"Traveler, this is…"
Knowing that Lumine and Ken were on good terms, Ningguang turned to ask.
To be able to confine Osial like that, the power was certainly enough to reseal him. She didn't understand why Ken hadn't acted, and was instead sitting on a cloud, seemingly drinking tea.
"Ah… that's because Mr. Ken's daughter loves blasting fish. But her bombs are too powerful and have blown up Mondstadt's landscape pretty badly. So Mr. Ken wants to let her blast fish to her heart's content in Liyue."
Lumine felt a bit embarrassed.
In such a righteous, solemn moment, saying "fish blasting" was a little awkward.
Sure enough—
As Lumine's words fell, the adeptus' expressions twitched.
Someone so powerful had come… to let his daughter blast fish?
Granted, while blasting fish he was helping them resolve a crisis. Still, it was unbelievable.
"Didn't think he doted on his daughter so much."
Keqing's mouth twitched for a long time before she squeezed that out.
Even Ningguang struggled to remain composed. In the instant Ken appeared, she'd thought of ten thousand reasons he might help them—even the ridiculous idea that he was coveting her and Keqing's beauty. But she hadn't thought of this reason.
His way of doing things was truly… unconventional.
Still, she knew that regardless of his motives, he had helped them hold Osial at bay. For that alone, Ken would be a most honored guest in Liyue.
After this was over, the Qixing would have to thank him properly.
"Then… what should we do now?" Keqing held her sword, suddenly feeling a little lost.
Against an ancient malice, she could do little. With Osial trapped in a light barrier and Ken's daughter blasting fish, there wasn't much they could contribute.
Lumine pursed her lips. "Why don't we… have some tea?"
"Mm-mm, tea! Paimon's hungry!" Paimon rubbed her belly.
Ningguang: "…"
Ill-timed as it seemed to have tea and snacks, they truly weren't needed right now. In fact, if they acted, they might hinder more than help.
So they sat… and watched.
Ningguang motioned, and tea and pastries were quickly brought.
Since that was that, she didn't intrude further. She simply met Ken's gaze across the pouring rain.
"Hmph… In that case, we should continue our earlier discussion."
With the crisis relieved, Cloud-Retainer immediately re-entered "arguing mode."
After they were done arguing, they could properly thank Ken—that was the etiquette of the adeptus of Jueyun Karst.
If their hearts held resentment, it would show. How could they offer sincere thanks?
The other adeptus, seeing Cloud-Retainer's stance, grew solemn as well.
Lumine: "…"
Seriously? They were about to sacrifice the Jade Chamber and fight together—and now they wanted to continue arguing?
In front of Osial?
Were they okay?
Only Xiao remained silent.
He stared at the figure in the sky, sensing a familiar aura from Ken.
"It is the Geo Archon's aura…"
Xiao carefully sensed the Geo energy—subtle among other auras, yet clear to one who had fought alongside the Lord.
Could it be…
Was Ken the Geo Archon?
Had the Archon not died, but was testing them?
Then that little girl beside him—was she the Geo Archon's daughter?
It was hard for demon gods to beget offspring. Had the Archon found a way to leave one?
Xiao's heart was a tangle of feelings. He couldn't be bothered to join the quarrel. He simply watched Ken.
...
High above.
Ken sat in a chair, sipping tea. Seeing Klee so excited made him happy too.
So this was a father's heart.
Watching his daughter blast fish with such delight made him feel good.
"Got enough bombs? If not, Daddy's got more."
Knowing he'd be taking Klee to blast fish, Ken had made some Jumpty Dumpties himself.
"Plenty! Klee knew Daddy would take her blasting, so Klee started preparing a long time ago! Heehee! Watch Klee's Jumpty Dumpties—blow the big fish till it's cooked, then everyone can eat!"
Klee hugged her little backpack, dancing with joy.
She'd never blasted fish so recklessly—she was thrilled.
But a fish this big should be cooked slowly, right?
Otherwise it'd burn and taste bad!
"Lalala… Klee will use the new Jumpty Dumpty so the fish won't get overcooked."
She carefully took out some new bombs, her big eyes shining.
Ever since she learned Ken knew his explosives, Klee often studied with him.
Much of the theory was still hard, but she'd invented a new type of Jumpty Dumpty.
It wasn't as strong as the fireworks bomb Ken had given her, but much stronger than a normal Jumpty.
But Jean was strict—she'd never had the chance to test it.
Now she finally could.
"Daddy, fish cooked with these will definitely be super tasty!"
Drooling at the thought of crispy-outside, tender-inside fish, she hurled bombs down like there was no tomorrow.
A dozen new Dumpties fell from the sky.
Halfway down, they burst apart, each dividing into over a dozen bomblets. Carrying searing Pyro, they screamed toward Osial from multiple angles.
"Filthy… despicable…"
Osial, a Hydro demon god, detested the volatile Pyro most.
Watching bomb after bomb rain down while he was bound in a light barrier and unable to resist filled him with unbearable frustration.
The most humiliating thing in the world wasn't being suppressed by a stronger foe.
