Strange—far too strange. Both Kuki Shinobu and Aila had clearly heard the line Cloud Retainer meant to say: "But regarding this matter, I, Cloud Retainer, am powerless."
Yet the moment the Talisman of Everlasting Morality shone with golden light, the Adeptus shifted her words entirely. The abrupt change was baffling. What, exactly, had occurred?
Could the talisman Mr. Zhongli bestowed truly possess some hidden property?
Kuki Shinobu: "@Zhongli, Mr. Zhongli, we met an Adeptus."
Kuki Shinobu: "Originally, the conversation wasn't going well, but your Talisman of Everlasting Morality started glowing, and the Adeptus suddenly changed her mind. What's going on?"
Azhdaha: "What? Live streaming? Start live streaming!!! @Futsu Mitama."
Zhongli: "It glowed? How peculiar. I've never once heard of the talisman emitting light."
Raiden Makoto: "Glowed? It is said that the talisman contains Morax's Adepti power, but with so much time having passed, that power should have diminished long ago."
Kamisato Ayaka: "You've already met an Adeptus? What do Adepti look like?"
Kokomi: "Curious."
Albedo: "Also curious. Group Leader, wait a few more days. I'll be there soon."
Aila: "Hmm, she resembles a crane. But this Adeptus seems very easy to talk to."
Azhdaha: "Of course she does. That Cloud Retainer is fond of humans."
Azhdaha: "However, if the talisman glowed, then Morax likely noticed your situation and activated what little Adepti power remained."
Azhdaha: "Once Cloud Retainer sensed Morax's intent, she naturally agreed to help."
Yae Miko: "Tsk, a god's gaze? How fortunate~ Ei's hiding away in the Plane of Euthymia. And the Raiden Shogun stays in Tenshukaku all day, rarely leaving. Even that recent intervention of hers was merely to defend a junior."
Futsu Mitama: "@Azhdaha, I'll start the stream now. Everything happened so fast I forgot."
Everyone watched with keen curiosity, eager to see what was happening on Futsu Mitama's side. At the same time, Azhdaha was reunited with an old acquaintance.
Seeing Cloud Retainer, he grew visibly emotional.
Zhongli observed in silence. Kokomi and Kamisato Ayaka, seeing a Liyue Adeptus for the first time, were equally astonished.
Cloud Retainer, aware of how abrupt her shift had been, attempted to offer some explanation.
Futsu Mitama, knowing the Adeptus cared for her dignity, spoke without hesitation. "Then I shall trouble you, True Monarch. Should anything arise—or if whoever is behind this comes after you or Liyue—I will certainly provide aid."
"Mm." Cloud Retainer looked quite pleased with his stance. "You need not worry. Since I, Cloud Retainer, have accepted this karma, I shall naturally protect her."
She paused. "However…where did she obtain this Talisman of Everlasting Morality?"
It was evident she had agreed only because of the talisman.
Futsu Mitama answered honestly, "A gentleman in Liyue Harbor gave it to us. He said an Adeptus on Mt. Aocang could help Aila resolve her issue."
Cloud Retainer seemed delighted by the explanation. Tilting her head back with satisfaction, she declared, "Naturally. Such a trifling matter is nothing to me."
"Very well. I shall say no more. The abnormalities within her body are rather troublesome to handle."
"Follow me to my abode. It is not convenient to perform Adepti arts here. Should any mishap occur, the mechanisms within my abode will allow for maneuvering."
With that, Cloud Retainer prepared to lead Aila inside. Aila hesitated, glancing at Futsu Mitama as though asking silently, Young Master, should I go?
He gave a slight nod. Though he didn't fully understand what Cloud Retainer meant by "incomplete," an Adeptus of her power finding the matter difficult only proved the incident had hidden depths.
A faint chill crossed his expression. Whoever had tampered with Aila—whether the Doctor or another—would find no mercy from him.
Aila and Cloud Retainer entered the abode.
The surroundings fell quiet.
"… " ×3
Futsu Mitama, Kuki Shinobu, and Shenhe exchanged wordless glances.
"… "
At last, Kuki Shinobu wordlessly took out some Lavender Melon and began roasting it over a small flame.
"What is that?" Shenhe approached, studying the unfamiliar plant with curious eyes. She had wandered Liyue for years, seen many sights, even visited Liyue Harbor and smelled countless culinary delights. But she had never seen this. Was it edible?
"This is Lavender Melon," Kuki Shinobu explained. "It's an Inazuman food. Vegetarian, quite tasty. Want some?"
Even as she asked, she was already roasting an extra portion.
"Is it delicious?" Shenhe's voice was quiet, her gaze fixed on the roasting Lavender Melon.
