The time to part had come

After the attack by the people in black, Zhong Baiye and the others quickened their pace, hoping to return to Liyue Harbor as soon as possible.

The moment they returned to Liyue Harbor, the bustle of the crowds washed over them, instantly dispelling the sense of an impending storm.

Seeing this lively scene, Zhong Baiye and Keqing could not help resolving to protect Liyue Harbor just as it was.

"Let's part ways here. I'm one of the Liyue Qixing, and I still have official business to attend to."

Keqing did not dare look at Zhong Baiye. She could only turn her back to him, say those words, and hurry away.

Zhong Baiye understood that Keqing felt things were far too dangerous this time. He and Lumine had no deep ties to Liyue Harbor, so there was no need to drag them into it.

Seeing Keqing hurry away, Lumine quickly grabbed Zhong Baiye.

"Brother, why aren't you going after her? We can help her."

Paimon gave Lumine a disdainful look and said, "I think Zhong Baiye is just afraid of dying. He didn't go after her because he thinks it's too dangerous."

Thump!

Zhong Baiye promptly punched Paimon, sending her to her knees clutching her stomach.

"Honestly, Paimon, you never learn."

Zhong Baiye was actually a little puzzled. He had clearly held back, so why did Paimon look as though she was in so much pain?

Just as Zhong Baiye was about to go check on Paimon, she suddenly retaliated, punching him in the face and leaving a red fist-shaped mark.

"Bleh, bleh, bleh!"

Having landed her punch, Paimon immediately flew behind Lumine and made faces at Zhong Baiye to taunt him.

There was no way Zhong Baiye would let Paimon get away with that. He was about to rush over and give her a taste of her own medicine when he suddenly noticed Lumine's worried expression.

He immediately used his ultimate move on Lumine-the head pat.

Sure enough, Lumine could not resist Zhong Baiye's ultimate move, and a look of enjoyment appeared on her face.

Zhong Baiye explained, "Keqing is one of the Liyue Qixing. The way they deal with this danger might involve some of Liyue's secrets. If we rashly try to help her, we'll definitely put her in a difficult position."

Zhong Baiye paused for breath, then continued as he gazed at the bustling sights of Liyue Harbor.

"There are plenty of ways to deal with danger. We can help Keqing from another angle without putting her in a difficult position."

After hearing Zhong Baiye's explanation, Lumine immediately asked a question.

"What should we do now?"

Zhong Baiye scratched his head, thought back to the game's story, and pointed toward the Northland Bank.

"Come on, let's go find Childe of the Fatui. He should know something about the danger facing Liyue Harbor."

In truth, Zhong Baiye had not wanted to seek out Tartaglia, but after being attacked by the Fatui, he understood that the consequences of changing the plot on his own were more than he could bear.

To keep the plot on track and prevent it from falling apart, he could only follow the steps in the game and seek out Tartaglia.

"The Fatui may be dangerous, but we have to admit that their intelligence network spans all of Teyvat. Maybe Tartaglia really does know something."

Zhong Baiye continued explaining to Lumine why they needed to find Tartaglia.

Lumine asked doubtfully, "Will Childe really help us?"

Zhong Baiye took out the Sigil of Permission to answer Lumine's question.

"Childe most likely gave us the Sigil of Permission to gather information about the adepti. If he doesn't want to help us, we can just trade some information about them for his help."

Paimon poked her head out. Seeing that Zhong Baiye was no longer paying attention to their little "incident," she immediately changed the subject.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find Childe."

Lumine and Zhong Baiye exchanged a glance. She understood that he must have his own plans. Whether for his own sake or Keqing's, he would not choose to run away.

Afterward, Zhong Baiye and the others arrived together at Snezhnaya's Northland Bank.

The Northland Bank had changed somewhat since Zhong Baiye's first visit. There seemed to be fewer employees.

Many people waiting to conduct their banking business had formed long lines.

He clearly remembered that on his first visit, the Northland Bank had been able to provide nearly every customer with one-on-one service, no matter how many there were.

Thinking back to the Fatui's earlier ambush, Zhong Baiye understood the reason.

As soon as Zhong Baiye and Lumine entered the Northland Bank's lobby, Ekaterina, who was serving a customer, spotted them and immediately apologized to the customer.

Then Ekaterina promptly approached Lumine and Zhong Baiye and gestured for them to follow.

"Honored guests, please come with me. Lord Childe has been waiting here for quite some time."

Zhong Baiye and Lumine had come to find Childe anyway, so they followed Ekaterina without another word.

Upon entering a private room on the Northland Bank's second floor, Zhong Baiye and Lumine saw Childe.

He was looking at the children's toys on the table, seemingly considering something.

"Ahem..."

Ekaterina spoke up to alert Childe.

Seeing the two of them enter, Tartaglia hurriedly tidied away the toys in front of him.

"I know why you've come to see me, but why should I help you?"

As soon as Zhong Baiye and Lumine sat down, Childe got straight to the point.

Zhong Baiye had already guessed that Childe might say something like this, so he immediately offered some information about the adepti.

It concerned Mountain Shaper, the Conqueror of Demons, and Cloud Retainer.

As far as Zhong Baiye knew, the Fatui had never managed to uncover information about these adepti.

Hearing those names, Childe considered them briefly.

"I can help you, but you'll have to bear the risks yourselves."

Zhong Baiye and Lumine exchanged a glance, each recognizing the other's resolve, then nodded to Childe to show they accepted.

Paimon had been a little frightened, but seeing that even Zhong Baiye had agreed, she said nothing more.

Next, Zhong Baiye gave Childe some information about the adepti, mixing truth with falsehood.

After all, this was information about the adepti. Ordinary people might go their entire lives without ever encountering one, so Childe would have no way to distinguish the false details.

For example, Zhong Baiye told Childe that the Conqueror of Demons was a little runt only a meter tall, that Cloud Retainer's catchphrase was "that woman," and that Moon Carver's true form was a tabby cat.

Hearing this "valuable" information, Childe hurriedly asked Ekaterina, who stood nearby, to write it down.

Then Tartaglia thumped his chest and assured Zhong Baiye and the others that he would help them resolve the danger facing Liyue Harbor.

"Next, I'm going to find someone who can break this deadlock. Come see me tomorrow evening, and I'll arrange for you to meet him."

At that moment, Zhong Baiye suddenly heard a familiar sound in his mind.