Liyue.
Nantianmen, Hulao Mountain, beneath the Volong Tree.
The Rahu Dragon King sneered repeatedly, rage brewing in his heart.
Morax hadn't died!
Moreover, he had been orchestrating everything from start to finish!
Is this guy insane?!
"What a pity, that coward Osel..."
The Rahu Dragon King's heavy breaths stirred up the gravel.
Osel was the one he saw as most likely to break through the adepti guarding Hulao Mountain and unseal him.
Because Osel was a god, just like him, harboring hatred for Morax.
As for the likes of Tartaglia, the Rahu Dragon King didn't even consider them.
Their strength might be impressive among mortals, but so what? Hulao Mountain was guarded by adepti!
"Morax... truly detestable!"
The Rahu Dragon King roared in fury.
Only after a long while did this pitch-black, sunless place fall silent once more.
[Extraordinary Group Chat]
[Lumine]: So what was the point of Mr. Zhongli faking his death?
[Paimon]: Can't understand Mr. Zhongli's thinking at all! (Shrugs)
[Ningguang]: From the info revealed in the video, Rex Lapis often laments the wear and tear of time. In his conversation with Ganyu, he even asked her thoughts on Rex Lapis's retirement. All these details suggest Rex Lapis intends to step down.
[Keqing]: Does Rex Lapis want Liyue to enter an era of mortal rule too?! (Shocked)
[Zhongli]: The video should provide the answers. (Sips tea)
[Hu Tao]: @[Zhongli] My dear consultant, as the Geo Archon and creator of Mora, why do you go out without Mora? Why send the bill back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!! (Hu Tao · Spooks)
[Zhongli]: Hall Master, I really just forgot. (Qiqi · Collapses)
[Hu Tao]: You better have! (Hu Tao · Spooks)
[Tartaglia]: Doesn't anyone care about me, the biggest sucker here? I was the one trying to seize the Gnosis, I was the one footing the bill for Mr. Zhongli, but I got played by my colleague AND Mr. Zhongli. From start to finish, I was the clown of clowns—hell, I think I'm about to outdo that Your Highness guy!
[Your Highness]: ...
You got issues or what?
You be the clown, why drag me into it?
The air laughed.
[Scaramouche]: Hahahahaha, what an entertaining farce. Plenty of flair—you've amused me. But you've utterly ruined the Harbinger reputation... Heh, incompetent fool!
[Tartaglia]: ...
[Gu Chen]: Truly tragic!
[Tartaglia]: First off, I'm in jail right now. Second, this was clearly Zhongli and Signora's scheme—I was just the pawn. Then @[Ningguang] @[Keqing], can you let me out? (Sucrose · Obedient)
[Ningguang]: The plan can be explained away by Rex Lapis, but how do you explain releasing a god?
[Tartaglia]: Fine, just tell me—how long's the sentence? (Qiqi · Collapses)
[Yanfei]: Rot in jail!
[Furina]: My vote's for the death penalty! (Hu Tao · Sly grin)
[Keqing]: Off to labor reform. Fight to commute from death to life without parole. (Hu Tao · Sly grin)
[Tartaglia]: So I'm a miner from now on? (Paimon · Shocked) Wait, no—these were past-life crimes. Sentencing this life's me ain't right, is it?
[Yanfei]: The laws don't cover that yet, but no worries. I'll draft new ones right now and submit to the Tianquan Star for review. Once passed, you're guilty! (Paimon · Hmph)
[Ningguang]: No need for review. Approved!
[Yanfei]: And now, Mr. Tartaglia, for the crimes of your past life, you are sentenced to life imprisonment. You'll stay in Liyue, contributing to its construction and atoning. Good behavior or major merits could earn you a reduction!
[Tartaglia]: If you're sentencing, throw Zhongli in too! The mighty Geo Archon hid by my side, stirring the pot and betraying his people—what's the law say for that?! @[Zhongli] Get over here and join me in jail!
[Zhongli]: ...
[Yanfei]: Tricky. (Kaveh · Scratches head)
[Venti]: First, the old man is insanely strong and wise. Hard to say if that Talisman Free of Taboos in Fatui hands wasn't deliberately delivered by him in some "reasonable" way. Everything happened under his tacit approval—he knew Tartaglia would release the god, used it to test Liyue. Watch the video for Zhongli's explanation, think back to Gu Chen's chats with him. He's the real mastermind!
[Furina]: Knew it! I said the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was the puppet master. Morax, huh? Sentence him! (Hu Tao · Sly grin)
[Gu Chen]: My vote: life without parole!
[Yae Miko]: Seconded!
[Kaeya]: Seconded!
[Venti]: Strongly agree!
[Rahu Dragon King]: Why not death penalty?
[Zhongli]: ...
Zhongli knew things would get wild once his identity was exposed.
But he never imagined it'd go this far—they were even fanning the flames to put him on trial!
For a moment, Zhongli couldn't keep his composure.
Seeing the Liyue folks in the group fall into an eerie silence, Venti—sipping wine with Gu Chen at Windrise while watching the video—kept pouring fuel on the fire.
[Venti]: Everyone, doesn't this make sense?
[Signora]: Approved!
[Tartaglia]: Mr. Zhongli, I'll be waiting for you in here. Gotta say, the jail food's not bad! (Jail food photo)
[Raiden Ei]: Makes sense! (Nods) But something feels off somehow! (Kamisato Ayaka · Confused)
[Yae Miko]: You won't figure it out—don't bother! (Yae Miko · Sly grin)
[Furina]: When's the trial? I wanna watch!
[Venti]: See? The people's eyes are sharp. If Zhongli doesn't get the death penalty, I won't recognize you lot! (Silly)
[Gu Chen]: Morax subdued, brothers—charge with me, seize Liyue! (Silly)
[Rahu Dragon King]: (Alert)
[Zhongli]: @[Venti] It's really inconvenient you can't stuff Celestial Motion Myriad into red packets, isn't it? (Annoyed)
[Gu Chen]: He's panicking, he's panicking. (Silly)
[Venti]: He's panicking, he's panicking. (Silly)
[Zhongli]: Where are you two? Drop a location!
[Venti]: Speaking rationally and universally, the Geo Archon must have his profound reasons! (Nods)
[Gu Chen]: Yeah, that's what I think too. The merciful Geo Archon saw Osel locked up for a millennium, on the verge of depression—letting him out for some fresh air out of pity, what's wrong with that? (Silly)
[Paimon]: What a face! (Shrugs)
[Rahu Dragon King]: Can't you stick to your guns? He threatens you and you fold? Straighten your spines! (Heartbroken)
[Zhongli]: So tiring (Qiqi · Collapses)