
"Grass."
Katarina didn't understand his meaning but nodded quietly to herself.
The Ausbilder must have his reasons for doing this, right?
The food in the wild was nothing like that at the inn—just simple stewed meat paired with some milk.
After understanding Bai Luo's temperament, a few of the bolder members took out some firewater and began drinking heartily around the campfire.
Since Snezhnaya and Liyue had established diplomatic ties, trade between the two regions had flourished.
Genuine firewater was now readily available, with no fear of running out.
As they drank, they boasted about their achievements and envisioned their triumphant return to Snezhnaya, where the people would shower them with adoration.
Whatever their past reputation may have been, this time, they were truly acting as heroes.
"This milk... where did it come from?"
Bai Luo instinctively glanced at Katarina's chest, his expression wary. He wasn't about to drink milk of unknown origin.
"We got It from Wangshu Inn,"
Katarina replied cluelessly.
Unlike Ksenia, who had long been dispatched as an advance team to Inazuma, Katarina hadn't experienced surviving alone in the wilderness. Naturally, she didn't understand the self-sufficiency that comes with it.
"That's good then," Bai Luo said, finally relieved as he drank the milk.
What he didn't ask, however, was where the large, black iron pot had come from.
Not that it mattered—so long as the milk tasted good.
As the night deepened, the camp filled with the sounds of snoring and faint humming.
There were Fatui military songs and some Snezhnayan folk tunes—likely someone was reminiscing about home or loved ones.
Bai Luo, too, seemed to recall something, though the memories felt hazy.
A young boy nicknamed Nikolay had fallen asleep on Katarina's lap.
He was Katarina's younger brother. Both had grown up in the House of the Hearth, raised as the Tsaritsa's children.
Thus, it was their duty to serve her and repay the Tsaritsa's kindness.
Watching the siblings, Bai Luo suddenly realized what he had been trying to remember—and what he felt was missing.
Little Collei.
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Liyue Harbor, Northland Bank
The largest Snezhnayan structure in Liyue, and one of the Fatui's key outposts, Northland Bank often remained lit even late into the night.
As always, Nadia stood guard at the entrance, fulfilling her duties diligently.
Don't be fooled by her delicate appearance; in combat, she was anything but timid.
Once, she nearly beat a drunken troublemaker at the bank to death with her bare hands.
If Liyue officials hadn't intervened, that man wouldn't have survived.
And no wonder—how could a drunken man compare to a bear?
Don't let her dainty demeanor fool you. Even bears avoided crossing paths with Nadia.
"Welcome to Northland Bank," Nadia said reflexively as she spotted a figure approaching from the darkness. Her flawless Liyue accent left no room for criticism.
But the faint scent of blood and a subtle, malevolent aura immediately put her on high alert.
The moment she saw who it was, she shivered.
"Lord Harbinger!"
Indeed, the blood-soaked man emerging from the shadows was none other than Tartaglia, who had been delving into the Chasm for several days.
Judging by his refreshed appearance, it seemed he had thoroughly enjoyed himself.
"Thank you for your hard work." Tartaglia said with a grin.
"For the Tsaritsa!" Nadia replied with the utmost respect.
Tartaglia was in a particularly good mood tonight.
At the supply station, he had received some exciting news: Bai Luo, that Ausbilder, was coming to Liyue—and wanted to borrow something from him.
Oh, how interesting!
Sure, Bai Luo could borrow a ship—after a duel, of course!
Initially, Tartaglia had only wanted to test Bai Luo's combat skills. But the Ausbilder's repeated evasions had intrigued him even more.
This intrigue had since turned into a kind of obsession.
Whether Bai Luo beat him up or he got to pummel Bai Luo, as long as they could clash, Tartaglia felt he'd be completely satisfied.
Not wanting to miss Bai Luo, Tartaglia had skipped freshening up at the supply station and rushed back to Liyue Harbor overnight, hoping to intercept him.
However, it seemed Bai Luo hadn't arrived yet.
Upon entering Northland Bank, Tartaglia didn't disturb anyone and went straight to his room. But the stack of bills on his desk caught his eye.
He hadn't been spending money recently... had he?
After stripping off his bloodstained clothes, Tartaglia casually glanced at the bills.
One glance was all it took for his heart to nearly stop.
The string of numbers left him stunned, and when he looked at the signature...
"Bai Luo!?"
That night, the sound of a whale's cry awakened half of Liyue's lanterns.
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