Chapter 143. Reaching Mt. Aocang Again, Yae Miko's Frustration
This left everyone somewhat disappointed, yet it was also understandable, because the God of the Hearth, Marchosius, had poured all of his power into the Liyue land to quell various disasters.
Now, the fact that Gouba is alive and still possesses a bit of sentience is already incredibly rare. What's more, condensed resin can restore soul power and resist erosion. But its initial effect was only to restore stamina and sweep away fatigue.
"Lululu~"
Gouba didn't understand why everyone was staring at him, and he continued to smile carefree.
He rubbed against Zhongli, as if asking, "What are you doing?"
"That's fine too." Zhongli looked at Gouba and, for some reason, smiled. He patted his Old Friend's head.
This way is also good. Condensed resin being able to bring Azhdaha and Guizhong back to life is already quite impressive.
If the Chat Group signs in with some strange item in the future, then perhaps he can be restored.
And this condensed resin, with only 80% effectiveness, also restored some of Gouba's Archon authority, giving him some power for self-preservation.
As for restoring his rationality, that can happen slowly; there's no need to rush.
"Gouba?" Xiangling held the dishes in both hands. She also sensed that Gouba seemed a little different.
But Xiangling didn't overthink it. Instead, she placed the dishes on the table, gave Gouba a hard rub, and said, "How could you be so careless? You almost knocked over Master Ke's, no, Keqing's favorite dish."
Due to the Rite of Descension, Ke Qing, the Yuheng Star had truly become famous. Some said she defied Lord of Geo and the Adeptus, causing Lord of Geo and the Adeptus to prepare to no longer manage Liyue Harbor.
Others said that Ke Qing, the Yuheng Star possessed extraordinary talent, understood the hardships of Lord of Geo and the Adeptus, and proactively took on their responsibilities, which was a blessing for Liyue.
Regardless, Keqing truly became famous in Liyue Harbor. Although the Liyue Qixing were already well-known figures in Liyue Harbor, second only to Lord of Geo and the Adeptus.
But now Keqing was pushed to the forefront, and as Keqing's good friend, Xiangling naturally wouldn't expose her identity.
As for the title "Master Ke," others wouldn't think much of it when they heard it.
"Lu!"
Gouba, realizing belatedly, widened his eyes and quickly reached up to touch his head, finding that the dish on it was already gone.
"Lululu!!!"
Gouba looked around, then realized the Golden Shrimp Balls were gone, which made him quite anxious.
Then he suddenly saw a plate of somewhat messy Golden Shrimp Balls on a nearby table, and only then did he understand that someone had helped him deal with the situation.
"Lululu~" At this moment, Gouba's mood seemed to have improved significantly.
"It's, it's nothing." Keqing's small face was slightly red at this moment. What did she mean by "her Golden Shrimp Balls"? These were clearly dishes Futsu Mitama had ordered.
Well, it was true that she liked Golden Shrimp Balls.
Yae Miko smiled faintly, saying nothing more. She gave Gouba and Zhongli a few extra glances. Clearly, in her opinion, Zhongli's identity was by no means that of an ordinary Liyue person, especially since Gouba's identity was not simple.
His current closeness to Zhongli indicated that Zhongli definitely held secrets. Of course, Yae Miko wouldn't think of trying to uncover Zhongli's secrets; he clearly wasn't simple, and he was also in a group.
If it wasn't necessary, she wouldn't do anything to offend people. Because what good would knowing do? Would it bring her any benefits? That seemed highly unlikely.
And so, as the dishes arrived, everyone began to eat while conversing.
Keqing briefly explained what had happened in Liyue after Futsu Mitama and the others went to Mondstadt.
Just as planned earlier, the Abyss Order, for some unknown reason, hijacked the forced evolution machine transported from Snezhnaya and began to mass-evolve Geovishaps.
