"So even Ryugotsusei has been defeated?"
"How strange... Inuyasha's strength has grown to such an incredible degree. It's practically unbelievable."
"It's a pity I cannot draw near that mysterious sanctuary. I must find a way to pry all its secrets loose..."
The speaker was Naraku. He had been dormant in some dark corner of the world, only to awaken upon Kagome's arrival. Yet, when he finally located Kaede's Village, he found himself utterly unable to approach.
The humans there were terrifyingly powerful. He had tried to probe their defenses multiple times—whether through possession or personal scouting—but he was repelled before he could even get close. If his reactions were a second slower, he would have been hunted down and purged. It was a living nightmare.
"Still... I will not give up. There will be an opportunity to peek at the secrets of the gods," Naraku murmured before vanishing, his internal malice swelling like a black tide.
The Slip-Up
Upon learning that Inuyasha had slain Ryugotsusei, Su Han ordered the Tessaiga to be handed over to him. Whether the weapon would be melted down, reforged, or kept as a mere trophy, Su Han no longer cared.
However, alongside that order, Su Han issued a strange command: Kagome was to shatter the Shikon Jewel. The treasure capable of storing souls and amplifying demonic power was to be destroyed. No one understood why he sought its end, but his word was law.
At the foot of Immortal Trace Mountain, Arlecchino adjusted her heavy cloak, concealing her face as she prepared to return to Liyue Harbor. The surveillance in the area was suffocatingly dense, and the sense of danger was peaking. She decided to withdraw for now.
When her train arrived at the harbor, a familiar figure appeared before her. The woman wore high heels and a provocative, elegant long dress. Her icy aura and silver-white eyes were unmistakable.
It was her former colleague: Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter.
They passed each other in the street. Because Arlecchino had masked her presence perfectly, even Rosalyne didn't seem to notice anything amiss. It wasn't until the "Signora" had walked far away that Arlecchino's eyes returned to their blood-red "X" shape.
She really isn't dead. She's gained a new life! My theory was correct!
Arlecchino burned with the urge to send this intel back to Snezhnaya. But with the Fatui purged from Liyue, there were no agents left to relay a message. Unless she left the city, the news was trapped. Yet, if she left now, re-entering this fortress of a harbor would be nearly impossible.
Just as she was weighing her options, a voice drifted from behind her.
"Hey... your aura feels a bit strange. Care to come with me for an investigation?"
Arlecchino's excitement vanished, replaced by a bone-chilling frost. Exposed? How? When did Rosalyne get behind me?
She turned around, her expression melting into one of gentle confusion, her eyes softening into those of an ordinary citizen. "Is something wrong, milady?"
Rosalyne shook her head. "Not exactly. But here in Liyue, everyone is protected by the Sacred Artifacts, and their bodies naturally absorb the life energy in the air. You, however... not only lack the protection, you are actively refusing to breathe in the energy. Why is that?"
Arlecchino's heart skipped a beat. Cleverness has been my undoing. She had avoided the energy to prevent her Fatui signature from leaking, but the absence of energy absorption was itself a glaring red flag in a city teeming with life.
"I suffered an injury in Sumeru years ago, milady. My body cannot process the ambient energy."
"Oh? Let me see... for the sake of your privacy, let's find a quiet place to talk."
The Mask Falls
Arlecchino followed Rosalyne into an administrative office. When she bared her shoulder, a deep, jagged scar was visible near her heart.
Rosalyne inspected the mark, her eyes flashing with mock surprise. "Ah, the remnants of a Delusion experiment or a God's Remains... no wonder. You should receive treatment. Liyue has the finest doctors, and Lord Su Han himself can heal almost anything."
"I am honored, but I have business in Sumeru that cannot wait," Arlecchino lied flawlessly. "This trade is my family's entire fortune. Perhaps next time."
"Very well," Rosalyne nodded. "I hope you live to see that next time. You are dismissed."
Arlecchino turned to leave, her back drenched in cold sweat. She wanted to be a thousand miles away from this terrifying city. The flying swords weren't worth her life.
But as they brushed shoulders, Rosalyne's voice dropped to a playful whisper. "Acting for so long... it must be exhausting, right? Which one are you... Columbina? Or did Sandrone send a puppet?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Without a word, Arlecchino exploded with power, lunging toward the edge of the harbor. She didn't care how she was found out—escape was the only priority. With her current intel, she could save the Fatui from a total wipeout.
Fwoosh!
She reached the perimeter of the city, just one step from freedom. But then, a net of golden fire wove itself across her path.
"Is that any way to treat an old friend, Arlecchino? Leaving so soon? I haven't even had the chance to entertain the 'Knave' properly."
"Rosalyne... you've truly betrayed the Tsaritsa!"
"Betrayed? I died for the Fatui once. The woman who stands here was given life, heart, and soul by Su Han. As for the Tsaritsa... a Goddess who speaks of 'love' and 'justice' while becoming another Abyss? Spare me."
"Tch... I have no time for your nonsense. Move!"
Arlecchino's aura flared. Her hair shifted into a striking contrast of silver-white and pitch black. A blood-red blade manifested in her hand. "Sunder!"
She shattered the fire net with a crimson shockwave and surged forward. But before she could cross the threshold, an unfathomable pressure descended from the heavens.
CRACK!
Arlecchino spat out a mouthful of blood as she was slammed into the dirt. Despair flooded her mind. The Xuanyuan Sword had manifested in the sky. It was an artifact that could slay gods; a mere Harbinger stood no chance. Her internal energy—a mix of darkness and malice—was perfectly suppressed by the Sacred Sword's righteous light.
She fell into a deep crater, barely conscious. The sword didn't deliver a killing blow, however; Rosalyne had stayed its hand. Golden chains snaked out, binding Arlecchino in a humiliating, restrictive lock.
"Guards... take this prisoner to the cells. Ensure the public thinks this was a localized Abyss infestation. Clear the area."
The Offer
Back at the Jade Chamber, Su Han was instructing the newer members—Fischl, Kagome, Chongyun, and others—on the fundamentals of spiritual combat. When he heard a Harbinger had been captured, he was surprised.
"Arlecchino? The 'Knave'? She managed to infiltrate the harbor for quite a while... she has guts."
"She runs an orphanage in Snezhnaya," Rosalyne explained, her eyes dancing with mischief. "In reality, it's a brainwashing facility for future soldiers. She's a big catch. Her capture will cripple the Fatui's intelligence network."
"How do you plan to handle her?" Su Han asked.
"I'm going to let her go," Rosalyne smiled, an "evil" glint in her eyes. "And I'm going to give her a flying sword as a 'gift.' What do you think?"
Su Han chuckled, patting her head. "Play however you like. Liyue fears no challenge. Anyone who comes with ill intent will stay here forever."
In the secret dungeon of Liyue, Rosalyne looked down at the bruised and defiant Arlecchino.
"Consider this, 'friend'... why not join us? You can have everything you ever wanted. I've already secured Su Han's permission."
"Hmph... you madwoman. You just want to use me."
"Bingo! But the rewards are real. Besides, we both know you never truly respected the Tsaritsa. Join the Sovereign, Arlecchino, and let's see how far your 'ambition' can really take you."
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