Ying paused for a moment.
" Rex Lapis." She repeated the name.
"Hmm." Venti nodded, hugging her harp and leaning against the wall.
"The oldest of the Seven. He's lived since the Archon War and has seen more than all of us combined."
He paused, his emerald eyes fixed on Ying.
"Haven't you been looking for your blood relatives?"
Ying's body stiffened slightly.
She didn't speak, but her hand tightened.
"If anyone in this world could possibly have seen your blood relatives."
Venti's voice softened, no longer carrying that playful, joking tone.
"Perhaps only the Rex Lapis remains. He has lived for so long that he might remember things I can't even recall."
The square fell silent for a moment.
"... Rite of Descension," Ying whispered. "What is it?"
"It's an annual ceremony in Liyue," Venti explained.
" The Rex Lapis will descend on that day, personally bestowing divine decrees to guide Liyue's direction for the coming year. All of Liyue's people, officials and commoners, will come to witness it."
When?
"Soon." Venti thought for a moment, "There's probably still more than two weeks. If you leave now and walk quickly, you should be able to make it."
Ying raised her head and looked south.
To the south of City of Mondstadt lies a range of snow-capped mountains. Beyond those mountains, further south, lies the territory of Liyue.
(I've crossed snow-capped mountains; I endured a lot of hardship.)
Her blood relatives are somewhere on that continent.
"Will he see me?" Ying asked.
"Well—" Venti drawled.
The Rex Lapis rarely sees outsiders. Even during the Rite of Descension, he merely issued divine decrees and spoke little. However...
He blinked.
"You can give it a try. After all, you're from outside the world. He's lived for thousands of years; maybe he'll be interested in someone like you, an 'exception'."
Ying didn't speak.
She knew this wasn't a guarantee.
But this is her only clue at the moment.
"What kind of place is Liyue?" she asked again.
" Liyue," Venti thought for a moment.
"It's very different from Mondstadt. Mondstadt is free, Liyue is different. Liyue emphasizes rules, contracts, and order."
The Rex Lapis himself established the rules of Liyue, and for thousands of years, no one has dared to disobey them.
"Where are the people from there?"
"You're very good at business." Venti smiled. " Liyue Harbor is the most prosperous port in the Seven Nations; merchants from all over gather there."
"You can buy spices from Sumeru, clothing from Inazuma; as long as you have Mora, you can buy anything."
He paused, then added.
"However, Liyue's greatest strength isn't business, it's contracts."
"A contract?" Ying asked.
"Hmm." Venti nodded.
" The Rex Lapis is the God of Contracts. All important matters in Liyue must be governed by contracts."
"Once a contract is made, it cannot be broken. Those who break the contract will be Punishment of the Rock."
His tone softened.
"I've known him for a long time. During the Archon War, back then he wasn't called the Rex Lapis, he was called 'Morax '."
Ying listened quietly.
"So," Venti looked at her.
"If you do manage to meet him, ask him about your blood relatives."
"If he knows, he'll most likely tell you, but if he says he doesn't know..."
He didn't finish speaking.
Ying understood.
"I understand," Ying said.
Paimon listened with his eyes shining.
"You can buy everything? Are there any good foods?"
"Yes, there are." Venti counted on her fingers.
"Stir-fried shrimp in Violetgrass, lotus seed and poultry egg custard, 'Adeptus' Temptation '... Oh my, just thinking about it makes me hungry."
"What is 'Adeptus' Temptation '?" Paimon asked.
" Liyue's signature dish." Venti's eyes crinkled into a smile.
"Use ham, chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, and abalone, layering them in a clay pot, and simmer for a whole day. When you lift the lid, the aroma is so enticing that even the gods would jump over the wall to steal it."
Paimon's mouth was practically watering.
"Luminous! Let's hurry! Let's go to Liyue for Adeptus' Temptation!"
Ying looked at her, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
"Okay."
There is only one word.
But there was no hesitation in that word.
Venti watched from the side and smiled softly.
"Go ahead." He waved his hand.
"Be careful on the road. People from Snezhnaya might be heading to Liyue soon. Please be cautious."
Ying glanced at him.
"And you?"
"Me?" Venti blinked.
"Of course I'm staying in Mondstadt. Even without the Anemo Gnosis, this bard still has to keep singing and drinking."
As he spoke, he plucked a string from the harp.
The light and cheerful piano music echoed across the square.
She didn't ask any more questions, nodded, and turned to walk down the square.
Paimon followed beside her, muttering to himself as they flew.
" Liyue, Liyue... There's Adeptus' Temptation... Luminous, can we hurry up? Paimon can't wait any longer!"
"Okay," Ying said.
Their voices faded into the distance.
--
At the other end of the square, five people were walking down the stone steps.
Bai You was led by Varesa, walking slowly.
After walking for a while, Varesa suddenly stopped.
Varesa seemed to have overheard some of Venti's conversation.
Liyue... Liyue... Rex Lapis... Geo Ceremony... Liyue... Geo Rite of Descension... Geo C
Varesa's gaze drifted towards them, pausing for a moment.
Then she lowered her head and looked at Bai You beside her.
" Little Bai You," she called softly.
"Hmm?" Bai You raised her head and blinked.
Have you heard of Liyue?
Bai You tilted her head.
Liyue.
Of course she had heard of it.
She was from another world. In her original world, she looked at the map of Liyue Harbor on the screen countless times.
I've searched all the treasure chests.
She even knew what would happen during the Rite of Descension.
But she can't say these things for now.
"No..." She shook her head, feigning curiosity, "What place is that?"
"It's quite far from here." Varesa smiled. "It's south of Mondstadt, a long way to go."
"Have you been there?" Bai You asked.
Varesa paused for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"I've been there."
Bai You's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Really." Varesa led her, slowly walking down the path.
"That happened a long time ago; it was quite an accident when I first went there."
"What was it like when you went?" Bai You pressed.
Varesa thought for a moment.
"Hmm... I swam too far in Fontaine." Varesa laughed.
"Then, by accident, I ended up in Liyue, in a place called Chenyu Vale."
"However, Chenyu Vale is very beautiful. I also discovered a lake hidden deep in the mountains, shrouded in mist, where no one goes."
"I swam alone to the middle of the lake, submerged myself, and drank the water directly."
"Is it good?" Bai You asked softly.
"It tastes good." Varesa's eyes crinkled into a smile.
"Wild tea trees grow beside that lake, their roots embedded in the mud, their leaves floating on the water."
"Over time, the entire lake is permeated with the fragrance of tea. A sip is cool and refreshing, sweet with a hint of bitterness, followed by a lingering sweetness."
Bai You listened intently.
She could picture that scene.
"... I want to drink it too," she whispered.
"Once we arrive in Liyue, I'll take you there."
Varesa ruffled her hair.
" Chenyu Vale isn't far from Liyue Harbor, it's only a half-day walk. That lake is quite secluded, I'll take you there. We can drink together in the lake."