Within Liyue's borders
Rubbing her aching little head, Bonanus couldn't help but silently complain.
This system was really unreliable. Not only did it scare her with weird methods, but it also didn't install a headache prevention device during spatial teleportation. Definitely leaving a bad review!
But regardless, they'd successfully arrived in another suffocating region. Mission accomplished.
"Sister Bonanus, are you alright?!" Xiao, who had landed a step behind, hurried over with concern. Why had she suddenly become so weak?
Was this some kind of side effect? He didn't feel much different—aside from slight dizziness, there was no physical pain.
He carefully helped Bonanus up. In his eyes, Sister Bonanus's complexion was deathly pale—as if any man could take advantage of her.
Truly heartbreaking!
"I'm fine, Alatus." Bonanus slowly stood with Xiao's support. After recovering slightly, the discomfort began to ease.
Next time, she'd have to talk to the system. If this kept up, she wouldn't be able to handle it.
"So uncomfortable." Bonanus placed her hands on her knees, her expression full of complaint as she caught her breath.
"Is this a side effect of the power?" Xiao gently patted her back, unsure if it would help but hoping it might ease her discomfort.
"Probably!" Bonanus answered casually. She only knew this was all the system's doing.
After all this, her wonderful system had gone silent again, unresponsive to calls. If it weren't incorporeal, she'd give it two good slaps.
Teleporting through time and space could be done effortlessly, yet the system insisted on making it so complicated. Truly baffling.
"Need to sit down and rest?" Xiao gently supported Bonanus's shoulder, sensing her body swaying.
Feeling the repulsive aura around them, Xiao frowned slightly. Sister Bonanus is in no condition to be here. Everywhere reeks of killing intent.
Besides killing intent, there is also an abundance of deathly energy. It felt like countless creatures had died here. Pockmarked caves and black-tinged skeletal remains littered the area.
What a familiar place this was...
"No need. We don't have time to waste here." Bonanus shook her head gently. Though she wanted to rest, they couldn't afford to waste any more time.
"Alright." Despite his lingering concerns, Xiao nodded in agreement. Then he continued.
"I haven't seen scenes like this since the world became peaceful. Liyue enjoys Rex Lapis's protection—not even a single drop of rain falls where it shouldn't."
"Now, feeling this deathly energy from a hundred years ago again, I find it hard to adjust." Xiao carefully observed their surroundings, his nerves taut, unwilling to miss any blind spots.
He murmured to himself. That power was truly miraculous—it had actually sent them to this era. In this war-torn period, any lapse in attention could mean death.
After all, dangerous monsters and creatures lurked everywhere, ready to strike the moment you let your guard down. By the time you realized what happened, you'd be dead without knowing how.
"Don't worry. We'll rescue him and pull back immediately." Bonanus straightened up and surveyed the area. This region was vastly different from Liyue during peacetime.
Though familiar places surrounded them, the deathly aura emanating from everything chilled the heart. You could almost hallucinate sinister whispers in your ear.
Like a horror movie!
"Alatus, where are we right now?" Bonanus asked with a frown. Though the area felt somewhat familiar, she couldn't identify it.
"Based on the terrain, this should be the easternmost part of Minlin..." Xiao looked at the darkened sky. It was clearly daytime, yet the heavens were so black.
"Minlin..." Bonanus murmured to herself.
In her previous life's game, information about Menogias—the second Yaksha—was painfully scarce. Aside from records in books and finding his corpse, there was almost nothing.
When she played the game, she didn't even know where his grave was. Had Menogias died in this region?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Just as the two were observing their surroundings, the violent sounds of battle suddenly echoed in their ears from afar. The noise was tremendous, audible for miles.
From the sounds alone, one could infer that both combatants were utterly savage, leaving no room for restraint—tearing at each other like wild beasts.
Bonanus and Xiao exchanged a glance. It seemed their target was nearby. Without hesitation, they rushed toward the source of the sounds.
Both felt excited and anxious. They shared the same thought: Their family member was waiting to be saved.
Life or death rested on their intervention.
---
Elsewhere
The battlefield where the fierce sounds originated...
"ROARRR!!"
The one making bestial cries was a young man in brown-black robes. He looked very young, with handsome features.
This was the second of the five great guardian Yakshas—Menogias. His name carried an angry connotation, giving the false impression that he was easily provoked.
But that wasn't the case. Menogias's name could be interpreted as "quelling disasters"—a meaningful name, also recorded in ancient texts.
Menogias was a gentle person. He had long, golden-black hair, with pale yellow Yaksha markings on his temples and brow.
He appeared somewhat slender, giving the impression of a scholarly, gentle soul. But he was far from weak.
Usually refined and courteous, Menogias was arguably the most intelligent among the five Yakshas—certainly several times smarter than Bosacius.
He often kept one eye narrowed with a slight smile, lending him an air of mystery. But everyone knew he was a gentle man.
He was incredibly considerate. If Bosacius was the big brother of the five Yakshas, Menogias was like a caretaker—sometimes like a fussy mother, scolding Bosacius for not wearing proper clothes.
And yet, this gentle soul ultimately met his end fighting his own family...
But Bonanus, as an outsider, would not let the same tragedy unfold again. No matter what, she was saving Menogias. She'd said so herself. Even the Heavenly Principles couldn't stop her.
If the Heavenly Principles dared show up? Watch me kneel and beg for mercy on the spot!
Back to the beastly battle...
Fighting Menogias was another Yaksha—one who wielded Dendro power. Her name was Jiangzhan. Even her name hinted at her nature—"bringing disaster."
She used a longsword with no special name. In daily conversation, she simply called it "Green." It was her beloved weapon.
Among the Yaksha clan, Jiangzhan possessed mid-level strength—certainly no match for the five great guardian Yakshas. So why was she holding her own against Menogias?
The answer was simple: both had fallen into madness due to karmic debt erosion. Each was fighting at full power.
However, Menogias's aim had deteriorated in his frenzied state, allowing Jiangzhan to survive this long.
Jiangzhan's body was already wounded. Holes pierced her thigh and shoulder where rock had struck. Her mask was half shattered.
But if anyone thought this would kill her, it was far too early.
"AHH!" Jiangzhan shrieked like a wild beast. Her appearance was that of a madwoman, inexplicably stirring panic in the hearts of those who witnessed her.