Today was destined to be anything but pleasant. From early morning, the sky had been gloomy and overcast, looking as though a storm were brewing.
"..."
At this early hour, Ningguang, the Tianquan who had risen on time and already bathed and changed, stood silently before the railing of a watchtower-like pavilion atop the Jade Chamber.
She leaned against the railing and gazed silently at the low, oppressive clouds hanging over the Jade Chamber. No one could tell whether she was watching the distant sky, Liyue Harbor beneath it, or the furious sea rolling in the direction of Guyun Stone Forest.
In any case!
At that moment, her eyes seemed unfocused.
She merely stood there lazily, allowing the salty, fishy sea breeze blowing from Guyun Stone Forest to gently stir her long platinum hair, which had come loose and draped over her shoulders, as well as her splendid palace dress.
After last night's revelry ended, not one of the guests she had invited to the Jade Chamber had left. Ningguang had warmly persuaded them all to stay, and they were still sleeping even now.
After all, it was still early. On top of that, everyone had gotten a little too rowdy last night and had gone to bed rather late. Thus, it was hardly strange that only the self-disciplined Ningguang had awakened on time.
"Hm?!"
At that moment, whether she had sensed something or simply received some sort of premonition—
"Heh!"
"Looks like today isn't destined to be a peaceful day after all!"
Ningguang's vermilion eyes, nearly the same color as little Klee's, suddenly narrowed. Then they sharpened in an instant as her blazing gaze pierced the distance and looked toward Luhua Pool in northern Liyue.
Though even from her lofty position she could see no more than a dozen