Honkai Impact: Grandma Pine Sparrow is still chasing me!

Chapter 341 You can be called Dan Heng, I can be called Dan Heng, everyone can be called Dan Heng...

A chill ran down Qiong's spine as alarm bells rang in his mind. He quietly clenched his fists, watching Leiera's every move with vigilance.

He was waiting, waiting for Leera, disguised as a kind and benevolent deity, to reveal her true colors and confess her desire—to resurrect Sennadia. Then, depending on the situation, he would engage in verbal sparring, confront her, or flee…

"That...that's a god! My God! Gods actually exist...Qiong, what's wrong with you?"

Qiong did not answer, but Songque, who sensed Qiong's solemn expression, quickly understood what was going on. Considering her identity as a thief, she immediately shrank behind Qiong and cautiously peeked out to look at Leiera, who was surrounded by admirers.

“My people, there is no need for such formalities.”

However, as Qiong had expected, Leera did not mention the resurrection of Sinadia. She merely smiled at Qiong and then gently interacted with the others, her holy demeanor causing the thirty-two people around her to worship even more fervently... Only Qiong's doubts deepened: What exactly was Leera planning?

Still playing him? Is it really necessary?

"My new knight, why don't you come forward?"

It must be said that the gentle and kind version of Leiera's voice is like heavenly music... but it sends chills down Qiong's spine.

How to put it? It's basically like Pinocchio is holding a grand chorus, and the robin's voice isn't working, so they send in the sweet idol girl, Kira-sei, to fill in—it seems like a joyous chorus for all to celebrate, but it could easily turn into a horrific crime scene that's "deadly beautiful"...

After Lera spoke, the crowd fell silent and automatically made way for them, with all eyes focused on the three of them.

"Huh? The 'Immortal' Dragonborn? And... why are you here?"

Oh no! The all-knowing gods have noticed her! Although she hadn't had a chance to do anything bad, the sparrow, dressed in black, was still terrified and her face turned pale. She instinctively tried to hide in a more secluded place. Clarera just watched this scene silently.

On the contrary, the newborn little dragon Nana showed no panic in the face of the gods.

"Nana is a newborn dragon, and this is Nana's first stop."

Leiera just smiled and didn't say anything.

"Revered deities, they are my friends."

To prevent Song Que from being imprisoned by the gods, Qiong braced herself and quickly walked up to Leiera, trying to appear calm as she began to explain.

"Don't be nervous, my new knight."

Leiera was still smiling. If one hadn't seen her go crazy, Qiong would probably have been fooled by her kind and gentle appearance.

"Although bringing a friend here is against the rules, I can understand. Sharing joy with a fellow outsider, and standing up for your friend instead of trying to gain my investiture first, proves you are a noble 'knight'. I believe a knight who treats his friends so well will treat my people the same way..."

"thank you……"

"The deity is truly understanding!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding people immediately began to murmur among themselves, praising Leiera's virtue. Even the sparrow breathed a sigh of relief—at least she wouldn't be impaled in a statue by the gods for stealing from the tower.

"Strange... Shouldn't she be little Leiera?"

Little Dragon Nana was increasingly puzzled. Her big golden eyes looked at Leiera: reasonable, gentle and kind, full of divinity but not lacking in humanity, far removed from the paranoid person in Nahera's memory fragments.

"What's wrong, Nana?"

Feeling inexplicably relieved by the gods' pardon, Song Que was overjoyed—since the gods had let her go, why was she still nervous? With a bellyful of things to say but no one to say them, Song Que grinned and approached Nana.

"That's right, it seems that Little Leiera didn't become a despairing god as Nahera had feared?"

Songque:?

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The Leiera before him was so unlike him that Qiong became increasingly suspicious: Was this Leiera really "Leera"?

Is it possible that the interrupted second trial actually went on an infinite loop after he entered the tower, and he never actually came out?

"However, my new knight, I have a small question to ask you."

Leiera abruptly changed the subject, her smile fading, which put Qiong on high alert.

"I don't know why, but my intuition tells me that 'Bai Zhu' is your alias... My intuition is usually very accurate. Can you tell me your real name?"

"My Lord, do you know Lithost?"

Who is that?

Qiong didn't answer directly, but tried to control the pace herself, because she didn't know what Leiera was up to, so she decided to test the waters first.

