"Delicious, so delicious!"
As signature dishes were served one after another, Paimon ate mouthfuls, face full of satisfaction. "Completely different from Mondstadt."
She felt that Mondstadt's roasted meat wasn't so delicious anymore.
"Not just the food, but also the environment."
Lumine said softly, "The environment in the wild of Mondstadt is not as beautiful as the wild of Liyue."
While speaking, Lumine looked around.
Looking out from here, the view was excellent. One could see the distant river winding through the green plains of Dihua Marsh.
Occasionally, a few white egrets could be seen skimming over the water, stirring up ripples.
The sky was azure blue. Sunlight spilled on the table, carrying a trace of warmth but not scorching. The occasional breeze was mixed with the faint fragrance of trees, refreshing the mind.
Many travelers were already dining here. They were either talking in twos and threes, or enjoying Liyue's unique clear tea and food alone. The atmosphere was leisurely and relaxed.
Completely different from Mondstadt.
"Hehe, the environment here at Wangshu Inn is also first-class."
At this time, the voice of the Wangshu Inn Manager rang out, walking over with a smile while carrying dishes. "Guests, try this Bamboo Shoot Soup first."
"Wah, smells so good."
Paimon sniffed hard, unable to help stretching out her small hand, urging repeatedly, "Quick, quick, quick, I want to start eating!"
In the following time.
Paimon and Lumine continued to enjoy the food.
And outside Wangshu Inn.
On the road leading to Liyue Harbor, Yelan was walking easily.
"Travelers from Mondstadt, and that Ice Warrior who looks like a monster... truly a bit strange."
"Unexpectedly, coming back this time, there is such an extra harvest."
"The Dragon Disaster in Mondstadt was actually solved. Then the trade route between Liyue and Mondstadt will gradually recover. This also needs to be reported."
"Notify Ningguang and Keqing."
Yelan murmured while walking.
While Yelan went to Liyue Harbor...
Inside Wangshu Inn.
After eating and drinking their fill, Paimon and Lumine had afternoon tea.
Then wandered around Wangshu Inn.
Asked about the situation in Liyue Harbor and got a rough idea.
Time passed quietly.
Unknowingly, night had shrouded the sky of Liyue.
The distant horizon was dyed with a layer of deep blue night color.
Stars rose quietly, twinkling with weak and quiet brilliance high in the sky.
The lanterns of Wangshu Inn were lit one by one. Golden halos spilled on the wooden corridor, adding a warm atmosphere to the entire suspended inn.
The breeze blew, red banners swayed gently, and the air was filled with a faint woody scent and the fresh breath of the distant stream.
Lumine and Paimon sat leisurely on the terrace on the top floor of the inn.
This was the place with the widest view in the entire Wangshu Inn, overlooking the night view of the entire Dihua Marsh.
The distant river glowed faintly under the night. Stars reflected on the water, like scattered gold; silver grass swayed in the night wind, silver-white catkins dancing with the wind, like a quiet dream.
Lumine picked up the celadon teacup in her hand, blew gently on the hot tea in the cup, and took a sip.
The tea fragrance was mellow, warm and sweet, calming the mind.
"Wah—Liyue's night view is really completely different from Mondstadt!"
Paimon rested her chin on her hand, looking into the distance with admiration. "Liyue Harbor at night must be very beautiful too, right?"
"Liyue Harbor..."
Lumine's eyes were slightly distracted. She put down the teacup gently, looking into the distance.
Looking south from Wangshu Inn, it was the direction of Liyue Harbor.
They heard a lot this afternoon that it was built against the mountains and the sea.
The city under the night curtain was brightly lit, like a bright pearl inlaid on the coast.
"According to the news we heard, Liyue's Rite of Descension will officially start in a few days."
Lumine whispered, her eyes flashing with expectation. "We can definitely make it."
Hearing this, Paimon sat up straight excitedly. "Hehe, doesn't that mean we can see the Geo Archon Morax with our own eyes?"
"By the way, Lumine, do you know? The Mora we use is named after this deity."
"But if we foreigners call the Geo Archon like this in Liyue, we will be downgraded to rude foreigners."
"So, it's better to use the name Rex Lapis like the people of Liyue."
"I see."
Hearing this, Lumine was stunned.
She really didn't know this.
But still nodded, indicating she knew.
"But... I don't know if we can see him as we wish."
In the next second, Lumine scratched her head. "If we see him, in what capacity should we go up and ask? Rex Lapis passes down the oracle to the Liyue Qixing, not to ordinary people."
"Hmm, that is a problem."
Hearing this, Paimon scratched her head. "But don't worry, we can ask the Liyue Qixing directly. Find the Liyue Qixing and ask."
