Golden House.
The place claimed to produce all the Mora circulating throughout Teyvat was unexpectedly unguarded. Only a white-haired elderly man sat in front of the main gate.
"Isn't this a very important place? Ningguang is actually only letting the two of us guard it?" Paimon said in great surprise.
If the Fatui organized a large army to attack during the decisive battle, could Lumine really handle it alone?
"There's an old man over there. Let's go ask him."
Lumine pointed at the elderly man sitting by the entrance.
The two walked together toward the old man.
"Old sir, is there only you here? Is no one else around?" Paimon asked.
The old man opened his turbid eyes, looked at Lumine and Paimon, and the corners of his mouth pulled into a smile: "There were some at the beginning, but I drove them all away."
"Drove them away? But old sir, why?" Paimon asked in confusion.
The kind-looking old man smiled: "Liyue is currently in a troubled time. There are places everywhere that need manpower."
"Behind here lies the Ancestral Dragon's remains — also the Emperor's remains — and it will soon become the enemy's main target."
"If it were really handed over to those young Millelith brats, who knows how many people would have to be sacrificed to block the fierce ghosts coming from Snezhnaya."
"The young ones are still young. They shouldn't fall here. It's better to let this old self guard this place alone."
Paimon was shocked: "Old sir, you want to guard the Ancestral Dragon's remains by yourself? Are you an Adeptus?"
[Two people guarding the house (×) This one person guarding the house (√)]
[Drive away? This old man looks like a gust of wind could blow him apart, yet he managed to drive away the Millelith. His identity is clearly not ordinary.]
[He feels like an Adeptus on the same level as Madame Ping.]
"Adeptus… This old self would not dare to compare myself with the Adepti." The old man took out a Wind Vision from his bosom. "This old self is merely a lucky one who received the gaze of the gods."
Paimon looked at the Vision in the old man's hand and wanted to speak but stopped.
However, the old man did not give Paimon the chance to continue asking questions. He suddenly seemed to remember something and asked: "Eh, look at my poor memory. Did the two young ladies come here for some matter?"
"Really, getting old and becoming useless～"
Lumine tugged at the corner of Paimon's clothes to stop her from speaking, then played along with the old man to change the subject and said: "We were entrusted by Tianquan Ningguang to come protect the Ancestral Dragon's remains."
"An entrustment from the Tianquan Star… Then it seems the two of you must have extraordinary skills." The old man praised.
"That's right! We are very powerful adventurers!" Paimon said proudly.
As if she were the one who had repelled Dvalin in Mondstadt.
[Using a tiger's skin as a banner.jpg]
[Paimon: Me and the Traveler, we'll slaughter them all!]
"I see." The old man smiled. "Then I'll have to trouble the two young ladies to guard the Golden House together with this old self."
He very calmly accepted Lumine and Paimon's help, unlike how he had driven away the Millelith.
Lumine nodded, then took Paimon to inspect the surroundings of the Golden House.
After finding no suspicious traces, Lumine finally believed that the Millelith had left on their own, and her suspicion toward the old man decreased slightly.
She had never been the type to believe others based on just one side of the story. Back in Mondstadt, she only dispelled her doubts toward Venti and Jun Bai after the two revealed their identities as gods.
The old man's tone was very sincere, and Lumine could not see any signs of lying, but that did not prove he was telling the truth.
After all, this old man really looked very suspicious.
After the two made a full circle around the Golden House, they returned to the entrance.
The old man looked at Lumine with a half-smile: "Young lady is quite vigilant. You know not to trust others lightly. Not bad. Keep it up in the future."
[After seeing this line, my CPU is overheating. So that meaningless circling around earlier was to look for problems with this old man?]
[So we didn't actually believe the old man?]
[Wait, the people in front actually believed him just like that? This old man practically has "suspicious" written on his face.]
[Mainly because I always thought a 12+ game wouldn't have this kind of plot that requires brainpower.]
Her little scheme had been seen through. Lumine felt a bit embarrassed but did not deny the fact.
The old man smiled: "I understand. After all, an old man who looks frail and weak saying he wants to guard the Golden House is indeed very suspicious. It's understandable."
"This old self has a way to prove my identity and can put the young lady at ease. Please rest assured, everything this old self said is absolutely true." The old man said seriously.
As he spoke, the old man reached into his inner lining, wanting to take out something.
One second, two seconds, three seconds…
The old man's expression gradually became embarrassed. Lumine and Paimon narrowed their eyes halfway and looked up and down at the old man with a subtle gaze.
"This old self really does have a symbol to prove my identity! It's just… I still need a little more time to find it."
[I thought the old man was going to pull out something big, but instead he's putting on a show.]
[This old man has a bit of Stelle energy.]
[Stelle is abstract, sure, but she never forgets things. This is clearly Little March.]
"Lumine, this old sir is even willing to prove it himself. Although he hasn't started proving it yet..." Paimon spoke up for the old man. "But this should prove his credibility, right?"
"We can tentatively believe him." Lumine said.
The old man could only continue searching for his proof of identity with an embarrassed expression.
Lumine and Paimon shook their heads, then planned to sit in front of the Golden House like the old man.
At that moment…
Boom——
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck down. The direction it came from was none other than Guyun Stone Forest.
Angry roars came from the sea surface in all directions. It was the Crimson-Eyed Sea Dragon welcoming the return of its god.
Jade Chamber.
"A bit faster than expected, Vortex God Osial." Ningguang looked at the sudden heavy rain, her expression grave.
"Everyone, hear my order! Advance at full speed toward Guyun Sea!"
...
Wangshu Inn.
Guizhong stretched her waist: "I was originally thinking of resting a little longer."
"Even if I only rest for one or two hours, this Adeptus is more than enough to deal with these monsters!" Cloud Retainer said while pushing up her glasses.
"Besides Osial, the other Archons that were suppressed in Guyun Stone Forest have already naturally perished from erosion and failed to reappear. This is actually good news."
The one speaking was the Rock Yaksha, General Menogias.
"Everyone, it's better to save the talking for the road. The important thing now is to hurry to the front line."
Moon Carver's proposal received the approval of all the Adepti.
...
Guili Assembly.
"Have you finally awakened, Lord Osial?" Ji Xuanjian looked toward Guyun Sea, calmly putting on his clothes. "During the Archon War, you failed to crush Liyue…"
"It will be the same this time!"
"Brother." Yunshang silently appeared behind Ji Xuanjian. "All the Millelith are already waiting outside."
"And… Tianheng Mountain is also ready."
Chen Yuan walked in at this moment. He ignored the two and walked straight toward the shelter entrance.
Before entering the shelter, the shopkeeper left only one sentence: "I will prepare a victory banquet."
Ji Xuanjian laughed heartily, flicked his sleeve, and walked together with Yunshang into the rain curtain created by the storm:
"Millelith! I have already asked the shopkeeper of Fengdeng Lou to prepare a victory banquet. Enjoying fine food is the privilege of the victors. So remember — everyone must come back alive!"