"Keqing, Sister Makoto, you're going shopping this afternoon. Can we tag along?" Paimon was a little curious; after all, she was bored, and going shopping with them would be great.
"Huh?"
"O... Okay." Keqing paused slightly, then nodded. Having Lumine and Paimon tag along was actually quite nice. At least she wouldn't have to be alone with Raiden Makoto, which would make her feel a little awkward.
"Sister, then you go shopping with Keqing. Xiangling and I will tinker around..." Raiden Ei merely glanced at Keqing, personally believing that Keqing posed no threat to her.
On the contrary, Morax, who had been constantly concerned about her older sister since they met, was the real threat. She didn't know why Morax cared about her sister.
The person she was definitely guarding against was Morax.
"Mhm."
"Then let's head out."
At this moment in Liyue, the streets were decorated for the Moonchase Festival, making them extremely lively and crowded.
"Did you hear? Mt. Tianheng was split in two... I don't know who did it... What happened this morning wasn't an earthquake."
"Mt. Tianheng was split in two?"
"Yeah, that was truly terrifying... A mountain that huge just split open."
"I think I saw a flash of light then, but I don't know what happened." As they walked down the street, the Liyue people were all discussing Raiden Ei splitting Mt. Tianheng with a single slash.
"Did another God like Osial appear? We're not going to have to..."
"I don't know."
"I hope not. I just want to enjoy the Moonchase Festival in peace."
Not only the passersby, but even the street vendors were discussing the great tremor from that morning, especially since Mt. Tianheng was not far from Liyue Harbor, and some people had even witnessed the "terrifying" scene directly.
"When we were in Inazuma, I heard that the huge rift on Yashiori Island was also created by a slash from Sister Ei, right?" Paimon asked curiously.
"Yes."
"Then we are really lucky." Paimon was a little excited. "We actually got to witness Sister Ei delivering another slash with our own eyes."
Because they were talking about Orobashi, the Little White Snake started trembling again. It wrapped tightly around Raiden Makoto's arm, feeling fearful.
"Ei doing that has caused us a lot of trouble... Now we have to calm the public, but Ganyu should handle that work." Keqing felt that Raiden Ei had indeed been too heavy-handed. Those few Treasure Hoarders were certainly infuriating, but it wasn't necessary to split Mt. Tianheng open, was it?
That spectacle was truly a bit too grand.
If the Treasure Hoarders spoke ill of Rex Lapis like that, she definitely would have taken action too.
"Ah... Since there were no casualties, it's not too big of a deal... Mt. Tianheng becoming the Tianheng Gorge... isn't that important."
"But we still need to investigate thoroughly... I hope nothing major happens later." Keqing was serious. She had to carefully inspect Mt. Tianheng, as such a massive geological change had occurred, and she only hoped Mt. Tianheng wouldn't face any subsequent issues, especially since it was so close to Liyue Harbor.
"Ei has caused you trouble. I apologize to you on her behalf..." Raiden Makoto felt a little embarrassed. Raiden Ei could indeed be a bit willful sometimes, and that slash of hers was completely reckless.
If that slash had been just a little more powerful, the sword light would have directly split Liyue Harbor, and even with Mt. Tianheng split in two, there would definitely be long-term consequences.
Raiden Ei might not think much of it, but Raiden Makoto wouldn't see it that way. She thought and considered things much more deeply.
What if Mt. Tianheng collapsed? Raiden Ei hadn't considered those subsequent effects when she delivered that slash.
"Ah?"
"Makoto, you don't need to apologize to us... Wasn't it also partly our Liyue Seven Stars' fault? Those Treasure Hoarders should have been dealt with ages ago... and we should have properly vetted the participants." Keqing felt even more awkward looking at Raiden Makoto's gentle smile.
She was even surprised that the Electro Archon of Inazuma, who was one of the Seven Sovereigns of the World just like Rex Lapis, would directly apologize to her.
She knew that even when she thought Rex Lapis was wrong, Rex Lapis would never admit fault, nor would he apologize to them.
But Raiden Makoto would.
Keqing couldn't help but like Raiden Makoto even more, and there was a hint of joy in her expression as she looked at her.
"If it wasn't for us, maybe none of those subsequent events would have happened... Besides, those Treasure Hoarders are truly hateful." Keqing said through gritted teeth, "They actually dared to call Rex Lapis a Failed Tribulation Scum..."
"Hahahahaha." Paimon almost wanted to laugh. Thinking back now, those Treasure Hoarders really had too much nerve, being so arrogant just because they had the help of a Delusion.
Even Childe himself wouldn't dare speak ill of Zhongli like that, would he? That little leader of the Treasure Hoarders actually dared to badmouth Zhongli and even challenge Raiden Ei.
"Makoto, you really don't seem much like a God..." Keqing's pale purple eyes scrutinized Raiden Makoto. Raiden Makoto presented the image of a very gentle maiden, which was far removed from the lofty, untouchable image of a God.
"To put it plainly, whether we are Gods or humans, we are all living beings on the continent of Teyvat, so what's the difference?" Raiden Makoto smiled. She never considered herself a God in the first place. "Since I intend to participate in the mortal world, I must follow the rules of the world, mustn't I?"
"Moreover, there isn't much difference between humans and Gods. Both Gods and humans make mistakes sometimes. No human is perfect, and no God is perfect."
"Mhm." Keqing nodded, strongly agreeing with what Raiden Makoto said. "Makoto, we are friends, right?"
