After Neuvillette and Apep had nearly flattened the Desert of Hadramaveth into the Desert of a Thousand Flats, the battle was finally halted once again.
Of course, it wasn't that Apep had changed her mind and was preparing to have a calm talk with Neuvillette; rather, they sensed the aura of Deshret approaching.
"Neuvillette, do you still want your people to co before and humiliate ?"
"I've repeated myself several tis: I was unaware of their actions."
"Enough, you hypocritical villain! Once I retrieve my source of power, I'll settle this with you properly!"
After throwing out that line, Apep's massive, mountain-like body soared into the sky, instantly plunging the world below into darkness.
Sensing Apep moving toward the source of Deshret's aura, Neuvillette sighed silently and then set off as well.
In fact, Neuvillette moved even faster than Apep. He planned to reach the source of power before her, retrieve it, and personally return it to her.
Surely, that would clear up the misunderstanding between them, right?
If Apep got her hands on it first, she would undoubtedly believe she had snatched it back herself and would still want to fight him.
With this thought in mind, Neuvillette increased his speed further, soon spotting several dust-covered figures in the distance.
Neuvillette's figure flashed, and the next mont he appeared before them. Feeling their intensely fanatical gazes, Neuvillette felt deeply uncomfortable.
"Why would you do such a thing?"
"For you, of course, Monsieur Neuvillette!"
"Monsieur Neuvillette, you are the greatest being in this world! As your most loyal followers, we will eliminate all obstacles in your path!"
"Soon, Monsieur Neuvillette, you will beco the new King of the Seven Dragons! Even if the Dragon King Nibelung were to revive, he would have to bow before you!"
Neuvillette shook his head. He really shouldn't have bothered asking; these people were completely obsessed.
Then, Neuvillette's gaze fell upon a bundle held by one of them. The aura he had sensed was emanating from it.
Neuvillette was puzzled. In his perception, Deshret's aura was so distinct that he had initially thought they had sohow revived and controlled the Scarlet King. But now, it seed that wasn't the case.
Deshret hadn't been revived. It seed they had used so kind of device to activate the source of power he beca after death, thus creating an aura very similar to his when he was alive.
As for the earlier projection, he recalled a massive inverted pyramid in the illusion. He had a vague mory that the structure was located at the core of another desert region. Could they have used the facilities left there to create that scene?
They used a special device to create the illusion that Deshret had been revived, then announced the desert's annexation into Fontaine in his na to recruit new followers for him.
Although the plan seed simple, it required solving too many problems in practice.
First, they had to find Apep whose very existence was unknown to many.
Then, they had to steal Deshret's residual power without Apep noticing and evade her pursuit.
Next, they had to invent or find a device capable of activating this power, while also thoroughly understanding and investigating the interior of that inverted pyramid.
The final step was actually the simplest: just pretend to bring Deshret back to life.
Neuvillette no longer knew how to react to these people. If only they had applied their efforts to righteous causes, they would have been a great asset to Fontaine. But instead, they had gone astray for his sake.
Neuvillette wanted to lash out, but feeling the fervent gazes fixed upon him, he ultimately just sighed softly.
"Give the power you stole from Apep."
Upon hearing Neuvillette's words, the person imdiately placed the device holding the source of power into Neuvillette's hands.
Just then, the sand around them suddenly began to churn violently.
Neuvillette lightly tapped his cane, and the sand swirling into the air instantly settled, falling back to the ground.
"Neuvillette, give that back to !"
Apep reappeared before them, her massive body crashing back to the ground and causing a violent tremor.
Her enormous head lood over the group, her eyes filled with rage, yet no one showed the slightest fear.
Neuvillette, naturally, was unfazed. Apep was rely his equal, and currently, her strength was even inferior to his.
The other mbers of the Cult of the Dragon worshipped Neuvillette to an inconceivable degree, so naturally, they felt no reverence for any being other than him.
"I will return it to you, but first, you must calm down."
"What exactly do you want, Neuvillette?!"
In Apep's eyes, Neuvillette's actions were clearly an attempt to negotiate terms with her.
"I can return the source of power to you, but I want you to spare them."
"Although their actions have gravely offended you, they are still citizens of my Fontaine. Their sins will be judged by , Neuvillette."
Hearing Neuvillette's words, Apep erupted in fury.
"You dare ask to spare them?!"
"Do you have any idea how much damage these damned insects have caused ?!"
"Even if they died a hundred, a thousand tis, it would not quell the hatred in my heart!"
"Neuvillette, as a dragon, you now shield humanity like this. You are a disgrace to our dragonkind!"
"Either you hand these humans over to , or this matter will not end here!"
"Though I am no match for you, there must be places in Fontaine you cannot protect, right?!"
"Let's see if you can withstand my endless fury, all for the sake of these humans!"
Hearing the Dendro Dragon Apep's threat, Neuvillette felt little concern.
Honestly, if Apep's body were smaller, her rampage in Fontaine might have given him pause.
After all, the only drawback of the Pneumousia Obliteration Bomb was its imnse power, which could easily cause collateral damage. But against Apep, there was no such concern.
Neuvillette wanted to remind Apep that tis had changed, but he considered that she might take his words as a provocation. If she really decided to test her luck and got herself killed, his conscience would be troubled.
"Silence! How dare you speak to Monsieur Neuvillette like that?!"
"You caterpillar! Take a good look at who stands before you!"
"Monsieur Neuvillette is the greatest dragon on the continent of Teyvat! How dare you utter such insolence! I hereby declare you excommunicated from dragonkind!"
Hearing Apep threaten Neuvillette so brazenly, the mbers of the Cult of the Dragon were instantly displeased and began to berate her.
