A streak of golden light burst forth from Ningguang's hand and shot straight into the sky. As it rose, dark clouds suddenly gathered above, rapidly forming a swirling vortex. Within it, a creature that was half-dragon, half-adeptus form twisted and coiled through the clouds.
Lora lifted her head to watch the spectacle. Her gaze pierced through the mist deliberately woven by Zhongli, allowing her to clearly see everything happening in the sky.
She saw Zhongli controlling the dragon-shaped body as it rolled through the clouds. After glancing downward and judging the timing to be just right, he flicked his wrist and casually tossed the dragon body straight down—then turned around and left.
Lora: "..."
That was it?
Just like that?
Zhongli's casual throw instantly sent the crowd below into chaos. Ningguang raised her voice sharply. "The Geo Archon has been assassinated! Seal off the entire area!"
She ordered the Millelith to secure the scene at once, surrounding everyone present and forbidding any entry or exit.
The "Exuvia" Zhongli had discarded was also placed under strict guard by Ningguang's command. No one was allowed to approach it.
The Millelith moved with efficiency, immediately beginning to search for suspicious individuals.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ningguang spotted a figure standing on a nearby hillside, half-hidden among the trees. It was Lora—still mentally replaying Zhongli's earlier actions: that calm, unbothered demeanor, that utterly casual toss.
As though what he had thrown away wasn't the Exuvia at all, but a piece of trash.
"Who's there—stop right now!" Ningguang shouted coldly as she locked onto Lora's figure and personally rushed over to apprehend her.
Lora snapped back to her senses and inwardly cursed her luck. She'd been so absorbed in watching the show that she'd dragged herself right into trouble. Seeing Ningguang charging toward her, she immediately turned and leapt down from the hill, sprinting toward the nearby wall.
But this time was different. The other side of the wall was already packed with Millelith soldiers. If she wanted to force her way out, she would have to reveal some of her power.
As Lora weighed whether it was worth exposing herself just to escape, Ningguang had already closed the distance.
At that moment, Lora reconsidered. She really didn't want to wander around Liyue with the label of a wanted criminal—it would make everything far too inconvenient. After running only a few more steps, she abruptly stopped and stood still, waiting for Ningguang to arrive.
After Ningguang and the Millelith surrounded her, Ningguang frowned slightly. "Why did you suddenly stop? Not running anymore?"
"I've thought it through. Why should I run?" Lora looked at Ningguang with an unusually solemn expression. "This has nothing to do with me. If I ran, that would be suspicious. I trust that Lady Ningguang, Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, will give me a fair judgment. The heavens can bear witness—I'm innocent."
Ningguang studied her closely, her gaze briefly lingering on the Vision at Lora's waist. She then said in a measured tone, "Whether you are involved is not for you to decide.
The Geo Archon has been assassinated. All suspicious individuals must be investigated. Until the truth is determined, you will need to come with us. For safety reasons, your Vision will remain with me for now."
Before Ningguang could even signal the Millelith, Lora calmly removed the Vision from her waist and tossed it over. "Here. Take it."
Ningguang caught it, visibly surprised. She looked at Lora intently. "This is a Vision. You're willing to hand it over so casually?"
"To earn your trust, of course," Lora replied with a smile. "Should I have clutched it and refused? I trust Lady Ningguang to conduct a fair investigation. If that's the case, my Vision will be perfectly safe with you. Letting you keep it sounds like a good thing to me."
"I will safeguard it properly," Ningguang said. "Now, please follow the Millelith."
She put away the Vision and signaled to the soldiers on either side. They stepped forward to escort Lora to the prison.
Just then, an even greater commotion erupted elsewhere, drawing the attention of many Millelith. Lora rose onto her toes and looked in that direction, just in time to see a golden-haired figure dash away—followed closely by a familiar floating "emergency food."
Lumine and Paimon.
"Take her away first. The rest of you, follow me!" Ningguang cast Lora one last glance before issuing orders and leading the remaining Millelith away.
Lora was escorted to the prison. Liyue's jail was a simple underground facility, with little sunlight reaching inside. The guards were all Millelith, their expressions stern. When they heard that Lora might be connected to the attempted assassination of the Geo Archon, their gazes grew even sharper.
Lora found the whole thing deeply absurd. She hadn't done anything. Zhongli had thrown it himself! She could even testify—he'd looked downright happy doing it. He'd smiled!
Still, despite viewing her as someone who dared attempt to assassinate the Geo Archon, the Millelith didn't mistreat her. Her meals were provided regularly, and she wasn't left hungry.
As the sun dipped toward the western horizon, Lora leaned against the corner of her cell. After checking that no one was likely to come by for a while, she stood up and stretched.
The charge of "attempting to assassinate the Geo Archon" was far too serious in Liyue. Serious enough that Lora was held in solitary confinement, without a single other prisoner nearby.
She couldn't even chat with anyone.
She'd imagined it—asking others how they got in. One says theft, another says dishonest business dealings. Then her turn: "I'm in for assassinating the Geo Archon." That would've sounded incredibly impressive.
But being alone worked out just fine. It gave her an opportunity.
Lora walked up to the cell door, casually pulled apart the lock, and pushed it open. Not every Millelith knew what she looked like, and the guards had already changed shifts. The new ones hadn't seen her before. Seeing her stroll out so naturally, they assumed she was a visitor.
And just like that, Lora walked straight out of her cell and into the open.
Free again, she headed toward the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. At this hour, Zhongli should be there… probably.
When she arrived at the entrance, she happened to run into the seventy-seventh Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—Hu Tao herself. A shovel rested on Hu Tao's shoulder, and her clothes were still smeared with dirt, as though she'd just finished some kind of work.
Lora: "..."
She didn't just finish burying someone, did she?
Hu Tao noticed Lora standing outside and immediately ran over, blocking her path with a bright smile. "Oh! Esteemed guest, are you here to entrust someone to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? You're in luck—we're having a promotion right now! Discounts available!"
Discounts… in the funeral business?
What, second tombstone half price?