Recruiting Abyssal creatures—the idea was simply too insane. Keqing had never heard of such a thing, because just thinking about it felt impossible.
It wasn't that no one in history had ever tried to subdue an Abyssal creature, but that these creatures themselves carried a corrupting power.
This power of corruption could cause the living beings of Teyvat to fall, to lose themselves, until they were completely transformed into inhuman monsters.
In other words, just being near an Abyssal creature could subtly influence a person.
Keqing naturally did not want Su Han to touch something that could explode at any moment.
"But do you understand the terror of Abyssal creatures?" Keqing asked, her face full of worry. If there was even the slightest possibility of danger, she didn't want him to have any contact with the Abyss.
Hearing this, Su Han smiled and nodded. "No one understands the terror of the Abyss better than I do. But recruiting Halfdan might be a good start. Did you know? Abyssal creatures do not reside in this land permanently; they are teleported here through the ley line network. So, if we can recruit him, we can gain control of these ley line networks and completely cut off the Abyss creatures' access to Liyue."
"What? So that's how the Abyss creatures work?" This was the first time Keqing had learned of the secrets of the Abyss.
Subsequently, Su Han told her the stories he knew of the Abyss. For example, the Shadowy Husks were also once soldiers of the Kingdom of Khaenri'ah, and the Abyss could corrupt all living things. He naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to make direct contact, but gaining control of Halfdan was very important.
After this explanation, Keqing was finally convinced. At this moment, Shenhe also secured the stronghold and sent back a report of their victory.
"Let's return to the upper level. The Abyss Order has been routed and has suffered heavy losses. They probably won't be attacking again for some time," Su Han said.
"Mm."
Su Han led Keqing, Shenhe, and Halfdan's twelve Black Serpent Knights towards the upper level.
He silently observed them and found that the closer they got to the Dragon Veins, the better the condition of these Black Serpent Knights seemed to be. Even wisps of black energy were being stripped away from them.
After arriving at the upper level, the soldiers there immediately sounded the alarm when they saw Halfdan and his men. Even Yelan almost launched an attack. Fortunately, she saw Su Han and the others and stopped.
She leaped lightly from a platform and landed smoothly in front of Su Han. Looking at Halfdan and his men, she frowned. "What are you up to now? Are you trying to interrogate them for something?"
"He wants to recruit these knights to guard The Chasm," Keqing explained on Su Han's behalf.
Yelan was dumbfounded. Recruit the Abyss for our own use?
She turned to look at Su Han but found that his gaze was fixed on those Abyss creatures.
Halfdan and his men were currently staring at the Dragon Veins in the sky. Then, they dropped to one knee.
Hum.
A gentle beam of light descended from the Dragon Veins, eventually landing on Halfdan and the others.
"Aaargh!" All the Black Serpent Knights, illuminated by the light, let out miserable screams. Black ooze and black qi, those filthy substances, began to pour out from the knights' bodies.
The entire process lasted for ten minutes, until no more black energy appeared.
Only then did Halfdan return to normal.
He stood up, turned to look at Su Han, and then struck his chest with his fist.
"Halfdan of the Khaenri'ah Royal Guard, at your service, Lord Su Han. Thank you for your generosity, for finally allowing us to regain our clarity."
Although he still had the appearance of a monster, everyone now knew that this Abyssal creature had recovered its reason.
"My mercy requires repayment. You and your knights need to destroy all of the teleportation ley lines within The Chasm and eradicate the Abyssal monsters hiding inside. Do you understand? If you can do this, you can become our Liyue's Knights of the Night!"
What was the use of just a thank you? What Su Han wanted was their allegiance.
Without a second thought, Halfdan dropped to one knee. "I, Halfdan, am willing to become your knight and guard The Chasm. It's just that, my lord, we have only just regained our senses. If we go to clean up the ley lines now, I'm afraid there will be problems. Could you grant us one day? If we can bathe in this sacred light a little longer, we will be able to face that damned black ooze without fear."
"Of course, I permit it. Congratulations, Mr. Halfdan. From this day forward, you are the commander of the Knights of the Night," Su Han announced, directly declaring Halfdan's future identity.
This was a form of recognition. Although for the time being, they could not appear before the public, it gave him a sliver of hope.
This scene deeply shocked everyone. Abyssal creatures had actually been recruited. Lord Su Han was just too powerful.
