Shocked, before he had even eaten breakfast, Futsu Mitama looked at the four Adeptus who had arrived and felt his expression turn subtly complicated.
How could it not?
It wasn't just him—Kuki Shinobu wore much the same look. Four Adeptus gathered atop Mt. Aocang. What sort of situation warranted such a sight? The last time three Adeptus had appeared together was already enough to unsettle hearts. Now there was one more. Even for an escort, was this not excessive?
Shenhe, by contrast, remained composed, as though such a scene were nothing out of the ordinary. She had witnessed gatherings of Adeptus before—though even for her, the simultaneous presence of four was somewhat unexpected.
Cloud Retainer spread her wings, her tone calm yet resolute. "After last night's deliberations, the Adeptus are prepared. Should the Abyss—or even those from Snezhnaya—dare to show themselves—"
She paused, eyes sharp. "Then death will be their only outcome. Whatever schemes they harbor, this Adeptus will meet them head-on."
Her words made the intent clear. Mountain Shaper, Moon Carver, and even the Conqueror of Demons had all come to Mt. Aocang for a single purpose: to escort Aila.
"Thank you, everyone," Futsu Mitama said, feeling more embarrassed than relieved. Four Adeptus acting together—what was this, preparing to subdue another ancient calamity? Even a lesser Archon would be annihilated outright by such a lineup.
"It is merely our duty," Moon Carver replied calmly, giving Futsu Mitama a slight nod. "Since she is the disciple of Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper, this Adeptus will naturally lend aid. After so many years of acquaintance, neglecting such a small matter would trouble my peace of mind."
He paused, then added with a hint of regret, "If possible, this Adeptus would also like to take in a disciple of outstanding talent—such as Shenhe or Aila."
As he spoke, his gaze flicked toward Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper, carrying an unmistakable grievance.
You two old friends bring me along to escort your disciple—could you not let her be mine as well? Even as a third master, I would not object.
"Yes. It is only our duty," Mountain Shaper said, pointedly ignoring Moon Carver's resentment. "Aila is half my disciple, and I share a contract with her parents. Ensuring her safety is only natural. Once she reaches Liyue Harbor, nothing will happen to her."
Xiao nodded faintly. "Liyue Harbor is protected by Lord Rex Lapis. No evil may enter it."
He paused, then continued evenly, "Moreover, I owe you a great debt. Though I cannot repay it this time, escorting you brings me some measure of peace."
It was clear that Xiao had joined the escort of his own accord. The condensed resin Futsu Mitama had given him was nothing short of a divine miracle—purging most of his accumulated karma and restoring what time had eroded. Xiao understood precisely what he had gained, and the weight of that gratitude still lingered.
At times, he even reproached himself. Why had he consumed it then? Would it not have been better reserved for Lord Rex Lapis, whose burdens far exceeded his own? Yet Futsu Mitama had already said there was no more to spare. All Xiao could do now was hope that, should such a treasure appear again, he might pass it on to Morax—who, with his wisdom, might even find a way to replicate it.
"There's no need to be so serious," Futsu Mitama said awkwardly. Xiao's sincerity left him unsure how to respond.
As for the condensed resin, he was not particularly concerned. Albedo and Zhongli had already begun casting their gaze toward the Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
He quickly tagged Aila in the group chat, telling her to prepare to depart—the Adeptus had all arrived.
Her reply came swiftly, followed immediately by a barrage of complaints. She demanded to know why he had kept such a major incident from her. Clearly, she had been lurking and reading through the chat logs, discovering what had transpired the night before. Futsu Mitama could only placate her with promises—and candy.
Before long, Aila emerged, several talisman arts of varying hues floating around her. They were unmistakably Adeptus arts, taught to her by Cloud Retainer over the past few days.
Talisman arts were nearly a hallmark of the Adeptus, and both Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper were masters of the craft.
"Oh?" Mountain Shaper regarded her with visible surprise, then sighed. "To grasp talisman arts so quickly—Even Shenhe required four or five days."
"After her breakthrough in mental state, Aila has learned them in barely a day or two—and from the looks of it, she has already entered the initial stage."
Xiao examined the floating talismans and nodded. "Not bad."
He had seen many Adeptus disciples before, but one who could learn and wield talisman arts so swiftly—Aila was unprecedented. Shenhe, too, had been remarkable, but she had already mastered many foundational arts beforehand. Aila, by contrast, had begun almost from nothing.
Moon Carver let out a long sigh, his envy undisguised. Who would not want such a well-behaved, capable, and endearing disciple?