"After all, you are not an ordinary adventurer. You are the Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt. Your identity is definitely different from ordinary people."
"Liyue Qixing?"
Hearing Paimon's words, Lumine looked curious. "What title is this?"
"Just as Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, Liyue is the Nation of Contracts, advocating commerce and trade."
Hearing Lumine's words, Kael smiled faintly. "The seven great merchants representing seven commercial forces, the Liyue Qixing, are the actual controllers of this country."
"But in the eyes of Liyue people, the true controller of Liyue is always Rex Lapis."
"The Qixing are human, the Emperor is God."
"The God of Freedom is not in Mondstadt, but the God of Liyue is eternal and omnipresent."
"This is the faith of the Liyue people."
"Wow."
Hearing Kael's words, Paimon blinked her big eyes. "Kael, you know Liyue very well too."
"So don't worry about us not seeing Rex Lapis."
"En."
Hearing this, Kael nodded. "Seeing the Geo Archon... we can definitely see him."
Hearing this, Lumine and Paimon looked at Kael in unison.
Paimon blinked and asked curiously, "Isn't that great? Why do you say it so strangely?"
"Because this ceremony will inevitably have an accident."
Kael slowly put down the teacup, his gaze falling on the dark night sky, the corner of his mouth slightly raised.
"Eh?!"
Hearing this, Paimon opened her eyes wide, her face full of shock. "What do you mean? Did you hear some bad rumors?"
"No rumors. If you don't believe it, let's put it in simpler terms."
Kael spoke slowly, "Just like Mondstadt, Liyue's Geo Archon... should also retire."
"..."
Hearing this, Lumine frowned slightly.
Paimon's mouth opened slightly, surprise on her face even greater. "The Geo Archon wants... to retire? How is this possible!"
Kael smiled faintly. "Gods are not eternal and unchanging rulers."
"The Anemo Archon Barbatos returned Mondstadt's freedom to the people long ago."
"And Liyue... also cannot be controlled by a God forever."
"Liyue is the Nation of Contracts. As the Geo Archon, Morax has guarded it for so long. Don't you think he gets tired?"
"Liyue's Rite of Descension, the Geo Archon's oracle is getting worse than before, or rather gradually delegating power to humans. This itself is preparing for delegation."
"That's true."
Hearing this, Paimon scratched her head. "In the afternoon, we also heard some Liyue people say they wouldn't go back to participate in the Rite of Descension."
"Saying it's a so-called attraction that locals won't go to."
"The Rite of Descension does seem simpler year by year."
"But if Liyue doesn't have the Geo Archon... will the Liyue people accept it?"
"That's the God they have believed in for thousands of years!"
Speaking of this, Paimon looked solemn.
"Just like Mondstadt."
Kael said softly, "The Anemo Archon Barbatos never truly managed Mondstadt, but Mondstadt still runs very well. Liyue is the same."
"Without the direct intervention of the God, the Qixing of Liyue Harbor can still maintain the prosperity of the entire city."
"So, the exit of the Geo Archon is the true test for Liyue."
"Hiss."
Hearing this, Paimon sucked in a breath of cold air. "No way... you say it as if it will really happen..."
"See, I say this, and you don't quite believe it."
Kael smiled faintly.
If he directly said the Geo Archon faked his death, that would be spreading rumors.
Must combine it with reality.
And the most critical thing was here at Wangshu Inn.
He knew.
Xiao (Conqueror of Demons) sometimes came back to Wangshu Inn at night.
Hearing Kael's words, Lumine thought seriously, pondering. "If it's really as you said, then the Rite of Descension... probably won't be so smooth."
"En."
Kael nodded. "The grander the ceremony, the easier it is for accidents to happen. Have you forgotten the situation you encountered in Mondstadt? The Fatui acted and obtained the Anemo Archon's Gnosis."
"Then for the Gnosis of Gods in other nations, will the Fatui let them go?"
"Right!"
Hearing this, Paimon and Lumine widened their eyes abruptly.
Speaking of this, they weren't sleepy anymore.
Who would have thought.
In Mondstadt, the Fatui Harbinger acted and seized the Gnosis.
Since Mondstadt was seized, there's no reason Liyue won't be.
"Before we left, Grand Master Jean said that many Fatui envoys stationed there left. Obviously, the plan succeeded. But we didn't tell Grand Master Jean about Venti."
"Obviously the Fatui succeeded, so they evacuated Mondstadt."
"Then, next, the Fatui will focus on Liyue!"
Paimon and Lumine spoke, their eyes widening more and more as they spoke.
This was completely a possible problem.
Even if it wasn't the retirement issue Kael mentioned, this Rite of Descension was very likely to have problems!
"Hiss!"
Thinking of this, Lumine and Paimon sucked in a breath of cold air.
"So, we'll know when we see."
