The Continent of Teyvat.
Liyue.
Yujing Terrace.
"Bai Ge, hurry—take this port crane improvement report to the construction lead at the docks!"
"Bai Ge? Bai Ge?!"
As the calls rang out, a purple, cat-eared head peeked around while holding a thick stack of documents, looking left and right.
She was dressed in an elegant white-and-violet formal gown. Her long, shapely legs and pert, rounded hips were wrapped in alluring black stockings. Perhaps for the sake of convenience while working on designs, the luxurious dress left her smooth, rounded shoulders and clean underarms exposed.
This sharp, decisive presence could only belong to Liyue's renowned Yuheng of the Qixing—Keqing!
Yet at this moment, Keqing, clutching the stack of papers, looked distinctly confused.
After staring at the empty workstation and calling out a few more times, a timid clerk finally mustered the courage to raise his head.
"Lady Keqing… Bai Ge has already gotten off work," the clerk said carefully.
"Off work? Is it already five?" Keqing paused, then nodded. "Five o'clock… it is time to get off work—wait, no!"
"The work isn't even finished yet. How can he leave?"
"This guy—he runs off so fast every single day!"
As she spoke, Keqing clenched her teeth in frustration. What she hated most was laziness.
And yet…
She glanced at the people before her. The moment they heard her words, their heads dipped like frightened quail—outwardly obedient, inwardly unconvinced. Even someone as strong-willed as Keqing felt a wave of helplessness rise in her chest.
Liyue was a land that walked alongside the gods.
Liyue's god—the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis, Morax—had lived for over six thousand years. Under his protection, Liyue had developed in stability for more than 3,700 years.
Over such a vast span of time, countless events had proven the correctness of the Archon's decisions.
And the people of Liyue had long grown accustomed to being guided by a god.
With divine guidance, people could live simple, happy lives.
And because the Geo Archon personally handled the vast majority of affairs—even matters of land, construction, and civil administration—the governmental departments in charge of such things could operate on a relaxed nine-to-five work schedule!
But—
Just because things had always been this way… did that make it right?
Keqing questioned this deeply.
In her eyes, growing accustomed to divine guidance and abandoning one's own thinking was nothing short of laziness and cowardice.
The Archon's authority was immense; relying on him guaranteed food and shelter. But what if one day the Archon ceased to fulfill these responsibilities? What would become of Liyue then?
Matters concerning humanity's fate should be decided by humans themselves. And humans could—no, would—do it better!
This was the conviction of Keqing, Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing.
And so—
"You may all get off work now. You've worked hard today. Get some rest early."
Keqing addressed the group before her.
"L-Lady Keqing?!"
The same clerk from earlier looked up in disbelief.
Keqing—the infamous overtime fanatic whose slogan was to make everyone work an extra hour every day—was actually telling people to leave early?
Had the sun risen from the west today?
"Then… what about you?" the clerk couldn't help asking.
"I'll take this document to the docks," Keqing said, lifting the papers in her hand. "And while I'm at it, I'll go have a talk with Bai Ge. You all should know where he went after work, right?"
The purple-haired, cat-eared girl smiled brightly.
But the clerk, who had worked here for two full months, could clearly sense the thunder hidden beneath that calm exterior.
"Y-Yes… Bai Ge usually goes to…"
The clerk quietly explained everything.
Because of Keqing's notorious obsession with overtime, no one who worked under her had ever lasted more than three months.
Bai Ge, however, was the longest-serving senior employee here, and the clerk knew him well.
Before long, Bai Ge's usual after-work hangout spots were completely sold out.
After listening, Keqing nodded, then turned and left.
Watching her perfect retreating figure, the clerk could already imagine Bai Ge's miserable state the next day.
He silently prayed for him:
"Bai Ge, don't blame me, brother. With Lady Keqing's speed, she could tour all of Liyue in no time. Hiding you would be useless anyway…"
"Anyway… let's just hope you survive…"
Elsewhere.
Using the Thunder Stiletto from her elemental skill Stellar Restoration to propel herself forward, Keqing raced out of Liyue Harbor at high speed.
Unlike what the clerk imagined, the reasonable Keqing had no intention of resorting to violence.
But—
"Humans' authority and lifespan are far inferior to those of gods. If everyone were as lazy as Bai Ge, then the day humanity replaces the gods as masters of their own fate would never come!"
As the longest-serving employee under her command, Bai Ge had become a role model among the clerks.
His strict nine-to-five routine had greatly influenced others' work attitudes, producing an extremely negative effect!
But if she could reverse Bai Ge's attitude, it would undoubtedly inspire everyone else as well!
Therefore—
Keqing made her decision.
To change Liyue… start with Bai Ge!