The Abyss Order clearly wanted the Geovishaps to evolve into Primo Geovishaps, but unfortunately, the evolved Geovishaps were all semi-finished products. Their strength was indeed enhanced.
However, these semi-finished Primo Geovishaps also had damaged brains, turning into beasts that only understood slaughter and destruction. But it was also normal; there had only been one Primo Geovishap in a thousand years.
For a Geovishap to become a Primo Geovishap, it would certainly require a long period of time and some opportunities to evolve into. Therefore, the Abyss Order set its sights on the Juvenile Jade given by Futsu Mitama to the Liyue Qixing.
And then there was no "then"; the Abyss Order offended the Fatui and the Liyue Qixing. Under Keqing's command and Tartaglia's efforts, the Abyss Order was utterly defeated, and the machine was even snatched back by Snezhnaya.
The Abyss Order's plan failed. On Liyue's side, the Millelith, Liyue Qixing, and the Exorcist' evil-dispelling lineage began to implement the sealing plan. Within less than half a month, the maliciously opened seals and the Demon God Remnants on the Liyue land were almost completely cleared.
Keqing said this openly, then sighed and shook her head, "However, after this incident, I've had some realizations."
"What realizations?" Kuki Shinobu ate a Golden Shrimp Ball impassively.
This made Keqing's brow furrow slightly, and then she slowly said, "That is, humans have limits."
"Huh?"
Futsu Mitama tilted his head, looking at Keqing. His DNA clearly stirred.
Yae Miko and Zhongli also looked at Keqing with interest.
Because everyone in the same group knew each other's personalities through chatting, especially Keqing. When she first joined the group, she had boasted grand ambitions, intending to change Liyue Harbor.
To truly usher in the era of humans and Adeptus.
And then there was no "then." Recently, Keqing's frequency in the group had significantly decreased, and even when she did appear, it was to lament how difficult things were.
"How should I put it? I originally thought humans could do many things, but it turns out I was too naive." Keqing saw everyone's curious gazes and didn't hide anything.
Because this matter had been weighing on her heart for too long, but she had few people around her to confide in. In the group, there were the two old Liyue seniors, Azhdaha and God of Dust Guizhong, so she didn't dare to speak freely.
Coupled with recent busy affairs, she had no time at all to find someone to talk about this matter. Now, with the offline gathering in the group, Futsu Mitama, Kuki Shinobu, Zhongli, and Yae Miko were all here, and it was a good opportunity for her to vent her inner frustrations.
"These past few days, I can clearly feel that the power of humanity is limited."
Keqing poured herself a cup of tea, looked at her reflection in the tea, and smiled helplessly, "I'm not afraid of you laughing if I say this."
"After the Adeptus and the Lord transferred some responsibility to us, the Liyue Qixing and the Millelith took on many things."
"For example, the evil spirits and Demon God Remnants that the Adeptus were responsible for, we would go to deal with them immediately upon discovery. But even for families that have been exorcising evil for thousands of years, while evil spirits were manageable, the Demon God Remnants proved to be beyond their capabilities."
"Ultimately, it was the Adeptus who secretly intervened to help us resolve the Demon God Remnants."
A month ago, Keqing was still a steadfast human-supremacist, believing that humans could accomplish anything. The Lord and the Adeptus were too doting on the their Citizens. Keqing was a person with a very strong sense of crisis; she was not content with the status quo.
For a thousand years, the Lord and the Adeptus had protected Liyue. What would happen in the next thousand years? What would become of Liyue then?
Because of this idea, Keqing requested the Lord and the Adeptus at the Rite of Descension to hand over responsibility to them.
And then, there was no "then." It couldn't be resolved; it simply couldn't be resolved. The monsters that went berserk due to the Demon God Remnants were manageable; the Millelith were not to be trifled with and directly surrounded and killed them in formation.
However, the Demon God Remnants left behind after the monsters died posed a challenge. There was no way to deal with this thing; all sorts of methods had been tried, and there was no other way besides sealing it.
