Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Kong and Paimon got up early the next day because today was the day of the "Sending Off the Immortals Ceremony".

Paimon: "Let's go, Sky. I'm really curious how Seven Stars will announce the news."

Kong: "No rush, there's still some time before the 'Sending Off the Immortals Ceremony' begins. Shall we go get some breakfast first?"

Upon hearing this, Paimon immediately clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Yes, yes, yes! I want to eat!"

Kong wasn't surprised at all by Paimon's answer. Coincidentally, when they arrived at Wanmintang to order some morning tea, they discovered that the table opposite them was occupied by Xuanqing and Xuanyue.

Xuan Yue was still yawning, looking sleepy. Xuan Qing, on the other hand, was carrying a list, probably planning to buy something.

"Grandpa Qingyue! And Jin Xuan!" Paimeng spoke first, attracting their attention. When Xuanyue invited them to sit down, Xuanqing handed over the menu beside him and said, "Order whatever you want. We just arrived."

Empty: "I'm a little embarrassed..."

Xuan Yue was quite easygoing: "Oh, don't be shy, there's no need to save Molar for A Qing. Eat whatever you want. We just arrived not long ago and haven't ordered yet. It's just a matter of adding two more sets of chopsticks and bowls."

Xuanqing: "Yes, Ayue is right. He didn't eat dinner last night and was starving. It was just too late then, and all the shops on the street were closed, so we planned to bring him here this morning to order a few more dishes."

Paimon: "Hey? What time did you guys get back yesterday? You didn't even have dinner, and Jin Xuan looks like he just woke up..."

Xuan Yue shook her head helplessly and said, "I really had a hard time last night, I spent the whole night mediating fights!"

Xuan Qing (tactically turns his head): ...

Seeing Xuan Qing's reaction, Kong guessed, "Could it be that Qing Yue and Zhong Li changed locations and started fighting again after we left...?"

Xuan Yue: "Oh, no. He fought with Zhongli once before, and they won't fight again anytime soon. Now that the matter is over, the immortals know the reason. So last night we went back to Jueyun with Zhongli."

Paimon: "Isn't this great?"

“The focus this time isn’t Zhongli, but this guy.” Xuan Yue pointed at Xuan Qing and continued, “When Liu Yun helped Xuan Qing treat him before, he knew that his soul was damaged. Now that Zhongli has corroborated this time, he can no longer hide his previous situation from Jueyun. After he told the whole story, he was lectured by Li Shui, Xiao Yue and the others... I spent the whole night persuading them to calm down.”

Xuan Qing: "Then we lingered in Jueyun for a long time, and it was late at night when we came back."

Paimon: "Hmm... I can't believe that even the serious and composed Grandpa Qingyue would be lectured..."

Xuan Qing: "I didn't expect them to react this way at first, even though I'm not Xuan Yue..."

Xuan Yue (→_→): "Hey, you're clearly more worrying than me! First, the 'order' was out of balance, then there was the inner conflict... If we hadn't discovered it early, you'd be out of control by now!"

Xuan Qing: "Uh... I'm fine, aren't I? I know what I'm doing..."

Xuan Yue (staring): "Hmm—"

Xuan Qing: "Okay, I won't do it again next time."

Paimon: "Um...oh no! We'd better order quickly, or we might miss the 'Fairy Ceremony'."

Xuan Yue: "Yes, yes, yes! Hurry up!"

Xuan Yue and Paimon immediately picked up the menu and checked the boxes before they felt relieved. Not long after, their breakfast was served.

Paimon: "Ah, so satisfying! Thank you so much, Grandpa Qingyue, for the treat!"

Kong: "Yes, thank you so much, Qingyue."

Xuan Qing: "It's nothing, Mora isn't anything valuable to me."

Paimon: "Uh, such a lavish statement, when can I say something like that?"

Sora: "Hmm... I guess Paimon just needs to eat less."

Paimon: "...Then let's forget about it."

Xuan Yue: "Haha... Oh right, the 'Sending Off the Immortals Ceremony' should be starting soon, right?"

Xuan Qing: "There's still an hour left. We have plenty of time to walk there now."

Upon hearing this, Paimon immediately clapped his hands and said, "Then what are we waiting for! Let's go!"

