"Apologies! I'm a little late; clearing out some wicked spirits took a bit longer..."
At the same time, Xiao's true form arrived, retracting his clone.
"Are these assassins from my homeland, or those who dare to disturb the waters of Qingce..."
The pure water spirit Lotiya's ethereal voice echoed through the mountains. She then shaped herself, conjuring some water element animals, which faced off against the Fire Slimes behind Yuanbao.
"The Fire Slimes all told Yuanbao that you've been chasing them away. Don't you have enough with that huge lake already?" Yuanbao glared indignantly at Lotiya.
In the brief interval when Xiao sensed the disturbance and departed, Yuanbao was playing in the mountains and encountered these Fire Slimes, driven out of their territory. After conversing, Yuanbao learned that they were repeatedly expelled from their habitat by a very powerful Hydro spirit. Thus, with a surge of righteousness, Yuanbao prepared to help these Fire Slimes reclaim justice. This led to the current confrontation. Yuanbao pointed at the vast body of water in the distance, accusing Lotiya of greed.
"As long as rivers flow and rain falls, water will never disappear... I merely seek a place of pure water..." Lotiya felt a little wronged by Yuanbao's accusations. The heavens' rain and dew expanded the water body, and the concentration of Hydro energy here was not suitable for the survival of Pyro Slimes. Out of kindness, she had proactively advised the Fire Slimes to leave this area and relocate elsewhere. How had this turned into her fault?
The Fire Slimes, with their limited intellect, could not comprehend Lotiya's well-intentioned advice. All the Fire Slimes knew was that whenever this Hydro spirit appeared, it brought with it annoying Hydro energy, making the place they lived extremely damp. This forced them to seek new homes, making her seem like a devil who plundered their livelihoods. It wasn't until they met Yuanbao, who was willing to help them reclaim their home, that the Fire Slimes mustered the courage to raise the banner of rebellion. Yuanbao, believing only one side of the story, subconsciously saw Lotiya as a bandit annexing territory. As an embodiment of justice, she naturally could not stand idly by.
"Hmph! So much nonsense. Yuanbao just wants to know if you'll bully the Fire Slimes again!" Around Yuanbao, blazing golden flames transformed into flying birds. Without further ado, she entered her combat form. The accumulated water in the nearby depression immediately turned into steam under the intense heat. The rising steam swirled around Yuanbao's feet, creating a terrifying spectacle that further accentuated her extraordinary aura. Although Yuanbao was small, the aura she unleashed caused the Fire Slimes beside her to huddle together, trembling.
Xiao, who was observing Yuanbao's situation, saw a shadow of his old friend Phoenix in Yuanbao's silhouette. Her combat stance, with flying birds encircling her, was exactly like his friend's! Xiao silently put on his mask, his spear manifesting in his hand, ready to provide aid at any moment. Xiao had heard of this pure water spirit from Qingce Village; it seemed to be a subordinate of the previous Hydro Archon, possessing a shard of the deceased god, and had fled to this place. Liyue, not wanting to get involved in the feuds between the old and new Hydro Archons, chose to remain neutral. Lotiya, the pure water spirit, had been quite well-behaved over the years and had not harmed the people of Liyue, so Xiao had paid her no mind. However, if this pure water spirit dared to harm Yuanbao now, Xiao would make her pay the price. Yuanbao's safety was his responsibility. Not to mention a subordinate of the previous Hydro Archon, even if the current Hydro Archon herself appeared, Xiao would not hesitate to draw his spear and fight.
"I drift with the currents and reside here, only seeking a place of pure water. I harbor no ill will towards the surrounding creatures, nor towards these Fire Slimes. I do not wish to be your enemy, but if you insist on a fight, I shall oblige..." Although Lotiya detested conflict, she knew that ever since she fled Fontaine with the shard of the previous Hydro Archon, conflict was inevitable. Compared to the little one before her and these Fire Slimes, Lotiya was more wary and apprehensive of Xiao in the distance. The flow of water was the extent of her intelligence network. The mission of a pure water spirit was to gather intelligence across Teyvat. The pervasive water had brought her much hidden information, including about that adeptus of Liyue – the Conqueror of Demons, Xiao! During her time residing in the waters of Qingce Village, Lotiya had more clearly felt the terrifying combat power of this legendary adeptus. Though not physically imposing, this adeptus had slain countless demons and malevolent spirits. Every night, the Conqueror of Demons would don his mask of fierce features and transform into a merciless, murderous Asura, swiftly and precisely eliminating the evil spirits spawned by the demons, thus protecting Liyue's safety. Lotiya felt she had little chance of victory against this adeptus, but she still had an unfinished wish and could not die here... Before the battle even began, Lotiya was already contemplating how to escape, realizing that Liyue was no longer a safe place. "Alas, what a pity. This place of pure water, which I finally found!" However, Lotiya was prepared for the life of a fugitive.
"Yuanbao, wait a moment..." Just as the fight was about to break out, Feng Yi immediately called out to Yuanbao, knowing that a muddled fight might sometimes backfire.
"Daddy, you're here! This bad water is bullying Yuanbao. Quickly help Yuanbao teach her a lesson!" Seeing Feng Yi arrive, Yuanbao's confidence grew. She quickly ran to Feng Yi's side and tugged at his clothes to complain. Feng Yi: I have a strange feeling that you're the one bullying others?
"Then tell Daddy first, what exactly happened here?" Feng Yi waved at Lotiya, signaling her to hold off on the fight for now.
"Daddy, Yuanbao told me. Yuanbao met a group of Fire Slimes on the mountain, who were bullied and driven from their homes. The Fire Slimes told Yuanbao that this bad water drove them away..." Yuanbao indignantly recounted Lotiya's alleged crimes. As she spoke passionately, the Fire Slimes behind her also bounced enthusiastically, showing their displeasure.
"Lotiya, you've heard what Yuanbao said. Do you have anything to add or correct?" Feng Yi took this opportunity to educate Yuanbao, teaching her that before acting, one should not solely believe one-sided accounts, and that misunderstandings often arose from impulsivity.
"Human, you know me? I thought my warning was an act of kindness, but it was seen as a bandit's act of seizing territory by the Fire Slimes..." Lotiya was surprised that this person recognized her. Had her identity been exposed? This place was not safe for long. After this incident, she had to change her hiding spot immediately. For a fugitive, caution was paramount! "Yuanbao, the situation is clear now. Do you still insist on fighting?"