Zhongli nodded: "Correct. Your singing will certainly enhance the flower's fragrance to its peak."
Paimon looked at Lumine with skeptical eyes: "Uh, Lumine, how's your singing?"
Lumine answered without modesty: "I'm amazing at it!"
Paimon shrugged: "Really? I'm a bit doubtful."
Zhongli: "The results will speak for themselves once we try."
Walking along the marshland, they soon encountered three Glaze Lilies.
Paimon pointed at the flowers: "Right here! Do your best!"
Lumine, unembarrassed, immediately began to sing: "Da-da-da~ Da-da-da~"
[Barbara: That's a Mondstadt song! My favorite music! How does the Traveler know Mondstadt songs?]
[Paimon: Wait, Lumine, are you from Mondstadt?]
[Lumine: It's easy to tell from the video that we went to Mondstadt first, then came to Liyue.]
[Paimon: Is that so? I can't tell.]
[Furina: I can tell. Zhongli said to Lumine, 'Having left the land without an Archon and come here, which place feels better?']
[Lumine: Exactly.]
The next second, the Glaze Lilies stood up and began a frenzied attack.
Paimon was puzzled: "These flowers suddenly jumped up! They seem very angry. Could it be because you sang a Mondstadt song? That doesn't work in Liyue?"
These leaping flowers were quite powerful in combat. The Traveler didn't find it easy either, expending considerable effort to eliminate them.
Paimon stated with certainty: "These aren't Glaze Lilies at all! How could Glaze Lilies hit people?"
Lumine: "Yes. An enemy beyond imagination."
Zhongli crouched down, picked up a petal, and examined it carefully: "This is a type of plant called a Whopperflower. These petals are also quite interesting. The Glaze Lilies used for camouflage, buried with the Whopperflowers for too long, have instead become excellent medicinal ingredients. A blessing in disguise. Let's collect these petals."
Paimon's eyes widened: "There's such a good thing? Can these petals be used for the Rite of Parting?"
Zhongli shook his head: "Unfortunately, no."
At that moment, a young woman with horns and wearing black stockings walked over: "Excuse me, are you looking for Glaze Lilies?"
Paimon, seeing Ganyu, felt she looked very familiar but seemed to have forgotten the name. She stammered: "Ah, it's you! Uh, uh... Oh no, can't remember the name."
Lumine: "Hello, Little Beauty Wang."
Ganyu looked confused: "Little Beauty Wang? Who... who is that?"
[Furina: That confused, shy expression is so adorable!]
[Ganyu: Is... is that so?]
[Sigewinne: Yes. The current Ganyu seems even more adorable than during the last meeting in the video.]
[Ganyu: In the video, during our last meeting, I was acting as an envoy, so I was more formal.]
"'Ganyu' and 'Little Beauty Wang'—did you not remember a single character correctly? Speaking of which, how was your visit to the Jade Chamber?"
Paimon complained: "Because you didn't tell us how to get up there, we went through a lot of trouble finding the way!"
Ganyu was instantly bewildered: "Huh?! Ah! I... I didn't say?"
Paimon: "We found out on our own."
Lumine: "Perhaps because getting to the Jade Chamber isn't a secret, so you didn't mention it. The two of us really shouldn't have taken such a detour. We just needed to ask for directions."
Ganyu covered her face, her inner monologue in overdrive.
Oh no... I actually forgot to say...
Paimon, seeing Ganyu's awkward look, asked: "You seem... like your complexion isn't quite right. And compared to our first meeting, even your aura seems different. You don't have that serious feeling from back then."
"Ah." Ganyu explained: "Because... back then, I was acting in the capacity of the Tianquan's envoy. But now, I'm just here to look at flowers."
Paimon didn't understand: "Look at flowers? Why not look at them in the city, but come all the way out here?"
Ganyu let out a deep sigh: "Yujing Terrace is where His Majesty passed away. Looking at flowers there... feels very lonely."
"Recently, these past few days, when I work near Yujing Terrace, I close the windows to avoid seeing the scenery outside."
[Paimon: Ganyu really loves His Majesty.]
[Ganyu: Mm. His Majesty is the person I respect the most.]
Paimon realized she had brought up a sensitive topic and hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought this up."
Ganyu shook her head: "No. It's my own fault for not sorting out my feelings."
"Two thousand years ago, after the Archon War ended, the original Seven once gathered in Liyue, drinking with His Majesty. Now, with changes in the Archon seats, of the Seven who drank together then, five have departed."
Lumine: "You mean..."
