Kiana and the Captain's Bizarre Adventure

Chapter 321 8 Qilian Taodu

"So, Captain, is there anything you'd like to ask? If it's something I know, I'll speak frankly."

"Really?" the captain asked.

"Of course, but I wonder what the captain wants to know from me?"

"You should know the things I want to know."

"If it were those things, wouldn't the captain already know from Kiana? Besides, due to the contract, there's not much I can tell you, and that information should naturally be included in the information Kiana gave the captain."

Zhongli's meaning was clear, but the captain, seeing Zhongli's nonchalant expression, understood that there were actually some things that Kiana and Zhongli hadn't told him, or rather, didn't want him to know.

"Let me be frank, Mr. Zhongli. I can guess the reason why you and Kiana are keeping something from me. The reason is nothing more than not wanting me to be too involved, but I think you should understand my feelings."

"I understand how the captain feels. I've experienced that feeling of wanting to help someone important but being kept in the dark by them."

As he spoke, Zhongli's eyes dimmed slightly, and he recalled the ending of Guizhong.

"But a contract is a contract, and I hope the captain can understand my difficulties."

After saying that, Zhongli got up to leave. The next second, the captain called Zhongli back.

"Wait a minute, Mr. Zhongli, don't you want to know about the new power in the Abyss?"

"Xianyun is already researching that kind of thing with Fu Hua, and besides, as a mere mortal, I have no power to participate in events of that magnitude."

At this point, Zhongli ignored the captain's calls and left the Hyperion's mansion. Seeing that Zhongli was so determined to leave, the captain had no choice but to give up. After sighing, he began to prepare to take care of Kiana with Bella.

As time drew to a close on the eve of the Lantern Festival, Liyue Harbor began to bustle with activity, and various coin-shaped buildings appeared on the streets.

These are auspicious coins, some engraved with ancient demon-slaying seals. Besides architectural models, some also resemble currency. Although not legal tender, they are often given as gifts to friends because the ancient demon-slaying seals they bear carry various meanings. A giant peach tree-shaped lantern is also displayed at the port of Liyue.

This peach tree is naturally based on a real-life counterpart. Legend has it that in ancient Liyue there was a sacred mountain with a giant tree on it, which was a demon god named Peach City.

Behind Momoto lies the world of the dead. If one's sins are too grave, one cannot pass through Momoto's body to reach the world of the dead.

Later, when Peach City was caught up in the Demon God War, strange phenomena occurred in Liyue, with life and death reversed. In order to maintain the balance between life and death, eight extraordinary people stepped forward and refined Peach City, turning it into the boundary between life and death. From then on, life and death in Liyue were clearly divided.

This is the story of the Eight Wonders of Liyue since ancient times. Although the story has not been widely spread, it has been passed down. The theme of this year's Lantern Festival is based on this story.

The reason for choosing this theme is actually due to some important reasons. At this moment, the captain is discussing some things with Ningguang.

"...That's how it is. Something unusual happened at Qingce Village. Some elderly people suddenly became bedridden and extremely weak. According to Bai Shu's examination, these elderly people did not have any infectious diseases. Instead, it seemed as if their lives were inexplicably lost."

The captain frowned and asked, "So you suspect there's a problem with the boundary between life and death in Liyue?"

“That’s right.” Ningguang nodded.

"But shouldn't this matter be left to the Hall of Rebirth? Why should we be the ones to handle it?"

"In fact, I initially asked Master Hu to help investigate the situation, and the result was indeed as I guessed. That's why this year's Sea Lantern Festival theme is the Eight Wonders Peach Refining Capital."

Because this scene is based on the formation from the story of the Eight Immortals of Peach Blossom Valley, all that's left is to deduce the current locations of the eight gates, which symbolize the nodes of Liyue's ley lines, to activate the seven-gate formation. However, this formation requires a ritual to be performed at each of the eight gates, and one gate must be concealed at the end. This means that the person responsible for concealing that gate will sacrifice themselves… therefore, this is the last resort.

"So you want us to help you solve this, and only activate your formation if you really can't solve it?"

“That’s right. This Eight Gates and Seven Gates Formation is a last resort. I don’t want to activate it unless it’s absolutely necessary. Most importantly, Hall Master Hu also said that the problem with the Liyue Life and Death Boundary this time is due to the gradual loosening of the seals from before, as well as the activities of the Abyss.”

