Liyue.
Mu Qingge stood on a bustling street, leaning against a wall as she silently ate a flatbread she had just bought.
She hadn't felt it before, but now that she had calmed down, she realized she was utterly exhausted, with dark circles forming under her eyes.
Earlier, Mu Qingge had been meticulously researching the necessary steps for the Rite of Parting, anxious about making even the slightest mistake. After all, the Rite of Parting wasn't her responsibility, and she had never been involved in it before.
Although she knew she would be with Lumine and the others, and Zhongli would be there too, so any questions could easily be answered by him, Mu Qingge believed in doing things thoroughly. Since she had initially decided to perform the entire Rite of Parting alone, she needed to know everything about it.
-
Player World.
After meeting Zhongli, Guojia was immediately captivated by the knowledgeable, dignified young man. She made up her mind on the spot.
"Family, this guy is definitely not ordinary! Look at his noble air and how he speaks with such old-fashioned authority. He's absolutely a big shot!"
"You're asking how I figured it out? Seriously? He's wearing a long, black robe, for crying out loud! Everyone knows what those colors meant in ancient times, right? And look at that aura!"
[An Adeptus?]
[I think he's one of the Qixing.]
[Ahem, didn't they already say he's the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant?]
[Based on my years of gaming experience, this guy is definitely more than just a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant. He's gotta have another identity!]
[No duh...]
As the plot progressed, Lumine, Paimon, and Zhongli left Childe's office with their reimbursement and headed into the city.
In a fleeting moment, sharp-eyed players noticed a familiar figure leaning against a wall.
[Over there, by the wall! Look by the wall!]
[Is that My waifu Mu? It has to be!]
[Streamer, after the dialogue ends, run over and check it out! Mu Qingge seems to be over there!]
Guojia also spotted Mu Qingge. Just as she was about to head over after the dialogue, Paimon suddenly darted ahead!
"Paimon, stop! Let me handle this!"
-
Teyvat
"Ah, Qingge, what are you doing here?"
Mu Qingge, leaning against a wall for a brief rest and still groggy, suddenly heard a familiar voice. Looking up, she saw Paimon floating toward her.
"Traveler, Paimon, you're back! And... Mr. Zhongli?"
Lumine noticed Mu Qingge's deep dark circles under her eyes and asked worriedly, "You... didn't sleep at all yesterday, did you?"
Mu Qingge rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry to let you see me like this. Don't worry, I'll be back to normal soon."
"Even with so much work, don't forget to rest. Pushing yourself like this will take a toll on your body," Zhongli advised.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhongli. I usually take care of myself, but this time it couldn't be helped."
After thanking Zhongli, Mu Qingge turned to Lumine and Paimon.
"Since you're all here, I'll fulfill my promise and offer the agreed-upon reward."
Lumine and Paimon waved their hands frantically. Though they had agreed to it beforehand, there was no rush. As friends, the reward didn't matter.
Mu Qingge retrieved a small chest from her Vision Space.
"Actually, I haven't been working for long and don't have much money yet. But Rola told me you really like this. I collected it because I thought it was pretty, but I'm not sure if this would be enough as payment."
"This is..."
Lumine's eyes widened suddenly as she recognized the familiar sight!
-
In Guojia's live stream, a treasure chest shimmering with red and blue light suddenly appeared on the screen, looking incredibly opulent!
Guojia and her viewers held their breath.
That color... that color!
Opening the chest: Primogems x3200!
"Holy shit!!!" Guojia blurted out involuntarily. 3200 Primogems—that's enough for twenty wishes!
During the long stretch without updates, they had climbed mountains and foraged across the land just to scrape together a few Primogems for character and weapon pulls!
Now, having barely arrived in Liyue and completed just a few quests, they had already obtained 3200 Primogems!
The live stream viewers went wild, the chat exploding with messages.
[???!!!]
[How many?!]
[Holy shit, log in, log in, log in!]
[She gave me twenty pulls! She cares about me!]
[When did Mihoyo become so generous?! Someone pinch me—I must be dreaming!]
[My waifu Mu's gesture reminds me of Little Angel Rola, who gifted us 5-star weapons. My waifu Mu is giving us twenty pulls! Genshin Impact players are eating good!]
[Speaking of Rola, she and Mu Qingge are actually good friends! Wow, I love this lore!]
-
Liyue, on a bustling street.
Lumine clutched the box tightly in her arms, as if afraid it might vanish if she didn't hold on tight enough.
It was clear she genuinely treasured this reward.
Lumine's heart raced with excitement. After a five-hundred-year slumber, her strength had diminished considerably. These resources were precisely what she needed to regain her power—they were invaluable! [ (Setting note: Gacha pulls count as strengthening one's power, right? ...Probably...) ]
"Qingge, are you here for a specific reason?" Zhongli asked, noticing Lumine's continued daze of joy.
Mu Qingge had personally requested to be addressed as "Qingge" earlier, and after considering it, Zhongli found the familiarity appropriate and adopted the title.
"This..."
Mu Qingge hesitated for a moment, glancing at the three figures before her. Then, as if having made up her mind, she declared:
"With the Geo Archon's passing, Ningguang and the others are burdened by countless considerations. I neither understand nor am willing to compromise. To me, the Geo Archon's death is the greatest tragedy to befall Liyue. He was like a kind father to us, and his absence is unbearable..."
Her voice faltered with emotion, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Right now, our top priority must be to properly conduct the Rite of Parting. This is a sacred tradition of Liyue, one that must never be forgotten. While others may waver, I will not. I came here specifically to oversee the Rite of Parting."
"It's just a shame that I'm currently the only one available to carry it out. Still, even if I stand alone, the ritual must proceed smoothly."
Zhongli listened quietly, arms crossed, nodding repeatedly. A rare smile even graced the corners of his lips.
"Kaiyang, your dedication warms my heart. I believe the Geo Archon would be pleased by your actions."
Zhongli was genuinely gratified. At least one member of the Qixing still remembered this tradition—and it was the Kaiyang, whom he had personally promoted. Excellent!
Paimon waved her tiny hands excitedly. "Qingge, you're also here for the Rite of Parting for Rex Lapis? We are too! Let's work together!"
"E-eh... You too?"
Lumine set down the treasure chest and walked over to pat Mu Qingge on the shoulder. "Mm-hmm! Let's work together!"
Mu Qingge smiled, much of the weariness draining from her face. "Alright!"