Chapter 33: Chapter 33
"The era of human governance?"
Li Pan stroked his chin and laughed heartily.
"How would I know about such things? I'm just a merchant. But one thing's for sure those things can only be understood by seeing them with your own eyes.
The most important thing is that the seeds you plant determine the fruit you harvest. What the future looks like depends on you, the creators."
After finishing his words, Li Pan thought for a moment and added, "But I can tell you this, Miss Ningguang, the era of human governance is truly beautiful."
Hearing Li Pan's evasive response, Ningguang felt a bit helpless. Since she became one of the Liyue Qixing, she had never encountered someone so stubbornly evasive.
"But… a beautiful era, huh? I really want to see it."
Ningguang murmured to herself, a captivating smile forming at the corner of her lips, as if she could already imagine the charm of that era in her mind.
Leaving the shop, Li Pan found Landorus already waiting for him outside.
"Let's go."
The cloud beneath Landorus's feet expanded, growing large enough to comfortably carry two people.
Li Pan stepped onto it and was surprised to find that the cloud wasn't as soft as he had imagined. Instead, it felt as solid as the ground.
"What's going on here?"
Li Pan marveled, his excitement evident.
Landorus scratched its head. "I don't know either. I've been able to do this since I gained consciousness."
Hearing this, Li Pan understood. It seemed this was another ability that could be categorized under divine authority. Divine authority truly defied logic.
Landorus patiently waited for Li Pan's sense of novelty to fade before gripping the cloud firmly.
"Ready? We're taking off."
Hearing this, Li Pan quickly sat down cross-legged, lowering his center of gravity as much as possible.
To be honest, if time hadn't been so tight, he would never have chosen to travel with Landorus.
Although flying was a dream for most humans, when it came to flying without any protection, most people would feel the same way he did.
Seeing Li Pan seated securely, Landorus suddenly lifted the cloud. "Alright… let's fly!"
As soon as the words left its mouth, Li Pan felt the world spin around him. When he opened his eyes again, he was already soaring through the sky on the cloud.
A flock of geese flying nearby curiously eyed these two strange creatures. Feeling playful, Li Pan leaned over and, while the geese weren't looking, flicked one of them on the head.
Quack!
The startled geese scattered, but soon regrouped not far away.
Looking at the flowing clouds around him, Li Pan curiously reached out to touch them. His hand felt a damp sensation, and when he pulled it back, his palm was wet, as if he'd been hit with a "Damp" status effect.
"This feeling is truly magical."
Li Pan exclaimed excitedly. Riding the clouds, traveling such a large distance in a single day, this had always been their romantic ideal. And now, he had finally achieved it. It was like living in a myth.
No, Li Pan chuckled to himself, looking at Landorus beside him. This one was a genuine myth.
"Slow down, don't fall off."
Landorus watched Li Pan's excitement with a smile, calmly reminding him.
Of course, even if Li Pan did fall, Landorus could catch him before he hit the ground. Never underestimate the speed of a Legendary Pokémon.
Heavy rain often comes with strong winds. Beneath the low-hanging dark clouds, the howling wind nearly uprooted the trees, and the pouring rain felt like a divine cleansing of the mortal world.
Keqing, clad in a raincoat, stood on the mountaintop, her face filled with sorrow as she looked at the dense swarm of Chi Beasts in the water below. Luxray lay panting heavily at her feet, they had just been through a fierce battle.
Below, the Chi Beasts were piled on top of each other like ants, resembling the static of an old-fashioned TV screen, sending shivers down one's spine.
"How did things escalate to this point?"
Keqing couldn't understand. What was wrong with the Liyue Qixing's intelligence network? How could they have missed such a major incident?
If it were just a newly awakened Archon or a giant beast, Keqing was confident that Liyue's current forces could easily handle it. But now that things had escalated to this extent, she hadn't received any news at all.
Someone had blinded the eyes of the Liyue Qixing!
Keqing clenched her fists, trembling with anger. If she made it back this time, she would definitely investigate this matter thoroughly.
After all, this was Qingce Village!
Liyue Harbor could have problems, but Qingce Village couldn't!
"They're coming again!"
Suddenly, Keqing looked up, her sword slicing through the air with a flash of lightning, cutting down a Chi Beast that had lunged at her.
The situation was getting worse. A couple of days ago, these Chi Beasts couldn't stay out of the water for long. But now, perhaps because the rain was getting heavier, the water elemental content in the air had increased, allowing the Chi Beasts to briefly hover in the air.
After slashing through one Chi Beast, Keqing returned Luxray to its Poké Ball and transformed into a bolt of lightning, darting away. In just a few leaps, she arrived at a large makeshift shelter.
The shelter was crudely built with straw, its construction rough and far from aesthetically pleasing, but it provided shelter from the wind and rain.
Pushing the door open, Keqing found it packed with people. They huddled together in small groups, lighting fires to warm themselves and drying damp wood.
These were the original residents of Qingce Village.
Fortunately, Yan Bang and others had discovered the Chi Beasts' traces early and gathered these people together in time. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"Lady Keqing, come, warm yourself by the fire."
A soaked Millelith soldier made room for her.
He had just returned from patrol.
Keqing didn't stand on ceremony and sat down immediately.
The soldiers around the fire remained silent, mechanically drying their damp bodies.
Over the past two days, they had all noticed the situation worsening. If this continued, they would likely be trapped on this mountaintop.
Not long after, the door was suddenly slammed open. Keqing turned to see Xiangling.
The lively girl burst in with a bright smile, followed by the mysterious creature Guoba and the now-evolved Thwackey, who trotted into the shelter.
"Everyone, great news! I've contacted the Millelith outside!"
Xiangling's words were like a thunderclap, jolting the numb crowd awake. In that moment, everyone in the shelter looked up, their eyes sparkling with hope.
"Xiangling, tell us more. What's going on?"
Keqing made room for Xiangling to sit down.
Xiangling didn't hesitate. She was freezing, her lips even slightly pale, but her eyes remained bright.
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