After Zhongli confirmed that Keqing wouldn't have any problems in the short term, he quietly left. Many others also left first so as not to disturb Keqing's rest, and afterward, Ningguang asked Keqing about her condition.
It seemed that with Artoria's help, Keqing had suppressed the Demon Sword's erosion this time, even countering it by consuming a portion of it.
The main reason this could happen was that Aatrox had already suffered severe injuries in his battle against Zhongli.
The reason the opponent still dared to be so arrogant in such a situation was that he didn't take Keqing seriously at all, which ultimately led to his defeat.
However, the crisis was not completely resolved. Aatrox had merely been severely wounded again and entered a dormant stage. When he had recovered and regained his strength, he would once again try to seize Keqing's consciousness, and this time he would absolutely not be careless again.
After hearing this, Keqing smiled at the others.
"Don't worry everyone, since I was able to defeat him once, I can definitely defeat him a second time!"
"As long as you're confident, Keqing."
Ningguang nodded, deciding not to dwell on her warning.
"You must be exhausted. Keep resting."
"I had originally planned for you to lead this Expeditionary Force to Inazuma, but for now, focus on recovering. I will entrust the force to Yelan."
"I can do it, Ningguang!"
Keqing spoke up immediately upon hearing Ningguang's words.
"This injury will heal completely in no time. It won't affect anything!"
Ningguang frowned, only relaxing her expression after a moment.
"Fine. But you must recover fully. I will not allow you to enter the battlefield while injured."
After saying this, Ningguang turned to Artoria.
"Lady Artoria, we are deeply grateful for your assistance this time."
"I know ordinary gifts would be of no use to you. After inquiring about your preferences, I have already had the chef prepare a meal..."
Before Ningguang could finish, Artoria suddenly straightened her posture, her expression becoming solemn, and the ahoge on her head stood on end.
"Hunger is our greatest enemy. Keqing, let's go eat!"
"Ahem..."
Keqing coughed twice, then a helpless smile appeared on her face.
"Artoria, you go ahead and eat. I'll join you after I rest a little longer."
"Alright, then come quickly."
"I will save some food for you."
"I have already arranged for other chefs to prepare Keqing's portion."
Hearing this, the ahoge on Artoria's head began to sway gently as she nodded.
"Okay, I understand."
Watching Artoria's departing figure, Ningguang sighed.
"It seems my intelligence was incorrect. She really does love eating."
When one's status and strength reach a certain level, they generally no longer focus so much on their appetite. Artoria's love for food was indeed a bit beyond Ningguang's expectations.
For Ningguang, food was merely a necessity to sustain life. Even an exquisite dish worth tens of thousands of Mora could not stir a single ripple in her heart.
Keqing nodded in agreement. To be honest, during their first meeting, the mountain of empty bowls and plates had caused a great shock to her young heart.
Won't she be unable to eat this food ever again once she returns to her soul's world? Thinking of this, Keqing immediately felt a surge of sympathy for Artoria.
"I'm planning to have Artoria stay behind. Keqing, what do you think?"
Hearing Ningguang's words, Keqing was slightly stunned, then asked Ningguang in astonishment.
"Ningguang, with Artoria's strength, if we let her stay, the imbalance between the two worlds will drastically accelerate."
"But Liyue is already somewhat lacking in combat power."
Ningguang directly stated the current realistic problem. Hearing these words, Keqing suddenly became silent.
"Just like this time, if Artoria hadn't taken action, there is no telling how great a crisis Liyue would have faced."
"Even now, a rough tally shows that over ten thousand people have unfortunately perished, with the vast majority of them dying from the mutual slaughter caused by that Demon Sword's spiritual influence."
"Even stronger enemies might appear in the future, and very soon Liyue will be sending most of its combat force to support Inazuma. If we don't replenish our strength, Liyue will truly be in danger."
After careful consideration, Keqing nodded.
"Alright, Ningguang."
"I'll talk to Artoria when the opportunity arises. I'm sure she'll be delighted."
"Yes, if she's willing to stay, I will find ways to compensate her in other respects."
Ningguang spoke as she looked at Keqing.
