Dendro seeds continued to pop up around the Abyss Herald.
The creeping ivy that had absorbed Gold Experience’s life energy was far tougher than any ordinary variety.
The more the Herald waved its arms and struggled, the tighter the ivy wrapped around it.
Unable to break free from the trap in a short amount of time, it tried to draw upon the power of the Abyss.
“The shock of annihila—!” Blade slashes once again condensed beside the Herald’s hands, but how could Chen Mo possibly give it the chance?
Star Platinum activated time stop.
Whether it was the Hydro energy gathered by the Herald or the bouncing Dendro seeds, everything was frozen in place.
Chen Mo flashed to the Herald’s side and summoned Gold Experience for a barrage of “Muda” punches.
The Abyss Herald violently collapsed to the ground.
Its spellcasting was forcibly interrupted, and its Hydro shield was greatly depleted.
Chen Mo counted the Dendro seeds scattered around them.
It was about time to end this battle completely.
“Hu Tao!
Switch in!” “Got it!” The Staff of Homa swept through the air, its spearhead igniting with Pyro energy and evaporating the surrounding moisture.
“Begone!” Hu Tao moved nimbly, rushing to the Herald’s side and marking it with Blood Blossom.
Finally, she pulled out a blazing white spirit.
“Spirit Soother!” Her Secret Spear of Wangsheng ignited all the Dendro seeds.
In an instant, dazzling flames lit up Wuwang Hill.
The explosions produced by Burgeon shattered the Herald’s final shield.
Chen Mo caught Hu Tao, who had also been affected by the Burgeon explosions.
His eyes were filled with concern and guilt.
“Sorry.
I made you do something so dangerous.” “It’s fine.
I just lit some fireworks.
Think of it as celebrating the Lantern Rite early.” Thick smoke rolled around the two of them before gradually being dispersed by the wind.
“Tap, tap…” Slow footsteps sounded from within the smoke, then grew faster and louder after a few breaths.
“Yare yare.
You really don’t know when to give up.” Chen Mo frowned helplessly.
Star Platinum suddenly manifested, and he raised his hand without hesitation, sending an Ora punch toward one spot in the gray smoke.
The powerful force of the fist instantly tore open a huge gap.
Beneath the thick smoke, a dark-blue figure became clearly visible.
A loud impact rang out across Wuwang Hill.
The Abyss Herald was heavily sent flying and finally crashed into a thick tree.
“You… just what are you people…?” It was completely exhausted.
Even the mask on its face had cracked by a third.
Chen Mo walked closer with Hu Tao and said with a serious expression, “My name is Chen Tailang.
I am a Liyuean.” “Chen Tailang…?” The Abyss Herald let out a cold little snort.
A dense Abyssal aura surged around it.
“It still wants to counterattack!?” Hu Tao tightened her grip on the Staff of Homa, but then felt her hand being wrapped in warmth.
The girl raised her head and looked at Chen Mo.
There was no surprise on his face, as if he had already known what would happen next.
The space beside the Herald began to ripple.
In the blink of an eye, a tear opened, and its body was surrounded by a strange light before floating into the air.
“The Abyss… will remember you…” Leaving behind those final fragmented words, the Abyss Herald’s presence completely vanished from Wuwang Hill.
“You… just let it leave like that?” “Mm.
The karma of killing it is too heavy.
We can’t afford to bear it.” The Abyss Herald: Wicked Torrents could be considered an important character in the interlude main storyline.
If he killed it now, there was no telling how badly the plot might veer off course later.
“Karma?” Hu Tao frowned.
“You even know how to read that now, and you still claim you didn’t secretly learn adeptal arts behind my back?” “I didn’t.” Chen Mo scratched his head and laughed it off while joking around with Hu Tao.
A cold wind brushed past, chilling Chen Mo’s heart slightly.
His gaze unintentionally fell not far from his side, and he caught sight of a young man standing there with his arms crossed, his expression cold as he stared at the two of them.
“Xiao…?” Chen Mo’s face stiffened, and he immediately felt awkward.
When had he appeared there?
