Chapter 61 – The Impolite Lady (Bonus Chapter)

Then Qiu Bai’s figure vanished without a trace.

At that moment, in an unoccupied corner of Liyue Harbor, the Adeptus of the Two Principles transformed, becoming the familiar Qiu Bai known to the Traveler.

He smiled and headed toward the direction of the Northland Bank.

Upon arriving, the two Fatui guards at the door had already opened it.

“Mr. Qiu Bai, please come in.”

Qiu Bai nodded with a smile and walked inside.

In sight were Zhongli, Childe, and La Signora, all drawn by the sound at the entrance.

“I didn’t expect it to be Mr. Qiu Bai.”

“Have your injuries already healed?”

Tartaglia’s fervent fighting spirit was fixed intently on Qiu Bai.

“In that case, how about we pick another day for a rematch!”

Tartaglia said excitedly, looking at Qiu Bai’s figure.

“Sure, Tartaglia, I’d be happy to oblige.”

Qiu Bai replied with a smile, looking at the battle-eager Childe.

Beside them, La Signora held her forehead, seemingly exasperated.

“You’ve arrived, old friend.”

Zhongli looked at Qiu Bai, who was slowly approaching, and nodded with a smile.

“Tartaglia, haven’t you noticed anything different about this Mr. Qiu Bai?”

La Signora said, covering her head in exasperation, addressing Tartaglia.

In this situation, even a fool would know who Qiu Bai was.

Who else could be called an old friend by the God of Rock, Morax?

“You… you’re the Adeptus of Yin and Yang!”

Tartaglia stared blankly at Qiu Bai.

“At the Golden House, you actually held back your strength!”

“No wonder it felt so strange—how could your injuries heal so quickly?”

Childe looked bewildered at the Qiu Bai in front of him. Were you just putting on an act for me?

“And La Signora, you said this was cooperation between Harbingers?”

“At the very least, cooperation should involve sharing information.”

Tartaglia glanced at La Signora beside him, frowning and speaking with some anger.

“Hmph, don’t dwell on it, Childe. In the end, you ignored deals and schemes.”

“Simply causing a ruckus was quite enjoyable, wasn’t it? Very fitting for your style…”

La Signora let out a mocking laugh before slowly addressing the Childe.

After hearing La Signora’s explanation, Tartaglia looked bewilderedly at the three people around him. So, each of them had played him for a fool.

And that Zhongli—damn it, he was the Geo Archon all along, yet he talked about holding a Rite of Parting.

“Wait, it seems some acquaintances of yours have arrived.”

La Signora’s gaze turned toward the entrance of the Northland Bank as she slowly spoke.

Lumine and Paimon walked in, looking somewhat stunned at the four people.

“It’s Qiu Bai, Zhongli, and Childe, and you are!”

Paimon’s head tilted as she looked at the woman with the well-developed chest muscles before her, asking in surprise.

“La Signora…”

Lumine assumed a fighting stance, her expression ready for battle.

“Oh, it’s you. We met once in the city of the bard, didn’t we? Not bad, you remembered my name well.”

“Ah, after all, the feeling of watching helplessly as a friend’s important possession was taken away… is hard to forget, isn’t it?”

La Signora turned around, looking at Lumine with a mocking tone.

“It’s not too late to take it back now.”

Lumine drew her Dull Blade, already prepared to fight.

“Hey, Traveler, this is the first time we’ve met since everything ended.”

“Well, how should I put it… the atmosphere is a bit… um… awkward?”

Childe looked at Lumine and Paimon, awkwardly waving his hand.

“Hmph, we shouldn’t have trusted you when we found out you were a Fatui Harbinger!”

Paimon put her hands on her hips, frowned, and glared angrily at Childe.

“Don’t say that. Although I deceived you a bit before, I meant no ill will toward this traveler herself.”

“Haha… aside from the unfortunate falling out at the end, our cooperation was quite pleasant before, wasn’t it?”

Childe scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

“It’s just a difference in stance. I won’t take it as a personal grudge.”

“Of course, it’s fine if you keep your personal grudges against me.”

Childe smiled as he looked at Lumine and Paimon.

“But as for Qiu Bai and Mr. Zhongli, as well as La Signora over there…”

“They really fooled me badly.”

Childe covered his head, reluctantly speaking out.

“Qiu Bai and Zhongli deceived Childe?”

Lumine and Paimon looked curiously at Qiu Bai and Zhongli, not understanding what Childe meant by being fooled.

“Actually…”

Just as Childe was about to say something.

“Stop wasting time, Childe. If you want to chat, wait until we finish our business and talk slowly.”

La Signora glanced at Childe, then continued walking toward Zhongli.

“As per the contract, I’ve come to take your Gnosis, Morax.”

La Signora approached and spoke to Zhongli.

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Gnosis?!”

Paimon’s brain capacity was already insufficient; the sheer amount of information was overloading her.

“The contract is fulfilled. As you requested, I grant you the promised object.”

A chess piece-like object appeared in Zhongli’s hand, emitting a faint golden light from its surface.

“Hmph, such a condescending tone!”

La Signora crossed her arms, speaking disdainfully, as if the being before her were not a deity but her subordinate.

“Subordinate of the Cryo Archon, mind your tone.”

Qiu Bai’s eyes turned cold, a terrifying pressure directly locking onto La Signora before him.

The overwhelming pressure was felt even by Childe and Lumine, who weren’t targeted, let alone La Signora.

“Ah!”

La Signora was instantly forced to the ground by this pressure.

“I am abiding by Morax’s contract!”

“Morpheus, you can’t treat me like this!”

La Signora, lying on the ground, struggled to shout, as if uttering these words had already exhausted all her strength.

“The contract signed between the Cryo Archon and Morax.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Qiu Bai looked at La Signora on the ground and spoke slowly.

Then he smiled at Zhongli.

“Heh.”

Zhongli waved his hand and chuckled as well.

“Watch your tone, La Signora.”

“Otherwise, I can’t guarantee that even after giving you the Gnosis, you’ll be able to leave Liyue Harbor.”

After saying this, Qiu Bai released the terrifying pressure, leaving both Childe and Lumine breaking out in a cold sweat.

La Signora, drenched in sweat, slowly stood up, her legs trembling slightly.

“Wait, so Qiu Bai and Zhongli are actually an Adeptus Lord and Rex Lapis?!”

“No, no, no… although that’s shocking, why are you giving the Gnosis to the Fatui?!”

Paimon exclaimed in astonishment, then looked at Zhongli in confusion, her face never losing its look of shock throughout.

Lumine was utterly bewildered at this moment. The Geo Archon and Adeptus Lord she had been searching for so long had actually been right in front of her all along.

“That sky-splitting sword strike was actually unleashed by Qiu Bai!”

Lumine couldn’t even begin to describe her astonishment. At that time, she had been standing atop the Jade Chamber, so shocked by this figure that goosebumps rose all over her skin.

It was the first time she had witnessed divine power in this world, and Qiu Bai had actually been acting when he was in the Golden House!