Everyone arrived at Mt. Hulao, only to see a person in the distance continuously bowing and apologizing.
Paimon: What is that person doing? Why are they constantly bowing and apologizing?
Qixuan: Perhaps they did something bad.
Lumine: I think so too.
It wasn't until everyone got closer that they heard what the person was saying.
“Mercy, Adeptus, mercy! Please, Adeptus, give us brothers a way out, spare our lives…!”
Lumine: What did you do wrong?
The person turned their head, “You… who are you?”
Then they looked at Qixuan and Paimon.
Paimon: Aren't we the ones asking questions?
The person suddenly realized, “You can walk safely in Jueyun Karst… You must be Adeptal Emissaries, right?”
“You must be emissaries sent by the Adepti to rescue us.”
Paimon: What in the world is this person talking about?
Qixuan: Did you perhaps provoke the “Adeptus” here?
The person immediately began to beg for mercy, “Adeptus Emissaries, mercy!”
“My brother and I, unable to support our family, heard that the amber in Mt. Hulao contained treasures.”
“For a moment… I was foolish. I just wanted to find a few treasures from the mountain, exchange them for money, and then help my family…”
“We followed the mountain path all the way up, but I never expected that when my brother passed by a piece of amber, he was immediately ‘eaten’ by it.”
“I rushed all the way here and, upon careful reflection, I fear I have offended the “Adeptus” here and brought down a “punishment.””
“I don't know how to save my brother, so I could only beg for mercy from the Adeptus here. After begging for a long time, I finally waited for a few Adeptal Emissaries.”
Paimon: Adeptal Emissaries? We're not Adeptal Emissaries. We're also here to find the Adeptus.
Qixuan: So that's how it is. You made a mistake and now you want to beg the Adeptus for forgiveness?
“No, no, no, you are definitely Adeptal Emissaries! My brother and I truly know we were wrong! Please, Adeptal Emissaries, show mercy!”
Lumine: Although they made a mistake, they didn't take anything. How about we save them?
Qixuan: Lumine, you're just too kind. Alright, let me see…
As she spoke, she opened her “consciousness” to sense which “amber” still had living things inside.
Slime, bird, Crystalfly, wild boar… Hmm.
Found it. Then Qixuan directly pulled out the Nameless Key and shot it at that amber.
The amber burst with a “boom”—shattering into pieces on the ground.
A person fell out from inside. The other person immediately went over to check on his brother.
The person coughed a few times before waking up, then got up and thanked them.
“Thank you for your great kindness, Adeptal Emissaries. We will leave now and no longer disturb the Adeptus’s peace.”
With that, the two of them left Mt. Hulao.
Paimon: If only we really were Adeptal Emissaries.
I always feel like this Adeptus has a bad temper.
Lumine: Paimon, did you forget that Qixuan-jie knows all the Adepti?
Paimon: Oh, right!
Qixuan: What if the Adeptus doesn't give me face?
Paimon: This… this…
Qixuan: Haha, just kidding, little Paimon.
Paimon was about to say something,
A voice came out.
“Trespassing on the mountain gate and privately releasing the admonished culprits.”
Paimon and Lumine looked forward, only to see a crane flying towards them.
“Ignorant mortals, why do you not quickly come forward to receive your ‘admonition’!”
Paimon and Lumine suddenly felt a little flustered.
Qixuan: Lishui, have you become arrogant, or am I unable to wield my sword?
Lishui looked closely, “This… why are you here?”
Qixuan: Why can't I be here?
Lishui: *cough cough* Misunderstanding, misunderstanding.
Qixuan: Alright, alright, let's get to the point.
Paimon: Wow, Qixuan-jie has so much influence!
Lumine: Agreed.
Lishui: Then, may I ask why you have come?
Lumine took out the talisman of ubiquity.
Lishui: “Hmm? The talisman of ubiquity. I didn't expect such an item to still exist in the world.”
“In the past, Lord of Geo forged this divine talisman and bestowed it upon mortals. It was already rare, and after thousands of years… not much is left.”
“You must first explain the details. I will verify it truthfully. If there are any falsehoods, even if that person behind you is present, I will still give you some ‘admonition’.”
Qixuan: How come I never saw this side of you, Lishui, back then?
Lishui: …
Lumine explained the situation in detail.
Lishui felt like he had heard the most unforgettable thing in his life.
“Lord of Geo, assassinated? And at the Rite of Descension!?”
“Liyue… the mortal realm… who would dare to do such a thing? No…”
“How much power in this world could assassinate Lord of Geo?”
As he spoke, his gaze turned to Qixuan, seeking confirmation of the facts.
Qixuan thought to herself, “I can't laugh, or I'll give it away.”
She could only nod solemnly.
Lishui suddenly felt like the sky had fallen. No… even the sky falling wouldn't be this despairing.
This God of the End has been by Lord of Geo's side for many years. Even she nodded… Doesn't that mean…
Lishui: “We Adepti strictly adhere to Lord of Geo's decrees, protecting Liyue. Due to the prosperity of the mortal realm, we gradually retreated to the mountains and wilderness. This was originally out of goodwill for mortals.”
“But now… Lord of Geo… Lord of Geo… Alas.”
“Traveler, I have learned of the matter you described. Moon Carver's intention in inviting us is also very clear.”
“After I deal with the matters of this mountain, I will go to meet with the other Adepti.”
Lumine: What about those amber pieces?
Paimon: I know! It must be this Adeptus's adeptal power, just like it's written in novels!
