"Holding the sun and moon, plucking the stars from the sky. In all the world, there is no one else like me..."
Keqing's brows knit tightly together, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That is... staggering arrogance."
Ryen chuckled, picking up his cup. "There's more. If Heaven had not birthed me, Li Taibai, the eternal path of literature would be an endless night."
The expressions around the table grew even more conflicted. Arrogance of that magnitude defied simple categorization.
"Even Du Fu, the Poet Sage who worshipped him, captured Li Bai's wild pride in his own verses," Ryen continued smoothly. "Drinking heavily and singing wildly, spending the days in vain. Flying high and acting domineering, for whom is he a hero? In that era, no poet could match his stride. Once he ascended to the throne of Poet Immortal, he became utterly peerless. Only Du Fu could stand on the same stage."
Zhongli did not voice any objections. He nodded slowly, his eyes reflecting the glow of the lanterns. "It is understandable. Without such profound pride, one could not forge verses that command the heavens. Li Bai's brilliance entirely justifies his arrogance. In ten million years, a world may not birth a second Li Bai. For another to speak such words would be foolish vanity. For Li Bai, it is merely stating a fact. He earned the right to look down upon the world."
Zhongli let out a long, heavy sigh, a rare trace of envy softening his amber eyes. "He was truly spoon-fed by the heavens."
"If Li Bai heard you say that, he would scoff," Ryen laughed, shaking his head. "He would never credit the heavens for his talent. When it came to poetry, he was an equal-opportunity elitist. He looked down on absolutely everyone."
Ryen paused, a distinct glint entering his eye. "The only time Li Bai ever experienced true literary defeat was encountering the fleeting genius of Wang Bo. Wang Bo penned the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng. It was the only work that ever forced Li Bai to lay down his brush and concede. He genuinely believed that regarding the Pavilion of Prince Teng, Wang Bo had reached the absolute, unreachable zenith. No one else could ever compare."
Zhongli leaned forward, his interest intensely piqued. "Could you recite it?"
"It is quite long. Reciting the entirety now isn't practical, but I can share a few lines."
Ryen closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting the ancient rhythm surface.
"The floodwaters recede, leaving the chill pools clear. The mists condense, casting a purple hue upon the twilight mountains."
"Layered peaks of jade green pierce the highest heavens. Vermilion pavilions take flight, looking down upon a bottomless abyss. Sandbars of cranes and islets of ducks trace the winding shores. Palaces of cassia and halls of orchid mirror the undulation of the hills."
"The clouds dissipate, the rain clears, and sunlight bathes the realm in brilliance. The sunset glow flies alongside the solitary wild duck. The autumn waters merge with the vast, boundless sky, sharing a single hue."
Ryen fell silent, letting the imagery settle.
Even after being battered by the sheer genius of Li Bai and Du Fu, this excerpt left Zhongli visibly shaken.
"The sunset glow flies alongside the solitary wild duck. The autumn waters merge with the vast, boundless sky, sharing a single hue..." Zhongli repeated the words in a hushed whisper. "With just a few lines, a landscape of incomprehensible majesty unfurled before my eyes. This description exhausts the absolute limits of technique and conceptual beauty. I understand Li Bai's concession. Facing such poetry, no writer would dare lift a brush."
Ningguang's eyes grew distant, a soft yearning in her gaze. "I never imagined your former world harbored places of such staggering beauty. It renders my Jade Chamber utterly mundane by comparison. Having a poet of that caliber immortalize that pavilion... it is a blessing beyond measure."
Ryen glanced toward the harbor below, noting the subtle shifts in activity. The preparations for the fireworks display were complete.
"During the Tang and Song dynasties in my world, an endless stream of poets emerged. There was A Moonlit Night on the Spring River, which stood alone against the entire Tang dynasty, and the Water Melody, romantic to its absolute core." Ryen smiled gently. "I will tell you about them another time. We could speak for a day and a night and barely scratch the surface. But for now... the fireworks are about to begin."
As his words faded, a thunderous crack echoed through the harbor. Brilliant streaks of light shot into the sky, exploding into massive, colorful blossoms.