"It should taste good," Kuki Shinobu replied, confident in her cooking.
Shenhe paused… then shook her head. "There's no need. Gourmet food is detrimental to training."
"Since it is lunchtime, I should eat as well."
Glancing to the side, she spotted something, picked up a cluster of grass, and calmly placed it into her mouth.
"Hey! Wait! Don't eat grass!" Kuki Shinobu rushed to stop her.
After discovering Shenhe was human and not an Adeptus, Kuki Shinobu had noticed all sorts of unusual behavior—but this was beyond tolerable. No normal person ate grass.
"This isn't grass," Shenhe said calmly. "This is Qingxin, a medicinal herb. Bitter, but edible."
She was simply "having a meal."
"There's real food here…" Kuki Shinobu sighed helplessly. Strong Shenhe might be, but her common sense was clearly fragile.
She turned to Futsu Mitama, who was still staring anxiously at the distant abode. "Futsu Mitama, could you try persuading this Adepti disciple?"
"I have a name," Shenhe corrected gently. "Shenhe. You needn't call me Adepti disciple."
At last, Futsu Mitama drew his attention away and looked toward the two.
Seeing Shenhe chewing Qingxin, he said casually, "Shenhe, gourmet food may hinder your training—but if even gourmet food can disrupt your cultivation, then your training isn't impressive to begin with."
A simple provocation, yet Shenhe considered it seriously. After a moment's thought, she nodded. His words weren't wrong. She didn't dislike gourmet food—she only feared becoming attached to the delicacies at the foot of the mountain, making future solitude more difficult.
Moreover, neither Futsu Mitama, Kuki Shinobu, nor Aila—who had just entered the abode—gave her the uneasy feeling she often sensed from humans. They didn't treat her as an Adeptus, nor did they immediately bombard her with wishes.
She had lost count of how many times strangers insisted she grant them blessings even after she explained she wasn't an Adeptus. It was ridiculous—if she had such power, wouldn't she first solve her own troubles?
But these three were different.
Thus, Shenhe accepted the Lavender Melon. The trio waited in silence as the aroma of roasting herbs grew stronger. Shenhe's delicate nose twitched. The fragrance was undeniably pleasant.
"Grumble~~~"
An unexpected sound echoed. Kuki Shinobu and Futsu Mitama simultaneously glanced at Shenhe.
"I'm hungry," Shenhe stated plainly, unembarrassed. "I didn't eat much this morning and began training right away."
"When it reached lunchtime, I intended to eat—but then you all arrived, so I descended the mountain to greet you."
Gaze drifting to the roasting Lavender Melon, she asked, "How much longer until it's ready? It has already been several minutes, hasn't it?"
Kuki Shinobu's gaze drifted toward Shenhe's stomach, which had been quietly rumbling for some time. Realizing just how hungry she was, Shinobu spoke with gentle earnestness. "Just a little longer. You only need to hold on for a bit."
Then, after a moment of hesitation, she asked, "And your breakfast—is it also something like that?"
Her eyes shifted toward a patch of Qingxin nearby. She knew Adepti could live with little nourishment, but Shenhe was not fully Adeptus. If she ate nothing but these sparse herbs every day… could her body truly endure it?
And then Shinobu's gaze lingered on Shenhe's elegant, beautifully sculpted figure—one that surpassed most women. She instinctively glanced at her own, then fell into silent reflection.
"Mm." Shenhe nodded lightly. "But I do not eat only Qingxin. I also eat glaze lilies, raspberries, sunsettias, and a few other things."
"Raspberries can be sour, and sunsettias sometimes lack sweetness… but I have grown used to it."
Futsu Mitama could only shake his head. He couldn't imagine such a life; his tone carried both disapproval and concern. "Don't get used to it! Living well is also part of one's training. Eating is part of tempering the heart."
He tapped his chest lightly with conviction. "The mortal world is what cultivates a person. Only by experiencing life among people can one truly grow stronger."
Shinobu nodded. She hadn't left Inazuma with Futsu Mitama merely to acquire her graduation certificate. Something inside her whispered that if she stayed with him… she would encounter all sorts of strange and unpredictable things.
And indeed, she had. Her days with him had been anything but dull.
Just look at the group chat—Sangonomiya Kokomi and Kamisato Ayaka were already shedding tears of envy, and Albedo, still on his way, would join soon. And the enemies she'd met ever since following Futsu Mitama? Before this, her strongest opponent had been Kujou Sara.
Now… every person they met was at least on Sara's level—some even stronger.
"My master has said similar things." Shenhe didn't refute Futsu Mitama. Instead, she slowly agreed.
