Since the incident involving the Geo Archon, the Qixing had barely left this place.
With no god presiding over Liyue, all manner of hidden dangers and opportunists had begun to surface.
Fortunately, the Adepti had been temporarily pacified—otherwise, the Qixing wouldn't even have had the luxury of handling daily affairs.
"I wonder when Lord Luoli will return…"
In the courtyard outside the Qixing's offices, Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver questioned Raiden Makoto anxiously.
Although the Adepti had restrained themselves out of respect for her, patiently waiting for the truth behind the Geo Archon's fall, staying idle like this was hardly comfortable.
Still, during this period, they had also witnessed that the Qixing had centralized power not for personal gain, but for the sake of Liyue's people.
Because of this, the Adepti's attitudes had softened slightly—they were no longer openly hostile.
Raiden Makoto accepted the black tea prepared by Noelle, gently blowing away the steam before replying:
"Don't rush. There are hidden circumstances behind this matter. It may still take some time."
Hearing this, Cloud Retainer and the others could only sigh.
Once their initial anger faded, they too realized how full of coincidences the situation was.
With the Geo Archon's strength, who could possibly assassinate him?
Unless it was Luoli himself—but that possibility was negligible.
After all, he had once rejected the position of Geo Archon outright. Why would he do such a thing now?
Just then, footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Ganyu, who should have been assisting the Qixing, hurried over with joy written plainly on her face.
"Sister Makoto, Adepti—Teacher has returned."
Everyone instantly turned toward her voice.
From behind her appeared Luoli, accompanied by a tall, cool-tempered beauty who looked almost otherworldly.
The three Adepti's eyes widened at once.
"So it really is His Highness?!"
Seeing a face identical to the one from five hundred years ago—unchanged in both appearance and aura—Cloud Retainer felt momentarily dazed, as if she had returned to the ancient era of their first meeting.
She was snapped out of it by a familiar voice.
"Master."
Looking closely, she realized that the one following behind Luoli was none other than her own disciple—Shenhe.
"Shenhe? Why are you with His Highness?"
She was so shocked she nearly froze in place.
Shenhe now understood that Luoli hadn't deceived her—he truly did have a close relationship with her master, and his status was even more exalted than she had imagined.
She proceeded to recount everything that had happened between them.
After hearing it, Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper broke into cold sweat.
That was a demonic god's retainer, the most powerful subordinate of the Sea God—a Chi Beast.
Just because it was easily dealt with by Luoli and Morax didn't mean it was weak.
The fact that it had to be sealed in pieces spoke volumes about its danger.
"Fortunately, you encountered His Highness. Otherwise, disaster would have been unavoidable."
Cloud Retainer spoke gravely. Even Adepti like themselves couldn't confidently claim they could defeat such a creature alone.
Shenhe acknowledged the danger and confirmed she had already expressed her gratitude.
Cloud Retainer nodded, then said earnestly:
"If possible, I would like to request that His Highness personally guide Shenhe's cultivation."
Luoli's ability to teach was beyond question.
Even a small amount of guidance could lead to tremendous growth.
Shenhe naturally did not refuse.
In truth, last night's indulgence had stirred subtle changes in her heart.
Having lived by strict discipline—subsisting on herbs, dew, and isolation—she had never experienced such sensations before.
That hazy, dizzy feeling… wasn't unpleasant.
Lost in thought, her gaze drifted unconsciously.
Not far away, she saw Luoli embracing Raiden Makoto, who had risen to greet him.
"You're back. Want to rest for a while?"
Makoto didn't ask where he had gone. She simply adjusted the slightly wrinkled collar of his clothes with a gentle smile.
As she leaned closer, she caught a faint unfamiliar fragrance. Her brow twitched subtly.
She raised her gaze and met Luoli's calm eyes—then shot him a playful glare.
Fine. No need to ask. She already knew.
Luoli wasn't embarrassed at all. He leaned in and lightly kissed her lips.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Eula, standing beside Noelle, watching with barely concealed envy.
"Nothing serious happened, right?" he asked.
"Mm. We've all been waiting for your word."
Seeing Ganyu, the three Adepti, Eula, and Noelle all watching expectantly, Luoli cleared his throat.
How was he supposed to explain this?
Morax's fake death couldn't be revealed yet.
A smooth transition of power still required pressure.
If they learned the Geo Archon wasn't truly dead, all the burden they carried would vanish—and the entire test would lose its meaning.
Luoli knew where to draw the line.
Internal conflict between Adepti and humans could be resolved through friction.
But removing the sense of crisis entirely would turn this whole affair into nothing more than a farce.
After a moment of thought, he replied evenly:
"I've traced part of the truth. It won't be long before everything becomes clear. Until then, continue handling Liyue's affairs as usual. Leave Morax's cause of death to me."
The reassurance in his voice was far more comforting than when Raiden Makoto had said the same thing.
Cloud Retainer finally relaxed.
"Then we entrust everything to you, Your Highness. Please find the one responsible for the Geo Archon's fall."
Just as the matter of Morax's 'death' was set aside, Cloud Retainer hesitated.
"You have something else to say?" Luoli asked.
She looked fondly at Shenhe, then spoke slowly:
"Your Highness likely already knows I took Shenhe as my disciple. As she's grown older, her emotions have become increasingly淡薄. Her fate—Lonely Star Calamity—is difficult to alter. I wonder… do you have a way?"
Methods to alter fate did exist in Liyue's ancient traditions.
But Shenhe's destiny was exceptionally severe—even Adepti were powerless, forced to rely on red ropes to bind her life and suppress her nature.
If possible, Cloud Retainer did not wish for her disciple to become a cold, emotionless being.
At this moment, all her hope rested on Luoli.
If even he had no solution… then there truly would be none.
"Uh…"
Another disciple?
Luoli fell into thought.
Counting carefully, he had taught quite a few over the years.
From Ganyu, Mitsuyo, and Asase Hibiki…
To Noelle and Fischl now.
Add in those he had merely guided, and the number easily exceeded ten.
"…to be continued."