"After informing the three adepti, I'll go to Liyue Harbor with Lumine. I'll testify that you weren't the one who assassinated Rex Lapis. That wanted status of yours needs to be cleared as soon as possible. Besides, I want to see the scene for myself. Maybe I can find something."
By all logic, Su Bai should have been grieving over the death of Rex Lapis. But for some reason, he had a feeling—a feeling that Rex Lapis was still alive, just watching over Liyue in a different way. So before seeing the Archon's body with his own eyes, Su Bai wasn't ready to jump to conclusions.
"Maybe Rex Lapis just wanted to play a joke on us?"
Of course, it could also be wishful thinking on his part. Facing difficulty, everyone tends to think that way, and Su Bai was no exception. It was only human nature.
"Then let's hurry. I'm waiting for Su Bai's treat. I heard Xiangling invented a new dish, and it's delicious."
True to form, no matter how great the crisis, a part of Paimon's mind was reserved for food. Su Bai looked toward Liyue Harbor. He knew the truth would require a trip to Yujing Terrace. The question was, what identity should he use? An adeptus? Or an ordinary citizen of Liyue?
If Rex Lapis had truly passed away, he would absolutely shoulder the responsibility of protecting Liyue. He believed every soul of Liyue would do the same. But humans and adepti were different after all. If a conflict arose between them, he hadn't yet decided which side he would stand on.
"Let's go, Lumine. We should set out. Time is tight."
Paimon watched Su Bai's back and scratched her head. She felt like Su Bai was carrying a heavy burden, but he didn't seem to want to share it with them.
"Lumine, I feel like Su Bai has something on his mind. Am I just imagining it?"
"No, it's not your imagination. He definitely has something on his mind. Let's see if we can get it out of him on the road."
Paimon pouted, clearly not liking this version of Su Bai. It made her feel like he didn't consider her a friend. Lumine watched his back, worried for him.
Xiao watched Su Bai's retreating figure, silently reflecting that Su Bai had grown up. He had worries now. But before the elder adepti passed on, Xiao would rather see Su Bai carefree and happy.
"Perhaps this is what Rex Lapis meant by 'growing up.' But why don't I like the idea of placing burdens on Su Bai? Could Rex Lapis have made a mistake this time? No, he couldn't be wrong. He must have a deeper meaning."
"Rex Lapis must be doing this for Su Bai's own good. I shouldn't overthink it."
"There seem to be some monsters nearby. I'll go deal with them."
Xiao vanished from Wangshu Inn in an instant. He no longer had the heart to stay. He almost regretted knowing so much. If he didn't know these secrets, maybe he wouldn't have these worries now.
Back at Wangshu Inn, Yanxiao looked at the table full of delicious dishes and empty chairs with helpless resignation. Weren't they supposed to eat? The food was ready, but the people who wanted to eat had all disappeared. What kind of situation was this?
On the road to Jueyun Karst, Lumine told Su Bai about Childe, the Fatui Harbinger, and expressed her suspicion of the Fatui. Su Bai didn't believe the Fatui had that kind of power.
If the Fatui truly had the strength, they would have already begun invading Liyue, rather than hiding in Northland Bank waiting for an opportunity. Still, Lumine's words reminded Su Bai that if they encountered any Fatui on the road, it wouldn't hurt to "clean up" these foreigners a bit.
Paimon waved her little fists, eager to help as well. Clearly, to get that free meal from Su Bai as soon as possible, she was even willing to pitch in herself.
When they reached Jueyun Karst, Su Bai showed Lumine and Paimon what it meant to be the most favored adeptus. No matter what monsters they encountered along the way, the creatures were always eliminated by sudden bursts of elemental energy from nowhere. Paimon was astonished.
On the paths of Jueyun Karst, Paimon the Coward clung tightly to Su Bai's tail, afraid that she too might be mistaken for a monster and dealt with. Strangely, ever since latching onto Su Bai's tail, she had a persistent feeling of being watched. Several ice chunks even fell from the sky, barely missing her.
After an unimpeded journey, Su Bai and the others arrived outside Moon Carver's abode. When he had visited this elder last time, Moon Carver wasn't home. He wondered if the adeptus was in today.
"Moon Carver! I've come to see you!"
"Oh, isn't this little Su Bai? What brings you here today? Did you get into trouble again?"
"Cough, cough, Moon Carver, that was the old me. I've grown up now. I've come to talk about something serious."
Su Bai blushed. When he was young and caused trouble in Jueyun Karst, he had often run to Moon Carver for shelter. With Moon Carver's fiery temper and refusal to listen to reason, Su Bai had escaped quite a few punishments.
Just as Su Bai was about to tell Moon Carver the news of Rex Lapis's assassination, a group of Millelith soldiers armed with weapons approached. They had received a tip that the blonde-haired wanted criminal was here.
For the safety of Liyue's people, the soldiers disregarded that this was an adeptus's dwelling. They raised their weapons, ready to take Lumine into custody.
"Sigh. Drive them away. Do not needlessly increase the killing."
Moon Carver infused a stream of adeptal energy into Lumine's body. Lumine felt as if she had an unlimited supply of elemental energy, so abundant that it began to overflow.
Never having experienced such a sensation, Lumine began recklessly flinging tornados and Geo constructs like they cost nothing. The Millelith soldiers who had come to arrest her were dumbfounded. They had never seen anything like this. Many were quickly defeated.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Su Bai told Moon Carver about the assassination. Though the adeptus already knew it was an illusion, he put on a show of rage, insisting he would go to Liyue Harbor to demand answers.
"Moon Carver, please don't act rashly. Elder, why don't you discuss this with the others first before rushing to Liyue Harbor? Xiao takes this matter very seriously. He specifically asked me to tell you to come to Wangshu Inn for a meeting."
Moon Carver nodded. This was their plan. But the one carrying it out seemed to have made a small error. The original plan had involved only Su Bai. Unexpectedly, the Traveler had now joined them. Still, it was of little consequence.
Given that Su Bai and this Traveler seemed to be good friends, Moon Carver decided that if the Traveler encountered danger, he, as an elder, would lend a hand.
"Little Su Bai, should I pass this news along to Mountain Shaper and Cloud Retainer as well?"
Su Bai shook his head. He worried that Moon Carver's hot temper, if provoked by the other two elders, might lead him to storm Liyue Harbor immediately. It would be better for Su Bai to make the trips himself.