Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Besides Kiana and the Bianca she'd brought along, everyone else in the group had returned to their own worlds.
During this time, the two of them had been staying at Niúmǎ Nà's house.
"Kiana, we haven't gone back for two days—are you sure that's okay?"
Bianca, who'd dragged Kiana out for early-morning sparring, stared at her a short distance away, worry written across her face.
As Wangshu's Valiant Guard, missing two days meant Mei and the others would have to cover her shifts.
But Kiana was General Wangshu; if she vanished for two days, the whole city would be in an uproar.
"No biggie, no biggie—Yushu's super capable; she'll handle everything~"
Kiana just waved her hand, looking utterly carefree.
She raised her right hand in a sword-finger gesture, cocked a brow at Bianca, and grinned:
"Sis, let's keep going."
"Fine… but keep the noise down; I'm still on the wanted list…"
Bianca shook her head helplessly, then set her stance again, a flicker of fighting spirit in her eyes.
Chances to spar with Kiana were rare.
"Of course—techniques only, my dear—"
Before the words finished, Kiana blurred into an afterimage, reappearing in front of Bianca and crouching low, a look of triumph on her face.
"Sis~"
Thud—!
Kiana ducked under Bianca's reflexive punch, her supple waist twisting like willow floss, and snapped her right leg in a vicious arc toward Bianca's head.
Unfortunately, Bianca's left arm blocked it solidly.
Kiana retracted her leg, bent her knees slightly, and sprang; Bianca looked up.
"..."
The sunlight was harsh; Bianca narrowed her eyes and adopted a defensive stance.
The next instant, Kiana plummeted from the sky and drove a fierce flying kick into Bianca's forearms.
A tingle shot through her arms; Bianca frowned and shoved Kiana away.
She closed the distance and punched at Kiana's abdomen.
"Won't work, sis~"
Mid-air, Kiana contorted impossibly to evade the fist.
In a flash her long legs coiled around Bianca's neck; she flexed her core, trying to fling her opponent away.
But instinct warned her of danger, so she released Bianca and landed a few steps back.
Bianca's hand now held the Five-Finger Fist-Heart Sword aimed diagonally upward.
Kiana's little face flushed scarlet.
If that move had stabbed down… Kiana reflexively clamped her legs together, eye-twitching at the utterly serious Bianca.
"Sis! Where'd you learn that?!"
Nice technique, but wrong target!
"This Five-Finger Fist-Heart Sword? Picked it up online; seemed perfect for that situation."
Unaware of the implications, Bianca explained with calm gravity.
"…Fine."
Seeing her sister truly didn't grasp what she'd almost stabbed, Kiana sighed deeply.
The two clashed again.
Figures wove together; the slap of fists and feet echoed through the small courtyard in front of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor (Genshin Impact).
When Kiana's sword-finger touched Bianca's chest, the morning spar ended.
"Whoa! You two are amazing!"
A lively, childish voice rang out from the side.
Paimon, eyes sparkling, fluttered over and looked at Kiana, her tiny limbs flailing as if imitating her.
"Oh, little Paimon."
Kiana dismissed her sword-finger, caught the floating Paimon, and rubbed his head.
"Lumine."
Bianca, still catching her breath, nodded to Lumine.
"Bianca, you and your sister are incredible."
Lumine gazed in admiration; once, she too had shone that brightly.
But with less than ten percent of her former strength left, seeing the two of them stirred memories of power now lost.
If she still had that might, she wouldn't be hiding all over Liyue.
"I couldn't lay a finger on Kiana…"
Bianca sighed softly, shaking her head as she watched the unruffled Kiana.
Every time she thought she had her, that bizarre footwork twisted her away—wasn't that cheating!
Only against Kiana did Bianca feel so powerless.
"Sis, want to learn it?"
Seeing Bianca's downcast look, Kiana tilted her head, still hugging Paimon.
She had no idea whether Bianca could master Ultra Instinct; she'd never tried teaching it.
"Could I really learn that evasion technique?"
Hope flared in Bianca's eyes as she looked at Kiana.
If she learned it, her own strength would leap to another level.
"I can't say for sure…"
Kiana answered, tone hesitant.
"Because in the entire universe, I'm the only one who knows it…"
"I see…"
Bianca's expression cooled.
"It's called Ultra Instinct, a godly technique. With your talent, sis, it's not impossible… right?"
Though Kiana still sounded unsure, given Bianca's monstrous growth rate… maybe she actually could?
After all, her sister was a combat prodigy and a hardworking grind-god rolled into one.
But the first requirement was to cast out every stray thought and let the body fight on pure instinct.
Few could manage that.
"A godly technique…"
Lumine murmured in a daze.
Could Kiana be a god as well?
Surely she wasn't the very deity who'd torn her from her brother…?
She resembled her a little, but the details made it clear she wasn't that god.
"So there's still a chance to learn it?"
Bianca gazed at her fair palm, clenched her fist, and confidence reignited.
Not impossible meant she absolutely would learn it!
If she failed, it could only be because she hadn't tried hard enough!
"When we get back to Wangshu, I'll give you the training method for Ultra Instinct."
"Mm… I'll definitely master it!"
"Let's hope so—cheer up, sis!"
Kiana grabbed Paimon's little hand and waved it at Bianca in encouragement.
"Hey hey! Paimon isn't a toy!"
Paimon butted Kiana's chin with his head, puffed up in anger.
"Pfft—" x3
Paimon's adorable puffed-cheek look set all three of them laughing.
"What're you laughing at! Geez!"
Paimon burrowed his head into Kiana's arms, voice muffled and aggrieved.
Kiana shot Lumine a mischievous grin.
"Traveler, is your Paimon for sale? Name your price!"
"Eh?!"
Paimon jerked his head up to stare at Kiana, then turned pleading eyes to Lumine:
"Lumine, I'm your best pal—you wouldn't sell…"
"Paimon isn't trade goods."
Lumine folded her arms and raised an eyebrow, dead serious.
"Lumine…"
Paimon gazed at her, touched.
But the next second—
"Paimon's my exclusive emergency food supply!"
"Aaaah! Mean Lumine! Big meanie!"
Paimon wriggled free of Kiana's embrace, pounced on Lumine's head, and slapped at her with soft little hands.
Afraid of hurting her, he used no force; the soft pats felt rather pleasant to Lumine.
Just then the gates of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor (Genshin Impact) swung open; Hu Tao led Niúmǎ Nà out, only to see the wanted Traveler standing right there in plain sight.
"Huh? Isn't that the Traveler?"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"