"Master said we shouldn't be afraid. Since we're adepti and disciples of adepti, we should train ourselves more!" Yaoyao said earnestly to Lora. She could not disgrace her master.
"By the way, did Madame Ping invite us too?" Paimon asked from behind, raising her hand.
Hearing Paimon's question, Yaoyao nodded and took Lumine and Paimon's invitations out of her herb basket. "Yes! Master prepared them personally! She said that on the day of Lantern Rite, you all have to go to Aunty Cloud Retainer's place for dinner! I heard Master also invited guests from Inazuma."
"Mm, not bad, not bad!" Lora nodded slightly after hearing Yaoyao's words, then added, "But we can't only invite people who already know us inside and out. We need to invite some people who don't know our identities too! For example, Director Hu of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and juniors like Xingqiu and Chongyun."
If it was just a meal with their group of old-timers, what fun would that be? They all knew each other too well. Who would they even be putting on a show for?
"Master said you don't need to worry. She's already arranged everything!" Yaoyao said.
"Mm! Ping'er really understands me!" Lora nodded in satisfaction.
It seemed Ping'er had already understood what she wanted. Very good. Very nice!
With that in mind, Lora turned to Nahida and asked, "Nahida, do you want to come with me to Liyue for the festival?"
"Go to Liyue? But... I..." Nahida paused, a little hesitant. "There are still many matters in Sumeru that haven't been sorted out yet. I probably can't go..."
"I'll teach you a very convenient method," Lora whispered to her. "Isn't Alhaitham pretty capable? Raise his authority a bit, then dump everything on him!"
"Just like that?" Nahida paused for a moment, then said, "But Alhaitham seems to leave work as soon as it's time. He won't voluntarily add more work to his schedule."
"That's because you spoiled him!" Lora said with great conviction. "It's time for the people of Sumeru to think about how to survive without relying on a god or the Akasha! Children have to grow up eventually!"
Seeing Lora speak with such righteous confidence, Nahida fell into thought. After pondering for a long while, she finally nodded and said, "What you said does seem to make some sense... Is this also the current governing philosophy of the others?"
"Mm... more or less." Lora thought for a moment, then nodded.
Two of them let their people solve their own problems, and one became the people's problem. Close enough. Pretty much the same...
After thinking it over, Nahida said, "Then I'll make some arrangements and go to Liyue with you!"
"Great!" Lora nodded with a smile.
And so, Alhaitham, who was working at the Akademiya while calculating exactly when he could clock out, immediately received a notification: a set of tasks transferred to him by Nahida. They had to be completed by tomorrow, and the workload was not small. If he wanted to finish them today, he would have to work overtime.
Alhaitham: "...?"
No, what was going on today?
Had the Dendro Archon suddenly taken the wrong medicine?
No one could answer Alhaitham's question. Nor would he ever guess that, simply because Lora wanted to take Nahida to Liyue for Lantern Rite, he had somehow been caught in the crossfire and ended up with so much extra work for no reason.
After completing the handover, Nahida and Lora followed Yaoyao and the others toward Liyue.
Sitting in the sumpter beast-drawn cart, Nahida looked at the scenery around them and said with emotion, "I no longer have any memories of my previous trip to Liyue. This time, everything is a new experience."
"Yes. Everything is new."
Lora nodded from beside her. Then she looked at Scaramouche, who was sitting off to one side and radiating a gloomy aura, and said, "Kunikuzushi, speak!"
When he heard her call him Kunikuzushi, Scaramouche's expression twitched for an instant. He clenched his fists, turned to look at her, and threatened her coldly, "If you call me by that name again, don't blame me for being rude!"
"I'd like to see just how rude you can be!" Lora scoffed at his threat. Even when he had possessed the power of a god, he had not been her match. Now that he had lost that power, did he still think he could turn the world upside down?
"Anyway, once we get to Liyue, I'm handing you over to your mother and aunt. Let's see if you can still act so cocky then."
After hearing that, Scaramouche turned his head away. He stared at the scenery rushing past outside and said nothing.
Lora had already gotten used to his rebellious attitude.
Originally, she had not planned to bring him along. But considering that if both she and Nahida left, there might be no one in Sumeru who could keep this guy under control, it felt safer to keep him by her side.
Most importantly, Makoto and Ei would also be going to Liyue this time. When the time came, she could let the sisters discipline him.
They entered The Chasm through the road from Avidya Forest, where the group encountered a squad of Millelith guards. However, once they saw Lora, they let them through right away, which left her somewhat puzzled.
"You know me?" Lora asked curiously, looking at the guards who had allowed them through.
A squad leader nodded and said, "Yes! Lady Ningguang once distributed your portrait to every member of the Millelith, so we all know that you are the Adeptus of Purifying Water and Judgment! She also said that as long as we see you within Liyue, we must not disturb you no matter what you are doing."
"She only revealed my identity to the Millelith?" Lora asked.
The group nodded. "That's right. Lady Ningguang said your identity is restricted to the Millelith and must not be spread outside."
After hearing this, Lora breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness. It was not as if everyone in Liyue knew. Otherwise, whenever she came here in the future, she would have to change her appearance.
After passing through the checkpoint, Scaramouche slowly said, "Clearly a god, yet pretending to be a Liyue adeptus. Ugh..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lora chopped him directly on the head with her hand and said coldly, "Shut up, or I'll take your mouth apart!"
Facing her threatening gaze and tone, Scaramouche let out a cold laugh and closed his mouth.
Looking at his attitude, Lora clicked her tongue.
What was he acting so arrogant for? In the end, he still obediently cooperated!
Not long after they arrived at The Chasm, a green figure appeared in front of the group. When Paimon saw him, she exclaimed in surprise, "Look, it's Xiao!"
"It's you," Xiao said, visibly relieved when he saw them.
"Why did you come to The Chasm, Xiao?" Lora asked, looking at him.
Xiao replied, "I sensed a powerful energy entering Liyue, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect it to be you."