"Today is the annual Rite of Descension. Aren't you going to watch, Su Bai?"
"The Rite of Descension? No thanks. I don't know when Rex Lapis learned to be so dishonest, using Geo constructs to fool people. I have no interest in communing with rocks."
Su Bai lay limp on the soft bed, his whole body weak. He couldn't figure out why, as an adeptus, he had gotten diarrhea from eating Shenhe's cooking.
Slime condensate wasn't poisonous, Qingxin wasn't poisonous, Glaze Lilies and Violetgrass weren't poisonous either, and the pork was fresh. Yet stewing all these together—not even Xiao, the Conqueror of Demons, could eat more than a few bites.
"In that case, take today as a rest day."
Xiao knew the power of Shenhe's mishmash stew all too well. He couldn't stomach more than a few bites, yet Su Bai had eaten it all. Judging by how quickly he ate, he must have done so willingly. It seemed every creature had its match.
Xiao had Verr Goldet bring up some stomach-nourishing congee. Watching Su Bai obediently drink his porridge in bed, Xiao felt a touch of emotion. Little Su Bai had been so unruly as a child. To think he could now be managed by Shenhe was truly unexpected.
After all, what could you expect from a child who dared to observe a Ruin Guard up close at age four? Cloud Retainer had spent those years constantly worried, afraid Su Bai would accidentally get himself killed. Xiao could never forget the anxiety of searching all over Liyue for Su Bai with a group of adepti.
"I wonder how Rex Lapis's plan is progressing. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong."
Xiao stood by the window, gazing toward Liyue Harbor. This day would be a turning point in Liyue's history. How would future generations record it? He didn't care. He would just focus on doing his duty.
At Yujing Terrace in Liyue Harbor, Lumine was gnawing on a Mora Meat while staring intently at the Silk Flowers growing there. She had seen these flowers at the Adventurers' Guild—Feiyun Commerce Guild was currently paying top Mora for them.
"Lumine, there are so many people over there! Let's go see! You can't pick those flowers anyway."
"Oh, coming, coming."
Flying up high, Paimon had spotted a crowd gathered around an incense burner. Urged on by Paimon, Lumine reluctantly tore her gaze away from the blooming Silk Flowers and finally left. But her heart was bleeding—all those missed opportunities for Mora.
Seeing Lumine leave, the Millelith soldiers stationed nearby breathed a sigh of relief. After they had warned the young lady that the flowers on Yujing Terrace were not to be picked, she had looked at them as if she wanted to devour them. The pressure had been immense.
By the incense burner, as Lumine asked some passersby about the Rite of Descension, an elderly man stepped forward and enthusiastically explained the various rituals to her.
"Child, do you see those two large incense burners? They can make Rex Lapis grant your wishes."
"What? Grant wishes? Really?"
Paimon's eyes lit up with excitement. Lumine was also intrigued. Grant wishes? Could this Rex Lapis help her find her brother? If not that, at least restoring her original power wouldn't be bad.
"Of course it's true. Several people have had their wishes granted by Rex Lapis. For example..."
"Sorry, elder, we're going to go line up now!"
Paimon dragged Lumine over to queue by the incense burner before the elder could finish. Watching the energetic little ones, the kind old man stroked his beard and smiled, then began explaining the Rite to another young person.
"Lumine, let's burn some incense too. Maybe Rex Lapis will grant us endless Mora."
"Uh, Paimon, if Rex Lapis heard that wish, he might just jump out and give you a flick on the forehead."
"Huh? That's your fault! You paid two million Mora to have those adventurers go to that sea to put up missing person notices! And you spent so much Mora on a single sword. Now we're reduced to mooching off Wangsheng."
Paimon counted off Lumine's offenses on her fingers. Lumine felt a bit embarrassed. She was admittedly somewhat spendthrift. But everything she bought was necessary. So she wasn't wrong.
Having convinced herself, Lumine puffed out her chest proudly. Paimon was baffled. When had Lumine become like this? Did she feel no shame whatsoever?
Ignoring the bewildered Paimon, Lumine lightly greeted Zhongli as he stepped onto Yujing Terrace. Zhongli was also surprised to see her here. Apparently, Su Bai hadn't told her that the Rex Lapis at the Rite of Descension was merely a Geo construct.
"Mr. Zhongli, do you have any incense for prayer? I'd like to burn some."
Lumine looked around the incense burner. From her observation, she determined that the incense in these burners was brought by the people themselves; the event organizers did not provide it for free.
"Speaking generally, I do not. However, I imagine that even without incense, if your wish is strong enough, Rex Lapis will direct his gaze toward you."
Lumine nodded thoughtfully at Zhongli's words. But the person beside her who was about to light incense took offense. He was about to snap back, but when he turned and saw it was Zhongli speaking, he sheepishly moved aside.
"Wow, Zhongli, you're so famous! That person didn't dare argue with you."
"Just a hollow reputation. If you two have nothing else to do, I'll take a walk around."
"Go ahead."
After Zhongli left, seeing no one paying attention to them, Paimon tugged Lumine's sleeve and whispered in her ear.
"Lumine, remember how Hu Tao asked us to promote Wangsheng's products during our travels? I recall there was incense among the samples she gave us. Why don't we use that to make do?"
"Um, is that appropriate?"
Lumine hesitated. Wangsheng was in the funeral business. Using their incense at an occasion like this might not be proper. Seeing Lumine waver, Paimon pressed on.
"Lumine, think about it. Rex Lapis is the oldest god. He can create Mora himself. He definitely isn't short on money. He can buy any good incense he wants. But our Wangsheng incense is special. He definitely hasn't smelled it before."
"Well, Paimon, you do make a good point. But something still feels off."
"Off? Nothing's off! Hurry up, Lumine. It's our turn."
Urged on by Paimon, Lumine pulled out the incense Hu Tao had given her. Unlike the red or yellow incense others held, the incense in Lumine's hand was black.