What Could Be More Dramatic Than a Dragon Corpse Falling From the Sky?
Faced with their questioning looks, Zhongli calmly raised his teacup again. He blew lightly on the surface, took a sip, then lowered his gaze.
"He is indeed different from the others in the Fatui," Zhongli said slowly.
"His methods are more straightforward and honest than those who favor schemes and manipulation."
"But that does not mean he is without his own designs."
"As for our relationship…" he paused, then added,
"It is merely that we happened to meet and found conversation agreeable. The Fatui have their own position. Liyue has her own choices."
Paimon scratched her head. "Oh… so just normal contact, huh? I thought you two were close friends or something."
"Anyway, Zhongli, you really should be careful with that guy." Suddenly remembering something, Paimon leaned forward anxiously.
"You know, in Mondstadt we ran into the bard—"
She quickly recounted the incident with the "singing bard," the theft of his Gnosis, and that slap from "Lady."
Zhongli's expression turned subtly odd.
"So, that is how his Gnosis was taken?"
And he even got slapped?
Paimon blinked. "Huh? You don't seem worried at all."
As a god, having your Gnosis stolen should be a big deal, right?
Zhongli, however, was composed. "Because I had already planned to surrender my Gnosis."
"It wasn't a gift. It was a transaction based on a contract—
between myself and the Tsaritsa."
Paimon and Ying stared at him, dumbfounded.
Even giving up a Gnosis can be done via contract… this really is the Geo Archon.
Zhongli gently set down his cup, then turned the subject.
"In truth, I wanted to talk to you about something rather simple."
"As I began to seriously consider stepping down from my position as Archon, I realized there are many things that still bind me to this land. I don't yet know if Liyue is truly ready to enter a new era."
"So I need to create an opportunity—a chance to observe carefully. Only then can I make a proper decision."
He looked at them, amber eyes reflecting the light.
"You think… how should I design this opportunity during the upcoming Rite of Descension?"
Paimon blurted out without thinking:
"Of course you have to fake your death! Only if everyone thinks you're gone can you secretly observe them!"
She sneaked a glance at Kairo. After all, he'd said something similar back at Wangshu Inn.
Zhongli nodded slightly. "Then how should I 'fake' my death?"
"Eh?" Paimon scratched her head. "You mean there are different ways to fake your death?"
Ying thought for a moment.
"If it's tied to the Rite of Descension, then something big has to happen during the ceremony itself."
"The rite is normally when the Archon appears before his people. So the best way is for the ceremony to go… terribly wrong."
"Mm." Zhongli agreed. "And then?"
Ying frowned, thinking hard, but couldn't come up with anything that felt truly grand enough. In the end, she subconsciously turned to look at Kairo.
Zhongli's gaze also fell on him.
Kairo chuckled. "Zhongli already has an idea. He's just asking to see what we can come up with."
"In my opinion…"
"What could be more shocking than a dragon corpse falling from the sky during the ceremony?"
"Mm." Zhongli nodded. "But even so, if Liyue is to investigate properly, they can't be left entirely in the dark. At the very least, there needs to be a lead, something to point their suspicions in a certain direction. I have not yet decided how to arrange this."
"Just dump it on the Fatui." Kairo said casually.
"Childe is already eyeing your Gnosis and plotting in secret. Just throw the rope over his neck. Let Liyue and the Fatui become openly opposed."
"That's the simplest solution."
Zhongli fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"…That is feasible."
For both Kairo and Zhongli, pinning the blame on Childe was like arranging a minor detail in a much larger play.
"As for your 'shed body'…" Kairo suddenly asked, rubbing his chin. "It'll be pretty big, right? We'll be able to see all of it clearly when it falls?"
"Correct," Zhongli said.
"Then that's even better." Kairo smiled. "Throw the corpse down at the Rite of Descension. We can watch everything from the sky."
"At that time, we just need to make sure Childe shows up near the main stage. It'll be child's play to connect everything."
Zhongli seemed briefly taken aback. "Watch… from the sky?"
"Right!" Paimon's eyes lit up. "We can ride a star-sail and watch the Rite from above! That would be so cool!"
"Star-sail?" Zhongli repeated, puzzled. "What is that?"
Before anyone could answer, the storyteller's voice inside the tea house suddenly rose, catching Paimon's attention.
Tianquan Ningguang's "Falling Snow"
On the little raised platform, Liuli Pavilion's storyteller, Tian Tiezui, was fanning himself as he continued his tale:
"Every time there's a major event, Lady Ningguang of the Tianquan Star must return to the Jade Chamber."
"She dismisses everyone else, keeping only three close confidants at her side…"
"And what does she have them do?"
"Why, sorting information, of course!"
"They paste summary after summary, report after report, one by one onto a white wall."
"The more they paste, the more that wall fills up—
but before the wall is completely covered, Lady Ningguang will have already made up her mind."
"And once she's decided…"
"She grinds all the documents to powder with her own hands…"
"And then—"
"Whoosh—!"
"She throws that paper snow out the window!"
"In the air, it flutters, flutters, flutters…"
"Like a sudden snowstorm out of a clear sky!"
The audience murmured in awe and admiration.
Paimon stared wide-eyed.
"So that's what 'falling snow' means?!"
"I heard a bunch of merchants praising 'Ningguang's Falling Snow' the other day, and I thought it was some kind of strange artifact or special trick…"
Now she knew it was literally shredded paperwork.
Time slipped by quietly.
The atmosphere at Third-Round Knockout remained leisurely. On the platform, Tian Tiezui began telling stories about strange lights in the mountains, lingering resentful wills of old gods, and all kinds of ghostly legends.
