Old Lin and Old Li had already prepared themselves for certain death.
Yet, things didn't unfold as they had expected.
All four Riftwolves shattered simultaneously, dissolving back into the void.
That moment had been the closest brush with death they'd ever experienced.
The two veterans steadied their breathing and calmed their minds before finally getting a clear look at their rescuer.
He was a handsome white-haired youth dressed unmistakably in Liyue attire.
But given his formidable strength and transcendent aura, he was undoubtedly an Adeptus in human form.
They spoke slowly, "We owe our lives to you, honored Adeptus."
Mu Yang gave a slight nod, first healing their wounds.
Then he asked, "When did these monsters first appear?"
"Honored Adeptus, today was our first encounter. We'd never seen them before."
Mu Yang thought to himself—at least he'd appeared right on time, preventing the disaster from spreading through Chenyu Vale.
However, Riftwolf Whelps and Riftwolves were merely the Abyss's vanguard. Who knew where they might strike next?
For now, returning to Yilong Wharf to bolster defenses was the priority.
Using a touch of adeptal energy, Mu Yang escorted the two veterans back toward Yilong Wharf while briefly introducing himself.
And by "brief," he meant just his name—nothing else.
——
At the Millelith garrison in Yilong Wharf...
The news about Old Lin and Old Li had plunged everyone into grief.
But no matter how heavy their hearts, they had to focus on fortifying the city's defenses.
Otherwise, more lives would be lost.
"Is there really no one we can spare to rescue them...?"
For the first time, Yong felt utterly powerless.
Instructor Lin had recognized his potential and treated him like a son. And now...
"Brother Yong!!! The instructor's back!!"
The messenger soldier ran so fast he nearly tripped over the threshold.
"You're serious?!"
It wasn't that Yong doubted Old Lin's capabilities—but those monsters were too unnatural.
Without proper intel, survival had seemed impossible.
Yet somehow, they'd won!
"Absolutely true!" The soldier's face glowed with excitement.
Everyone remaining at the garrison rushed to the city gates to welcome them back.
Though Old Lin bore numerous wounds, he was alive—that was what mattered.
As Old Lin recounted events, everyone learned how they'd been saved entirely by Mu Yang's intervention.
Mu Yang also gained a clearer picture of Yilong Wharf's situation.
"The garrison is too small. Those were just scouts—more will come."
That's right—the vanguard of the vanguard.
The Abyssal beast tide would affect all of Teyvat.
Just the sheer numbers of Riftwolf Whelps and Riftwolves alone would be overwhelming.
Their current forces would struggle to hold out.
Mu Yang couldn't stay solely at Yilong Wharf either. As a major town, it at least had Millelith stationed there.
But what about those living in more remote areas?
Yong replied, "We've already sent word to Liyue Harbor requesting reinforcements."
Mu Yang shook his head slightly. "This disaster will affect all of Liyue. Even Liyue Harbor may not have troops to spare."
Everyone's expressions darkened. If even an Adeptus used the word "disaster," how dire must the situation be?
"Then... what about Rex Lapis...?"
"He has more pressing matters to attend to."
Mu Yang then asked, "Have you contacted the escort agencies?"
They hadn't—they hadn't realized the scale of this battle yet.
The Millelith held great authority in Liyue, and with Mu Yang—an actual Adeptus—present,
The mercenaries were all willing to join the fight.
Of course, numbers alone wouldn't suffice against Riftwolves—
The same creatures that had nearly wiped out Inazuma's Shogunate forces.
So Mu Yang dispersed his power to enhance their weapons, ensuring they could actually kill Riftwolves.
His instant annihilation of those earlier Riftwolves had confirmed his theory—
He had a natural advantage against forbidden knowledge. Fighting them was almost effortless.
After organizing Yilong Wharf's defenses, Mu Yang immediately departed for Qiaoying Village, unsure of its situation.
Having distributed his power, Mu Yang's speed had slowed again.
But if he hadn't given enough, those people might not have stood a chance against the Riftwolves.
Along the way, Mu Yang spotted no Riftwolves in the wilderness.
It seemed Chenyu Vale wasn't their main target.
Unless... Lingyuan and her followers had already dealt with them.
Though she wouldn't show herself to Mu Yang now (even if she was secretly watching).
When Mu Yang arrived, he saw several Riftwolves warping space as they emerged amidst the tea fields.
The sudden appearance terrified the village's tea pickers.
Amid the villagers' screams, Mu Yang swiftly dispatched the Riftwolves with a few clean strikes.
But his real headache was just beginning.
Qiaoying Village's garrison wasn't just smaller than Yilong Wharf's—it might not even exist.
Yilong Wharf was at least a minor port requiring Millelith protection for its trade flow.
Qiaoying Village was essentially a large farming community nestled deep within Liyue.
With little external traffic, most residents simply harvested tea for a living.
Under the Adepti's protection, even natural disasters were rare here.
Monster invasions hadn't occurred in decades.
Under such circumstances, garrisons and defenses were practically unnecessary.
(Qiaoying Village genuinely has no defensive structures—not even walls. Houses face directly onto terraced tea fields. There isn't even a centralized safe zone.)
Mu Yang quickly located Qiaoying Village's handful of Millelith—they'd only just received word from Yilong Wharf.
None expected the monsters to arrive so quickly.
Mu Yang gathered the Millelith and mercenaries, repeating what he'd said at Yilong Wharf.
With everyone's safety at stake, all were willing to cooperate.
Even local martial artists took up arms, vowing to defend Qiaoying Village.
Mu Yang infused their weapons with power to aid their combat effectiveness.
Then, he began patrolling all corners of Chenyu Vale, hunting Riftwolves...
——
Two days later, Ancient Tea Tree Slope.
Mu Yang slew the last Riftwolf here with a single sword stroke.
"Haah... These things... shouldn't be touched..."
Continuously absorbing spiritual energy from his surroundings to maintain form, Mu Yang hadn't stopped for two days.
Having dispersed his power to so many, exhaustion was setting in.
The seal's suppression still left him too weak.
Yet he couldn't stop—the monsters wouldn't let him.
Suddenly, Mu Yang's heart pounded violently as his power surged.
Leaping into the sky, he looked toward Yilong Wharf—
Where space itself twisted, tore open, and split into a massive rift.
"So this... is the true 'Abyssal Beast Tide'..."