A gentle sea breeze swept across the golden waters as the vast harbor of Liyue came into view.
High above the ocean, a lone figure glided through the sky.
It was Aether.
His golden wings sliced through the cool wind as he descended slowly toward the magnificent port city known as Liyue Harbor, the capital of the Nation of Contracts.
From the sky, the city looked breathtaking.
Massive stone buildings rose elegantly along the mountainside, their curved rooftops decorated with intricate golden carvings. Crimson lanterns swayed gently in the wind along the streets, and the harbor itself was filled with enormous merchant ships arriving from every corner of Teyvat.
The scent of saltwater mixed with the aroma of freshly cooked seafood drifting from nearby restaurants.
Merchants loudly advertised their goods while sailors unloaded cargo crates from ships.
The bustling atmosphere made it clear that Liyue Harbor was one of the wealthiest and most prosperous cities in the world.
Aether slowly landed near the docks.
He folded his wings behind him and looked around with curiosity.
"So this is Liyue Harbor…" he muttered softly.
The energy of the place was very different from Mondstadt.
Where Mondstadt felt free and relaxed, Liyue felt disciplined and structured.
Everything seemed to operate under an invisible system of order.
Aether reached into his bag and took out a sealed letter.
"This letter has to be delivered to the Adventurers' Guild here."
He looked around the busy port.
The city was enormous.
Finding the guild without directions would probably take hours.
Aether approached a nearby merchant who was arranging some wooden crates.
"Excuse me," Aether asked politely. "Could you tell me where the Adventurers' Guild is located?"
The merchant looked up at him.
"You're new here, aren't you?"
Aether nodded.
The merchant pointed toward the upper part of the city.
"Go straight up the main street until you reach the marketplace. You'll see the Adventurers' Guild counter near the central plaza."
"Thank you," Aether said with a small bow.
With the directions in mind, he began walking through the lively streets of Liyue Harbor.
The Adventurers' Guild of Liyue
After walking for several minutes through crowded streets filled with traders, travelers, and shoppers, Aether finally spotted a familiar sign.
The emblem of the Adventurers' Guild.
Standing behind the counter was a familiar-looking receptionist.
"Ad Astra Abyssosque!" she greeted as Aether approached.
It was Katheryne.
However, this one belonged to the Liyue Adventurers' Guild.
Aether smiled slightly.
"You must be Katheryne."
She nodded politely.
"That is correct. How may I assist you today?"
Aether placed the sealed letter on the counter.
"I was asked to deliver this to you."
Katheryne opened the letter and began reading.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then she looked up at Aether with newfound interest.
"So you are Aether, the adventurer mentioned in the letter."
Aether blinked.
"You know my name?"
Katheryne nodded.
"This letter is actually a promotion notice sent from the Mondstadt Adventurers' Guild."
Aether looked surprised.
"A promotion?"
"Yes," Katheryne replied calmly. "Based on your exceptional contributions during the Stormterror Incident, you have been recognized as a distinguished adventurer."
She then placed a heavy pouch on the counter.
"This is your reward for delivering the letter and your promotion bonus."
Aether opened the pouch.
It was filled with Mora.
His eyes widened.
"That's… quite a lot."
Katheryne smiled gently.
"You've earned it."
Aether nodded gratefully.
"Thank you."
Exploring the City
Before he left, Katheryne added another suggestion.
"If you have time, I recommend exploring Liyue Harbor."
Aether tilted his head.
"Exploring?"
"Yes," she said. "It's always helpful for adventurers to familiarize themselves with new regions."
Aether considered it for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"That sounds like a good idea."
After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, Aether began wandering through the city.
He visited the port area first.
Gigantic trading ships were docked along the harbor.
Sailors shouted commands as they unloaded cargo crates filled with spices, silk, and precious minerals.
Some ships even carried exotic goods from distant nations.
Aether continued toward the shopping district, where colorful stalls lined the streets.
Merchants sold jade jewelry, handcrafted weapons, rare herbs, and traditional Liyue clothing.
The streets were alive with energy.
After walking for a while, Aether noticed a small restaurant filled with customers.
The sign read:
Wanmin Restaurant
Curious, Aether stepped inside.
Wanmin Restaurant
The restaurant was lively and filled with delicious aromas.
Behind the counter stood a cheerful young chef.
"Welcome!" she said energetically.
"I'm Xiangling, the head chef here!"
Standing beside her was an older man with a warm smile.
"And I'm Chef Mao, her father."
