Liyue Harbor, Yujing Terrace.
After making a wish, Lumine went to the incense burner on the other side to make another.
"I hope the Geo Archon can tell me something about my brother."
Paimon was waving her hands.
"I wonder how much longer Lady Ningguang needs to prepare?"
Then they headed toward the center of Yujing Terrace with Qiu Bai.
The passersby beside them whispered among themselves.
Qiu Bai and Lumine squeezed into the crowd.
"Wow, there are so many people!"
"Let's go a little farther forward. We can't see anything from back here."
With that, Paimon flew ahead.
Lumine squeezed her way forward too, her gaze settling on Ningguang.
Qiu Bai watched quietly from the back. He was a god, after all; if he wanted to see, he could.
Ningguang stood in the center of Yujing Terrace. She looked up at the sun, then stepped forward on her slender legs.
"The auspicious hour has arrived."
The two people flanking Ningguang bowed their heads and withdrew.
Dense Geo energy materialized around Ningguang, followed by four gems resembling Elemental Lifeforms.
The gems circled endlessly around her.
Then Ningguang pointed toward the incense burner ahead, and all the jade gems plunged into it.
In an instant, a golden beam pierced heaven and earth, shooting from the center of the incense burner into the clouds.
The sky darkened, and wind and clouds surged overhead.
Suddenly, the clouds turned black. Amid thunder and lightning, a half-qilin dragon fell from the sky.
I've already been through this part of the story in the game.
But seeing it in person, it really does look convincing.
Standing in the crowd, Qiu Bai rested his chin on his hand. Wasn't this dragon just a tiny bit too small? Then again, it was a fake body.
If the real Morax fell from the sky, more than half of Liyue Harbor would be destroyed.
Ningguang's expression turned grave. She hurried forward and crouched to examine it, while the surrounding crowd broke into murmurs.
Ningguang slowly backed away, then turned and swept out her arm.
"Rex Lapis has been assassinated! Seal off the area!"
As soon as she spoke, a large contingent of Millelith surged through the entrance and surrounded the crowd.
"Question everyone, one by one! Don't let any suspicious individuals slip through!"
After issuing those orders, Ningguang stood rooted to the spot, staring at the Geo Archon's body as she replayed what had just happened.
If Rex Lapis has been assassinated, then what about the Immortal Lord?
A power capable of assassinating a god?
Whoever they are, they won't leave Liyue!
Ningguang's gaze sharpened again. The Millelith Formation could withstand even gods!
"Wh-what in the world is going on?!"
Paimon clutched her head.
"She said Rex Lapis was assassinated."
"D-does that mean the Geo Archon is... d-dead?!"
"It's the Millelith. It looks like they're checking suspicious people who got too close to the scene."
Lumine cautiously scanned her surroundings.
If the Geo Archon has been assassinated, then my lead on my brother...
"Come to think of it, we're suspicious people who got close to the scene."
Lumine turned around, thinking to herself.
This god might be the enemy from back then. I can't fall into the hands of his followers.
With that thought, Lumine quietly made her way toward the entrance.
"Hey, wait for me!"
Paimon stamped her feet and followed her.
Qiu Bai stood there waiting to be questioned. After all, he had no reason to run.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a Millelith soldier in the distance walked toward him.
Holding a notebook, the soldier questioned Qiu Bai.
"Age?"
"Twenty-two."
"Occupation?"
"Consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"Name?"
"Qiu Bai."
"Hmm... everything checks out. You can go."
With that, the Millelith soldier left.
"Over here! Suspicious individuals are fleeing!!!"
"Go after them!"
Qiu Bai knew without even thinking that it was Lumine and Paimon.
When the remaining citizens finally realized what had happened,
every one of them was overcome with grief. Some even sank to the ground on the spot.
They murmured to themselves.
"First the Immortal Lord, and now Rex Lapis."
"What will become of Liyue now...?"
"A contract lasting thousands of years, gone just like that."
"No! I don't believe it! How could Rex Lapis and the Immortal Lord have been assassinated?"
Qiu Bai looked at the crowd's reactions and sighed.
The people of Liyue really were too dependent on him and Morax.
This nation called Liyue truly needed to grow up.
Disbelief and sorrow lingered in Ningguang's eyes.
Suddenly, her gaze fell on Qiu Bai in the distance. She could not understand why this new consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was so mysterious.
A few days earlier, the Yuheng, Keqing, had returned and told her that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had a new consultant whose appearance was exceptionally striking.
Her investigations over the past few days had revealed that Qiu Bai was humble, knowledgeable about both ancient and modern matters, and a friend of Zhongli's.
He was also gentle by nature, but there were no leads whatsoever regarding this Mr. Qiu Bai. Nothing was known about his life before he became a consultant.
What an extraordinary man.
Not even the death of a god can stir him?
As she pondered this, Ningguang felt the desire to make his acquaintance and walked toward him.
Qiu Bai stood by the railing of Yujing Terrace with his hands behind his back. A breeze stirred his white robes, briefly leaving Ningguang entranced behind him.
Ningguang collected herself and stepped forward.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, since you've already been cleared,"
"why not leave? Why linger here?"
Ningguang stood beside Qiu Bai, her gaze also turning toward the distant scenery.
"Heh, I have nothing to do, so I thought I'd enjoy the view."
"That Millelith instructor never said I had to leave once I'd been cleared, did he?"
Qiu Bai smiled at Ningguang beside him. As the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, she possessed immense wealth-a rich woman through and through.
She had come all this way from being a little girl who could not even afford shoes. It truly had not been easy.
"But for Lady Tianquan to strike up a conversation with a mere consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for no particular reason..."
"I'm deeply honored."
He meant every word. After all, right now he was merely a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue Harbor.
"You're too modest, Mr. Qiu Bai."
"I'm simply a little curious about where you come from."
Ningguang frowned as she looked at the mysterious man before her. There were simply too many mysteries surrounding Qiu Bai.
Seeing Ningguang's misgivings, Qiu Bai turned back toward the distant scenery and spoke with his hands behind his back.
"I'm merely a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"At least, that's what I am for now."
"How will Liyue, a land with a god, respond to that god's death?"
Ningguang froze for a moment.
By the time she came to her senses, Mr. Qiu Bai had vanished. Could he be one of the Adepti?
I will eventually grow old, and the Liyue Qixing will change from generation to generation, but Liyue Harbor will remain prosperous.
"Even if Rex Lapis and the Immortal Lord have passed away, Liyue still has the Liyue Qixing and its many people."
"The age of human rule has arrived."
Ningguang's gaze became resolute. The Liyue Qixing were the pillars supporting all the people of Liyue. She could not show even a trace of weakness.
"But that Mr. Qiu Bai truly is mysterious."
"Could he be one of the Adepti? But why don't I remember an Adeptus like him?"
Before you continue