"Presumptuous!"
Cloud Retainer flared her wings as she rebuked Keqing.
"Cloud Retainer…"
Ganyu tried to step in, hoping to calm her down.
Cloud Retainer turned to her and said sternly, "Ganyu, this matter concerns the Liyue Qixing and the Adepti. If you wish to speak from the standpoint of the Adepti, I welcome it. But if you intend to speak on behalf of the Liyue Qixing, then refrain for now."
Faced with Cloud Retainer's severe expression, Ganyu closed her mouth and stood silently to the side.
"The Liyue Qixing came here in good faith to discuss matters with the Adepti," Keqing said, staring directly at Cloud Retainer, her voice low. "But Cloud Retainer, your relentless aggression has gone too far!"
"Oh?"
Cloud Retainer's presence grew even more oppressive as she fixed her gaze on Keqing.
"Do the Liyue Qixing intend to go to war with the Adepti who have protected Liyue all these years? Will the blades of the Millelith be turned against former comrades?"
"The Liyue Qixing have never intended to wage war against the Adepti," Keqing replied solemnly, her fists clenched. "But if Cloud Retainer continues to indiscriminately place all blame on the Liyue Qixing, as you just did, then we will have no choice but to act!"
"Well said—'no choice but to act,'" Cloud Retainer sneered. Chaotic gusts of wind began to howl around her.
"Enough!"
Lora's voice cut through the tension, cold and clear. She produced a sapphire-blue staff from nowhere and struck it against the ground, instantly breaking the standoff between the two sides.
"…Purifying Water?"
Several Adepti turned toward Lora, addressing her by her title as the Adeptus.
Keqing was about to speak again, but recalling Lora's current identity, she swallowed her words.
Ningguang glanced at her and said calmly, "Please do not take offense. Keqing has always been this way—forthright and outspoken."
Lora looked at Ningguang and Keqing, then turned her gaze back to the Adepti. She spoke in an even tone, "The Adepti have lived apart from Liyue Harbor for a thousand years. It's understandable if conversation doesn't come easily. However, as a member of the Liyue Qixing, your actions just now were indeed too impulsive."
The latter remark was directed at Keqing.
Keqing lowered her head, lost in thought. Cloud Retainer, however, immediately retorted, "Nonsense! This Adept is very good at conversation! Once I have the time, I'll sit down and chat with you properly!"
…Is this really the moment to say that?
Lora continued, "After Rex Lapis was assassinated, the Liyue Qixing swiftly consolidated all authority in Liyue. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. However, Lady Ningguang, I am curious—why did you conceal Rex Lapis's exuvia?"
"The exuvia may contain clues left by the assassin," Ningguang replied without hesitation. "To protect such potential evidence, I forbade anyone from viewing Rex Lapis's exuvia."
"I see. Then may I ask, Lady Ningguang—have you discovered anything?"
Lora asked. She knew full well that the so-called exuvia was merely dragon skin, casually cast down from the heavens by Zhongli himself, but that didn't stop her from raising the question.
At Lora's inquiry, Ningguang slowly shook her head. "I'm afraid not. We have yet to uncover any clues."
"The efficiency of the Qixing is truly eye-opening," Cloud Retainer said sarcastically. "They were far quicker to seize authority than to pursue the assassin."
Moon Carver had remained silent since entering. He gently shook his massive antlers and murmured a few words to Cloud Retainer. After hearing him out, Cloud Retainer finally said, "My apologies. This Adept may have been a bit too heated…"
None of this escaped Lora's ears. Judging by the Adepti' reactions, she knew that Xiao had already briefed them on the current situation during their meeting in Jueyun Karst.
Their initial aggressiveness had merely been an act.
Lora smiled faintly and continued, "Among the Adepti, there is a Conqueror of Demons tasked with purging the remnants of fallen gods from Liyue's land. These remnants, as the name suggests, are the terrifying pollution formed from the violent power released upon a god's death. Even the weakest god, when slain, unleashes destruction far beyond what humanity can endure."
Her meaning was already perfectly clear.
Among the Qixing, Ningguang was the first to react. "Are you saying… Rex Lapis is still alive?"
"Rex Lapis… still alive?"
Ganyu stared at Lora in disbelief, her emotions rarely so stirred, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"Eh? Rex Lapis is still alive? Is that so?"
Lora reacted quickly, turning to Ningguang with a look of surprise. "That's the first I've heard of it!"
"Uh…" Such an unconvincing reaction.
"Ahem. In any case," Lora said, "Liyue's transition from an age of divine rule to one of human governance will not be easy." She gave the staff in her hand a casual shake and tossed it aside. In midair, it dissolved into pure Hydro elemental energy and vanished.
"Not easy… you mean?" Ningguang asked. Watching the staff disperse into water and observing Lora's effortless, dignified movements, she instinctively adopted a more respectful tone.
"The Abyss Order, the Fatui—multiple factions are active across Liyue, and none of them are benevolent. There are also remnants of godly corruption scattered throughout the land, as well as the pollution deep within The Chasm…"
Lora listed Liyue's current troubles, then continued, "But none of these are the greatest threat. The resentment buried deep within the sea for thousands of years is slowly awakening. The bedrock beneath Liyue, tempered by endless wind and erosion, will one day break free of its confinement. All of this—every single trial—is what you must face. Liyue Qixing, do you have the confidence to withstand all of this once the gods have truly withdrawn?"
At Lora's question, Ningguang fell silent. After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"I'm sorry. I cannot give you a definitive answer. Whether it is the resentment of the deep sea or the bedrock beneath the earth, both may possess power beyond humanity. However, as a member of the Liyue Qixing, I can say this with certainty—we will never give up."
"No matter the era, the Liyue Qixing will persist for the sake of Liyue's future and prosperity. In the past, the Liyue Qixing followed Rex Lapis's guidance. Now that he has chosen to let go, Liyue is no longer a child learning to walk. We will do everything in our power to meet Rex Lapis's expectations."
"This," Ningguang concluded, "is the Liyue Qixing's answer to the Adepti."
As her words fell, the other six at her side straightened their backs and faced the Adepti head-on.
"So this is the Liyue Qixing's answer to the Adepti?"
Lora raised no objections. She turned her gaze toward Cloud Retainer and continued, "Then what of the Adepti' side? Do you have anything further to state?"