After marveling at Klee's incredible luck, Lu Heng taught her how to equip the gold card.
"Little Klee, you need to pay attention," Lu Heng instructed. "If you're fighting bad guys, use normal bombs. But if you want to heal someone, remember to activate this skill."
Klee didn't fully understand, but she listened carefully and memorized Lu Heng's words.
"How about we test it out right now?"
Venti spoke up, glancing meaningfully at Zhongli.
He knew about Xiao's condition—he had even helped him once when passing by.
The old man must need this card to heal Xiao's karmic debt!
"That's fine!"
Zhongli's usual calm demeanor was replaced with solemnity, showing just how much he valued Klee's card.
If the effect was as good as they hoped, the help it could provide would be immense!
"Little Klee, try throwing a bomb at me," Zhongli said.
"Huh?"
Klee tilted her head in confusion.
What's wrong with this big brother?
Why would he ask for something like that?
As if some instinct had been triggered, she frantically waved her hands, her little face full of panic.
"No, no! Bombs hurt people! If Jean finds out… that's bad!"
"It's okay," Lu Heng reassured her, squatting down to her level. "If you use the card's skill, the bombs you throw can actually protect people like Jean."
"Bombs… can protect Master Jean?" Klee looked utterly bewildered.
"Really!" Venti nodded earnestly.
"Go ahead, it's fine," Tartaglia added.
With Zhongli's Vision and the card's effect, as long as the skill was activated, the bomb wouldn't hurt anyone—unless the target was some evil creature weak to purification.
With everyone encouraging her, Klee reluctantly took out a normal bomb from her backpack.
It looked cute and harmless, but it was still an explosive!
This wasn't her signature Jumpy Dumpty, just a standard version—but its power was nothing to scoff at!
"Go ahead, just remember to use the skill," Zhongli said.
"O-Okay…"
Following Lu Heng's instructions, Klee activated the skill.
The bomb didn't change in appearance, and she hesitated. "R-Really throw it?"
"No problem!"
"Trust the card!"
"Here it comes! Ehe~!"
Mustering her courage, Klee tossed the bomb toward Zhongli.
The bomb flew through the air and landed right on Zhongli's chest.
BOOM!
It exploded instantly!
The blast was strong, but there was no destructive force—Zhongli didn't even defend himself, and his clothes remained completely unharmed.
A radiant, holy white light spread out, enveloping Zhongli.
Zhongli's eyes widened in shock as he clenched his fist.
He could feel it—his erosion had been purified!
Erosion was a kind of negative state, a shackle imposed by the Heavenly Principles. (As Zhongli himself once said.)
The passage of time, loss, all the burdens of immortality—they carved scars into the soul, weighing it down like a weathered stone.
But now, Klee's bomb had purified a tiny fraction of that erosion!
It was like evaporating a single drop from the ocean.
If not for Zhongli's keen perception, he might not have even noticed.
And Klee's equipment level is still at the beginner stage!
If her equipment rank increased…
A 5-star gold card corresponded to the power level of Archons and even the Heavenly Principles. Zhongli could foresee it—Klee could purify erosion, restore clarity to the soul!
Even now, if she kept throwing bombs, his erosion could slowly decrease like a health bar—though the process would be long.
Xiao's karmic debt could be healed!
The erosion tormenting Azhdaha could be reversed!
Zhongli, usually so composed, couldn't hide his excitement.
Venti, seeing his expression, grew anxious.
"How was it?" he pressed urgently.
Lu Heng understood why Venti was so desperate.
He hadn't abandoned Dvalin to his suffering—he simply hadn't been able to help.
Five hundred years ago, Dvalin swallowed the blood of Durin. At the time, Venti had just returned from Khaenri'ah.
He was severely injured himself, and after helping Mondstadt fend off a wave of monsters, he fell into a deep slumber.
He only woke up a couple of years ago.
His power wasn't fully restored, and his injuries hadn't completely healed.
In his current state, he couldn't cure Dvalin's corruption.
But now—there was hope!
"Very good!" Zhongli affirmed.
"That's great!"
Venti let out a huge sigh of relief and turned to Klee. "Klee, you're going to help so many people!"
"Yay! Klee wants to help~!"
Seeing that Zhongli was unharmed, Klee also relaxed.
So using the skill makes bombs safe?
So magical~!
"Klee, come here."
Venti led her to the card decomposer.
He placed Klee's equipment on it, then tossed in all his own cards—except Rebirth Breeze—for decomposition.
"Upgrade!"
Instantly, Klee's equipment rank rose from Beginner to Black Iron I.
"Klee, try again!" Venti said. "Still aim for your Zhongli big brother."
Having experienced the effect firsthand, Zhongli was the best test subject.
"Okay~!"
Making sure her skill was active, Klee threw another bomb at Zhongli.
After a moment, Zhongli confirmed: "About ten times stronger!"
Even a slight upgrade in equipment rank could unleash more of the 5-star gold card's power!
"Perfect!" Venti's face lit up with joy.
Knowing their situations, Lu Heng chimed in: "The real challenge will be raising the equipment rank further."
"That's fine!"
Venti waved it off. "Whether we pool resources or take it slow, at least we have hope now!"
"Indeed," Zhongli agreed wholeheartedly.
In the past:
He had no way to save his oldest friend from erosion.He could only slightly alleviate the suffering of his loyal Yaksha, tormented by karmic debt.
But now—he saw a path forward!
He clasped his hands and bowed solemnly to Lu Heng. "Mr. Lu, I owe you my deepest thanks."
"Why thank me?"
Lu Heng chuckled, ruffling Klee's hair. "The one who deserves thanks isn't me."
"Cause precedes effect," Zhongli said seriously. "If not for your arrival, Klee wouldn't have obtained this card."
"Big Brother Lu's shop is amazing~!" Klee giggled.
Lu Heng gently pinched her cheek. "Now even if little Klee accidentally hurts someone, it's okay."
"But Klee still shouldn't hurt people~!" She shook her head firmly. "Hurting people is wrong!"
"Klee."
Zhongli crouched down to her level, smiling warmly. "Later, I'll need your help with something too. Would you be willing? It's about throwing bombs at people."
"To heal them?"
"Yes."
Klee beamed. "Klee agrees!"
"Thank you."
A weight lifted from Zhongli's heart.
"No need to thank~!" Klee waved cheerfully.
This child had no idea just how significant her gold card was.
How many lives would it save?
How many regrets would it undo?
Lu Heng smiled faintly, holding Klee's small hand.
She didn't need to overthink it—she just needed to stay happy.
"Come on, let's go eat something delicious."
"Klee is hungry too~!"
"You heard her! Klee's hungry—let's go! I still don't know what that mushroom tastes like!"
The only one as clueless as Klee, Tartaglia, urged them on. "It's gotta be amazing. It's a heavenly treasure, after all!"
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T/N:
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