"Of course, no problem, partner." Childe agreed readily, but his eyes turned toward Jun Bai (in disguise). "However, before that, please explain who this gentleman is and what his purpose is for coming here?"
"I came to see whether the Fatui Harbinger who claims to have a way to pay respects to the Immortal Ancestor's Dharma Remains—Childe—really has three heads and six arms."
Jun Bai's smile was wild and arrogant. "Now it seems you are no different from an ordinary Liyue citizen—perfectly ordinary."
His words were filled with contempt. Childe's smile did not fade, but a trace of coldness flashed in his eyes. "This gentleman looks down on me so much. It seems you have sufficient confidence in your own strength."
"Whether my strength is good or not, you can just test it yourself." Jun Bai chuckled lightly.
Childe, who already had quite a short temper, could no longer hold back after hearing this.
The Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers was originally a battle maniac. The only reason he had been suppressing his true nature was because he was on a mission.
But that did not mean he would tolerate being looked down upon just for the sake of the mission.
"Since you are so confident, allow Tartaglia to experience your skills!"
Childe drew twin blades formed from Hydro and slashed toward Jun Bai. The attack was so sharp that even Lumine, who was standing right beside them, could not react in time.
"Watch carefully. It will be greatly beneficial for your swordsmanship in the future."
Jun Bai chuckled softly and transmitted his voice to Lumine. At the same time, he gripped a three-foot green blade in his hand and easily blocked the twin blades.
"Your reaction is quite fast." The sudden sneak attack was parried. Instead of anger, fighting spirit ignited in Childe's eyes.
"Your movements are just too slow." Jun Bai raised his leg and delivered a precise kick to Childe's chest.
Childe staggered back three steps. His expression turned excited as he charged forward again with his twin blades, shouting, "Again!"
Jun Bai held his sword with one hand, defending against Childe's attacks with ease and composure.
"They suddenly started fighting." Paimon exclaimed while watching the dazzling battle. "Lumine, isn't Jun Bai being a bit too impulsive?"
"He did it on purpose…" Lumine said thoughtfully.
She and Paimon had gone to Jueyun Karst together—the place where the adepti lived in seclusion. When she returned, she was not only accompanied by Paimon but also by Jun Bai, whom Childe did not recognize.
Normally, it would be hard not to suspect that Jun Bai might be an adeptus.
Even if Jun Bai had not provoked him, Childe would very likely have taken action to test whether Jun Bai was an adeptus.
Jun Bai understood this very well, so instead of hiding, he proactively gave Childe the opportunity to strike.
The purpose was to dispel Childe's suspicion about Jun Bai being an adeptus.
"What meticulous thinking. Is this the Marshal of the Millelith?" Lumine looked at Jun Bai, who was handling his opponent with ease.
"Again!"
Childe merged his twin blades into a double-tipped spear and slashed down at Jun Bai.
"Boring. Uninteresting."
Not a single ripple appeared in Jun Bai's eyes.
The sword edge rose—for the first time in this battle, he actually swung his sword. The three-foot green blade met the Hydro-infused double-tipped spear head-on.
No sound was produced—
The sword edge sliced across the spear and landed on Childe's body.
Water droplets splashed everywhere. The icy sword blade pressed tightly against Childe's neck, leaving a conspicuous red mark.
Childe's gaze fell on his own hands. The double-tipped spear had already slipped from his control the moment Jun Bai swung that sword, dissipating into pure Hydro energy.
"It is said that during the Archon War, a swordsman of unparalleled skill appeared in Qingce Village in Liyue."
"That swordsman possessed a sword technique capable of suppressing elemental power. Even Archons could not use their elemental power under that single strike. Could you be his successor?"
Childe looked at the sword edge against his neck and laughed lightly.
Jun Bai flipped his wrist, sheathing the three-foot green blade at his waist. "The defeated have no right to ask questions."
"Is this all you're capable of? Do you really have a way to see the Immortal Ancestor's Dharma Remains?"
Childe wiped the fresh wound on his neck and said, "Sir, connections and strength are not related."
"Besides, this matter doesn't seem to have much to do with you, does it?"
"I simply don't want to see anyone feeding my friend false information. That's all." Jun Bai said calmly.
"Friend…" Childe looked at Lumine and Paimon. "I see. It seems your connections cannot be underestimated either, partner."
"I understand. If you are still uneasy, you may come to Liuli Pavilion tomorrow at twelve o'clock together with the Traveler. At that time, you will naturally know whether I was lying or not."
"Then I shall wait and see tomorrow."
Jun Bai left these words behind and departed without looking back.
Lumine's gaze shifted back and forth between Childe and Jun Bai's retreating figure, then she firmly followed Jun Bai.
"How pathetic."
An arrogant female voice came from the shadows. The Lady stepped out and sneered coldly at Childe.
"I was only testing his ability. After all, my plan does not allow any adepti to interfere."
Childe did not give Signora a pleasant look, but he still provided an explanation.
"So, what was the result of your test?"
"No Vision, and no aura similar to the 'All Things Forbidden Talisman.' Most likely he really is just a martial artist with superb skills… an ordinary person?"
Childe's tone carried a slight hesitation. He was unsure whether someone of this level could still be called "ordinary."
Signora sneered. "To be wounded by an ordinary person who cannot even use elemental power—I suggest you resign from your Harbinger position after you return."
"I only exchanged a few moves with him using my Vision. If I went all out, he might not be my opponent."
Childe had to admit that his normal self was indeed no match for Jun Bai. He could not even think of a way to counter that proactive sword strike.
But Tartaglia was not limited to only his Vision. The Delusion and the Foul Legacy Transformation were also part of his power. If he used Foul Legacy Transformation, Childe was confident he would not lose.
Thinking of this, Childe touched the wound on his neck again, his eyes burning with abnormal heat:
"I really want to use Foul Legacy Transformation and fight him with everything I have. The successor of the Qingce Sword Immortal…"
At this moment, the certain Archon who had been mistaken for the successor of the Sword Immortal had already led Lumine and Paimon away from the Fatui's surveillance.
"We don't have to worry about being overheard here."
Jun Bai said.
"I really didn't expect that you actually know swordsmanship, and it doesn't look inferior to your spear skills at all." Paimon exclaimed in amazement.
Jun Bai took out the long sword he had used earlier, performed a beautiful sword flourish, and sheathed it. "After all, when I first learned martial arts from the Archon back then, the very first thing I learned was swordsmanship. At that time, I thought swordsmanship looked really cool."
"So the peerless swordsman Childe mentioned—was that actually you yourself?" Lumine joked.
Jun Bai's eyes dimmed for a moment, then he replied nonchalantly, "No, it was just a friend I met during the Archon War. Moreover, the rumors about that guy have actually been somewhat embellished."
"It can indeed suppress elemental power, but saying that even Archons would be affected is still a bit exaggerated."
"Sorry, I misspoke." Lumine awkwardly closed her mouth.
Seeing this, Paimon came out to ease the atmosphere. "By the way, your swordsmanship is clearly very powerful too. So why are you using a spear now?"
The smile on Jun Bai's face stiffened. He shrugged and said, "Back then, a lot of things happened, so I abandoned the sword and took up the spear."
"Paimon, you shut up too."