Facing Keqing's question, Ningguang smiled and said,

"The Archon Geo appeared to me in a dream and told me that he had not truly passed away, and that he had entrusted Liyue's future to us humans..."

Upon hearing this, Keqing was first overjoyed—she had never expected that the Archon Geo was still alive. But soon, disappointment followed. Such an important matter, and yet the Archon had chosen to reveal it to Ningguang in a dream and not to her.

Seeing her reaction, Ningguang smiled again.

"Of course, it wasn't just me. The Archon Geo appeared in the dreams of the other Qixing as well."

At that, Keqing could no longer hold back.

"Why didn't I know? Did the Archon only appear to you in dreams?"

Ningguang thought for a moment.

"I remember now... If I'm not mistaken, that day you were working overtime, organizing documents for the expansion of Liyue Harbor."

It had already been three years, so even Ningguang's memory of the details was faint.

But when she said this, Keqing suddenly recalled it clearly.

That was indeed the case. At that time, she had been deeply involved in the expansion project of Liyue Harbor, working late into the night every day, even sleeping at Yujing Terrace.

Thinking of this, Keqing took a deep breath.

"Since you already knew, why didn't you tell me?"

Ningguang sighed.

"Because the Archon Geo instructed us not to tell anyone about his survival."

Keqing frowned.

"Then why now..."

Ningguang replied helplessly,

"The situation is different now. For the sake of this cooperation, I had to reveal it."

However, what she told the New Eridu delegation was not that the Archon Geo had faked his death, but rather that Liyue had a second deity.

Ningguang sighed again.

"Now that I've told you the truth, perhaps the Archon Geo will appear in my dream tonight to reproach me..."

Keqing was speechless.

The Archon was broad-minded; he would never blame her for something so minor. And Ningguang had only spoken for the sake of Liyue.

After a moment of silence, Keqing asked again, taking a deep breath,

"Since Archon Geo still lives, do you know where he is now?"

If they could find the Archon, suppressing the Zero Hollows would become far easier.

Ningguang answered slowly,

"The Archon Geo, like the Adeptus, has taken on the form of a mortal and blended into the lives of the people of Liyue..."

Keqing pressed further.

"Do you know which person is the Archon's incarnation?"

Ningguang shook her head.

"Of course not. I cannot even recognize the incarnations of the Adeptus, let alone that of the Archon Geo."

Still, over the past few years, Ningguang had formed some suspicions.

Perhaps it was a merchant blessed with extraordinary luck, who had grown wealthy again and again in recent years.

Perhaps it was the innkeeper of a certain inn, always kind and hospitable.

Perhaps it was a guest scholar at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, dignified and learned in both ancient and modern matters.

But these were all guesses. Ningguang could not determine which was truly Archon Geo's incarnation, and so she had not shared these thoughts with Keqing.

Beside her, Keqing sighed softly.

"Why would the Archon do this?"

Ningguang smiled faintly.

"The Archon Geo must have his reasons."

Keqing fell silent.

Upon learning the Archon Geo still lived, she felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, her spirit suddenly much lighter.

Ever since the Archon's supposed passing, without divine protection, maintaining Liyue's standing on the continent of Teyvat had fallen to Keqing and the other Qixing. She had not failed in this duty, carrying the burden alongside Ningguang and the rest.

Standing atop the Jade Chamber, gazing into the distance, Keqing finally spoke after a long pause.

"Will the Archon Geo know about this cooperation?"

Ningguang smiled.

"The Archon Geo has merely stepped down from his position as Archon, not lost his power. He is surely still watching over Liyue from the shadows. Whatever happens here, he will know before anyone else."

Yes.

Even if the Archon had stepped away from his divine seat, he would still be there, silently protecting Liyue.

Knowing this filled Keqing with joy, though in front of Ningguang she kept her composure.

After a while, she bid farewell and left the Jade Chamber alone.

...

As soon as she teleported down, Keqing couldn't help but smile.

The teleportation staff at her side smiled as well.

"Lady Keqing, did you have a pleasant talk with Lady Ningguang?"

Keqing quickly stifled her smile, coughed lightly, and answered,

"Mm..."

Giving only that perfunctory reply, she hurried away.

Walking along the streets, her thoughts still lingered on the Archon's survival. She had never imagined that the Archon Geo's death had been faked—and that even she had been deceived.

How regretful—

If she hadn't wasted time with overtime that day, she might have received Archon's dream herself.

How regretful... to have missed something so important.

Her emotions tangled within her: regret, joy, sighs.

She didn't even notice when the Traveler and Paimon walked up beside her.

At her side, Paimon tilted her head, watching Keqing mutter and sigh to herself.

"Keqing, we meet again."

Keqing didn't seem to hear.

Paimon exchanged a puzzled glance with the Traveler. Something was strange about Keqing.

Flying closer, Paimon called again,

"Keqing, we meet again."

This time Keqing finally reacted, snapping out of her thoughts in surprise.

"Huh? Paimon? It's you two... Traveler, Paimon, when did you get here?"

The Traveler sighed.

"We've been here for a while."

Paimon spread her hands helplessly.

"We saw you from afar and came to say hello, but you didn't respond... What were you thinking about so intently?"

Without thinking, Keqing replied,

"I was thinking about the Archon Geo..."

Then she caught herself and stopped abruptly, nearly letting the truth slip.

Paimon tilted her head in confusion.

"Thinking about the Archon Geo? About what?"

Keqing quickly changed the subject.

"I suddenly remembered that in a few days, it will be the anniversary of Archon Geo's passing... I want to commemorate him first before leading the Adeptus to New Eridu."

Though she knew now that Archon still lived, publicly he was considered dead, and the memorial could not be canceled.

Hearing this, Paimon let out a sigh of relief.

For a moment, she had thought Keqing already knew that Zhongli—or Sam Li—was the Archon Geo.

Beside them, the Traveler nodded seriously.

"Mm, counting the days, it really is almost the Archon Geo's memorial. We'll gather the Adeptus and let the New Eridu people join in as well. As for the rest, we'll leave it to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Just like before, let Sam Li preside over the memorial. He's a professional."

Keqing nodded earnestly.

"Alright, let's do as you say."

Paimon let out a long, weary sigh.

"..."

Keqing tilted her head.

"What's wrong, Paimon?"

Paimon sighed again.

"I was just thinking... holding such a grand memorial for Archon Geo must make him really happy."