Ningguang strode quickly to the shattered bronze incense burner.
Kneeling, she cautiously touched the lifeless dragon carcass beside the burner.
The light in the Exuvia's pupils had long since vanished, and even its scales had lost their former luster.
Ningguang's expression instantly darkened, her eyes filled with grim solemnity. As she rose, her voice cut through the clamorous crowd with unquestionable authority: "Rex Lapis has been assassinated! Seal the area!"
The Millelith moved swiftly, forming a tight circle with their spears held ready. The cold glint of their spearheads locked down the plaza.
Lumine instinctively took a step back, while Paimon hid behind her.
As outsiders attending the Rite of Descension for the first time, they were understandably rattled by this sudden turn of events.
Lumine was already prepared to grab Paimon and bolt at the first sign of trouble.
But before the Millelith could approach them for questioning, the squad leader recognized Yunqin and Hu Tao in the crowd. His gaze then fell on the composed and dignified Zhongli standing nearby.
The squad leader's stern expression softened, and his tone became more respectful. "Ah, it's Master Hu, Mr. Zhongli, and Miss Yunqin."
He turned to Lumine and Paimon, his gaze scrutinizing but not hostile. He asked softly, "And these two are...?"
"They're my friends!" Yunqin stepped forward, placing a hand on Lumine's shoulder with firm conviction. "They're Travelers who came to Liyue for the Rite of Descension. They only arrived at the Guili Plains last night and have absolutely nothing to do with this incident!"
The squad leader nodded. After briefly questioning Lumine and Paimon about their origins and confirming there were no irregularities, he waved his hand. "Since they're friends of Miss Yunqin, you may leave for now."
"If we require your cooperation with the investigation later, we ask for your understanding."
Yunqin pressed down on Lumine and Paimon's heads, making them nod in agreement.
Lumine and Paimon were inwardly stunned.
Is this the power of connections?
-
As they left the plaza, the uproar from the Rite of Descension seemed to have engulfed the entire Liyue Harbor. Even the air felt heavy with a sense of oppression.
Paimon flew beside Lumine, her voice still trembling with fear. "That was terrifying! The person who assassinated Rex Lapis was actually hiding among the onlookers just now. We might have even brushed past them!"
Hu Tao had shed her usual playful demeanor, her brow furrowed tightly. "According to Liyue's legends, Rex Lapis is the God of War. He fought countless foes during the Archon War. How could anyone assassinate him so silently?"
"There's always someone stronger, a higher heaven beyond the heavens," Yunqin said nonchalantly, kicking a small pebble along the road. The stone rolled a short distance. "No one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first. Even Rex Lapis might have an opponent who could defeat him."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance, seeing mutual agreement in each other's eyes.
Their journey had long taught them that "invincibility" was always relative. No one could remain at the peak forever.
Hu Tao sidled up to Zhongli and nudged his arm gently. "Look at this girl. Usually, she's the first to snatch up any Rex Lapis figurines or storybooks."
"The last time new Rex Lapis merchandise came out, she lined up before dawn to get it. Yet when we talk about him, she acts so nonchalant. I really can't tell if she actually likes him or not."
Hearing this, a faint smile flickered in Zhongli's eyes, and he shook his head gently. "Everyone expresses their feelings differently. Yunqin may seem carefree and outspoken, but she's actually very sharp."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the bustling street before adding calmly, "I have some matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Lumine and Paimon were a bit bewildered, but Yunqin and Hu Tao remained unfazed, as if they were used to it.
"Don't mind him," Hu Tao said with a wave of her hand. "Zhongli's always like this—his actions are impossible to predict."
Suddenly, a glint appeared in her eyes, as if she'd discovered a new continent. "That's right! Rex Lapis has been assassinated, but the funeral arrangements haven't been decided yet!"
"This is a once-in-a-millennium contract for Liyue! If Wangsheng Funeral Parlor can secure it, not only will we make a fortune, but our reputation will spread throughout Teyvat!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Hu Tao sprinted back toward the Rite of Descension plaza.
