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Once, this was a thriving city where a certain flower bloomed in abundance. But all dreams must turn to waking. This earthly paradise was consumed by war, and those who gathered here were once again scattered.
- Liyuen Historical Records
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After departing from Chengdo, the entire Mondstadt Diplomatic convoy along with its several civilian tag-alongs traveled for several miles southwards along the eastern coastal road of Qiongji before the road eventually turned westward leading them further inland into the heart of the region.
For more than an entire day, the entire convoy traveled almost nonstop on their way to Liyue Harbor, passing through several towns and villages and only briefly stopping by during times of rest and meal. With each settlement they encountered, the banner of Mondstadt and the Lioness would furl proudly and people would always flock into the road side just to get a glimpse of the travelling heroes who are on their way to their nation's capital.
"Look Papa, Mama! Look! It's them! The ones who've said to have fought those mean monsters!" A small girl with pigtails pointed as she and her family stood by the roadside, watching the convoy.
"Wow! Look at those warriors! Are they really knights?! I've never heard of knights in shiny gold armor, they look so cool!" Her little brother added as he stared in awe at the mounted Eonian Guards who were escorting the caravan.
"I bet that the Grand Master is inside one of those enormous carriages! Oh, how I wish I could see her up close and get an autograph!" A teenage girl sighed wistfully.
In every town and village the convoy passed through the situation remains the same, the whispers of their heroic deeds continued to spread like wildfire. People from all walks of life, from the farmers in the field to the merchants in the market, all wanted to witness the brave men and women from Mondstadt who fought valiantly against the darkness. They all wanted to see them with their own two eyes hence the streets were always filled with crowds whose faces showed expressions of awe and reverence!
Yet, the group could no longer afford to stop and interact with these people any further as they too had a deadline to meet. The Rite of Descension is only 7 days away, and they had to be in Liyue Harbor before it begins! Though they came through invitation, it was still considered as a form of diplomatic courtesy to arrive early for the event.
"Not to mention there will be a few expected ceremonies planned for us once we arrive in the city. Goodness knows how much of an inconvenience that'll be." Artoria gently whispered as she looked at the adoring crowds of villagers outside her carriage's window while simultaneously stroking the head of her eldest daughter Jean who was sleeping soundly on her lap.
The rest of her children were all sprawled amongst the numerous couches inside the spacious, dimensionally manipulated carriage. Instead of returning back to her Tower in Avalon for their mid morning nap, her adorable little cubs had insisted that they wanted to sleep inside their 'cozy' carriage since their mother was there.
Venti and Bennett were seen sleeping next to each other all the while using Dvalin as a sort of warm and fuzzy pillow, much to the mini dragon's discomfort! Benny is even nibbling on the little dragon's right wing while Venti's using the left wing as a sort of blanket. Their snores came out in a synchronized manner as they both drool all over the poor dragon's body!
Barbara and Beidou on the other hand were sleeping on a separate couch, with the older one cuddling her little sister as if she was a teddy bear. Fou parked himself next to Beidou's head, curled up and sleeping.
Sir Kay had tucked himself up back into his shell, while being held by Jean. Xiao on the other hand, who was still in his fluffy and round Birb form, had perched himself on top of the sleeping turtle's shell, chirping softly as he too slept.
'Ah, this is the life.' Artoria lovingly thought as she smiled at the heartwarming scene that laid before her.
These moments of peace and tranquility, surrounded by her beloved children, were the ones that she adored the most and she needed to immortalize them! Thus she then conjured up a camera (modern earth style) using her Item Construction skill and took multiple photos of the utterly adorable scene, gushing internally as she tried her best to keep herself quiet as not to wake her slumbering babies!
'Yes, these ones are going straight to the family album! And perhaps... a few more to my (over congested) bedside table back at home!' Artoria giddily thought as she continued to take more pictures!
She may be powerful and divine, but she's still the mother she had sworn herself to be, thus she allowed herself to have these simple moments of joy and happiness…
Fleeting those moments may be, she shall cherish them all for eternity deep within her heart.
____________________
After more than a day of almost nonstop travel, most members of the traveling group, particularly the Mondstadters, began to notice that the once rugged mountainous terrain of the Qiongji Highlands had began to gave way to a vast grassland dotted by several small hills, most of which were covered by numerous Sandbearer trees of either the yellow or orange variety.
To the travelers, the area itself has a certain kind of ancient mystique to it. The tall grasses swaying gently with the wind, and the occasional cry of a distant bird added to the already serene and rustic atmosphere.
"Your Grace, we're finally here. The area which was said to have been the cradle of Liyuen Civilization, the Guili Plains." Commander Yuan commented as he rode his horse at the side of his Archon's carriage.
Artoria simply nodded in reply as she looked at the vast expanse of grassland outside her window, her expression thoughtful.
Whether it be through her knowledge of the in game lore or the several historical books she had read back in Mondstadt, Artoria knew that she was stepping into a place of immense historical significance. A place where the foundations of the nation she's currently visiting were said to have been first laid.
"I remember reading about this place back in the library. Several historical accounts all concluded that these plains were once part of an ancient flourishing and prosperous city-state known as the Guili Assembly, correct?" She asked the commander of the Eonians.
