"So, if that's the case, we need to find the Adepti, but we don't know where they are, and what if they refuse to see us?"
Paimon stroked her chin, voicing her concerns.
"Don't worry, I'm very familiar with Ganyu, and I've had the fortune of meeting Cloud Retainer a few times. I have a map here, and I can mark the locations for you."
Mu Qingge took out a map and began marking it. After finishing, she handed it to Lumine, then took out a feather.
"Take this with you, and Moon Carver will come out to meet you."
Tartaglia quietly put away the Sigil of Permission in his hand.
"When I return, the Millelith will call off the search for the two of you. Thank you for your trouble."
Paimon put her hands on her hips, her small head tilted up: "Don't worry, we'll definitely complete the mission!"
Although there was a small misunderstanding at first, Paimon now fully trusted Mu Qingge again.
First impressions of a person are very important, and Paimon felt that someone who could be good friends with a person like Ruola shouldn't be a bad person, no matter how she thought about it.
"Well, in that case, I have very important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Mu Qingge's expression was a bit downcast, clearly still reeling from the Archon's demise.
After walking a short distance, Mu Qingge turned back and reminded them:
"The Fatui are very untrustworthy. Although I haven't caught them red-handed, I can confirm that they definitely have some kind of conspiracy. Be extra vigilant."
Lumine nodded, indicating she understood.
Tartaglia looked at Mu Qingge, speechless:
"Are you serious, sis? I'm still here~"
"Hmph, you know whether I'm right or not. I told you before, once I uncover the truth, even if you are a Snezhnaya envoy, the Qixing will not let you off lightly."
After Mu Qingge left, Tartaglia looked at Lumine and Paimon. Seeing that they had reverted to their previous vigilance, he was quite helpless.
"Ladies, although the situation is a bit awkward now, I would still like to invite you to the Northland Bank for a discussion. At that time, I will tell you everything I know, and I will respect whatever you decide afterward. How about it?"
"I see that you two are also a bit tired. I have prepared food and drink at the Northland Bank. Even if you're going to find the Adepti, you need to eat first, right?"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances, and finally nodded.
There's no harm in listening to what this guy has to say.
---
Returning to her official residence, Mu Qingge immediately lifted the warrant for Lumine and Paimon. After arranging the internal affairs of the Millelith, she went to find Ningguang.
By this time, it was already dark, and the Archon's body had been secretly transferred to the Golden House. Ningguang and Keqing were both there.
Keqing's expression was somber as she looked at the Archon's dragon body: "Though I yearn for Liyue to be governed by humans, I did not wish for it to come about this way, Archon…"
Ningguang saw Mu Qingge approaching and nodded slightly to her.
"You're here."
"Mm."
Mu Qingge approached the Archon's dragon body, seemingly wanting to reach out and touch it, but ultimately did not.
"Why did you bring the Archon's body here?"
Ningguang sighed: "The Archon's passing is a matter of great importance, far beyond what we could have anticipated. Now, the populace is in a panic, and those behind the scenes are stirring. In these troubled times, the most important thing is to stabilize the people's morale, apprehend the true culprit, and give the people an explanation."
Mu Qingge disagreed: "Traditions cannot be changed. With the Archon's passing, the Rite of Parting should be given top priority."
Ningguang shook her head:
"The mastermind has yet to reveal themselves, and things are far more complicated than you imagine. Hiding the Archon's dragon body is a last resort. The public has not yet truly confirmed the Archon's demise; it will take time for the news to spread, and the situation is still under control…"
After listening to Ningguang's explanation, Mu Qingge nodded gently:
"I understand, but I don't agree. Our current actions appear suspicious to outsiders. If the Adepti come to inquire, what explanation will we give?"
"Since it has already happened, there's no need to hide anything. The public isn't that fragile…"
As Mu Qingge spoke, she suddenly stopped.
Ningguang and Keqing were listening intently to her words, and seeing her stop, they both looked at her in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Mu Qingge frowned, carefully observing the Ancestral Transformation.
After a moment, she asked:
"What is the situation at Yujing Terrace now?"
"It has been restored to its original state."
Mu Qingge pondered for a while, then finally looked at Ningguang:
"Do as you say. I will handle the Archon's Rite of Parting. Don't worry, it won't cause much of a stir. Once everything is over, we can hold a grand Rite of Parting as a supplement."
Since even Mu Qingge said so, Ningguang had no objections.
She had previously worried that Mu Qingge would disagree with them, as her fervent devotion to the Archon was well-known in Liyue, and she also held military power.
This outcome was the best, entirely beneficial to her subsequent arrangements.
"If you need any help, just send someone to find me. If I'm not here, find Fengyan."
---
By the time she left the Golden House, it was already late at night.
She had already realized that the Geo Archon was not dead at all!
From ancient texts, it was known that when a Archon falls, even the weakest Archon would form a forbidden zone around them, where no living creature could survive.
The Archon was so powerful, and held one of the strongest elemental authorities — the Geo element. If he had truly fallen, how could there be no impact whatsoever?!
She had been confused before, and this knowledge about Archons was very, very rare; she had only learned it by chance previously.
Now that she knew the Archon was not dead, by inferring further, Mu Qingge also roughly understood the Archon's intentions.
(The above is Mu Qingge's outward demeanor, which can also be seen as: acting.)
As for personally handling the Rite of Parting, besides getting more screen time by joining the protagonist group, she could also gain the Archon's favor!
Moreover, the Archon's passing, though not a true passing, but with such a grand display…
Liyue's traditions cannot be abandoned!
Since she decided to organize the Rite of Parting herself, the items needed for the Rite of Parting naturally had to be the best!
Coincidentally, she had a hobby of collecting the highest quality stones, and she had a top-grade Noctilucous Jade at home.
No Noctilucous Jade circulating on the market could compare to the one she had collected.
It took a lot of time to rush home from the Golden House.
Mu Qingge's home was in the eastern part of Liyue Harbor, a very ordinary civilian house. Besides her, there was a younger sister, making a total of four people in the family.
Her sister, Mu Qingxu, was three years younger than her, and fourteen this year.
Perhaps because of her, this sister, who had no role in the original game, also received a Vision.
And it was a Hydro Vision.
Both of the Mu family's daughters were Vision holders, highly envied by the people of Liyue Harbor.
When they were very young, her sister always liked to follow her around. As she grew older, her responsibilities increased, and she became busier and busier, having less and less time to spend with her sister.
The two sisters' relationship had always been very good, and Mu Qingxu had always seen her sister as the goal she would pursue throughout her life.
Mu Qingge's feelings towards these family members were very complex.
She loved them, but this relationship was destined to be difficult from the very beginning.
According to the plan, the fate of her alternate identities would not be good.
As these alternate identities slowly grew up on the continent of Teyvat, Mu Qingge thought about abandoning the plan more than once. Her sister in her original world was her family, so why wouldn't the one in this world be?
However, in the end, Mu Qingge still decided to proceed with the plan.
Because the system gave her a promise that the final outcome would definitely be a happy one.
The process might be painful, but the ending would definitely be beautiful!
It's just that they would all inevitably experience the pain of loss. There was no way around it; they were the people Jiang Mumu was destined to let down.
Because of this, all seven alternate identities would try their best to compensate them well before the outcome arrived.
The seven alternate identities might occasionally seem a bit unfeeling towards outsiders, but towards their family, without exception, they were extremely loving and filial.
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