The next morning, Lumine woke up early while Paimon was still sleeping.
After some fussing...
Lumine inquired all the way to the destination of the Rite of Descension.
When she found the place, she saw Qixuan-jie was also there.
Qixuan-jie: There's still some time before the Rite of Descension. Let's go offer incense first. It's a necessary step!
After offering the incense,
Lumine squeezed through the crowd, waiting for the Rite of Descension to begin.
Paimon: Let's squeeze a bit further in. We can't see anything from back here!
Lumine pushed forward again.
When she saw the person in the center directing the scene, she asked Qixuan-jie:
Lumine: Who is that?
Qixuan-jie: That's Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.
The Liyue Qixing is Liyue's standing executive council, composed of esteemed individuals responsible for handling Liyue's political affairs and governing its various regions.
Paimon: So, like Jean, the Acting Grand Master?
Qixuan-jie: You could say that.
At this moment, the Rite of Descension officially began.
Ningguang looked at the sky, confirmed the auspicious hour, and declared: "The auspicious hour has arrived!"
Four amber-colored crystals lit up on her body. Her hand gestures changed continuously, then she pointed towards the censer in the middle, and the four crystals flew into it.
Immediately, a golden light shot up into the sky, making Lumine and Paimon widen their eyes.
A vortex gradually formed in the sky, but the sky also began to darken.
Ningguang felt something was amiss.
Just then, a 'dragon' fell out of the vortex, directly shattering the altar.
The surrounding citizens who came to witness the Rite of Descension were startled and began to murmur amongst themselves.
Lumine: What... what's going on?
Paimon: We... we seem to have witnessed something terrible.
Qixuan-jie, however, calmly told them not to worry. At this moment, she suddenly recalled a meme from her previous life.
"The Geo God is dead!" "Get the pot and oil ready!"
Qixuan-jie wanted to laugh just thinking about it.
After regaining her composure, Ningguang rose and went to investigate. After a moment, she stood up and stepped back.
Then she waved her hand and declared: "The Geo God is dead! Seal off the entire area!"
A large number of Millelith began to seal all entrances and exits.
Paimon: Is... is this real? She said the Geo God is dead.
Did the Geo God... die? But can anyone truly kill a God?
Lumine: The Millelith are searching for suspicious individuals around. Is the culprit among us?
Qixuan-jie thought to herself (Alright, alright, since you old man want to put on a show, I'll play along this once).
As she thought, she walked towards Ningguang.
While Lumine and Paimon were discussing whether to escape, Childe, who was observing from a distance, grew anxious. After watching for a couple more seconds, he quickly left. His identity was special; he couldn't afford to stumble here.
Qixuan-jie walked towards the altar. The guarding Millelith stopped her.
Then Qixuan-jie directly took out the Skyfire. She plunged it into the ground, and the surging heat caused the nearby Millelith to kneel.
Ningguang turned her head to look at Qixuan-jie, then at the greatsword. She felt a sense of familiarity.
After some recollection, she remembered. Every Liyue person had heard the story of how Rex Lapis ended the God War.
Among them was a good friend of Rex Lapis, also a God, who was skilled with a unique weapon, similar to the 'spears' in Fontaine now.
The other was a greatsword like fire. According to the adepti of Mount Aocang, this God should be in Mondstadt. Why was she back now?
Ningguang stepped forward and said: "Stand down."
Millelith: Yes.
Ningguang bowed and said: "You must be Rex Lapis's good friend, correct?"
Qixuan-jie: You know me?
She remembered that she wasn't around when the Liyue Qixing were born or selected.
Ningguang: You jest. Every Liyue person has heard the stories of Rex Lapis's campaigns.
Moreover, the adepti of Mount Aocang have informed every generation of the Liyue Qixing.
However, shouldn't you be in Mondstadt now?
Qixuan-jie understood. Great, the stories of her and the old man fighting outside had been written down.
