Deep within Jueyun Karst...
"Pfft—hahaha!"
"You seriously went all the way into Jueyun Karst alone just to gather herbs because you ran out of Mora?"
Lumine covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter.
"Qiu Bai, you know it's much easier to just take on a few commissions from the Adventurers' Guild, right?" she reminded him kindly.
After all, that's what she did—how else was she supposed to support little Paimon?
Qiu Bai let out an awkward chuckle.
Right… Why hadn't he thought of that? He could've just taken on some quests to earn money instead of coming all the way here.
Centuries of living without currency had dulled his sense of its importance, but at least he wasn't as bad as some people.
"Anyway, don't worry about the details."
"What about you two? Why are you here?"
Qiu Bai feigned curiosity as he asked.
"We're looking for the Adepti—the legendary Adepti," Paimon explained.
She and Lumine quickly filled Qiu Bai in on the situation.
"So… you've been mistaken for assassins, and now you're trying to prove your innocence?"
"Well, I'll go with you. After all, I haven't been to Jueyun Karst in ages."
With that, Lumine, Paimon, and Qiu Bai set off on their journey to find the Adepti.
...
As they made their way up the mountain, an unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed through the air.
"Who dares trespass in Jueyun Karst?"
Qiu Bai's lips curled into a small smile upon hearing the voice, but the moment he turned around, his smile froze.
Wait a damn second—huh?!
A large brown crane, a deer-like creature, and a white-and-blue crane stood before them.
Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer.
All three of them—together.
This isn't how the story is supposed to go…
The one who had spoken just now was Mountain Shaper.
Lumine, seeing the three Adepti before her, quickly pulled out a talisman and spoke softly.
"Please take a look at this."
Mountain Shaper stepped closer, inspecting the talisman.
"The 'Warding Talisman.' It has been many years since I last saw one. To think that mortals still possess them…"
"I am Mountain Shaper, one of the Three-Eyed Five Manifestations Adepti."
"State your purpose, traveler."
Meanwhile, Cloud Retainer had her gaze fixed on Qiu Bai, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"How strange… I sense a certain familiarity."
"Have I encountered this mortal before?"
Under her scrutinizing gaze, Qiu Bai felt his confidence waver.
No way… She actually recognizes me?
He had already concealed his aura to the utmost limit. Unless it was an Archon on his level, no one should have been able to sense him.
Unable to take it any longer, he spoke up.
"Adeptus, why do you keep staring at me?"
Cloud Retainer tilted her head, her expression unreadable.
"This one merely feels a sense of familiarity with you."
"Hmph, no need to be so fidgety. Fine, I shall stop looking at you!"
She turned her head away with an air of arrogance.
Qiu Bai let out an awkward chuckle and nodded.
...
"They're the assassins! They actually fled here!"
Suddenly, from the path they had come, a large group of Qianyan soldiers rushed forward, led by their captain.
One soldier hesitated and turned to him.
"Sir, we've already ventured too deep into Jueyun Karst…"
But the captain paid no mind to the warning, instead charging forward, the rest of the Qianyan Army following closely behind.
Mountain Shaper sighed.
"They disturb the tranquility."
"Remove them, but do not take their lives."
Lumine was just about to step in when Qiu Bai stopped her with a single hand.
She looked at him, confused. "Why are you stopping me?"
Qiu Bai simply smiled at her.
"Leave this to me."
Turning to face the Qianyan Army, he raised his hand—
And in an instant, every single soldier vanished without a trace.
Lumine and Paimon stood frozen, mouths agape, eyes wide in disbelief.
Paimon immediately flew to the spot where the soldiers had just been, circling around as if trying to make sense of what had happened.
Then, she turned to Qiu Bai, her golden eyes filled with shock.
"You—you—what did you just do?!"
"Where did the Qianyan Army go?! They disappeared in an instant!"
Qiu Bai felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Finally, he had managed to show off in front of Lumine.
It was just a small trick, but dealing with the Qianyan Army had been almost too easy.
"I only sent them out of Jueyun Karst."
"I didn't harm them in any way."
"As for how I did it… just think of it as a little magic trick."
Qiu Bai explained calmly to Paimon.
Lumine, standing behind them, was just as bewildered.
What kind of 'little magic trick' can send people that far away?
They had spent an entire day traveling to the depths of Jueyun Karst, and yet Qiu Bai had simply waved his hand, and the Qianyan soldiers were gone.
"You really are full of surprises!"
"When we head back, just wave your hand again and send us home too!"
Paimon stomped her feet in excitement. Finally! No more exhausting trips back and forth!
Lumine crossed her arms, watching Paimon with an exasperated look.
"Paimon, you're focusing on the wrong thing."
"Besides, you fly! I'm the one doing all the walking!"
The Adepti behind them were just as shocked as Lumine and Paimon.
Their curious gazes fell on Qiu Bai.
"Adeptal arts?"
"And yet, it's a technique even we have never seen before."
"How could a mere mortal possess such knowledge of Adepti magic?"
The three Adepti studied Qiu Bai with suspicion.
Under their scrutinizing stares, Qiu Bai felt a twinge of awkwardness.
He had almost forgotten that he was standing before three ancient beings.
"Uh… it's a technique passed down from my ancestors."
"I didn't even realize it was Adepti magic."
That was the best explanation he could give for now—he still couldn't reveal his true identity.
Cloud Retainer, however, wasn't convinced. She continued staring at Qiu Bai, as if seeing through his facade.
He avoided her gaze.
...
"Adepti, we have come with urgent news!"
Lumine stepped forward, her tone serious.
"Oh? And what is it?"
Mountain Shaper perched atop an amber rock, looking down at her.
Lumine took a deep breath and explained everything that had happened.
...
"What did you say?! The Geo Archon has been assassinated?!"
The three Adepti were furious.
Water and Mountain Shaper spread his wings in anger.
"How many forces in this world could possibly assassinate the Lord of Geo?!"
Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper looked equally stunned.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
"How could such an act be committed before the very eyes of the people?"
"And how could they then pin the blame on mere mortals attending the Rite of Descension?!"
"The Liyue Qixing… truly disappointing."
"To think someone dared to commit such an unforgivable crime!"
Mountain Shaper turned to Lumine.
"Traveler, we have heard your grievances."
"We have already made our judgment regarding this matter."
He closed his eyes, taking in the sheer weight of the information.
Even beings as ancient as them found it difficult to process such a calamity.
...
"May I ask… do any of you have news of the Adeptus we are searching for?"
Lumine asked carefully.
The Adepti exchanged glances.
First, the disappearance of an Adeptus.
Now, the assassination of the Geo Archon.
What was to become of Liyue?
"The Adeptus vanished some time ago."
"We searched every corner of Liyue, but found nothing."
Cloud Retainer's voice carried a trace of sorrow before shifting into cold fury.
"The Liyue Qixing!"
"I will go to Liyue Harbor myself and put things under control!"
…