Kael spoke slowly, "The identity of the Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt is indeed much better than the identity of an ordinary person in Liyue."
Not to mention, he met Yelan today.
If he guessed correctly, Yelan would definitely report today's situation back.
What he had to do was plan for benefits in the next development.
Actively exploiting the wool of the Retarded System.
At this moment.
On the other side.
Mondstadt.
Inside the Favonius Cathedral.
Barbara's Room.
Soft morning light spilled into the room through the window.
Mondstadt's wind carried a trace of floral scent, blowing the white curtains gently in front of the window, adding a touch of warmth to this room.
However, the atmosphere in the room seemed a bit anxious.
In the middle of the room.
On a wooden table lay a Star Rail Pass emitting a faint glimmer.
Pale blue light flowed slowly on the ticket face, like some waking magic device.
"Finally... Finally usable!"
Barbara's cheeks were slightly red.
Some sweat seeped from her forehead, but her azure eyes were full of excitement.
She panted slightly, patting her chest, as if finally waiting for the long-awaited moment.
"Phew... This is the object drawn by the power of the Great Prinzessin of Condemnation. It has finally awakened on the trajectory of our destiny!"
Fischl standing aside was equally excited.
Although sweat also seeped from her forehead, her eyes flashed with strong expectation and excitement.
"Hah... Hah...!"
Fischl supported her forehead gently, her eyes revealing a kind of ecstasy to the extreme. "The Great Wheel of Fate has finally ushered in a brand new scene!"
"Our journey is about to set sail again! Kael, thy destiny shall also intertwine here!"
Barbara: "..."
Looking at Fischl completely immersed in her chuunibyou remarks, Barbara was a bit helpless, but her heart was equally full of expectation.
They had waited for a long time, and the pass was finally fully charged.
This meant they could set off again to find Kael!
She always wondered, can this really be done?
"Quick, Fischl! Use it!"
Barbara urged excitedly.
The corner of Fischl's mouth hooked up slightly, her eyes flashing with strange light.
Then she reached out without hesitation, fingertips gently touching the pass.
With a thought, she hummed:
"Gate of Destiny, Open!"
Vmmm—!!
In an instant, a dazzling blue light erupted from the pass.
The entire room was instantly swallowed by blazing brilliance.
As if an invisible force twisted in space, the air vibrating slightly.
Barbara felt her body become light.
Everything in her vision began to blur. The surrounding light and shadow changed rapidly.
She could even hear a slight wind sound, as if the whole world changed position in this moment.
Meanwhile.
Under the night of Liyue.
Near the stone bridge in Dihua Marsh.
Several Millelith still guarded the main road meticulously.
The night breeze blew across the river surface. The water glowed with waves in the dark night. The lanterns on the bridge swayed slightly, reflecting warm yellow light.
Several Millelith in armor stood straight at the bridgehead, watching the passing pedestrians, maintaining alertness.
This area was always peaceful at night. Except for occasional travelers passing by, or some merchants resting nearby, no special events occurred.
However, in the next instant—
BOOM—!
A dazzling blue light, like a spatial crack, bloomed abruptly in the middle of the stone bridge!
Light spread like ripples, tearing the night instantly.
Like the galaxy falling into the mortal world, blazing energy swept the surrounding air, stirring up a strong energy fluctuation.
The Millelith guards were startled by this sudden phenomenon.
Almost instinctively took a step back.
Gripping the spears in their hands one by one, staring at the suddenly emerging brilliance with shock and uncertainty.
"Wh-What's the situation?!"
"Enemy attack—?"
"Wait! That is...?"
In the dazzling blue light, two figures slowly emerged.
The light slowly dissipated, revealing the two girls inside—
One was a girl wearing the Church of Favonius outfit (Barbara).
Her eyes still carried a trace of shock after the spatial jump, seemingly not having reacted fully yet.
The other was a girl with golden-purple interlaced long hair, wearing a gorgeous black gothic dress (Fischl).
Carrying a longbow on her back, a fanatical smile on her face.
It was Barbara and Fischl!
Their feet just stepped on the stone bridge, feeling the night breeze on their faces, hearing the gurgling sound of water in their ears...
"Eh? Why is the commotion so big this time?"
Fischl appeared, scratching her head, somewhat unable to understand.
But in the next second, looking at the strange wild environment around her, Fischl's eyes flashed with endless excitement.
Long hair brushed gently by the wind, she looked around, revealing an extremely satisfied expression.
"Hmph hmph hmph... Excellent!"
"We have crossed the barrier of space and descended upon the land of Liyue from the kingdom of another world!"
Read ahead with 100+ chapters now and daily updates!
NOW AT 20% OFF!
Promo code: CFE65
@patreon.com/Zefyrus