"Although staying in this world would be a good thing for Artoria, we cannot think of it that way."
"After all, Liyue owes her."
"That's right."
Keqing nodded again, then continued.
"However, I don't think Artoria would accept other things. Finding her a few more great chefs is more important than anything else."
"That's an easy matter. From now on, just put all her daily expenses on my tab."
Hearing Ningguang's staggeringly generous words, Keqing said with a smile.
"After hearing this news, I think Artoria will definitely be very happy."
"Alright, back to business. Keqing, what's the current state of your health? Just tell me directly."
"Can you feel the influence of that Demon Sword?"
After finishing talking about Artoria, Ningguang shifted her focus back to Keqing.
Keqing shook her head, then held out her hand. In the next second, a black and red longsword emitting an extremely ominous aura appeared in her hand.
"I can feel that it's still conscious, but it knows that forcefully occupying my consciousness is impossible right now, so it is gathering power."
"Because I also devoured a small part of it when it tried to occupy my consciousness before, I also obtained the right to use this sword."
Ningguang looked at the Demon Sword in Keqing's hand and spoke with a serious expression.
"This power is hard to control. It's best not to use it until the critical moment."
Hearing Ningguang's warning, Keqing nodded.
"I know. After all, I know better than anyone else the price that must be paid for losing control."
Keqing looked at the Demon Sword in her hand and spoke calmly.
"If the moment of losing control really arrives, I will destroy myself first."
Ningguang frowned slightly, suddenly thinking about the incident from before. After thinking it over, she still decided not to tell Keqing about Zhongli almost taking action against her.
In Ningguang's eyes, Rex Lapis's choice was not wrong. If someone else were in his place, Ningguang would probably have made the same decision, but since it was Keqing, she simply couldn't bring herself to do it.
Over all these years, Ningguang had seen clearly all that Keqing had given for Liyue. It could be said that Keqing had completely abandoned everything else for Liyue.
That such a person would have to sacrifice herself for the people of Liyue in the end, even she felt was too cruel.
"Spend more time with Artoria. The will and faith contained within her are extremely fervent, and almost no one can surpass her."
"With Artoria helping to keep watch, I can be a bit more at ease with your trip to Inazuma this time."
"By the way, speaking of which, Ningguang, have you already discovered Persephone's location?"
Hearing Keqing's question, Ningguang nodded affirmatively.
"Persephone seems to be in Inazuma at the moment. Ganyu received a request for help from Inazuma's Yae Miko."
"Monsieur Neuvillette and the expeditionary force sent by Fontaine are already on their way to Liyue. When the time comes, you should also take the Jade Chamber."
After hearing Ningguang's words, Keqing was shocked.
"Ningguang, if I take the Jade Chamber away, what will happen to Liyue's security?"
"I've already thought this through. When the time comes, I'll discuss it with Monsieur Neuvillette and ask him to leave some Clockwork Meka behind. On one hand, they will aid our research, and on the other, they can ensure Liyue's security."
Keqing breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, Ningguang had arranged everything.
"Alright, I won't disturb your rest any longer. You can have someone bring you food whenever you're ready to eat."
After saying this, Ningguang and Keqing nodded to each other and prepared to leave.
However, at the last moment, Ningguang stopped in her tracks, turned back to Keqing, and spoke.
"Keqing, don't push yourself too hard. You've already done very well."
"How rare, Ningguang. It's not often I see you show such genuine emotion," Keqing smiled.
Ningguang shook her head, then left the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Keqing stared at the closed door and whispered softly, "Ningguang, thank you."
-
"My Lord, Milady and the Traveler have returned!"
Hearing the retainer's report, Kamisato Ayato immediately went outside to the temporary hiding spot, watching as several figures slowly approached from a distance.
"Ayaka, I assume this operation went smoothly?"
As the group approached, a smile spread across Kamisato Ayato's face. He turned to Kamisato Ayaka and asked.
"Elder Brother, it went well enough."
Hearing this, Kamisato Ayato offered the Traveler a grateful smile, then turned his gaze to Kujou Sara, whose breathing seemed somewhat labored.
