[There are actually three beautiful girls here, and all of them are my favorite types. Is this heaven?]
[miHoYo really knows how to do it. Black stockings are already very nice, but there are even patterns on them!]
[Ganyu's black stockings have no patterns, but they are one-piece. This is simply a god of attack speed!]
[The people earlier are beyond saving… Speaking of which, these two characters' names are both sweet and engraved?]
"Nice to meet you." Lumine politely shook hands with Keqing.
"I didn't expect to encounter Ningguang's guests here."
Paimon exaggeratedly said: "I also didn't expect to meet such a big shot as Lady Yuheng here."
"Does Lady Yuheng know why Lady Tianquan invited us to the Jade Chamber?"
Keqing looked at Ganyu. Ganyu nodded to her, indicating it was okay to say.
Only then did Keqing speak: "Ningguang invited you to the Jade Chamber because you are the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt, the heroes who resolved the dragon disaster, and friends of the Marshal."
"Ningguang hopes that your stance can remain neutral — at least do not completely side with the Adepti just because of the Marshal."
[…It feels like Keqing's tone is a bit rude.]
[Feels like she's about to say something shocking next.]
"Side with?" Paimon was puzzled.
"All the citizens of Liyue Harbor are saying that even if Rex Lapis has passed away, the Marshal and the Adepti will still protect the mortal realm."
"But just because the Adepti want to protect Liyue, can they rightfully display that kind of condescending arrogance?"
Keqing did not suppress her voice. After speaking, she cast an apologetic look at Ganyu.
Ganyu waved her hand indifferently.
Keqing was just like this. After years of getting along, she had already grown accustomed to Keqing's disrespectful attitude toward the gods and Adepti.
But Lumine and Paimon had not, so their expressions were very surprised right now.
After all, everyone they had met along the way, regardless of personality, would basically show a very respectful attitude when mentioning the Adepti.
Although the two also knew it was impossible for everyone to like the Adepti, they had not expected the first person they encountered to be so direct.
"Because mortals are objects that need protection, they assume mortals cannot be [the assassins who killed Rex Lapis]."
"So Ningguang's immediate orders to seal the scene, interrogate mortals, and pursue the assassins were all seen as useless work in the eyes of the Adepti, or even as covering up the truth."
"This is essentially looking down on people. If the so-called protection is this kind of near-charity-like pity…"
"I do not approve!" Keqing said firmly.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance. In their minds, they recalled what Childe had said:
"The Rex Lapis and the Sky Phoenix Marshal are undoubtedly of one mind, but the Liyue Qixing and the Gods may not necessarily be of one mind."
So this was the meaning of "may not necessarily be of one mind"?
Keqing placed her hand on her chest, slightly raised her head, and said: "I know there is an insurmountable gap between Adepti and mortals. But that is not a reason for the Adepti to rightfully look down on people!"
"I have practiced swordsmanship in Qingce Village for many years. The story I hear most often is that of the Qingce Sword Immortal."
"Without a Vision, not an Adeptus, merely an ordinary person, yet able to contend against a God with a single sword in hand."
"I asked the Marshal. He told me that the Qingce Sword Immortal truly exists, and the story is inaccurate. Not only could he contend against a God, but if not for an accident at that time, that God would have already been slain by him."
[!I always thought the Qingce Sword Immortal was an Adeptus! And you're telling me he's not only not an Adeptus, but doesn't even have a Vision? He really soloed with one sword?]
[He nearly slew a God. I don't know how he did it, but that's seriously fierce!]
[So he didn't challenge a God because he thought his swordsmanship could affect Gods and then got counter-killed. It was because of an accident that caused a plot kill?]
[I suddenly became interested in this Sword Immortal. miHoYo, hurry up and release related plot. Even if it's a world quest with no voice acting, I'll accept it.]
"During the Archon War, three thousand Millelith could fight a God. And there was a heaven-sent genius like the Qingce Sword Immortal…"
"The Adepti have no right to look down on humans!"
After Keqing finished speaking, she looked at Lumine and Paimon.
Suddenly, Keqing's expression froze. Her tone was full of apology as she said: "Sorry, you two. I lost control of my emotions for a moment."
"Whenever I think of the arrogant attitude of those Adepti, I… I still have something to do. I'll take my leave first."
Keqing turned around and walked toward the entrance of Yujing Terrace.
Ganyu looked at Keqing and said:
"Keqing, since the Traveler and Paimon have arrived, I'll take them up to the Jade Chamber first. Will you be fine handling that matter alone?"
Keqing nodded and smiled: "Ganyu, even if you don't believe in me, you should believe in the Millelith, right?"
"Mm." Ganyu nodded, "Be careful."
"Relax." Keqing walked out of Yujing Terrace with great confidence.
"Traveler, Paimon, this way." Ganyu led the way ahead, signaling Lumine and Paimon to follow.
Paimon followed behind Ganyu and asked: "Miss Ganyu, if you have something very important to do, you can go first. You don't have to mind us."
"Given your relationship with our senior, there's no need to be polite with me. Just call me Ganyu."
Ganyu smiled gently at Paimon: "It's not something very important. I just need to lead the Millelith to exterminate some monsters."
"Senior, you mean Jun Bai?" Lumine recalled Ganyu's form of address, "Ganyu, most people call him Marshal Jun Bai, but why do you call him senior?"
"Because I already knew our senior before he became the Marshal of the Millelith."
"Our senior is of the same generation as my master, Cloud Retainer, so I naturally call him senior."
[She very naturally forgot about the time she almost got boiled and eaten by Jun Bai back then.]
[Most likely she hasn't forgotten, she just has the mindset that as long as she doesn't say it, no one will know.]
[I can't wait to see the scene where Ganyu and Jun Bai's black history gets publicly exposed!]
[If that's the case, is there any almighty uploader who can make a fan work about it?]
[This is the time to @Sparkle, Director Hua.]
At the entrance of the Moon Sea Pavilion, after exchanging the correct password with the ferryman, the three arrived at the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang's three secretaries had already been waiting for a long time.
Soon, two slender figures walked out from the Jade Chamber. One was the Tianquan Star Ningguang, and the other was a woman in black clothes whom Lumine and Paimon did not recognize but felt somewhat familiar.
"…I have learned everything about the matter. Thank you for informing me, Miss Yunshang." Ningguang expressed her thanks to Yunshang.
"Miss Ningguang, you're welcome. I was merely conveying a message on behalf of my brother." Yunshang said, "Miss Ningguang is about to receive guests, so I'll take my leave first."
"You are welcome to visit again, Miss Yunshang." Ningguang smiled politely.
[…I remember Yunshang seemed to have arrived in Liyue Harbor yesterday, saying she wanted to find Ningguang, and now it's the next morning…]
[Did they… chat all night?]
[I suddenly feel like the yuri potential is very high…]
[Can people who randomly ship CP please go farther away!]
[They didn't even clearly indicate it's a CP, yet you're already triggered. Can't schizos go be schizo somewhere else?]
After Yunshang walked away, Ningguang finally looked at Lumine and Paimon.
"I have been waiting for you two for a long time."
——Note
Let me briefly explain this chapter's plot.
Because the plot went off the rails, and because I personally like Keqing but don't like her dialogue in the main story, I made major changes.
I changed it from simply disliking gods and Adepti to disliking the Adepti's attitude toward humans.
Also, I know some people may feel that the character Qingce Sword Immortal has overpowered strength, with a pure human nearly slaying a God.
To that I only want to say: the inspiration for the Qingce Sword Immortal is Wangquan Wumu. If I lowered his combat power, I couldn't accept it in my heart.