His wife's suspicions

The Cryo Bracer had just raised the ice blade in his hand.

He felt a terrifying aura surround him from behind, its force almost reaching the heavens.

He could not even turn his head.

At that moment, a Geo-colored curtain of light suddenly enclosed the spot where Lin Yi and Zhongli stood.

Outside it, Ningguang and Childe stopped fighting. Even Keqing and the others beyond the city halted, sensing the heart-stopping aura.

"Why? Morax already died at the Rite of Descension. What sort of being could possess such overwhelming Geo power?"

La Signora stared into the city in shock.

"My sword flashes like me-cut down all the beef offal!"

Keqing quickly recovered and unleashed her ultimate move at La Signora.

With Ganyu assisting from the side, La Signora gradually began to lose ground.

But she had only just obtained the Anemo Gnosis from Venti and was brimming with ambition. Proud as she was, how could she allow herself to be defeated so easily?

"Hmph! Then experience the power of the Anemo Gnosis!"

Though she could draw on only a fraction of its power, the boost from Anemo strengthened La Signora rather than weakening her.

Inside the Geo barrier.

The weapon in the Cryo Bracer's hand shattered outright.

Zhongli wasted no words. His golden pupils, set within long, narrow eyes, radiated authority without anger.

The aura emanating from him was enough to make anyone shrink back. He was absolutely not someone to provoke.

Yet the Cryo Bracer had been blinded by rage.

He still had no idea that he had picked a fight with the very master of the domain.

The man before him had single-handedly brought the age of gods to an end. He was also Morax, the Geo Archon, one of The Seven appointed by the heavenly gods to govern the mortal world.

Of course, the Cryo Bracer knew nothing of his true identity. He only saw Lin Yi's malicious smile, which seemed to foreshadow his own fate.

Lin Yi glanced at Zhongli and was about to speak, but Zhongli interrupted him first.

"Since I have revealed myself, we might as well talk."

"Of course we can talk. But this fellow is rather in the way."

Lin Yi pointed at the Cryo Bracer, giving him a hint.

"Isn't that simple enough?"

Zhongli gathered some elemental energy in his right leg.

He lifted it slightly, barely touching the Cryo Bracer's body.

The fellow shot straight into the sky, tracing a graceful arc toward some unknown landing place.

And that was not all.

Zhongli's figure flickered, forming two Geo duplicates.

They appeared before Tartaglia and La Signora respectively.

At the sight of that face, everyone present felt an odd sense of familiarity, along with even greater confusion.

Ningguang frowned at the newcomer.

Tartaglia, however, was brimming with fighting spirit. Faced with this man's sudden arrival, he immediately wanted to test his strength.

Calm and silent, Zhongli raised his left hand slightly, and two stone rings of magic appeared.

He murmured an incantation. The rings flew from his hand and bound Tartaglia and La Signora on the spot, giving neither of them any time to act.

Zhongli had always favored a swift, decisive approach.

But now was not the time to openly break with the Fatui.

After a moment's thought, Zhongli said slowly, "Leave Liyue for now. I will find you privately afterward."

Zhongli was holding back his overwhelming strength, but even so, Childe understood perfectly well that he and La Signora together would be hard-pressed to defeat the man before him.

Things were taking a bad turn. It was time to stop, especially since he had already seen the result he wanted.

"Since you have asked, sir, I won't linger. Until we meet again!"

Tartaglia's body instantly turned into clear water, seeping into the ground and disappearing.

Outside the city, La Signora also noticed something amiss.

"Why did that fellow Tartaglia leave? What on earth is he playing at?"

Left with no other choice, she dodged Ganyu's attack and withdrew as well. Having missed this opportunity, making another move would only be harder next time.

As for the remaining Fatui soldiers, they could offer no resistance against the Millelith's assault. Most were killed or captured, and some useful intelligence could still be extracted from the prisoners.

The day's farce and chaos finally subsided.

Ningguang, standing a short distance from Zhongli, grew curious about the man before her.

Who is he?

Why does he possess such powerful Geo energy?

Zhongli glanced over indifferently. With a slight nod, he dissolved into drifting sand.

Ningguang had wanted to ask him something, but she could only let it go.

She suspected that the events of the day were certainly connected to this mysterious man.

Before that, however, she still had to bring today's wedding to a successful conclusion. Besides, she now had plenty to say and plenty of questions waiting for Lin Yi to answer, one by one.

After a day of commotion, the wedding ended, and everyone went home.

Inside Ningguang's office in the Jade Chamber.

Ningguang had long since changed out of her cumbersome wedding attire. Her familiar everyday outfit better accentuated her refined, noble bearing.

Lin Yi stood across the desk from her, sensing that something was wrong with the atmosphere.

Even though they were now publicly husband and wife, it was best not to act rashly just yet.

To his surprise, Ningguang confronted him directly.

"Why did you deceive me? What exactly are you after?"

"Me? Didn't I tell you everything I needed to before we got married? Why are you suddenly angry?"

"Enough! Shut up!"

The mention of their marriage only infuriated Ningguang further. As her anger rose, the soft, pale curves of her chest heaved.

Beneath the calm of her face, her anger carried a trace of hurt.

But however hard Lin Yi racked his brains, he still could not work out what he had done wrong.

Ding! Detected: Ningguang's trust ↓ Intimacy ↓

Holy crap!

Lin Yi immediately realized he was in serious trouble. A decline in his bond with Ningguang was worse than being hunted by enemies.

If he really had concealed anything, it was naturally certain matters concerning Zhongli.

But before that, Lin Yi still felt he needed to have a proper conversation with Ningguang, like a premarital checkup.

Lin Yi calmed himself, sent Baiwen and Baishi away, then locked the door from the inside.

Watching his actions, Ningguang felt a flicker of panic.

Is he going to do something to me?

When Lin Yi took the initiative and caught her slender hand.

Ningguang's mind went blank, and her heartbeat quickened.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already seated beside the window, with Lin Yi's deep gaze directly opposite her.

At such close range, she was even less willing to look him in the eyes.

Lin Yi was the one who had done something wrong, so why did she feel a little intimidated?

"Since you're already my wife, why don't we have a proper heart-to-heart tonight? Whatever you want to know, I can tell you."

Lin Yi had already tied Ningguang to himself through their bond.

To win over this peerless beauty from here on, he would have to proceed sincerely, one step at a time.

Haste would get him nowhere.

Just as Ningguang was about to take the opportunity to question him, a figure abruptly appeared outside the window.

This was the top floor of the Jade Chamber. What jerk was lurking outside to eavesdrop in the middle of the night?

Lin Yi and Ningguang, husband and wife, both looked outside.

The visitor was none other than Zhongli.