"Though I have no desire to vie for power, I know the suffering of the common people."

"I only wish to cleanse the four corners of the world and protect this corner of the floating realm."

Qingyi murmured softly.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuan glanced at the storyteller on stage and immediately understood.

The tale being told was none other than that of Liyue's divine ruler, the Geo Archon.

It wasn't the first time Zhu Yuan had heard this title. Keqing had mentioned it, Paimon had mentioned it, even Kuki Shinobu had brought it up... The Liyue of today was the land founded by that very Geo Archon.

She sighed.

"Paimon and Keqing both said the Geo Archon was incredibly powerful," Zhu Yuan said quietly. "But it's a pity—that god has already passed away..."

Qingyi added softly, "They also said there isn't just one Archon here, but seven."

If the chance came, she very much wanted to meet one of the living gods, to see what made them so extraordinary that they surpassed even the Adepti.

...

Soon after, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Soldier 11, and President Mikhail of the Hollows Investigation Association returned together to Yujing Terrace.

As they approached the backyard, before they even entered, Paimon's angry voice rang out:

"Stop it already! Itto, Billy—can't you two take your bug-fighting outside? You're making my head spin!"

When they stepped into the courtyard, sure enough, they found Arataki Itto, Billy, and Guoba huddled together, in the middle of a heated bug-fighting match.

The round ended.

Guoba raised his paws in triumph. "Lu-lu-lu—!"

Arataki Itto groaned. "Lost to Guoba again... just a little more and my Red Cloud Oni-maru would've won!"

Billy looked just as downcast. "Guoba really is a natural at bug-fighting..."

Then both Billy and Itto noticed Zhu Yuan and the others had returned.

They quickly shouted toward the house: "We found them! Zhu Yuan and Qingyi are back! Paimon, no need to worry anymore—they're here!"

Hearing that, Paimon immediately flew out. "Where?!"

Keqing, the Traveler, Xiangling, Nicole, Sam Li, and the others all came out as well.

When she saw Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, Keqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. "We finally found you."

Paimon crossed her arms. "We agreed yesterday to visit Ningguang at the Jade Chamber together. But when I woke up, you'd all vanished... Ganyu said you went to Tianheng Mountain, but it's so big, we searched everywhere and still couldn't find you!"

Seeing her upset, Zhu Yuan quickly apologized. "Sorry. We wanted to climb Tianheng Mountain and see the view on the other side, so we were delayed..."

Tsukishiro Yanagi also bowed her head slightly. "It was our fault. Please forgive us."

Hearing their apologies, Paimon sighed helplessly. "I'm not blaming you. I was just afraid we'd waste too much time, and then Ningguang wouldn't have time to see you."

In Liyue, the people all knew Yuheng Keqing as the workaholic, always diligent and responsible.

What they didn't know was that Tianquan Ningguang was just the same. It was only that Ningguang spent most of her time in the Jade Chamber above, so the people rarely saw her busy.

Tsukishiro Yanagi quickly said, "Then let's head to the Jade Chamber now and pay respects to Lady Ningguang."

Xiangling interjected, "It's already noon. Even Tianquan has to eat. Why don't we eat first, then visit afterward? It won't be too late."

Paimon nodded in agreement. "That's right, let's go eat at Wanmin Hall!"

At that, everyone turned to Keqing.

After all, she was the final decision-maker—and the expenses at Wanmin Hall would be charged to Yujing Terrace.

Keqing nodded. "We'll do as Xiangling suggests. Xiangling, I'll leave it to you."

"Leave it to me!" Xiangling said cheerfully. "I'll head to Wanmin Hall right away and start preparing."

With that, she called Guoba and headed off toward Wanmin Hall.

...

Back in the courtyard, with Guoba gone, Arataki Itto finally won a round of insect-fighting. He jumped up, ecstatic. "I finally won!"

Billy covered his face and sighed. "Why do I still keep losing..."

Paimon floated over, arms crossed. "Billy, Itto, enough games. Clean up and let's head to Wanmin Hall together."

Itto laughed. "At least I can eat in a good mood now that I've won one."

Billy just groaned, speechless.

Paimon tilted her head. "Billy... don't tell me you didn't win a single round?"

Billy froze. "..."

When Guoba was there, he lost to Guoba.

Once Guoba left, he lost to Itto.

No matter what, he just couldn't win.

Could it be... that his bug-fighting skills were really that bad?

...

A short while later, everyone gathered at Wanmin Hall. Just like the night before, they ordered two large tables full of dishes, making Master Mao beam with delight.

As they ate, Qingyi's mind drifted back to the tribe she had seen at the foot of Tianheng Mountain that morning, and she asked the question that had been weighing on her.

"What exactly are those Hilichurl? Are they a kind of Thiren native to Liyue?"

Hearing this, Keqing blinked. "Thiren?"

After a pause, she realized Qingyi was referring to the special races of New Eridu.

For example, Nekomata was a cat Thiren, while from Section 6 of Hollow Special Operations, there was the Oni Thiren Soukaku.

In Keqing's eyes, Thiren seemed similar to half-youkais of Inazuma—carrying demon blood, showing some demonic traits, but unable to fully transform into monsters.

Clearly, the Hilichurl were not Thiren. And there were no Thiren in Liyue.

Keqing shook her head. "Hilichurl aren't Thiren."

Qingyi pressed further. "If they're not Thiren, then what exactly are Hilichurl?"

What were Hilichurl, really?

Even Keqing didn't know for certain.

After a moment of thought, she said, "Hilichurl are simply Hilichurl. As for where they came from, I don't know. But the Geo Archon once said something—he called them sinners, but also the most pitiful of people... The Geo Archon instructed us: as long as Hilichurl do not actively harm others, we should not fight them."

And it wasn't just Liyue.

Other nations across Teyvat also had systems for coexisting with the Hilichurl.

After listening, Qingyi looked even more puzzled.

Beside her, Paimon and the Traveler leaned in as well—they were just as curious.

The Traveler had once thought Hilichurl were the descendants of survivors from Khaenri'ah.

But later, she was shocked to learn that Hilichurl had existed for over a thousand years, while the Khaenri'ah war had happened only five hundred years ago.