"So, your current issue lies in being unable to draw on free-floating elemental energy from the environment. That's why your attacks seem overly simplistic."
Gu Sanqiu sat cross-legged on the ground, watching the golden-haired youth as he familiarized himself with the structure of the elemental array.
"Now, here's another problem. Without deep mastery of Anemo, it's difficult to deliver substantial damage."
Not everyone is born with the innate ability to command advanced elemental principles like Decarabian. Even Andrius had suffered greatly at his hands, enduring a one-sided beating.
Gu Sanqiu sighed. While he'd handled Dvalin, he now worried that Aether might finish touring Mondstadt only to head straight to Liyue, accelerating the plot unexpectedly.
Although Liyue's preparations were far better than in the original timeline, they were still inadequate.
Between the nearly completed Yin-Yang Bureau Array and the incomplete replica of the Eternal Mechanism, they were far from producing a functional war formation.
The secret vault wasn't a cure-all, and items like the Eternal Mechanism or Yin-Yang Bureau Array were far from simple objects. Successfully replicating them was already a gift from the heavens, with no way to expedite the process.
"And then there's Rosalyne, that crazy woman…"
Gu Sanqiu ruffled his hair in frustration. La Signora had been beaten to the brink of death. Even if she had recovery items granted by the Tsaritsa, her arrival in Mondstadt would undoubtedly be accelerated.
Considering historical factors, Gu Sanqiu was fairly certain that Venti's Gnosis wouldn't be taken by just any Harbinger. It was likely Signora herself would seize this opportunity for personal vengeance.
It was a simple yet effective move to win loyalty—and it worked. A good cat catches mice, after all.
Though she couldn't resurrect her lover, from Signora's perspective, this would at least be a cathartic release of pent-up anger.
At most, another Harbinger might accompany her. With just two, the problem wouldn't be too severe—no need to involve Albedo; they could easily overpower the duo. Still, it was bound to be a hassle.
"Durin the dragon... Five hundred years ago. What an absurd turning point in time. Beyond tragedy, nothing else could have emerged from it."
Gu Sanqiu walked over to Klee and began inspecting her newly crafted bombs.
Unlike the golden-haired youth struggling to practice, Klee approached bomb-making purely out of interest. Ever since Gu Sanqiu had broadened her creative horizons, her explosive creations had become increasingly diverse.
He quickly set up a separate Geo shield array for Klee to practice with. If she and Aether shared an array, there'd be no hope of the boy successfully practicing what he'd been taught.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sounds of explosions echoed repeatedly as Klee gleefully tossed bomb after bomb at Gu Sanqiu. It had been ages since the little knight had enjoyed herself like this.
Albedo would never indulge her this much. If Klee ever grew too accustomed to it, Mondstadt might one day face a major explosion in the city itself—a disaster waiting to happen.
Her arsenal ranged from high-power standard bombs to specialized elemental bombs infused with fragments of elemental flora and crystals. There was even a new Shockwave Bomb crafted from fragments of an Anemo Hypostasis core, designed to destabilize enemy footing.
Klee's imagination was truly boundless, though it was impossible not to acknowledge Albedo's financial backing.
Without support, even as the Spark Knight earning a salary from the Knights of Favonius (and perhaps even some child labor subsidies), Klee could never afford to craft such expensive explosives.
Perhaps the legendary Destroyer of Hilichurls had left behind a fortune in Mondstadt, one that could make even Mona green with envy. Coupled with Albedo's standing in the field of alchemy, acquiring such materials was no problem.
Side note: if creatures like Slimes, Whopperflowers, and Hypostases in Teyvat respawned at fixed locations like in a game, every resident of Teyvat would have Mora practically shining in their eyes.
Noticing the beads of sweat forming on Klee's forehead, Gu Sanqiu waved his hand, using the resonance of Geo energy to suppress the chaotic environment within the array. The volatile elements settled harmlessly into the earth.
"Well done, Klee. That's enough practice for now—you've done a great job."
"Klee is the best!"
The tiny Spark Knight cheered, spreading her arms wide as she ran toward Gu Sanqiu.
With a light jump, Klee launched herself into his arms, and he caught her effortlessly.
"Big brother Sanqiu, Klee is the best, right?"
"That's right. You're the best."
Gu Sanqiu patted her head. "By the way, those bombs you just made? You should share the recipes with Captain Jean and let her coordinate with Albedo. They could greatly enhance the Knights' combat capabilities."
Klee's bombs were incredibly stable. With Albedo's refinement and cost optimization, they could be made even more effective—benefiting the entire Knights of Favonius.
And, of course, this would reflect positively on Klee herself.
Gu Sanqiu tapped her chubby cheek with his finger.
"Well done. Once this batch of bombs is completed, your reputation as the Spark Knight will spread throughout Mondstadt. At the very least, every Knight of Favonius will know how much you've contributed."
Klee beamed with joy. Helping Mondstadt made her genuinely happy—it was the goal she worked tirelessly toward, despite often ending up in Captain Jean's confinement room.
Meanwhile, in the other array, Aether and Paimon exchanged glances. Both seemed reluctant to voice their feelings about Gu Sanqiu's evident favoritism.
Klee had barely broken a sweat, and Gu Sanqiu had already called her training off. Yet here was Aether, nearly collapsing, while Gu Sanqiu didn't even spare him a glance.
No, no, Aether thought, shaking his head. Sanqiu is teaching me these things out of goodwill. I shouldn't think this way.
He slapped his cheeks lightly, then summoned his strength to continue practicing the Anemo spread array. Paimon could only cheer him on quietly from the side.
Precision work like elemental arrays wasn't the kind of task where someone could just shout encouragement. No wonder Dvalin had been so exhausted back then.
Gu Sanqiu, meanwhile, used Anemo energy to create wings for Klee. Attaching a tether of Anemo threads to her small backpack, he let her float into the air like a kite.
However, unlike an ordinary kite, this one could adjust its height and speed, flying freely within a set range. The experience thrilled Klee, giving her a fresh and expansive perspective.
"Paimon."
The other floating companion shuddered and approached Gu Sanqiu hesitantly, her gaze fixed on his legs.
"W-what is it? Just so you know, I'm not edible!"
…
You'll be a major player in the future. Can't you show a little backbone in front of an ordinary incense maker like me?
Gu Sanqiu smirked. "First, I don't eat friends. Second, I have no appetite for someone who barely weighs as much as a pair of apples. Got it?"
"Go gather some Sunsettias and apples. Once Aether finishes training, I'll whip up some simple desserts for you all to snack on. Tonight, we'll head back to Mondstadt and gather everyone for a feast."
"Desserts! And a feast!"
Paimon lit up and flew off energetically to collect fruit, fully motivated by the promise of food.
Or rather: You've assigned a food-related expedition to your emergency rations.
Passive trait from the best companion: Does not reduce dispatch time and has a 40% chance of eating the gathered goods, reducing total yield.
---
...
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