"Flowers bloom, flowers fade, yet those who left have not returned…"
"Another flower has bloomed…"
Grandma Ping gazed at the Glaze Lily under the tree. Sadness flickered across her wrinkled face. Year after year, the flowers blossomed, but some old friends remained only in the past.
An adeptus's life was long, their appearance ageless. But her heart had grown old, so she no longer lived as a youthful maiden.
"Ping'er, Ping'er, why are you sighing like this?"
Though Grandma Ping and Streetward Rambler looked like different people, Guizhong recognized her old sister instantly.
So much had changed. She carried the air of twilight now.
"Are my old eyes deceiving me?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Grandma Ping raised her head. For a moment she froze, then removed her glasses to rub them clean.
"Hahaha, never thought I'd see you like this, Ping'er."
Guizhong finally laughed. The bright, lively sound left Grandma Ping certain her eyes weren't playing tricks.
"Gui… Guizhong…"
Her voice trembled. Her form shifted, and Streetward Rambler reappeared, taking the form Guizhong remembered as Ping'er.
White hair turned to azure locks tied up with a hairpin. A hunched figure straightened. In flowing robes, she radiated immortal grace.
Noelle and Eula's eyes went wide. This was a Liyue adeptus? One moment an old lady, the next a celestial beauty. Like a fairy.
"Yes, this form feels right."
"Ping'er, long time no see. I've returned."
Guizhong nodded, wide sleeves hiding her smile.
"Guizhong… hehe, it's good you're back." Ping'er smiled faintly.
This year the Glaze Lilies bloomed again, and an old friend returned.
How wonderful.
"It's thanks to him that I could return." Guizhong pointed at Koji, smiling.
"Thank you, young friend. If you ever need help, ask, and I'll do what I can." Ping'er said kindly.
"Streetward Rambler, I'd like a Serenitea Pot. You should have one, right?"
Koji pulled out the Jade Pendant Xiao had given him. Ping'er's eyes showed surprise. For the Golden-Winged Yaksha to give this meant Koji had done him great service.
"Yes, of course. Even without the pendant, I would have given you one."
A Serenitea Pot couldn't compare to the favor of reviving Guizhong. Even her whole treasury would have been worth offering.
"Do you have the method for making Serenitea Pots?" Koji asked.
"Yes, but their creation requires adeptal power. Young friend, do you have any?" Ping'er blinked, then nodded.
"I can substitute with other forces. I only want the method for reference."
"In that case, very well."
She handed over the crafting method.
"Guizhong, does Morax know you've returned?" Ping'er asked.
"That rock? No. Koji masked my presence. I don't plan to see him just yet."
"By the way, Ping'er, I heard Morax wants to retire. Did you know?"
Ping'er paused, then nodded. "He told me not long ago. Liuyun and the others don't know yet."
Of course—if they were to play their roles convincingly, they couldn't be informed beforehand.
"Fake death? Doesn't Morax realize there are too many flaws?"
Guizhong scoffed. A top god assassinated without a trace? Impossible.
"Flaws or not, when people see the Geo Archon fall, none will think calmly." Ping'er shook her head with a smile.
With Liyue's reverence, panic would follow. Even if the Qixing realized later, it would be too late. They would have to follow the Archon's plan.
"…Sounds unreliable, like the Anemo Archon." Paimon muttered.
"Paimon, stop."
Lumine frowned. Saying that in front of Liyue's adeptus took guts.
"Haha, it's fine. Morax is unreliable in this matter." Guizhong laughed.
Ping'er stayed silent. She didn't want to speak against the Geo Archon.
"Ping'er, what if, when Morax fakes his death, I rush up crying? Wouldn't that be hilarious?"
Guizhong's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"…"
Ping'er's lips twitched. She didn't know about "hilarious," but Zhongli's brain would certainly crash.
A long-dead friend suddenly appears, bawling over his "corpse"? He would be mortified.
Mortals might not notice, but a fellow god like Guizhong could see through it instantly.
"The Anemo Archon is here too. We can call him to join." Koji grinned wickedly.
"The Anemo Archon as well?"
Ping'er sighed. That unsteady Mondstadt god had come to Liyue too? This Rite of Descension would be interesting indeed.
A moment of silence for Morax.
With Venti in the open, Guizhong in the shadows, Zhongli's blood pressure would not survive.
"Guizhong, catch up with Streetward Rambler first. Then help me with the house later." Koji didn't want to intrude.
After they left, Ping'er asked curiously: "Guizhong, what's this about a house?"
"Nothing much. Koji wants to build one in Guili Plains. He asked me to help." Guizhong shrugged.
She had the experience. It was no trouble.
"Guili Plains? But the god remnants there are heavy." Ping'er frowned.
The Geo Archon had slain many gods. Their remains still lingered, making the plains unfit for humans.
"Koji has a way. And do you think they're ordinary mortals?" Guizhong smiled.
Ordinary mortals couldn't have revived her.
"True… I wonder if the others could return." Ping'er sighed softly.
She meant Bosacius and the rest. If they could come back, how wonderful it would be.
Back when all the adepti gathered to drink and talk, those were the best of days.
"Ping'er, I bet Koji can make it happen. Why not marry him, then ask him to revive our old friends?" Guizhong teased.
Ping'er froze, then glared. "Don't spout nonsense."
This old friend hadn't changed a bit. But that too was comforting.
(End of Chapter)
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