"Is it… over?!"
Eula looked around. Everything had returned to calm, with only the rolling waves still surging in the distance. Exhausted, she nearly collapsed onto the surface of the sea, yet her eyes burned with undisguised excitement.
She had personally forced a demon god back into the depths of the ocean!
Who else could claim such an achievement?
Noelle was in better shape. She was still able to support Shenhe.
"Did we… win?"
She was just as dazed, finding the outcome almost unreal.
That had been a demon god!
A calamity of the ancient era—one careless motion could annihilate cities and nations.
And yet, they had driven such an existence back into the unfathomable depths of the sea. Even though Luo Li had grievously injured Osial beforehand, there was no denying that they themselves had played a crucial role.
The three of them exchanged looks, faint smiles forming on their faces.
In the next instant, just like before, they were swallowed by purple-black imaginary space.
Their vision blurred—and when it cleared, they were back on the Jade Chamber.
Paimon was the first to rush over, shouting excitedly, "You were amazing! I was so worried watching just now!"
The little creature flailed her arms wildly, eyes sparkling with admiration.
Lumine was relieved as well. After all, she had been involved in unsealing the demon god—if real damage had occurred, the guilt would have weighed on her heavily. Fortunately, disaster had been averted.
Ningguang and Keqing stepped forward together, offering sincere thanks on behalf of Liyue.
"From this day on, you will forever be friends of Liyue."
A promise spoken by the Qixing was not made lightly.
Finally, Luo Li—who had been patiently waiting—approached the three of them.
After examining them with a satisfied gaze, he spoke in a gentle tone, "Well done. Your coordination exceeded my expectations."
That praise alone made Eula happier than anything else.
The noble girl felt her strength returning, her restrained smile nearly impossible to hide.
Noelle was more reserved, blushing as she said, "I only did a small part… it was mostly thanks to Mr. Luo Li."
Shenhe remained silent, yet the softness in her eyes betrayed how turbulent her heart truly was.
Though none of them were injured, exhaustion weighed heavily on them. Seeing this, Luo Li took the initiative.
"No matter what, you've met my requirements. Go back and rest properly."
Ningguang nodded as well. "Many thanks to all of you. Otherwise, Liyue would have faced a great calamity."
She had been prepared to sacrifice the Jade Chamber to destroy everything and re-seal the demon god.
Instead, she had managed to save that final "nuclear option."
Midway through expressing her gratitude, she activated the Jade Chamber and began guiding it back toward Liyue Harbor.
Though the primary threat had been resolved, there was still a mountain of work to do. Ningguang and Keqing couldn't linger. After promising a proper reward later, they hurried back to Yuehai Pavilion to handle affairs.
Having just lived through such a monumental event, they were forced to plunge straight into more administrative duties. With the Geo Archon gone, the Qixing truly understood what urgency meant—there was no rest at all.
Upon returning to Liyue Harbor, Ganyu arrived at once, her expression tinged with quiet joy.
During the battle, she hadn't evacuated the civilians much—she had simply stationed the Millelith along the main roads to prevent panic.
As it turned out, there truly had been no need to worry.
The demon god hadn't even come within ten kilometers of Liyue Harbor before being sealed away again.
"Teacher, I knew everything would be fine."
The qilin girl, looking slightly bashful, hurried up to Luo Li. Her eyes shone with the same admiration and reverence as always as she gazed up at him.
Once upon a time, she had looked at him the same way—watching him sweep away chaos across the land.
Thousands of years had passed. It felt as though nothing had changed… and yet everything had.
Patting Ganyu's hard qilin horn, Luo Li chuckled. "Alright, go help Keqing and the others. You'll all be very busy next."
Ganyu obediently agreed. After enjoying her teacher's touch for a moment longer, she reluctantly headed toward Yuehai Pavilion.
Luo Li glanced around and saw that, as the excitement faded, exhaustion was setting in for Eula and the others. He then said to Raiden Makoto, "Take them down to rest."
"And you?" the gentle Raiden asked.
"I still need to meet someone."
Without asking who, as if she already understood, Raiden Makoto had Noelle support Eula and led them back toward Yujing Terrace.
In the span of just a few moments, only Luo Li, Lumine, and Paimon remained.
Looking at the bewildered pair, Luo Li said calmly, "Come with me."
After witnessing Luo Li utterly dominate Osial, Lumine and Paimon didn't dare say a word. They hurried to follow.
This man was terrifyingly strong.
"We absolutely have to cling to his thigh from now on," Paimon whispered.
With legs this thick, anyone who didn't hold on must be out of their mind.
Clearly, Lumine's mind was perfectly sound. She silently agreed.
Anyone who could chat and laugh with the Anemo Archon was never going to be ordinary.
After walking through several streets of the now-unsealed Liyue Harbor, Lumine asked softly, "Mr. Luo Li… where are we going?"
"The Northland Bank. To see Zhongli. By now, it should be about time."
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances, utterly confused.
Regardless of their thoughts, the three soon arrived at the Northland Bank in Feiyun Slope.
The guard at the entrance was still Vlad. The moment he saw Luo Li, he immediately bowed and ushered them inside.
Clearly, someone had already given him advance notice.
Very quickly, Vlad personally escorted the three through the bank—and under the astonished gazes of many merchants—up to the heavily guarded second floor.
This alone caused a stir. Even ordinary Fatui members weren't allowed up there; only mid- to high-ranking personnel could enter.
Just who was that mysterious young man?
As speculation spread downstairs, Luo Li had already brought Lumine and Paimon to meet the people waiting above.
Zhongli—whom they hadn't seen in some time.
Childe—who had tricked them into unsealing the demon god.
And Signora—the woman with whom there was already old enmity.