Neuvillette's toes curled in embarrassnt. Didn't these people see he was trying to save them? Why were they still saying such things? Did they really not want to live?
"How dare you call a caterpillar!"
"Damned insects!"
"None of you are leaving here today!"
The Dendro Dragon Apep erupted in fury again, yet the mbers of the Cult of the Dragon remained completely unfazed.
"Look, the caterpillar's getting worked up!"
"Looks like we hit a nerve. You must think you look like a caterpillar too!"
Feeling Apep's rage intensify to the point where she might spontaneously master the Pyro Elent, Neuvillette quickly intervened to stop the Cult of the Dragon mbers from speaking further, while simultaneously suppressing the power erupting from Apep.
"Stop fighting! Stop fighting! Don't fight anymore!"
At that mont, Nahida and Clorinde arrived, shouting anxiously when they saw Neuvillette and Apep on the verge of clashing again.
"Apep, the Forbidden Knowledge in your body was purged, and you were freed from pain and tornt, all thanks to Monsieur Neuvillette's help!"
After hearing these words, Apep finally suppressed her inner rage.
"Lord of Dendro, you didn't lie to about this?"
After receiving Nahida's affirmative reply, Apep pondered for a mont and agreed to Neuvillette's terms.
"Fine, Neuvillette. Return the source of power to , and I will spare these people."
Hearing Apep's words, Neuvillette breathed a slight sigh of relief. He then tossed the device containing the source of power to Apep, who swallowed it, device and all.
"Now we are even, Neuvillette."
"From now on, stay out of my sight, you and your people."
With that, Apep's body soared into the air again, preparing to depart.
However, she had barely flown a few hundred ters before she plumted with a sudden thud.
A tremor hundreds of tis stronger than before shook the ground, leaving Neuvillette, Nahida, and Clorinde stunned. What was Apep up to now?
"Are you alright?"
Neuvillette's concerned question was like a spark to a powder keg. Apep roared in fury.
"Neuvillette, you poisoned !"
Then, Apep's aura suddenly weakened.
At that mont, the dragon recalled the millennia of tornt inflicted by the Forbidden Knowledge.
Poisoned?
Neuvillette grew even more confused. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he turned to the mbers of the Cult of the Dragon.
"Was this your doing?"
When no reply ca, Neuvillette rembered they were still under the influence of his power and quickly dispelled it.
"Yes, Monsieur Neuvillette! We ticulously crafted this poison. Even this caterpillar won't be able to withstand it!"
"This caterpillar should know its place! How dare it compare itself to you, Monsieur Neuvillette!"
"It may have lived longer than you, but that won't matter. Soon, it can start over from scratch!"
"Monsieur Neuvillette, only you can be the most ancient dragon in all of Teyvat and the entire universe!"
Seeing the crazed looks on their faces, even Neuvillette felt a surge of anger.
After all, he had personally returned the source of power. Apep must utterly despise him now.
To rectify his mistake, Neuvillette quickly asked,
"Where's the antidote?"
"Monsieur Neuvillette, of course, no antidote was prepared."
Hearing this, Neuvillette was completely at a loss.
"Neuvillette, I'll fight you to the death!"
The aggrieved Dendro Dragon roared in fury and once again engaged Neuvillette in battle.
Although it had reclaid its source of power this ti, the commotion was much smaller. However, Neuvillette truly couldn't bring himself to fight back.
Watching the battle unfold, Nahida finally understood why Fontaine could be in such chaos despite having Neuvillette as its guardian. She felt a wave of relief that the people of Suru were so simple and honest. Otherwise, she might find enemies everywhere she went, and she certainly didn't possess Neuvillette's strength!
-
"Consultant Chen Feng, today was a huge success!"
Hu Tao cheerfully draped an arm over Chen Feng's shoulder as they walked toward Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Behind them, Zhongli watched the pair silently, following at a leisurely pace.
"Indeed, Director Hu! Today's haul was excellent!"
Chen Feng's face bead with delight. Seeing his unrestrained joy, Hu Tao suddenly rembered how he had just earned two million Mora with two autographs. Her good mood from securing several high-quality clients instantly vanished.
"Consultant Chen Feng, when Wangsheng Funeral Parlor makes a profit, I give you a bonus. Now that you've made a fortune, don't you think you should give sothing back to this Director?"
"Director Hu, you've got it all wrong. You're the boss, and I'm the employee. Where's the logic in an employee giving the boss a bonus?"
"No way! Today, everyone who was there gets a share!"
"Even if you won't share the money, treating us to a al after making a killing is only fair, right?"
"Ah, well..."
Chen Feng hesitated for a long mont before finally agreeing.
"Alright, then today I'll treat Director Hu Tao and Consultant Zhongli to lunch as thanks for saving from that desperate situation."
Upon hearing Chen Feng's words, Hu Tao's face broke into a triumphant, scheming smile.
Did he think treating us to a al would let him get off cheap?
He's still too naive. Today, this Director will show him just how cruel the world can be!
With this thought, Hu Tao steered Chen Feng in a different direction, heading straight for Liuli Pavilion. Zhongli promptly adjusted his course and continued following behind them.
Soon, the trio arrived at Liuli Pavilion.
"Proprietor, give us a table with the Tianquan's standard!"
Hearing Hu Tao's order, the proprietor's eyes instantly lit up.
A big spender has arrived!
"This way, esteed guests!"
The three were quickly led to a lavish, extravagantly decorated private room.
Before long, the dishes were all served.
"Co, co, Consultant Chen Feng! These are all rare delicacies. Eat up!"
Hu Tao generously urged Chen Feng to eat. Seeing him nod in agreent, seemingly completely unaware, she ate while secretly gloating inside.
She'd have to keep a close eye on him later, to prevent him from seeing the bill and trying to sneak away!
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