"Then... help me find my brother." After much thought, Lumine realized she didn't really have any other requests.
Power... As a traveler, how could she be tied down to one place?
Money... Mora was just a worldly possession. From her journey to Jueyun Karst alone, Lumine had earned millions in commissions. She was now a bit of a wealthy woman and didn't really need more.
So, she decided to use this request to find her brother.
"I'm aware of your brother's situation. I will mobilize the Qixing's resources to help you find him as soon as possible. But this was already something Ningguang promised, so it doesn't count. Please make another request, Lumine."
"This..." Lumine was stumped again. She really didn't have any other requests... Maybe she could ask about something?
"Keqing, come here." Lumine waved Keqing over, signaling her to lean in.
"Huh?" Although confused, Keqing obediently leaned in, and Lumine whispered something in her ear. After Lumine finished speaking, Keqing's cheeks turned slightly red, and she stammered, "Are you sure this is your request?"
Lumine: ???
Lumine looked at Keqing in surprise, wondering if she had said something strange. Why was Keqing blushing?
"Ahem, let's talk about this later. I need to handle some things here first." Realizing she had acted a bit out of character, Keqing coughed lightly to ease the awkwardness and then hurriedly left.
Watching Keqing's retreating figure, Paimon curiously asked Lumine, "Traveler, what did you say to Keqing? Why did she seem so strange?"
"Well... I'm not sure. I just asked her how she met Yun Fan..."
———
In the highest-security prison of Liyue, the Fatui Harbinger Tartaglia was being held. Although he had been changed into a white prisoner's uniform and locked in a cell, the Millelith had not subjected him to any torture or mistreatment.
This wasn't because the Millelith didn't want to. This man had repeatedly attacked the Golden House, attempting to lay hands on the remains of Rex Lapis. His crimes were heinous and unforgivable! As devout followers of Rex Lapis, how could they tolerate this?
But the man before them already looked like he was on the brink of death. If they were to torture him further, he might not even survive until tomorrow.
Tap, tap, tap...
A steady set of footsteps echoed through the silent prison corridor. Soon, the owner of the footsteps arrived at Tartaglia's cell.
Click—
With a crisp sound, the cell door opened. Tartaglia, who had been in a light sleep, slowly opened his eyes. He had expected it to be the Millelith soldiers or perhaps someone from the Liyue Qixing.
But when he saw who it was, he was genuinely surprised.
"Brother Zhongli? What are you doing here?" Tartaglia sat up on the bed, clutching his chest, and asked Zhongli, who had now walked up to him.
"Sigh."
Zhongli looked at his good friend, who was still recovering from severe injuries and had further drained his life force by using his Delusion. He frowned slightly and sighed helplessly. Then, with a wave of his hand, a stream of pure Geo energy flew from his palm and entered Tartaglia's chest.
"Huh?" Feeling his injuries rapidly healing, Tartaglia was astonished.
"Hahaha, thank you, Brother Zhongli. I didn't know you had such skills. How about joining the Fatui? I'll do my best to get you the treatment you deserve." Tartaglia laughed heartily, though inwardly he was still a bit nervous. After all, the person before him might not actually be Zhongli.
"I am but a wandering soul, unsuited to the rules and regulations of your organization. I must decline your kind offer," Zhongli shook his head, refusing Tartaglia's invitation. The idea of Rex Lapis joining the Fatui was absurd. Even if he wanted to, the Tsaritsa would have to think twice.
"Brother Zhongli, may I ask why you've come here?" Although Tartaglia asked this, he already had a rough idea. Zhongli's visit likely meant there was something he needed Tartaglia to do.
"The Qixing have reached an agreement with Snezhnaya. Once the compensation is delivered, you will be released. Take this and deliver it to the Tsaritsa when you return to Snezhnaya." Zhongli handed Tartaglia a golden parchment and spoke calmly. The contract was complete, and there was no need to hide his identity from his "wallet" any longer.
"This is... a highest-level contract. Brother Zhongli, so you really are... Haha, you've kept me in the dark for so long." Tartaglia laughed bitterly. He had searched so long for the Exuvia, for Rex Lapis, only to find out that the person he had casually met in a teahouse was the Geo Archon himself.
Drinking tea, listening to opera, strolling the streets, playing with birds—such a leisurely lifestyle. Who would have thought this was the same Rex Lapis who had once dominated the Archon War and ruled over Liyue?
———
"Liyue's affairs are mostly settled. Next is Inazuma, right?" Pouring himself a cup of wine, Yun Fan closed his eyes, savoring the aroma of the crystal-clear liquid.
"Hmm?"
Just as Yun Fan was lost in his thoughts, he sensed a unique presence.
This aura was somewhat similar to Venti and Zhongli's, suggesting it belonged to a god. However, compared to the Anemo and Geo Archons, this aura was much weaker.
Yun Fan opened his eyes, a glint of clarity in his gaze. He had met the Cryo Archon, so she was ruled out. The Electro and Pyro Archons, one pursuing eternity and the other war, were undoubtedly powerful. Their auras couldn't be this weak.
As for the Hydro Archon, given her obsession with "law" and "justice," she would surely send an envoy to announce her arrival before coming to Liyue.
That left only one possibility...
At this thought, a figure resembling a shuttlecock appeared in Yun Fan's mind.
Why has she come to Liyue?