It was true. Shenhe knew that walking through the mortal world would allow her to grow. But… she simply did not wish to go down the mountain. She feared harming others. She felt uncomfortable around most people. Whenever people saw her, they called her "Adeptus." Once or twice was tolerable, but every time?
Shenhe had never been someone with a soft nature. Whenever it happened too much… she used certain methods. And as for worldly delicacies—she avoided them. Beyond being harmful to her training, she also believed… perhaps she was not the same kind of being as the mortals who enjoyed them.
"All right, all right—the Lavender Melon is done roasting." Shinobu finally lifted the freshly roasted Lavender Melon, handing one to Futsu Mitama and another to Shenhe.
Rather than speaking endlessly, it was better to fill their stomachs first. Everything else could come after.
The three of them were starving; they quietly began to eat, savoring the warmth of the roasted herb. While chewing his Lavender Melon, Futsu Mitama repeatedly glanced toward the cave entrance. Quite some time had passed—why hadn't Aila returned yet?
Noticing his concern, Shenhe said calmly, "This is the first time I have seen Master refuse someone's request. For Master, it must be a very difficult matter."
"Otherwise, she would not have turned you down. Healing that maid will likely take a long time."
"But with Master's abilities, nothing will go wrong. You may wait with peace of mind."
Futsu Mitama sighed. Of course he trusted Cloud Retainer. But waiting helplessly like this still gnawed at him.
"…Hmm?"
Suddenly, he felt something and cast a glance to the side.
"What is it?" Shenhe followed his gaze, but could see nothing.
Shinobu, however, understood immediately—Futsu Mitama must have spotted something in the group live stream. Someone must have said something. Indeed—
Group Live Stream:
Yae Miko: "@Futsu Mitama @Raiden Makoto THIS IS STRANGE—THE SHOGUN HAS SUMMONED ME PERSONALLY!!!"
Raiden Makoto: "?!"
Futsu Mitama: "Impossible!"
Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Is it because she found out you secretly helped me?"
Yae Miko: "If it were that, I'd already have been sliced. The Shogun doesn't play favorites."
Azhdaha: "You are her retainer. Isn't it normal she summons you?"
Futsu Mitama: "No. Absolutely not. It should be impossible."
Raiden Makoto: "Correct. Ei would not summon Miko, and the puppet Shogun even less so. Both prioritize eternity. Unless something major has happenedshe—would not call the Guuji."
Yae Miko: "That's why it's weird! I'm heading to Tenshukaku—text-only stream for now!"
Yae Miko: "All right, I've arrived at Tenshukaku!"
Kamisato Ayaka: "So fast?!"
Yae Miko: "I always keep a safe retreat prepared. If an emergency happens, I run straight to the Shogun. I'm going in—wish me luck."
Inside Tenshukaku, Inazuma.
Yae Miko stepped in with elegant strides—only to find Raiden Shogun standing, her back turned to her. Shogun? Standing? Not sitting in perfect stillness like an eternal statue?
Yae Miko's ears pricked.
"Guuji." Raiden Shogun turned, her expression calm. "Has Futsu Mitama returned from Liyue?"
"…???"
Yae Miko froze. The Shogun summoned her just to ask that?
"Shogun-sama," Yae Miko said helplessly, secretly typing into the live stream while explaining aloud. "A round trip between Liyue and Inazuma takes eight days. Naturally, he hasn't returned."
The Shogun was silent for several seconds. She lifted her gaze slightly, as if calculating something.
Miko knew this posture—The puppet's program was stuck again. She just had to wait for the priorities to rearrange. Then, suddenly—
"I am going to Liyue."
"Okay—" Yae Miko answered reflexively. Then her fox tail practically exploded in her mind.
"Wait—WHAT?! Liyue?! Shogun-sama, WAIT!"
Raiden Shogun stepped forward with unwavering calm.
"You—what are you going there for?! You're the Electro Archon! If you march into Liyue, won't you provoke Morax?! And you can't leave Inazuma without a reason! What are you thinking?!"
Miko wanted to shake her. Where was Ei?! Why hadn't she come out of the Plane of Euthymia yet?!
"I have business in Liyue," the Shogun said. "Seven days have passed. Since Futsu Mitama cannot return, I must guide him myself. He is the Eternal Guardian. His strength must not stagnate. And he has used my authority again—he is still too weak. I cannot leave him unattended."
"Morax is gentle. There will be no problem. Guuji, remain here and watch over Inazuma. I will return soon."
