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["How dare you! This adeptus is Cloud Retainer!" Cloud Retainer rebuked.]
The people of Liyue nodded—yes, this was more like it! This was the kind of reaction befitting an adeptus! They couldn't all be as gentle as Ganyu.
But the Traveler paid no heed to Cloud Retainer's scolding and continued speaking irreverently.
Cloud Retainer reprimanded them again, and just as everyone thought she was truly about to lose her temper, the tone suddenly shifted. Instead, she began patiently explaining.
Not only was she not angry, but she even chatted amiably with the group as she flew them through the sky.
The conversation was lively and cheerful—where was the slightest hint of anger now?
So… adepti were actually this easy to get along with?
The people of Liyue rarely had the chance to interact with adepti. In their minds, adepti were lofty beings who brooked no disrespect.
In earlier parts of the story, when the adepti learned of the Geo Archon's assassination, they had reacted with fury, even threatening to suppress all of Liyue Harbor.
Because of this, the people had always believed that adepti were difficult to approach—revered, but kept at a distance.
Only now did they realize that this particular adeptus was merely quick-tempered, but actually quite good-natured.
A prominent Liyue merchant fell into deep thought as he held an automatic cooking device in his hand. Only now did he understand—he had actually encountered an adeptus back then...
Recalling his conversation with them, he realized there had been no sense of aloof superiority.
Could it be that ordinary people really could get along well with adepti?
Other Liyue residents shared the same thought. Perhaps the distance between them and the adepti didn't have to be so great.
Meanwhile, Ganyu, still busy with paperwork, remained unaware that Lucian's book had subtly shifted her standing in Liyue Harbor.
Though people marveled at how the adepti differed from their expectations, they didn't stop reading.
Their focus remained on the next crucial point—the battle against Osial.
Through the following content, the people of Liyue gained a full understanding of what had transpired back then.
After being evacuated for emergency shelter, they hadn't known what exactly had happened—only that the skies had darkened, and after some time, they cleared again.
Now they knew: so many had fought on the front lines against an ancient god.
Their struggle had prevented Osial from advancing even a step further, protecting Liyue behind them.
The Qixing, the adepti, Shenhe, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the Millelith, the Traveler, wandering warriors, and even ordinary sailors of the Crux Fleet—people of all walks of life, all "Liyue's people," had joined forces to resist this "catastrophe."
Just as the stalemate with Osial seemed unbreakable, Ningguang conceived the idea of dropping the Jade Chamber.
The book detailed Ningguang's inner thoughts and explained what the Jade Chamber meant to her.
In the end, her love and duty toward Liyue outweighed everything else. Even if only for her own sake, Ningguang was willing to sacrifice the Jade Chamber.
Reading this, the people of Liyue grew even more approving of their "Tianquan."
Though the Jade Chamber wasn't actually dropped in the end—thanks to Lucian's alternative solution—this didn't diminish their respect for Ningguang.
After all, Ningguang hadn't known Lucian had another plan. Her willingness to sacrifice the Jade Chamber had been genuine.
"The Tianquan of Liyue… truly spares no expense." Pantalone smiled faintly.
With Osial sealed away, the triumphant group held a victory banquet.
During the feast, Lucian devoted a few more lines to Venti and Zhongli.
This left readers deeply exasperated—this Anemo Archon really was the epitome of freedom...
"How does Liyue's alcohol taste?" Rosaria was more curious about the wine.
"It's quite good, but if we're talking about potency, Snezhnaya's Alcohol is stronger." Venti, connoisseur of international spirits, offered his professional opinion.
"Lord Barbatos… sigh… I'll discuss the cost of the drinks with Liyue's representatives. The Knights of Favonius will cover it." Jean massaged her temples.
She had finally gotten a moment of rest, only to find her own Archon freeloading in another nation. What else could she do? Pay the bill, of course.
The amount wasn't much—Liyue might not even care, or perhaps they never intended to charge for it.
But even if the other side didn't demand payment, her side couldn't just ignore it.
"I believe I've already paid my dues. Liyue should be satisfied as well. Let's keep reading." Venti chuckled.
The group obediently continued. Yun Jin took the stage, and "Divine Damsel of Devastation" began, with Lucian even including a special illustration of Yun Jin.
Unfortunately, books couldn't convey sound. The people of Liyue were familiar with the tale and could mentally reconstruct the singing just from the lyrics.
But those from other nations couldn't. However, this had one advantage—it made everyone focus more intently on the lyrics themselves.
Lucian also emphasized the meaning behind the lyrics in the book.
['Ah—pitiful—']
['Mortal bonds fade as divine fate soars—']
['Kinship scattered, the crimson court calls—']
A single "Ah—pitiful—"set the tone—this was a sorrowful tale.
Spring often brings grief, but autumn carries its own melancholy. The wild goose symbolizes messages carried across distances and the pain of separation.
"The autumn goose, once parted, never reunites"—this single line conveyed the sorrow of eternal parting, speaking of two lovers torn apart.
The next line told of a heartbroken fool, unable to accept their beloved's death, who was ultimately deceived by a demon and driven to madness.
Later, the story recounted how a demon demanded sacrifices of children, and how the young divine damsel took up her sword without hesitation to save them all.
Then, the damsel's mortal ties were severed, leaving her with no attachments in the mortal world. She entered the realm of the adepti.
"Vermilion bonds severed, the rotted axe-handle forgotten"—this meant red threads once bound the damsel, but when she returned to the mortal world, she found everything unrecognizable.
"Traces of geese on snow, distant and faint"—like footprints left in snow, the damsel's (Shenhe's) presence in the mortal world was barely discernible, as if it had never existed.
['The crane returns, but the carved pillar stands no more.']
['Spider silk clings to tattered spirit banners, fluttering.']
Returning to a world that had moved on without her, the ruined village and tattered spirit banners spoke of her family's passing.
Thus, ['Karma and mortal ties fade into mist, vanishing.']
Many didn't know how "Divine Damsel of Devastation" sounded when performed, but these few lines alone allowed them to grasp the story.
So this was Shenhe's story? But what did she mean when she said the real version was different?
Shenhe hadn't been featured much in Act III, so many readers wanted to learn more about this girl.
Then the people of Liyue noticed something—where "Divine Damsel of Devastation" should have ended, this time, it continued.
["The tale of the Divine Damsel should have concluded here, but today, I shall add another verse."]
["To sing—to all of you—"]
The tone of the story shifted. The earlier sorrow of parting faded away.
The subsequent lyrics were easy to understand—this was the story of Act III itself!
Shenhe had made friends, stood together against the "raging tides," and purified the sea.
And just as Yun Jin sang—
["Once, the crane returned to find a vast world with no place to call home, departing alone."]
["Now, when we meet again, new friends and old fill the hall, gathered together."]
People reflected on the tale, but before they could fully savor it, an even more explosive revelation appeared in the book.
Zhongli had arrived at the Northland Bank.
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Character Voice – Yun Jin: About the Book's Illustration
"It's truly beautiful. I never expected Mr. Lucian to have such skill—you'd never guess it from the promotional posters he drew for Hu Tao..."