Chapter 13 – Keqing

At this moment in Liyue Harbor,

Qiu Bai was having tea with Zhongli and listening to storytelling. Qiu Bai thought back to the time of the Archon War.

The so-called Archon War was essentially a game where Demon Gods fought for the seven seats of The Seven. Each of the seven Demon Gods possessed immense power.

By Qiu Bai’s own estimation, Demon Gods could be categorized into upper-tier, middle-tier, and lower-tier. He and Zhongli now likely belonged to the upper-tier.

Before his own enhancement, he would have been considered a middle-tier Demon God. As for Osial, that level was probably also middle-tier—and even in that state, pinned beneath the sea by Stone Spears and sealed away,

it took the combined power of the Adepti and the Jade Chamber just to force Osial back into the ocean. The power of a Demon God was not something mortals could contend with.

“I can feel the power within me slowly increasing,” Qiu Bai murmured inwardly.

“Is it because I am not subject to Erosion?”

Qiu Bai set down his teacup and looked at Zhongli.

“Zhongli, how does your current strength compare to during the Archon War?”

Qiu Bai gazed thoughtfully at Zhongli.

“I was stronger during the Archon War,”

Zhongli replied, not understanding why Qiu Bai was asking this.

“If not for the Erosion imposed by the Heavenly Principles,”

“would your power continue to grow or decline?”

Qiu Bai soundproofed their surroundings before speaking to Zhongli.

“It would grow,”

Zhongli answered without hesitation.

“So that’s how it is?”

“It seems being immune to Erosion is a good thing after all.”

Iron Tongue Tian watched the two of them communicating in silence.

“How strange, they’re speaking without making a sound?”

“What an odd pair.”

Iron Tongue Tian withdrew his gaze and continued his storytelling.

Just then, a young woman with cat-like hair, dressed in a purple gown and bearing an Electro Vision on her back, approached.

Her legs were clad in black stockings etched with intricate patterns, giving an overall impression of nobility and elegance.

The young woman walked toward Zhongli and Qiu Bai.

Holy crap, the Electro Archon of Liyue?

Qiu Bai watched as Keqing strode over, unable to help the thought, though this wasn’t a game—still, it had to be said,

Keqing was truly a stunning beauty, and the cat-like hairstyle added a touch of cuteness.

“Have either of you seen the Adeptus Lord in this portrait?”

Keqing asked, frowning slightly.

She looked somewhat puzzled at Qiu Bai and Zhongli, these two handsome young men before her.

She did recognize Mr. Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—knowledgeable and well-versed in everything.

“And you are?”

Keqing glanced at Qiu Bai and inquired.

“Yuheng, this is an old friend of mine.”

“He has returned to Liyue specifically to attend the Rite of Descension.”

Zhongli introduced him to Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing.

“So you are the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.”

Qiu Bai extended his hand, intending to shake Keqing’s—jokingly thinking, with such a beauty standing before him, who wouldn’t want to touch her hand?

Keqing looked at the young man, who seemed to have stepped out of a painting, and couldn’t help but extend her own hand as well.

Under normal circumstances, if a strange man wanted to shake her hand, she would definitely refuse.

“Such a warm and smooth little hand.”

Qiu Bai couldn’t help but marvel—it had been a thousand years since he last held a girl’s hand.

Keqing blushed at that moment, quickly withdrawing her hand and lowering her head slightly.

“Regarding the Adeptus Lord Miss Keqing mentioned, I have not seen him.”

“Brother Zhongli likely hasn’t either.”

Qiu Bai shook his head at Keqing, indicating that neither he nor Zhongli knew.

Would I laugh myself to death telling you that the Adeptus Lord you’re looking for is right in front of you?

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

Keqing waved with a smile and walked off into the distance toward Liyue Harbor.

“Adeptus Lord, where could you be?”

“Keqing will definitely find you!”

Keqing looked up at the sky, her face slightly flushed as she clasped her hands tightly to her chest.

“Is this the current generation’s Liyue Qixing?”

Qiu Bai asked, turning to Zhongli.

“Heh.”

“She’s the most irreverent toward the gods among the Qixing.”

“It’s precisely because Liyue has people like her that I’ve been considering retirement.”

Zhongli couldn’t help but chuckle, speaking slowly to Qiu Bai.

Irreverent toward gods? Give me a break. Keqing probably has a whole collection of your figurines hidden away.

As the saying goes, in Liyue there are only Rex Lapis fans and twisted Rex Lapis fans.

“Pfft—”

Qiu Bai couldn’t hold back his laughter.

“What are you laughing at, Brother Qiu Bai?”

Zhongli looked puzzled.

“I remembered something happy.”

“What happy thing?”

“My wife just had a baby.”

“…”

After Zhongli and Qiu Bai finished listening to the storyteller, Zhongli had to return to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and bid farewell to Qiu Bai.

Qiu Bai wandered aimlessly through the streets of Liyue, attracting a wave of female admirers along the way.

“Hey, look at that gentleman over there—he’s so handsome.”

Two rather elegant young women were chatting nearby.

“Right? I heard he’s a consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.”

“A consultant? I remember Mr. Zhongli is one too.”

The woman gazed at Qiu Bai, her face flushed.

“You don’t think Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is keeping pretty boys, do you? They’re all so good-looking.”

“How could that be? Hu Tao is still so young.”

“She’s not that young anymore.”

The woman couldn’t help but sound a bit jealous.

Listening to the chatter around him, Qiu Bai felt like laughing. The director really was quite young—and flat-chested too.

“Let’s find a quiet spot away from people. Tomorrow’s going to be quite the show.”

“That Morax is faking his death tomorrow. I’m definitely going to help the director carry the coffin.”

“Hahahahaha.”

Qiu Bai nearly burst out laughing. He left Liyue Harbor and teleported to a bridge near Jueyun Karst.

“Oh? There’s even a fishing rod here?”

“Fishing sounds nice—such a leisurely life.”

Meanwhile, in the Jade Chamber.

Ningguang looked at the walls covered in documents and intelligence, murmuring to herself.

“Fatui Harbingers.”

“The Traveler, and the Adeptus Lord.”

“The Rite of Descension.”

Resting her chin on one hand, Ningguang sighed with a headache. For now, all she could do was take things one step at a time.

“That’s right—tomorrow is the Rite of Descension. I can just ask Rex Lapis himself.”

“As for those Fatui, I don’t even consider them a threat.”

A cold glint flashed in Ningguang’s eyes. She knew the Fatui had already seized the Anemo Archon’s Gnosis in Mondstadt.

Who’s to say their next target wouldn’t be their own Geo Archon? But then again, how much power in this world could actually assassinate Rex Lapis?

With that thought, Ningguang instructed Baishi and Baiwen to handle the documents properly. She needed to gather her thoughts and prepare for tomorrow’s Rite of Descension.

Night fell.

Qiu Bai stared at his fishing results—after half a day, he’d only caught one fish.

Looking at the plump, schooling fish in the river and then at his single catch, Qiu Bai couldn’t take it anymore.

“Fine, you won’t bite, huh?”

“If you won’t bite, then don’t blame me, fish brothers.”

Qiu Bai directly used his Divine Power to pull every fish out of the river.

Fish: “I can’t believe this guy.”

“But doing it this way defeats the purpose of fishing. You have to calm your mind.”

Qiu Bai twitched his lips and tossed the fish back into the water.

Fish: “Are you nuts?”

“Ah, let’s call it a day.”

“Light the fire, light the fire—we still have this one.”

Qiu Bai grabbed the fish by its tail, his mouth watering a little. He promptly lit a fire and began roasting the fish.