"Understood." Keqing rose from behind a stack of ledgers, tone cool, decisive. "Lead the way."
The Millelith bowed and hurried out. Keqing followed, violet hair catching a stray night breeze, eyes thoughtful in a way that gave nothing away.
By the time she reached the main gate, word had already raced the lantern-light.
"Look—!"
"It's Lady Keqing!"
"The Yuheng herself—at the gate?"
Commerce paused. Merchants, adventurers, townsfolk looked up as the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing crossed the bridge with measured steps. Her long purple twin-tails stirred, silk hem whispering along her calves; black stockings and gold filigree flashed at each turn. Poised. Precise. A drawn sword that hadn't bothered to leave its sheath.
Kairo took her in, then let the thought pass: strong, sharp, very Liyue. Paimon, meanwhile, stage-whispered, "A Qixing big-shot came to meet us? Hehe… VIP treatment!"
The Millelith squad leader stepped forward and saluted. "My lady—the visitors you mentioned have arrived and await instruction."
Keqing inclined her head and came straight to Kairo. "Welcome to Liyue. I am Keqing, the Yuheng. I'll need to ask a few questions."
The crowd quieted to a tight hum.
Kairo showed his Adventurers' Guild license; Lumine produced a signed note from the Knights of Favonius. Keqing's gaze flicked over seals and sigils, then softened by half a degree—enough that the Millelith exhaled.
"Credentials check out." Her eyes slid past Kairo's shoulder—and narrowed. "About your… retainer."
The Everwinter Shade stood immobile under the lanterns, frost haloing the axe's edge. It did nothing. It felt like winter.
"I need your word it will not disturb Liyue's order," Keqing said evenly. "If you can't guarantee that, it does not enter the city."
"I can guarantee it," Kairo answered. "It responds to me. If you prefer, we can station it outside the warded perimeter and summon it as needed."
Paimon bobbed frantically. "We're very law-abiding! Also we, uh, have questions for the Qixing, so—definitely not planning any chaos!"
Keqing gave a single nod. "Then—welcome to Liyue. I'll arrange lodging." She turned, and the line of soldiers flowed to make a path.
They crossed the threshold.
Liyue poured itself around them—broad bluestone streets; hanging red lanterns casting honeyed halos; steam sighing from bamboo baskets; vendors' cries braided with children's laughter. A wine-seller hoisted a jar as they passed. "Osmanthus wine—fragrant and sweet! A sip to warm the night!"
At the next stall, a carver coaxed moonlight from jade. "Three Jueyun Jade charms only. For peace and safe travel." Across the way, a baozi lid lifted; lotus-scented vapor rolled over the bridge. "Lotus Flower Pastries! Soft, melt-in-your-mouth!" Candied haw on skewers winked like tiny comets.
Paimon's pupils became mora coins. "I want that! And that! And that—!"
"After we check in," Lumine said, catching her by the scarf. She was gawking too, though—Liyue's everyday magic did that to outsiders.
Keqing watched them for a heartbeat as if measuring weights on a scale, then resumed, heels ticking toward Yuehai Pavilion.
"You resolved Mondstadt's dragon crisis," she said over her shoulder. "One would expect you to remain there a while. Why the sudden visit to Liyue—and why the Rite of Descension?"
"To find someone," Lumine said. "My brother."
A fractional pause. "So you seek to use Liyue's intelligence channels." Keqing's tone held neither censure nor promise. "We can assist with queries. We cannot guarantee results. Teyvat is large."
"That's fine," Lumine said quickly. "Anything helps."
"And the Rite?" Keqing asked.
"To see the Geo Archon," Lumine admitted. "We were told the Rite is when mortals may witness him."
"That may disappoint you," Keqing said after a soft hum. "The Lord of Geo has not appeared in person for years. Only edicts."
Paimon stopped mid-hover. "No Archon?!" She shot Kairo a look that said you called it. He only smiled. Can't meet the Geo Archon? Then we'll just find Zhongli.