Lishui: “What kind of talk is that? These amber pieces come from flowers I planted many years ago, named ‘Strolling Mountain Sunflowers’.”
“Most of it is hidden underground. If stepped on, it will produce ‘amber’ that will envelop the intruder. “
“After I retreated to the mountains, I planted them near the mountain gate. Over the years, they have blocked many ‘disturbances’ for me, keeping the mountain gate peaceful. However, they have also inexplicably trapped many strange things.”
Paimon: So, all these amber pieces are… alive?
Lishui: “Precisely. If I were to leave this mountain, I fear it would harm many innocent lives.”
“I will depart after I have made some arrangements. You may leave first.”
After Lishui finished speaking, he left.
Qixuan: Let's go. We're preparing to head to the next location. There's only one last Adeptus left.
Everyone then arrived at the last location.
Paimon: Huh? Why are there stone tables here? And a wine pot?
There are also carvings next to it: “Liuyun resides here.”
And… “Guizhong sits here,” “Lord of Geo stays here.”
Paimon: Lord of Geo… that's Lord of Geo. Guizhong… I don't know what that means.
Qixuan said: “Guizhong was a God. Many years ago, he also followed Lord of Geo to establish Liyue Harbor.”
Paimon: I see! Liuyun… could it be Cloud Retainer, whom Moon Carver mentioned?
So that means this is where the Adepti gather for meals!
Lumine: So how do we find Cloud Retainer and that God?
Qixuan: I heard that Cloud Retainer and that God enjoy delicious food. How about we make some dishes?
Lumine: Good idea!
Paimon: But what should we make? We have no clue. How about we look around nearby? Hopefully, the people who came here to worship before can give us some inspiration.
At this moment, Guizhong and Xianyun were still in their cave dwelling.
Lumine quickly observed the offerings placed around, then found the ingredients.
The aroma of the food wafted everywhere.
Qixuan: I didn't expect Lumine's cooking to be so good.
Lumine: Hehe, it's not that good.
The aroma of the food quickly attracted Guizhong and Xianyun, who were still experimenting in their cave dwelling.
Guizhong: “It smells so good! Have those people come to worship again? This time it smells much better than before!”
Meanwhile, Xianyun felt that something was off. Hadn't they just been offered sacrifices not long ago?
Xianyun transformed into his true form, letting Guizhong ride on his back to go out and see.
Outside…
Just as Paimon couldn't resist wanting to eat the food,
A crane flew over.
It carried a person on its back, then landed in front of them.
Guizhong saw Qixuan at a glance and rushed over to hug her.
Qixuan: Guizhong, you're hugging too tight.
Guizhong: “Why did it take you so long to come back? I'm bored to death doing experiments with Xianyun every day.”
Paimon: This… is this really a God?
The crane said to Lumine and Paimon: “They are old friends catching up; no need to mind them.”
“This Adeptus is Cloud Retainer. What is your purpose? State it quickly.”
Lumine recounted what had happened in Liyue.
Cloud Retainer: “Lord of Geo… assassinated?”
Guizhong, who was beside them, was even more outrageous, “What?!”
“Lord of Geo is gone?!” As he spoke, he was about to go to Liyue to question the Qixing. Qixuan stopped him.
Guizhong: “Why are you stopping me?”
Guizhong's eyes held a hint of “tears.”
Qixuan thought to herself, “(Old man, why didn't you really die?)”
Qixuan: “The main thing now is to investigate who assassinated Lord of Geo. You are a God; going to the mortal realm will only cause panic.”
Guizhong: “But… but…”
Cloud Retainer: “Someone dared to commit such a ‘heinous crime’.”
“This is so absurd, so unbelievable. This Adeptus must investigate…”
“No… why doesn't this Adeptus go and ‘suppress’ Liyue Harbor first, and wait for all the Adepti to gather——”
Paimon: Huh?! Wait… what do you mean by “suppress” Liyue Harbor? Are you going to destroy Liyue Harbor?
Cloud Retainer: “It is merely to employ some thunderous methods, lest further troubles arise.”
Lumine: But you are the “Adeptus” who protects Liyue…
Cloud Retainer: “Precisely. Following Lord of Geo's decree, we have protected Liyue Harbor for over three thousand seven hundred years. But now that evildoers are rampant, we have no choice but to use some ‘extraordinary measures’.”
Paimon: Wah, Lumine, what should we do? This Adeptus really wants to suppress Liyue Harbor!
Lumine: We offered sacrifices. According to the “contract”…
Paimon: That's right! We gave you so much delicious food! We invited you to protect Liyue Harbor, not to “suppress” it!
At least you should listen to everyone's thoughts, right?
Cloud Retainer: “‘contract’… The God of contracts himself has been assassinated. These two words sound somewhat ‘ironic’.”
“The mortals of Liyue Harbor often forget ‘contracts’ and are very skilled at confusing right and wrong.”
“However, since you have invited me in the name of ‘contract’, this Adeptus cannot fail to abide by the ‘contract’.”
“Moreover, the talisman of ubiquity in your hands was once imbued with adeptal power by Lord of Geo to assist mortals in ‘warfare’.”
“This Adeptus will converge with the other Adepti and then proceed to investigate.”
Guizhong: “I want to go too.”
Cloud Retainer: “This…”
Qixuan: “Alright, but you must conceal your own power well.”
Guizhong: “Don't worry.”
Then Cloud Retainer left with Guizhong.
Paimon: We should go back and find Childe.
Qixuan and the others began their return to Liyue Harbor.