It turns out that watching a god die on a screen and seeing a god die in front of you are two completely different things.
The death depicted on screen is part of the storyline.
The death before our eyes is an earthquake, a heart-wrenching cry from countless people.
" Rex Lapis-- "
"How could the Rex Lapis...?"
"Oh my god, the Rex Lapis..."
The people around him knelt down in droves.
Some people were crying, some were kowtowing, and some were slumped on the ground with empty eyes.
The people of Liyue have revered the Rex Lapis for 3,700 years.
This god has been here for 3,700 years.
He is like a mountain, like the sky above, like the ground beneath his feet for a lifetime.
No one imagined that the mountain would collapse or the sky would fall.
Standing among the kneeling crowd, Bai You suddenly felt like an outsider.
She was the only person on this Yujing Terrace who knew that " the Rex Lapis was not truly dead."
No, there's another one, the old man named Zhongli who was mixed in with the crowd.
But this "knowing" brought her no relief at this moment.
Looking at the Liyue people who were breaking down and crying, she felt a tightness in her chest.
Because she knew that these tears were what Zhongli wanted.
He wanted to see for himself what the people of Liyue would be like after losing him.
He wanted to personally detach himself from the peaceful Liyue Harbor.
" Little Bai You."
A hand grasped hers.
That hand was steady and warm.
It's Varesa.
She did not look at the dragon's body.
From the moment the golden dragon fell to the ground, her gaze never left Bai You.
She couldn't understand the gods of Liyue.
She didn't have the deep-seated awe for the Rex Lapis that the people of Liyue had.
But she could see the Bai You.
Varesa's voice was very low, only the two of them could hear it.
"Don't look there, look at me."
Bai You turned her head blankly.
It met a pair of calm eyes.
There was no fear of God in those eyes, only hers.
Varesa held her hand and gently squeezed it.
"I..."
"I'm fine."
Varesa simply pulled her closer to her, letting her lean against her shoulder.
Bai You remained silent.
She simply buried her face even deeper into Varesa's shoulder.
Ahead, Ningguang had already strode through the smoke and dust and reached the dragon's body.
Keqing and Ganyu followed closely behind.
Sure enough, Ningguang took a deep breath, and when she spoke again, her voice was suddenly cold and sharp.
"Block Yujing Terrace!"
" Millelith, seal off all exits!"
" The Rex Lapis's passing is shrouded in mystery."
"No one may leave until the truth is revealed; everyone present is a suspect!"
Upon receiving the order, the Millelith, which had been on guard around the perimeter, immediately sprang into action.
Long spears formed a dense forest, and squads of them sealed off every exit of Yujing Terrace.
More soldiers surged up from below the stage, forming one blockade line after another in the crowd.
"Everyone, stay put and wait to be questioned in turn!"
Anyone who dares to leave without permission will be treated as a suspect!
The crowd erupted.
The already distraught people were thrown into complete chaos by this shock.
"I didn't do anything!"
"Let me go, I want to go home!"
"My child is still at home!"
Cries, shoving, and soldiers' shouts mingled together.
Bai You's heart sank little by little.
She knew that this lockdown was the real trouble.
The Rex Lapis is dead, Liyue Qixing must find the murderer, someone who can give an account to the world.
The best target is an outsider.
She glanced instinctively at the row in front of her.
Ying and Paimon were not far ahead of them.
The blond Traveler did not kneel; instead, he frowned and warily watched the approaching Millelith from all sides.
Paimon hid behind her, his face turning pale with fright.
However, it seems difficult to explain this myself.
When she and Varesa passed through the Stone Gate, they used the identity of "the singer who came in Snezhnaya, taking her sister sightseeing".
This line of reasoning should be fine for dealing with ordinary levels.
But now that the Rex Lapis is dead, Liyue Qixing is more wary of all those Snezhnaya than of others.
The relationship between Snezhnaya and Liyue is inherently delicate.
Varesa."
She lowered her voice.
"Don't panic."
Varesa pulled her close again, her voice carrying a reassuring certainty.
Bai You nodded.
Just then, a squad of Millelith arrived and began to search their area.
"These two are over here,"
An officer raised his hand. "Please show me your documents."
Varesa calmly took out two documents obtained when passing through the Stone Gate from her bag and handed them over with both hands.
"We are from the Korolevsky Troupe, coming in the Snezhnaya."
"This is my younger sister. It's her first time in Liyue. She heard that the Rex Lapis had appeared, so she insisted on squeezing to the front to see."
"I never expected this to happen."
As she spoke, she subtly revealed a hint of fear and sadness.
Millelith took the document, frowned as he looked at it, and then glanced at them.
" Snezhnaya?"
Yes.
What are you doing in Liyue?
"Enjoy sightseeing and see something new."
Varesa paused, then lowered her eyes.