It was being interrupted while trying to show off—and getting repeatedly slapped in the face.
After thousands of years sealed under Guyun, he'd finally met a chance to break free. Before he could stir the seas and let Liyue witness his prowess, he was bombed into a mess.
His HP was thick, but bomb after bomb wore even a face thick as a city wall raw.
Even an ancient demon god felt this socially fatal.
"Damn you, how dare you humiliate me?! When I break free, I'll swallow you whole!"
Osial cursed.
Sneak-attack me? Fine. Reseal me? I'll take it.
But treating me like a fish to blast—that was too much!
Hearing Klee's cheers, then seeing the adeptus and Qixing arguing with gusto nearby, his humiliation deepened.
What, you couldn't argue later?
Arguing in front of me now… wasn't that a slap in my face?
And the racket atop the Jade Chamber grew, especially that flashy crane adepti—so riled her feathers stood up. Were they serious?
Osial roared and roared.
But his howls were blocked by the light barrier and couldn't reach the Jade Chamber.
Otherwise, even if bombed to death, he'd have killed those ants.
Such disrespect for an ancient demon god—unforgivable!
...
Never mind Osial fuming—even Ken felt speechless.
Especially seeing Cloud-Retainer getting more and more agitated, jumping up and swearing—Ken was exasperated.
Could they show Osial a little respect?
He was a primordial malice, after all. Was wedging in an argument here really appropriate?
"Daddy, why won't it die?"
After twenty minutes of bombing, Klee stood hands-on-hips, panting.
She had thrown until she was tired, but the big fish still lived.
She didn't get it.
"He's an ancient demon god—thick-skinned," Ken said, taking out two small bombs. "Use these."
He'd added a dozen special components to these. They wouldn't kill a primordial demon god, but they'd wound him for sure.
Most importantly, they'd make his daughter happy.
"Yay!!"
Klee grabbed the two bombs and tossed them down eagerly.
Ken's fireworks bombs were always powerful—but this time, they were far stronger than the ones used on Dvalin.
As they blossomed in the sky, casting five-colored brilliance, half the sea was engulfed by their force. Tsunamis and winds rose, snapping the adeptus and Qixing out of their argument.
"With bombs this strong, and he still isn't dead?"
Keqing felt the interweaving Pyro and Electro and was stunned.
If that fell on Liyue Harbor, half the city would be flattened.
But Osial—though his jaw plate was shattered and his arrogance gone—wasn't dead.
"The vortex demon god's power is immense—not something bombs can kill. But he's been bombed into weakness; resealing him won't be a problem."
Ganyu, thousands of years old and a veteran of the Archon War, explained softly.
"Still… to craft such destructive bombs is enough to make adeptus take notice."
Cloud-Retainer's eyes showed open admiration.
She didn't praise lightly—but today was an exception.
This one's power surpassed even the Geo Archon.
...
With the two bombs dropped, Osial's spirit was completely broken.
Even then, he wouldn't yield.
"Morax!!"
Osial's thunderous curses poured out, all aimed at Morax.
Sensing a familiar Geo power in the barrier around him, he instantly decided Ken was Morax.
Ages of bitterness erupted.
"After all these centuries… to think you still linger in the mortal world, even siring a daughter!!"
"Morax… I curse your ancestors!"
"To humiliate me so… Morax!!"
The relentless stream of curses echoed, making the adeptus and Qixing bristle with rage.
To insult the Archon—worthy of death!
But they couldn't beat him… so they could only listen.
Still—why curse the Geo Archon? Ken was the one beating you.
Only Xiao's expression was complicated. He'd thought Ken was the Archon—but Ken's style was so unlike the Archon's that he was unsure.
However—
Osial's fishwife tirade made Zhongli's gaze grow cold behind another cloud. His hand on the teacup trembled.
He looked calmly at Ken. "Got any more bombs?"
"Mm… a dozen more." Ken handed bombs to the hidden Zhongli.
From this height, the Qixing couldn't see the small motions. Even if Zhongli threw them, they'd assume Klee did.
Taking the bombs, Zhongli looked at the raving demon god and tossed them down without hesitation.
What was Osial's problem?
Ken and his daughter were the ones beating him. Why direct every curse at the Geo Archon?
Even living rock has limits.
A wave of scorching force erupted around Osial, exploding again and again.
"Morax…"
"I…"
Before he could finish, a bomb flew into his mouth. The explosion tore his maw, and he could no longer bellow.
But the blasts didn't stop.
After tossing all the bombs, Zhongli dusted his hands, satisfied.
Looking through the clouds, he could clearly see the once-arrogant Osial crouching in the light barrier, clutching his head, going "abba abba," his huge body trembling.
That fearsome face was full of bitter tears.
Sealed for so long, finally seeing daylight—only to be suppressed again in under three seconds.
Even his mouth was jammed full.
Osial radiated strong resentment—but more than that, utter dejection.
For the first time since becoming a demon god, he'd been shamed into silence.
In front of a crowd of mortals, no less.
Zhongli only felt refreshed. He looked at Ken. "Klee has played enough, no? Time to send him off."
...