"Indeed, Your Grace. The Guili Assembly was once the center of culture and civilization in the south long before this land even became known as Liyue." Yuan affirmed. "It was a joint venture of course, a nation founded by both the Lord of Geo and the late Lady of Dust."
Artoria could see the reverence in the Fourth Company's Captain's eyes as he spoke of the ancient gods. He was, after all, born and raised in Liyue before settling in Mondstadt decades ago.
After several more miles of travel, the convoy arrived at a small Millileth Encampment situated at the northern part of the plains. Unlike the garrisons they've previously encountered back in the Stone Gate or outside of Chengdo, this one was considerably smaller with only wooden palasides surrounding the perimeter and a small watchtower erected at its center.
The encampment itself was situated on a crossroad with one road heading southward towards Liyue Harbor while the other heading westward deep towards the mountainous region of Minlin where places such as theJueyung Karst and the Cuijue Slope are located.
As the convoy approached, the encampment's gates opened, revealing a small number of Millileth soldiers rushing out in loose formation to greet them. Among them was the camp's commander, a slightly rotund man with a serious expression, who goes by the name Jiang Bing.
"Welcome Honored guests! Welcome to the Guili Plains! On behalf of the Qixing, I welcome you to our humble garrison. My name is Jiang Bing, Captain of the 55th Millileth Brigade and the commanding officer of this camp. It's an honor to have finally met the rumored heroes who had saved the northern part of our country days ago!" The commander respectfully bowed as the convoy came to a halt.
Artoria, who had just stepped out from her carriage, politely returned the gesture.
"The pleasure is all ours, Captain Jiang. I am Artoria Pendragon Gunnhildr, Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius and head of this diplomatic mission. We thank you for the warm welcome and please, there's no need to thank us. We are simply doing our part in helping out our neighbors in their time of need." She graciously replied.
Commander Jiang's stoic expression momentarily cracked as he glanced over the very eye catching Grand Master. He had not only heard rumors about her incredible strength and resilience, but also about her unrivaled grace and beauty!
'Dear Rex Lapis above! Just look at her! Those glistening golden locks, that immaculate face...those...that massive chest! Literally everything about her is flawless! A woman whose beauty transcends even that of the Tianquan herself, Lady Yu Jie!' The commander pervertedly thought as he continued to ogle at the unsuspecting Grand Master, trying his best to appear as professional and subtle as possible.
Heck, even his men, who were supposed to be standing at attention, were almost gawking, and were also trying their best to steal glances at the magnificent sight before them.
'Oh, how I wish I could bury my face straight into those mass-' Jiang's lustful thoughts were however cut short when he felt a chillingly cold sensation followed by a sharp and a not so subtle crushing grip on his left shoulder.
"Apologies Captain Jiang, but you seemed to appear dazed for a second. Did you get enough sleep last night? I do hope that your duty as the head of this garrison is not taking a toll on your health. Goodness knows what might happen if a person such as yourself had a lapse of judgement due to over fatigue." Commander Yuan's friendly yet menacing tone, along with the sheer pressure he's applying on the poor man's shoulder, quickly snapped Jiang out of his perverted fantasy.
The terrified Milileth Captain began to sweat profusely as he noticed not only the utterly menacing glare he was receiving from Yuan, but also from a young blonde knight (Varka) who stood behind the said Commander! It also didn't help that the knights who were wearing those sophisticated and intimidating golden armor (The Eonian Guards) were all staring at him with such intensity that he could almost feel his life being drained out of him!
(While all of this was happening, Artoria - bless her kaleidoscopic soul - had seemingly wandered off back into her carriage to check up on her children, completely oblivious of the intense situation that was unfolding right before her!)
"A-A-Apologies, Sir Knight! T-The heat of the midday sun must've...g-gotten into my head! Hahaha!" Jiang Bing nervously laughed as he quickly recomposed himself.
Yuan then let go of the poor man's shoulder but not before giving him a not so subtle warning glare. The commander then reverted back to his usual calm and professional demeanor.
"I see. Well then, Captain, perhaps now we could get back to the discussion at hand. We were wondering if it would be possible for us to use this encampment for the night. We've been traveling for more than a day and my men and the other civilians are quite tired." Yuan explained.
Jiang, still somewhat shaken, then replied. "I-I'm deeply sorry, honored guests, but-"
"But why?" Minister Yanjin suddenly interjected, walking out from his own carriage with a displeased look on his face.
"Minister Yanjin sir! I...I didn't expect yo...you to be here! I...I thought... you're still back in Bishui helping out with the relief efforts?!" Jiang stammered, clearly surprised by the elderly Qixing minister's sudden appearance.
"Change of plans, Captain. Matters of great importance suddenly popped up back in the capital. I simply had to return immediately." The old bureaucrat replied with a sagely tone yet still clearly displeased with the Captain's lack of foresight.
"Thankfully, the esteemed Grand Master and her entourage had graciously allowed me to join them in their journey towards Liyue Harbor." He added, gesturing towards the convoy, more specifically to Artoria's carriage.
