"Oh, right... that largest Rex Lapis Figurine in my Millelith quarters—could you give it to Keqing for me? She kept staring at it last time she visited, and I... I haven't had time to take care of it. Can't let it be neglected..."
With these final words, Qingge's soul faded completely from view.
Zhongli gently sighed as he retrieved Qingge's soul into the Jade Ring.
Figurine...
She must mean that one. Zhongli couldn't help but recall the scene when Kaiyang had purchased the figurine, which only deepened the ache in his heart.
Paimon still hovered before the barrier, tears welling in her large eyes.
"Qingge..."
Lumine, her spirits low, walked over and patted Paimon's back.
Venti found a rock to sit on, pulled out a bottle of wine from who-knows-where, and drained half of it in one gulp.
As dusk approached, Zhongli gazed toward Liyue Harbor. In the past, this hour would have seen the city ablaze with lanterns, brimming with festive energy.
Now, it stood desolate and eerily quiet, not a soul visible on the streets.
"Traveler."
Lumine and Paimon turned to look at Zhongli in unison.
"May I borrow your sword for a moment?"
Lumine immediately drew her sword, and Venti leaned in curiously.
Zhongli took the blade and carefully extracted a wisp of the Kaiyang's Soul from the Jade Talisman, fusing it with the weapon.
-
Player World
After Zhongli completed his work, a new interface popped up on the players' screens.
The interface displayed the sword Unrelenting Will, and as before, an explanation accompanied it:
[Unrelenting Will: This blade carries fragments of your two friends' souls. By bringing them on your journey, you may find yourself less alone.]
[Special Effect: When the Traveler uses Pyro or Geo Elemental Power, their Attack is increased by an additional 400 points.]
Chen Xiyao: "Look at this garbage! 'Less alone'? Mihoyo, are you even human?!"
[No, no, no! Don't do this! Are there five more of these coming? Can I just give this sword back?!]
[Dual-element now? Are we gonna have to collect all seven?!]
[No way, Mihoyo's gonna stab me with five more blades?!]
[Heh, this is a quest item. You can't even fuse it.]
-
Venti: "Human wishes truly are wondrous things."
Zhongli neither agreed nor disagreed, turning to Lumine once more. "Would you two be willing to visit Wangsheng Funeral Parlor on my behalf and deliver this talisman to Director Hu Tao? Just tell her it's the Kaiyang's Soul, and she'll know what to do."
"Is Hu Tao still at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?" Lumine asked.
Zhongli: "After returning from The Chasm, the bard had them come back. She should be back at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor by now..."
Lumine carefully tucked the Jade Talisman away. "We'll make sure to handle this properly!"
In a separate dimension, Jiang Mumu, engrossed in a game, wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Damn it! I made myself cry by stabbing myself with my own plot!
I'm just too kind, she thought.
She browsed the forums to see what players were saying.
When she saw them speculating about future plot twists, she chuckled.
If you can predict them, how can they be considered twists at all?
Did you really think I'd meticulously target each nation one by one?
She dared to openly declare her targets precisely because she had a plan.
The moment the players and in-game characters thought they had deciphered her objectives, the emotional feedback had already begun to trickle in.
The reason she didn't pull this stunt in Mondstadt or Liyue was simple: if her targets were exposed, the Anemo Archon and Geo Archon would protect them, making it difficult for her to strike.
But the other nations were different. Except for Inazuma, what could they do even if they knew?
Could they truly protect themselves?
Even without hidden manipulators, she had countless ways to achieve her goals. After all, she was both the perpetrator and the victim from start to finish.
The in-game characters were on the first level, the players on the second, but only Jiang Mumu—stood in the stratosphere!
-
Atop the Jade Chamber, Morax, clad in his Divine Regalia, made an unexpected visit.
Ningguang, still reviewing plans within the Jade Chamber, quickly received Baishi's report.
"L-Lady Ningguang, the Geo Archon has arrived! He's waiting outside the entrance."
Ningguang sprang to her feet, abandoning her half-finished plans, and hurried toward the entrance.
Morax stood at the edge of the Jade Chamber, one hand clasped behind his back, gazing silently at Liyue Harbor in the distance.
Ningguang jogged forward and bowed respectfully to the Geo Archon:
"Tianquan Ningguang greets the Geo Archon!"
Morax slowly turned to face her.
"For over three thousand seven hundred years, I have protected Liyue. I believed the nation had entered a golden age, capable of thriving without my guidance. Thus, I feigned my death, relinquished my role as the Geo Archon, and entrusted authority to the Qixing. You have indeed performed admirably..."
"However, fate is unpredictable, and the Abyss is treacherous. I have been compelled to reclaim my authority to safeguard Liyue once more."
Ningguang lowered her head, daring not to meet the Geo Archon's gaze.
"We owe our salvation entirely to the Geo Archon's decisive intervention. Without your intervention, Liyue would have faced utter ruin!"
Morax took two steps to the side.
"This was not my accomplishment alone... My purpose in coming here is twofold. First, to announce to the people of Liyue that I have returned and there is no need for alarm. Second..."
Ningguang listened intently, but when she saw the Geo Archon hesitate, a cold premonition gripped her heart.
"The Kaiyang, Mu Qingge, guarded The Chasm, holding the line until her last breath. She successfully defended that battlefield. I have already dispatched Adepti to escort her remains, which will arrive within an hour."
Ningguang's eyes instantly went blank, her expression frozen in a daze.
Yet, she was still Ningguang. She quickly regained her composure.
"I understand. We will receive the Kaiyang... home with the highest honors Liyue can bestow!"
Morax nodded slightly and departed from the Jade Chamber.
After the Geo Archon left, Ningguang staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground. Her two secretaries rushed forward to steady her.
"Lady Ningguang!"
Supporting herself on her secretaries, Ningguang rose and allowed them to guide her toward her quarters.
Qingge... had fallen in battle.
Ningguang clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she fought to suppress the grief welling up inside her. Yet the harder she tried to control it, the more intense the emotion became.
"Baiwen, Baixiao, Baishi... you..."
After issuing her orders and watching her three secretaries leave, Ningguang collapsed weakly back into her chair.
As Kaiyang, she was the youngest of the Qixing, yet her ability was unquestionable. Her future shouldn't have ended like this...
"Guarding The Chasm... died of battle..."
Had reinforcements ultimately failed to arrive in time?
If she hadn't sent the Kaiyang to The Chasm in the first place, would she still be alive? But if she hadn't gone, would their defense of The Chasm have succeeded?
These thoughts flashed through Ningguang's mind. The facts told her that her arrangements had been sound, yet the guilt in her heart lingered.
Taking a deep breath, Ningguang slowly regained her composure.
Now was not the time for grief. She still needed to welcome the Kaiyang's Soul and consider how to break this cruel truth to her family.