Paimon's mind was now completely occupied with giving a gift to Ningguang. "Right! Last night when I was sleeping, I dreamed of an extremely noble delicacy—'Glazed Slime.' I have a feeling it would be perfect for a big shot like Ningguang. Let's use that as our gift!"
Lumine: "So... how do we make a food from a dream?"
Paimon: "I'm not sure either, but we just need to follow our instincts! Let's hurry and gather the ingredients. No time to waste—riches and honor await us!"
Led by Paimon, Lumine arrived at a pond and found a crystal-clear Slime. After dealing with the Slime, Paimon, with her sharp hearing, heard a cry for help from afar.
So, they went over and rescued the person in distress.
The rescued person expressed gratitude: "Thank you for saving me, or else I would have rotted in that cage. Those Treasure Hoarders would trim those Sweet Flowers when they were in a good mood, and 'trim' me when they were in a bad one."
[Furina: Pfft, sounds so pitiful.]
[Paimon: Those Treasure Hoarders are so detestable! Some of them even damaged the Guizhong Ballista!]
[Zhongli: The actions of the Treasure Hoarders are indeed quite contemptible. While both seek treasures, why must they harm others?]
[Ningguang: They must be dealt with properly.]
[Keqing: Let me lead a team. My combat prowess is stronger.]
[Ningguang: Keqing is the blade among the Liyue Qixing, with considerable martial strength.]
Paimon said meaningfully: "A small favor, a small favor. Please don't thank me too much."
The rescued person hurriedly said: "I understand, I understand. A token of gratitude is only proper. Thanks to you, I escaped a calamity. I am Mengdan, a supplier for Mingxing Jewelry in Liyue Harbor. I usually move around the mountains, collecting antiques everywhere. Who would have thought I'd set my sights on the same ruins as those Treasure Hoarders this time? Before I knew it, I was captured and locked up. Sigh."
"Honored benefactor, what do you lack? Antiques, decorations of all colors—if you want it, I have it."
Lumine waved her hand: "It's fine. We don't need anything."
But Paimon did: "By the way, do you have a box suitable for holding a gift? Something pretty. Hmm, the kind for holding pastries."
Mengdan nodded: "Of course! How can one be in the antique business without gift boxes? Mingxing Jewelry has the finest gift packaging from across the seven nations. Wait a moment, I'll go notify the proprietress. Whenever you need it, just go to the shop and ask for her."
Paimon was overjoyed: "Great! Our Glazed Slime will have a luxurious packaging box!"
Arriving at Mingxing Jewelry, Paimon went up to greet: "Hello! A man named Mengdan said we could come to the shop to receive a pretty box."
Proprietress Xingxi nodded: "Mmm, Old Meng has told me everything. You two truly saved him. Many of the finest items in my shop were gathered by Old Meng. If anything were to happen to him, my business would suffer too. Look, this gift box is an antique itself, at least 140 years old. It's been cleaned. Please take a look. Is it to your satisfaction?"
Paimon, looking at the exquisite box, was very happy and nodded repeatedly: "Suitable, suitable, very suitable! By the way, could we borrow one more thing?"
Xingxi was very generous: "Look, everything you might need is on the shelves. Help yourselves."
Paimon pointed to an antique vase on a shelf: "Lumine, this big clay pot looks amazing! Using an antique as a mixing bowl, the pastry made will surely be delicious."
After some effort, the Glazed Slime was finally completed.
Xingxi also proactively offered two fresh flowers.
Lumine couldn't shake a feeling of guilt for some reason.
[Furina: After Paimon leaves, Xingxi will definitely wash that antique the first chance she gets. Using an antique to mix Slime... only Paimon could think of that.]
[Alhaitham: Paimon's wisdom is truly concerning. Even if Ningguang told Paimon to take anything she wanted, I imagine Paimon would only pick something useless.]
[Furina: Great minds think alike. I, for one, feel sorry for the box. Such a fine box, to end up suffering such a fate.]
[Alhaitham: In terms of value, the box is worth thousands, tens of thousands of times more than the Slime. But for Ningguang, they're probably the same—both the Slime and the 140-year-old antique box are just ordinary items.]
[Furina: The box is thousands, tens of thousands of times more precious than what's inside. Seeing a gift like this, I've certainly broadened my horizons, hahaha!]
[Paimon: What do you all know?! This is sincerity! This is Paimon's heartfelt sincerity!]
With preparations complete, Paimon was very pleased: "Mhm, mhm! Our future riches and honor are all in this box now. Let's go to the Jade Chamber to find Ningguang!"