Alas, Cloud Retainer specialized in this path, and Rex Lapis himself had entrusted the matter to her. First come, first served—once again, Cloud Retainer had claimed a great advantage.
"Young Master."
Aila still looked faintly dissatisfied as she addressed Futsu Mitama, though the feeling quickly faded. She understood well enough not to make him lose face in public. This matter, she decided, would be discussed properly later—behind closed doors.
The four Adeptus exchanged puzzled glances, unsure why she had seemed displeased at first. Yet she soon composed herself, greeting them politely before returning to Futsu Mitama's side, standing silently behind him as the picture of a dutiful maid.
"How should we proceed?" Futsu Mitama asked Cloud Retainer.
If the Adeptus carried them directly through the skies, they would reach Liyue Harbor in no time. Still, he felt it prudent to ask—perhaps she had devised a more careful plan.
Cloud Retainer lifted her head proudly. "Naturally, this Adeptus has considered that."
"To prevent enemies from fleeing at the mere sight of us, we shall escort you in secret. Should you reach Liyue Harbor safely, all will be well."
"But if some reckless fools dare to attack—"
She did not finish the sentence. None was needed.
If Dottore or the Abyss dared to show themselves now, they would face four Adeptus, two Adeptus disciples, a retainer of the Raiden Shogun, and an unknown Inazuman ally. Such a lineup was enough to plunge any enemy into despair.
Futsu Mitama found himself speechless. With forces like this, even if an ancient demon gods were to appear, he suspected they could hold it at bay until Rex Lapis arrived.
No one objected. With Futsu Mitama leading, the group descended Mt. Aocang.
Once they reached the foothills, the Adeptus concealed themselves with their arts, using long-distance sound transmission to inform Futsu Mitama that they were guarding him from the shadows. Should anything occur, they would act immediately.
Reassured, Futsu Mitama and the others continued boldly toward Liyue Harbor. With such protection, one could practically walk sideways across Liyue.
Along the way, the four Adeptus communicated quietly among themselves.
"What shall we do once we reach Liyue Harbor?" Mountain Shaper asked.
"What else?" Cloud Retainer replied. "After escorting Aila, this Adeptus intends to continue researching mechanisms. Recently, seeing Shenhe enjoy mortal cuisine—"
She paused, voice softening slightly. "This Adeptus feels she owes the child something. I intend to create a device capable of automatically preparing meals."
Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver exchanged uneasy looks. In Shenhe's early days of cultivation, she had lived on wind and dew—Qingxin, glaze lilies, and the occasional berry. It had been a harsh life, yet Shenhe had endured it without complaint.
"Slaying demons and vanquishing evil," Xiao said calmly. With most of his karma gone, he now stood at his peak and would redouble his efforts.
"Mountain Shaper, what troubles you?" Moon Carver asked.
After a moment of silence, Mountain Shaper transmitted, "The Adeptus have not appeared openly in Liyue Harbor for a long time. Tomorrow is the Rite of Descension. With unrest stirring beneath the land—the people will be uneasy."
"Why not attend the Rite together?"
At his words, Xiao hesitated. Yakshas were burdened by karma—but his burden was now light. After a pause, he nodded. "Very well."
"This Adeptus will also join," Moon Carver said, smiling faintly.
Seeing this, Cloud Retainer relented. "Since you three are going, this Adeptus will follow as well."
Agreement reached, the Adeptus continued their silent escort until Futsu Mitama and his companions arrived at Liyue Harbor without incident.
To the Adeptus, this was only natural. Their presence alone was enough to ensure that nothing untoward would occur.
Now that no mishaps had occurred, the four Adeptus finally allowed themselves a breath of relief. Having already slipped quietly into Liyue Harbor, they prepared to seek out their old acquaintances—and Rex Lapis himself.
Regardless of circumstance, their participation in the Rite of Descension had to be reported. Thus, before departing, the Adeptus transmitted a message to Futsu Mitama and the others, informing them that they were heading off to meet their friends and Lord Rex Lapis.
So long as Futsu Mitama and Aila remained within Liyue Harbor and did not venture out on their own, any disturbance—no matter how small—would not escape the Adeptus's perception.
"Let's go home first."
Futsu Mitama turned to Aila, Shenhe, and Kuki Shinobu. "We'll put our things away, then take some time to walk around the harbor. Tomorrow is the Rite of Descension."
"We should relax properly today as well. Shenhe, what do you think?"
Shenhe nodded lightly, offering no objection. Ever since descending the mountain, she had been keenly aware that the Abyss Order was targeting Futsu Mitama, while the Fatui had set their sights on both him and Aila. Even within Liyue Harbor, true safety was not guaranteed. For that reason alone, she intended to remain by their side.