"The Abyss... does that mean the new Abyss has appeared within the boundary between life and death in Liyue?"

"According to Master Hu's description, yes, she said that there was an abyss-like aura within the boundary between life and death, along with other auras she was unfamiliar with."

"I understand." The captain stood up to leave. "Then, one last question: where should I find Master Hu Tao?"

"She should be at the funeral parlor now, apparently because there's an important order that she needs to confirm in person."

"An important order?"

"It's an order from the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce. In terms of seniority, it's from Xingqiu's great-grandfather. He was originally in very good health, until recently when he went back to his ancestral home in Chenyu Valley and rested at Qingce Manor on his way back. Not long after he returned, he became bedridden."

"Is it because of the deathly aura overflowing from the boundary between life and death?"

"It's very possible that Miss Lan Yan, one of the Eight Wonders of the Lan family, once said that there was a heavy death aura in the house where the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce was located. In order to prevent any accidents, she also gave the people of the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce a rattan doll with the Tubabisha pattern painted on it. Unfortunately, it was too late. However, the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, as the parties involved, was unaware of this matter. They only thought that the old man's time had come, so they went to the Hall of Rebirth to make preparations in advance."

"I see. Then I'll go take a look at the Hall of Rebirth first."

“That’s not necessary,” Hu Tao’s voice came from the doorway.

“It seems that Master Hu’s matter is settled,” Ningguang said.

"It's not quite finished yet. I just thought I had asked enough questions, and then Miss Baiwen came over to urge me, so I handed the matter over to Sister Yiguan."

Then Hu Tao turned her gaze to the captain, "Is this the aid that Miss Ningguang was talking about? It does seem quite reliable."

"I have long admired Master Hu's name. You can just call me Captain."

As he spoke, the captain extended his right hand, and Hu Tao also extended her hand and shook hands with the captain.

"Looks like I'm quite famous. Hello, hello. So you're that captain."

"What's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing. Now it's time for the investigation, Miss Ningguang, we'll be going now!"

Without waiting for Ningguang's reply, she turned and walked towards the door, taking the captain's hand and leading him away from the Jade Pavilion.

Some time later, the two appeared at Wangshu Inn. Hu Tao had been discussing matters related to the old master with the people of Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, and then rushed to Qunyu Pavilion to take the captain to Wuwang Slope.

Feeling quite hungry from the long journey, she had no choice but to rest at the Wangshu Inn. She was also very curious about the story between the Captain and Kiana, and during the rest, Hu Tao asked her many interesting questions.

After finishing their meal, the two set off. Soon after, they arrived at an inn near Wuwangpo. From there, they would have to continue on foot.

Due to the flood more than a decade ago and the various ghost stories of Wuwangpo, the captain hardly saw any people along the way, and as they went deeper, the surrounding environment gradually became gloomy and terrifying.

Suddenly a gust of cold wind blew by, and the captain couldn't help but shiver. When Hu Tao saw this, she teased him.

"What, is the captain afraid of ghosts?"

"It's not that I'm afraid of ghosts, but I always feel like there's something unclean around me, and the gusts of cold wind made me shiver involuntarily."

Hu Tao raised an eyebrow and looked at the captain: "I didn't expect you to be so perceptive, Captain! You can sense it even though you can't see it. That's right, the surrounding area is filled with death energy overflowing from the boundary, and the fact that Wuwang Slope is very close to Qingce Village is why Qingce Village is the first to be affected."

Is there any way for me to see this deathly aura too?

"Yes, there is, but this method requires practice, and there probably isn't enough time to teach it now."

"How will you know if you don't try?"

"Alright, alright, then I'll teach you this method. Let me make it clear first that this is the ancestral method and formula of our Rebirth Hall, which is not supposed to be passed on to outsiders, but I'll make an exception and teach it to you now."

After saying that, Hu Tao began to teach the captain the mental cultivation technique. Surprisingly, the captain learned it in one go, which surprised Hu Tao.

You have to understand, it took her three whole years to learn all of this, and her grandfather called her a genius. But the captain learned it in no time. It's really frustrating to compare yourself to others.