She pulled free of Yae Miko's grasp. A sharp crackle of lightning filled the air—
And she vanished. A heartbeat later, a streak of violet cleaved the sky above Tenshukaku, bursting toward Liyue at unimaginable speed. The authority within Futsu Mitama allowed her to pinpoint him with perfect accuracy—unless he entered the Abyss or a domain beyond reason.
Back inside Tenshukaku, Yae Miko stood numbly in place.
"…It's over. It's completely over." She whispered, trembling. "Please let Morax be forgiving… otherwise, the two nations will start a war…"
Because when an Archon enters another nation unannounced, it is nothing less than a provocation.
Yae Miko typed frantically into the group stream:
Yae Miko:"OH NO!!!!! @Futsu Mitama SHE'S COMING FOR YOU!! SHE'S ALREADY LEFT FOR LIYUE!!!"
Raiden Makoto: "!!!!!!!!!!!"
Azhdaha: "Has she lost her mind?!"
Futsu Mitama: "You're joking, right? She never leaves Inazuma!"
Yae Miko: "She said you're the Eternal Guardian, overdue for training! And that you're too weak and she sensed you using her authority again!! Ei must've set some bizarre priorities in her system!!! She's gone mad—MAD!!!"
Ayaka: "I've never seen Guuji-sama like this"
Kokomi: "If it's just a simple visit, perhaps—"
Raiden Makoto: "No. If it were Ei, yes. But this is the puppet. It acts strictly according to its programming."
Azhdaha: "If something happens, I can't even come out—I'm sealed."
Futsu Mitama: "Let's…not panic. Maybe it's not that serious."
Zhongli: "Lord Rex Lapis will understand. As long as she merely seeks the Group Leader, it should not escalate."
Yae Miko: "NO!!! The resistance must grow stronger!!! @Kokomi"
Kokomi: "We're already at our limit… We need time…"
Kuki Shinobu: "So Shogun-sama is coming here? To Mt. Aocang? While the Adepti are present?"
Azhdaha: "Bad news."
The live stream in the Chat Group erupted into chaos, the tension palpable. Everyone present understood the gravity of the situation—none more so than Azhdaha and Raiden Makoto, who were moments away from collapsing from sheer anxiety. It was not Morax they feared for, but the Raiden Shogun herself. If she acted on impulse and clashed directly with another Archon… the consequences would be unthinkable.
Only two figures remained composed: Futsu Mitama and Zhongli.
Futsu Mitama's calmness stemmed from trust—Zhongli had said the situation would not spiral out of control, which meant he already had some grasp of the circumstances. And when Morax spoke, his word carried weight beyond measure.
Heh, women…The sense of security you give me is not even one ten-thousandth of the Geo Archon's.
Meanwhile, on Wuwang Hill, Zhongli read the scrolling messages with a hint of helplessness. Even he had not foreseen matters escalating this far. His original plan had simply been to enjoy the Group Leader's live stream with a cup of tea in hand.
And then Beelzebub—no, the Raiden Shogun—arrived.
A small disturbance, all things considered. Zhongli—Morax—was not the type to fuss. A certain Bard had once visited Liyue; he had thought something catastrophic had occurred, only to learn the man had come merely to invite him for a drink. Now, the Raiden Shogun sought to guide the one she favored, all in pursuit of eternity. Absurd as it was, it was not incomprehensible.
"Director Hu, since the matters here are concluded, I shall take my leave."
Zhongli prepared to go. If he delayed any longer, unforeseen consequences might arise at Mt. Aocang.
"Leaving so soon?" Hu Tao looked up, clapping the dirt off her hands after finishing a burial. "If you've got something to handle, go ahead~ I can wrap things up here."
As she spoke, a transparent hand emerged weakly from the grave, trembling in refusal.
Hu Tao promptly smacked it back down with her shovel, her expression stern. "We agreed, didn't we? If you won't go willingly, I'll have to send you properly. And mind you—I already pardoned your attack earlier. It's not easy for an evil spirit to become a good one, so don't test my patience."
"…"
The ghost in the grave didn't dare move again. After seeing the true side of this deceptively cute girl all night long, she truly feared her more than death itself.
"Good." Hu Tao nodded with satisfaction. She turned toward the spot where Zhongli had been. "Zhongli, you— Huh? Where'd he go?"
She scratched her head. Strange. He had been right there a moment ago.
"Whatever~" Hu Tao wasn't the type to overthink such things. Humming a tune known only to herself, she continued burying the restless spirit. Once buried, it would be at peace—then in the evening, she could send it off properly.
While Hu Tao tended to the burial, Zhongli was already on his way to Mt. Aocang. He could sense it clearly—
The Raiden Shogun was approaching at frightening speed. At her current pace, she would arrive in three minutes.
