Liyue's morning sun blazed. Venti was frog-marched down the street, emerald eyes wide with shock.
He knew the Liyue Qixing were eager to institute human rule, but surely they wouldn't go so far as to reject a neighboring nation's god? He, Barbatos, came to attend a ceremony, and they arrested him?
"What are you looking at? Daring to assassinate the Geo Archon in Liyue—you won't be leaving here alive."
A Millelith soldier barked at Venti, who was fidgeting nonstop.
This green hamster and that blonde girl were like ghosts—appearing and vanishing. It took great effort to catch the green one; as for the blonde, no leads yet.
"Me? Assassinate the Geo Archon?"
Venti's youthful face twitched.
He, Barbatos, assassinated Morax?
Are you serious?
"Hmph. Mr. Zhongli filed a real-name report last night. Your behavior is extremely suspicious. Come quietly—everything will be clarified."
The Millelith squad leader spoke sternly.
Venti: "Who reported me?"
"Mr. Zhongli." The leader sneered. "During the Rite of Descension, we noticed you were close to that blonde girl. A little digging confirmed it. Enough talk."
Venti: "?"
All right, Zhongli… you old fox.
Only now did Venti realize he'd been set up.
No wonder Ken asked if he wanted to go back to Mondstadt this morning.
So that's what he meant!
But must Blue Star people be so indirect? He hadn't understood at all, okay? Otherwise he'd have scampered back to Mondstadt—or at worst, napped on Blue Star—far better than this.
Came for a feast and got himself served.
"Is the old man holding a grudge over that business back then?"
After much thought, Venti arrived at that conclusion and could only cooperate.
He wanted to see how the Liyue Qixing would handle this.
…
Yuehai Pavilion.
In a tidy, document-laden yet elegant office, Ningguang and Keqing sat face to face, the air taut.
"Since we can see Liyue's future through the Great Prophecy, why not use it to investigate this matter? It saves time and trouble."
Ningguang wanted to visit Feiyun Slope to find the great prophet Ken, but as soon as she neared Yuehai Pavilion, a hurried Keqing stopped her and brought her into the office.
Ningguang didn't understand Keqing's insistence.
The world's affairs are like commerce—if there's an easier way that saves time and avoids hassle, why not use it?
"If we solve it by prophecy, what do the Qixing exist for?
"If the people learn that, after the Archon's passing, we can't even solve a case without help from another world, our standing will plummet."
Keqing folded her arms, unyielding.
With the Archon gone, the Qixing had to bear the weight.
Ningguang's red eyes shimmered. "Keqing… I know you're close to the prophet. You can just… look quietly. Publicly, we'll still announce the Qixing found the truth."
She paused.
"Given your looks, getting him to keep quiet should be simple, no?"
Keqing: "?!!"
Watching Ningguang's straight face, Keqing's chest rose and fell.
As expected!
She still found it hard to interact with Ningguang normally. The woman's head was full of deals and tradeoffs—intolerable.
She even teased her like this.
Was the Yuheng Xing supposed to sell her charms to get things done?
Even if she wanted to watch the "plot," she'd earn Ken's recognition through her own ability and receive a prophecy.
With that, Keqing frowned. "If the Tianquan wants to do that, why not go yourself?"
"I'm not as young and pretty as Yuheng. He might prefer mature older sisters."
Seeing Keqing's face darken, Ningguang relented. "If you won't, then let's discuss the matter of the Exuvia."
From Jean's correspondence, Ningguang had confirmed one thing:
The Fatui's Signora went to Mondstadt to seize Barbatos's Gnosis.
Thus Childe in Liyue clearly had the same goal.
Though the Geo Archon had passed, the Exuvia was vital. The Qixing could not allow outsiders to defile it, nor the Gnosis to fall to the Fatui.
So the Exuvia had to be placed somewhere safe.
"The Exuvia?" Keqing was surprised. The body was heavily guarded. It shouldn't be defiled.
Ningguang lowered her voice. "The Fatui went to Mondstadt for the Gnosis."
"What?" Keqing's amethyst eyes widened.
Though she had sources within Liyue, she was not as plugged in on foreign affairs as Ningguang.
"It's absolutely true," Ningguang said solemnly. "The one who told me is upright and honest—no reason to lie about this. We must hide the Exuvia and prevent the Fatui from succeeding… or Liyue's future will be even harsher."
The Qixing were already in the eye of the storm.
Luckily, the other qixing were investigating from the shadows—a hidden line.
Even so, the situation remained grim.
Enemies in hiding, the adepti of Jueyun Karst, and the people of Liyue.
If any link was mishandled, Liyue Harbor's millennia of splendor could be ruined overnight.
"Hide it in the Golden House."
As overseer of land and construction, Keqing knew every inch of Liyue.
Close to Liyue Harbor and easy to conceal—the Golden House where Mora is minted was ideal.
"Good… an excellent choice. Move it there under cover of night."
Ningguang's burden eased a little. Though she and Keqing differed in philosophy, it was good to have someone to consult and share the load.
With that settled, the biggest remaining issue was the adepti of Jueyun Karst.
"As for Jueyun Karst, I think—" Ningguang was pondering when her secretary Baixiao entered. "Lady Ningguang, the Millelith have apprehended a suspicious person."
