Guizhong arrived at the Jade Chamber ahead of the other adepti.
"The adepti are here!"
When Keqing and Ningguang saw Guizhong, Xianyun, and the others arrive, they stepped forward to greet them.
"And this is...?" Everyone looked at the unfamiliar Guizhong in confusion, unsure who she was. She did not seem to have been present at the previous meeting with the adepti.
Xianyun introduced her to them. "This is Guizhong. As the Liyue Qixing, surely you have all heard the ancient legends of the Lord of Dust from the Guili Assembly?"
"The legendary Lord of Dust who once governed Liyue alongside Rex Lapis in ancient times?" Ningguang looked at Guizhong in surprise.
Guizhong nodded. "Mm, that's me! I didn't expect you to still remember me after all this time."
"Liyue's ancient texts are as vast as the sea. With all you contributed to Liyue, of course the world would remember you!" Ningguang said to Guizhong. At the same time, she grew even more curious about what was about to happen.
What exactly had happened for even the Lord of Dust to appear?
Thinking this, Ningguang glanced around again. When she did not see anyone who matched Rex Lapis's image, she asked, "Has Rex Lapis not arrived yet?"
"Your Rex Lapis will arrive shortly," Guizhong said calmly after hearing Ningguang's question. "There is no need to be nervous. He is very kind."
Keqing was still taking deep breaths. She murmured to herself, "I truly never imagined Rex Lapis was still alive..."
Although she insisted that Liyue needed to enter an age of humanity, she still deeply revered Rex Lapis in private.
To her, Rex Lapis had ruled Liyue for three thousand seven hundred years without ever issuing a single mistaken decree. He was practically the perfect god.
She hoped Liyue could enter an age of human governance only because she felt Rex Lapis's commands were too gentle and lacked a certain boldness to take risks. But without question, his orders had never once been wrong.
As everyone waited anxiously, Zhongli and Xiao arrived at the Jade Chamber.
For the first time, Rex Lapis's true face was revealed before everyone.
The commander of the Millelith was overwhelmed with excitement. The previous commanders had never had the good fortune to see Rex Lapis with their own eyes!
Ningguang looked shocked, but she hid it well and quickly regained her composure. "Although I had long suspected Mr. Zhongli's identity, I only thought he was an adeptus. I never imagined you were actually Rex Lapis!"
"I apologize. Because of certain personal matters, I deceived you all," Zhongli said slowly, looking at everyone.
He apologized first!
Zhongli's sudden apology caught everyone completely off guard.
Ningguang quickly said, "Rex Lapis... you... there is no need for you to apologize! We all understand your intentions, so none of us believe there was anything wrong with what you did. You paid the price of death to lay the name of Rex Lapis to rest and entrust Liyue to us. That was your trust in us, and your recognition of us!"
"So we still revere you, Rex Lapis," Keqing added beside Ningguang.
Zhongli nodded slightly. "Good. Then let us begin."
Everyone entered the Jade Chamber and began the meeting.
"I have invited you here today because there is something I must announce to you," Zhongli said, looking at the Liyue Qixing.
He then told them about the new Archon War.
"You should all understand how terrifying the Archon War truly is. In today's Liyue, many adepti have already passed away. Perhaps, in this war, we will have to pay an even greater price."
The commander of the Millelith looked at Zhongli, gave him a Millelith salute, and said in a low voice, "The Millelith stands firm, and stone peaks remain unshaken! Please rest assured, Rex Lapis! The Millelith will never disgrace the honor of our forebears!"
Although they were not as strong as the Millelith of old, who could form battle lines against gods, their resolve to defend Liyue was second to none.
Their forebears had fought across this land and won thousands of years of peace for Liyue.
Now, it was their turn to defend that peace!
Looking at the Millelith commander, Zhongli nodded slightly and said, "Very good. You have not disappointed the people of Liyue. You may also rest assured. I will stand with you all. As long as we remain, Liyue will not fall."
"We adepti will be Liyue's first line of defense, and its strongest line of defense! Unless we fall, Liyue will never fall!"
Xiao's expression was extremely solemn, his gaze firm, as though he was ready to face death without hesitation.
"When the fighting begins, the situation within Liyue Harbor will be in your hands!" Guizhong looked at Ningguang and smiled. "Don't disappoint us. I would also like to see just what today's Liyue is capable of!"
"We will not disappoint you!" Ningguang smiled as well after hearing Guizhong's words.
Zhongli opened his hand, and an amber Geo crystal appeared in his palm.
He said to everyone, "I have recorded within this crystal the locations of all the gods who died in ancient Liyue. Although we do not yet know how the Ley Lines will revive the dead gods, these locations can be placed under special guard."
Ningguang took the elemental crystal from Zhongli's hand and nodded. "Understood!"
After the meeting ended, the Liyue Qixing immediately took action.
The relaxed atmosphere that had followed Lantern Rite vanished at once. The entire Millelith was mobilized and dispatched to every location Zhongli had marked, carrying out vigilance and defensive preparations.
The number of Millelith patrols on the streets of Liyue Harbor also increased considerably.
Even the ordinary people of Liyue could sense an atmosphere like the calm before a storm.
Zhongli stood atop a high mountain in Liyue, gazing in the direction of Mondstadt.
He wondered how that poet would handle Mondstadt's situation.
Would he once again appear before the people as the Anemo Archon?
This time, it was not a human war to overthrow the rule of old aristocrats.
This was a war between gods.
...
Mondstadt, headquarters of the Knights of Favonius.
Jean and Kaeya were returning from outside. Venti leaned against the wall outside the Knights of Favonius' main gate, plucking the strings of his lyre as he said softly, "Long time no see, Acting Grand Master Jean, and you as well, Cavalry Captain."
Jean was somewhat surprised when she saw him. "Lord Venti, why are you..."
"Oh my, I've been waiting here for you two for quite a while!" Venti smiled, put away his lyre, and walked toward them.
Venti had always been the sort who would not come looking for the Knights of Favonius of his own accord unless something had happened. His sudden appearance surprised Jean, and she asked, "Lord Venti, is something the matter?"
"Yeap, there is indeed something I need to tell you!" Venti nodded.
Jean continued, "If it is something like last time, when the glass at Palais Mermonia was broken and the Knights of Favonius had to pay compensation, then you need not have come in person to discuss it..."
"That actually happened?" Kaeya looked at Jean in confusion.
...
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