The next day!
When Shenhe woke up in the guest room and stepped outside, she discovered that Luo Li and Rosalyne were already waiting.
Compared to yesterday, the two of them seemed… different.
She couldn't quite pinpoint it, but Shenhe could clearly sense that something had changed about the cold and glamorous woman. The tension between Rosalyne's brows had eased, and her allure felt richer—so rich it invited imagination.
Every glance and smile carried a subtle, heart-stirring charm.
"Her posture is softer… her eyes look more fluid. Did something happen last night?"
Shenhe felt puzzled. How could someone change so much overnight?
Before she could think it through, Rosalyne—having just finished speaking with Luo Li—cast a glance her way.
Perhaps she was in a good mood. That aloof woman actually gave her a small nod.
Yesterday, she hadn't even bothered to look at her.
Then Rosalyne turned and left decisively, her steps light and unhurried.
Watching the cold beauty who had just given herself completely the night before depart, Luo Li turned to Shenhe, who was still slightly dazed, and smiled.
"Looks like the aftereffects of that wine haven't worn off yet."
Shenhe was speechless. She wasn't inexperienced with alcohol, but yesterday's wine had been overwhelming.
Just two cups, and she'd nearly blacked out.
Fortunately, after sleeping it off, she felt much better—only a bit slower than usual, nothing serious.
"Mmm… I should be fine," she said. "Let's go. You said you'd take me to see my master, Cloud Retainer."
With that, the two set off.
According to Fatui intelligence, after the temporary reconciliation between the adepti and the Liyue Qixing, the immortals had gathered at Yujing Terrace.
After Rex Lapis' assassination, Yujing Terrace was heavily guarded. Fortunately, thanks to Ganyu having informed them ahead of time, Luo Li encountered no obstruction and passed through smoothly, approaching Yuehai Pavilion.
Elsewhere
After parting ways with Luo Li, Rosalyne returned to the Northland Bank in an excellent mood.
The guard at the entrance, Vlad, greeted her respectfully.
"Lady Rosalyne, Lord Childe has been waiting for you."
"Childe's back?" she asked.
"Yes. He has something important to discuss."
Her expression returned to calm neutrality as Rosalyne stepped inside.
After nodding to the receptionist, Ekaterina, she headed to the relatively secluded second floor.
There, her fellow Harbinger, Childe, was already waiting.
Pulling his gaze away from the merchants below—who maintained close ties with the Fatui—he watched the cold beauty approach, her waist swaying slightly.
"Where have you been these past few days? I couldn't find you anywhere."
"That's none of your business. Say what you need to say."
Rosalyne was impatient. All her patience belonged to Luo Li—what others received was only coldness and irritation.
As she spoke sharply, she yawned lazily. She'd been kept up until dawn the night before. Even with her witch's physique, enduring that "grace" had been… taxing. She'd planned to come back and sleep properly.
Being brushed off so bluntly, Childe didn't mind. Knowing her temperament, he hadn't expected a different reaction.
"Our plan failed," he said bluntly, his expression serious.
Rosalyne gave a noncommittal hum. "That was your plan."
Ignoring her deliberate distancing, Childe continued.
"According to the original plan, I intended to use the Traveler to provoke conflict between the adepti and the Liyue Qixing, forcing them to focus on each other and ignore the Fatui's movements."
"At first, things went exactly as expected. The adepti confronted the Qixing, tensions were high, and a clash seemed inevitable."
"But then someone intervened, resolved the conflict, and completely dismantled my scheme. As a result, the Qixing—now freed up—started paying close attention to the Fatui. Many of our operations have become difficult."
Rosalyne remained expressionless. "And?"
"Although the situation worsened overall, there is one piece of good news. Through the Traveler and Mr. Zhongli, I learned that the Exuvia has been hidden by the Qixing in the Golden House."
"But security there is extremely tight. Sneaking in unnoticed is nearly impossible. We need to draw the Millelith's attention elsewhere."
At this point, Rosalyne understood exactly what he was planning.
To distract the Millelith, something big had to happen.
And causing chaos was the Fatui's specialty.
"Conveniently," Childe said with a grin, "our agents have uncovered some valuable information during recent operations in Liyue."
"Long ago, Rex Lapis sealed the Overlord of the Vortex at Guyun Stone Forest. The stone spears he cast became islands, and the god remains sealed to this day."
"And coincidentally, that seal can be broken using the Talisman of Permission."
The very talisman Childe had given the Traveler to meet the adepti.
True Talismans of Permission were rare, and breaking the seal would normally require hundreds of them.
But the Fatui had found a shortcut.
By dissecting and reverse-engineering the talismans, they had learned how to mass-produce them.
The replicas couldn't match the originals, but quantity compensated for quality.
Using enough copies together, temporarily breaking the seal was entirely feasible.
After all, the Fatui didn't intend to destroy Liyue—only to create chaos long enough to infiltrate the Golden House and steal Morax's Gnosis.
Rosalyne already knew all this.
As one of the most powerful of the Eleven Harbingers, very little was hidden from her.
"So," she said coolly, "you plan to release a god to sow chaos, then take the Gnosis in the confusion?"
"Yes. What do you think?"
"Impressive. Truly impressive," she replied with a perfunctory clap. "A wonderful plan. I wish you great success."
Her praise was so half-hearted it barely counted. She wasn't even in the mood to tease him.
Childe frowned slightly. Something felt off. He'd expected sarcasm at the very least.
This reaction was… strange.
"Is there anything else?" Rosalyne asked.
Childe shook his head honestly.
"Then goodbye. I'm going to rest. Don't disturb me."
She stood and left swiftly, feeling as though something inside her was about to overflow.
Childe scratched his head, watching her depart in confusion, unable to figure out what was behind her odd behavior.
"…Whatever. I should start making arrangements."
After reviewing the plan once more and confirming there were no flaws, Childe made his decision.
"Someone come here," he called.
"Follow my orders!"