"A suspicious person?" Ningguang frowned. "Bring him in."
Soon after,
The Millelith brought in Venti. After Ningguang gave him a look, they tied him up and took him outside to await questioning.
"Keqing, do you really think he's suspicious?"
Once the room was quiet again, Ningguang rubbed her temples.
She had sealed the scene that day and claimed the culprit was present—purely for the people's sake. She knew the killer hadn't been at the Rite.
She did that to lock down the news, buying time before the adepti in Jueyun Karst learned anything.
"Aren't you also tracing that blonde traveler?" Keqing narrowed her eyes.
Ningguang sighed. "Yes… but we both know why I did that then. I'm looking for the traveler to speak with her and seek her help."
"I know you want to stabilize the situation. But this man is close to the traveler; arresting him will draw her in." Keqing's face was set.
She didn't care for Ningguang's tone earlier.
As Yuheng, she understood Ningguang's intent in sealing the scene.
She was surprised Ningguang wanted the traveler's help, though.
"All right… we'll do it your way. As for the Rite of Parting, I'll entrust it to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant, Mr. Zhongli. He's erudite and can handle it. During the Rite, out of respect for the Archon, the people are less likely to act rashly."
"And that window will be the Qixing's best chance to assume control of Liyue. We must also dispatch an envoy to Jueyun Karst to inform the adepti. But the envoy must be neutral."
"Or rather… neutral but leaning toward us, so they can frame the message and keep the adepti from turning their wrath on the Qixing. Otherwise it'll be very difficult."
Ningguang laid out her plan.
She'd calmed the citizens for now, but they had to inform the adepti quickly. If the adepti heard from someone else, they'd think the Qixing deliberately hid the news and target them.
And the traveler, in Ningguang's view, was the best envoy.
A newcomer from another world with few entanglements with the Qixing—but with ties to Jean—would be inclined to be friendly. Perfect.
"I think Mr. Ken is most suitable."
Keqing praised the plan, but voiced her own thought.
The great prophet with the Great Prophecy, also from another world, and highly esteemed in Mondstadt—he'd be ideal.
Ningguang smiled, eyes appraising. "Yuheng seems very invested in the prophet. Youthful heart indeed."
Keqing blushed. "We're discussing business!"
"If you can persuade him, all the better. But we must also find the traveler. Two plans in parallel." Ningguang was firm.
Keqing nodded. "Understood. With that green hamster in our hands, the traveler will come. Once she appears in Liyue Harbor, you'll know immediately."
Their discussion concluded smoothly.
Ningguang raised her hand; her aide stepped out and brought Venti back in.
"I'm not the culprit who assassinated the Archon. I'm just a free-spirited bard."
Seeing Ningguang and Keqing, Venti spoke up at once.
Ningguang smiled faintly. "A bard from Mondstadt—whether you're involved or not, I hope you'll cooperate."
She glanced at Baishi. "Hold this bard for now… but treat him well. Nothing must happen to him."
Venti: "???"
With that arranged, Ningguang looked out over bustling Liyue, her heart calm.
A nation guarded by its Archon and adepti for 3,700 years would at last accept his passing.
…
Outside Liyue.
"Aren't you supposed to take the Clearance Sigil to Jueyun Karst to seek the adepti?"
Childe eyed Lumine and Paimon loafing around the countryside, surprised.
When the accident occurred at the Rite of Descension yesterday, he'd helped Lumine escape and generously offered the Clearance Sigil so she could inform the adepti and prove her innocence.
By rights, Lumine and Paimon should be en route to Jueyun Karst.
Not hanging around outside Liyue.
"What are you doing here?" Paimon asked, a bit guilty.
Childe folded his arms. "I have business here. Why aren't you heading to Jueyun Karst?"
"We've already been and returned," Lumine said evenly. "We brought wind gliders from Mondstadt and reached Jueyun Karst last night. But the adeptus Cloud Retainer is elusive, and only special dishes might draw her out, so…"
Having seen the "plot," Lumine hadn't gone at once.
She knew the speedrun.
Even if she went now, she'd need those dishes; running back and forth would waste time and energy. Better to prep in advance.
To avoid arousing Childe's suspicions, and because deviating from the plan would mess with the timeline, Lumine needed to stall, then speedrun Jueyun Karst. She hadn't expected to run into him now.
Childe: "Hmm?"
"Since the adepti are picky eaters, ordinary food won't do. We need a lot of Mora to buy ingredients, but…" Lumine feigned an empty purse.
Childe immediately understood. "I see. Mora shouldn't be a problem. How much?"
"One million Mora!" Paimon blurted. "We need top chefs—the costs are huge."
Childe waved grandly. "Not a problem. Charge it to the Northland Bank."
Lumine nodded. "Then we'll go find Mr. Ken to prepare dishes the adepti like. He's a great prophet from another world; he can surely make something to their taste."
"Mr. Ken? I've heard of him. Let's go together," Childe said, excited. He'd heard that Signora had suffered at this prophet's hands in Mondstadt; he was eager to make his acquaintance.
"…All right." Lumine's mouth twitched. With that brain of his, going to see Ken could only mean one thing: the Northland Bank would rack up another mountain of charges.