Episode 16: Hostile Love
Meanwhile within an unknown location, Void summons her 5 lieutenants called Shade Commanders to her chambers. "What is the status of your recon work?" Void asked.
"Mistress, we have noticed a growing group of people within the villages and towns on the outskirts of Liyue. They call themselves the Red Legion and they are led by a villager elder named Zhang who hated the Qixing for a long time and with this situation. He is gaining support within the villages and townships around the nation," a woman said.
"I see, this will be useful to press on. Anything else?" she asked.
"We found something very interesting within the Golden House from my spies that the Qixing is hiding something from their people. A dark secret that could undermine their whole authority," Nazo said.
"Interesting, we will keep subverting Liyue from the shadows until we make a big move," Void said as her five Shade Commandeers nod their heads to spread out. Alice is walking through the walkways to see a small girl with an impish smile on her face.
"So, you saw your ex-boyfriend out there," the young lady said as Alice gives her a nasty look.
"He is my boyfriend, he is just confused and now he is with a rich slut who I need to take care of," Alice said as the girl looks at her with pure doubt. "What do you want Abi?" Alice asked.
"Just checking, so you don't do anything stupid. Besides, I am coming along with you on your recon trip," Abi said as Alice looks at the young girl with wide eyes.
"I don't need help," Alice said as Abi goes beside her to pat her on the back.
"Yes you do bubble butt, we need to work together to forge a better future with our mistress as the leader of Liyue," Abi said.
"Whatever, do what you want," Alice said as Abi is hopping for joy.
"Alright, I am going to call for my baby bird Blaze to give us a lift," Abi said as they go outside with Alice's mind dwelling onto her favorite hero.
"Oh Aether, I will be so happy to see you again but I need to get rid of that bad influence you call a 'girlfriend'," Alice said with a devilish smile for the duo to outside to do some recon work.
Meanwhile, within the dead of night, a group of Treasure Hoarders is guarding a warehouse in the middle of the Liyue countryside. The guards are at the door guarding the entrance with them being bored.
"Man, this is so boring," the first guard said.
"Keep the whining down. Once we move the supplies, we can get filthy rich," the second guard said.
"Man, I need to take a piss," the first guard said as he goes over to the bush. "Man, I need this," he said peeing on the plants. He spots a young woman with purple hair as she swings her Lion's Roar blade to cut deep into his throat as he is coughing on his blood.
"What the hell?" the second guard wondered as a blade went flying from the bushes to impact the guard's head impaling through his skull killing him instantly.
"I am moving in," Keqing thought as she takes the sword off the dead man's corpse. She moves into the warehouse to go into the window to sneak inside with the thieves tried to check for the guard at the door but no response.
"Gee those fucking slackers," the sergeant said as a window pops out to hit a guard knocking him out.
"What the hell," a merc gets hit by a blast of lightning out of the shadows to see blood and guts scatter across the walls.
Keqing is swiftly striking down multiple targets with her blade to see heads get chopped off and roll off their shoulders. She gathers Electro energy within herself as she is dashing through multiple enemies with their bodies scattered all over the warehouse.
She is moving through the area avoiding spells and crossbow bolts as she is kicking and slashing destroying entire groups of enemies leaving the last one to guard the artifacts. "You bitch, who the hell do you think you are?' he questioned for he shoots wildly into nothing with Keqing slicing off his hands with blood pouring out of his wounds.
"My name is Keqing and you disrupting the peace," she said with a flat commanding tone as she delivers a swift kick to knock the last soldier into a crate killing him instantly. "All targets are wiped out," she said as she awaits her client to come with their guards.
"Thank you Lady Keqing for taking out these thieves. They have become quite a bother lately," the man said to see Keqing's travel dress has some blood on it.
"It's nothing, go secure the place," she said as she looks at her purple dress to utter a sigh. "Got to clean that off when I get home," she said as she got her bag of Mora for her to head back.
Soon enough she gets back to see Mei, Aether, and Paimon reading newspapers. "I am back," Keqing said for Aether sees the blood on her dress.
"You got into trouble?" he asked.
"No, it was an easy job. Take out some Treasure Hoarders and free up the warehouse filled with supplies the villages needed," Keqing said.
"Good, those guys are awful to horde those supplies especially what is going on now," Paimon said.
"See anything interesting?" Keqing asked as Mei shows her a newspaper article about a bombing in a military outpost made by a terrorist group called the Red Legion.
"This was done last night; several soldiers were killed and tens more wounded. Healers all over that base, they say they are villagers getting fed up with the Qixing and taking matters into their own hands," Mei said.
"Ningguang isn't handling this situation well at all but they seem small and hopefully this can be taken care of," Keqing said.
"How much money did you make from the job?" Paimon asked as Keqing shows the money pouch.
"350,000 Mora, a good amount of money but I will invest it back into the business," Keqing said as Paimon moans at this.