Ganyu nodded: "Yes. Since His Majesty's soul has returned to the heavens, of the original Seven, only Mondstadt's Lord Barbatos remains in this world. The other five, including Inazuma's Raiden Shogun, are no longer the same as the companions from two thousand years ago."
"Of the current Seven Archons, Sumeru's Dendro Archon is the youngest, at only 500 years old. While Rex Lapis, who walked the earth the longest, lived for over 6000 years."
"Therefore, Liyue, with its 3700-year history, has been under His Majesty's rule since its founding. It has never experienced bidding farewell to a god."
Zhongli stood to the side, quietly listening to Ganyu. After she finished, Zhongli asked: "So, what are your thoughts on this farewell?"
Ganyu: "Huh? Asking so suddenly, I..."
"As a human, I still cannot imagine what Liyue would become without His Majesty."
"But as an adeptus, I think I will eventually accept the fact. Since His Majesty has departed, the contract established between the adepti and Liyue has, in fact, come to an end."
Paimon's eyes widened again: "You said... as an adeptus?"
Ganyu introduced herself: "I... I am of mixed human and Qilin heritage. I have half-adeptus blood. During the Archon War, I also contributed my strength for His Majesty, for Liyue."
"After the war, I made a contract with His Majesty and began serving as secretary to successive generations of the Qixing. And so it has continued until today."
[Paimon: Secretary to successive generations of the Qixing!]
[Furina: This is the so-called 'the Qixing may flow, but Ganyu remains unchanging.']
[Charlotte: So that means Ganyu has witnessed Liyue's 2000-year history from the Qixing level? If made into a report, it would surely sell big.]
[Paimon: You could interview Zhongli. He strolls around the streets all day; he should know even more.]
[Charlotte: Interview an Archon directly? I wouldn't even dare think about such a thing.]
[Paimon: Didn't you interview Furina?]
[Charlotte: Lady Furina is Fontaine's superstar. Various reports related to Lady Furina often appear in the papers. That's why I...]
[Paimon: Perhaps you should bravely take that step.]
[Zhongli: Hmm. If an interview is requested, I would not refuse. Teyvat's history and memories deserve to be preserved in some form.]
Lumine had a sudden realization: "No wonder you have horns on your head."
Ahem... cough, cough. Ganyu quickly changed the subject: "Let's talk about something else. You mentioned earlier you were looking for Glaze Lilies? I also know where some are. I just picked one. If you don't mind, please accept it."
Zhongli was not shy: "In that case, we gladly accept."
Paimon: "Oh! Did you sing before picking it?"
Ganyu nodded: "Yes. I am naturally aware of this tradition. Rest assured, I sang a local Liyue folk song."
"Wow." Paimon exclaimed in admiration: "You're quite the expert too! Thank you, Ganyu."
Ganyu: "No, I should thank you. If not for this chance encounter, I wouldn't have thought I could offer a token of my heart in the rite bidding farewell to His Majesty's distant form."
"I should return to work now. I wish you smooth progress in everything."
Zhongli: "Hmm. This way, the various preparations needed for the Rite of Parting are essentially complete. Picking flowers, in every sense, is quite convenient and not difficult, which is why it was left for last."
Lumine: "Zhongli's personality is very suited for pioneering endeavors."
Paimon: "Yeah. If Zhongli did business in Liyue, he'd probably enjoy the entrepreneurial life."
[Lumine: Looking at it now, it feels inexplicably amusing. Liyue is the foundation His Majesty built with his own hands.]
[Ningguang: That Liyue can become the commercial capital of Teyvat, incredibly prosperous and thriving, is due to His Majesty's contributions, which cannot be erased.]
[Paimon: I know, I know! His Majesty would descend divine revelations every year, guiding Teyvat's development.]
[Yae Miko: Oh my, look at Liyue's Archon. In our Inazuma, we haven't developed for many years.]
[Ei: Miko, you don't understand. Only Eternity is closest to the Heavenly Principles. Running at full speed will only bring ruin.]
[Yae Miko: Fine, fine. I know I can't persuade you.]
Mentioning business, Zhongli laughed: "I have indeed had those days. Pioneering, opening up new frontiers—the beginning of all things is difficult, and much emotion is invested. Once everything runs routinely, over time, emotions gradually erode. When too much is worn away, one must re-examine oneself. If not handled carefully, cracks will form in the soul, irreparable."
Paimon spoke in a knowing tone: "See! That kind of tone definitely comes from experience!"
"Alright! Since everything's settled, we should head back to Liyue Harbor."
---
Liyue Harbor Gate
At the gates of Liyue Harbor, Millelith soldiers were everywhere.
Paimon was puzzled: "What happened? Why are there so many Millelith at the gates? And Fatui..."