"Now then, please do explain to us why it is not possible for us to rest here for the night? We have women and children with us who are in dire need of a proper rest. Did you not receive any report sent from your garrison back in Chengdo about our impending arrival?" The old magistrate then asked with one of his eyebrows raised.
Jiang nervously fiddled with the hem of his shirt before answering.
"W-w-we did, Minister, and we would be more than happy to accommodate you and your party, it's just that... we've recently received a large number of soldiers from the 38th brigade earlier this morning. They were on their way to Jueyung Karst to establish a new outpost there by orders of the Lord Yaoguang of the Liyue Qixing. As such, all of our barracks are currently occupied and all available spare tents and beddings are currently unavailable. I'm sorry but we have nothing left to offer you my Lords." Jiang replied, bowing his head in shame.
"Hmmm...now that's problematic." Yanjin grumbled as he stroked his long beard, a deep scowl forming on his face.
"Are there any other encampments or even villages nearby that we could stay?" Yuan inquired.
"Unfortunately, the nearest town is about fifty miles west from here, it's a remote mining town at the border near Minlin." The captain answered.
"Fifty miles westward? That would take us off the main road leading to Liyue Harbor! Going there will delay our journey further! The Rite of Descension is only about a week away!" Varka chimed in.
The entire convoy then came to a standstill as everyone tried to think of a solution to their problem.
Then all of a sudden, Minister Yanjin suddenly clapped, as if he had a brilliant idea.
"Right, I almost forgot! I think I have a solution for our little problem." The Qixing official said as he began to convey his idea with the rest of the party.
After some time of discussion, he alongside Yuan and Varka approached the Grand Master's carriage hoping to ask Artoria about her opinion concerning the current solution for their problem.
They found her gently comforting her children who appeared to have just woken up from their midday nap. Artoria noticed the three men, excused herself for a moment and went out of her carriage.
"Minister Yanjin, Commander Yuan, Varka...is there a problem?" She asked.
"Nothing too serious, Grand Master. It's just a matter of lodging for the night. Unfortunately, this camp won't be able to provide us with enough quarters for our entire group." Yuan explained.
"And the nearest town is quite far and will cause a delay to our schedule." Varka added.
Minister Yanjin then stepped forward.
"But I may have a solution, my esteemed Lady. I know a place near here where we can rest for the night. It is situated on a strategic location and even though it's already in disrepair, its walls could provide us with ample protection." The old man suggested.
"And what place might that be, Minister?" Artoria inquired, intrigued.
The old minister then pointed towards a hill a few miles south from where they were.
"The ruins of the Guili Assembly."
A flash of surprise briefly crossed Artoria's face upon hearing the name of the suggested location.
"The Guili Assembly? As in the ruins of Guili Assembly? Minister, with all due respect, I don't think it's proper for us to camp there. I'm no expert in Liyuen culture and history but I do know that the place holds significant historical value for your nation. I'm afraid that our presence may cause some unwanted disturbances to the site." She expressed her concern, mindful of the potential cultural and historical sensitivities.
Minister Yanjin, however, simply chuckled and waived her concerns away with a flick of his wrist.
"Fear not, my esteemed Lady. You're not entirely wrong about the Assembly's historical significance. However, through the strict orders coming from the Liyuen Qixing years ago, most of the area had already been stripped of any valuable artifacts, which have been safely catalogued and are now housed within the National Museum of Arts and History in Yuehai Pavilion." The minister explained, a hint of pride in his voice.
'And what a hullabaloo that was. Those traditionalists were practically screaming at our faces for removing those sacred relics! Heh, as if their words mattered. In the end, progress and practicality always wins over the antiquated beliefs. I even earned a pretty hefty sum of mora myself after 'disposing' some of the 'less valuable' items.' The old magistrate thought to himself with a slight smirk.
"And what remains now are but centuries-old ruins, overgrown with grass and weeds. I assure you, my Lady that our presence will not cause any significant disturbance to the historical integrity of the site. If anything, we will simply be... utilizing a part of Liyue's rich past for a practical purpose." He added, trying to assuage her concerns.
Artoria remained silent for a moment, her thoughts shifting towards the distant ruins. Seeing no other options, she hesitantly agreed.
"Very well then. Since there are no other alternatives, we shall take your word for it, Minister. We shall make camp at the ruins of the Guili Assembly." She finally conceded.
And so the order was given and the entire convoy then proceeded to move a few more miles south, heading towards the ancient ruins.
____________________
"So this is the renowned ruins of the Guili Assembly, the proto state that preceded Liyue! Fascinating!" Galanopoulo enthusiastically remarked as he began taking photos of the area with his trusty kamera.
"Yes, yes I know. Fascinating. Now could you please stop taking pictures and instead help me fix our tent?!" His wife, Gagnepetit, grumbled as she struggled to set up their temporary shelter.
She, as well as several other members of the convoy were busy setting up their camp and preparing their meals for the night.
The entire convoy had arrived at the ruins of the ancient city-state about an hour ago, just half past 4 in the afternoon. Under the direct orders of the Grand Master, the entire group moved further inland and towards the center of the ancient city, a location that was more suitable for setting up camp due to its high ground and the presence of the remaining stone structures that could provide some form of protection from the elements and any potential threats.