Then came the awkward part: their sealing methods were not as clever as those of the Lord and the Adeptus.
Furthermore, the Liyue Qixing and some Millelith generals could clearly feel that a large portion of the Demon God Remnants had already been dealt with before they even arrived. That is to say, the Adeptus had secretly intervened in this incident, and the remaining Demon God Remnants were left to see if they could resolve them.
But the final result was that they simply couldn't resolve them.
Now, the Liyue Qixing, represented by Keqing, were in a rather awkward situation because they had confidently declared that they could handle things well. Now that the task was completed, other aspects were done very well, but the ending fell short.
It is well known that the ending is the most important part. No matter what the matter, the final result is what everyone wants to see.
To outsiders who didn't know the truth, the Liyue Qixing did a very good job and perfectly resolved the matter. Whether it was dealing with the Abyss Order, re-sealing the ruins, or handling the rampaging monsters on the Liyue land.
The Liyue Qixing handled everything very well. But could this matter deceive outsiders, and could it deceive the Adeptus and the Lord?
This is also why Keqing is so helpless now.
"So, you messed up?" Kuki Shinobu blinked, not at all surprised by this. As a citizen of Inazuma, she knew very well how much effort the Shogun had once put into Inazuma.
Although the Shogun had now gone down the wrong path, making Inazuma a place of great hardship. But as a qualified Inazuma Citizens like Kuki Shinobu still felt that with the Shogun, Inazuma still had a future.
Actions like Keqing's, who did not intend to rely on the power of Rex Lapis and the Adeptus and planned to act independently. To be honest, Kuki Shinobu admired her, but also thought she was a bit foolish and stubborn.
"Yes." Keqing took a sip of tea, then another bite of Golden Shrimp Balls, sighing, "I think the Lord and the Adeptus will definitely be very disappointed in us. After all, we confidently stated that we would resolve this matter, but ultimately we still had to rely on the power of the Adeptus to overcome the difficulties."
The era of humans and Adeptus is an era where humans and Adeptus govern together. Humans must at least help the Adeptus solve some problems to be qualified to enter this era. But now, it is the Adeptus unilaterally helping humans, and humans, apart from some miscAilaneous tasks they can help the Adeptus solve, can only watch when it comes to major issues.
Futsu Mitama picked up a dish, placed it in his bowl, and looked at Keqing, slowly saying, "I think, Keqing, you're overthinking it."
"I think you're looking at the relationship between the Adeptus and humans as a bit too complicated. The relationship between Liyue's Adeptus and humans is very simple now: it's the relationship between adults and children."
Yae Miko and Zhongli nodded silently, indicating that Futsu Mitama was right, because that's just how it was.
Keqing's mouth twitched slightly, and for a moment, she didn't know how to refute.
"Although the people of Liyue Harbor are indeed great, the Adeptus are beings who survived the Archon War."
Futsu Mitama ate his meal while patiently explaining to Keqing, "Your ancestors, or rather, the first people who came to this land, they all developed the current Liyue Harbor under the gaze of the Adeptus."
"Even after thousands of years, do you think that in the hearts of the Adeptus, the liyueans are still not the children they once were?"
"And what you are doing now, in the eyes of the Adeptus, isn't it like a child wanting to prove himself an adult, but acting recklessly and showing off, with the Guardian ultimately having to clean up the mess?"
"Also, if you're so worried about the Adeptus's situation, why not bring some gifts and pay them a visit, to see if the Adeptus have any better ways to deal with the Demon God Remnants?"
After hearing Futsu Mitama's words, Keqing fell into a brief silence. This explanation was simply too straightforward and blunt. Even Keqing couldn't find suitable words to refute it for a moment.
"Yes." Yae Miko also added with a chuckle, "I think the Inazuma Citizens pretty much have the same idea. The only one who can keep up with my pace, or stand shoulder to shoulder with me, is the little one."