Zhongli pondered: "The atmosphere is abnormal. It seems a major event is occurring. For safety's sake, it's best to find someone to inquire."
Lumine approached a Fatui member to ask.
The Fatui member recognized Zhongli and responded: "Oh! You're Mr. Zhongli, the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, right?"
"The Millelith are keeping a very close watch on us. This is a critical period. Please don't make any rash moves."
Zhongli crossed his arms: "A critical period?"
The Fatui member answered: "The adepti from Jueyun Karst have set out. Their coming likely carries ill intent."
Zhongli: "To demand accountability?"
Fatui Member: "Most likely. I heard several of the Qixing took people early to receive them... Heh. 'Receive'—more like trying to block the adepti outside the city."
"Both sides' attitudes are very firm. It's reached a stalemate for now."
Zhongli remarked: "Things developing to this point was also inevitable."
[Paimon: Ah! The adepti and the Qixing in Liyue won't really fight, will they? That would just let the Fatui profit.]
[Furina: If it's Keqing handling the reception, they might really fight. If it's Ningguang, the probability of a fight is much lower.]
[Paimon: Right! I remember Ningguang as a very gentle person.]
[Keqing: Gentleness doesn't equal weakness. At her core, Ningguang is similar to me. Once she decides on something, she won't easily give up.]
[Lumine: Indeed. A weak person couldn't have built such a vast empire.]
[Ganyu: I wonder if His Majesty will intervene.]
[Ningguang: Clearly, His Majesty is administering a test to everyone in Liyue. Liyue is His Majesty's life's work. His Majesty would absolutely not let Liyue be destroyed.]
[Paimon: I think so too.]
Fatui Member: "The adepti don't recognize the Qixing, only the contract with the Geo Archon. If they decide to attack forcefully, Liyue Harbor probably cannot hold them off."
Zhongli: "But the Liyue Qixing aren't the type to sit and wait for death either."
Fatui Member: "Hmph! Everyone knows their attitude is tough. It's precisely because of this that the conflict between humans and adepti is a hair-trigger away."
Zhongli gestured: "And then? How did the Fatui become the target instead?"
The Fatui member snorted coldly: "It's all because of that Ningguang! Saying something about 'in this moment of impending storm, the Millelith must completely control the Fatui's movements.' Pah! Only now do they think to restrict our movements? The Qixing are nothing special."
[Ningguang: Hamstrung by rumors.]
[Lumine: And Childe is too cunning.]
[Childe: Speaking of cunning, among the Harbingers, I'm actually one of the more straightforward ones. Signora, Dottore, and The Knave are all more clever than I am.]
[Paimon: But The Knave is much more sincere than you!]
[Childe: How can you be sure that's not The Knave's disguise?]
[Paimon: I... I'm not sure either. But The Knave was genuinely worried about the disaster. They prepared relief supplies in advance.]
[Lumine: A gentleman is judged by his actions, not his intentions.]
[Paimon: Right! A gentleman is judged by his actions, not his intentions. You're planning to do bad things, but The Knave simply didn't do bad things.]
[Childe: Fine then. I'm the big bad guy.]
"Anyway, Mr. Zhongli, you are Lord Childe's collaborator. Your attitude also partly reflects ours. Don't let anyone catch any leverage."
Paimon said worriedly: "It seems all the various conflicts in Liyue Harbor have reached their absolute limit."
Lumine: "What can we do? I don't want to stand by and watch."
Zhongli looked at Lumine: "You mean you want to mediate using your special neutral status? Or rely on your personal martial prowess to shift some balance?"
"Neither path is likely easy."
"Oh, right." The Fatui member spoke up: "I heard your Wangsheng Funeral Parlor seems to have been dragged into the conflict too? They're currently in a standoff with officials who came knocking?"
Zhongli rested his chin on his hand: "That's not good. I must take my leave and check on the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I hope Director Hu can manage temporarily and not cause any major trouble."
"Lumine, you should also think it over. In my view, if you want to stop an explosion on the verge of occurring, perhaps first consider where the fuse is."
With that, Zhongli left.
Paimon looked at Lumine: "Whew. Seems being friends on the road with the Fatui has both benefits and troubles. So, what exactly is the 'fuse' Zhongli mentioned?"
Lumine: "It's probably that walking wallet who's been footing our bills all along."
Paimon nodded: "I see. I think I understand now. Hmm, if I had to guess who most hopes for this kind of city-wide chaos, my first thought is also him."
"That guy must be taking advantage of everyone being too busy to pay attention to him to do something bad. But... where should we go to find him now?"