The Mondstadt knights and the accompanying Millelith guards worked together with the civilians to help set up the camp and secure its perimeter. They were surprisingly efficient, given the number of people involved and the unfamiliarity of the terrain.
"Easy there Liben, no need to rush. Remember that you're still recovering from your injuries. Please do take things slowly." Crepus kindly reminded as he helped the young teenager who was slightly limping out from the carriage.
"I'm fine Master Crepus, in fact I'm feeling much better! No need to worry about me so much!" Liben replied eagerly wanting to get out of the comfortable yet boring carriage to help the others.
"Hah..I appreciate the enthusiasm, lad. But please, for my sanity's sake, listen to me and get some proper rest." Crepus said with a firm but gentle tone.
With his Archon's explicit permission, Crepus was able to bring Liben along with them. The director of the Windwheel Bank, could not in his good conscience leave the young boy alone after being brutally beaten by those thugs, and so with the Anemo Archon's blessing, he decided to take Liben along with him as his ward, at least for the time being.
"By the way Master Crepus, where's Varka? I haven't seen him ever since we arrived in this ruins about an hour ago?" Liben asked.
"He's helping some Qixing officials over there." Crepus pointed out to a group of officials who some were nervously surrounding the newly christened knight.
"Please Sir knight, you got to help us!" One of the Qixing officials cried out.
"We need to act now! I fear that he might get himself into a very serious situation!" Another added.
Varka, seemingly unperturbed by their panicked state, simply continued to eat a piece of grilled fish he got from one of the civilian merchants who had set up a small makeshift kitchen.
"Oh for the love of! Will everybody just calm down for a second! Listen! You guys suddenly came to me out of nowhere and began rambling about something for the past 5 minutes! Could someone at least tell me what hell is the problem!" Varka said with a mouth full of fish.
"It's Lu Fu!" Another official finally blurted out.
"Lu Fu? You mean that goofy looking historian from Wangshu Inn? What about him?" Varka asked as he swallowed a juicy chunk of his grilled fish.
"HE'S MISSING!" The official screamed in panic, causing Varka to almost choke!
*****
(A few minutes earlier)
Deep within the southern part of the ruins of the Guili Assembly, the traumatized historian, Lu Fu found himself enthralled by the historical splendor of the ancient city.
He had gone out from the rest of his group after they had set up their tents in order to get some fresh air and hopefully clear out his mind.
Ever since the ordeal with the abyss back in Wangshu Inn, the poor man had been constantly on the edge, haunted by nightmares and thoughts of that blasted ordeal. He had hoped that the serene and tranquil atmosphere of the ruins would somehow help him calm down.
As he continued to wander further away from the main camp, he became slowly captivated by the remnants of the ancient civilization that once thrived in this land. He had visited the Guili Assembly once before, about a few years ago to be exact when he was still finishing his thesis regarding the early civilizations and tribes that made up ancient Liyue, but he was restricted to only a few certain areas due to a wide scale Qixing mandated excavations happening at that time. But now, with the area being cleared of any archeological activities, he could now finally explore the entire ruins freely, and for a historian such as himself, it was like a dream come true!
"Oh my! This is truly incredible! The architectural style, the layout, even the very foundation of the houses themselves! They all reflect the cultural and technological advancements of that time! The sheer level of detail and sophistication is just mind-boggling!" Lu Fu excitedly muttered to himself as he began to take notes on his small notebook.
He saw pieces of ancient pottery, rusted weapons, and even the intact foundations of what once were grand buildings.
The half-buried structures, the weathered statues, and the intricate carvings on the stone walls all spoke of a bygone era, a story waiting to be unraveled. His historian heart was aflutter, and he could not help but feel a sense of reverence for the place!
As he continued with his little impromptu expedition, Lu Fu eventually came across a small grove hidden by several large sandbearer trees. Curious, he decided to venture further into the grove, hoping to find something that would further pique his interest.
And he was not disappointed.
What he found hidden within the grove was a large circular clearing, its ground covered by a thick layer of moss and overgrown grass. At the edges stood what he could only describe as towering stones structures - probably statues, utterly covered by moss and vines.
At the center of the clearing stood a small, yet intricately designed stone altar, its surface covered in ancient Liyuen script that he could not fully decipher.
The altar itself appeared to be quite old, ancient so to speak yet it seemed to have been well-preserved, as if it was protected from the ravages of time.
Lu Fu, being the historian that he was, could not help but feel another surge of excitement as he cautiously approached the altar, wanting to examine it more closely.
As he got closer, he noticed something else. He saw a series of strange circular indentations on the groundsurrounding the altar, as if serving as a sort of boundary marker for the entire clearing. He briefly examined them and promptly concluded that they were some kind of old mechanism that might served as some sort of trap or a security system for the altar.
'A wise precaution indeed. This place must have held some thing of importance to the ones who built it. But alas considering that centuries have already passed, it's highly unlikely that these traps are still functional.' He mused, brushing off the indentations as nothing more than remnants of the past.
Oh how wrong he was.
Because the moment he stepped into the boundary markers, a series of clicking sounds suddenly echoed throughout the clearing, followed by the low hum of machinery!
When he turned he saw the supposed moss covered statues at the edges of the clearing began to shake, the moss and vines that covered them started to fall away, revealing their true forms...
