Xiao looked at Lora. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly asked, "Are you a god?"
"Sharp as ever—truly worthy of being Xiao, the Adeptus!" Lora clapped her hands, applauding him with a grin.
Xiao studied her again, his brow furrowing. "There is no god like you in Liyue. And you came from Mondstadt, yet I have met Mondstadt's Anemo Archon—he does not look like you. Nor should there be any other gods within Mondstadt's borders. Forgive my bluntness, but which god are you?"
"Well… that's classified for now," Lora thought for a moment before replying with a smile.
"Everyone has their secrets. If you don't wish to say, I won't force you," Xiao said. He had already put away the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear. Looking at Lora, he added in a serious tone, "I can tell you are not an enemy. However, as an unfamiliar god entering Liyue Harbor, you must abide by Liyue's rules. Otherwise, even if you are a god, I will not allow you to remain in Liyue Harbor."
"Don't worry," Lora replied with a gentle smile. "I'm here to visit an old friend—more like visiting relatives than picking a fight. No fighting at all. I'm a law-abiding, rule-following good god."
She spoke this way mainly to put Xiao at ease.
After all, a strange god entering Liyue Harbor would inevitably make him uneasy, even if he had absolute confidence in the Emperor. Xiao was already tirelessly patrolling Liyue day after day, constantly clearing monsters. Lora felt sorry for him and didn't want him worrying over something so trivial.
Xiao hesitated, as though he wanted to ask something but didn't quite know how to begin.
Noticing this, Lora asked, "Adeptus Xiao, is there anything else you wish to ask me?"
"You… you're a god. There's no need to call me 'Adeptus Xiao.' Just call me Xiao," he said, frowning slightly. Being addressed again and again with such a formal title made him uncomfortable. He knew Lora wasn't wrong—by age alone, she might truly be older than him.
Such honorifics were not something he felt he deserved.
"Then you can just call me Lora," she replied smoothly. "No need to keep calling me a god either."
Xiao nodded and continued, "Lora, since you came from Mondstadt… have you met the Anemo Archon?"
"I have," Lora answered without hesitation.
"How has he been lately?" Xiao immediately followed up. Long ago, back in Dihua Marsh, if not for the Anemo Archon's power, he might have been consumed by his karmic debt. It was no exaggeration to say that without the Anemo Archon, there would be no Xiao today.
Aside from the Emperor, he respected no one more.
"Mm… how should I put it," Lora said, organizing her thoughts. "Recently, he's been dirt poor. Barely able to eat. He survives by singing on the streets for Mora. But that's not even the worst part—the worst part is that his Gnosis was taken by the Fatui."
"What?" Xiao was stunned. "The Anemo Archon is actually… living like that?"
No matter what, the Anemo Archon was still Mondstadt's god. How could things have become so miserable?
And the Gnosis…
Something so important, stolen by the Fatui?
"How did those Fatui manage to take the Anemo Archon's Gnosis?" Xiao asked, his brows tightly knit.
Lora shook her head. "That I don't know. But one thing's certain—the Fatui have been plotting to seize the Gnosis for a long time. If you see them doing anything shady anywhere in Liyue, just beat them into the ground."
With just a few words, Lora had successfully earned the Fatui a terrifying enemy in Liyue.
"I understand. I'll be on guard," Xiao said, committing her words to memory. He then thanked her. "Thank you for telling me about the Anemo Archon. I still have monsters to clear. I'll take my leave."
With that, Xiao departed swiftly.
Lora watched the spot where he disappeared, sensing the lingering elemental traces still tainted by karmic debt. She let out a soft sigh. If Venti hadn't once used his music at Dihua Marsh to cleanse Xiao's karma, Xiao might have already followed the same tragic path as the other Yakshas.
The Yakshas—fighting for this world. Their tale was one both heroic and heartbreaking.
Once everything here is settled… maybe I should take Xiao to retrieve that Yaksha in the Chasm.
Shaking off those thoughts, Lora headed toward Liyue Harbor.
The main gate was marked by a broad, towering bridge, with an imposing archway standing before it. The Millelith stationed on either side merely asked for Lora's name, origin, and purpose before allowing her to pass.
Stepping into Liyue Harbor, Lora was immediately greeted by the lively streets, her excitement impossible to hide. The crowds were dense and bustling. Today was the day of the Rite of Descension, and so, beyond the people of Liyue, many foreigners had gathered as well—each hoping to catch a glimpse of Rex Lapis, the famed God of Wealth of Liyue.
Bow to Rex Lapis. Pray for Mora to flow in abundance.
That was the thought on many people's minds.
Lora didn't rush to find Lumine and Paimon. Instead, she wandered the harbor on her own. Along the way, she spotted countless things she wanted to buy, but with no Mora to her name, she could only look, unable to purchase anything. It was downright painful.
"I think that 'Childe' guy is in Liyue, right? If I drag him over and use him as my wallet… could that work?" Lora pondered the idea with genuine seriousness. Stealing a wallet right under the Geo Archon's nose—just imagining it was thrilling.
She looked up at the sun, now nearing its highest point, and sighed. "Ah, I should go find Zhongli first. Hopefully the contract he signed with the Tsaritsa allows for my little tricks."
Having made up her mind, Lora quickly realized another problem—she didn't know the way.
She knew Zhongli was a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, but as for where the parlor actually was, she had no idea.
And so, the streets of Liyue gained a blue-and-white-haired girl asking passersby for directions to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. After enduring more than a few strange looks, Lora finally learned its exact location.
Unfortunately, when she arrived, the place was practically empty.
The only person there told her that both Zhongli and Hu Tao were out.
With a disappointed sigh, Lora turned and headed toward Yujing Terrace instead. That was where the Rite of Descension was being held. Many Liyue locals and foreign visitors had already gathered there, along with large numbers of Millelith maintaining order.
Lora didn't take the normal route. She bypassed the crowds and the guards entirely, climbing over a wall to reach the innermost area.
From her position, she had a clear view of the center. Tianquan Ningguang stood there, burning incense and praying, beseeching the Geo Archon to descend.