Why was he like a ghost?
“Who is he?
Another new friend of yours?” “No.” Chen Mo shook his head.
“He is the Conqueror of Demons…” “The Conqueror of Demons?
That Yaksha guardian!?” Bright sparkles lit up in Hu Tao’s plum-blossom pupils.
Toward this young adeptus, who often appeared in storybooks, Hu Tao felt both reverence and curiosity.
She wanted to step a little closer, but before she could take a step, Xiao stopped her.
“Stay where you are.
Do not come too close to me.” Xiao’s eyes lifted slightly.
His golden pupils were as sharp as spear blades, aimed directly at Chen Mo.
“The evil on Wuwang Hill — was it you who resolved it?” You?
Was he referring to Hu Tao, or to his Stands?
Cold sweat faintly seeped from Chen Mo’s back.
He did not want to be exposed to the adepti’s attention so early.
If he were mistaken for a remnant of some demon god before he had grown strong enough, who would he go to for justice then?
“Every ordinary citizen has a duty to protect Liyue.
It was only a small, insignificant matter.
I have made myself laughable before the Great Sage.” “…” Xiao said nothing.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he carefully examined Chen Mo from head to toe, not overlooking even the smallest detail.
After a moment of silence, Xiao lowered his crossed arms and turned his back.
“The wilderness is dangerous at night.
You may stay at Qingce Village for the night.” Then he transformed into a dark-green breeze and disappeared before the two of them.
“As expected of an adeptus.
He truly comes and goes like the wind.” Unlike Hu Tao, who sounded regretful and disappointed, Chen Mo let out a sigh of relief.
He stared closely at his right hand.
Xiao’s gaze just now seemed to have lingered on his fingertips for quite a while.
“But Adeptus Xiao’s height…” Chen Mo came back to his senses and saw little Hu Tao standing on tiptoe, trying to raise her hand above the top of her own head.
“Even when Adeptus Xiao stood on that rock, it seemed like he still wasn’t taller than you, right?” “Hu Tao, that statement is deeply disrespectful to an adeptus…” Stars dotted the night sky.
Considering the distance and the time, Chen Mo and Hu Tao accepted Xiao’s suggestion and went to the nearby Qingce Village to stay the night.
The tranquility of Qingce Village was different from that of Wuwang Hill.
It carried the warmth of ordinary life.
Most of the people in the village were either elderly or children, so whenever young people rarely came to visit, the villagers would welcome them warmly.
“We finally have a place to rest!” Inside an empty house, Hu Tao stretched comfortably.
At the doorway, Chen Mo took out a pouch of Mora and was about to hand it to Granny Ruoxin.
“No one lives in this house anyway.
Letting you stay here for the night is no trouble.” The old woman calmly refused.
Her gaze shifted toward Hu Tao lying on the bed, and the elderly woman smiled with clear understanding and generosity.
“As long as you youngsters don’t mind the place, that’s enough.” Chen Mo felt that there was something hidden in the old woman’s words.
His heart filled with embarrassment, and he was so awkward that he felt as if his toes could carve out an entire Jade Chamber from the floor.
“Haha, I’ll leave the rest of the night to you young people.
This old woman won’t disturb you.
I’ll be going now.” Granny Ruoxin closed the door, leaving Chen Mo standing there in a daze.
“What did Granny say to you?” Chen Mo turned back to look at the clueless little Hu Tao, a faint mischievous glint flashing through his eyes.
How could he be the only one forced to suffer this embarrassing feeling?
He placed the money pouch on the table, sat down beside Hu Tao, and leaned his head closer.
His voice lowered, becoming deep and magnetic.
“Granny said the rest of the night is for the two of us.” Feeling his warm breath slip into her ear, Hu Tao suddenly became aware of their current situation.
A lonely village in the wilderness, a sealed room.
The dead of night, one man and one woman alone together.
Her face instantly flushed bright red.
Frightened, she hurriedly stood up and moved far away from Chen Mo, covering her chest with both hands and shrinking her neck.
“Y-you… what are you trying to do…?” “I do.”