And yet—she did not dislike this feeling.
When she had come to Liyue Harbor in the past, her heart had been weighed down by loneliness and estrangement. No matter where she stood, she had always felt out of place, choosing to leave as soon as her affairs were concluded.
Now, standing beside Futsu Mitama and Aila, she felt a long-lost sense of security. The confusion and solitude that had once lingered deep within her seemed to quietly disperse.
"Then let's go."
Naturally, Futsu Mitama's first destination was home. He intended to settle his belongings and outstanding matters before taking the next step.
And so, the four of them—Futsu Mitama in the lead, Aila in her maid's attire, Shenhe bearing the aloof bearing of an Adeptus, and Kuki Shinobu clad in her kunoichi garb—made their way through the streets of Liyue Harbor.
Futsu Mitama's handsome features alone were enough to draw attention, but with Aila, Shenhe, and Kuki Shinobu at his side, the effect was magnified severalfold. Countless gazes followed them as they passed, and before long, quite a few people seemed to trail behind as well, as though they were coincidentally headed in the same direction.
However, the moment those onlookers saw Futsu Mitama step into Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, they quickly dispersed—some continuing straight ahead, others turning away without hesitation.
After all, everyone in Liyue knew what sort of place Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was. And moreover, Director Hu had caused quite a stir just the night before.
"Hu Tao! I—huh? You're all here?"
Futsu Mitama pushed the door open and entered, only to see Hu Tao, Albedo, and Klee already inside. As for Zhongli, he was nowhere to be found.
"Yes…we're all here, ah~"
Hu Tao lay sprawled over the table, her voice listless, looking utterly exhausted. Klee sat nearby as well, her posture small and pitiful, as though she had done something terribly wrong.
Albedo, too, wore a helpless expression. He glanced briefly at Futsu Mitama and the others, then shifted his gaze to Aila, offering a polite nod and a faint smile. "Hello. I am Albedo."
Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu had already met him the day before. This, however, was Aila's first encounter.
"Teacher Albedo, who is still on his way," Aila replied with a slight nod, casually invoking the now-infamous running joke from the group chat.
The phrase "Albedo is still on his way" had long since become a permanent fixture.
Albedo's expression turned subtly complicated, though he said nothing. He had already resigned himself to the likelihood that this catchphrase would follow him for the rest of his life. Still, rather than annoyance, he felt an unexpected sense of familiarity.
"What happened?"
Zhongli's absence did not surprise Futsu Mitama in the slightest. With four Adeptus entering Liyue Harbor, Zhongli would certainly go to meet them—no matter what identity or alias he chose to assume.
What puzzled him instead was the scene before him. What could have possibly happened to leave the ever-lively Hu Tao and Klee in such a state?
"Something occurred last night," Albedo explained calmly, noticing Futsu Mitama's confusion. "You remember that I confiscated Klee's bombs."
"Klee's crafting skills are exceptional. With the Rite of Descension approaching, many stalls in Liyue have been selling firework materials. She grew interested and made two special Jumpy Dumpty fireworks."
"However, shortly after she finished them, they were stolen."
Futsu Mitama raised an eyebrow in surprise. That such a thing could happen in Liyue Harbor was unexpected.
"Did you inform the Millelith?" Kuki Shinobu asked instinctively. Theft was no trivial matter—this was Liyue Harbor, under the watch of Lord Rex Lapis.
"No." Albedo shook his head lightly. "The thief didn't get far before the fireworks detonated in his arms."
"They were still fireworks, after all. The explosion knocked him unconscious and left him injured."
"The Millelith arrived shortly after. Once they understood the situation, they comforted Klee, saying it wasn't her fault—that the thief had brought it upon himself. After all, who steals bombs?"
Albedo glanced helplessly at Hu Tao and Klee. "That's why Director Hu and Klee aren't in great spirits."
Understanding dawned on Futsu Mitama and the others. So that was the reason.
Hu Tao likely blamed herself for taking Klee out, only for two incidents to occur in a single day. As for Klee, she was simply distressed at having hurt someone—regardless of the circumstances.
Kuki Shinobu's lips twitched slightly as she looked at the pair, half-wondering if the two shared some strange karmic bond. Two incidents in one day—either could have been serious, yet upon closer thought, neither truly was.
The first, fishing with bombs, had harmed no one. The second had injured a thief who had no business stealing explosives in the first place.
Hu Tao, having seen all manner of scenes in Liyue Harbor, likely bore little psychological burden. But Klee was different. She genuinely did not want to hurt anyone.