"Even though the demon gods have fallen, their remnants still lurk between the mountains and seas of Liyue," he intoned.
"And thus, within a hundred years, strange phenomena have appeared over and over again—ghost lights, supernatural omens, bizarre incidents beyond mortal understanding…"
He snapped his fan shut with a loud pa! and swept his gaze over the crowd with a mysterious smile.
"So, dear listeners, how many of these tales of ghostly lights do you think are true… and how many are mere rumors?"
Some people fell into thought, others whispered, caught up in the mood.
Kairo quietly listened, his tea having cooled in his cup.
Paimon yawned again, swinging her little legs in the air.
"Liyue really has so many stories… It's interesting, but I'm getting kind of sleepy…"
Zhongli smiled slightly.
"Storytelling relies on atmosphere and mood. If you can calm your heart and listen, you'll find it quite charming."
Paimon hugged her teacup and muttered,
"It's still not as charming as eating…"
Kairo picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and handed it to her. "Then eat and listen at the same time."
Paimon's eyes sparkled as she took a big bite. "Hehe, you really get me!"
Watching them, Ying suddenly felt that something was… off.
Why does it feel like Kairo and Paimon are getting along better and better?
Plans for the Evening and a Reminder
The sun sank slowly westward. People came and went in waves, and Third-Round Knockout's tables saw guest after guest.
Zhongli finally set down his empty cup.
"There will be no performance from Miss Yun today."
"Eh? No opera today?" Paimon was a little disappointed.
"Yun-Han Opera Troupe does not perform every day," Zhongli explained. "Miss Yun has her own affairs to attend to as well."
Paimon pouted. "So that means we don't have anything planned for tonight?"
Zhongli smiled. "If you still have energy, you can go to The Pearl Galley."
"The Pearl Galley?"
Ying immediately recalled the splendid floating flower boat anchored out on the water — one of the centers of Liyue's nightlife.
"Yes," Zhongli said. "On nights of leisure, it is worth a visit."
Paimon's eyes lit up again. "Sounds great! Let's go tonight!"
Zhongli nodded slightly, then rose and straightened his sleeves.
"I have some personal matters to attend to. I'll take my leave now."
Ying watched him walk away, his steady figure bathed in the sun.
"Probably things related to the Rite of Descension…" she murmured.
Kairo suddenly remembered something. "By the way, you two still haven't checked in with the Adventurers' Guild here in Liyue, right?"
"Ah!"
Paimon almost dropped her cake.
"That's right! We've been eating and playing ever since we arrived and totally forgot the Guild!"
Two days in Liyue:
First night: just settled in
Then: met Zhongli, went to Yun-Han Opera
At night: The Pearl Galley
Next day: overslept, then straight to Third-Round Knockout with Zhongli
They hadn't had a single spare moment.
"Then let's go to the Adventurers' Guild now," Kairo suggested.
Liyue's Adventurers' Guild – Bigger, Busier, and More Professional
They crossed streets and alleys along the waterfront. Not far from the docks, a large building came into view.
A big plaque hung over the doors:
"Liyue – Adventurers' Guild"
By now it was already late afternoon. Inside the Guild, people bustled about shoulder to shoulder. It was far busier than the Mondstadt branch.
"Wooow—!"
The moment they stepped into the hall, Paimon's eyes went round.
"Liyue's Guild is huge!"
Compared to Mondstadt's small office by the city walls, Liyue's Adventurers' Guild had a much larger floor area and far better facilities, perfectly matching this trading hub's prosperity.
The long reception counter in the middle was packed with adventurers waiting to register or claim rewards. Around them, different groups were talking, negotiating, or preparing gear.
Some mercenary-like adventurers were discussing with their teammates, task lists in hand. In front of the notice board, several young adventurers pointed at newly posted commissions, arguing excitedly as they scribbled their names onto forms.
In one corner, an elderly man in simple clothes sat on a wooden chair, patiently teaching a novice how to survive in the wild. Time had carved deep lines into his face, but his eyes remained clear and firm.
The hall was filled with the sounds of pages turning, quills scratching, footsteps, and constant murmurs. It was noisy, yet oddly orderly.
"There are so many people…"
Ying couldn't help frowning slightly in surprise.
"I didn't expect Liyue's Guild to be this busy."
Kairo swept his gaze around and said with a faint smile.
"Liyue Harbor is the center of trade. Merchants, caravans, mercenaries — there are countless travelers passing through. It's only natural that the Adventurers' Guild here is more active than Mondstadt's."
"That makes sense!"
Paimon folded her arms, spinning in midair.
"It even feels like the adventurers here are more professional."
In truth, Liyue's Guild was much more commercialized. Many adventurers here weren't just running ordinary commissions — they protected caravans, explored secret domains, handled intelligence, and even specialized in escorting valuable goods between nations.
Compared to Mondstadt's more free, "go-where-you-like" adventuring style, Liyue's branch looked more like a mature professional organization.
The three of them headed to the reception counter. Under the warm but efficient guidance of Katheryne, they quickly completed their registration.
Quill in hand, she recorded their details with practiced ease.
"Are you from the Mondstadt branch?" she asked gently.
Ying nodded. "Yes."
"In that case, please fill out your personal information here."
Katheryne handed over a form. "Also, the Liyue branch supports cross-nation commissions. If you see any local tasks that interest you, you're welcome to accept them here."
She slid over a sheet listing available commissions — everything from simple escort jobs to dangerous ruin explorations.
Ying filled out her details at a brisk pace. Kairo and Paimon waited beside her, watching the constant flow of adventurers.
For now, though, they didn't plan on taking any Liyue commissions. With the Rite of Descension looming — and all the hidden plots brewing around it — they had more than enough on their plates already.
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