Qixuan-jie: I just came back to see the Rite of Descension. Then she stepped forward, pretending to examine the Geo God's body.
(Actually, she didn't even need to look. Qixuan-jie only felt that the energy inside was pure Geo element.)
To be honest, this was just a shell.
However, Qixuan-jie didn't say anything. She just stood up with a regretful expression and said: "I never thought the Geo God would end this way. Alas."
Qixuan-jie said somewhat sternly: "As the Liyue Qixing, this matter cannot be known by the common people. You know what to do."
Ningguang: Yes.
Qixuan-jie: Oh, and those two over there are my friends. I'll just take them and leave.
After watching Qixuan-jie leave, Ningguang continued to direct the scene.
Lumine: Did the Geo God really die? Then I won't be able to ask what I wanted to know.
Paimon: Sigh, how could this happen? We just arrived in Liyue and encountered something like this.
Paimon looked a bit dispirited.
Lumine, Paimon, and Qixuan-jie, who had already left the altar, were strolling through the streets of Liyue.
Just then, Childe seized the opportunity and walked out, asking Lumine: "Friends, did you also just come from the Rite of Descension?"
Paimon: Yeah, it was so scary!
Lumine: Who are you?
Childe: Don't be so tense, friends. I'm also here to visit. You can call me Childe!
Paimon: Oh~~~ His personality is so bad. He just met us and wants us to be his servants?
Lumine: Qixuan-jie, beat him up!
Qixuan-jie: Am I your bodyguard?
Childe: Hey, hey, hey, friends, calm down.
I didn't mean that. Names are just aliases, like... you've met the Signora in Mondstadt, right?
Paimon: Signora... Childe... You're... a Fatui Harbinger?!
Lumine immediately became wary.
Childe smiled slightly. "Don't be nervous, I'm not here to fight you. Besides, you have a 'strong one' with you." (He said, looking towards Qixuan-jie.)
Qixuan-jie: Your eyesight is quite good. (She said, secretly putting the Nameless Key back into her imaginary space.)
Childe: Haha, my apologies, my apologies. The Signora must have left a very bad impression on you, right?
Sigh, that woman... I don't like her either.
Alright, let's just forget about what that woman did! I'm here to help you.
Lumine: Help?
Paimon: Hmph, we don't need it!
Qixuan-jie: Don't worry, he means no harm. Otherwise, I would have already let him experience the feeling of 'flying' back to Snezhnaya in his flesh.
Childe: Hey, friend, I'm still a Fatui Harbinger, can't you give me some face?
Childe: I'm not a bad person, uh... I'm probably a bad person, but I'm not here to cause you trouble.
Childe: Can we please put aside the idea of me 'flying' back to Snezhnaya in my flesh, Miss?
Qixuan-jie: That depends on your performance.
Childe: Haha, thank you for your generosity, Miss.
I've heard about your deeds in Mondstadt, so I paid a little attention to you during the Rite of Descension just now.
Childe: So I suspect there's someone else who harmed the God, but unfortunately,
Childe: As envoys of Snezhnaya, the Fatui probably won't be trusted after such a major incident, right?
The Liyue Qixing, who govern Liyue, always harbor too much suspicion towards us.
Paimon: I think that's the Fatui's fault!
Childe: Hahaha, should I deny it?
Childe: Never mind, keeping a distance between strangers is a good thing. Anyway, I'm already used to such wary glances.
Childe: But now, if you want to know who harmed the God, why don't we cooperate?
Lumine: Why should we trust you?
Paimon: Exactly, exactly!
Childe: I have some 'intelligence' that you don't, you know. If you want to know, please come to the Northland Bank.
Childe: We can't stay here. You know there's an old Liyue saying: 'Walls have ears.'
After Childe finished speaking, he left first.
Lumine looked at Qixuan-jie.
Qixuan-jie nodded, indicating they could go and see.
Paimon: Alright, even though I'm still a bit suspicious, there's no other way. Let's go!
Let's go!
