"I originally thought that once the Rite of Parting was over, I could accompany you to Liyue Harbor to drink tea and listen to opera. But now, I still have to help you find your runaway 'little trouble'."
Hearing this, Zhongli revealed a very faint smile, but it was quickly replaced by solemnity. "No matter. Once the matter at hand is resolved, I will personally find Yunqin."
"I will clearly explain to her, one by one, why her background was hidden back then and why her memories were sealed."
"She shouldn't live in a lie, much less be bound by the label of a 'descendant of a god' for her entire life."
The two exchanged a glance. Without the need for many words, they tacitly began to discuss their next plan.
They needed to find Yunqin as soon as possible to prevent her from being bewitched by the Abyss again, while also sending people to track the Abyss, figure out its true purpose, and find out if there were any other Abyssal creatures lurking.
At the same time, the follow-up matters of the Rite of Parting could not be delayed. The act of Rex Lapis's "fall" had to be played out to the end, ensuring the people of Liyue wouldn't notice anything amiss.
Not long after, Lumine and Paimon returned dejectedly.
They didn't find the two of them inside the cave.
Using Elemental Sight, Lumine led Paimon to a high vantage point outside the cave, where they found Zhongli and Venti.
The terrain here was open, overlooking the entirety of Cuijue Slope.
Hearing footsteps, the two gods tacitly paused their conversation, their gazes falling upon Lumine simultaneously.
Their eyes held a tranquil, all-knowing look that made Lumine feel a bit uneasy, prompting her to subconsciously scratch her cheek.
Paimon hid behind Lumine, only poking her little head out to mutter softly, "Why are you looking at the Traveler like that? It's weird, almost like you're planning to sell her for Mora."
"Haha, little Paimon is as amusing as ever." Venti chuckled, his lighthearted laughter dispelling some of the solemnity. "We wouldn't sell the Traveler. After all, she is the most special 'variable' in Teyvat. She might just be the one to help us break this deadlock."
Zhongli also nodded. "Let us speak of Yunqin first. Did you catch up to her? Did she say anything?"
Paimon sighed, filled with disappointment. "We chased her halfway, but she suddenly disappeared..."
"Yunqin's seal has loosened, and she should have recovered quite a bit of her original power," Zhongli said slowly, his tone filled with certainty. "Coupled with the adeptal arts and martial arts she has learned over the years, ordinary monsters cannot hurt her. There is no need to worry too much."
"Wow, you're so calm, Zhongli!" Paimon widened her round eyes and pointed a little finger at Zhongli. "You don't look worried about Yunqin at all! Aren't you afraid she'll be taken away by the Abyss?"
"It's not that we aren't worried, but there is a more thorny issue right in front of us." Venti dropped his smile.
Lumine and Paimon perked up their ears and leaned in closer to the two: "What is it? Even more troublesome than Yunqin going missing?"
Venti and Zhongli exchanged a glance.
This matter had to be told to Lumine.
Venti took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "There is still a possibility of resurrecting Lydia."
"Wh-What?!" Paimon froze in mid-air, almost screaming. "Isn't Lydia already..."
"Are you telling the truth? What conditions are needed to resurrect Lydia?" Lumine froze in place, her eyes wide.
Venti recounted his experience with Albedo in Dragonspine and told the others everything the "Abyss" had said in full detail.
"Lydia was killed by the Abyss. Since they dared to bring this up, it means they might actually have some leverage in their hands." He paused and looked at Zhongli. "We cannot let go of even the slightest possibility."
Zhongli added, his tone solemn: "Moreover, the Abyss's goal is definitely not just to use Lydia's resurrection to blackmail Venti. Once Venti compromises to resurrect Lydia, a vulnerability will appear in Mondstadt, and the Abyss will seize the opportunity to invade."
Lumine looked at the serious expressions of the two Gods, her tone firm: "If there is any way I can help, I will not hesitate."
Venti smiled: "With your help, things will be much easier."
"But for now, we need to find Yunqin first—after all, that child's identity is not simple. If she keeps hiding, we won't be able to focus on dealing with the Abyss in peace."
The four of them stood on the high ground, gazing at the churning sea of clouds in the distance. The sunlight poured over them, yet it brought little warmth.
The shadow of the Abyss still loomed over Teyvat. The missing girl, the hope of resurrection, and the unfinished Rite of Parting lay before them like a series of heavy dilemmas.
-
At this moment, inside a hidden cave.
Yunqin curled up in the deepest corner of the cave, her back pressed tightly against the cold rock wall, as if this was the only way she could draw a trace of security.
The Hydro element at her fingertips flickered in the dark like restless blue fireflies, illuminating the sheer confusion in her eyes.
She was completely unaware of the faint black mist quietly permeating the cave's entrance.
The mist slowly spread along the crevices of the rock wall, silently beginning to envelop the entire cave.
The scene from earlier replayed over and over in her mind: Zhongli's silent expression, and the way the Geo Vision—which had accompanied her for so many years—trembled slightly when she pushed the Vision back to him.
The Rex Lapis she had worshipped for over a decade, praying to his clay idol every day, and the Mr. Zhongli who always listened gently to her amusing cultivation stories and brought her Sweet Madames—they were actually the exact same person.
Yet, instead of feeling awe, she had turned and fled out of the grievance of being "deceived." Subconsciously, she had even developed an unwarranted confusion regarding her identity as a descendant of the "Overlord of the Vortex."
"How did I become like this..." Yunqin bit her lower lip as her tears fell uncontrollably, striking the Hydro element in her palm and stirring up tiny ripples.
The tears, mixed with the chill of the Hydro element, dripped through her fingers onto the ground, blurring into a small damp patch.
She didn't dare go back, let alone return to Mt. Aocang.
If Master knew she treated Rex Lapis and her Vision this way, would she be deeply disappointed in her?
Would she feel that all these years of teaching had been in vain?
Would Mr. Zhongli regret not completely sealing her away back then, instead letting her become a hidden danger to Liyue?
And Lumine, that subconscious step back she took just now—was she truly afraid of this "monster"?
She was immersed in the pain of self-doubt as unfamiliar memories flashed through her mind one after another.
In the pitch-black deep sea, a massive vortex churned madly, sweeping up waves as tall as small mountains.
A god stood at the center of the vortex, his eyes holding the majesty of one who looks down upon the world, the Hydro Element swirling around him carrying the power to devour everything.
She had clearly only ever heard the name "Osial, Overlord of the Vortex" in the storytellers' tales, and even the illustrations in the storybooks were just blurry outlines.
Yet at this moment, Osial's image was as clear as if he were right in front of her eyes; even the patterns on his body could be seen with perfect clarity.