Liyue, beneath Tianheng Mountain.
"Report! Lord Bosacius, we've apprehended someone spreading rumors. How should we deal with him?"
A Millelith soldier in full armor, clutching a Geo spear, spoke respectfully.
"Rumors?" Bosacius frowned in mild confusion.
"Yes."
"What rumors?" he asked curiously.
"He claims to be from Guili Plains and says that Lady Guizhong and Lord Marchosius of Guili Plains have been killed."
Hearing this, Bosacius froze for a moment before sighing and waving his hand dismissively.
"Lock him up. To spout such ridiculous nonsense… who knows what's going through his head."
"Yes, sir!"
The Millelith soldier saluted and quickly left.
In the distance, a man was pinned to the ground, tears streaming down his face as he struggled violently, shouting incoherently. From so far away, his words couldn't be heard clearly.
"He's really putting on quite the act," Bosacius muttered under his breath before turning and continuing his patrol.
The Archon War was now in its final stages, and Liyue had settled into peace. The harbor had reopened, once again flourishing as a hub of trade.
Across the nations, wars were drawing to an end—now, all that remained was for The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles to declare the victors among the Seven Archons.
At this point, someone claiming that Guizhong and Marchosius had been killed was utterly absurd.
After all, since their last campaign to annihilate seven powerful gods, no other god had dared challenge Liyue's dominion. Even if some reckless fool tried, the Emperor would sense it instantly and destroy them.
Bosacius didn't give the matter another thought and continued on his way.
But before long, another Millelith soldier came running up to him.
"Report! Lord Bosacius, we've captured another rumor-monger."
"Huh?" Bosacius blinked in surprise.
"Don't tell me it's about Guizhong's death again?"
"Yes, my lord."
At that, Bosacius's eyelid twitched, the corner of his mouth tightening.
"Let's go. Take me to him. I want to see who's spreading these childish rumors."
Clearly irritated, Bosacius rubbed his four fists together and followed the Millelith to the scene.
"Adeptus! Adeptus! Please, save Lady Guizhong!!!"
As soon as Bosacius appeared, the detained man's eyes lit up with desperate hope. With a sudden burst of strength, he broke free of the Millelith's grip and stumbled toward Bosacius.
He fell to his knees before the adeptus, tears pouring down his face as he kowtowed frantically.
Bosacius froze, completely caught off guard.
"You—!" The Millelith guards immediately stepped forward, alarmed that the man had approached so recklessly.
"Wait," Bosacius said, halting them with a raised hand.
"Adeptus, please… I'm begging you…"
The man's voice was hoarse and trembling with desperation, and even Bosacius couldn't help but waver slightly.
This shouldn't be possible—yet the man was crying, shouting, and kneeling just to spread rumors? Something about this felt off.
"Lord Bosacius, allow us to remove this madman before he disturbs your peace," one of the Millelith suggested.
When Bosacius didn't respond for several seconds, they grew uneasy and began to pull the man away.
"Adeptus!!! Adeptus!!! Please!!!"
The moment they touched him, the man began thrashing wildly, screaming like one possessed.
"Hold on," Bosacius said suddenly. "Let me ask him something first."
This level of desperation was far too extreme for someone merely spreading baseless rumors. Besides, what could he possibly gain from doing so?
Deep in thought, Bosacius crouched down in front of him.
"You said Lady Guizhong and Lord Marchosius are dead?" he asked evenly.
"Yes, Adeptus! Please save them!!" the man sobbed, nodding frantically.
"Did you see how they died?" Bosacius pressed.
"I didn't see it happen. When I arrived, they were already lying on the ground, covered in blood… their bodies had huge, gaping wounds! Adeptus, please…"
"I'm begging you… please, Adeptus…" The man lowered his head again to kowtow, but Bosacius caught him mid-motion.
"Even if what you say is true, coming to me won't help. I may have four hands, but I can't bring the dead back to life."
"The Emperor can!" the man cried out, his eyes burning with conviction. "If the Adeptus would only tell the Emperor—He can do it! There's nothing the Emperor can't do!"
"Sigh…" Bosacius could only shake his head and sigh helplessly before waving his hand.
Soon after, the Millelith dragged the weeping man away.
"I must've lost my mind entertaining such nonsense," Bosacius muttered, shaking his head as he turned to leave.
He returned to Tianheng Mountain and vented to the other Adepti and Yaksha.
"Life's only getting better, yet somehow there are more lunatics than ever."
"Exactly," one replied. "Back when the war was at its fiercest, we didn't have this nonsense. Everyone just kept their heads down. Now that it's nearly over, things are somehow worse."
"With this many people, it's natural a few would lose their minds. You think Liyue's paradise or something?"
"Maybe so," another said, "but Bosacius running into two in one day—with the exact same story? That's bizarre."
They all laughed it off, none of them taking it seriously.
None of the Adepti had sensed any gods or their followers invading Guili Plains.
And even if, somehow, it were true—what, the culprit just killed Guizhong and Marchosius, then left?
And then let their followers come all the way to Liyue Harbor to spread the news?
That would be pure lunacy.
"I happen to be meeting with Guizhong later," Cloud Retainer said with a playful tone. "I'm quite curious to see whether she's alive or dead."
"I'll come too. Marchosius's cooking really is divine," Bosacius added.
And with that, the two set off for Guili Plains.