"..." Lumine and Paimon widened their eyes. For a moment, their thoughts churned, but the words reached their lips and then stopped.
[Ningguang's words mean that the reason she didn't let Guizhong see the Geo God's remains was because she was worried the Fatui would intercept it?]
[Fatui: Us? Intercept something from an Adeptus and a God? Would we even win?]
[The one who hasn't passed away is hard (the corpse).]
"…I understand your reactions. When the other Qixing learned my reason, they had similar expressions."
Ningguang said with a bitter smile.
After all, if the Fatui really had the strength to confront the Adepti head-on, they would not have resorted to using rumors to apply public opinion pressure on the Qixing.
The Adepti had fought their way from the Archon War all the way to the present. Once any of them brought out their signature abilities, they were existences capable of deciding the outcome of a small-scale battle.
Valiant generals like the Guardian Yakshas were even capable of contending against Gods.
To put it bluntly, even if the Cryo Archon of Snezhnaya personally led an army to attack Liyue, as long as the Three Gods did not take action, the Adepti alone would be enough to make Snezhnaya pay a very heavy price.
This was still under the condition that none of the three Gods — Rex Lapis, the Marshal, or the Dust God — took action.
Although Rex Lapis was now suspected to have passed away and the Three Gods could currently only be counted as Two Gods, even with just two Gods, if Snezhnaya dared to confront Liyue head-on…
The lighter consequence would be that Snezhnaya might have to welcome its third Cryo Archon. Of course, the greater possibility was that the seven nations would become six, and Snezhnaya would henceforth belong to Liyue.
As far as Ningguang knew, the Marshal had always wanted to study whether Snezhnaya's soil was suitable for farming…
So if the situation Ningguang described really occurred, um… the Marshal would probably smile very happily.
Therefore, even Ningguang herself felt that she had been overly cautious, even to the point of overthinking.
She herself considered this reason superfluous.
Thus, the real situation was actually:
"Eh? The Rex Lapis visited me in a dream!" Paimon's eyes grew even wider as she exclaimed in shock.
"So the matter of Rex Lapis's passing is indeed fake." Lumine also expressed her shock.
Just now, they had learned a shocking truth.
Ningguang personally admitted that her explanation about worrying the Fatui would act first was only an excuse. The real reason was that on the night of the Rite of Descension, she had seen Rex Lapis's figure in a dream.
He claimed to be the lingering divine will of the late Emperor and had specially come to instruct Ningguang not to let anyone see his remains — including the Adepti. Rex Lapis did not wish for anyone to mourn him.
The people of Liyue should look forward.
[Loud laughter, family. Zhongli has really started using any means necessary in order to eat at his own funeral!]
[We still haven't confirmed that Zhongli is the Geo God, although it's already basically face-up.]
[Emperor: I guarded against everyone, but I couldn't guard against the animated short film released by miHoYo.]
[Zhongli: Before I get to eat at my own funeral, no one is allowed to see my corpse!]
"…After all, he claimed to be Rex Lapis's divine will, and after I woke up, I discovered that although I had agreed in the dream, I had indeed formed a contract with Rex Lapis."
"Therefore, I could only find excuses to prevent the Adepti from searching for the whereabouts of the Exuvia."
"However, regarding whether Rex Lapis has truly passed away, as a mere mortal, I naturally cannot speculate on it."
Ningguang explained.
This was the real truth of the matter.
"Al-alright. Since that's the case, we will keep it a secret for you." Lumine said, unsure how to react.
Although they had always had suspicions, suddenly learning such a shocking truth still required time to digest.
"I suddenly learned so much information, I feel like my brain can't process it all." Paimon said while holding her head, "Miss Ningguang, is it okay if we end the conversation here for today?"
"I feel that she and I should not continue receiving new information at this time."
Ningguang smiled lightly: "Of course that's fine. However… actually, I have already told you two everything I know."
"Then, Miss Ningguang, we'll take our leave. Goodbye." Lumine said, then led Paimon toward the exit of the Jade Chamber.
"Please wait." Ningguang suddenly called out to the two.
"When guests who bring a meeting gift come to my place, I always return the courtesy. Not only did you two bring a meeting gift, you also brought such important information…"
"If I don't show some appreciation, it would be rather unjustifiable." Ningguang smiled, "As a return gift, you two may choose any one item you like from here and take it with you."
[Rich ladies really speak with such grandeur. Every single thing in this room would be a priceless antique if converted to reality.]
[Too polite. There's even a return gift… Can I have the Jade Chamber?]
[Really? Then I like you, Ningguang. Can you come home with me and be my wife?]
[The person in front who wants to eat and take at the same time is going a bit too far.]
"Really?" Paimon's eyes sparkled as her gaze subconsciously drifted toward the papers on that wall.
The paper scraps without key information were worthless, but what about a whole sheet? The merchants of Liyue Harbor would definitely be interested, right?
"Miss Ningguang, you're too kind. Neither I nor Paimon know how to appraise antiques or appreciate cultural relics. If we really took something from your room, we would just sell it at an antique shop in Liyue Harbor."
"If you truly wish to return the courtesy, why not just give us something practical instead?"
Lumine stopped Paimon's idea before she could act on it and spoke first.
"Of course, no problem." Ningguang smiled.
Before long, Lumine and Paimon walked out of the Jade Chamber carrying eight hundred thousand Mora.
The "small amount" of Mora that Ningguang casually gave them was already a huge sum that would require the two of them to work hard for a very long time.
"I feel like even the potted plant in Ningguang's office is worth more than eight hundred thousand Mora." Paimon felt like they had lost out.
"If you had chosen the paper on that wall, we wouldn't even have gotten eight hundred thousand Mora." Lumine, on the other hand, was quite satisfied.
After all, the meeting gift had been given by Chen Yuan, and the information had all come from Jun Bai. This trip was essentially just running an errand and they had received eight hundred thousand Mora for free.
Lumine still remembered what Jun Bai had said — Ningguang was a businesswoman. If she had really taken an item according to Ningguang's suggestion, Lumine was certain she would have to pay it back later.
Taking eight hundred thousand Mora as a "tip" versus taking one hundred million Mora and owing a merchant a favor.
Lumine still felt the former was better.
"Please wait, you two."
A female voice called out to the two, but this time it was not Ningguang. It was the woman in black clothes whom Lumine and Paimon did not recognize.
So she hadn't left the Jade Chamber?
"Excuse me, are you two the Traveler and Paimon?" Yunshang came before them, "Nice to meet you. I am Yunshang, the deputy of the Ziwei Star of the Guili Assembly."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance. They did not know the other party's purpose in looking for them, but out of politeness, they still introduced themselves:
"Hello, I am her guide, Paimon."
"Hello, I am the Traveler, Lumine."
"Hello, you two. My brother has mentioned you before."
Yunshang added: "My brother is Xuanjian, the Ziwei Star of the Guili Assembly."
"Oh, so you're Xuanjian's younger sister. No wonder I felt like I had seen you somewhere before." Paimon suddenly realized.
"May I ask why Miss Yunshang is looking for us?" Lumine asked.
"You two are friends of the Marshal, so there is no need to be so formal. You may simply call me Yunshang." Yunshang said, "The reason I am looking for you two is that I have a commission that requires your assistance."