Mother Chen and Father Mu, who had just come out, froze in place at Ningguang's words.
"Lady Ningguang, what... what did you say?" Mother Chen's body trembled violently, her voice hoarse and faint, choked with uncontrollable sobs. Tears streamed from her eyes like a burst dam, coursing down her cheeks to soak her robe. Her gaze locked onto Ningguang with desperate pleading and utter despair, as if Ningguang were her last lifeline.
Ningguang's silence, however, was like a sharp blade, mercilessly piercing her final thread of hope.
Mother Chen's heart plummeted into an ice cellar, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of grief. Her mind went blank, the world seemed to freeze, her heartbeat roared in her ears, yet she could no longer feel her own breathing.
"Dear!" Father Mu quickly steadied the collapsing Mother Chen, pinching her philtrum firmly. She soon regained consciousness.
"My Qingge...!" Qingge was gone—her daughter, gone. Her world instantly darkened, and she teetered on the brink of collapse.
Tears streaming down his face, Father Mu held Mother Chen tightly.
Unable to bear the sight, Ningguang averted her gaze, only to meet Keqing's eyes, who was looking at her. Pale and distraught, Keqing's eyes betrayed her own profound sorrow: "Qingge... she..."
Ningguang nodded grimly, sighing inwardly for what felt like the hundredth time. She stepped forward and said softly, "My condolences."
-
By seven o'clock in the evening, darkness had already fallen.
A large crowd had gathered at Liyue Harbor, consisting mostly of ordinary Liyue citizens, though a significant portion were Millelith soldiers.
News of the Kaiyang's death in The Chasm and the Adeptus's retrieval of her remains had spread like wildfire.
Some initially doubted the reports, but rumors soon circulated that the Tianquan had organized a ceremony to welcome back the Kaiyang's remains.
This left them with no choice but to believe. Many who knew Qingge personally joined the procession, and even those who didn't know her came out of respect for her sacrifice for Liyue.
Xiangling, accompanied by Guoba, Yun Jin, Xingqiu, Chongyun, Hu Tao...
Hu Tao's expression was unusually solemn, devoid of her usual playful demeanor.
Lumine and Paimon stood beside her, having fulfilled Zhongli's request by delivering the Jade Talisman containing Qingge's soul to Hu Tao.
Father Mu and Mother Chen clung to each other, tears streaming down their faces.
Beside Ningguang stood Beidou, who patted Ningguang's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
Despite the large crowd, the harbor was eerily silent. Many had brought their own Xiao Lanterns, waiting quietly in place.
Soon, a massive deer and crane descended from the distant sky, landing gracefully in a small plaza before Liyue Harbor.
The Millelith soldiers on either side snapped to attention, standing ramrod straight.
Qingxu rose from Mountain Shaper's back, her heartstrings tugging sharply at the sight of the crowd carrying Xiao Lanterns.
So many people... Are they all here to welcome my sister?
She had only ever witnessed such a grand spectacle during the annual Rite of Descension. Now, they were all here for her sister...
Everyone gazed at the scene, silent.
Xiao carefully lifted the Ice Coffin and placed it inside the casket Hu Tao had prepared in advance.
As the coffin settled into place, the ice encasing Qingge began to melt.
Father Mu and Mother Chen lunged forward, collapsing onto the casket and gazing at their daughter's face through the dissolving ice. Their long-suppressed grief finally shattered.
Father Mu, forgetting his wife entirely, gripped the casket's edge, his knuckles turning white as he pressed down with all his strength.
Hu Tao took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing her own emotions, and stepped forward to the casket.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor followed strict protocols for funerary rites. Hu Tao wanted to wait, allowing Uncle Mu and Aunt Chen to have a final moment with their daughter.
Just then, Morax reappeared in his Divine Regalia.
Though he had already instructed Lady Ningguang to issue a public announcement about his arrival and could have chosen not to come, he had ultimately decided to attend.
Morax's arrival immediately caused a commotion. Ningguang hadn't yet announced the Geo Archon's return to the people, so the residents of Liyue still believed Rex Lapis had long since ascended to the heavens.
The sudden reappearance of their Archon filled their faces with joy.
Morax simply raised his hand, and the crowd instantly fell silent.
Scanning the crowd gathered at the harbor, Morax declared in a voice as resonant as a great bell: "During the Lantern Rite, the Abyss invaded, bringing calamity to Liyue. The Kaiyang led the Millelith in battle against the Abyss Monsters at The Chasm, where she fought valiantly to her death. Her sacrifice weighs heavily on my heart, and her deeds must never be forgotten."
Morax's voice echoed throughout the harbor, moving all who heard it to mourn the Kaiyang's death and commemorate her deeds.
Morax descended to the ground and approached the coffin where Qingge lay.
Father Mu and Mother Chen, struggling to suppress their grief, greeted him: "Lord Rex Lapis..."
"I apologize," Morax said. "I failed to save her."
Mother Chen shook her head repeatedly. She had long sensed the Geo Archon's deep care for Qingge, from her childhood to her adulthood. If anyone was to blame for Qingge's death, it was those vile Abyss demons.
"L-Lord Rex Lapis," she stammered, "did my daughter... did she fulfill your expectations?"
Morax paused for a moment, then said, "No, she did very well. She held the line and protected Liyue."
Tears streamed down Mother Chen's face as she immediately looked at her daughter, who lay peacefully in her coffin.
"Qingge, did you hear that? The Geo Archon said you did very well..."
Before Qingge, no one so young had ever been chosen as one of the Liyue Qixing.
Mother Chen had once asked her daughter if she felt overwhelmed by the pressure of being appointed as the Kaiyang at such a young age.
Qingge had replied, "Of course. Since taking on the role of Kaiyang , I haven't slackened for a moment. I know Rex Lapis values me and wants to cultivate my potential. That's precisely why the pressure is so immense."
Qingge's greatest fear was that her abilities wouldn't live up to her position, bringing shame to the Geo Archon and betraying his expectations.
Morax noticed someone staring at him and turned to see Hu Tao.
When Hu Tao met his gaze, she immediately lowered her head.
Morax then glanced at Ningguang, gave a slight nod, and departed.
After Morax left, Hu Tao occasionally glanced back at the crowd, searching for a familiar figure. When she didn't find the person she was looking for, she silently averted her gaze.
Qingxu came to stand before her parents. The three of them surrounded Qingge's coffin, quietly gazing at the person inside. From now on, the family of four would only be three.
-
Lumine and Paimon stayed until Qingge's remains were transported back before leaving.
At Liyue Harbor, they released two Xiao Lanterns, silently watching them ascend into the sky.
This first Lantern Rite in this world will forever be etched in my memory...
-
Zhongli appeared silently on Yujing Terrace, his gaze sweeping over the blooming Glaze Lilies that surrounded him.
He brewed himself a cup of tea, the water scaldingly hot, yet he drained it in a single gulp.
"If only I had some osmanthus wine..."