In reality, they did not know that because of the fall of Khaenri'ah, the only end for the Black Serpent Knights was death. However, the Dragon Veins had given these men a sliver of comfort, and it was for this reason that Halfdan was willing to submit. If he encountered his comrades in the future, he could help them regain their clarity as well.
After handling all of this, Su Han did not return to Liyue Harbor but prepared to stay a while longer. If the people of the Abyss returned to attack, he could directly resist them.
The next day, after Halfdan and his men had consolidated the power of the Dragon Veins, they began to cleanse the entire Chasm. Although the Abyss tried to stop them, with the Black Blade unit and the intervention of Su Han and the others, the Abyss was ultimately defeated. One by one, the teleportation networks were destroyed. With the help of Halfdan and his men, this massive task was completed in just one day and one night. In truth, the teleportation networks were all on the second level of The Chasm and not deep underground, otherwise it would not have been so simple.
At this time, in the underworld, on a certain throne, a young man with a golden braid was sitting, contemplating the flower in his hand. Its name was Inteyvat. It was the national flower of Khaenri'ah, and also the one that the sleeping Lumine wore in her hair.
Swish. With a flash of light, an Abyss Herald appeared before Aether.
He knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, our attack has failed, and we have lost the teleportation network of The Chasm."
"Hm? How could this be?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, just as your subordinates were about to attack that sacred object, the National Treasure of Liyue suddenly intervened. His strength is very great. With a single slash, he killed countless Rifthounds and also annihilated many of our elites."
Hearing the Abyss Herald's words, Aether placed the Inteyvat to one side and said angrily, "You fools, what have you been doing?! Do you know how important that place is to us? You've lost The Chasm; are you going to lose all of Liyue next?"
"But, my lord, Liyue seems to have obtained some kind of power recently. Their overall strength has increased. And they used some unknown method to restore Halfdan and the others to their senses. In the face of the Black Serpent Knights, our teleportation networks could not be hidden at all. And it's not just us who have failed. The Fatui have also been defeated. To this day, their Harbinger, Tartaglia, is still hiding in Tianqiu Valley. And according to the latest intelligence, the Harbinger Scaramouche has also been injured."
To avoid being killed out of anger, the Abyss Herald frantically made his excuses.
Aether's face showed surprise. "Oh? Such a thing has happened?" He had been busy preparing to destroy the Heavenly Principles and had never thought that in just one month, Liyue would change so quickly.
Seeing that the Prince's attention had been diverted, the Abyss Herald quickly submitted a series of documents to him. Whether it was the train or the recent Black Blade unit, all of it left Aether very shocked.
"This guy is also an otherworldly traveler. How interesting. A pity I don't have the time to go there myself," Aether muttered to himself, but his eyes were full of killing intent.
Anyone who dared to stand in the way of his grand plan was an enemy he would fight to the death!
"Aren't you currently studying the matter of the Stormdragon? You should be able to control it by now, right? Go and teach Liyue a lesson. Don't let them get too complacent."
"Yes, my lord."
"If you fail again this time, you don't need to come back." Aether said with an icy smile. The Abyss Herald trembled all over and quickly retreated.
When only Aether was left on the throne, he picked up the flower again and murmured to himself, "Lumine, you should be waking up soon, right?" Five hundred years had passed. It was about time she woke up. I really want to see her face again. Aether's eyes were full of longing.
In the grotto-heaven, Baiwen was wearing a black silk long dress, gently massaging Su Han's back, her eyes full of worship. "My lord, now that you've completely taken care of The Chasm, many of the lords in Yuehai Pavilion are full of praise for you."
The other day, when trouble had broken out in The Chasm again, many people had been terrified. But her lord had gone and easily resolved the problem, and had even subdued Abyssal creatures. He was just too strong. The young woman's face was filled with a charming blush.
Hearing this, Su Han shook his head. "Hmph, they're just a bunch of fair-weather friends. When I first asked them to let their family members join the Millelith, not a single one was willing. Some even said that only a fool would join. Now that they've seen the strength of the Black Blade unit, they're kneeling and begging me to accept their children. Heh, where were they before? I won't be accepting a single one of their children." He needed people who were loyal to Liyue, not a bunch of weathervanes.
Baiwen lowered her head and smiled. "That's why they've all gone to plead with Lady Ningguang now."
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