As for him…a dozen seconds would suffice. But to avoid drawing suspicion from the Group Leader, Zhongli chose to slow his steps. Better to appear as though he had only just sensed her presence and rushed over now, rather than as someone who had planned in advance.
He had already exposed too many suspicious details recently. A little concealment wouldn't hurt.
So he slowed.
Elsewhere, Futsu Mitama felt it too. Having finished the roasted Lavender Melon, he silently looked toward the horizon. The Electro Archon Authority within him had begun to stir—this was, after all, a marker, a beacon that unmistakably revealed his location to the Raiden Shogun.
And her speed was astonishing. How little time had passed? And she was already crossing from Inazuma to Liyue?
He had a strong premonition: in mere minutes, she would land atop Mt. Aocang.
"What do we do?" Kuki Shinobu had also seen the messages. Panic tinged her voice. An Archon stepping foot into another Archon's domain without notice or permission—
It was both a provocation and a declaration of war.
"It's fine. Don't worry." Futsu Mitama tried to soothe her. "Nothing major will happen. Once Lady Shogun arrives, I'll explain everything."
"Calm yourself. Panicking won't help. This matter is already beyond what we can handle."
Kuki Shinobu exhaled in helplessness. He was right—but how could she possibly calm down? A natural disaster was bearing down upon her. Who could remain composed?
Truly, being around Futsu Mitama meant experiencing events no mortal ever would. This incident—undoubtedly the first in millennia—and she was one of its protagonists. Faced with a moment that would be etched into the annals of Teyvat, Kuki Shinobu felt equal parts dread and anticipation. What direction would this lead to?
Everyone in the Chat Group live stream watched in tense silence, waiting for the Raiden Shogun's arrival.
"You…what's wrong?"
Shenhe, puzzled, glanced between Kuki Shinobu and Futsu Mitama. She quietly ate her Lavender Melon—hunger from long days without proper meals pushing her to devour five of the eight skewers. She still held the sixth unfinished in her hand.
"It's nothing. Just…something big is about to happen." Futsu Mitama gave a wry smile. The Raiden Shogun was drawing closer with every heartbeat.
"Rumble—!!!"
Thunder cracked. A heavy black cloud descended, shrouding all of Mt. Aocang.
A prelude—one that heralded the arrival of something overwhelming.
"?!"
Shenhe sensed it instantly. She swept her hand through empty air; a spear materialized in her grasp.
A profound sense of danger surged through her as she gazed upward. A vast, indescribable power approached—one that dwarfed even her master and the Adepti. With just a glance, she understood the gulf between them.
Who… is this?
A figure slowly descended from the storm clouds laced with violet lightning.
The instant Shenhe beheld her, she tightened her grip on her spear. For she felt as though she were looking into a boundless sea of thunder—immeasurable, unconquerable, eternal.
Could it be…Her?!
Her gaze drifted toward Futsu Mitama. She already had her suspicions.
Across Liyue, every powerful adeptus being and martial master sensed the presence descending upon Mt. Aocang. Unlike the calm when Futsu Mitama had invoked the Electro Archon Authority, this time their expressions hardened with shock and disbelief.
They recognized her instantly—The Electro Archon of Inazuma.
Why had she come personally?
Was the Geo Archon aware?
Or was this an act of provocation?
Speculation swept across Liyue. Some Adepti even prepared to rush toward Mt. Aocang themselves. Cloud Retainer was there. After surviving the Archon War together, they could not simply sit by while a fellow Adeptus faced unknown danger. Even if there was no hostile intent, the arrival of a foreign Archon on Liyue soil was no trivial matter. Countless Adepti readied themselves.
"It's nothing. The Raiden Shogun comes only as a visitor. Do not be alarmed. I will meet her."
A resonant voice echoed within their minds.
Relief washed over the Adepti who had been ready to stake their lives. Since the Geo Archon had spoken, all would be well. And if he said this was merely a visit, then it should not be a crisis. Still, curiosity grew. First, a Retainer of the Raiden Shogun had come to Liyue; now, the Shogun herself had arrived. Had someone offended her Retainer? Had the Electro Archon come to settle accounts?
On Mt. Aocang, the oppressive black clouds were gently dispersed by a soft golden radiance. The Raiden Shogun, who had intended to descend immediately and confront Futsu Mitama, halted. She lifted her head, her expression unchanging.
"Morax."
A colossal golden dragon materialized in the sky. His gaze was calm, yet majestic. "Should I address you as Baal, Beelzebub…or the Raiden Shogun?"
Atop Mt. Aocang, beneath a sky split by thunder and gilded light, the Geo Archon of Liyue and the Electro Archon of Inazuma—two gods of different nations—finally met.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens