"Hmph."
Nearby, Baiwen also straightened her face, pondering. "With that look on your face, something big happened?"
Baixiao took a deep breath, her face solemn. "Lady Ningguang ordered that starting tomorrow, the two of you must monitor the sky around Liyue 24/7, and also put the Millelith everywhere on high alert."
"Especially Wangshu Inn, Dihua Marsh, and the coastal area of Liyue Harbor. No mistakes allowed."
Hearing this, Baishi and Baiwen were both slightly stunned.
Then they looked at each other, turbulent waves rising in their hearts.
Lady Ningguang actually issued such an order?
This was an extremely rare arrangement!
Liyue had always been stable.
Although occasionally harassed by Treasure Hoarders and Fatui.
But there had never been a similar martial law request.
Let alone monitoring the sky around the clock!
Baiwen's eyes sank, her voice revealing a trace of vigilance. "What happened? To make Lady Ningguang so cautious?"
Baishi also pushed the hair on her forehead, looking at Baixiao sharply. "Is it because of the Rite of Descension?"
Baixiao took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Just now, above the Jade Chamber, a flying ship appeared!"
As soon as these words came out, Baishi and Baiwen's faces changed abruptly.
"Flying ship?"
Baiwen sat up straight instantly, eyes full of astonishment. "You mean... a flying mechanism similar to Adepti arts?"
Baixiao shook her head, tone decisive. "Not Liyue mechanism art."
Recalling that glimpse, Baixiao frowned. "I saw it with my own eyes. It was a behemoth completely different from Liyue ships. It was completely suspended in the air. The black hull had a streamlined outline, carrying strange energy halos. It is definitely not something Liyue's mechanism art can create."
Hearing this, Baishi's frown deepened.
Thoughtfully tapping the desk, she whispered, "If it's not Liyue mechanism art, that means—"
Baiwen took over the conversation, voice low. "This ship comes from outside Liyue."
"Outside Liyue? A ship capable of floating... even Fontaine doesn't have one, right?"
"Fontaine has Aquabus, but that Aquabus needs to run on exclusive tracks."
"As for ships... as far as I know, I haven't heard of flying ships."
Baiwen and the others whispered.
After a long while, Baishi spoke slowly, continuing, "No wonder Lady Ningguang is so cautious... A behemoth capable of sailing freely over Liyue, whether friend or foe, its movements must be grasped."
Baiwen also nodded. "I will pay attention."
While speaking, she stood up, tone relaxed but revealing an unignorable seriousness. "Then follow Lady Ningguang's instructions. Tomorrow I will arrange lookouts to monitor Liyue's sky throughout the journey to see if that mysterious ship will appear again."
Baishi nodded slightly, the calmness on her face unchanged. "I will also arrange people to pay attention to rumors in the city. Once someone sees something similar, report immediately."
Seeing the two immediately enter work mode, Baixiao felt slightly relieved and nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you."
The night was deep. The light of the glazed lamp reflected on the serious faces of the three.
At this moment.
On the other side.
In the sky of Liyue.
Paimon looked at the shrinking Jade Chamber and scratched her head. "Speaking of which, with this thing, can't we tour various countries?"
"Not bad."
Kael nodded. "It's very convenient for traveling."
"But this way, there is no way to find the Statue of the Seven and set the Anchor."
You have to know, the Trailblaze Anchor condensed by the power of his Trailblaze Path required a place with rich Ley Line energy to be built.
If he wanted to teleport easily across Teyvat, he still had to pioneer Anchors first.
"Hehe, this Starskiff is really convenient."
Paimon rubbed her hands excitedly. "I've already imagined us traveling in this Starskiff in the future."
"Is that still traveling?"
Hearing Paimon's words, Lumine rolled her eyes instantly.
"Alright, it's getting late. Time to go back and rest."
Kael, controlling the Starskiff, glanced at the current Liyue and smiled. "Don't forget, we have to stroll around Liyue properly tomorrow."
"We haven't reported to the Liyue Adventurers' Guild yet. We have to go there tomorrow."
"Right."
Hearing Kael's words, Paimon scratched her head. "But Lady Yuheng said we can't see Rex Lapis at the Rite of Descension. Rex Lapis just passes down oracles. What should we do?"
"Even the Liyue Qixing can't see Rex Lapis, and might even be unable to actively contact him. If we want to find Rex Lapis, won't it be very hard?"
She thought about it when listening to Keqing before.
But she forgot because she was busy with other things.
Now after experiencing the Starskiff and preparing to rest, she remembered.
"Kael should know a little."
Lumine looked at Kael subconsciously, hesitating. "Gods will incarnate as humans and walk in the city."
"When we met Venti in Mondstadt before, Kael, you said that one was the Anemo Archon. Later we verified it, and it was true."
"Right!"
Hearing this, Paimon's eyes lit up, looking at Kael immediately. "Then for the Geo Archon... does he also wander in Liyue City incarnated as a human like the Tone-Deaf Bard?"
"At the very least, there is a target with a Geo Vision."
"Like the Tone-Deaf Bard. He is clearly the Anemo Archon, but deliberately got a glass bead as a Vision hanging on his waist as a disguise."
"The Geo Archon is likely the same."
"En."
Hearing Paimon's words, Kael nodded gently. "Although the Liyue Qixing haven't seen the true face of Rex Lapis."
"But this doesn't mean Rex Lapis hasn't traveled in the human world."
Hearing this, Paimon and Lumine looked at each other, surprised.
"Eh eh? You mean... Liyue's Geo Archon really wanders around Liyue City like Venti?"
Paimon widened her eyes, tone carrying a bit of disbelief.
"What do you think?"
Kael chuckled lightly, his gaze falling on the brightly lit Liyue City in the distance, speaking slowly: "There is a mysterious Consultant in Liyue's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Although his origin is unknown, he knows etiquette and rules. The Liyue traditions he masters even surpass any scholar."
"Mysterious Consultant?"
Lumine frowned slightly, seeming to feel this matter was getting more and more bizarre.
Kael smiled faintly and continued, "He now sits in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, conducting the rites of heaven and earth. Proper attire, auspicious time for rituals, tools and locations, viewing procedures... These complicated and tedious matters, just hand them to him, and you can rest easy."
"Sounds... like he is very knowledgeable?"
Paimon rested her chin on her hand, thinking.
"More than knowledgeable?"
Kael shook his head, tone leisurely. "He behaves elegantly and speaks extraordinarily. He knows the rules and etiquette of Liyue for thousands of years, and even knows various allusions and legends well. Even the oldest scholars respect him."
Paimon and Lumine's expressions changed slightly.
"So amazing?" Lumine couldn't help speaking.
"But... such an exquisite and particular man dares to go out with empty sleeves (penniless)."
The corner of Kael's mouth hooked into a helpless smile. "Buying and selling requires money, and carriages also need payment. But he has no money. The one who pays in the end... is often someone else."
"Hah?!"
Paimon's mouth almost couldn't close, face full of disbelief. "Such a knowledgeable guy proficient in Liyue culture... actually has no money?"
"Yes."
Kael shrugged, tone carrying a bit of profound meaning. "He listens to the most popular operas, walks the brightest thrushes, and eats and wears everything fine. Only the matter of paying has never left an impression in his heart."
Lumine: "..."
Paimon: "..."
The two were instantly speechless.
Why does he sound like a freeloader who idles about?
Paimon looked conflicted. "Th-This is too ridiculous!"
"Isn't he afraid of being kicked out by merchants?"
"Even if he has knowledge, it shouldn't be like this."
"Liyue merchants are long used to his weirdness."
Kael shrugged, tone leisurely. "But they never really take it to heart, because Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will pay the bill."
Paimon and Lumine: "..."
"If you ask him, he will only say—"
Kael smiled faintly. "'Is that so? In these years, no one has ever made trouble with me over money.'"
Hearing this, Paimon and Lumine were stunned.
This statement...
This style...
Combined with this guy's familiarity with Liyue...
"...Wait."
Paimon snapped back, eyes wide and round. "Such a strange and powerful guy... wouldn't be the Geo Archon of Liyue, right?!"
Kael smiled slightly, looking at the two noncommittally.
Lumine's eyes moved slightly, asking hesitantly, "He... is the incarnation of Rex Lapis?"
"What do you think?"
Kael chuckled.
This didn't need answering. It was already on the table.
Hearing this, Paimon and Lumine looked at each other, an incredible thought instantly surfacing in their hearts—
If Venti the Anemo Archon is willing to incarnate as a singing bard wandering Mondstadt.
Then why can't Liyue's Geo Archon incarnate as a mysterious Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant, hiding in Liyue City?
"...The more I think about it, the more wrong it feels!"
Paimon scratched her head. "Liyue's Geo Archon, could it be... really working as a Consultant in Liyue City? For what?"
"But it sounds very reasonable."
"After all, how can someone possess such profound Liyue cultural heritage, be proficient in heaven and earth rites, and even make Liyue merchants tolerate him not paying?"
Paimon felt terrified thinking about it.
Lumine also lowered her head in thought, brows slightly furrowed.
If it was really as Kael said, such a special character was definitely not an ordinary person!
Combined with the information, it was undoubtedly Rex Lapis.
"...No way?"
Paimon still disbelieved slightly. "Liyue's Geo Archon really walks in Liyue? He lives for a long time."
"Even the Tone-Deaf Bard said before that he wasn't often in Mondstadt."
Kael gazed at the distant Liyue Harbor, speaking slowly: "All things in the world have traces to follow."
"Such a person of mysterious origin, no one knows where he comes from. Everyone is attracted by the profound knowledge he masters, thus ignoring and not caring about his true origin."
"Besides Morax, who do you think can do this?"
Hearing this, Paimon and Lumine fell silent.
Indeed.
At this moment, they finally realized.
The God might really be close at hand.
"But, it still doesn't make sense."
In the next second, Paimon scratched her head again. "Kael, you guessed the Tone-Deaf Bard's identity in Mondstadt before, but you also just arrived in Liyue. How do you know so clearly?"
"Liyue people didn't guess that Consultant is the Geo Archon, but you actually guessed it."
"Because the name of this Consultant is known to everyone in Liyue."
Kael spoke slowly. "No need for me to say. You can hear information about this person if you sit in a teahouse."
"Then why doesn't Rex Lapis see the Liyue Qixing?"
Lumine pondered. "Shouldn't the Liyue Qixing be believers of Rex Lapis?"
"He sees them, but only as one of his incarnations."
Kael spoke slowly. "As a God, naturally he cannot have only one incarnation."
"Guarding Liyue for so long, sitting down to enjoy, not wanting to be disturbed. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Makes sense."
Hearing this, Lumine and Paimon were stunned.
Makes sense.
"Then let's go to that Wangsheng Funeral Parlor tomorrow."
Paimon rubbed her hands excitedly. "If everything goes well, we can meet that Rex Lapis before the Rite of Descension."
She already knew the rough information from Kael and felt that Consultant would be the Geo Archon.
But she still had to meet him tomorrow.
"Mm-hmm."
Hearing Paimon's words, Lumine nodded quickly beside her.
Unexpectedly getting bad news from the Liyue Qixing, turning around and getting news from Kael. It was simply beyond Lumine's expectations.
Also made Lumine feel pleasantly surprised.
"Then, let's go down first."
Kael spoke slowly, controlling the Starskiff to land slowly.
Under the night, Liyue Harbor was still brilliantly lit.
The sea surface reflected bright light points, like the galaxy falling into the human world.
And at this moment, a huge Starskiff was approaching the waters of Liyue Harbor silently.
The hull of the Starskiff gradually faded in the night sky, as if merging with the darkness.
"Wow!"
Seeing this scene, Paimon widened her eyes, marveling, "Kael, you can actually make such a big ship invisible?! This is too magical!"
Lumine also turned to look at Kael, eyes carrying a bit of curiosity.
Kael smiled calmly. "After all, it's not an ordinary ship."
While speaking, he reached out and pressed gently on the control panel.
The Starskiff completely entered the Stealth State, floating on the sea surface, not attracting anyone's attention, as if it never existed.
"Alright, go back to rest."
Kael spoke.
Paimon waved her small hand excitedly, flying happily toward the shore. "Quick, quick! The inn arranged by Keqing should be very good!"
Lumine smiled slightly and followed.
Under the night, the three walked along the streets of Liyue Harbor.
Crossing bustling stalls and quiet alleys, finally returning to the inn arranged by Keqing.
Washed up, rested, night passed without words.
The next day.
Dawn spilled. Golden sunlight spilled into the room through the window lattice, bringing a trace of warmth.
Kael opened his eyes slowly, hearing the shouting from the street outside and the soft sound of the breeze brushing the eaves.
Liyue City gradually woke up in the morning light.
This bustling port city was still lively in the early morning.
Not far away, the sound of fishing boats returning to port came from the river surface.
Workers on the pier had already begun to move goods. Merchants on the street also set up stalls early, greeting passing pedestrians.
The air was filled with a faint aroma, the smell of fried cakes from vendors in the morning market.
And steaming soy milk and buns, mixed with morning mist, making people lose their appetite.
After Kael finished washing up, he walked out of the room, just in time to see Paimon and Lumine also tidied up and ready to go out.
"Morning!"
Paimon yawned, rubbing her eyes.
However, smelling the food aroma in the air, her spirit shook instantly, saying excitedly, "Wah! So fragrant! Let's go eat breakfast quickly!"
Lumine nodded slightly. "Just right, we can also taste Liyue's morning tea."
"Hehe, so looking forward to it!"
Paimon patted her belly, urging with a face full of expectation, "Quick, quick! Let's find a delicious place! Eat and drink enough to go to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
The three walked out of the inn together, facing the morning breeze, stepping onto the streets of Liyue.
Stalls on both sides of the street were already full of various breakfasts.
"Just find a random one to eat."
Paimon said while flying toward the nearest breakfast stall in front.
Then she pointed her finger excitedly. "Boss."
"I want this, this, and that!"
"How much do you want to eat exactly?"
Seeing this, Lumine spoke helplessly. "Don't eat so much you can't fly later."
While Lumine was speaking, Kael's expression suddenly became strange.
Because next to this stall, a handsome man was drinking morning tea leisurely.
It was Zhongli.
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