Once Klee began blaming herself, Hu Tao's guilt naturally followed.
Futsu Mitama understood this clearly. Aila, however, simply watched in silence, unsure what to say.
"Oh, right."
Albedo suddenly seemed to recall something. He reached into his pocket and produced over twenty pieces of condensed resin, handing them to Futsu Mitama.
"Huh?" Futsu Mitama stared at them in surprise. "You succeeded? But how?"
Shenhe's gaze also fixed on the resin, her expression momentarily stunned. Hadn't Futsu Mitama said this item was impossible to reproduce?
Aila and Kuki Shinobu were equally taken aback.
"No." Albedo chuckled softly, shaking his head. "This is only a simple dessert. It doesn't possess that kind of miraculous effect."
"Before obtaining the key material, Mr. Zhongli and I conducted some preliminary research last night. The results were—quite satisfactory."
As he spoke, he distributed the resin to Futsu Mitama, Shenhe, Kuki Shinobu, and Aila. Hu Tao and Klee had already sampled it earlier—more than half of the original batch had been eaten by the two of them.
Futsu Mitama examined the piece in his hand, inhaled lightly, and nodded. "The scent is correct. I wonder about the taste—I've never actually eaten one myself."
Albedo averted his gaze slightly. "Mr. Zhongli's friend also tried it. He said the taste was very close to the original. It lacks the special effect, but it does restore a small amount of stamina."
Without hesitation, the four of them tasted it.
Shenhe's eyes brightened almost imperceptibly. She could feel her stamina recovering—but more than that, the flavor itself left a deep impression. She had never tasted anything like it before.
The same was true for the others. Even Futsu Mitama felt that its texture surpassed any dessert he remembered from his previous life.
"This is what we call 'Fake Condensed Resin,'" Albedo said solemnly. "It's identical in appearance and taste, but it's missing the crucial material. If we can obtain that final component, true condensed resin should be achievable."
Despite the success, regret lingered in his voice.
"This is already impressive," Kuki Shinobu said sincerely. "To restore stamina and bring enjoyment is more than enough."
"And you achieved this in a single night. As expected of Mondstadt's Chief Alchemist."
Futsu Mitama looked down at the fake condensed resin, a bold thought forming in his mind. Perhaps—this could serve as a gift the next time Raiden Ei or the Raiden Shogun appeared.
At that moment, Albedo added, "Do be careful not to eat too much. It's still a dessert—cavities and weight gain are real concerns."
At the word "weight," three hands silently withdrew.
Just as Futsu Mitama was about to speak, a familiar voice rang out.
"Hey Good afternoon, everyone Have you eaten yet?"
Tartaglia stepped inside, wearing his usual bright, sunny smile. "I've reserved a table at Liuli Pavilion. Care to join me?"
A wild Tartaglia had appeared—inviting them to eat, no doubt with ulterior motives.
"Liuli Pavilion—" Kuki Shinobu sighed inwardly. Somehow, it was always about food with him.
Tartaglia laughed. "You can't always eat at Xinyue Kiosk. After Moon Cuisine, it's only right to try Liyue Cuisine."
Then his gaze shifted. "If you're not interested, that's fine. Is Futsu Mitama free?"
"What is it?" Futsu Mitama asked calmly.
Tartaglia leaned closer and lowered his voice. "It's about Ill Dottore. Too many ears here."
With that, he turned and walked out.
'Ill Dottore, huh…'
Futsu Mitama frowned slightly. After a brief moment of thought, he turned to the others and said, "I'll step out for a bit. I'll be back soon."
"Be careful, Young Master," Aila reminded him. Though she did not harbor much hostility toward Tartaglia at present, her caution remained.
After all, Tartaglia had yet to take any overtly hostile action against them—unlike the other Fatui Harbingers they had encountered. Even so, both Aila and Kuki Shinobu remained deeply wary of him. No matter how one looked at it, he was still a Fatui Harbinger. He could be trusted—but only to a limited extent.
"Don't worry." Futsu Mitama nodded and stepped out of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Within Liyue Harbor, he was willing to place a measure of trust in Tartaglia.
Moreover, he had the distinct feeling that Tartaglia himself was already fed up with Dottore, which was why he had taken the initiative to approach him now.
Borrowing a knife to kill—Futsu Mitama mused inwardly as he reached the entrance.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to come out so quickly."
Seeing Futsu Mitama appear almost immediately, Tartaglia couldn't help but remark on it. He had originally assumed there would be more discussion inside. Judging from this, it seemed that his conduct over the past few days had left a decent impression on Futsu Mitama.
