"For Mr. Qiu Bai to give such praise, then all my efforts in building the Qunyu Pavilion have not been in vain."
Ningguang smiled as she looked at the slightly surprised Qiu Bai.
"You're too modest, Miss Ningguang."
Qiu Bai replied with a smile and followed her into the Qunyu Pavilion.
Inside, he was met with the sight of elegant Liyue-style architecture at the center, surrounded by guest chambers. The atmosphere was grand yet refined, with an unfamiliar yet pleasant fragrance lingering in the air.
For someone who had once walked barefoot on the streets to achieve such heights—it was no small feat. Qiu Bai truly admired Ningguang. After all, a human's time in this world was fleeting, a mere century at most.
At that moment, Ningguang stood before him, her golden eyes filled with a hint of amusement.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, please follow me."
"You can just call me Qiu Bai, Miss Ningguang. No need to be so formal."
Qiu Bai waved a hand casually and stepped into her office.
The room was simple yet efficient. Near the window stood a large frame, holding an enormous blackboard filled with pinned documents—trade secrets of Liyue Harbor, economic plans, and future developments.
Qiu Bai finally took a closer look at the Tianquan of the Qixing. Ningguang was pouring tea, her movements calm and elegant.
Her platinum-blonde hair was styled in an elaborate updo, secured by a black-and-gold hairpin, while crimson tassels draped down from her forehead, complementing the color of her eyes.
Her arms were adorned with black sleeves and golden finger rings, while the long, flowing sleeves of her attire draped naturally. A white scarf wrapped around her neck, accenting the black, white, and gold cheongsam she wore. Hanging from it was a Geo Vision, glimmering like an exquisite pendant. Her long, bare legs only added to her poised and commanding presence.
With a graceful bend at the waist, she poured tea into the cups, exuding an effortless elegance.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, please have a seat."
Ningguang set the teapot down and smiled.
"Then I won't be polite."
Qiu Bai took a seat without hesitation.
"So, have you given any thought to my proposal?"
Ningguang's gaze was steady as she watched him.
Qiu Bai lifted the lid of his teacup, gently blew on the steaming liquid, and took a sip. He then pursed his lips slightly.
"This truly is an exceptional tea—far better than what I had at Liuli Pavilion."
"However, I doubt Miss Ningguang invited me here just for a cup of tea."
He set his teacup down and smiled knowingly.
Ningguang was momentarily surprised. She hadn't expected Qiu Bai to see through her so easily.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, do you already know why I asked you here?"
"Of course I do. Otherwise, why would a mere idle wanderer like me be offered a position here?"
Qiu Bai met her gaze with a knowing smile.
"I can only say this—everything you've done so far, Miss Ningguang, has been the right course of action."
"As for the other Adepti, I cannot say, but as for myself—I am satisfied."
With those words, he had openly admitted to being an Adeptus.
However, he deliberately left out which one he was. After all, Liyue had many Adepti.
"Everything I've done so far… has been correct?"
Ningguang murmured to herself.
"I ask only one thing, Miss Ningguang—do not reveal my identity to anyone."
"Not even to the other Adepti. When the time is right, I will explain myself."
Qiu Bai's voice was calm, yet firm.
After the assassination of the Geo Archon, the Fatui had taken advantage of the chaos, crossing diplomatic boundaries with covert operations.
To stabilize the situation and prevent La Signora from seizing Barbatos' Gnosis, Ningguang had ordered a complete information lockdown. The Emperor's body was hidden, and the official statement was that, until the true culprit was found, no one would be allowed to pay their respects to the Immortal Ancestor's remains.
Meanwhile, Zhongli, ever the performer, remained focused solely on Liyue's traditions, securing time for the Qixing to take full control of the region.
The Qixing had also tacitly approved the preparations for the Rite of Parting, informing Zhongli that the Immortal Ancestor's remains would be temporarily placed in the Golden House until the ceremony.
"So, should I address you as Mr. Qiu Bai… or Immortal Qiu Bai?"
Ningguang's lips curled into a subtle smile as she looked at him.
She had intended to probe for more information, but to her surprise, Qiu Bai had admitted everything outright.
"I don't think like those old-fashioned Adepti."
"Just think of me as one of you. Ningguang, you can simply call me Qiu Bai."
Qiu Bai smiled as he explained.
"But I do have some questions," Ningguang said, her amber eyes narrowing slightly.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, when you said that everything I've done so far has been correct… what exactly did you mean?"
Was the Qixing's attempt to replace the gods truly the right course of action?
Zhongli: "Correct—completely correct."
"Quite literally, from the moment you began observing the Traveler upon their arrival in Liyue… every decision you've made has been the right one."
Qiu Bai took a sip of tea, then looked at Ningguang and spoke slowly.
"However, Liyue as a whole has yet to provide a satisfactory answer."
That meant not just the Liyue Qixing, but also the common people and the Adepti—everyone played a part.
"I see," Ningguang murmured. "Thank you, Mr. Qiu Bai, for your insight."
"As for today's conversation, I will keep it confidential. No one will hear of this from me."
Ningguang regarded him with a hint of astonishment. Could this Adeptus have already foreseen every step she would take in response to the Traveler's arrival?
Qiu Bai nodded slightly before his figure faded into thin air, leaving Ningguang alone in deep thought.
She soon summoned Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao, issuing them a new directive—find any information on the last unidentified Fatui Harbinger in Liyue.
...
Beyond the outskirts of Liyue, Qiu Bai reappeared just as a battle was unfolding ahead.
With a mere sweep of his divine sense, he saw that Xiangling and Guoba were engaged in combat against three Geo Hilichurl Chieftains.
The battlefield was charred black, the result of Xiangling's Pyro attacks. The flames continued to spread, devouring the once-green terrain.
From a distance, Yanfei's voice rang out, "Setting fire to the mountains is illegal!"
Qiu Bai instantly blinked forward, appearing between Xiangling and Guoba.
"Ah!"
"Mr. Qiu Bai! You scared me!"
Xiangling clutched her chest with one hand, her other hand gripping Dragon's Bane tightly. Her startled expression made it clear that Qiu Bai's sudden appearance had caught her off guard.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, move back quickly! You might get caught in the crossfire!"
Before she could finish speaking, one of the Geo Hilichurl Chieftains raised its massive club and sent a boulder crashing down from above, aiming straight for Xiangling and Qiu Bai!
"No need to panic," Qiu Bai said calmly.
He raised a single finger, his expression unchanging.
A strange black aura emanated from his fingertip, locking onto the falling Geo Hilichurl Chieftain.
In an instant, the black energy froze the creature in midair.
Then, with a simple closing motion of his hand, the Hilichurl dissolved into faint black motes of light, dispersing into the wind.
The remaining two chieftains met the same fate—one by one, they crumbled into shimmering black dust, vanishing completely.
Qiu Bai turned his gaze to the scorched battlefield and extended his finger once more.
This time, a snow-white aura radiated outward.
In an instant, fresh green shoots sprouted from the blackened earth, rapidly restoring the landscape. Within moments, the entire field had returned to its lush, vibrant state, as if the flames had never touched it.