"But Qiu Nian, you really left at the perfect time."
"During the day, that sea monster suddenly appeared! You should've seen it—it was bigger than a mountain!"
Hu Tao exaggerated dramatically while talking to him.
"I was probably still on my way to Jueyun Karst at that time."
"But I did hear about it afterward."
Qiu Nian nodded.
"Then Consultant Qiu Nian really missed out."
"The scene was incredible!"
"The Jade Chamber smashed right down and pushed that sea monster back into the ocean."
Hu Tao shook her head with regret.
"Tsk tsk…"
"Rex Lapis had barely passed away when that sea monster suddenly appeared."
Hu Tao rested her chin on her hand, muttering suspiciously.
"Well, never mind."
"This Director still has something more important to do."
"You two get some rest. I'm heading to that haunted place."
After saying that, Hu Tao waved and walked toward the door.
"Safe travels, Director."
Zhongli said while watching her leave.
Hu Tao waved a hand and stepped out of the funeral parlor.
Under Zhongli's gaze, Qiu Nian carried his large sack of belongings upstairs.
When he came back down later, he found Zhongli already seated at a table downstairs.
"That haunted place the Director mentioned…"
"It should be the home of the father and son you asked me to meet earlier, correct?"
Qiu Nian asked as he descended the stairs.
"Correct."
"I first asked the father and son to find you."
"Then I sent them to Director Hu."
Zhongli nodded.
"It seems Osial has abandoned his divine core…"
"That means he has also relinquished his hatred toward Liyue."
"For him, the current outcome is likely the best possible one."
Zhongli said thoughtfully.
"He may have let go of his hatred toward Liyue."
"But he certainly hasn't let go of his hatred toward you."
Qiu Nian said with amusement.
"Haha…"
Zhongli chuckled softly and walked toward the window.
"Osial was pierced by stone spears and sealed for countless years."
"His hatred toward me is unquestionable."
"But as long as he holds no malice toward Liyue…"
"…that is enough."
Zhongli looked out at the brightly lit streets outside.
Thinking of Osial's choice, memories from thousands of years ago surfaced in his mind.
Before long, he drifted into quiet reminiscence.
Seeing this, Qiu Nian didn't disturb him.
Instead, he returned to his room in the loft.
After lying down on the bed, he slowly closed his eyes.
Though he no longer needed sleep—
He still enjoyed it.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window and fell across Qiu Nian's face.
He opened his eyes, got up, and washed up just like an ordinary person.
After greeting Hu Tao and several employees in the funeral parlor, he stepped outside.
"The Rite of Parting…"
Qiu Nian murmured with a faint smile.
The streets were filled with Liyue citizens heading toward Yujing Terrace.
Qiu Nian joined the crowd.
As soon as he arrived, he spotted Lumine and Paimon waving at him.
They quickly walked over.
"Good morning, Qiu Nian."
Lumine greeted him.
"Good morning."
Qiu Nian replied with a smile.
"There are so many people coming to watch the Rite of Parting."
"Well, it makes sense—it's the ceremony for Rex Lapis, after all."
Paimon said while spreading her hands.
At that moment, they overheard two people nearby talking.
"…Now that the Rite of Parting is being held…"
"That means those rumors must be true."
The man with the headscarf said while gesturing.
"So the old Rex Lapis really…"
"But where's the killer?"
Another man asked in confusion.
"Obviously anyone who could assassinate Rex Lapis wouldn't be ordinary."
"I don't believe those suspicious people everyone's talking about."
The first man shook his head.
"But there's one rumor that sounds pretty believable!"
"I heard it was a young Fatui official with a high position!"
"I think his name was… Childe!"
He confidently shifted the blame onto Childe.
"Pfft—"
Paimon couldn't help laughing.
"The Fatui?"
"That's definitely suspicious! Everyone knows they're greedy and crooked!"
The other man said angrily.
"Keep your voice down!"
"What if the Fatui hear you? Rex Lapis isn't around to protect you anymore!"
The first man quickly warned him.
"Haha…"
"I never expected the blame to pass around like this and end up landing on Childe."
Qiu Nian said, covering his mouth as he chuckled.
"Childe is really having a rough time, hahaha."
Xuehua burst into laughter while watching.
[Childe: Wait, I assassinated Rex Lapis? Since when?!]
[The blame used to be on Qiu Nian, now it's on Childe]
[Somewhere out there Childe is taking the blame again]
[I can literally picture his face]
"Let's go."
"The Millelith look like they're about to make an announcement."
"We should take a look."
Qiu Nian said.
The three of them walked closer.
On the steps stood Fengyan, the Millelith instructor.
Below him gathered a massive crowd of Liyue citizens, including the three of them.
Then Fengyan began to speak.
"Hear the official proclamation of the Liyue Qixing!"
"Know this: dragons and qilin, though they may live as long as mountains, will eventually return to dust."
"The Archon whose life rivaled the sun and moon has now met the ordained calamity of heaven."
"Rumors speak of assassination, yet such claims are false."
"The Geo Archon encountered a heavenly tribulation and returned his soul to the heavens."
"Let all the people of Liyue mourn in peace, but guard their hearts from excessive grief."
"And let none heed wild rumors or reckless speculation!"
After finishing the loud and powerful declaration, Fengyan turned and left.
"…Uh…"
"Can someone translate that for me?"
"What did the Qixing actually say?"
Paimon asked blankly.
"It means Rex Lapis wasn't assassinated."
Qiu Nian replied calmly.
"He failed to survive a heavenly tribulation."
"And was struck to death by lightning."
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