The group set aside their exploration of Earth's literary history. They stepped toward the edge of the Jade Chamber's plaza, looking down upon the sea of lights.
Liyue Harbor was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Xiao Lanterns drifted upward in a steady, golden stream.
Keqing and the Qixing had debated the nature of this year's Lantern Rite at length. The festival was traditionally a time to honor fallen heroes. However, with the Adepti and Yakshas resurrected, dedicating the display to them felt inappropriate. Ultimately, they collaborated with Yoimiya to design a completely new spectacle.
Beginning from the main gates of Liyue Harbor, the night sky transformed into a massive canvas. The fireworks did not merely explode; they coalesced into moving, highly detailed cinematic scenes.
The first scene depicted the Millelith's initial entry into the Minecraft world. It showed them ambushed by pillagers wielding modern firearms. The display captured the brutal reality: the tamed wolf packs fighting to the death, their bodies forming a protective wall to shield the Liyue citizens.
The pyrotechnics were terrifyingly precise. The faces of the Millelith soldiers and miners were clearly recognizable. Looking closely, the citizens realized that the soldiers fiercely defending the line in that first battle were the very same men who now commanded the Dragon Rider corps.
Down in the streets, Dashi and his foreign comrades stood frozen. Staring at the projection above, Dashi's vision blurred heavily, his chest tightening.
Rahman placed a heavy hand on Dashi's shoulder, exhaling slowly. The foreign soldiers had joined the initiative much later. They never experienced the grueling, bloody nightmare of the initial pioneering phase. Upon entering, they had Base One waiting for them, complete with training facilities and basic weaponry. They could never truly comprehend the visceral, life-and-death bond Dashi's unit shared with the wolves who had traded their lives for theirs.
For the people of Liyue, this was their first glimpse into the absolute hell their soldiers had endured over the past six months. This was how their nation had secured its staggering wealth.
The scenes shifted. Expeditions into the Nether, fighting endless tides of monstrous abominations. The Millelith forming shield walls, bleeding to defend newly constructed outposts.
The End Dragon subjugation. Ningguang and the Vanguard confronting a beast vastly larger and more terrifying than the tamed dragons now soaring above the harbor.
The construction of Redstone contraptions, leveling mountains and diverting rivers.
The apocalyptic siege against the three Wither Storms.
The exploration of the Twilight Forest, facing horrors that defied reason.
Finally, the Rite of Parting. Liyue's forces mobilizing to utterly crush the sea god Osial with zero casualties.
Scenes the citizens knew, and countless horrors they did not, detonated across the sky.
In that moment, a profound realization struck the people of Liyue. They finally understood the true cost of the miracle milk, the enchanted blades, and the boundless prosperity they now enjoyed.
They turned their gazes from the sky to the Millelith soldiers mingling in the crowds, and then upward to the Jade Chamber. Their eyes were no longer filled with simple joy, but with absolute, crushing reverence.
Dashi's wife gripped his calloused hand, her knuckles turning white. She finally comprehended the sheer volume of danger her husband had walked through.
"Dashi..." her voice broke.
Dashi smiled softly, squeezing her hand in return. "It is fine. It was for you, and for Liyue. Besides, the leaders sacrificed far more than we did. Lady Ningguang said that the era of humanity must be built upon the sweat and blood of humans. What I did was merely my duty."
His wife did not speak further. She simply wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face in his chest.
"Papa is a hero!" his son declared, his little fists clenched at his sides. "I'm going to protect Liyue just like Papa!"
Dashi offered a quiet, deeply contented smile, savoring the warmth of his family.
The fireworks display transitioned into the rewards of their labor. Shimmering alchemical potions, enchanted weaponry, Slash Blades, and staves materialized in the sky. The Millelith infantry, heavy cavalry, modern firearm divisions, the air force, the navy. And finally, the awe-inspiring Dragon Riders.
The sequence progressed steadily. The final scene displayed a boundless ocean, with the faint outline of a massive new continent resting on the horizon.
Ryen chuckled softly. "You included the new continent?"
"Naturally," Ningguang replied, her voice soft and steady. "First, it represents our trajectory for the coming year. Second, it symbolizes Liyue's future. We must continually stride into the boundless unknown."
