"Venti, do you know if the old Geo God plans to stir things up at this year's Rite of Descension?" Koji suddenly asked.
"Hm?"
"The old man? Stirring things up?"
Venti blinked. He really didn't know.
Made sense. If the Anemo Archon knew, he'd crash the event for fun. Zhongli wouldn't risk that.
"Tell me the details. What's he planning?"
Venti's eyes lit up. He smelled entertainment. How mean of the old man, keeping it secret.
"He plans to retire," Koji said bluntly. With only friends around, no risk of leaks.
"What?"
Venti gaped. The old man retiring? Was he hearing wrong?
Eula and Noelle exchanged looks. The Geo Archon retiring—was this something they were supposed to hear?
The implications… They both realized who stood before them.
"Explain," Venti leaned closer, excited.
"Maybe he feels Liyue can govern itself now. So he's handing it over to humans."
"Human rule, huh. The old man really trusts them," Venti sighed.
"Bard, isn't Mondstadt ruled by humans too? You hardly show up," Paimon asked curiously.
"Haha, when you put it that way, fair point," he laughed.
"Venti, do you know Paimon's origin?" Lumine suddenly asked.
Paimon reminded her of that white-haired god. Even if not the same, surely connected.
Paimon scratched her head. She didn't know her past. She remembered only wandering alone, falling into the sea while searching for food, then being fished out by Lumine.
"…"
Venti didn't answer. He knew some things, but her background was taboo. Saying it aloud could trigger uncontrollable chains.
"Lumine, think about Paimon's name. Then think about Venti's god-name," Koji said, grinning.
Too funny to keep quiet.
Liyue's Morax, Inazuma's Baal and Beelzebul, Sumeru's Buer…
"…Barbatos, eighth of Solomon's seventy-two demon lords. Paimon… the ninth."
Lumine frowned. Crowned head—fitting.
She'd never connected Teyvat's Archons to the seventy-two demons before. Names weren't identical, but the link was there.
"Paimon, were you once a demon god?" Lumine tilted her head. Her companion's past seemed bigger than expected.
"What are you talking about?"
Paimon herself had no clue. Could it be true?
"Enough guessing. You'll know when it's time," Venti said helplessly.
"Tch. Stop playing riddles and get out of Teyvat," Koji grumbled.
"Whatever she was, now she's weaker than a boar," Lumine teased. "One punch and she cries."
Paimon wanted to protest but couldn't. She secretly wished her old power would return, so she could flip the tables.
"Paimon, are you thinking bad thoughts?"
Lumine grabbed her, squishing her chubby cheeks. Dreaming of rebellion? Heh. By the time you regain your strength, I'll have mine too. Then we'll settle it—winner becomes master, loser becomes emergency food.
Best to discipline kids early.
"Venti, how exactly will the old man retire? Announce it during the Rite?"
"A god retiring isn't small," Venti mused.
"He'll stage his own assassination. Fake his death, then watch how Liyue handles things," Koji said.
"Ahh, so that's it," Venti nodded.
If he simply declared retirement, old enemies wouldn't move—too risky. But if they thought he was dead, some would strike.
The old man, always playing chess.
"Still, isn't faking death too sloppy?" Venti frowned.
A slain god's residue could poison the land for ages.
Especially one like Morax. If he really died in Liyue Harbor, nothing would grow.
"I'll tag along," Venti chuckled.
The old man's black history was worth recording—even if it earned a beating. He'd even packed a kamera.
Some random Liyue street rat: "Achoo!"
"Lord Barbatos, if you leave, what about Mondstadt?" Noelle asked.
So their Archon was leaving with them?
"No worries. If anything happens, I can return instantly," Venti waved.
Eula sighed. Their god didn't seem reliable.
But Koji knew he wasn't bluffing. Of the Seven, Anemo was the most mobile.
Barbatos hid the deepest of them all.
The Akademiya had studied Mondstadt's gliders. Their function defied physics—each carried Barbatos's blessing.
His power reached far beyond Mondstadt. He could even pull Stanley's soul from the windless Dark Sea.
…
From Windrise, they traveled past Springvale, through Dawn Winery, across the Stone Gate, into Dihua Marsh.
Other paths existed—like straight over Dragonspine. Real men crossed mountains.
But not everyone had Koji's blessings. The long route was warmer.
"Hmm?"
As soon as Venti stepped into Liyue's territory, Zhongli frowned.
"That drunk… why is he here?"
On any other day, fine. But during the Rite? Unease gnawed at him.
He knew Venti too well.
"Master Hu, I need to step out," Zhongli told Hu Tao, leaving Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Seriously? He acts like a guest, but lives like a lord," Hu Tao pouted.
He barely did any real work, yet kept adding to the bill.
(End of Chapter)
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