Lumine spoke bluntly, "I've never t a Liyue person like you before."
Paimon agreed, "Everyone we've t along the way has shown great respect for the Adepti and Rex Lapis."
Keqing spread her hands. "Hah... Should we respect them for their poor sense of ti and their arrogance toward mortals?"
"So, does that an they won't act against the Qixing for now?"
Her words drew sidelong glances from the surrounding Liyue citizens.
But due to Keqing's status as the Yuheng, no one dared to openly debate her.
Keqing didn't care about others' opinions—this was just how she operated.
To speak so boldly in public…
Mu Yang had to admit he admired that.
Especially since he, a suspected Adeptus, was standing right there.
No wonder Zhongli held her in such high regard.
Mu Yang recalled Zhongli's evaluation of Keqing.
It went sothing like this:
"If you believe you are right, then say it loudly and act on it decisively."
"It is precisely because there are people like this in Liyue Harbor that I can even consider retirent."
Perhaps worried that Lumine might form a biased impression of the Qixing before eting Ningguang in the Jade Chamber,
Keqing added,
"Disrespecting gods and Adepti is just my personal stance. Ningguang would never say such things."
"Anyway, I'll admit that this ti, the Adepti have been remarkably restrained."
Keqing knew.
The death of Rex Lapis was no small matter to the Adepti.
Faced with such an extraordinary situation, they had actually gathered to discuss it.
Instead of charging in directly—that was truly unexpected.
Mu Yang told Keqing, "You should thank Lumine and Paimon for their efforts in keeping the Adepti from storming in."
[Seriously, if it weren't for the Traveler and Paimon talking them down, Cloud Retainer and Mu Yang would've already joined forces to attack.]
[Not necessarily. Did you see Xiao's attitude? He clearly knows sothing.]
[Well, they've protected Liyue Harbor for thousands of years—they wouldn't just blow it up, right?]
Keqing was surprised—both by Mu Yang speaking up and by what he said.
"Oh? So you two were the ones who held the Adepti back?"
Paimon: "We didn't want to see the worst outco."
Lumine simply said, "When the snipe and the clam quarrel, the fisherman profits."
Keqing narrowed her eyes. "Seems you know quite a bit."
Paimon, sowhat worried, asked Keqing what Ningguang's thoughts were.
Was there any chance of negotiating with the Adepti?
"That woman, Ningguang... In her eyes, everything should ideally be settled through discussion—"
"But I don't think that's possible. The age of the Adepti is over."
"If even the Liyue Qixing don't dare to face this fact, what future does Liyue have?"
Another bold statent.
Lumine didn't even know how to respond.
Seeing this, Keqing wrapped up the conversation.
"Whew... Enough said. Honestly, I didn't need to say this much, but you're a good listener, Lumine."
She reminded the trio to arrive at the Jade Chamber precisely at the ti stated on the invitation.
After all, appointnts to et Ningguang were already booked until next year.
"Liyue's top rchants consider 'ascending the Jade Chamber' the highest honor of their careers."
"Everyone brings lavish gifts, hoping to exchange them for so favor from Ningguang."
Lumine shot Paimon a look that said 'I saw right through you.'
Then she shook her head slightly.
Paimon grew flustered. "Wh-why are you looking at like that? I wasn't scheming anything!"
"Gift-giving is a precious Liyue tradition! We're not doing it for benefits—we're respecting Liyue's cultural heritage!"
Lumine gave her a disgusted look. "You literally just said the gift was sothing you dread up."
"Look at how eager you are..."
Guinaifen's Livestream
"I've realized there are only two things that can make Paimon intelligent."
"Food and Mora."
[Too real. That's literally .]
[Feels like Paimon represents the other side of us players—a bit greedy, a bit money-loving, but never lets us suffer losses.]
[Yeah, she'll really roast people the Traveler's too polite to.]
[Paimon, the best ergency food.]
[Paimon, the best mouthpiece.]
[Paimon, the best flying pet.]
...
"Can't we just say it properly? Fine, I'll do it: Paimon, the best companion."
Mu Yang spoke up. "As the Yuheng and a familiar face to the Tianquan, could you give us so advice on the gift?"
"Wow, Mu Yang's so thoughtful! Since Keqing's right here, why not just ask for her opinion?"
Keqing pondered.
Honestly, she considered herself and Ningguang nothing more than colleagues.
Their relationship wasn't that close.
Their views often clashed, and their personalities didn't sh.
Keqing disliked Ningguang's perspective on Liyue.
She felt Ningguang treated Liyue as her business arena—anything could be done with enough Mora.
If sothing couldn't be obtained, she'd just double the offer.
Keqing had been on the receiving end of this before—a collectible she'd reserved for three months was snatched away by Ningguang at double the price.
Still, since Mu Yang had asked,
And since she was more familiar with Ningguang than they were...
"Fine. Tell what you've prepared, and I'll share my thoughts."
"Full disclosure: Ningguang and I are just coworkers. Don't take my word as gospel."
The three nodded, and Mu Yang went first.
"While preparing for the Rite of Parting yesterday, I saw a vendor selling a new chibi-style figurine of Rex Lapis. It looked quite majestic..."
He deliberately spoke slowly, emphasizing his words.
Keqing's pupils trembled. "New Rex Lapis figurine?!"
Lumine and Paimon were baffled. "Huh?"
What's going on with you?
Weren't you just saying you didn't revere gods and Adepti?
Why so excited?
[Huh? Keqing, what's going on with you?]
['Disrespecting Gods and Adepti' my foot.]
[For those who pulled Keqing, her backstory reveals she was once caught buying Rex Lapis chibi figurines and tried (and failed) to talk her way out of it.]
[Why am I getting flexed on while watching a strear play through the story? Aaaah, my Keqing!]
Guinaifen opened the character nu.
"Nope, can't see it. It's locked."
[Alright, alright, we get it—you have Keqing.]
[Oh, so that's how you're playing, huh? You know the story's locked, so you deliberately flex your level 1 Keqing?]
[Unfollowed.]
[Already unfollowed.]
...
Realizing her slip, Keqing hurriedly backpedaled.
"Ahem... What I ant was, with Rex Lapis now departed, wouldn't such a gift be inappropriate?"
Mu Yang: "I was asking if there were other figurine variants you'd recomnd."
"Yuheng, your reaction seems a bit..."
Lumine and Paimon also eyed Keqing suspiciously.
The catgirl grew flustered.
She quickly recomnded a few other figurines to divert the topic.
After so discussion, they settled on the gift:
A Sugar Sli dessert, handmade by Lumine based on Paimon's dream.
Paired with a luxury gift box from Mingxing Jewelry—paid for by Mu Yang, of course.
Afterward, Keqing explained how to reach the Jade Chamber and prepared to leave.
"I still need to investigate the restored Guizhong Ballistae at Mt. Tianheng. Let's part ways here."
Lumine: "Sorry for taking up your ti."
"No worries. Feels like we'll et again soon."
With that, Keqing fled the scene at lightning speed.
Mu Yang watched her hurried departure with amusent.
Hah. 'Disrespecting gods and Adepti'?
In Liyue, aside from the one true hater—Zhongli himself—everyone's just another type of Rex Lapis fanboy/fangirl. Without fail.
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