Liyue.
Yujing Terrace.
The heart of Liyue Harbor, both politically important and a sacred place where countless citizens offered incense and prayers.
Rows of pavilions and ancient-styled buildings stretched endlessly across the landscape—painted beams, carved pillars, flowing water pavilions, and silk-like decorations formed a sea of color.
The crimson walls exuded grandeur, while lotus-filled pools wound across several li.
Below, the solemn Ministry of Civil Affairs presided over bustling streets filled with ceaseless traffic.
A towering five-story pagoda rose nearby, its gates wide open toward the city.
Above it lay the residence and meeting place of the Liyue Qixing and the Geo Archon himself.
Wind stirred the windows; clouds gathered around painted rafters.
Red pillars and engraved brackets depicted rows of immortal figures.
Soaring eaves carved with cloud motifs shimmered with glazed tiles that reflected golden light.
From a distance, the terrace looked like the gates of heaven opened atop the Nine Heavens.
Yet something was unusual—
The road leading up to Yujing Terrace, normally open to officials and citizens alike, was sealed off by layers of Millelith soldiers.
No one—save birds—could ascend the terrace today.
Atop the terrace itself, however, the normally guarded area was empty.
Instead, the great plaza was filled with luxurious carpets, furs, and ornate tables.
Seven main seats formed a heptagram, their arrangement striking and symbolic.
Each table was laden with wine, fruits, and delicacies of every kind—mountain treasures, sea delicacies, all at their finest.
Dozens of attendants hurried about with disciplined precision, placing offerings in perfect order.
After all—this was the meeting of the Seven Archons of the mortal world.
Even the slightest oversight would be a disgrace to the Emperor of Liyue.
Overseeing the preparations was the dignified and stern Heavenly Shrewd Star, Tian Shu—one of the Liyue Qixing.
After confirming that everything matched the plan, Tian Shu gave quiet instructions to a young woman with elegant black-and-crimson qilin horns.
The girl nodded repeatedly, then made her way toward the highest pavilion of Yujing Terrace.
There, as he had for three thousand years, stood the Geo Archon of Liyue.
At the very top of the pavilion stood a youthful man—handsome, dignified, gentle as jade—with one hand behind his back as he enjoyed the scenery.
Though his appearance looked young, his eyes carried the weight and vicissitudes of millennia.
Yet a small braid tied behind his head, paired with his dangling earrings, added a hint of carefree charm.
"Emperor, the banquet preparations are complete."
Sensing her approach, the Emperor—Morax—nodded slightly.
"I understand."
A brief pause.
Noticing she hadn't left, he turned and asked in a voice warm as spring sunlight:
"Is there something else?"
Ganyu hesitated for a moment, then whispered:
"Um… will Teacher be coming?"
The last time she saw him was a hundred years ago.
She had changed a great deal since then, and there were many things she wished to tell her teacher.
Morax sighed softly and answered honestly:
"That one acts upon his whims. Even I do not know whether he will appear."
"Oh…"
Ganyu lowered her head, visibly disappointed.
Were she not burdened by her duties as secretary of the Qixing, she would have long since run off to Inazuma to search for her teacher.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted.
The sky trembled—
a fierce gust of wind swept across Yujing Terrace.
Both Morax and Ganyu looked toward the heavens.
Far in the distance, a massive dragon glimmering under sunlight pierced through the clouds, racing swiftly toward the terrace.
Three pairs of wings beat in unison, sending waves through the sea of clouds.
Its body shot across kilometers in an instant like an arrow released from a bow.
A mighty dragon cry echoed through the sky, announcing its arrival.
Moments ago it had been but a distant speck—
but in the blink of an eye, it hovered directly above Yujing Terrace.
Squinting upward, Morax and Ganyu saw a tiny dark figure suddenly leap from the dragon's back.
The falling figure grew larger—
Carried by the wind, a boy dressed like a bard descended lightly.
Black hair, two green braids hanging near his ears, a youthful and almost childlike face.
He wore a Baroque-style vest, green shorts over slender white-stockinged legs, and a flowing green cape.
He looked exactly like a noble young master who had snuck out of his manor for fun.
Pressing down his hat decorated with a Cecilia flower, the Anemo Archon floated down before them.
He first called out to the beautiful dragon circling overhead:
"Thanks, Dvalin! You can head back now!"
The dragon answered with a long roar, then shot upward into the clouds, leisurely retracing its path.
Only after seeing his companion off did the boy wave cheerfully at the Geo Archon.
"Pretty punctual this time, right, Morax?"
Morax replied calmly, "As always, you are the first to arrive."
"Eh? The others aren't here yet?"
Watching his carefree colleague, the Geo Archon shook his head silently.
Everything about this fellow was fine—
except his personality, which was endlessly troublesome.
"Ehe~ I brought Mondstadt's best dandelion wine this year! Excited? I'll let you try it later!"
Barbatos shook the wine gourd at his waist proudly.
"We shall see."
Morax's expression didn't change; he had learned not to expect much.
Last year was supposedly "the best wine," the year before was also "the best wine"—
and each brought greater disappointment than the last.
In principle, a god should enjoy goods of the highest quality.
But this colleague of his…
He didn't even know what the man did all day.
He didn't even have money to buy wine.
Being a god yet living like this—truly a unique specimen.
Mocking one's colleague wasn't gentlemanly, yet Morax couldn't help himself.
Barbatos was simply too absurd.
Like that time centuries ago—
Barbatos forged Morax's handwriting and lied that the corrupt aristocrats of Mondstadt had sold the nation to Liyue, inciting a revolt that overthrew them.
Even after Morax punished him severely, the fact that Barbatos could even think of such a scheme showed just how eccentric and unpredictable the Anemo Archon was.
After bragging, Barbatos suddenly asked:
"By the way, Lori isn't skipping this meeting again, right?"
Morax gave the same answer he gave Ganyu.
"I do not know."
The Anemo Archon scratched his cheek.
"Ahaha… I see. I really hope I get to drink his wine again."
The youth swallowed visibly—craving evident in his eyes.
"That much is true," Morax admitted.
"Even after thousands of years, I have yet to find a wine equal to his."
Upon hearing both Archons say they weren't sure whether her teacher would come, Ganyu retreated with drooping horns and heavy disappointment.
When she returned to Yujing Terrace, she found that the entirety of the Qixing had already arrived, and even the reclusive Adepti of Jueyun Karst had appeared quietly.
Such a grand occasion—
the Adepti take their seats as revered attendants,
and the Qixing pour the wine as hosts.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/PixelAero