"Oh, Paimon would get several spreads of delicious Liyue cuisine with that," Paimon said.
"Well, Paimon, you need to learn how to manage money. Then you would have a nice business and get as much food as you want," she said as Paimon's mouth is watering.
"Oh awesome, hey Aether lend me some money so Paimon can start a business?" Paimon asked as Aether looks at her quite funny.
"Sorry Paimon, that is travel expenses," Aether said as Paimon looks down with her looking disappointed.
"Anyway, Aether I am going to a book shop within a town nearby. You want to come with me to check it out?" she asked.
"Sure," Aether said as Paimon comes along too.
"First, I need to change my clothing," Keqing to go to her room to get into a new outfit.
Paimon and Aether wait beside the door to see Keqing sporting a white blouse with a blue skirt and knee-high brown boots. Her hair is in a long side ponytail giving her a very cute look. "You look very nice," he said as she smiles at this.
"Thanks, let's go to the bookshop in the nearby town," Keqing said.
"Keep her safe Aether, it's so nice to see her hanging out with people. She gets so busy, she becomes lonely," Mei said as Keqing pouts at her head maid.
"I am not lonely, I have friends," Keqing said.
"Barely, you have me and Cho. That is pretty much it, also Aether and Paimon as well," Mei said.
"Well, I don't need much. A close tight group of friends is always better," Keqing said getting defensive as Mei laughs at this.
"It's okay, it's fine. Especially in these times, you need close friends to watch your back. Go on, I need to start cleaning the place," Mei said as the trio go outside to head for the town of Hue just nearby Liyue Harbor.
A shadow is watching from a distance to see Aether and Keqing walking on the road with them holding hands. "That bitch, looking happy with him. She will regret it," Alice said as she follows after them.
Soon enough they manage to reach the town of Hue to see it has guards from the military securing the place. "They at least have some protection," Paimon said.
"It's because it's close to the capital and it getting hit without protection will spook investors," Keqing said as Paimon and Aether are disappointed by this.
"Gee, shadier and shadier," Paimon said.
"Indeed," Aether agrees as Keqing sighs.
"I don't get that woman. She sees Liyue Harbor as nothing more than a marketplace, and she'll do anything as long as it makes money for her. It benefits her when this place this close to the capital is being protected to save face," Keqing said as she is disappointed by this as well.
"That seems doomed to fail when you think like that," Paimon said.
"I keep seeing that a lot of these merchants seem to care about the bottom line with morals not getting in their way," Aether said as he has a bad image of the slaves being used.
"It's sad, a lot of businesses use unhanded practices to make more money like underpaying workers or slashing their jobs while the company heads giving themselves big bonuses. It's very disgusting honestly," Keqing said as they look around to see the humble little town nearby a river for the large bookstore is before them along with a few food stands and sitting area outside.
"Oh, they have food stands here too?" Paimon asked.
"Yep, they have some nice food and drinks to go with a good book to read while outside. This place has a huge selection from books and even Manhua. I get my favorite series from here, come on let's go inside," Keqing drags her inside with Alice watching from the sidelines to go inside to spy on them.
They are inside the bookstore to look for books "Wow, this place is quite big," Paimon said.
"Yeah, it has a lot of selections and it's very modest," Aether said.
"Yeah, it's owned by a small family that runs this place. They gathered all sorts of stuff here, let's look around," Keqing said.
Paimon is looking around with Keqing and Aether in an area where Keqing is on top of a ladder to check out a book she wanted to read.
Aether notices some guys walking past Keqing trying to look up the skirt while she is on the ladder but Keqing manages to prevent them from seeing. "Watch it, Princess. Some of these dumbasses would like to get a peek," Aether warned her.
"I will be careful, darling," Keqing has a stack of books for Aether on the table. "Here Keqing, check these out?" Keqing hands him a pile of books with her presuming back to look going higher on the ladder.
Aether is about to move but sees inside Keqing's skirt. Aether subtly tries to look up it, his curiosity overpowering his mind along with his hormones not helping with the matter. He peeks seeing the purple-haired girl's cotton white panties formed around her perfectly plump buttocks and wide shapely hips.
"Man, she looks so good in those," Aether likes what he sees even the little blue bow in the front as Keqing notices he's looking up her skirt having a deep blush on her face.
"Oh Aether," Keqing loses her balance and falls off the ladder with Aether trying to reach her. He grabs Keqing with them both landing on the ground with Aether holding Keqing's slender waist.
"Keqing, I'm sorry. Can't help myself," Aether feeling sorry for what he did as Keqing understands for she remembers no matter how sweet he can be; he's still a red-blooded male.
"I don't mind, I trust you darling," Keqing's pale face is deeply red with Aether joining in with his face red as a tomato. Paimon comes in from the side to see all this take place.
