Barbara: "An expedition, I'm so looking forward to it."
Fischl: "Hmph, it is time for This Princess to display her might once more."
Noelle: "An expedition? I will protect everyone!"
Klee: "Yay! Klee loves big adventures the most!"
Ellin: "Are we entering practical combat training? I will do my best!"
Seeing how excited they were, a smile played on Arkz's lips. He hoped they would still be this excited once they entered the mine.
Arkz turned to look at Amu and the other two, saying:
"Amu, you three keep an eye on the farm."
"I'll go with Noelle and the others and be right back."
Siegfrieda smiled and waved, saying loudly, "Mr. Arkz, don't worry, we will protect the farm well."
For Siegfrieda, becoming an employee of Springvale Farm was much easier than being her own boss. Not only was her income stable regardless of drought or flood, but most importantly, she could eat the delicious feasts Arkz cooked every day.
If she could eat Arkz's grand meals daily, Siegfrieda felt she would be willing to become the wealthiest person in Teyvat.
It was just a pity that Arkz was usually very lazy and only cooked when he felt like it; most of the time, he had his clone cook for everyone.
After settling the matters of the farm, Arkz gave each of the five a mine teleportation scroll and then carefully explained how to use them.
"Open the scroll, tear it hard, and you will be teleported to today's adventure location."
"Remember! After teleporting there, do not wander around randomly. The monsters there are still very dangerous for you."
After listening, everyone nodded seriously. Even Klee, who was usually the most lively and active, had a serious expression on her little face, listening carefully to Arkz's instructions without any sign of impatience or distraction.
"Then, Brother Arkz, can we start setting off now?"
Stars twinkled in Klee's eyes; she had been looking forward to a big adventure for a long time.
The other four were also full of anticipation. An expedition into a mysterious, unknown place sounded amazing!
Looking at their expectant faces, Arkz frowned, feeling uneasy. Thus, he used Geo Elemental Power to place another layer of shield on everyone before nodding with satisfaction.
Then, he contacted his clone at the mine, asking him to prepare to welcome Klee and the others.
After receiving confirmation from his clone, Arkz nodded and signaled to the group, "You can set off now."
"Wow! Big adventure, Klee is coming!"
Klee cheered, tore the teleportation scroll in her hand, and then vanished before everyone in a flash of white light.
Watching Klee disappear, Barbara and the others quickly tore their scrolls to chase after her.
Although Mr. Arkz was very reliable and Klee was very well-behaved, they had been entrusted by Acting Head Jean to look after Klee. Lacking experience in childcare, they instinctively became worried the moment Klee left their sight.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Streams of white light flashed. Ellin also tore her teleportation scroll and vanished.
Seeing this, Arkz smiled slightly and tore the scroll in his hand, chasing after them.
Watching the group depart, Amu and the others were stunned for a moment before they also left one after another.
Siegfrieda busied herself continuing to formulate her business plan. Since she couldn't complete this plan alone, she decided to pull Boss Arkz in too. That inspiration had originally come from Arkz.
Amu, meanwhile, led Aqiu around the farm.
Although Aqiu had not been at the farm long, she had already become very good friends with Amu.
However, unlike Amu, Aqiu was very insecure about her identity as a Hilichurl. She envied Amu for being able to ignore her identity as a wooden puppet and get along with everyone.
She also envied Amu for being able to absorb Elemental Power to continuously evolve, making her appearance more and more like a real human.
Amu, being a monster, could become human through cultivation.
What about her? Aqiu would secretly shed tears late at night.
It wasn't just her who had received the curse of the Heavenly Principles. On the continent of Teyvat, there were so many Hilichurls, yet she had never heard of any who could escape the curse of the Heavenly Principles.
Her kin lived their days in a daze, constantly struggling in despair through the cycle of life and death. Whenever Aqiu saw those kin who had lost their wisdom leisurely sunbathing on the plains or dancing around a bonfire,
Aqiu would also wonder if her ability to retain her wisdom was also a type of curse.
"wisdom prevents me from integrating with the Hilichurl tribe, and my appearance prevents me from integrating with the human race."
This was also why Aqiu didn't run away when Arkz brought her back to Springvale Farm. After years of wandering, she hoped to find a haven, even if only a temporary one.
Aqiu did not resent Arkz for killing her kin.
Aqiu herself had been killed by Adventurers during her travels. For the cursed Hilichurl race, death was merely a new beginning; the dead Hilichurls would return from the ley lines and reappear on the continent of Teyvat.
However, Aqiu saw hope at Springvale Farm.
The water of purity!
"A miraculous potion that can even purify Abyssal Power. Could it purify the curse on the Hilichurls?"
A sliver of hope ignited in Aqiu's heart.
For her, any hope that could change the current situation and save her kin, no matter how slim, could not be let go.
Aqiu made up her mind:
"I must work hard and exchange my efforts with Arkz for a bottle of water of purity!"
While Amu was leading her around, Aqiu confidently surveyed every inch of the farm, looking for places that needed her work.
Are the crops on the farm lacking water? Aqiu goes to water them.
Are crows causing trouble? Aqiu goes to drive them away.
Are Hilichurls causing trouble? Aqiu would reprimand them, then take them to the nearby forest to pick fruit and find food.
Aqiu held sympathy for these Hilichurl kin.
When her kin were hungry, if Aqiu had an Apple, she would share half of it with them.
When her kin were injured, Aqiu would try her best to heal them.
When her kin were sad, Aqiu would also find ways to comfort them.
Even though the Hilichurls had lost all intelligence and resembled wild beasts, they deeply respected the strange kinswoman Aqiu, who looked like them but harbored goodwill.
It was similar to how an elder Shaman in a Hilichurl tribe would be respected by the Hilichurls.
If expressed in human language, perhaps Aqiu was the "Saintess" recognized by the Hilichurl race.
Over at the Underground Mine, Klee and the others arrived safely via the teleportation scroll.
Looking at the dark and deep mine before them, everyone was shocked.
Having stayed in the vast plains of Mondstadt for so long, the narrow and oppressive mine gave everyone an inexplicable feeling of nervous excitement.
It was as if a monster could jump out and attack them at any moment from the darkness.
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