She turned her gaze to Ryen, her eyes swimming with profound affection.
"Thank you, Ryen. Thank you for pushing Liyue's era of humanity into such a glorious dawn. We debated endlessly on how to celebrate the Lantern Rite this year. Ultimately, we decided... in a nation ruled by humans, it is the humans who must be the true guiding light. We achieved it."
Ryen did not reply with words. He simply extended his arms, pulling Ningguang and the others into a tight embrace as they watched the final sparks fade from the sky.
"Excellent," Zhongli said, a warm smile gracing his features. "In that case, let the words of the Poet Immortal serve as the final, masterful stroke of this display."
Zhongli exchanged a look with the Adepti. They extended their hands in unison. Pure, concentrated Adeptal energy surged upward, weaving together in the dark sky just as the final firework dissipated.
The brilliant, golden energy illuminated the entirety of Liyue Harbor.
A time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves!I will set my cloud-white sail and cross the vast, boundless sea!
The verses, forged from pure Adeptal power, hung eternally over the harbor.
The people of Liyue stared up at those words in absolute silence. They understood the message. The colossal vessel of Liyue had raised its sails. No storm, no matter how violent, could break their resolve to chart the vast unknown.
As the glow of the characters stabilized, Liyue Harbor officially descended into unbridled revelry.
Along every major street, open-air banquets arranged by the Ministry of Civil Affairs materialized. Wine flowed freely, and food was abundant. Liyue Harbor would not sleep tonight. It was a nationwide celebration.
The first Lantern Rite of the human era was an absolute, flawless triumph.
The cacophony of cheers and the clinking of glasses drifted up from the harbor to the Jade Chamber.
A groan broke the serenity. Venti struggled to his feet, swaying dangerously as he slapped his own cheeks.
"Is the second round starting? Come on! Let's drink!"
He patted his pockets clumsily before withdrawing a heavily dusty, ancient-looking bottle of wine. A goofy, triumphant grin spread across his face.
"I stole this from the old man's stash a few days ago! It's his last bottle! I'm feeling generous tonight, so I'll share it with everyone! My treat!"
Zhongli's previously tranquil expression vanished, replaced by an aura of absolute murder. He spun around, closed the distance in two massive strides, and snatched the bottle from Venti's hands.
The group burst into laughter. They turned back to their tables, the mood light and joyous.
It was a day of grand celebration. Formality was discarded; joy was paramount. A severe hangover tomorrow was a small price to pay.
Ryen and his wives, however, did not rejoin the drinking. Zhongli and the others were genuinely terrified of Ryen's constitution by now. Furthermore, Ryen preferred to spend the remainder of the evening enjoying the quiet intimacy of his wives' company.
They sat near the edge of the Jade Chamber, looking down at the roaring harbor. Men, women, and the elderly were all raising bottles. With milk and alchemical potions readily available, alcohol poisoning was a relic of the past.
With Ningguang and the leadership secluded above, the returning Millelith became the absolute stars of the harbor. Massive lines of citizens, easily numbering in the hundreds, queued up before every soldier, waiting to offer a toast and express their gratitude for the sacrifices that bought their peaceful lives.
Naturally, the Millelith lacked Ryen's monstrous constitution. Entire squads were dropping unconscious by the minute.
Ningguang smiled softly, entirely unconcerned. Even if every Millelith soldier in the city blacked out, Liyue was perfectly safe. The Five-Nation Alliance had no mortal enemies. Furthermore, Aether had covertly deployed the Abyss Order's unstationed Abyss Mages to patrol the borders and ensure security.
It was a blatant attempt to curry favor with Ryen and extend goodwill toward Liyue, the most aggressively expanding nation in the Alliance. When Khaenri'ah eventually began its restoration in the Minecraft world, they would inevitably need assistance. Building strong ties with Ningguang was strategic. Perhaps they even hoped she would whisper favorable words into Ryen's ear.
As for Lumine... Aether only prayed she wouldn't spend her days whispering poison about him instead. He certainly couldn't rely on his chaotic sister for diplomatic support.