Looking at the vast expanse of deathly aura before him, the captain felt a pang of unease.

"So what do we do next?"

“It’s very simple.” With that, Walnut took out a large handful of incense and handed it to the captain. “Just follow me and use this incense to burn away this death energy.”

"Is it really that simple?" The captain looked at Hu Tao with a puzzled expression.

"Of course not. This method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. To completely solve the problem, we need to find a way to repair the boundary between life and death. It's just that we came in a hurry this time and didn't bring enough tools to set up the altar, so we can't perform any rituals. The most urgent task is to deal with the overflowing death energy to prevent it from spreading, and then we can set up the altar and perform the rituals later."

"Right."

After saying that, the captain also lit the incense following Hu Tao's example. Then, he took special steps and swung his hands at a specific frequency, drawing specific trajectories in the air. Wherever he went, the death aura was instantly ignited by the incense and then disappeared.

After walking around Wuwangpo once, the two stopped at the entrance of a cave.

Looking at the endless stream of death energy emanating from the cave entrance, the captain asked, "Is this the source of the death energy?"

“Obviously yes, oh, my captain, that’s a very good question.”

"...Could you tell me where you learned this way of speaking?"

"In the group chat, doesn't it feel so nostalgic? I specially learned the way of speaking from people in your world."

"Promise me you won't talk like that again, okay?"

As he spoke, the captain patted Hu Tao's shoulders heavily with both hands, and his earnest tone made Hu Tao subconsciously agree.

"Getting back to the main topic," Hu Tao said, glancing at the incense stick that had burned to the bottom. "We're out of usable tools. Our priority is to get back to the Hall of Rebirth. I'll seal this cave entrance temporarily."

After speaking, Hu Tao began to form hand seals while chanting incantations. Then, Hu Tao pointed his right hand into a sword-finger gesture at the cave entrance, and a sealing pattern appeared at the entrance the next second.

"Alright, now we don't have to worry anymore. Hmm, for now, let's hurry back while we have the time."

After saying that, Hu Tao turned around and walked back without looking back, while the captain stood at the entrance of the cave, silently sensing the energy fluctuations inside.

He clearly sensed fluctuations in Honkai energy inside, which meant Ningguang's prediction was correct. The cause of the collapse of the boundary between life and death was the Abyss. According to Kurumi, this opening, though seemingly shallow, actually connects to the entrance to the boundary between life and death; entering from here leads to the edge of that boundary.

The temporary seal placed on Walnut can only prevent the death energy from escaping for a short time; it cannot prevent people from entering the boundary between life and death.

"Hey! Captain, what are you doing over there! Hurry up and go back so we can be back sooner!"

Hu Tao's voice came from afar. Although the captain really wanted to go in and resolve the matter alone, he had never been inside before and was completely unfamiliar with the environment. Going in rashly might only lead to getting lost.

With no other option, the captain simply made a sign next to the cave entrance and stuck it in the ground, hoping to warn passersby not to enter the cave at will.

After doing all that, the captain left. Shortly after the captain and Hu Tao left, the nearby bushes began to tremble, and soon a little girl with light purple hair wearing a hat emerged from the bushes.

She was Qi Qi. Because there had been an unusually large number of patients recently, the herbal medicine stock at Bu Bu Lu was running low. That's why Qi Qi went up the mountain alone to collect herbs.

But when she passed by Wuwang Slope after gathering herbs, she sensed the presence of death energy. Although she didn't know what this thing was, Qiqi's intuition told her that it was not good to let it spread.

So, after discovering that she could absorb this substance, Qiqi followed the death energy all the way here. Seeing the sign in front of the cave entrance, Qiqi realized she wasn't the only one who had discovered the dangers of the death energy. But why hadn't they addressed the source, instead erecting a sign here?

Qiqi didn't understand; she only knew that things couldn't continue like this. So Qiqi decided to use her ability to absorb death energy to block the cave entrance. Since the sign said not to go in, couldn't she just stand at the entrance?

Qiqi stood there until the captain and the others returned. When Qiqi saw Hu Tao behind the captain, she subconsciously took a step back and entered the cave.

Hu Tao lowered her outstretched hand and sighed, "It seems we have no choice but to go to this border between life and death."