“Lithost was once a…close friend of mine, and he also knew my real name. Nahra is also my friend, and I wonder about you…”

"So, Baishu is really your alias? Litost, Nahera?"

Leiera frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

“I have never heard of these two names before… You have not answered my question yet. Without revealing your real name, the investiture cannot be completed.”

Qiong's heart tightened. Could it be that revealing her real name would lead to being controlled by a weakness, or something like, "If I call your name, will you dare to answer?" Although Leiera still appeared sunny, cheerful, and kind to the gods, and even claimed not to know Lithost and Nahera—had she also lost her memory? But who could guarantee that this wasn't a "trap"?

But they couldn't delay any longer; he had to say his name, otherwise...

“My Lord, my name is Dan Heng.”

Sorry, Danheng, I'll borrow your name again, brother.

Leiera's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

"Very good, Danheng. Now, kneel on one knee!"

Before Qiong could react, a pitch-black shadow suddenly emerged from the ground and attached itself to Qiong.

"Ambush me? The rules..."

Qiong tried to break free and use her baseball bat to break the shadow, but found that her body was bound by a huge force and she was forced to kneel on one knee and pressed to the ground—she couldn't move at all! The shadow was more like a tight-fitting latex suit than the night-clothes of the pine bird, as if it wanted to bind Qiong tightly.

"Hey, hey, hey, a gentleman uses words, not fists! Are you a god? Can't you be a little more civilized?"

Qiong tried to communicate, but Leiera remained smiling.

"I'm sorry, Danheng. This should be my first time bestowing a knightship upon someone. Even gods have their 'first time' and are not very skilled at it—don't be afraid, I will release you after it's over."

"Aren't you even considering rehearsals?!"

"You make a good point, and I will take your advice into consideration."

Leera pulled a gleaming longsword from the shadows, raised it high, and then slashed it down fiercely towards the sky.

"Qiong!"

Nana and Songque gasped in unison. Nana instinctively rushed forward, while Songque instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes. But the screams and decapitations they expected did not come. Songque opened her eyes and saw Leiera's sword stopped an inch above the dome, a smile on her face.

"You must trust in your god and the guidance of all gods; you must uphold the code of knighthood and the will of your heritage. Victor of the Thirty-Third Ten Arts War, on the Thirty-Third Day, Danheng. Do you wish to become a Shadow Rider, the personal guard of the goddess Leiera of Luo Xing?"

Qiong: ...

Why do I feel like I'll be beheaded if I refuse?

Although it is said that wealth and power cannot corrupt or force can subdue, it is also said that those who understand the times are heroes, and that a great man can bend and stretch.

Besides, it was Danheng who agreed, what does it have to do with Qiong? And Danheng is just a code name. Danheng can be called Danheng, and Sanyueqi can also change his name to Danheng. Everyone can have a nickname called "Danheng". Later, he'll name Songque's immortal boat "Danheng"... Anyway, as long as it's not Qiong who agrees, there's always a way.

"I am willing."

The sudden shadow came and went quickly. Qiong, now free, tried to get up, but Leiera gently placed her sword on Qiong's shoulder.

"You must be faithful to your duty and keep your word. You must dedicate yourself to it and be proud of it. You must follow the laws of nature and be selfless and just. And this oath will last for eternity."

Reira nodded in satisfaction at her first investiture, sheathed her sword, and watched as Qiong rose.

"From this day forward, you will be the shadow rider of my god Leiera of Luo Xing."

The thirty-two people around them burst into cheers, casting envious glances at Qiong. Matsuko and Nana, realizing what was happening, rushed to Qiong's side, their faces full of worry.

"Qiong, are you alright?"

Qiong waved her hand, indicating that she was fine—just a little frustrated. Now it seemed Nana was right; she was no match for Leiera! Now she probably could only turn to Kiana…

"Lithost, and also, Sinadia!"

"Hmm? Hinadia?"

Originally, he wanted to tell Sora about the upcoming Shadow Rider inheritance, but he was stunned after hearing Nana say the name Hinadia.

"Nana, why did you suddenly bring them up?"

Seeing that Qiong was in a bad mood, Nana scratched her head with her paw.

"Nana saw them do the same thing in Nahera's memory fragments! Lithost is Sinadia's knight! Sinadia has another treasure! That treasure seems to be the one you got after your trial, Qiong?"