Saying this, Yae Miko glanced at Futsu Mitama, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Zhongli silently took a sip of tea. He didn't comment on anything, because he was currently a Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant and wasn't qualified to say such things.
But Zhongli agreed with Futsu Mitama's concept; the Liyue Citizens were indeed still very young. Their lifespans were not long, and they hadn't experienced many things.
A quiet stillness settled over the table after Futsu Mitama's words.
The clinking of chopsticks, the low murmur of other diners in Wanmin Restaurant, the faint crackle of oil from the kitchen—all of it seemed distant compared to the weight of Keqing's thoughts.
Keqing lowered her gaze to the tea in her cup. The reflection staring back at her looked far less certain than the Yuheng Star who had stood beneath the Rite of Descension and challenged divine dependency.
"Children…" she repeated quietly.
It stung—not because it was insulting, but because it rang uncomfortably true.
Zhongli set his cup down with unhurried grace.
"Growth," he said evenly, "is not measured by the absence of failure, but by the ability to recognize one's limits."
His tone was mild, almost conversational, yet every word carried weight.
"The Adeptus do not expect perfection. If they did, Liyue would never have been entrusted to mortals in the first place."
There was no reproach in his voice. No disappointment.
Only perspective.
Across the table, Yae Miko rested her chin lightly against her hand, eyes gleaming with interest.
"You attempted to shoulder burdens that even immortal beings treat with caution," she said softly. "Is that arrogance or courage?"
A faint smile curved her lips.
"I'd call it ambition."
Keqing exhaled slowly.
"If a child cannot lift a boulder that a veteran warrior can, does that mean the child has failed?"
"No," Keqing admitted quietly. "It means the child hasn't grown enough yet."
Zhongli's gaze flickered faintly, approving.
Futsu Mitama continued.
"You resolved the Abyss Order's scheme. You neutralized evolved Geovishaps. You coordinated between the Qixing and the Fatui without plunging Liyue into political chaos."
"Those are not trivial achievements."
Keqing blinked. She had been so focused on the one gap—the one point of inadequacy—that she had dismissed everything else.
Yae Miko chuckled softly.
"You see? Mortals are interesting. You demand from yourselves what even gods do not demand."
She tilted her head slightly.
"In Inazuma, the problem was the opposite. Excess reliance. Here, perhaps it is excessive urgency."
The mention of Inazuma drew a brief silence.
Kuki Shinobu finally spoke, her voice pragmatic as always.
"If you truly want progress, then treat this as data."
Keqing looked at her.
"You now know precisely where humanity's technical and spiritual limitations lie regarding Demon God remnants. That's actionable information. Develop countermeasures. Research improved sealing arrays. Collaborate with Adeptus scholars instead of trying to replace them."
Her tone was calm, analytical.
"Independence doesn't mean isolation."
That struck deeply. Keqing's expression shifted—not fully relieved, but steadier.
"I…may have equated accepting help with weakness."
Zhongli smiled faintly.
"There is a difference between reliance and cooperation."
He added gently, "The era of humans does not require the extinction of Adeptus involvement. It requires equilibrium."
Outside, harbor lanterns flickered against the sea breeze.
At the edge of the table, Guoba was happily finishing the last of the Golden Shrimp Balls, blissfully unaware of philosophical debates about governance and divinity.
Keqing finally allowed herself a small, genuine smile.
"So instead of proving we can do everything alone…"
"…prove that we can stand alongside them," Futsu Mitama finished.
She nodded slowly.
For the first time since the Demon God Remnant incident, the tightness in her chest eased.
Perhaps growth was not a dramatic severing of divine protection.
Perhaps it was something quieter.
A gradual shift from being shielded—
—to learning how to shield others.
And across the table, Zhongli watched silently, his eyes carrying the faint warmth of someone witnessing exactly the kind of progress he had hoped for all along.
Keqing's expression steadied after that moment of clarity.
Yes — they were progressing.
Not recklessly, not perfectly, but undeniably forward.