And they were not statues at all!
They were mechanical. Machines of immense size and power linked to a bygone nation!
The caked up dust covered shells of the mechanical behemoths cracked open, revealing the rusty brown metallic bodies underneath. Their mechanical limbs extending, and their singular glowing eye flickered to life, casting an eerie yellow glow upon the terrified historian.
"Sh....sh...SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!"
And Lu Fu did the most rational thing a person could do in his situation.
He ran!
He ran for his life!!!
*****
(Back to the present)
"Hmmm...I see, so he probably wondered off somewhere south. Don't worry, I'll help you find him." Varka said as he quickly finished the last piece of his fish.
"Oh thank you sir knight! Thank you!" The official gratefully said.
"No need to thank me just yet. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and get my gear first. After that we could ask we could ask some of the Fontainian journalists who had camped near the southern walls if they've seen our missing historian." Varka told them before he headed towards the camp's armory.
While Varka was preparing to lead the search party, Artoria is facing her own little dilemma back in her tent.
"My most gracious Lady, are you sure it would be alright to allow the little ones to help out setting up the tent? They are still children after all, not to mention they are yours, our majestic young princes and princesses!" Elspeth asked with great concern as she watched Jean, Beidou and Venti helping some of the household staff in setting up the main tent.
Artoria gave her trusted stewardess a warm and reassuring smile.
"Oh Elspeth, you worry too much. It's not like they're setting up the entire camp all by themselves, they're just helping out with a few minor tasks. Besides, I believe it's good for them to learn and experience these kind of things. Think of it as part of growing up."
"But-" The head stewardess tried to protest but was quickly cut off by the Grand Master.
"Elspeth, I want them to grow. Yes, I admit that I continuously spoil them, but I also want them to learn the value of hard work and cooperation. I will not have them grow up as pampered and arrogant nobles who do nothing but waste their lives away with pointless extravagance." Artoria said with a firm yet gentle tone.
"I want them to be strong, kind and responsible individuals. Not just for themselves, but also for the people they will one day lead. They are my most precious children, my beloved heirs. They are my most cherished legacy and I wish for them to inherit not just my strength, but also my virtues."
"I...I understand, your Grace." Elspeth said, her eyes filled with tears of admiration for her beloved Archon.
"Oh brighten up Elspeth, her Ladyship is right. Besides, look at them! They're clearly having fun!" Melisa added as she gestured towards Barbara and Bennett who were helping out Lisa set up a small makeshift research table for her to study some of the local flora she had gathered.
The little genius was busy explaining to her two younger godlings about the properties of the various local flora, with Barbara curiously sniffing (and even tasting) a Jueyun chili while Bennett was holding a bunch of Qingxin and....feeding it to a bunch of small slimes?
What?
"Umm...my Archon, why is the young master Bennett surrounded by 7 different types of slimes? And why do they look so...tame?" Elspeth nervously asked, her mind trying to process the bizarre and impossible scene before her.
Artoria simply chuckled.
"Oh, it's just my cute little Benny being Benny. For some unexplained reason, the moment he stepped out of the carriage about an hour ago these six small slimes suddenly came out from the bushes and started following him all over the camp! I sensed no hint of malice from any of them, in fact they even seem to be obeying him! Look, he's even teaching them some sort of choreographed dance! Oh how adorable!" She added with a light gush as she pointed out to her son who was now waving his little hands while the 7 slimes were bouncing in perfect sync!
"Alright! Now I'm gonna teach you guys how to do the signature, 'Benny's Adventure Team Assemble' pose! If you guys nail it, I'll induct all of you as honorary founding members of the team!" He cheerfully announced as he stuck a cute pose with one arm high up and the other on his waist.
The little slimes then, in an almost perfect unison, bounced and stuck a similar pose as the little boy! Well as close as they could with their gelatinous bodies.
"Wow! You guys are naturals! Welcome aboard!" The little godling happily cheered as he gave each of the slimes a small pat.
While happy moments such as this were happening around the camp, not everyone was having a grand old time.
"Huh? What do you mean that fool is missing?" Yanjin rudely asked one of his subordinates officials.
The elderly minister was resting back inside his carriage enjoying a cup of freshly brewed tea, only for his men to barge into his siesta.
"I...I apologize my Lord, but he seemed to have wandered off somewhere into the ruins and we couldn't find him anywhere! The others had already asked the Knights of Favonius for help and are currently searching for him." The official explained, nervously fidgeting as he saw the growing scowl on the old minister's face.
"Aghh, that worthless failure! If it weren't for that contract that I made to his late father, I would've thrown him out into the streets ages ago. He didn't even want to manage his father's profitable business, instead he wasted all of his time and effort pursuing some childish passion for history and literature! Useless! Absolutely useless through and through!"
The old man grumbled in utter annoyance as he took a sip from his tea.
'Still...that fool is my only link to Lu Bai's secret stash, and I can't afford to lose him right now, not when I'm expecting a slight dip in the revenue for this month after the loss of both Pian and Li's businesses back in Chengdo. Not to mention there's still the issue concerning the sudden disappearance of Tong and his men. I wonder when that perverted fool will contact me?' Yanjin thought to himself as he continued to ponder on the matters concerning his business, slightly ignoring the news about his missing godson.