After a few steps, she turned and waved. "Don't wait for me!"
Yunqin watched her retreating figure and rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Before she could say anything, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows of a street corner.
Tartaglia!
The moment Yunqin saw him, her expression instantly changed.
She was genuinely terrified of this martial arts fanatic, whose mind was consumed by sparring, and her first instinct was to find cover and hide.
But the street was wide open, without a single tree large enough to conceal her—only a few shops with their doors tightly shut.
In a panic, she grabbed Lumine and Paimon, ducking behind them and peeking out with just half her head, her eyes fixed on Tartaglia.
"My dear friend, your hide-and-seek skills still need some work," Tartaglia said, unable to hold back a laugh at her clumsy attempt. "Am I really that frightening?"
Yunqin scratched her head sheepishly and slowly stepped out from behind Lumine and Paimon, muttering, "Well, you do always try to pick a fight with me..."
"Hey, hey, it's not 'fighting'—it's 'sparring'," Tartaglia retorted, crossing his arms as if ready to argue the point.
"Alright, alright, you're right," Yunqin quickly changed the subject, turning to Lumine and Paimon. She introduced him with some hesitation, "This is Tartaglia, my... friend."
"You might not have heard of 'Tartaglia'," he added, "but you'll recognize my other title: Fatui Harbinger—codename 'Childe'."
Lumine's guard shot up instantly, her eyes filled with wariness.
She had met La Signora in Mondstadt. The Harbinger had not only knocked her unconscious but also stolen the Gnosis.
She had also heard numerous rumors about the Fatui from others, leaving her with a deeply unfavorable impression of them.
Tartaglia quickly waved his hands, his tone sincere. He even took half a step back to show he meant no harm. "Don't be so tense. I'm not here to fight you this time."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group. Seeing that no one had lowered their guard, he lowered his voice. "You must be curious too, right? About why Rex Lapis was assassinated?"
"If you ask me, this whole thing isn't as simple as it looks. What if the Qixing, who are supposed to protect Liyue, decided that Rex Lapis was hindering Liyue's progress and deliberately..."
He spoke nonstop, his words subtly implying that the Qixing were trying to seize power from Rex Lapis and the Adepti, attempting to sow discord between the Adepti and the people of Liyue.
Yunqin listened with a frown, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.
Cloud Retainer was her master, and many of the Qixing were her close friends. Though she refused to take sides, Tartaglia's words began to sway her.
Especially when she considered how suspicious Rex Lapis's assassination was—with not a single clue left behind about the culprit—doubts inevitably began to form in her mind.
Who else in Liyue could have pulled off something of this magnitude besides the Liyue Qixing?
When Tartaglia finished speaking, his gaze fell on Lumine, his tone laced with anticipation. "Traveler, why don't you take this Sigil of Permission and go visit the reclusive Adepti?"
Yunqin was still half-convinced, torn over whether to trust Tartaglia. But Lumine had already nodded, taking the Sigil of Permission with a determined look in her eyes. "Alright, I'll go."
Seeing this, Yunqin hesitated no longer. She stepped forward to stand in front of Lumine and glared at Tartaglia. "I'm going too!"
Tartaglia smiled and nodded, his eyes glinting with triumphant satisfaction, though he feigned nonchalance. "Relax, I just want to uncover the truth. I won't pull any tricks."
In his view, even with the Sigil of Permission, the Traveler's chances of actually meeting the Adepti were slim.
But with Yunqin, it was a different story.
According to Tartaglia's intelligence on Yunqin, given her secret admiration for Rex Lapis, she would never ignore this matter.
Moreover, this issue involved the conflict between the Qixing and the Adepti.
No matter how well she got along with the people of Liyue, she was ultimately a disciple of the Adepti and would side with them.
With Yunqin's help, the Traveler's chances of meeting the Adepti were practically one hundred percent
At this thought, Tartaglia smiled. "Well then, I'll be waiting for your good news at the Northland Bank. Don't disappoint me, partner."