Qiu Bai's figure vanished.
In a secluded corner of Liyue Harbor, the Lord Immortal shifted form, transforming into the familiar Qiu Bai. With a smile, he made his way toward the Northland Bank.
By the time he arrived, the two Fatui guards at the entrance had already opened the door.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, please come in."
Qiu Bai nodded with a smile and stepped inside.
The first thing he saw was Zhongli, Childe, and La Signora, all of whom had turned toward the door at the sound of his arrival.
"I wasn't expecting it to be you, Mr. Qiu Bai."
"Have your injuries healed already?"
Childe's burning battle spirit locked onto Qiu Bai.
"In that case, how about we set a date for a rematch?" he asked eagerly.
"Sure, Childe. I'd be happy to oblige," Qiu Bai replied with a grin, meeting Childe's excitement.
Beside them, La Signora pressed a hand to her forehead, looking somewhat exasperated.
"You're here, old friend."
Zhongli greeted Qiu Bai with a nod and a smile as he approached.
"Childe, haven't you noticed anything different about Mr. Qiu Bai?" La Signora asked, still holding her forehead as if she couldn't believe what she was witnessing.
At this point, even a fool would know who Qiu Bai really was.
After all, who else could the Geo Archon, Morax, call an "old friend"?
"You… You're the Lord of Yin and Yang!"
Childe stared at Qiu Bai in disbelief.
"So back at the Golden House, you were hiding your true strength all along!"
"No wonder something felt off—how could your wounds have healed so quickly?"
Childe was stunned. You've gotta be kidding me…
"And you, La Signora! You called this a collaboration between the Harbingers?"
"If it's a collaboration, at the very least, shouldn't we be sharing information?" Childe turned to La Signora, frowning in frustration.
"Hah, don't dwell on it, Childe. In the end, you threw aside deals and calculations," she said with a mocking chuckle.
"You just went on a rampage. Didn't that feel good? It suits you…"
Childe blinked in confusion as he glanced at the others.
So… all three of them had played him for a fool.
And Zhongli—damn it, he was the Geo Archon all along, yet he went on about needing to hold the Rite of Parting.
Before Childe could dwell on his frustration, La Signora turned her gaze toward the entrance of the bank.
"Looks like some familiar faces have arrived," she remarked.
Lumine and Paimon stepped inside, looking bewildered at the scene before them.
"It's Qiu Bai, Zhongli, Childe… and you!"
Paimon stared at the tall woman with an imposing figure, her eyes wide with surprise.
"La Signora…"
Lumine immediately took a combat stance, ready for a fight.
"Heh, it's you. We met once in Mondstadt, didn't we?" La Signora said with a smirk.
"Not bad. At least you remember my name."
"Ah, then again, watching a friend lose something precious, knowing you're powerless to stop it… That must be unforgettable, huh?" she added mockingly, looking at Lumine.
"It's not too late to take it back."
Lumine drew the Traveler's Blade, prepared to strike.
"Yo, Traveler, this is our first time meeting again since everything went down."
Childe raised a hand in greeting, looking a bit awkward.
"Gotta admit, the atmosphere is a little… tense?"
"Hmph! I should've never trusted you once I knew you were a Fatui Harbinger!"
Paimon huffed, placing her hands on her hips and glaring at Childe.
"Come on, don't say that. I may have misled you a little, but I never had any ill will toward the Traveler."
"Haha… Besides the unfortunate fallout at the end, our cooperation wasn't so bad, was it?" Childe said, scratching his head with an awkward grin.
"It's just a difference in allegiance. I don't take it personally."
"Of course, if you want to hold a grudge against me, that's fine too," he added with a chuckle, glancing at Lumine and Paimon.
"But Qiu Bai, Zhongli, and La Signora…"
"You guys really did a number on me."
Childe sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Qiu Bai and Zhongli tricked you?"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged curious looks, confused by Childe's accusation.
"Actually…"
Childe was just about to explain when—
"Stop wasting time, Childe. If you want to chat, do it after we've finished our business."
La Signora shot Childe a glance before continuing toward Zhongli.
"As agreed, I'm here to collect your Gnosis, Morax."
She approached Zhongli, her tone firm and unwavering.
"What… What are you talking about?"
"Gnosis?!"
Paimon's brain practically short-circuited. The sheer amount of information was too much for her to process.
"The contract has been fulfilled. As promised, I now grant you what was agreed upon."
A glowing object resembling a chess piece appeared in Zhongli's hand, radiating a soft golden light.
"Hmph, such an arrogant tone."
La Signora crossed her arms and scoffed, as if the deity before her was nothing more than a subordinate.
"The subordinates of the Cryo Archon should mind their manners."
Qiu Bai's gaze turned icy, and an overwhelming aura crashed down upon La Signora.
The sheer force of it was so intense that even Childe and Lumine—who weren't directly targeted—felt the crushing weight of its presence. As for La Signora…
"Ah!"
She instantly collapsed to the ground, struggling under the suffocating pressure.
"I honored Morax's contract!"
"Lord of Yin and Yang, you can't do this to me!"
La Signora gasped, her voice strained, as if uttering those words had drained every last ounce of her strength.
"The contract between the Cryo Archon and Morax…"
"What does that have to do with me?"
Qiu Bai regarded her coldly before turning to Zhongli with a smile.
"Heh."
Zhongli waved his hand dismissively, letting out a soft chuckle.
"Watch your tone, La Signora."
"Otherwise, even if you leave here with the Gnosis, I can't guarantee you'll walk out of Liyue Harbor alive."
With those words, Qiu Bai withdrew his oppressive aura. Childe and Lumine let out quiet sighs of relief, but cold sweat still clung to their backs.
La Signora, drenched and trembling, slowly pushed herself to her feet.
"Wait a second… Qiu Bai and Zhongli—one is an adeptus, and the other is the Geo Archon?!"
"No, no… That's shocking and all, but why would you give the Gnosis to the Fatui?!"
Paimon blurted out in disbelief, staring at Zhongli, her tiny face still frozen in shock.
Lumine was just as stunned. She had spent so long searching for the Geo Archon and the adeptus—only to realize they had been right in front of her all along.
"That sword that split the sky… That was Qiu Bai?!"
Lumine's mind reeled at the realization. She had been standing atop the Jade Chamber at the time, completely awestruck by the sight. The mere memory sent chills down her spine.
It was the first time she had ever witnessed a god's power firsthand.
And back at the Golden House… Qiu Bai had been pretending the whole time?!