As Zhong Baiye tossed out the talisman, he asked Lumine a question.
"Isn't this a Sigil of Permission? How did you get it?"
Seeing Paimon acting like a miser, Lumine first apologized to Keqing and Zhong Baiye.
"I'm really sorry. Tartaglia gave it to us. He said that if we brought this to the adepti, they would agree to help us."
At that, Keqing and Zhong Baiye understood why Lumine and Paimon had come here with a Sigil of Permission.
Realizing she had yet to introduce herself, Keqing immediately took hold of Zhong Baiye's clothes and introduced herself to Lumine.
"I'm Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. This is my companion, Zhong Baiye."
Seeing how close Keqing and Zhong Baiye were, Lumine's eyes seemed to dim a little.
Earlier, when Keqing had seen Lumine acting so shy around Zhong Baiye, while he treated her with easy familiarity, she had felt rather unhappy.
Now that Keqing noticed the subtle change in Lumine's eyes, she actually felt much better.
Zhong Baiye noticed none of this and remained as easygoing as ever.
"Keqing and I happen to be looking for the adepti too. Why don't we go together? That way, we can also chase off any Treasure Hoarders who come looking for trouble."
Lumine agreed at once, but seeing how close Keqing and Zhong Baiye were, she also muttered, "Maybe I shouldn't intrude."
Zhong Baiye only heard Lumine agree to go looking for the adepti together. She said the rest so quietly that no one heard it.
Paimon, however, saw right through Lumine. Putting her hands on her hips, she said to Zhong Baiye, "You two aren't here on a date, are you? Maybe Lumine and I shouldn't intrude."
Thick-skinned as Zhong Baiye was, the thought of Keqing chasing him with her sword yesterday still made him lose his nerve. He hurriedly denied it.
"Of course not. Keqing and I are just temporary companions."
Seeing Zhong Baiye deny it so quickly, Keqing felt as though a sword had pierced her heart. She rolled her eyes at him.
"Hmph. There's nothing between him and me. We're just temporary companions."
Keqing's stare made Zhong Baiye a little nervous. He had no idea what was wrong with her.
At the sight of this, Lumine suddenly cheered up and rushed over to hug Zhong Baiye's arm.
"Big Brother Zhong Baiye, let's go find the adepti together."
Although Zhong Baiye thought, This is what you're using to test a cadre's resolve?
His body was honest, and he made no move to push Lumine away.
After all, before transmigrating, he had been an absolutely wonderful man (˃⌑˂ഃ). He just hadn't had a girlfriend.
Keqing, standing beside him, was another matter entirely. She felt utterly miserable ╯﹏╰.
As for the Treasure Hoarder, everyone had forgotten about him. After he escaped with all his strength and still saw no sign of a companion coming to rescue him, he resolved never to be a Treasure Hoarder again.
Amid this awkward atmosphere, Zhong Baiye's party of four finally arrived before a gate wreathed in an ethereal aura.
"Who art thou, and why dost thou trespass in Jueyun Karst?"
A figure resembling an elk suddenly appeared before them and spoke in a human voice. Zhong Baiye and the others sensed a hint of authority in his words.
"Hmm? It is you. I have not seen you in so many years. It seems you did not fail."
Moon Carver stared at Zhong Baiye as he spoke.
Zhong Baiye had no idea what to make of this. He had no memory of knowing Moon Carver. The way Zhongli and Moon Carver behaved made him wonder once again whether he had once been someone important.
Seeing Zhong Baiye's bewildered expression, Moon Carver interrupted his thoughts.
"So that is how it is. Never mind, I mistook you for someone else. What brings you here? If you seek my aid, I do not grant it lightly."
Zhong Baiye immediately took out the Sigil of Permission and presented it to Moon Carver.
"A Sigil of Permission? To think a mortal still possesses one. Speak, then. What business brings you to me?"
Before Zhong Baiye could speak, Emergency Food beside him blurted out, "We're here to find Aether. He's Lumine's brother. Lumine is this girl."
Moon Carver glanced at Lumine, then closed his eyes tightly. A strange halo shone around his antlers.
Lumine had been about to argue with Paimon, but at the sight of this, no one dared speak.
After a while, Moon Carver opened his eyes and sighed. He said apologetically to Lumine, "I have just tried, but I cannot find him. You will, however, see your brother again."
Hearing the adeptus's answer, Lumine looked despondent. No matter how Paimon tried to comfort her, it was no use.
Zhong Baiye could not bear it either, so he spoke up to comfort Lumine.
"Although I don't know where your brother is, you can think of me as your big brother for now. I'm sure you'll find him."
Lumine gave Zhong Baiye a grateful look, wiped the tears from her eyes, and hugged his arm again.
"Then it's a promise, Big Brother Zhong Baiye."
Keqing felt deeply uncomfortable, but since this was meant to comfort Lumine, there was nothing she could do.
Moon Carver spoke, breaking the strange atmosphere.
"I am an adeptus bound by contract. I apologize for being unable to help you in this matter. If there is anything else, I shall do all in my power to assist."
Returning to the matter at hand, Zhong Baiye solemnly told Moon Carver everything that had happened at the Rite of Descension.
"Outrageous..."
"Outrageous!!!"
"The Liyue Qixing have been a profound disappointment."
Moon Carver was furious that such a thing could happen at the revered Rite of Descension. His tone made his displeasure with the Liyue Qixing clear.
As the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing immediately objected.
"Although you adepti have protected Liyue for so long, do you truly understand its people? We built Liyue Harbor ourselves. Throughout Liyue's development into what it is today, you adepti have never involved yourselves."
Keqing then adopted an apologetic expression and continued, "We of the Liyue Qixing do bear responsibility for Rex Lapis's murder. I admit that."
At this, Moon Carver's temper immediately flared.
Seeing that Keqing and the adeptus were about to start arguing, Zhong Baiye immediately pulled the Sigil of Permission Zhongli had given him out of his bag.
The earlier Sigil of Permission was the one Tartaglia had given them. This one was the genuine article.
As soon as Moon Carver sensed the aura of the genuine Sigil of Permission, he calmed down.
Keqing also calmed down and gave Zhong Baiye a grateful look.
"I have reached a judgment on this matter. Yet a decision made by me alone may be flawed. The other adepti must still be informed."
Before you continue