"Gee, you need a room or something?" Paimon questioned as they quickly get back up to look embarrassed by this.
"Yeah when we get back home," Keqing said to playfully poke his stomach making him flinch.
"Yeah, let's grab some books and get some food outside," Aether said as the girls nod their heads.
They grab some books to read and head outside to grab a plate of Sweet Buns and Locus Flower Crisps to share between the three. They also each take a glass of citrus juice to go with it to sit down at a table to enjoy the warm weather.
Alice looks nearby to be jealous of the couple enjoying each other time. "Damn it, look how happy he is. That bitch is controlling him," she said as she is fuming at this for Keqing felt a deep worry over her body.
"What is wrong, Princess?' he asked to chew on a sweet roll.
"It's nothing, just my imagination," Keqing said to take a bite out of the Locus Flower Crisp which melts into her mouth. "Damn this is very good, fresh too," she said as they are sitting at the table with Aether looking around to see someone very familiar.
"Oh no, it can't believe she is here," Aether said as a young woman comes up to their table for Aether is frightful of her presence.
"Hey sweetie, long time no see," the woman said as her voice was sweet as honey and her expression is very innocent and cute.
"Oh, who are you?" Keqing asked as she felt uncomfortable for she is staring at Aether with a sweet yet blind stare.
"Oh, I am Alice Brighton, I am Aether's girlfriend," Alice said as Keqing is in shock with Aether looking at Keqing for she is clearly in danger. Paimon looks on with fear to disappear away to be hidden from the madwoman.
Keqing looks upon her as she is a young Mondstadt woman around her age for she has short black hair with pink highlights, bright brown eyes, pale white skin like Keqing's, and is standing 5'1 tall. She is wearing a pink dress fitting her slender pear-shaped body with her wearing a pair of red shoes matching her lips.
"Girlfriend, I recall Aether saying you are not together anymore," Keqing said feeling guarded wanting to protect him as Alice has a dismissive look on her face.
"I like a need some fat cow to tell me what my man wants," Alice said.
"Cow," Keqing said getting annoyed with her already.
"Come on, my darling. I need you to come with me," Alice grabs Aether's hand for he doesn't move.
"No, I am staying here," Aether said.
"Oh, don't be silly sweetheart," Alice said as Aether gives her a fearsome look which made her flinch. "Oh, don't be mean sweetie," Alice said.
"I am serious, you need to go. You are wasting your time," Aether said.
"Oh, come on Aether, you don't need this cow whore. You have me," Alice said in a sickly-sweet voice.
"Cow," Keqing repeated.
"You have to stop this, you are making a scene," Aether said.
"Look honey bun, I was the one who helps ease your pain from the troubles like you missing your sister. I am the one to help you from sheer loneliness from the terrible things that happened in your current life," Alice said as her voice so serene and gentleness.
Aether remembers those times, she was right. "After what happened with me losing my sister, I was at my low point. You helped ease my despair and with your smile helped me," he said.
"So, you came to your senses. My dear," she said.
"Let me finish, this is all true but you made my life a living hell. When I try to make friends with girls, you send them death threats and you were trying to control me like I was your pet. We broke up for a reason and now I have a new girlfriend who is vastly better than you will ever be," Aether said to place his hand onto Keqing's making her heart leap at his passionate speech about his love for her.
"Oh sweetheart," Keqing said tenderly as Alice looks on with disgust.
"So, you still under this bitch's spell. I bet you are tempted by her breasts, they are huge. I bet they're fake," Alice said.
"Yeah these are all-natural," Keqing said as she tightens her fist to prepare for the worst.
"I doubt that. Aether let's go," Alice tries to pull him, but is holding down.
"Let me go," Aether said.
"No, you need me. You always need me even if you don't know it," Alice said as Keqing draws out her sword and places the tip of the blade on her forehead making everyone stare at them.
"Don't worry, everything is under control," Keqing said for everyone sees it's the former Qixing member for this calms the civilians down.
"Keqing," Aether said as Keqing softly digs the tip of her sword into the forehead enough to draw blood showing total disgust with this woman. Alice only stares back with greater hatred for she is unfazed by having a sword pointed at her face.
"Look bitch, Aether says you two are not a couple, and if you care about him so much. You would respect his wishes or I will not hesitate to put you down," Keqing said to give Alice a very cold gaze.
"Oh no, you dare stand in my way of making Aether happy," Alice's body is emitting a dark black aura which pushes back everyone in the surrounding area. Food carts, chairs, and tables smash onto the ground and buildings with Alice summoning her sword.
"Oh crap," Paimon said to suddenly pop out of no way. On Alice's person, there is a darkened fire Vision on the side of her right hip with dark flames channeled through her sword.
"She is just like that guy Nazo from the Chasm. Using the power of the Shade," Aether said to summon his Sword of Descension getting ready for a fight. Keqing conjures her Lion's Roar to be beside her boyfriend to defend the people from this monster.
