"Of course. There's no need for Mr. Zhongli to remind me," Keqing said with a nod. Seeing that Zhongli had no further requests, she did not press the matter and returned to her place.
The Rite of Descension was drawing to a close, yet no one present showed any intention of leaving. Many still lingered, immersed in mourning the passing of the Geo Emperor.
For three thousand seven hundred years, Liyue had never lost its god. They had never once imagined a future without their deity—but now, they were forced to confront it.
Zhongli and the others moved to a secluded corner, somewhere they would not be disturbed.
Hu Tao had also been sent away by Zhongli, returning first to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Here, everyone except Lora—who was holding Qiqi—and Zhongyue, who was watching the situation unfold with interest, bowed respectfully to Zhongli.
Lumine took it all in. Seeing how the Adepti treated him, a look of understanding dawned on her face.
"So… is this an Adeptus gathering?"
Paimon looked around at everyone present, then turned her gaze to Zhongli.
"Then why is Zhongli here too? Don't tell me—you're an Adeptus as well?"
Zhongyue turned to Lora and asked, "What is this floating thing in the air? Why does she feel… not very smart?"
Not very smart…
The corner of Lora's mouth twitched. "She's Paimon—Lumine's best partner."
"And also Lora's best partner!" Paimon immediately added, glaring at Zhongyue. "So who are you supposed to be? Calling me not smart the moment you show up—do you know how rude that is?"
"I'm praising you," Zhongyue said solemnly. "I mean you have a pure, untainted kindness—a beauty that hasn't been polluted by knowledge."
"Eh? R-really…?" Paimon suddenly felt unsure. She turned to Lumine. "Hey, Lumine, she said all that… she was complimenting me, right?"
Lumine smiled helplessly. Her gaze shifted to Zhongli. After a moment of silence, she said, "If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Zhongli should be the deceased Geo Emperor himself—the Geo Archon, Morax."
"Traveler, you are indeed perceptive," Zhongli did not deny it. There was no longer any need to. Everything had already settled, and Liyue—now without its god—was ready to walk forward on its own.
"W-what!? Zhongli is the Geo Emperor!?" Paimon stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief.
If they hadn't been tucked away in such a secluded spot, that shout alone would have drawn a crowd.
"I only realized it just now as well, from how the Adepti were treating Zhongli," Lumine said calmly.
"That's right. He is the Geo Archon—formerly," Lora nodded. "Lumine, weren't you searching for the Seven Archons? Now that you've seen him, is he the archon you're looking for?"
Lumine looked at Zhongli and shook her head. "No."
"Wait, wait, wait! Why is Zhongli the Geo Emperor in the first place…?" Paimon was still struggling to process it all. "And if you really are the Geo Emperor, then why would you hold your own funeral?"
"Because this was always part of my plan," Zhongli replied evenly. "To completely bury my past self."
He then explained his reasons to Lumine and Paimon. The other Adepti—aside from Lora—listened in silence. By the time he finished, no one knew what to say.
After a long pause, Paimon spread her hands and said seriously, "I think that merchant was the real culprit. If he hadn't said that one thing, you wouldn't have stepped down as the Geo Archon."
Lora nodded along in agreement.
She had thought the same thing back when she played through this part—if not for that merchant's words, Zhongli might never have started questioning whether it was time to retire.
"Heh… your perspective really is unique," Zhongli chuckled softly. "In any case, my era has already passed. The future belongs to them."
"Even so, being able to travel alongside the Geo Emperor still feels like an honor!" Paimon said earnestly.
Zhongli smiled. "But every journey must come to an end."
"That's true. Now that we've met the Geo Archon, we should keep searching for the other archons," Paimon nodded.
Zhongli continued, "To travel from Liyue to Sumeru, one must pass through The Chasm. However, it is currently sealed, so that route is unavailable. If you wish to seek the remaining archons, your only option is Inazuma. It is Liyue's neighbor across the sea—but its current situation is quite tense."
"What's going on?" Lumine asked, frowning.
Zhongli explained Inazuma's circumstances before concluding, "The will of the Raiden Shogun has placed Inazuma under isolation, and thunderstorms now block off its surrounding seas. If you wish to go there, you will need to wait for the right opportunity."
"What kind of opportunity?" Paimon asked curiously.
At that moment, Ping'er spoke up.
"There is a fleet in Liyue Harbor known as the Crux Fleet. Its captain, Beidou, is a woman of great resolve and boldness. She should be able to take you through the storm and reach Inazuma. However, she is not currently in Liyue, so you'll have to wait for a while."
"That works out nicely. The Lantern Rite in Liyue is approaching," Zhongli said, nodding slightly as he looked at Lumine. "Traveler, you've crossed the stars and been involved in so many affairs here, yet you haven't truly experienced Liyue's customs and everyday life. Take this Lantern Rite as a chance to relax and enjoy yourself."
"The Lantern Rite?" Lumine looked at him with curiosity.
Zhongli explained, "The first full moon of every year marks Liyue's Lantern Rite. On that night, all of Liyue celebrates. It is a festival held in remembrance of heroes. People release Sky Lanterns and Mingxiao Lanterns into the night sky, symbolizing the passing on of the flame and the endurance of virtue, while guiding the spirits of departed heroes back home."
"Wow! That sounds like a huge festival!" Paimon said excitedly. "Then we definitely have to take part!"
Zhongli then turned his gaze to Lora. "And you?"
"Of course I'm staying! I haven't eaten nearly enough of Liyue's food yet!" Lora nodded without hesitation.
Zhongli inclined his head. "Very well. May every day you spend in Liyue be filled with joy. If anything troubles you, you may come to me at any time. If it's within my power, I will help."
"Thank you," Lora said with a small smile.
"This matter is concluded. You may all return," Zhongli said, turning to the other Adepti. "The Geo Archon, Morax, is dead. The contract bound to the Geo Archon has ended. Your futures are now yours to decide."