The Adeptus had not withdrawn out of disappointment. They had stepped back deliberately — allowing mortals to strain, to struggle, to encounter limits. Not abandonment. Tempering.
Demon God Remnants were no trivial residue. They were the lingering hatred of fallen gods, capable of corroding mind and soul alike. Without prior weakening, even a Vision holder risked erosion — the same fate that once devoured the Yakshas.
"I understand."
Keqing inhaled slowly, then exhaled as though releasing a weight she had carried alone for days.
Her gaze settled firmly on Futsu Mitama.
"Thank you."
There was no pride in her tone — only sincerity.
Perhaps she had indeed been chasing outcomes too aggressively, measuring worth by final results rather than trajectory. The Adeptus had watched Liyue grow for millennia. They would not judge one imperfect step.
The conversation shifted naturally afterward. Laughter replaced tension. Xiangling joined in once her duties were done, Guoba wobbling happily beside her. Zhongli spoke little, but listened. Yae Miko teased. Kuki Shinobu remained measured but occasionally dryly sharp.
An hour passed in warmth.
Then responsibilities reclaimed them.
Keqing departed for her duties. Zhongli returned to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Xiangling and Guoba slipped away into the night in search of ingredients.
At last, only the three from Inazuma remained.
Outside Wanmin Restaurant, lantern light gave way to starlit harbor wind.
Yae Miko's smile sharpened slightly.
"So," she said lightly, eyes gleaming, "before we fetch your little maid…let me see it."
She did not need to clarify.
The special husk doll.
The vessel capable of bearing a god's soul.
The object that had driven her across the sea without hesitation.
Futsu Mitama did not refuse. He produced it and placed it in her hands as they began walking toward Mt. Aocang.
At first, Yae Miko was confident.
Then she grew silent.
Then her brows knit.
Then her smile vanished entirely.
"What is this material?"
"Impossible."
"This structural integration…it rejects conventional puppet logic…"
Her muttering grew sharper.
The outer framework? Replicable.
The auxiliary inscriptions? Understandable.
But the core substrate — the primary material — was incomprehensible.
It was not elemental alloy. Not divine crystal. Not ley-line condensate. It behaved like a carrier medium for authority itself, yet without erosion feedback.
By the time they reached the foot of Mt. Aocang, Yae Miko exhaled sharply and returned it.
"I've memorized it," she said, regaining composure. "When I return to Inazuma and settle matters with the Tenryou Commission and the Resistance, I will mobilize every archive and shrine record."
Tenryou Commission
"If this main material exists on Teyvat, it leaves a trace."
Her eyes gleamed again — calculating now, not frustrated.
Futsu Mitama did not doubt her.
Then they ascended.
The summit wind cut sharply.
And the moment he stepped forward—
A spear came.
"Clang—!"
Musou Isshin formed instinctively, intercepting the strike.
"Shenhe."
The silver-haired woman stood calm as frost itself.
"I know it's you," she replied evenly. "You've grown stronger."
A white talisman ignited in her hand.
"I need you."
Cold surged outward. An ice construct formed — a puppet shaped in her likeness, spear in hand. More refined than before. More autonomous.
Yae Miko's gaze sharpened.
"She sealed the surrounding space."
Indeed. Talisman arrays embedded into the terrain activated, locking spatial vectors. Shenhe had anticipated Futsu Mitama's mobility.
"Impressive," Yae Miko murmured.
Kuki Shinobu stiffened. Half a month ago, Shenhe could not do this.
The answer was obvious.
Cloud Retainer. Her master.
The ice puppet lunged.
Futsu Mitama vanished—
Reappeared—
But found spatial resistance tightening like invisible chains.
He responded instantly.
Chakra Desiderata flared. Lightning arced, slicing through talisman anchors embedded in space itself.
The ice puppet thrust.
Wind answered.
He launched upward, Musou Isshin cleaving down.