"It's all right," Kairo said aloud. "Front-row seats would be appreciated."
"That can be arranged," Keqing replied, the corner of her mouth easing. "Follow me."
They passed deeper into the market. Millelith peeled off to manage the flow behind them; murmurs eddied in their wake.
So they're fans of the Archon, Keqing thought, privately amused. At least their priorities are civic, not mercenary. Outwardly, she continued, "We'll place you near Yujing Terrace for the Rite. As for lodging, the Ministry has a guesthouse—quiet, central, secure."
Kairo nodded. The Shade's helm turned minutely, watching nothing. Lanternlight slid across its plates like thin ice.
A faint, translucent pane rippled into Kairo's view, letters assembling with smug inevitability:
[You boarded the Express, entered the Gate of Jade opened by a Stellaron Hunter, and arrived at the Star-Skiff Port.]
[The harbor is in disarray; you foresee the Cloud Knights fighting a disguised "Tingyun." You don't tell the Trailblazer; forewarning only invites disbelief and alarms the Destruction's avatar.]
[You met "Tingyun," crossed the skiff sea, and reached the Palace of Astral Guidance. There you faced Yukong.]
[Yukong rejected outside aid, questioning why a Hunter opened the gate for you at all.]
[Faced with her feint, you chose deft ambiguity—denying collusion, offering to withdraw if unwelcome.]
[The Trailblazer was surprised, but held the line with you.]
[Reward for Option Two acquired: Signature Red-Oil Mixed Offal recipe.]
Kairo's eye twitched. Red-oil offal. Great if he wanted to open a noodle shop; less great against gods.
And the bit about the "Undying Lord"… who's the local analogue supposed to be? The system had already mapped Yukong → Keqing. Nonsense. Ridiculous. Useful nonsense—still nonsense. Here in Liyue, who "corresponded" to the Undying Lord? Osial? Childe? Or was the answer that there was no answer—that he shouldn't try to force parallels between worlds?
He dismissed the pane with a blink.
Keqing slowed at a quieter lane where lanterns thinned and stone gave way to a courtyard. "Guesthouse," she said. "You'll have keys by the hour. If you intend to keep that"—a glance to the Shade—"station it within the ward circle. The Ministry of Civil Affairs does not like surprises before the Rite."
"Understood," Kairo said. The Shade stepped into the chalked sigils without being told; frost hissed and then settled, respectful as a statue.
Keqing watched it one beat longer than necessary. "Efficient," she murmured, and then, brisk again: "Rest. Tomorrow, I'll have someone from Yuehai Pavilion brief you on protocols for the Rite and take your query about the missing relative. If you need local context… find Zhongli of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. He is—knowledgeable."
Paimon perked. "Zhongli? Fancy name. Is he important?"
"Mm." Keqing's expression was unreadable. "In Liyue, context is everything. He has plenty."
She turned to leave—
—and Kairo's view pulsed again. A new prompt unfurled, neat and smug:
[Main Thread Update — "Rite of Descension, Act I"]
Facing Keqing's courtesy and Liyue's watchful order, you choose…
① Volunteer intelligence about a foreign plot at the Rite (earn institutional trust; raise scrutiny).
② Keep your counsel; gather proof quietly (gain freedom of action; risk mistrust if discovered).
③ Seed a decoy rumor toward an unrelated threat (misdirect hostile eyes; unknown fallout).
Kairo's lips curved. So we're doing this again. He glanced toward the harbor, where bells chimed and the city breathed in time with the tide.
Can't shake hands with the Archon? Fine. We'll talk to Zhongli—and decide which script to tear up on the way.
"Rest well," Keqing said, already half-turned into the night. "Liyue rises early."
"See you at Yujing Terrace," Kairo replied.
Lanterns clicked. The courtyard door slid home. And in the hush between footfalls and sleep, the system's cursor blinked—waiting for a finger to choose and a plan to harden.
To be continued…
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