A radiant glow emanated from Ningguang, six amber-like gemstones appearing around her.
With a muttered incantation, she directed the gemstones towards the bronze cauldron with a wave of her hand.
Instantly, a golden beam of light shot upwards, piercing through the cloudless sky, casting an eerie darkness upon the once bright heavens.
A terrifying funnel cloud formed, quickly engulfing the sky with dark, ominous clouds, accompanied by flashes of lightning and booming thunder. It felt as if a torrential downpour was about to unleash its fury upon the Jade Palace Terrace.
As the crowd watched in awe and trepidation, a colossal dragon, a hundred meters long, descended from the sky, crashing onto the square from a height of hundreds of meters. The entire plaza shuddered, as if experiencing a minor earthquake.
Dust billowed across the square, sending chills down the spines of everyone present.
As the dust settled, a deep brown dragon lay sprawled on the ground.
Its half-dragon, half-麟 body had lost its luster, the golden dragon horns dulled and lifeless.
Witnessing this scene, Ningguang, standing in the center of the square, couldn't help but furrow her brow. She approached the fallen dragon and examined it before issuing a command.
“The Geo Archon has been assassinated, lockdown the entire area!”
These words sent shockwaves through the crowd, igniting a cacophony of murmurs and gasps.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the square, Lumine and Paimon, standing nearby, were also taken aback by the news.
Without hesitation, Lumine turned and fled, immediately attracting the attention of the Qixing's guards.
“Seize her!”
【Xiangling】: Huh?
【Xiangling】: Why run away?
【Xiangling】: Running away now makes you look guilty!
【Xingqiu】: I don't quite understand either. The Traveler didn't do anything wrong, so why run away?
【Lumine】: Back then, I didn't trust the gods. I suspected they might be the enemy.
【Lumine】: The Geo Archon's assassination might have been targeted at me.
【Lumine】: They could frame me with any accusation they wanted, so I fled, to avoid being caught by the believers.
After hearing Lumine's explanation.
Everyone nodded thoughtfully.
Though her choice wasn't the best option, it was understandable given that she didn't have many people she could trust at the time.
Back to the main story.
Surrounded by the Qixing's guards.
Lumine and Paimon ultimately failed to escape the Qixing's encirclement.
Just as things seemed dire, "Childe" suddenly appeared, a godsend from the heavens.
His dual blades, crafted from water element, slashed through the dense throng of guards, providing Lumine and Paimon a perfect escape route.
【Xiangling②】: In the end, it would have been better to stay put.
【Xiangling②】: If the Qixing’s guards caught you, you might have been subjected to torture.
【Xiangling②】: Even if you were eventually caught, you would have had a legitimate reason to resist, unlike this situation where you're completely passive.
【Xingqiu②】: Indeed, from any perspective, running away wasn't a good choice. Perhaps the Traveler acted impulsively.
With "Childe"s help.
The two of them managed to evade the pursuing guards.
They also discovered that he was a Fatui Harbinger, just like "Signora," but different.
However, despite knowing his identity, Lumine ultimately had no choice but to follow him to the Northland Bank.
After all, she was now a wanted criminal in Liyue, and "Childe" claimed to have a way to clear their names, so she had to temporarily cooperate with him.
"Childe" then handed them a talisman.
He instructed them to take the "Omniscient" talisman to the Adepti in the Guili Plains and seek their assistance.
The Geo Archon was the most powerful god in Teyvat, and Lumine was merely a mortal, so she couldn't possibly have assassinated the Geo Archon.
But the Liyue Qixing insisted on finding the culprit at the scene, which seemed highly suspicious. With Tianquan’s abilities, she wouldn't make such a crude response.
Right now, only the Liyue Adepti could help them.
【Keqing】: Sowing discord.
【Keqing】: Such a clumsy tactic.
【Keqing】: They're trying to stir up trouble between us.
【Ningguang】: While the method is crude, it must be said, it's effective.
【Ningguang】: The Liyue Qixing and the Adepti have always had a strained relationship, even some tension.
【Ningguang】: The Adepti despise human scheming and deceit, and this is most pronounced in the Liyue Qixing.
【Ningguang】: If it weren't for the Archon’s presence, the conflict between humans and Adepti would have long since erupted. It's inevitable.
【Tartaglia】: Don't be so harsh with your words!
【Tartaglia】: At least the solution I offered actually works.
【Xiangling】: Though there are extenuating circumstances, the Traveler is still being used by "Childe."..
【Xiangling】: If the talisman "Childe" gave wasn't genuine, the Traveler might have been in serious trouble.
【Xianyun】: Indeed, if the talisman the Traveler presented wasn't real, we might have considered her to be malicious.
【Paimon】: Eh, eh?! It was that dangerous?
【Paimon】: So, we were being exploited while risking our lives?
【Paimon】: If we had angered the Adepti back then, Lumine and I would have been finished in the Guili Plains!
【Su Mu】: Forgot about the beginning, forgot about the middle, forgot about the end, chills down my spine! When will our Traveler finally stand up for herself!
Because of the information Lumine conveyed.
The conflict between the people of Liyue and the Adepti was thoroughly ignited.
Later, under "Childe"s introduction, the two met Zhongli.
He would preside over the Sendoff Ceremony as a guest lecturer at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and he could help them.
The two then acted as Zhongli's assistants, taking on tasks such as procuring jade, making fragrant oil, borrowing the Dust-Cleaning Bell, and buying Everlasting Incense.
Once the preparations were complete.
They were informed by Ganyu that Ningguang requested their presence.
So, following Ganyu's directions, they arrived at the cliffside.
However, because Ganyu didn't provide specific instructions, Lumine and Paimon couldn't make it onto the Jade Palace.
Having no choice, they descended the mountain and unknowingly reached the location of the Guizhong Ballista, where they encountered Keqing, the Jade Chamber's representative.
Seizing this opportunity, they asked about Ningguang's intentions.
And Keqing's response was far beyond Lumine and Paimon's expectations.
“Ningguang wants to meet you, merely hoping that you remain neutral, at least not fully siding with the Adepti.”
“We haven't taken sides. We spoke with the Adepti, and according to them, they are also prepared to protect Liyue."
“Protection?” Keqing shook her head and said softly: “The protection they speak of, is it the kind of arrogant patronage they bestow upon us?”
“Because you are mortals, objects of their protection, so they wouldn't think of you as capable of assassinating the Archon."
“Therefore, they must believe that Ningguang’s actions of sealing off the scene, interrogating the populace, and hunting down the assassin are all futile, even potentially concealing some secret.”
“Without any investigation, they arrogantly assume that the Liyue Qixing are acting maliciously, even wanting to suppress us by force. Can't the Liyue Qixing be acting for the benefit of Liyue's people?"
“People say I disrespect the Adepti, but I believe that whether it be gods or Adepti, they all have their time to pass. If we don't face this possibility, who will bear the burden of Liyue's future?”
“The era of the Adepti has passed, and humanity must shoulder the future of Liyue. I don't want to see that when disaster strikes, humanity can only kneel and pray, instead of seeking self-preservation.”