"The style here in Shenzhou really does bring back memories."
Himeko, dressed in white casual clothes, walked the streets of Liyue alongside Koji and the others.
"But… what happened here? Why do the people all seem so…"
Most of the townsfolk looked distracted. Since Himeko had stayed inside the Serenitea Pot before, she didn't know what had transpired in Liyue.
"Think of it like this—imagine Overseer Otto of Schicksal suddenly died." Koji thought for a moment, then offered the analogy.
"Understood."
Himeko nodded. Although Otto had taken her student away, she couldn't deny the ability and prestige of the Overseer of Schicksal.
If something happened to him, the whole world would shake—an even greater upheaval than here in Liyue.
The Geo Archon's prestige was immense, but only within Liyue. His "death" might shock other nations, but it would not bring them grief.
Otto, however, commanded the mightiest organization on Earth.
"But… doesn't Teyvat use electricity?" Himeko asked, puzzled.
With Electro energy existing, it seemed impossible there was no power grid.
"Mm…"
Koji fell into thought. Indeed, there wasn't. Even Fontaine relied not on electricity, but on pneuma–ousia hybrid energy.
"Slimes can generate electricity, but only enough for an individual. Unless the Raiden Shogun herself started generating it."
Teyvat's technology wasn't primitive, exactly—just oddly directed.
Still, power generation could be arranged in the future.
"Honorary Knight, Lady Ningguang requests your presence."
Her secretary came straight to the point.
Koji nodded. Time to meet the great patroness. After all, he still planned to earn mountains of mora from her. And Ningguang was the type who would pay without hesitation.
When they reached the Jade Chamber again, Ningguang's face carried no smile—only helplessness and fatigue.
Clearly, she had pieced together the truth. After the Rite of Descension, she had consulted ancient records on the Archon War.
When a god died, their resentment burst forth, terrifying in scale. The Geo Archon's death, especially, would have been enough to obliterate Liyue Harbor.
But since the harbor was untouched, it proved the Geo Archon was not truly dead. The husk had been a ruse.
Yet even knowing, she had no proof. Everyone in Liyue had already accepted the staged death.
As expected of the Emperor—he had pulled off something grand.
"Forgive me, for letting you see such disorder," Ningguang said helplessly.
"Ningguang, why did you call us?"
Koji tilted his head. He had no connection to Liyue's adepti—just a traveler.
"Nothing much. I heard you are close to Zhongli. Has he said anything these past days?" she asked cautiously.
Koji understood. She had mistaken Zhongli for an adeptus.
"He didn't say much. My guess is you already know—this is the Archon's trial for you," Koji replied.
"Indeed. If the Emperor had truly fallen, there could not have been such calm. No one in Teyvat could kill him quietly. His power is beyond compare." Ningguang's voice brimmed with faith.
"But… a trial…"
She shook her head. She could not fathom what test the Emperor had devised. His wisdom was far beyond mortal reach.
"As for trials—ordinary monsters pose no threat. But a god? That would be fitting."
Koji told her plainly. Whatever the case, it was something she and her people would have to face.
"Gods… you mean those defeated by the Emperor in the Archon War?" Ningguang's face grew solemn.
After that war, only the Emperor and his allies remained in Liyue. The rest were sealed or fled.
Those gods surely still bore hatred for Morax and for Liyue.
Though gods were made to love humanity, their grudges were another matter entirely.
With the Emperor "dead," reckless ones might indeed strike.
Ningguang knew: Morax would not intervene until the last moment. Facing the enemy would fall to them, mere mortals.
"Gods, huh… the Emperor has set us quite the ordeal." Ningguang smiled bitterly.
"You could always drop the Jade Chamber on them," Koji joked.
But Ningguang didn't get angry. She actually considered it, nodding. "If it comes to that, I will abandon the Jade Chamber."
With her wealth, she could build another.
But if Liyue fell, it would truly be gone.
She could weigh the small against the great.
And if the Jade Chamber were used as a weapon, its impact would rival even a god's blow. It might not kill, but it would hurt.
Tian Dong Qun Yu (Skyward Jade Chorus).
"Miss Ningguang, I'm curious—how does the Jade Chamber float?" Himeko asked.
No engines, yet it resisted gravity. What kind of science was this?
"Oh, that? Its core is a rare stone called Mingxia Floating Life Crystal," Ningguang explained casually.
The other materials and formations were easy to find. But the crystal was extremely rare, and lifting such a massive structure required large quantities.
Himeko blinked. This world was full of wonders. A stone that could lift the Jade Chamber into the sky.
"Please, if Mr. Zhongli says anything, let the Honorary Knight inform me," Ningguang added politely.
The Honorary Knight had already saved Mondstadt from the dragon. If things grew desperate, she could only rely on them.
The Archon's trial meant he would not act himself—but he had not forbidden them from seeking outside aid once they had exhausted their strength.
And they would fight with everything first.
"I understand." Koji nodded.
Zhongli wouldn't say anything. As Morax, not a mere adeptus, he was watching Liyue's people write their own answer.
The group left the Jade Chamber and strolled through the streets.
"White hair again… but compared to this Ningguang, Teresa is nothing." Himeko laughed.
By age, Teresa was older. But by cunning, she was like a raw recruit.
"Teresa has her talents, but she's too lazy. Sometimes her IQ just… drops. Must be the Kaslana genes," Koji chuckled.
Five thousand years later, Kevin might be an iceberg, but before joining MOTH, he'd been a sunny boy.
Everyone knew: the Kaslanas had an external brain. Most of the time, they simply didn't use their own.
Himeko nodded in agreement. Thinking of Teresa's antics, she couldn't deny it.
(End of Chapter)
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