Sora: "Do you want to come together?"

Xuan Qing shook his head, then picked up the list from his hand and said, "I have to go back to Jueyun Realm this afternoon. I need to get some gifts for Liu Yun and the others first, so I might miss the 'Sending Off Immortals Ceremony'."

Xuan Yue: "Hmm... I really want to go too, but I'll pass this time. Xuan Qing doesn't discriminate when choosing gifts, and I don't trust him to buy gifts."

"If we're going to give gifts, shouldn't we make a magic weapon for Liu Yun, send some new varieties of flowers to Li Shui, and give tea to Xiao Yue?"

“Liu Yun wants a mechanism, not a magic weapon! Li Shui wants the Sumeru Rose, and Xiao Yue doesn’t want tea leaves, she wants Zhongli! And Ping’er’s guqin needs to be made of sandalwood!” Xuan Yue corrected.

Xuanqing glanced at the list again: "I see... I'll write it down again."

Xuan Yue couldn't help but sigh and rub her forehead, "Look, I have to keep an eye on him."

"Alright then, we'll head over now. Bye-bye!" Paimon and Kong politely bid farewell to the two and then walked towards Yujingtai.

Just then, a messenger from the Thousand Rocks Army arrived: "A proclamation from the Seven Stars Officials—"

Everyone should know: Even the most powerful dragons and soaring unicorns, though their lifespan may be as long as mountains, will eventually turn to dust.

The Emperor is a celestial being, his destiny equal to the sun and moon, yet his fate is subject to change, and he is destined to face a tribulation of lightning.

The rumors and gossip circulating in the streets that the Japanese emperor was assassinated are not true.

The Emperor has suffered a celestial calamity and his soul has returned to the heavens. Therefore, this is announced to Liyue, and we pray that all people will find solace and avoid further heartbreak.

Furthermore, do not believe rumors circulating in the streets or make unfounded speculations.

After listening to the announcement, Paimon was impressed by the rich Liyue culture, because… she didn't understand a single word: “Empty~”

Kong sighed and translated for Paimon, "He said the Emperor didn't die from an assassination attempt, but rather was undergoing a tribulation..."

Paimon: "Eh... Seven Stars' explanation has turned out like this... Something's not right. How could they give up on finding the culprit so quickly? And this reason... feels like it was just something they came up with on the spot."

Paimon: "Hmm...did Zhongli secretly tell them after he completed the 'Heart of God' transaction?"

Empty: "When did Paimon become so smart?"

Paimon: "Hehe, hurry up, hurry up! I can already see so many people! Let's hurry and grab a spot, or we won't be able to see anything!"

Kong and Paimon quickly squeezed into the front row of people. Luckily, they had arrived early, otherwise it would have been difficult to get in. There were far more people than at the "Invitation Ceremony" back then, and most of them were from Liyue. It seemed that they had all come to see off the "Geo King".

Paimon: "Ah, it's Ningguang and Keqing. What are they talking about?"

Ningguang: "...Just as I said, the Emperor's soul returning to the heavens signifies the severance of the 'contract' and the end of an era."

Stone: "A 'contract' of 3,700 years, burning and burning, turned into ashes..."

Ningguang: "The people of Liyue were once happy, forgetting the cruelty of time in their happiness."

Ying'er: "The long dream of the 'Land of Gods' seems endless..."

Grandma Ping: ...

Ningguang: "After the dream ends, people learn to say goodbye. After the 'contract' is re-established, will you—bless the next era?"

After Ningguang finished her speech, Shi Qing also went on stage. She first looked around at the crowd, and then spotted Paimon and Kong in the front row.

Paimon: "Huh? Why does she seem to be looking this way?" Before she could finish speaking, she heard: "Traveler."

Paimon: "Wow! She's really looking this way!"

Citizens: "Is that the legendary traveler who repelled the ancient gods...?"

Members of the public commented: "So young..."

People in the neighborhood were praising him, and he felt a little embarrassed.

Keqing: "The Liyue Seven Stars always repay kindness. And you've probably heard that we have connections everywhere and are capable of anything. — Name your reward, because it is what you deserve."

Paimon: "Wow..."

Kong: "Then, please help me put up a few 'Missing Person' notices."

This has always been his most sincere wish.