Chapter 22: All This Is for Liyue
"Is that so?"
Uncle Tian's brows drew even tighter. It wasn't that he doubted Keqing's sincerity—no one in Liyue would dare lie about Rex Lapis. Even Keqing, bold as she was, wouldn't tread that line.
Instead, his thoughts turned inward, linking her words to recent strange phenomena—the surge of monsters emerging from unstable ley lines, the faint tremors beneath the mountains, and whispers of corrupted zones spreading faster than before.
Could this all be connected to whatever matter Rex Lapis was currently occupied with?
The thought unsettled him.
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A Tempting Offer
"Uncle Tian," Keqing began suddenly, her expression sharp and voice steady, "would you like to obtain power comparable to that of a Vision holder?"
"What?"
Her question struck him like thunder.
Though Uncle Tian held one of the highest political positions in Liyue, he had never been blessed with a Vision. It was his greatest quiet regret—a reminder that no matter how wise or capable he became, the gods had never chosen him.
And now, Keqing—a Vision holder herself—was offering him something that sounded dangerously close to a miracle.
"This martial art is unlike anything Liyue has seen," she continued. "It's separate from elemental power. No Visions, no divine blessing—just pure cultivation through effort and understanding. I've tested it myself. It's real, and it works."
She leaned forward slightly, her violet eyes unwavering.
"I wouldn't bring this to you if I wasn't sure."
Uncle Tian studied her. He had known Keqing since she was a fiery young reformer—brilliant, outspoken, sometimes reckless. But her confidence now carried a weight he hadn't seen before.
Finally, he gave a quiet laugh. "I trust you, Yuheng. You've never been one to exaggerate. But tell me—why do you need me to promote this? If what you say is true, why not present it at a Qixing Assembly? Surely the others would approve."
Keqing crossed her arms, her tone turning cold. "You think they'd willingly share power that could make ordinary people their equals?"
Uncle Tian's expression faltered.
"They'd try to hoard it," she continued. "Restrict it. Twist it into a privilege for the elite. But this technique is different—it rewards hard work, not heritage. Even a fisherman from the harbor could reach the same level as a noble's son if he trains diligently."
Silence fell. Uncle Tian understood instantly what she was implying.
This wasn't just about martial arts.
It was about breaking the silent hierarchy that had been calcifying Liyue for centuries.
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The Rot in the Stone
Uncle Tian had once been a soldier—a Millelith footman who fought tooth and nail through Liyue's border conflicts. He'd earned his place through sweat and scars, not lineage. And for that, he'd faced endless resistance from noble houses and merchant guilds who saw him as a peasant who didn't belong among them.
He had made it to the Qixing, yes—but it had taken half a lifetime.
And as he looked around now, he saw fewer and fewer like him.
"The Qixing and the Eight Trades…" he said quietly, "they've grown too comfortable. Too proud."
Keqing nodded. "Exactly. The system has become too rigid. For every commoner who climbs to the top, ten others are buried beneath the weight of privilege. If Rex Lapis weren't still watching from above, the people's faith in Liyue's meritocracy would have already died."
Her tone sharpened, passionate.
"There are nobles in the Eight Trades who haven't done a single honest day's work. Their children inherit authority they don't deserve. They call it tradition."
She scoffed. "Ningguang and I call it rot."
Uncle Tian's weathered face darkened. "You could bring this up to Rex Lapis himself. He would set things right."
Keqing hesitated, then shook her head slowly. "He already knows. He's waiting for us to act. This is our test, Uncle Tian—his trust in humanity."
Her gaze softened. "We're not rebelling against the old order. We're trying to restore Liyue's spirit. The one he built—with his own hands."
For a long moment, the old Qixing elder said nothing. Then, with a tired smile, he murmured, "You really have grown, Keqing."
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A Decision for Liyue
Uncle Tian straightened his back and met her gaze with the steady authority of a man who had once commanded soldiers.
"I'll support you," he said. "As long as this truly serves Liyue's people, I will stand with you. But I must test this power for myself first. I won't recommend something to the Millelith without knowing it's safe."
Keqing smiled with relief. "That's all I ask."
She turned toward Kael, who had remained silent at her side until now. He understood immediately.
Kael stepped forward and placed a hand lightly on Uncle Tian's shoulder.
"Focus," Kael instructed. His voice carried a strange calm, steady as flowing Geo energy. "Don't force it. Feel the warmth in your core, the rhythm beneath your heartbeat—that's the flow of internal energy."
A faint golden light shimmered between Kael's hand and Uncle Tian's chest.
The elder's eyes widened as a warmth unlike any elemental resonance spread through him. It wasn't the borrowed blessing of a god—it was something human, yet vast.
"This…" Uncle Tian murmured, awestruck. "It's not elemental power."
Kael smiled faintly. "No. It's yours."
He withdrew his hand, and the light faded into Uncle Tian's body.
"I've left a seed of energy within you," Kael said. "If you follow the breathing pattern and movement paths I'll show you, it'll grow naturally. This is only the foundation—true mastery depends on effort and discipline."
From his bag, Kael produced a thick manual bound in fine Liyue paper. He handed it over with quiet reverence.
"This is the Basic Internal Energy Cultivation Manual. Inside are diagrams of the meridians and flow cycles. Read it carefully—treat it as both science and faith."
Uncle Tian accepted it with both hands, as though receiving a divine decree. "This… is an immortal's gift."
Kael gave a wry smile. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just Liyue's next step forward."
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Preparing for the Future
"When do you plan to begin promoting this?" Uncle Tian asked after a long pause, still studying the manual as though it might vanish if he blinked. "And what exactly do you need from me?"
Keqing clasped her hands behind her back. "Our first test group has already begun training. It'll take another month or two before they show results. When that happens, we'll present the findings at the next Qixing Assembly. We'll need your vote—and your voice."
She smiled faintly. "You, me, and Ningguang together should be enough to pass it. And if the others vote against it… well, then they won't be allowed to learn it."
That earned a low chuckle from the old man. "Bold as ever, Yuheng."
He nodded thoughtfully. "This could work. But you'll need to be careful. If foreign powers—like Snezhnaya or Inazuma—get wind of this, they'll try to steal or replicate it."
"Agreed," Keqing replied.
Uncle Tian grew solemn. "Then, when the time comes to announce it publicly, we should swear an oath in Rex Lapis's name. Let the gods bear witness that this art is for Liyue alone."
He looked between her and Kael. "And if you create more techniques like this—anything that can strengthen our people—you'll have my full support."
Keqing's expression softened. Gratitude glimmered in her eyes. "Thank you, Uncle Tian."
He waved her words away. "No need for thanks."
His tone was steady, firm, and proud.
"This isn't for you. It isn't for me."
He looked out the window, toward the distant silhouette of the Harbor below—the heart of their nation.
"This is all for Liyue."
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End of Chapter 22: All This Is for Liyue