"General Kujou, it's been a while."
Upon hearing Kamisato Ayato's words, Kujou Sara waved her hand somewhat helplessly.
"Head of the Kamisato Clan, you jest. I am no longer a General, nor do I hold any official duties. I am just an ordinary person now. Just call me Kujou Sara."
Kamisato Ayato shook his head.
"Those individuals did not seize power through normal means. I am certain the Almighty Shogun will not condone their actions."
"I know you must be troubled by the Almighty Shogun's apparent indifference to this matter, but there is a reason for it."
Kamisato Ayato paused before continuing.
"You probably haven't heard the news yet. Rosalyne, the Eighth Harbinger of the Fatui, La Signora, has been resurrected."
Hearing Kamisato Ayato's words, Kujou Sara froze for a moment, then was struck with shock.
"How is that possible?!"
"An ordinary person would be one thing, but to think that even someone like Rosalyne could be resurrected!"
"Not only that, but Rosalyne's strength has grown even more formidable."
Hearing Kamisato Ayato's words, Kujou Sara's expression immediately darkened. After all, it was Rosalyne who had beaten her to the ground back then at Tenshukaku.
The humiliating memory still haunted her deeply. As the Raiden Shogun's right-hand warrior, she often represented the Shogun's public image, and at that time, she had completely disgraced the Raiden Shogun.
If Rosalyne hadn't been slain by the Raiden Shogun, she would have wished to atone for her failure with death.
"This is trouble. If Rosalyne is stronger now, I'm afraid even the Traveler..."
Kujou Sara was only halfway through her sentence when she felt everyone around her looking at her with very strange expressions.
"Um..."
Paimon flew over, looking at Kujou Sara with a somewhat awkward expression, and spoke slowly.
"Rosalyne... has already been driven away by the Traveler."
"Huh?!"
Kujou Sara was dumbfounded.
"Didn't you say Rosalyne's strength has grown even more formidable?"
"But the Traveler's strength is already several times greater than Rosalyne's."
Kujou Sara: "..."
Kujou Sara suddenly remembered the days when she led the team to put a bounty on Lumine; she could brag about that for the rest of her life.
"I see. So, what's your plan now?"
After hearing this, Kamisato Ayato spoke to explain.
"I went to look for Lady Guuji earlier, but I couldn't find her. I suspect she's not on Narukami Island at the moment."
"Now, even the Almighty Shogun has left Tenshukaku and gone somewhere unknown. What we need to do is ensure that our internal affairs are not excessively interfered with by the Fatui during this period."
Kamisato Ayato paused, then continued speaking.
"Although we do not know the Fatui's goals, they certainly won't be planning anything good."
"For the sake of the people of Inazuma, we need to uncover the Fatui's plans ahead of time and then put a stop to them. We will need your help on this matter."
Feeling Kamisato Ayato's gaze, Kujou Sara nodded in agreement.
"Next is another matter... Ayaka, you all should have felt it by now."
"Just now, a battle seemed to have taken place in that direction, and shortly after, the sea level dropped sharply. I believe you all know what this means."
"It probably won't be long before a massive tsunami sweeps across Narukami Island."
After hearing Kamisato Ayato's words, everyone's expressions changed.
"Oh no, we have to make everyone stay away from the coast and evacuate!"
Paimon said urgently.
"Haven't the Tri-Commission organized everyone to evacuate to a safe place?"
Kamisato Ayaka's expression turned somewhat grave as she spoke.
"Relying on those three is a bit unrealistic; they are completely puppets propped up by the Fatui."
"Actually, most ordinary people already sense that the sea level will rise sharply, but they aren't moving very far from the coast because they still don't know what caused this drastic drop in the sea level."
This was a lack of intelligence. The people of Inazuma still thought this was just a normal natural phenomenon, unaware that it was the result of a great battle between the Raiden Shogun and another being.
A God-level battle could easily level mountains and drain the sea. Ordinary people appeared so fragile when facing such a natural disaster.
"I'm not too worried about Inazuma City; its protective measures are very comprehensive."
"But Ritou will probably be completely destroyed in this tsunami."