"No Aether, I am not going to fight you," Alice snaps her fingers to call out small Shades to infect a group of large Smiles to head for the town.
"Oh crap, I will deal with the smiles. Take care of Alice, be careful," he said to kiss her cheek for luck as she nods her head.,
"Right, be safe too," Keqing said as she gets into a combat stance for Alice looks at them kissing which makes her go berserk and charge at Keqing to clash with her blade. "Damn it," Keqing said as Alice is laughing at her to shove her away to begin a fierce sword dual.
Keqing is blocking and weaving through her attacks but her blocks get shoves aside pretty easily. They clash steel with Alice firing a close-range blast of fire to knock Keqing into a table to break it on impact.
"Gee, she is very strong being powered up by the Shade," she thought as she begins to dodge instead of blocking with her sword swings leaving small craters on the ground. Keqing leaps off a table for Alice to slice it in half with Keqing letting out electro crescents to aim at Alice.
Alice summons a wall of fire to easily block it as she entraps the Electro energy within the wall and converts it into a supercharged fireball to aim it at Keqing.
"Oh no," she rolls out of the way as the super fireball explodes onto a building turning it to ash. Keqing looks around her to see people are getting burned away with some of the guards trying to stop her. Alice easily chops off their heads and rams her blade into a guard's head to split it into half revealing parts of his brain.
Keqing sees Alice is wielding a Favonius Sword for Alice is finished with the guards with a bunch of corpses around her. "You don't deserve to wield that sword. What happened to your knight's honor?" she asked with Alice having a crazed look on his face.
"Who gives a shit about that, I used them to get strong and Aether is my key to a happy simple life," Alice said as they both slash and parry with Keqing getting knocked back a bit.
"You are doing a bang-up job with that one," Keqing said dryly as she ducks under the slash of Alice's sword to kick her in the chin to stun her. She cuts into her body several times with blood pouring out of her wounds to dirty her pink dress.
"Well bitch, you ruined my dress," she drives her blade into the ground to shoot up fire pillars to erupt all around them to burn sections of the town. She tosses her hairpin between her legs to warp behind her and slashes her back leaving a deadly gash.
Alice laughs at this for her bloody gash is healing quite fast until it healed completely leaving no trace of it. "She has a healing factor, what are you?" she asked to be spooked by this.
"After what happened with Jean a few months ago. I was good as dead but my Mistress was using little of her power to gain followers before she was freed from her chamber. I give in to her request and I was reborn as half Shade/ half-human hybrid to aid my goddess for conquering Liyue in exchange for getting Aether back as my future husband," she said.
"Oh, come on, you are destroying Liyue for a crush who dumped you," Keqing has no respect for this crazed woman.
"Yep, burn down a whole nation for the love of my life. Seems to work in my favor," Alice said as suddenly Aether appears to unleash a huge twister to catch Alice within it and she is sent flying across the field until she disappears from view.
"You okay?" Aether asked as she nods her head.
"Yeah, she was tough, strong, and fast. Good thing you showed up," she said as they see Xiao and Ganyu on top of a building for them to track down Alice.
"Yeah, Xiao and Ganyu showed up because they sensed the Shade. They will take it from here," Aether said feeling a bit worn out from fighting those Shade-infected Slimes. They look around to see parts of the town are burned to the ground with the bookstore along with more of the town still intact.
"Gee, this is awful but we managed to push that crazy weirdo back," Paimon said.
"Yeah, Ningguang is going to get another headache from this," Keqing said as they begin to help the people in the town recover from the damage Alice made in the fight.
Elsewhere Alice is running away from Ganyu and Xiao trying to kill her as a large phoenix appears to flap its wings to blow both of them away. "What in the world, it's a living phoenix?" Ganyu questioned.
"Hey bubble butt, get on my bird Blaze," Abi said as she leaps on top of the bird for them to fly high into the sky to avoid the Adepti. "Gee fighting two of them at once after you fought a battle against that tight ass Keqing," Abi said.
"Gee, I could have killed that rich whore when I had the chance," Alice said with her anger making her body quiver as Abi sighs at this.
"Sure; you did, any way you were supposed to do recon right?" Abi is putting her down like a child as Alice pouts at this.
"I was but I got distracted," Alice said as Abi rolls her eyes at this.
"Sure, anyway Yuri is cooking up some plan to deal with the Adepti who seems to be the only ones who can put up a good fight against us along with their aid of the Keqing and the Traveler," Abi said.
"Yes, I can see that," Alice said. as they are high above the clouds with Blaze spreading his fiery wings to embrace the crispy blue sky.
"Oh boy, this feels amazing to fly like this. Time to head back and report, things are going to get interesting soon," Abi said as they soar through the air for them to head back to base.