"Huh? When did I..."

Qiong was about to deny it when she suddenly remembered that when she finished her trial and berated Nahera, a pendant had appeared in her palm without her noticing. That thing was currently lying in her pocket. Could it be...?

"Baby? Where is the baby?"

Upon hearing the name "Sinadia," Leira's face instantly darkened, and her previous gentle and kind expression vanished without a trace. She stared intently at Nana, her eyes revealing a hint of madness and longing.

"The treasure you're talking about, is it the relic of that person named Hinadia?"

Leiera's voice turned low and cold, silencing everyone around her.

"My Lord, how could you..."

"Where is the treasure?!"

"Nana, Songque, back off!"

Qiong inwardly cursed; he hadn't expected Nana's words to expose Leiera's true colors. Protecting the man and the dragon, he quickly retreated, instinctively drawing his baseball bat and warily aiming it at Leiera. The thirty-two people around also sensed the tense atmosphere and fell silent, watching the scene with nervous anticipation.

"Quickly! Where is that treasure?"

Leera's voice rose a few decibels, and black shadows began to emanate from her body as she slowly walked towards the three of them, giving Qiong and the others an extremely strong sense of oppression.

"Kiana, Kiana!"

"Lord God..."

Among the thirty-two victors, one mustered up the courage to ask, "Why has the deity suddenly changed his temperament on what should have been a joyous day?"

"Huh? What's wrong with me? Danheng, what's wrong?"

When called, Leiera's gloomy expression turned to confusion, as if she didn't even know what she had just done.

Looking at Sora, who seemed ready to fight her, Leiera was filled with confusion.

"Um, you just now..."

"Excuse me, shall we continue the ceremony?"

"Kiana, Kiana! Kiana, answer me!"

Leiera's gentle and kind smile returned, but this time, Qiong didn't dare to step forward at all, and kept calling out to Qitian Dasheng in her heart.

"Woof—woof—woof woof woof!"

A sudden burst of barking from all directions broke the solemn atmosphere.

But the barking of the dog not only disrupted the atmosphere, but also the thoughts of everyone except Qiong and Nana.

"Lord Litost..."

"Lithost..."

"Huh? How could we forget about Lithost?"

A dog's bark jolted the thirty-two victors awake, reminding them of their mentor. Even the sparrow behind Qiong remembered that man.

Although she really wanted to ask about Lithost, Qiong still watched Leiera warily, because God hadn't said a word since then.

"Lithost...how dare you!"

Suddenly, Leiera's eyes widened in fury, and the black shadows around her surged wildly. Even the thirty-two people who admired her the most had to step back.

Reira's voice turned sharp and angry, indiscriminately destroying everything around her—fortunately, Qiong had a baseball bat in her hand and was far enough away.

"How dare you! Hehehehe... Hehehehe! What a great knight! I underestimated you, underestimated your stupidity, and tolerated your betrayal. I never thought you would dare to fool the gods!"

"Fooling the gods?"

"What a farce, what a loss of composure!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a series of dark shadows shot out like arrows from Leera in all directions—wherever the shadows landed, a shadow monster would crawl out from them.

"Leira, what are you doing!"

"What?"

Leiera glanced at Qiong, then looked away. Her voice sent a chill down Qiong's spine.

Everyone noticed that Leiera's eyes had turned cold, and a strange smile was playing on her lips as she muttered to herself.

"Heh heh heh... I knew from the beginning that you wanted to die. Is death so good? Like Sinadia and Nahera, but you... are especially unforgivable! You could have done whatever you wanted, such as preparing for that wishful Ten Arts War, or walking your noisy dog. You actually used your own disappearance as a trigger to sever my connection with the past and hide Sinadia's existence!"

Leiera's smile vanished, replaced by tears.

"Sennadia... the Sennadia who found me. Do you think you can erase my memories of Sennadia with your death? Do you think you can turn the world upside down with your fragile life? The gods of Luo Xing will always be Sennadia! Forever!"

Looking at the scene before her, Qiong was certain of one thing: the Leiera from before was truly the real Leiera, but now...

She's probably furious, and given the current situation, he can't call her back.

Although he was very unwilling, he had no choice but to reluctantly shout out the correct method of invocation.

"Wife, save me!"