The puppet shattered in a single stroke. But Shenhe was already upon him.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Spear and blade collided in rapid succession. Frost and lightning exploded outward in controlled bursts.
Her movements were sharper. Her aura heavier.
She had crossed a threshold. Not fully Adeptus. But standing at its boundary.
And she wanted proof of her growth. The clash echoed across the summit—
Until another voice intervened.
Measured.
Majestic.
"What brings the Raiden Shogun's Family here?"
Cloud Retainer emerged from the cave dwelling, gaze landing first on Yae Miko.
Recognition flickered — curiosity followed.
Yae Miko smiled faintly.
"A courtesy visit," she replied smoothly.
Behind them, frost and lightning collided once more — crisp, ringing, precise.
On Mt. Aocang's summit, under moonlit sky, growth continued — not only for mortals below—
—but for those who walked closer to divinity.
The wind that swept across its summit carried the chill of old contracts and older wisdom. For one such as Cloud Retainer, who had watched dynasties rise and erode like sediment in the river valleys below, an unannounced arrival was never coincidence.
Yae Miko's smile did not falter beneath that ageless gaze.
"Forgive my unannounced visit," she said smoothly. "I came with Futsu Mitama. As for the specific matter—it is not too late to discuss it after he finishes sparring with your disciple."
It was a courteous deflection. Deliberate.
Cloud Retainer inclined her head slightly. She did not press. Her attention shifted to the clash unfolding beneath the moonlight.
Lightning fractured frost.
Spear met blade.
And for the briefest instant, surprise stirred in her eyes.
Shenhe's growth was expected.
For nearly a year, the girl's strength had stagnated—not due to lack of talent, but due to heart. After the Rite of Descension, clarity had settled upon her spirit. With that clarity came progress. Such development was within calculation.
But Futsu Mitama—That was unforeseen.
Half a month. Only half a month.
Cloud Retainer observed carefully.
Before, much of his combat capacity leaned heavily upon the authority of the Electro Archon—borrowed thunder, formidable but external.
Now?
The lightning obeyed him differently. It was no longer merely invoked. It was integrated.
When the faint current of Anemo threaded through his movement—subtle, stabilizing, precise—Cloud Retainer's conclusion crystallized.
Mondstadt. A fortuitous encounter, undoubtedly.
He had crossed the threshold.
Not by inheritance.
Not by patronage.
But by comprehension.
He had stepped into the Adeptus realm through accumulation and refinement.
Cloud Retainer exhaled slowly.
"Monstrous talent."
Not loud. Not flamboyant. But accelerating at a pace few could tolerate.
Meanwhile—
Yae Miko watched. And her composure began to fracture—internally, if not outwardly.
Her eyes shifted between Shenhe and Futsu Mitama.
A newly ascended Adeptus. A seasoned Adeptus mentor. Master and disciple. In Liyue. On a single mountain.
Her back molars pressed together.
Envy. Jealousy. Resentment.
The emotions surfaced with embarrassing clarity. In Inazuma, she ranked third—after Ei and the Shogun. That position had long been unquestioned.
But here? Both this Master and Disciple could suppress her together without excessive strain.
Is this Liyue's foundation? A civilization that produced Adeptus as one might cultivate rare herbs.
And to add insult—Futsu Mitama raw strength and technique had already surpassed her.
Second in Inazuma now.
First, of course, remained Ei and the Shogun.
Yae Miko had arrived in Liyue expecting equilibrium. A diplomatic excursion. Intellectual exchange. Instead, she encountered layers upon layers of talent.
Keqing's resolve.
The Qixing's governance.
Adeptus who did not wither with time.
A disciple who broke stagnation.
And a "little fellow" who evolved at a terrifying rate. For the first time since stepping onto foreign soil, Yae Miko felt something dangerously close to insecurity.
When would Inazuma produce such abundance? Such density of strength? Such fearless growth?
The thought lingered. And beneath her composed smile—
It was unbearably sour.
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