That realization made Tartaglia sigh faintly. It hadn't been easy, but he had finally earned some measure of goodwill from Futsu Mitama and his companions.
"So," Futsu Mitama asked directly, looking at him, "what is it? Did Dottore do something again?"
He was genuinely curious about Tartaglia's view of Dottore—the Harbinger who had appeared so abruptly.
Tartaglia, like Signora, was a Harbinger who acted largely in accordance with the Tsaritsa's will. Dottore and Scaramouche, however, were different. Though they outwardly pursued the Gnosis, both clearly harbored their own ambitions.
If their objectives were met, betraying Snezhnaya would hardly give them pause.
In the original course of events, Scaramouche had done precisely that—using Signora as a pawn, seizing the Gnosis obtained from Yae Miko, and fleeing to Sumeru to pursue godhood.
"I don't know." Tartaglia shook his head, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "You might not believe me, but I really don't know what Dottore has done."
"But this morning, the Millelith came to warn us. They said that if Dottore isn't found soon, they won't be so courteous anymore."
"They haven't taken any drastic action yet, out of consideration for our alliance. Still, they must have obtained some concrete intelligence—otherwise, they wouldn't have warned us like that."
To be honest, the moment the Millelith came knocking, Tartaglia knew something was wrong. Dottore must have done something behind the scenes, something serious enough to draw Liyue's attention.
Having been in Liyue for so long, Tartaglia still had no idea what Dottore had done. If he could, he truly wanted to grab Dottore by the collar and demand, What in the world have you done? I'm here carrying out Her Majesty's orders, laying plans for Morax's Gnosis—and you? What are you doing?
Worse still, Zhongli was nowhere to be found, and the head of the Ministry of Civil Affairs refused to see him. Left with no other options, Tartaglia had come straight to Futsu Mitama, hoping to glean something—anything—from him.
Seeing the helplessness in Tartaglia's expression, Futsu Mitama smiled faintly. He could more or less understand the predicament the other man was in.
"Don't the Fatui have an intelligence network?" he asked calmly. "I've seen it in Inazuma. It's quite formidable. Why not use that to investigate?"
Tartaglia shook his head again, looking genuinely frustrated. "The Fatui intelligence network is indeed powerful. I've been operating in Liyue for a long time—I know about most things, big and small."
"But Dottore is far more troublesome than you imagine. He's hidden his tracks extremely well. Even his subordinates haven't arrived yet."
Dottore's followers were scheduled to arrive after the Rite of Descension, yet Dottore himself had already slipped into Liyue and begun acting in secret.
Tartaglia looked at Futsu Mitama, who wore a faint, knowing smile, and became certain that the other party knew something. He clasped his hands together, his tone earnest.
"I can give you some information in return," he said. "But Futsu Mitama—can you tell me what Dottore is doing right now? You're close to the Qixing. You must know something, don't you?"
As he spoke, Tartaglia's eyes were filled with anticipation.
"… "
Futsu Mitama regarded him silently for a moment, then spoke slowly. "It's not that I can't tell you."
"But first, I need to know your stance. If you discover what Dottore is doing—or rather, if his actions conflict with your plans—what will you do?"
This was a probe. Futsu Mitama needed to know Tartaglia's attitude. If the man merely wanted information so he could coordinate with Dottore, then there was no chance Futsu Mitama would say anything. He had no intention of pitting himself against two Fatui Harbingers at once.
At the same time, knowing Tartaglia's personality, Futsu Mitama wondered whether Dottore's current actions had already crossed a line—whether they had truly angered this last-ranked Harbinger.
If that were the case, then perhaps Tartaglia could be used to completely isolate Dottore within Liyue.
"What would I do?" Tartaglia frowned slightly, then realized what Futsu Mitama was testing.
His brow furrowed even deeper. Was he really being asked to declare his position just to obtain this information?
Yet the situation left him little choice. Wanting—needing—to maintain good relations with Liyue, Tartaglia finally nodded.
"If he takes actions that violate the Tsaritsa's will," he said firmly, "or if he puts me in an unfavorable position—"
"Then I will act against him. At that point, it will be an internal conflict among the Fatui Harbingers. It will have nothing to do with Liyue—or Inazuma."
That was Tartaglia's stance.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly until now. He had secured Zhongli as a reliable ally, established a decent relationship with Futsu Mitama, and even enjoyed a relatively lenient attitude from the Millelith, who had largely turned a blind eye to minor issues.
But since last night, that had changed.
Tartaglia could clearly feel it—whenever he stepped outside, eyes were on him.
Experts were watching him now.
Liyue no longer trusted him.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens