Time quickly passed, and soon it was the day of the Rite of Descension.
People of Liyue, as well as foreign visitors, all came eagerly to join the crowd. After all, chances to see the Geo Archon were rare.
Mondstadt's Anemo Archon was elusive. Liyue's Geo Archon appeared only at the Rite of Descension. Inazuma and Fontaine's people had seen their gods in person, but the Geo Archon's renown echoed throughout Teyvat—hailed as the God of War.
At Yujing Terrace, Ningguang had already made all the necessary preparations. Her expression was solemn. For a ritual like this, there could be no mistakes.
If anything went wrong, even the Qixing would not escape blame.
She glanced up at the sun to confirm the exact moment.
"The auspicious hour has arrived."
As the incense burners flared and light shot to the heavens, winds surged, clouds churned—yet in the next second, a dragon fell from the sky, smashing the burners and offerings, collapsing motionless on the ground, devoid of breath.
"?"
Guizhong's lips twitched. This was Morax's so-called fake death?
Too sloppy. No fight, no drama. Just a splat, and gone.
"…That's the Geo Archon?"
Lumine covered her face, unable to imagine that the elegant Zhongli would stage something like this.
"Hahaha, old man, what are you doing?"
"Morax's way of dying is just… splatting to death?"
On Mt. Tianheng, Venti couldn't stop laughing. He tried to rush forward for a closer look, but Zhongli's massive hand pressed firmly on his shoulder, like a mountain, leaving him unable to move.
Even so, he was delighted. He couldn't believe what he was seeing—the mighty God of War meeting such an end.
Zhongli's face darkened, Venti's laughter grating in his ears. If not for holding him down, this drunkard would already be desecrating his discarded shell.
"Ahhh, Emperor, how could you die!"
Suddenly, a desperate wail rang out. A wide-sleeved maiden threw herself onto the Archon's husk, trembling violently.
"Gui…"
Zhongli froze. His hand slipped off Venti's shoulder. Venti didn't flee, though—he was too entertained.
The aura, the voice, the silhouette…
Could it really be you?
Zhongli's pupils shook. This was far beyond his expectations.
He drew a deep breath, forcing calm. Panic would do no good.
Composed, he looked at Guizhong, who was "weeping" over the husk.
To the common eye it might look genuine, but he could see through it. She wasn't crying—she was holding back laughter.
On Yujing Terrace, Guizhong's shoulders trembled. Head bowed, she suppressed her laughter, nearly breaking character.
"Are you an adeptus?" Ningguang asked gravely. For the Emperor to fall during the Rite she presided over—no one could have foreseen this.
Guizhong raised her head, eyes red-rimmed. Koji couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. If Teyvat had acting awards, Guizhong would sweep them.
"I only wished to see the Emperor, yet this is what I found." Her voice was choked with grief.
Madame Ping's lips twitched. The Emperor must be furious—Guizhong performing over his husk like this was a first.
The Anemo Archon hadn't appeared—clearly restrained by the Emperor.
"My condolences."
Ningguang believed Guizhong wasn't the killer. Adepti revered the Emperor too much to ever harm him.
Her heart sank. The Archon slain… a storm was coming.
"Qianyan Army, investigate at once!"
She drew a steadying breath. Order had to be maintained.
"Immort…" She turned, but Guizhong was gone. No surprise—likely she had gone to summon other adepti.
What a headache. She would have to face their questions soon.
"Old man, any thoughts?" Venti's grin stretched ear to ear, harder to suppress than gunfire.
Guizhong had stolen the role he himself had planned.
"…."
Zhongli ignored him and walked away.
"Tsk, Guizhong… Dust God… I wonder if I'll get to drink at the old man's wedding?" Venti muttered, amused. A wedding for the Geo Archon would surely draw every other god.
"Lumine, why are you running?"
Koji grabbed her wrist. This had nothing to do with her, but fleeing would only make her look guilty.
"Cough, reflex," Lumine said sheepishly. A crime scene like this naturally made one want to leave.
"So this is the Geo Archon's fake death?"
"Full of holes. Not even a trace of battle."
Lumine's wits were sharp, and she saw through it at once.
"Indeed full of holes. But in the heat of the moment, how many could notice?" Koji said with a sigh.
Zhongli's plan was decent. The Qixing would catch on quickly, but it was too late—the spectacle had already spread. Too many had seen it.
"Come, let's go see Zhongli and Guizhong."
After the inspection, Koji and Lumine headed for Guili Plains. Of course they wouldn't miss the drama.
At Guili Plains—
"Morax. Does this place feel familiar?"
Guizhong sat upon a rock at the cliffside, gazing at the sea, surrounded by fields of Glaze Lilies.
"Guizhong… how did you return?" Zhongli stood by her, stunned.
"That's the first thing you say? You're still as unromantic as ever, stone." She pouted.
Couldn't he say something warmer?
"..." Zhongli had no words. He was happy, truly, to see his old friend again. But he had never been good at expressing it.
"Forget it, that's just who you are. Morax, did I look convincing when I cried?" she asked with a mischievous lilt.
Zhongli's lips twitched. In that moment, she reminded him of Hu Tao—utterly impossible to handle.
Clutching his discarded shell, putting on that performance—he had nearly died of embarrassment.
"Emperor, really now, couldn't you give her a hug?" Madame Ping whispered.
Hidden behind the trees, several adepti watched, squirming at the awkwardness. It was very much Morax, but still… couldn't he say something tender?
"Ah… just like the old days." Cloud Retainer sighed softly. Familiar scenes, replayed once more.
(End of Chapter)
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