"Hello, Fu Ning, Fontaine's top guard. I am Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing."
Fu Ning sat in a chair, casually drinking milk, and glanced at the stern girl with a purple cat-ear hairstyle.
She had long lavender hair tied into twin buns that resembled cat ears, and she wore elegant purple robes embroidered with electro motifs—refined and commanding.
"Hello. What's the matter?" Fu Ning asked calmly.
Keqing's expression was firm and serious. "I'll get straight to the point."
"Where were you during the Rite of Parting?"
Fu Ning tilted his head slightly. "Oh, straightforward? I like that."
"That day, I was just a tourist—like everyone else—watching the Rite of Parting."
Keqing's eyes sharpened. "Then can you explain this? Liyue has remained stable for thousands of years. But on the very day you, the so-called 'Dark Devil of Fontaine,' arrived… the Geo Archon was declared dead."
"Among everyone present, the only one with the power to harm the God of Contracts is you."
"And when it happened… the sky darkened."
"Doesn't that align rather well with your name—'Dark Devil'?"
Fu Ning: "…"
Zhongli, you old fox… even in death, you're still setting me up.
He knew full well that my public identity was the "Dark Devil"—yet when he faked his death, the sky just happened to darken?
"The Geo Archon is also known as the God of War. His strength is among the top in Liyue—no, in all of Teyvat."
"Even if I am the strongest combatant in Fontaine, I'm not confident I could assassinate the Geo Archon in silence."
"Besides, I've only been in Liyue for a week. That's nowhere near enough time to plan such an operation. I wouldn't risk assassinating a god, not without reason."
Fu Ning leaned back, crossed his legs, and continued:
"And more importantly, I have no reason to harm the Geo Archon."
"As Fontaine's strongest warrior, a loyal follower of the Hydro Archon Furina, the so-called dark demon god, and the highest-ranking guard in Fontaine—I hold a prestigious status."
"I gain nothing from assassinating the God of Contracts. It would benefit neither Fontaine nor myself. I hope you understand that, Miss Keqing."
"Lady Furina sent me to Liyue for diplomatic reasons, not for an assassination. If she had any intent to harm your Archon, she wouldn't have sent me at all."
Keqing furrowed her brows and cleared her throat. "Until we've ruled you out as a suspect, Mr. Fu Ning, I ask that you remain here and cooperate with our investigation."
She turned to leave.
"Wait, Miss Keqing," Fu Ning called out.
"What is it?" she asked, turning back with a touch of annoyance.
Fu Ning pointed at the cat-ear-shaped hairstyle on her head.
"How did you do that? I want to learn how to tie hair like that—for my Lady Furina, when I return."
"Consider it compensation for placing me under house arrest."
Keqing: "…"
I've heard that Mr. Fu Ning, the highest-ranking guard in Fontaine, is unusually close to the Hydro Archon…
Did he really tie her hair himself?
And now I'm part of this… public display of affection? Stay calm, Keqing. Don't lose your temper.
"Please watch your words, Mr. Fu Ning. This is a protective measure in Liyue's interest. Still… I apologize on behalf of Liyue."
"If this is your personal request and within my ability… then I will agree."
She took out her hairpin. Her "cat ears" loosened and fell, revealing long, flowing purple hair that reached her waist. Keqing shook her head and began to redo the hairstyle slowly.
"I will only demonstrate this once. Watch carefully, Mr. Fu Ning."
Fu Ning nodded and loosened his own long hair, mimicking her hand movements closely.
Eventually, he succeeded in tying it up into cat-ear shapes.
He could barely wait to return to Fontaine and try it on Fufu!
Keqing glanced at Fu Ning, now sporting twin ponytails and "cat ears," and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
She turned and walked away, expression unreadable.
Seriously? Men who are hopelessly in love should just explode.
"One last thing, Miss Keqing—consider it a small… hint," Fu Ning called out again.
"Unlike Fontaine, where the Archon frequently appears in public, perhaps Liyue's Geo Archon isn't truly dead at all. Maybe… the Geo Archon is someone you see every day."
Keqing paused, frowned deeply, but said nothing, turning to leave without another word.
Fu Ning's implication…
Ningguang is the Geo Archon? That's impossible. There's no way.
Fontaine
The Fatui Harbinger known as The Servant had originally planned to visit Fontaine later—but troubling news reached her ears.
The sea level in Fontaine was rising unnaturally.
More importantly… something about Fu Ning deeply unsettled her.
A so-called "demon god," brought back to Fontaine by Furina seventeen years ago?
Too suspicious to ignore.
So the Servant postponed her work in Snezhnaya and came to Fontaine in secret, telling no one.
That night, she cloaked her presence and observed Furina from a distance—lonely, distracted, and clearly missing someone.
"I don't know why… but I feel like Furina is hiding something big."
"She's a god, yet acts like a nervous little girl."
"My goal is the Gnosis… Not yet, but soon."
"I didn't expect Furina to appear before me so defenseless. It almost made me hesitate."
"The defenseless are often bait… but you can't blame the one who bites the hook. The meat was always meant for sacrifice."
The Servant darted forward and gently tapped Furina's shoulder.
Furina gasped and collapsed to the floor in fright.
"Fu Ning! Where are you?!"
The Servant narrowed her eyes.
No one responded.
"Just as I thought. Fu Ning really is in Liyue. The Gnosis isn't on her."
"Besides… Furina doesn't seem like a true god. She carries some sort of cursed aura…"
Furina looked up at the stranger in despair.
Fu Ning isn't here… What do I do? I should never have sent him away!
This is the end. If I die… what happens to Fontaine?
"Who are you?! What do you want? Don't kill me—please!" she pleaded.
The Servant studied her eyes.
"That fear… it's genuine. Perhaps she's not bait after all. Either way, there's no point in killing her now."
She turned and left.
Later that night, Furina returned to her residence and cried alone.
She didn't tell anyone. She didn't even touch her cake.
Back at the Fatui base, the Servant pondered.
"There's no doubt. Something is off about Furina."
"Maybe… I've been looking at the wrong people."
"Fu Ning? Unlikely. He only appeared in Fontaine seventeen years ago. The true Hydro Archon wouldn't have been hiding that long."
"There's only one other possibility…"
"Chief Justice Neuvillette. He may be the true Hydro Archon."
"The Gnosis could be with him—or with Fu Ning. Or hidden somewhere else entirely."
"Either way, it's time to return to Snezhnaya. Matters in the north await."
"But… I've learned what I needed on this visit."
***
Author's Note
In the original plot, the Servant attempts to assassinate Furina after the Harbinger known as Childe is imprisoned. But with Fu Ning present, any attempt on Furina's life would fail.
This scene sets the assassination attempt earlier, to avoid contradictions and future plot holes I can't account for.
Poor Fufu.