Yu Jin walked on the streets of Liyue as usual. Several days had passed since he meticulously tutored Childe.
During this time, he had secretly snuck into the Northland Bank, wanting to test Childe's learning progress.
But unfortunately, Childe seemed to have gone out for something. Yu Jin searched the entire Northland Bank but couldn't find any trace of him.
Thinking of this, Yu Jin shook his head with some regret. To be honest, torturing—oh no, teaching Childe was quite fun, but it seemed he wouldn't have that chance now.
When would he catch a Harbinger again to torture him? This thought suddenly popped into Yu Jin's mind.
He looked up, seeing a sea of people. It seemed that to meet a Harbinger, it depended on who was fated to meet him.
Looking at the crowd, Yu Jin stroked his chin. From his observations, the number of people in Liyue had been increasing recently, but it seemed the number of vendors was decreasing, which was a strange phenomenon.
Yu Jin scratched his head; it was itchy, as if he was about to grow a brain. Then he gave up thinking. Strange was strange; it wouldn't affect him anyway.
After realizing this, Yu Jin started walking again. Although he had no Mora in his pocket, looking didn't cost money.
The small trinkets of Liyue were still very interesting.
"Senior!"
"Yu Jin!"
Familiar voices came from a distance. Yu Jin turned his head and saw Lumine and Paimon, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
Seeing their dusty appearance, they probably hadn't been in Liyue for long.
"Oh, it's you two," Yu Jin replied indifferently. Lumine and Paimon's arrival brought some surprise, but not much.
"Hey! Why do you sound like you don't welcome us at all?" Paimon flew over and asked with a speechless expression.
They had greeted Yu Jin from afar, but he didn't show any surprise at all.
Actually, Lumine and Paimon were overthinking it. Yu Jin's attitude only depended on the person; other "states" like reunion or separation didn't affect him.
Yu Jin looked up at Paimon, who was flying around and looking everywhere, and asked, as if possessed, "You two weren't invited for tea by the Millelith?"
"Why would Senior ask that? We haven't done anything bad," Lumine spread her hands, looking puzzled.
"Stare—"
Yu Jin remained silent, quietly staring at Paimon, who was suspended in the Sky, without speaking.
The bustling passersby were numerous, but none noticed Paimon's anomaly.
"Never mind, I asked a foolish question," Yu Jin waved his hand, saying helplessly. Paimon's trick was quite useful; he wondered when he could try to rerun it.
"I say, you two, why did you come so slowly? Is the road to Liyue that difficult?" Yu Jin asked casually as he walked with Paimon and Lumine.
"Hmm… that's a long story," Lumine scratched her head, not knowing where to start.
"Heh, this is amazing! I'm telling you, along the way, we taught many Treasure Hoarders and monsters a lesson, and helped many people!"
Paimon said, even waving her fist, as if she had fought alongside them.
But soon, Lumine exposed Paimon's secret: "I was the one doing all the work along the way, alright? You just focused on eating. I asked you to fly higher to scout, but you refused."
"Hey! You can't put it that way, alright? Without my cheering, could you have fought so powerfully? Besides, if you ask me to scout, aren't you afraid I'll be blown away by the wind?"
Paimon argued indignantly. She was useless at everything but was the best at deflecting blame.
"I'll try!" Lumine said, pulling Paimon's starry scarf. As her hand moved, Paimon flew in that direction, looking like a balloon.
"Alright, I believe you," Lumine said, looking at the pouting Paimon and letting go of her hand. Looking at her like this, Paimon really might be blown away by the wind.
After playfully bickering with Paimon for a while, Lumine glanced over and saw Yu Jin deep in thought.
"Senior, what are you thinking about?" Lumine came in front of Yu Jin and waved her hand, asking.
"Uh… I was thinking that there were many people just now, but why are there fewer and fewer now?"
Yu Jin looked up. The street was still crowded, but compared to before, there were far fewer people.
Who knew Lumine slapped her forehead, realizing belatedly, "Oh no! If I remember correctly, the Rite of Descension is today!"
"Hmm? Is that so?" Yu Jin was also surprised to hear this. The Rite of Descension was about to begin? How did he not feel anything?
If that was the case, did it mean he could see Morax kick the bucket today?
Yu Jin immediately became excited. He pointed his finger and shouted, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go join the fun!"
After speaking, Yu Jin dashed towards the high Yujing Terrace.
"Hey! Senior, wait for me, don't run so fast!" Lumine saw this and also scurried after him.
Actually, the Rite of Descension was Lumine's main purpose for coming to Liyue, but she had forgotten it just now because she was talking so happily with Yu Jin… The Rite of Descension was Liyue's annual grand event. On this day, the Qixing would choose one person to offer sacrifices to the heavens and invite the Archons on Yujing Terrace.
When the auspicious time arrived, the Geo Archon Morax, who had ruled Liyue for a thousand years, would descend from the heavens, bestow a divine oracle, and guide Liyue's development for the coming year.
During this time, Yujing Terrace would always be packed with people. Some would even camp near Yujing Terrace several days before the Rite of Descension, just to snatch a good spot to view the Archon.
After all, this was one of the few opportunities for the people of Liyue to see the Archon of their nation, so no amount of effort was too much.
"So many people, why does it feel familiar?" Yu Jin's feet left the ground, achieving unpowered movement once again.
This scene was exactly like what he had seen during the Onmyouji Tournament. It seemed that people from various nations were very enthusiastic about meeting their Archons.
"Paimon, fly higher, what's the situation inside!" Not far away, Lumine, amidst the crowd, directed Paimon to scout the center of Yujing Terrace.
"No one! It looks like just one large incense burner and a few small ones," Paimon tried to fly higher and then told Lumine.
"The auspicious time has not arrived; it is not yet time to invite the Archons," someone in the crowd replied to Lumine.
"Then why are they crowding so much!" Yu Jin complained when he heard this. It hadn't even started, and they were already pushing so hard?
Then Yu Jin exerted a little force and easily squeezed out of the crowd. Looking at the congested crowd, Yu Jin quietly moved further away.
One more or one less of him didn't matter. He would leave the spot for meeting the Archon to the enthusiastic people of Liyue—after all, he could climb onto the rooftop to watch.
He walked to the outer circle, squatted down. Yu Jin then began to wait idly for the so-called "auspicious time."
His gaze penetrated the crowd, and he saw many things.
Hmm? Ningguang was rehearsing a speech? It seemed she would be the host of this year's Rite of Descension.
Hmm, Lumine now had two elements within her, and her strength had recovered a lot. It seemed she had gained a lot during her journey.
Hmm? Why did that sneaky guy look so familiar? Why was a Fatui Harbinger here to watch the Rite of Descension?
Yu Jin stroked his chin; he smelled a conspiracy. Generally speaking, wasn't this a great opportunity to cause trouble? Why did Childe have the leisure to come and watch the Rite of Descension?
There must be some conspiracy behind this!
On the outskirts of Yujing Terrace, Childe was walking aimlessly. He was aware of every step he took.
While circling Yujing Terrace, he also used the surrounding walls and trees to conceal himself.
The Rite of Descension was a good thing; it would allow him, Childe, to see Liyue's true colors.
Childe, hidden among the tree branches, rolled his eyes. He had almost found all the guards, both obvious and hidden.
"Heh heh, Liyue, nothing more than this," Childe's confidence returned. Now he was confident he could fight his way through Yujing Terrace and retreat unharmed.
"I haven't seen Liyue's Geo Archon yet, I'll go take a look!" Childe grinned, then jumped towards a cluster of bushes.
"Get down here!"
Childe failed to jump into the bushes.
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