---
Yuehai Pavilion - The Guide
Paimon recited the first half of the passphrase: "Hello, do you sell the moon here?"
The Guide nodded: "Yes. How many?"
Paimon: "The number is inconvenient to disclose."
The Guide welcomed them: "Correct response. The two of you may ascend now. By the way, are you the guests arranged by Lady Ningguang for today?"
Paimon nodded: "That's right."
---
The Jade Chamber
The scene shifted, and Lumine appeared atop the Jade Chamber. Ningguang, accompanied by her secretary, greeted them at the entrance: "We have been expecting you for some time now, honored guest returned from Jueyun Karst."
Seeing Ningguang, Paimon was very excited and hurriedly presented their gift box: "It's Ningguang! First time meeting you! We prepared a gift, hope you like it!"
Ningguang accepted it: "For me? Truly, thank you. I invited you two here, yet you went to such trouble."
Paimon: "No trouble, no trouble! Hehe."
[Arataki Itto: Hahaha! Your intentions are written all over your face. Even I can see it!]
[Alhaitham: And is that something to be proud of?]
[Arataki Itto: ...]
[Ningguang: That's nothing. Many merchants who come up here have expressions more exaggerated than Paimon's.]
[Paimon: But it's Mora! Sky-high Mora! So, so much Mora!]
[Dori: I want to give gifts too! I'll take out my best gifts for Ningguang!]
[Kaveh: You? With the little money you've made from being a shrewd merchant, do you even qualify to ascend to the Jade Chamber?]
[Ningguang: Indeed, those who can ascend to the Jade Chamber are among Liyue's top magnates, with businesses reaching abroad. However, esteemed guest from Sumeru, if you come to Liyue, I will make time to receive you.]
[Paimon: Ningguang is so nice!]
Lumine: "The Jade Chamber is so beautiful."
A smile appeared on Ningguang's face: "I'm glad you like it too. This palace floats at an altitude higher than any mountain range. From here, one can clearly see the full panorama of Liyue Harbor. From the age I started doing business, I began accumulating funds to build it. After becoming the Tianquan, I invited the finest craftsmen to continuously expand it... Initially, it was only the size of a single room. Now, it is a silver moon that can shade the skies above Liyue. I believe one day, its shadow will cover all seven nations."
Lumine assessed inwardly: This Tianquan possesses great ambition.
[Zhongli: Ambition, capability, execution—she lacks none. And her love for Liyue runs deep. If I were truly to pass, Ningguang would most likely become the next Geo Archon.]
[Paimon: Ah!]
[Venti: Every person who obtains a Vision has the potential to become a god. Hence, they are called 'Allogenes.']
[Paimon: Does that mean Ningguang will establish an organization even larger than the Fatui?]
[Ningguang: Perhaps a bit larger.]
[Nahida: Ningguang started from nothing and achieved her current status. Execution, ambition, and wisdom played significant roles. As long as she retains these, what Ningguang aims to accomplish, she will achieve.]
[Ningguang: I thank the esteemed Archons for their recognition. I shall continue to strive.]
Ningguang continued: "Not many foreign guests ascend to the Jade Chamber. However, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius corresponds with me by letter and speaks highly of you. So, from your very first day in Liyue, I had my eyes spread out..."
Paimon was shocked: "What?!"
Ningguang went on: "...and finally, when you headed towards Wangshu Inn, I had a general grasp of your movements."
Paimon looked curious: "Don't tell me... the boss of Wangshu Inn is your person?"
Ningguang shook her head: "No."
"The entire Wangshu Inn is full of our people."
Paimon was rendered speechless by this statement.
Lumine said: "Not long ago, we also met the Yuheng."
Ningguang took over: "You met near the Guizhong Ballista, correct?"
Paimon: "You couldn't have been spying on us from the sky the whole time, could you?"
Ningguang explained, resting her chin on her hand: "Haha, at such a distance, spying would be rather difficult, no? Reliable sources suffice. I was very interested in you, so paying attention was only natural."
[Lumine: So that means Ningguang knows everything that happened to us after Wangshu Inn, including every conversation we had.]
[Charlotte: Then why would Ningguang let you go around in circles?]
[Keqing: I imagine the informants probably didn't understand what Paimon was trying to do either.]
[Venti: Paimon's train of thought is lively and unconventional, often differing from ordinary people's.]
[Paimon: It's your thinking that's weird!]
Thinking of Keqing's words, Lumine said: "Keqing said the Qixing would not secretly harm Rex Lapis."