____________________
"So the both of you haven't seen him either huh?" Varka asked both Galanopoulo and Gagnepetit.
The two Fontainian journalists simply shook their heads as they continued to set up their respective tents.
"No, not since we began setting up camp here about an hour ago. I'm sorry monsieur chevalier but we haven't seen your historian friend." Gagnepetit politely replied.
Varka sighed, he was starting to get worried.
He and a group of Qixing officials had been searching the southern part of the ruins for a good half an hour now and they still haven't found any trace of the missing historian.
"Maybe he went in another direction? You know this place is quite large and it's easy for anyone to get lost here." Galanopoulo suggested, trying to be helpful.
"Yes, maybe you're right. Anyway thank you for your help, we'll resume the search and hopefully we can find him before-" Varka was suddenly cut off when he heard a loud frantic scream coming from the east!
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The scream was so loud that it caught the attention of the entire camp!
"What the hell?! Who's screaming at this hour?!"
"Oh my where did that come from?"
"Hey that's Lu Fu's voice! It came from that way!" One of the Qixing officials cried out in panic.
Soon enough, everyone saw the poor historian running down a nearby hill at the east side of the ruins, frantically screaming for his life!
And unfortunately he was not alone.
Stomping just a few yards behind him were two gigantic brown mechanical monstrosities, their single yellow eye locked on to the fleeing historian!
"By the Seven! Are those Ruin Guards?!" One of the Millileth soldiers exclaimed in surprise and fear.
"HELP! HELP! PLEASE HELP ME!!!" Lu Fu continued to scream as he ran for dear life.
The foremost Ruin Guard however suddenly stopped, its entire body then swiveled 180 degrees, aiming the arsenal of missile launchers on its back directly at the fleeing historian.
"LU FU WATCH OUT!" An attendant from the Qixing screamed in panic.
Almost everyone held their breath as they saw the Ruin Guard fired a barrage of missiles directly towards the fleeing man.
For a single brief moment, most of those who saw the unfortunate scene thought that the historian was done for! That the missiles would instantly reduce the poor man into nothing but a pile of blood and gore!
But to their absolute surprise, a golden blur suddenly dashed forth from their group in a speed that defied the laws of physics! The figure then interposed himself between the historian and the incoming projectiles just in the nick of time, raising a magnificent golden shield over his head to block the incoming projectiles.
The missiles made contact and a massive explosion soon erupted!
The sheer force of the blast was so tremendous that it sent a shockwave all throughout the camp, knocking a few people off their feet as well as ripping off several tents from their foundations! The ground shook violently and the dust kicked up by the explosion quickly engulfed the area, temporarily blinding everyone!
For a few moments, there was silence.
Everyone held their breath once more as they tried to see what had become of brave person who had heroically placed himself infront of the historian in the midst of the barrage.
And when the dust finally settled, what they saw truly left them in a state of utter amazement and awe.
There in the midst of the scorched earth, they saw a lone Eonian Guard, clad in his magnificent golden armor kneeling with his shield raised up in front of him!
His shield held high and glistening in the light of the afternoon sun had not sustained even a single scratch or dent!
The golden warrior then stood up, unscathed and unfazed, as if the explosion was nothing but a gentle summer breeze!
"Dear Lady Furina..." Gagnepetit numbingly whispered in disbelief as she and the others stared at the scene before them with wide eyes and gaping mouths.
The Ruin Guard, now processing that another target had appeared and was able to shrug off its onslaught, began to switch into melee mode. The mechanical construct's upper body began to spin, transforming its arms into a swirling vortex of metal, ready to crush its new opponent.
The lone Eonian Guard however, anticipated this move, and with a swift and precise motion, quickly threw off his shield towards the single glowing eye of the war construct like a boomerang! The golden shield flew through the air at high speed and then proceeded to strike the eye of the machine, precisely embedding itself deep into the Ruin Guard's main processing unit!
The mechanical behemoth, now stunned and blinded, momentarily ceased its attack as his sensory and motor functions began to go haywire. The knight then immediately took this opportunity and charged towards the stunned machine planning to finish it off!
With a speed that was almost a blur to the naked eye, the Eonian Guard, with his sword now bared and glowing with a golden light, leaped towards the now disabled war machine and subsequently plunged his blade deep into its eye, right next to the embedded shield. The sword's golden energy surged into the war machine's already damaged circuits and core frying them completely in an instant, and with a loud final groan, the large Ruin Guard collapsed onto the ground, defeated and broken!
But all was not over yet!
Seeing the second Ruin Guard fast approaching, the Eonian Guard quickly drew forth his specially crafted bolter from its holster and aimed it directly towards the eye of the second war machine. Without hesitation he fired two precise shots squarely towards his target and in less than a second later, the two shots found their mark! The subsequent impact from the magically crafted shells caused a chain reaction inside the second Ruin Guard's core, resulting in a spectacular explosion!
Metallic parts and debris flew into the air as the upper half of the second Ruin Guard was reduced to a smoldering heap of scrap!
The entire ordeal, from the initial charge to the defeat of the final Ruin Guard, lasted less than three minutes.