"Our theater troupe is on holiday, so I took my younger sister out for a walk."
"If I had known today... I would never have let her come."
His gaze fell on Bai You.
Bai You perfectly portrayed the terrified little girl.
She shrank behind Varesa, revealing only half her face, her eyes red and her lips pursed, looking as if she was about to cry at any moment.
That performance was quite convincing.
Millelith glanced at her twice, and his brows relaxed slightly.
Such a petite girl, who looks like she could be blown away by the wind, really doesn't seem like the kind of person who could assassinate the Rex Lapis.
But he still didn't let them pass immediately.
"You cannot leave yet. Stand over there and wait. Do not leave without orders."
"Yes, yes."
Varesa responded readily, pulling Bai You aside.
Once they were far away from the Millelith, Varesa took her hand and patted it gently.
"Don't be afraid."
"I'm here."
Just as Bai You was about to speak, a commotion suddenly broke out in the front row.
"That blonde over there!"
It was the officer's voice, which suddenly rose in pitch.
"Stop! You are subject to inspection!"
Bai You suddenly looked up.
They've arrived.
At the front of the crowd, several Millelith had their eyes fixed on Ying.
The blond Traveler was dressed in foreign attire, with an ancient sword at his waist, and a talking little guide floating beside him.
Such a combination is already conspicuous in Liyue Harbor.
What's worse, they were too close to where the Rex Lapis had fallen.
As soon as the Millelith surrounded her, she had no Liyue identity documents on her.
"I am not the murderer."
Ying's voice was very calm.
"I'm just here to watch the ceremony."
Whether someone is the murderer or not is not for you to decide.
The officer waved his hand.
"Take him down and bring him back for interrogation!"
Several Millelith soldiers immediately surrounded Ying with their spears.
Ying's eyes turned cold.
She knew that once she was taken away, she would have no way to defend herself.
She grabbed Paimon and turned to rush towards the corridor.
The suspect escaped.
"Chase after them!"
Millelith gave chase.
Bai You watched as Ying and Paimon were chased by the Millelith and disappeared around the corner of the corridor, and a strange feeling lingered in her heart.
While she and Varesa were waiting, an unusual commotion suddenly arose on the other side of the crowd.
"Make way."
A lazy, chuckled voice rang out from the chaotic crowd.
"Make way, everyone."
The sound wasn't loud, yet it strangely drowned out the surrounding noise, remaining perfectly clear.
Bai You froze.
She recognized the voice and turned sharply in the direction of it.
A young man had appeared in the crowd without anyone noticing.
He was wearing a dark gray overcoat and walked slowly against the flow of fleeing people.
Several Millelith blocked his way, but he casually waved his hand.
A burst of azure Elemental Power exploded in mid-air with a "whoosh".
That was not an attack.
It was a water curtain that rose out of thin air, lying between the corridor where the Millelith and Ying had fled, blocking the pursuing soldiers on the other side of the water curtain.
Behind the water curtain, he lifted his foot again, and several jets of water rose up, completely blocking another entrance to the corridor.
Throughout the entire process, he had a smile on his face, as relaxed as if he were teasing a group of children.
"Over here, little one."
He waved and smiled in the direction Ying had fled.
Ying reacted quickly, immediately grabbing Paimon and rushing to his side amidst the chaos.
You are--
" Shh."
The man held up one finger and winked.
"Don't ask yet, we'll talk about it later."
Bai You watched this scene from afar, her breathing erratic.
Childe.
Tartaglia.
How did he get here?
No, she realized immediately.
Of course he'll be here.
The water curtain stretched out, preventing the Millelith from breaking through for the time being.
Taking advantage of the brief moment, the man casually glanced around at the chaotic crowd.
He was probably confirming the retreat route, and also checking if there were any people he needed to take with him.
Then, his gaze fell on Bai You, who was being protected by Varesa.
Their eyes met.
The face hidden under the brim of the hat paused for a moment, then froze.
Then came confusion.
Then, those deep blue eyes gradually brightened.
"Yo--"
He drew out his words, and the laughter in his voice suddenly intensified.
"Isn't this Bai You?"
Amidst the shouts of battle filling the city, he cried out her name.
While maintaining the water curtain to stop the ever-surging Millelith, the Childe still had time to nod his chin at her through the crowd.
"What are you doing here?"
His tone was as familiar as if he had bumped into an old acquaintance on the street.
"Just here to join the fun?"
Bai You was so angry she almost choked. What kind of time is this to be joining in the fun? Just like in the game, the Childe is so easygoing.
"Yeah, I'm here to have some fun."
"Haha, what a coincidence!"
The Childe chuckled.
"I haven't settled the score with you for throwing me into a snowdrift last time in Snezhnaya."
"But now that you're here, I'm not so afraid of these Liyue immortals anymore."