Lora's eyes lit up as she fixed her gaze on Ningguang.
Seeing that look, Ningguang smiled and nodded. "Naturally. Anyone employed by me, Tianquan Ningguang, receives exceptionally generous pay and treatment. In all of Liyue, I'd say I'm among the most willing to spend on my people."
The moment she heard that, Lora sprang to her feet. She extended her hand toward Ningguang, her face split by a brilliant smile.
"A pleasure working with you, Lady Ningguang!"
"…A pleasure," Ningguang replied, momentarily startled by Lora's enthusiasm.
As she looked at Lora clasping her hand so cheerfully, a rare flicker of doubt crept into Ningguang's mind.
Had she been too hasty in asking Lora for help?
This was, after all, a matter of communicating with the adepti—something that could affect not only Liyue's present, but its future as well. And yet Lora's demeanor…
…somehow didn't feel very reliable.
As if sensing what Ningguang was thinking, Lora quickly added, "Please don't worry, Lady Ningguang! Leave communication with the adepti to me. I'm from Fontaine—I used to work in the courts. Negotiation and communication are my specialties. You can trust me!"
"So you're from Fontaine?" Ningguang looked at her in surprise.
She had assumed Lora was from Mondstadt, never expecting her to be Fontainian. She'd heard that Fontaine's court was called the Opera Epiclese—an unusual and rather fascinating place.
If Lora had worked there, then communication truly shouldn't be a problem…
"This isn't a place suited for a long stay," Ningguang said after a moment. "If you don't mind, would you be willing to temporarily reside in the Jade Chamber instead? It's my personal property, suspended above Yujing Terrace. The environment is pleasant and suitable for living. There are few interruptions—it's a quiet place."
She extended the invitation directly to Lora.
Even among the other Qixing, Ningguang rarely invited anyone to stay in the Jade Chamber. Her willingness to do so this time stemmed largely from Lora's ambiguous, hard-to-define connection with the adepti.
"Then I'll gladly accept!" Lora agreed without the slightest hesitation.
After all, why turn down a place like that just to stay in a prison cell? She was no longer a suspect—she was now an honored guest personally invited by Tianquan Ningguang herself.
And besides… future bills could always be sent to the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang led Lora out of the cell and toward Yujing Terrace. Access to the Jade Chamber required taking the terrace's lift, and the moment Lora set foot inside, she was completely stunned.
The real Jade Chamber was nothing like what one might imagine from games or stories. Pavilions, towers, water terraces, gardens—everything was present. Though called a "chamber," it was nothing short of a magnificent palace. The resources required to build such a structure, suspended high in the air, were beyond imagining.
Standing at the edge of the Jade Chamber, one could overlook the entirety of Liyue Harbor. From this height, the harbor at night was ablaze with lights. The departure of the Rex Lapis had not taken away its prosperity—Liyue remained as it always had, its lights flourishing.
"Well?" Ningguang stood beside Lora and glanced at her, a trace of pride in her voice. "The view isn't bad, is it?"
The Jade Chamber was the crystallization of her ambition and effort—her greatest pride. To Ningguang, it was far more than merely a floating palace.
Lora smiled. "The view is wonderful."
Ningguang had servants arrange a room for her. From the window, the scenery was exquisite—moonlight interwoven with the glow of Liyue's lamps below.
Standing by the window, Lora gazed down at the world beneath the Jade Chamber and murmured softly, full of feeling,
"Good night, Liyue Harbor."
…
Under the cover of night, Mt. Hulao appeared even more majestic.
Aether stood atop the mountain, gazing out over everything below. The space beside him apart—then split open—and an Abyss Herald stepped out. Kneeling on one knee, the herald spoke with reverence:
"Your Highness, the Prince. We have confirmed that beneath this mountain lies the sealed Geo Dragon Sovereign, Azhdaha. However, the seal is extremely strong. With our power alone, it will be difficult to break…"
"This seal was personally laid by the Geo Archon," Aether replied calmly. "And it binds an existence like Azhdaha. How could it be so easily undone? Keep your probing actions subtle—do not disturb him."
The Abyss Herald's failure to breach the seal did not surprise him in the slightest. It was entirely within Aether's expectations.
"This morning, a major incident occurred in Liyue Harbor," the Abyss Herald continued after a brief hesitation. "The Geo Archon was assassinated and is presumed dead."
The implication was clear: if the Geo Archon was gone, why worry about drawing attention?
Aether turned his head slightly and looked back at the kneeling Abyss Herald. A cold laugh escaped him.
"You underestimate the Geo Archon far too much. He has descended upon Teyvat for over six thousand years. Even without holding the title of one of the so-called 'Seven Archons' he remains an unparalleled god of war."
"Assassinated?" Aether scoffed. "The idea that you could cut down the 'Heavenly Principles' with a single strike right now is more believable than him being assassinated and dying in Liyue Harbor."
"Remember this well—the original 'Seven Archons' were never pushovers. Don't be fooled by the harmless fronts they present. In that brutal war, none of those who laughed to the end were simple beings."
The Abyss Herald lowered his head even further. "Yes, Your Highness. But with the seal blocking our access to the Geo Dragon Sovereign, how are we to obtain its power? Failing to acquire Azhdaha's strength will severely impact our plans."
"There's no need to worry," Aether replied coolly. "The Dragon Sovereign's erosion-fueled fury has been accumulating for a very long time. It will erupt eventually—and that day isn't far off."
He showed no impatience. Long before arriving in Liyue, he had already prepared for this and learned much about Azhdaha's condition.
"Then… we simply wait?" the Abyss Herald asked.
"If you believe the Abyss Order can make any move against Liyue or Azhdaha right under the Geo Archon's nose," Aether said flatly, "you're welcome to try. His power, at least on today's Teyvat, has no equal."
All that talk about lacking strength or wanting to live as a mortal was nothing but deception. An Archon's divine existence stood where it stood—no matter how much he claimed to be human, that transcendent presence would always set him apart.
"Y-yes… we understand," the Abyss Herald replied.
Recalling the legends of Zhongli—the god who could rain down stone spears with ease—the herald couldn't help but agree. Dealing with them truly wouldn't take him much effort.
It would probably be even easier than when Venti or Lora fought them.