....
...
...
All the civilian members of the convoy, both Qixing officials and journalists alike, and even most of the several Millelith guards who were present could only stare in utter disbelief at the almost unbelievable feat that had just transpired right in front of their eyes!
Most of them couldn't even comprehend what they had just witnessed, their minds still trying to process the scene of a single golden armored knight, facing against two gigantic mechanical war machines, and emerging victorious without as much as a scratch!
A few of them, specifically Galanopoulo and his wife, along with several of their colleagues numbingly raised their respective kameras and took several photos of the aftermath, capturing and immortalizing the image of a lone Eonian standing on top of the remains of a defeated Ruin Guard with a slightly glowing sword held tightly his the right hand and a smoking bolter in the left.
In the days and weeks that are to follow, that iconic picture will hence forth be immortalized and distributed all throughout Teyvat, becoming one of the most defining images of thenew era that is soon to come!
This warrior...
These knights...
As journalists…as men of the pen, they knew of the first hand reports from the survivors and they've collated their testimonies painting a clear picture of these sixty five knights who had not only accompanied their Grand Master on her journey but had also stood as a bulwark against tides of abyssal onslaughts during the battle of Wangshu Inn.
All the accounts had depicted them as strong and almost godlike in their battle, and even an adepti, a Yaksha for that matter solemnly testified for their unnatural feat.
It was a good front page news for the most parts. A heroic tale of knights overcoming the odds.
Yet, as journalists, even in the face of such tremendous oral evidence, they still had their doubts, thinking that perhaps some of those testimonies were greatly exaggerated, a product of fear and awe.
But now, after seeing one of those knights in action, seeing how he had so effortlessly dispatched two Ruin Guards - ancient and formidable war machines of great power and resilience - in a manner of minutes...
...the so-called exaggerated tale became a reality!
A display of raw power that shook them to the core, far more effectively compared to the hundreds of written testimonies they had gathered!
What they had just witnessed was simply too unnatural!
"Blades of Light, Shields that gleam. The best of our Order, our goddess's dream.~" Varka was casually humming a small tune as he calmly watched the rest of the camp slowly get their bearings.
Gagnepetit and her husband could only turn their heads slowly towards the newly promoted knight, and stare at him in disbelief. How...how could he be so calm?!
"Wha...what?" Galanopoulo parroted as he somewhat partially recovered from his initial shock.
"Ah! Did I say that out loud? My apologies! I was just praising my fellow brother in arms for a job well done!" Varka proudly answered.
"Brother...in...arms...?" Gagnepetit mumbled out.
'What's with the calm and casual demeanor?! It's as if he's treating what had just transpired as something that regularly occurs on a Tuesday?!
The couple then looked towards the rest of the Eonians scattered all throughout the camp and sure enough, they too appeared to be all calm and collected, not even showing an ounce of panic or worry after seeing their brethren defeat two Ruin Guards! A few of them were even in the middle of polishing their armor!
'Who the hell are these knights?! Are they even human? They're all monsters! These Mondstadters knights are all monsters!'
"Anyway, we should check on that poor chap over their. He seems to be in a state of shock." Varka said as he pointed towards a catatonic Lu Fu who was still on the ground trembling, his face as pale as a ghost.
The couple managed to gather their bearings and nodded as they along with Varka went towards the traumatized historian.
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He stood there for a good few minutes just rooted on the spot.
His attendants began to panic when they saw him remain silent for a while, and thought that he may have been afflicted by some sort of curse or something.
"Master Yanjin! Master Yanjin! Are you alright?! Please sir say something!" One of them cried out.
The old minister however, continued to remain quiet, his gaze directed solely towards the two fallen mechanical constructs at the distance, his mind still tried to process what he had just witnessed.
'Impossible...this is just simply impossible!'
For the first time since his first encounter with these foreigners, the elderly minister felt a profound sense of fear began to take root. A fear that was so deep that it completely changed his initial outlook and perspective towards the knights and their Grand Master.
"Just one knight...just one of their knights...was able to defeat two of those abominations..with..without any trouble." Yanjin mumbled to himself in a nervous tone, all the while his attendants tried to wake him up from his stupor.
He had always considered himself a man of logic and reason, a person who had seen and experienced many things in his long and eventful life.
He had dealt with so many powerful and dangerous individuals before, individuals that could make grown men weep and tremble with fear.
But after years of first hand experience, he had concluded one simple truth that no matter how powerful and terrible a person becomes, deep inside... they're still the same as him, bound by the laws of mortality, bound by the limitations of the flesh, and bound by the laws of the world itself.
They were still Humans.
Humans, that can be dealt with either through manipulation, subterfuge or if all else fails, through sheer force of numbers.
He had always held this twisted belief which over time made him view people as nothing more but pawns in the grand scheme of things, pawns that could be used and discarded like....common goods whenever he saw fit.
The events of today however, threatened to shatter that long held belief into a million pieces.
He initially thought nothing special of these foreigners, and though he suffered a humiliation in the presence of the Yaksha, a being who's above the scope of humanity, he kept that belief firmly in his mind seeing the rest of them as nothing more than armed bodyguards.