Aether nodded politely.
"I'm Aether. I'd like to order something."
Xiangling grinned excitedly.
"You came to the right place!"
She leaned forward eagerly.
"What would you like to try?"
Aether glanced at the menu.
"I'll have the Wanmin Restaurant Boiled Fish."
Xiangling clapped her hands happily.
"Excellent choice!"
Soon the dish was served.
The aroma alone was incredible.
Aether took his first bite.
His eyes widened.
"This is amazing."
Xiangling beamed proudly.
"Of course it is! I only serve the best!"
After finishing the meal, Aether paid them and stepped back outside.
News of a God's Death
As Aether walked through the city streets again, something unusual caught his attention.
Large groups of people had gathered in the center of the city.
Everyone seemed to be whispering anxiously.
Aether approached one of the citizens.
"Excuse me," he asked. "What's going on?"
The man looked shocked.
"You haven't heard?"
Aether shook his head.
The man lowered his voice.
"The Geo Archon, Morax… has been assassinated."
Aether froze.
"What?"
Several other people joined the conversation.
"Rex Lapis was the one who shaped Liyue into the prosperous nation it is today."
"He protected this land for thousands of years."
"And now he's gone…"
Aether looked stunned.
"I… I'm sorry to hear that."
The atmosphere in the city felt heavy.
After hearing the news, Aether decided to leave the crowded streets.
He headed toward the wilderness outside Liyue Harbor.
The Land of Geo
The landscape of Liyue was breathtaking.
Towering stone pillars rose from the earth like ancient monuments.
Golden mountains stretched across the horizon.
Crystal-clear rivers flowed between lush valleys.
Massive waterfalls cascaded down cliffs, creating a peaceful symphony of rushing water.
The beauty of the land was unmatched.
But behind the peaceful scenery, political tensions were rising.
The Rule of the Qixing
Within Liyue Harbor, the governing body known as the Liyue Qixing had taken control.
This council of seven powerful leaders managed the nation's affairs.
At the center of it all stood Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.
Following the death of Rex Lapis, the Qixing had taken charge of maintaining order.
The sacred remains of Rex Lapis, known as the Exuvia, had been transported to a secret location.
Ningguang issued strict orders to the Millelith, Liyue's military force.
"Find the one responsible for assassinating Rex Lapis," she commanded firmly.
The investigation had begun.
The Adepti Must Know
Ningguang then turned to one of her most trusted messengers.
"Ganyu," she said calmly.
The half-adeptus secretary bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Lady Ningguang."
"You are closer to the Adepti than anyone else in Liyue."
Ningguang handed her a sealed document.
"Inform them of the situation."
Ganyu nodded.
"I understand."
Without delay, she left to deliver the message.
The Fatui's Interest
Meanwhile, inside the grand halls of the Northland Bank, another conversation was taking place.
A tall young man leaned casually against the window.
His name was Tartaglia, also known as Childe, one of the Fatui Harbingers.
A subordinate stood before him, delivering a report.
"The adventurer known as Aether has arrived in Liyue Harbor."
Childe's eyes lit up.
"Aether…"
He smiled.
"So the hero of Mondstadt has come here as well."
The Fatui Harbinger chuckled softly.
"Perfect."
He turned toward the city outside.
"We'll use him as bait."
His smile widened dangerously.
"And then… we'll obtain the Geo Gnosis."
Aether's Unaware Journey
Meanwhile, Aether continued flying across the scenic mountains of Liyue.
Completely unaware of the schemes unfolding behind the scenes.
After exploring for several hours, he returned to Liyue Harbor.
Night had already fallen.
Aether decided to find a place to stay.
But after checking several inns, he quickly realized something.
"These places are… extremely expensive."
The prices were far beyond what he could afford.
Aether sighed.
"Well… I guess I have no choice."
He looked toward the distant lands of Mondstadt.
"I'll head back to Springvale for now."
The Adepti Gather
Far away in the sacred mountains of Liyue, Ganyu delivered the shocking news to the Adepti.
"The Geo Archon, Morax, has fallen."
The Adepti were stunned.
"This is impossible…"
"How could the Prime of the Adepti be killed?"
Anger began to rise among them.
"We must find the murderer."
"And bring justice to Liyue."
However, some of them were suspicious.
"Perhaps the Liyue Qixing themselves are responsible…"
Before taking action, the Adepti decided to gather and discuss the situation carefully.
The fate of Liyue hung in the balance.