Ningguang placed a hand over her chest and said earnestly: "Mmm. You have interacted extensively with the adepti, so it's only natural you distrust us. The reason for inviting you here today is to clear up some misunderstandings."
Saying this, Ningguang led Lumine to the edge of the Jade Chamber and asked: "You have likely heard of the Archon War?"
Lumine: "Not very clearly. I only have a vague impression of the term."
Ningguang recounted leisurely: "There were once many gods in the world, and a long, protracted war. It only ended two thousand years ago. During that time, the land was ravaged, and bloodshed was countless."
"Ultimately, only seven victors remained on the continent of Teyvat. They established nations and city-states upon the remnants of the defeated, ushering in the era of The Seven."
Pointing at the islands on the sea, Ningguang continued: "Do you see Guyun Stone Forest? That is not a natural landscape. It is the massive stone spears cast down by Rex Lapis during the war."
"Beneath those stone spears are sealed the defeated gods of that era, the gods who failed to secure a place among The Seven. Not only can gods perish, but even the Seven Archons have changed over the past two millennia. The passing of Rex Lapis is an unimaginable calamity for Liyue. But the system of The Seven in Teyvat will not collapse. The next Geo Archon will appear sooner or later. Yet, how could we ever forget Rex Lapis? When that time comes, Liyue's relationship with gods and adepti will inevitably differ from the past."
"Even in a new era, the Liyue Qixing are still the former subjects of Rex Lapis. The crime of raising a blade against Rex Lapis—do you think we could bear such a charge?"
[Lumine: Through the video, I've seen that every person of Liyue respects and deeply loves Rex Lapis. Merchants who chase profit, unwilling to slice a bit more, all gave up easily attainable Mora upon hearing it concerned Rex Lapis. The Liyue Qixing should be the same.]
[Paimon: Keqing disrespects the adepti! Keqing disrespects the adepti!]
[Lumine: I think Keqing's philosophy believes that human affairs should be decided by humans themselves. The adepti are arrogant towards mortals and have long lived in seclusion, detached from worldly matters, no longer suited to participate in Liyue's affairs.]
[Keqing: I wasn't wrong about you. You understand me.]
[Video Compilation System: Keqing secretly greatly admires Rex Lapis and has a wall of Rex Lapis memorabilia hidden at home.]
[Paimon: Ah!]
[Furina: Wh-what kind of plot twist is this?!]
[Ningguang: Even I was unaware of this.]
[Keqing: R-Rex Lapis memorabilia? You all don't think my room is full of that stuff, do you? I'm not a little girl anymore. Although, well, um... I did buy a few Rex Lapis figurines. But, but these are for self-reminder! It has nothing to do with admiration or reverence!]
[Paimon: You clearly do admire and revere him! Your earlier comments in the livestream chat already exposed you!]
[Lumine: Paimon, see through but don't say it out loud.]
Lumine: "But why did you hide the Exuvia?"
Ningguang gave a wry smile: "That day at Yujing Terrace, events unfolded suddenly. I was completely unprepared. You were there at the scene; you should have seen it all."
"Enemies of the Qixing had long been lurking within Liyue Harbor. If we didn't take action, we would fall into a disadvantage. Hiding the Exuvia was a necessary move. Only by doing so could I shift from the open to the shadows, remaining still to counter motion."
Paimon asked curiously: "Who are the enemies you're talking about?"
Ningguang didn't answer directly, instead looking at the Traveler: "What do you think?"
Lumine: "It should be him."
Ningguang nodded: "The correct answer."
Paimon looked utterly confused.
[Childe: No need to say it. I know that person must be me.]
[Lumine: The rumors of the Qixing usurping power must be inseparable from Childe.]
[Paimon: I get it! The Fatui stirred up conflict between the Qixing and the adepti so they could secretly do some bad deeds!]
[Furina: Not bad at all. Little Paimon figured it out too.]
[Paimon: Of course! Paimon is very smart!]
Ningguang continued: "Hah, the scenery outside is pleasant, but the winds at this altitude are a bit strong. You two, preparations for receiving guests have been made inside the hall. Please follow me."
Entering the Jade Chamber's interior, Paimon acted like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, looking left and right: "Wow! Such a big, big living room! I've never seen such a luxurious room!"
Ningguang: "Make yourselves at home, you two. You can treat this place as your own home."
Paimon was very excited: "Really? We can?"
Ningguang: "Since I invited you, I naturally consider you friends. When friends come to visit, their enjoyment is the priority."
Paimon looked at the wall nearby plastered with documents: "Is this the legendary wall?"