The reports about those knights singlehandedly fighting off hordes of monsters?
Rubbish. Their victory was probably brought about by the usage of proper discipline and military tactics. Nothing more, nothing less.
The Grand Master, defeating a god in battle?
Please, he doubts the authenticity of that claim. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if the so-called dark god was just an absurdly strong Lawachurl who happened to have a knack for destruction.
True, he himself admits that she's a pretty little thing, even far more beautiful than Lady Yu Jie who's the current Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.
But being a warrior on par with a god?
Ha! What a joke!
It would be far easier to conclude base on the evidence that she was assisted by the adepti in order to paint her as some sort of larger than life character in the minds of the people of Liyue and to create a favorable image for her nation, which was a good move on the Qixing's part, for he deduced that with the said fame, his government could easily pressure the Grand Master into signing unfair economic and political deals with them.
It was all propaganda for him.
A logical masterstroke for those who rule Liyue in the behest of their Archon.
But now...he was no longer sure if it was ever the case.
"Master Yanjin! Please say something!" His attendant cried out once more this time shaking him vigorously.
"Wha- what?!"
The elderly bureaucrat finally snapped out from his stupor yet his mind was still in a state of disarray.
"G..go..go back to your work...I..I'll be fine. I...I just need some rest." He stammered out, somewhat shooing away his attendant as he began to walk back towards the inside of his carriage, albeit slowly.
Once inside, he immediately closed the door, locked it, and immediately slumped down on his seat, taking a deep breath in order to calm himself.
He then took out a small bottle of dandelion wine from his personal stash and took a big swig directly from the bottle's opening.
The sweet alcoholic beverage went down his throat, its warmth somewhat soothing his frayed nerves.
He remained quiet for a good few minutes after that, just staring blankly at the roof of his carriage. The image of the golden knight standing triumphantly over the remains of the war machines, was still fresh in his mind.
"Two...two or three platoons of fully equipped Millelith soldiers...with the right equipment of course...and with the right strategy...might have a chance...to defeat one of those things...maybe...but the casualties will be high." He mumbled out loud.
"But...that one knight...he did it with ease...and at such speed..."
"He...heheheh...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
A laugh came out from the old minister, a laugh that was filled with a mixture of fear and self loathing.
He was wrong. He was completely wrong.
"Ha...ha...and they say that out of all of them, the Grand Master is the strongest. If this is the level of strength of a single knight under her command then...then what about her? What about their leader? What is the true extent of that woman's might?!"
The thought sent shivers down his spine.
He remembered the meeting a few months ago where the seven members of the Liyuen Qixing deliberated upon the request of the Grand Master to not only bring her entire family but also 65 of her best Knights. There were objections of course, but the Tianquan and the Yuheng both argued that even if she brought a hundred of her knights with her, it would not matter, for the number of Milileths that are assigned to the city of Liyue Harbor alone far outnumbered her entire order!
Thus the other five members of the Liyue Qixing eventually agreed and the Grand Master was granted permission.
Sixty five knights...just sixty five knights. What could this measley number do against the might of the entire Liyue Qixing? The entire nation itself?
"It appears that we had severely underestimated the strength of our dear visitors from Mondstadt." He sarcastically told himself as he took another swing from his bottle.
"We didn't just welcome a distinguished guest...we invited an apparent god slayer...and her formidable army of demigods right into our home..."
Yanjin was now convinced that staying too close to these monsters would run the risk of him and his whole enterprise being discovered and exposed.
He needed to be more careful from now on! He needed to act fast! He needed to make some...adjustments.
But most importantly, he needed to inform him.
He had to inform his superior immediately!
"He...he needed to know. He must know about this!" He muttered as he fumbled through one of his travel bags and pulled out a small silver compass-like object, the secret Qixing issued communication device.
He needed to make a report.
(To be continued)
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[The Liyue Qixing]
- The Liyue Qixing (Seven Stars of Liyue) is a committee made up of seven merchants and business leaders who govern Liyue, specializing within the commerce and trade sectors.
- The job of the Qixing is to implement the policies laid out by theGeo Archon Morax of whom they address as the Sovereign or Emperor of Liyue, and manage the day to day governance of the region of Liyue. Their power and authority is second only to that of the Archon and the adepti.
- The seven seats of the Qixing are named after the respective stars of the Big Dipper Constellation. Each seat and their respective occupants has a specific duties and role in the governance of Liyue as a whole.
- The Seven Seats of the Qixing are as followed:
- Tianshu: The "First Star," tied to management, public relations, and legal oversight
- Tianxuan: The "Second Star," responsible for logistics or domestic affairs.
- Tianji: The "Third Star," managing military strategy and defense.
- Tianquan: The "Fourth Star," overseeing laws, governance, and real estate.
- Yuheng: The "Fifth Star," managing land, construction, public works, and real estate.
- Kaiyang: The "Sixth Star," managing maritime trade and transport.
- Yaoguang: The "Seventh Star," managing tourism, entertainment, and eastern commercial sectors.
- Every year, one of the Qixing is selected to perform the Rite of Descension. During this ritual, the Geo Archon appears before the populace in his dragon–qilin form and gives predictions that shape the business trends within Liyue for that year.
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