[Bai-ge! I believed in you so much, and you actually deceived me for a man!]
[The moment I saw Rex Lapis was Zhongli, I knew Bai-ge definitely wasn't telling the truth.]
[During the Immortal Search, it was also Bai-ge leading the whole rhythm.]
Paimon asked about the reason for Rex Lapis faking his death.
Zhongli slowly explained the reason: "…What truly made me resolute in stepping down was Jun Bai."
"More precisely, it was the people of the Guili Assembly who, with my permission, began implementing human governance starting three thousand years ago." Jun Bai added, "It was those people who made the Lord of Geo certain about retiring."
Zhongli nodded and stepped out of the Northland Bank: "Liyue was established more than three thousand seven hundred years ago. For these three thousand seven hundred years, I have always fulfilled the contract I set for myself."
"But watching the Guili Assembly, without any divine oversight, grow stronger day by day, I began to ponder whether continuously constraining Liyue Harbor in the name of contract was truly for the best or not."
"The answer to this question became clear to me when I saw the Guili Assembly's performance during this disaster."
"While Liyue Harbor was still waiting for me or the adepti to act, the Guili Assembly had already extended a helping hand to Liyue Harbor."
Jun Bai caught up: "I said it before—you can shield the people from the storm, but you cannot always shelter them from wind and rain."
"People will grow. Keeping them forever in a comfort zone will only make them unable to see their own growth clearly."
"So you and Zhongli planned this whole 'Lord of Geo assassination' incident together?" Paimon asked.
Zhongli nodded: "Yes, this was a test—a test of whether Liyue could sustain Liyue Harbor after I left."
"Then I wonder, in this disaster, how would the Lord score the performance of the mortals?" Jun Bai asked with a smile.
Zhongli gave a soft chuckle: "Naturally, full marks."
Then Zhongli turned to face Lumine: "Traveler, I know you have questions that need answers from me. In two days, at the Rite of Descension, I will wait for you."
With that, without waiting for the three to catch up, Zhongli vanished in a flash.
"Ah? He just left like that?" Paimon stared wide-eyed.
Lumine looked toward Jun Bai.
"The sky is already dark—you need to rest." Jun Bai pointed at the night sky and said, "After battle after battle, even if your body were made of iron, it would be hard to hold out."
"Zhongli noticed it too, which is why he said that."
"In two days, he will answer your questions and clear your doubts. For these two days, you—the great hero of Liyue—should rest well."
Lumine nodded: "I understand."
Indeed, once her tense nerves relaxed, the accumulated fatigue in her body surged up relentlessly.
She really needed to rest for two days.
Paimon, on the other hand, was delighted: "Hehe~ Lumine, now we're big heroes in Liyue too—and personally acknowledged by the Sky Phoenix Marshal himself!"
Lumine smiled in agreement: "Mm, big heroes."
——Reality
"Rest? Rest is impossible." Silver Wolf saw the "Epilogue" mission prompt appear and immediately knew this was the final main story quest.
She decided right then to speed through it—finish quickly and get off stream.
She immediately adjusted the time, not giving the Traveler any chance to enjoy the holiday, and headed straight to Yujing Terrace to start the quest.
[As expected of Wolfie and Little Gui—five hours in and still full of energy. Baby Stelle has already started her nap stream.]
[Who doesn't know Silver Wolf is a chronic all-nighter among her old fans? Five hours is nothing.]
[Thank goodness Silver Wolf's guardian isn't Kafka, or she'd be asleep by now too. Kafka and the daughter she raised both live very regular lives.]
[Then what about that time Stelle Baby was streaming at 3 a.m.…]
[A water friend said her apartment was haunted, so she believed it, turned off the lights, and waited all night for her new roommate.]
"One day only has 24 hours. Sleep one hour less, and I get one more hour to game." Silver Wolf said, grabbing the instant coffee beside her and chugging it down.
Having worked with Kafka for too long, the other's regular lifestyle had started spreading like a contagion.
Her own super admin, Stelle, had just clocked out early to take a nap. She couldn't do the same—she had to resist.
The character arrived at Yujing Terrace at dusk, automatically triggering the final segment of the Liyue main storyline.
——Teyvat
"Time really flies—it's already time for the Rite of Descension. Let's hurry to Yujing Terrace and meet up with Jun Bai and Zhongli."
Paimon said to Lumine.
"Mm, let's go." Lumine nodded and headed toward Yujing Terrace with Paimon.
At this moment, Yujing Terrace was surrounded by residents of Liyue Harbor.
A Millelith representative, speaking on behalf of the Liyue Seven Stars and the adepti of Jueyun Karst, formally announced to Liyue Harbor the passing of Rex Lapis.
Cause of death: Sudden heavenly tribulation.
[Heavenly tribulation my ass—this isn't a cultivation world.]
[Can't the Seven Stars and adepti get their story straight? This excuse is so half-hearted.]
[The key point is that people actually believe such a sloppy excuse!]
[Couldn't they just say Sea Gazer's natural death from old age? It's not like gods don't have lifespans, right?]
[Probably because no one's ever seen it—according to Jun Bai and others, during the Archon War, no god ever fell naturally.]
The residents in front of Yujing Terrace observed a moment of silence.
At this time, the Millelith opened the gates of Yujing Terrace, informing everyone that the Rite of Descension for Rex Lapis would be held today. Those who wished to send the Lord off on his final journey could enter.
Lumine and Paimon followed the large crowd of residents into Yujing Terrace.
The setting sun slowly sank below the horizon, dyeing the evening glow red.
The Rite of Descension under a sky full of sunset clouds.
The Rite of Descension mourned by all living beings.
Zhongli held a lit stick of Everlasting Incense and walked step by step to the altar. He bowed deeply and inserted the incense into the burner.
He proclaimed in a clear voice:
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant Zhongli respectfully bids farewell to Rex Lapis, Morax…"
"Farewell to the heavens!"
As Zhongli's words fell, everyone participating in the Rite of Descension placed a hand over their heart, bowed at the waist, and lowered their heads to send the Lord off on his final journey.
Lumine and Paimon imitated the people around them in mourning.
Lumine gazed at Zhongli's back, finally closing her eyes to offer her own farewell as a traveler from another world:
"Thus, farewell to the realm of the gods."
"From now on, there is no longer the Geo Archon Morax in the world—only the mortal Zhongli."
[Very touching, but once I remember Zhongli is sending off himself, I can't cry—instead I want to laugh.]
[The writing is really good, but only if I forget that the person hosting the funeral up there is the real identity.]
[Lumine's inner thoughts are basically the finishing touch.]
[Pay attention to the onlookers—I spotted the transformed great adeptal bird in there.]
[Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu are also present. Well, this is Liyue Harbor—of course they're here.]
[Spotted swordsman Jun Bai and Guizhong in black robes!]