After this gathering, the gods stayed in Liyue for a few more days.
Several days later, they finally prepared to depart.
Although most of them hadn't quite had their fill of sightseeing, matters within their own nations were plentiful. Staying in Liyue long-term was clearly not an option.
Under the send-off of Jiang Yan and the others, the gods boarded their return journeys together with their respective retainers.
"Jiang Yan! Come visit Inazuma sometime when you're free!"
At Liyue Harbor, Raiden Makoto and the others stood aboard the ship bound for Inazuma, waving toward Jiang Yan on the shore.
"Mm, I definitely will if I get the chance!"
Jiang Yan smiled and waved back.
With a long horn from the ship, the figures of the Inazumans gradually faded from Jiang Yan's view.
"So… they're all gone."
Barbatos walked up beside Jiang Yan and spoke softly.
"Yeah…"
Jiang Yan sighed lightly as well. Time really did pass quickly.
In the blink of an eye, the days when the Seven Gods gathered together had come to an end.
"But when are you planning to head back to Mondstadt?"
Jiang Yan glanced sideways at Barbatos.
Among all the gods, if one had to be called the most idle—
If Barbatos claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.
"Ehe~ I'm not in a hurry!"
Barbatos laughed, clearly with no intention of returning so soon.
After all, he hadn't finished having fun yet.
"You really are something…"
Jiang Yan rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Suit yourself. Just don't go causing trouble in Liyue."
"Hey, hey! Is that how you see me? Like I just cause trouble wherever I go?"
Barbatos puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction.
Jiang Yan only smiled without replying and turned to leave.
"Hey! Say that clearly before you go!"
Barbatos shouted as he chased after him.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yan's pace only grew faster.
…
Yuehai Pavilion.
Just as Jiang Yan stepped onto the third floor, Ganyu came up carrying a thick stack of documents.
"Ah Yan, a report just came in from the Millelith stationed at Mingyun Town!"
There was a grave look on Ganyu's face as she spoke.
"There's been some strange activity reported on the snow mountain in eastern Liyue."
"According to the Millelith who investigated it, there's a group of oddly shaped monsters searching for something on the mountain."
"Strange activity… strange-looking monsters?"
Jiang Yan froze for a moment. What kind of thing was that?
Taking the documents from Ganyu, he read through them carefully.
His brows knitted tightly. Based on the Millelith's description, a sense of familiarity suddenly welled up inside him.
An inexplicable familiarity.
"Humanoid in shape, mechanical monsters with extremely long arms…"
Jiang Yan murmured.
That description…
Isn't that a bit like—
A Ruin Grader?
Jiang Yan's eyes widened.
That's right. Ruin Graders!
"Is Khaenri'ah making its appearance already?"
Jiang Yan muttered softly, his brow deeply furrowed.
If one were to ask what the greatest change in Teyvat after the era of the Seven Gods' rule would be—
Then without question, it would be the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah.
The Traveler twins and the Abyss would both emerge from that calamity.
And after it, among the original gods of the seven nations, only two would remain.
But judging by the current timeline, the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm should still be at least two thousand years away.
Jiang Yan still had time to prepare.
Whether Khaenri'ah rose or fell meant little to him.
What he didn't want was for the people he knew to perish because of that war.
"Ganyu, notify the Guizhong–Millelith forces. Deploy twenty thousand troops to the borders of Mingyun Town and remain on guard against those things coming down from the snow mountain,"
Jiang Yan said decisively.
"If those things show any sign of approaching Liyue, do not request approval—eliminate them immediately!"
"Also notify Liyue's Air Force Division. Have them pilot Zi Shu into the snow mountain area and keep those machines under constant surveillance."
"If the Guizhong–Millelith engage them, provide immediate long-range fire support!"
Jiang Yan issued his orders in a calm, methodical manner.
He would not allow anything capable of threatening Liyue's peace to set foot within its borders.
Hearing the gravity in Jiang Yan's tone, Ganyu did not voice her questions. She simply nodded and withdrew from the third floor.
Whether it was her or anyone else in Liyue, Jiang Yan's orders were trusted without reservation.
If Jiang Yan was acting this way, then those things on the snow mountain must pose a genuine threat to Liyue's safety.
After Ganyu left, Jiang Yan walked to the window and gazed toward the distant snow mountain.
"The Abyss… Khaenri'ah…"
He murmured softly, his eyes flickering as if lost in thought.
As Jiang Yan's orders were carried out, the Guizhong–Millelith forces stationed at Guili Plains began mobilizing in large numbers.
Countless gold-armored soldiers wielding Millelith spears marched in orderly ranks toward the snow mountain.
At the same time, deep within the Tianheng Mountain range, the aerial fortress Zi Shu slowly rose into the air, heading toward the same destination.
Such large-scale troop movements—along with the deployment of the Zi Shu —naturally did not escape the notice of Morax and the adepti.
With forces mobilized on this scale, and even the Zi Shu brought out, had something happened on the snow mountain?
Yet neither Morax, nor the Dragon King Azhdaha, nor any of the adepti had received news that Liyue was going to war with anyone.
For a moment—
The adepti gathered in Liyue Harbor.
Liyue's top-tier combat forces all converged on the third floor of Yuehai Pavilion.
"Jiang Yan, what's going on?"
Azhdaha and Morax pushed open the door and entered. Behind them followed the Five Yakshas and numerous adepti.
"Why mobilize the Guizhong–Millelith on such a scale? Has something happened?"
Azhdaha asked, his expression grave.
Jiang Yan sat in his chair, rubbing his brow irritably.
"It's nothing. Things haven't reached the point of open war yet,"
he said calmly, passing a sheet of paper to Morax beside him.
"Take a look. This is what I'vetidy—based on what I know."
Morax took the paper and read through it carefully.
The others nearby watched with curiosity—but soon noticed Morax's expression growing increasingly severe.
"Is everything written here… true?"
Morax asked gravely.
If what Jiang Yan had written were to happen in Liyue, it would indeed spell disaster.
Jiang Yan nodded.
Morax pulled over a chair and sat down, his expression uncertain and stormy.
The adepti, watching the two speak in riddles, were growing anxious beyond measure.
What in the world had happened?!
Even Morax—usually so calm and unshakable—was showing signs of unease.
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