"Of course." Raiden Makoto rubbed Keqing's head and said with a smile, "If you consider me a friend, then we are friends."
Keqing froze on the spot for a moment. It had been too long since anyone had touched her head. Her face instantly turned bright red, and Keqing immediately lowered her head.
Especially since Raiden Makoto touched her head in front of so many people.
"Mmm..."
"Sister Makoto really seems to enjoy patting girls' heads." Paimon said enthusiastically. She was also a little curious if patting other people's heads was fun.
"Does it feel really nice?" Paimon asked curiously, then turned her gaze towards the slightly dazed Lumine.
"Lumine, let me pat yours too."
"?"
Lumine rolled her eyes. "Go away, go away. If you want a pat, let Sister Makoto pat your head. I'm not patting your head."
"No... I meant let me pat your head." After Paimon finished speaking, she flew directly to the top of Lumine's head and rubbed it with her small hands.
"Oh... So patting a girl's head feels this good?" Paimon's eyes widened, and they lit up.
"No wonder Sister Makoto likes patting other girls' heads." She finally understood why Raiden Makoto enjoyed patting other girls' heads so often.
Since they had met Raiden Makoto, she noticed that Raiden Makoto had patted many girls.
In Inazuma alone there was Yae Miko, Kamisato Ayaka, and Sangonomiya Kokomi, and upon arriving in Liyue, Raiden Makoto had patted Xiangling, Keqing, and even Ganyu's heads.
"Paimon! You messed up my hair!" Lumine said angrily. "Get off!"
At this moment, Raiden Makoto looked with interest at the ear-like hair accessory on Keqing's head. "Oh, it's a hair accessory. It makes you look quite a bit cuter."
"Mmm..." Keqing became even more embarrassed, but because it was Raiden Makoto, she couldn't really resist. If it had been anyone else, she definitely would have resorted to physical force.
"Makoto, tell me, does Rex Lapis truly not dislike me?" Keqing was confused. "I always went against him in the past, even openly opposing him in front of so many people..."
"If he liked me, shouldn't he have told me those things?"
She had always believed that matters concerning the destiny of humanity should be accomplished by humans themselves. Moreover, she believed that humans could definitely do better.
She even made a famous statement during the Rite of Descension in the past, a statement that is still circulated today.
"Rex Lapis has guarded Liyue for a thousand years, but will the next thousand years, ten thousand years, or hundred thousand years be the same?"
However, when Rex Lapis heard this sentence at the time, he let out a meaningful laugh, and she still didn't know what Rex Lapis's opinion was.
Everyone in Liyue knew that Yuheng Star Keqing was the most irreverent person towards the Gods. Did Rex Lapis dislike her because of this? Was that why he didn't tell her those things?
"Didn't I say already? Don't underestimate yourself." Raiden Makoto sighed softly. "Poor child, I think Morax didn't tell you those things because you and Ganyu take your work too seriously."
"Having different opinions is certainly better. If Inazuma had more people like you and Ganyu, I would be happier."
It was a pity that Inazuma currently lacked people like Keqing who possessed their own unique ideas.
If Inazuma had others like Keqing who were willing to hold differing opinions for the sake of Inazuma's development, she would definitely be very happy. Wouldn't that be more conducive to Inazuma's growth?
Based on her understanding of Morax, Morax definitely didn't dislike Keqing; he certainly admired people like Keqing.
It was precisely because most of the Liyue Seven Stars were like Keqing that he chose to retire with peace of mind.
"So I think Morax must greatly appreciate you." Raiden Makoto patted Keqing's head, her voice extremely gentle.
"The fact that he entrusted the future of Liyue entirely to you means he completely trusts you."
"Mhm."
After doing so much, she was finally understood. Even though the one who understood her was not the God of Liyue, but the God of Inazuma, she was extremely delighted.
"Thank you." Keqing looked at Raiden Makoto with even more gratitude and joy. "Makoto, you are truly gentle."
"Alright, you invited me out for more than just shopping, didn't you?" Raiden Makoto looked at Keqing with a smile. "Tell me your real purpose."
"Mmm..."
"I was planning to visit... Mr. Zhongli, but wouldn't it be rude to go empty-handed? So I wanted to ask you, Rex Lapis... Mr. Zhongli, what does he like?" Keqing felt a little embarrassed, and then she recalled that she hadn't given Raiden Makoto a gift either.
"I also plan to buy you two gifts... as a welcome present from us."
"Keqing, so you wanted to ask what Zhongli likes?" Paimon also realized the purpose of Keqing inviting Raiden Makoto out shopping. "Then why didn't you ask us? We know what Zhongli likes."
During the preparation for the Farewell Rite, those were the gifts that Zhongli helped them choose to offer to the Statue of the Seven.
"Ah? You know what Mr. Zhongli likes?" Keqing paused slightly, then became curious. "So, what does Mr. Zhongli like?"
"Didn't Zhongli and we prepare the Farewell Rite together before? At that time..." Paimon didn't quite understand then, but she understood now.
"Zhongli and we offered three Scented Balms to the Statue of the Seven. The first one, Miss Ying'er said, was sweet and dreamy, a favorite of young girls. The second Scented Balm was said to be noble and overbearing, a favorite of wealthy young ladies."
"And the third Scented Balm, the fragrance was gentle but lingered for a long time, like a misty haze... something like that, I don't quite remember, but it was said to be the favorite of mature women."
"Keqing, do you know which one the Statue of the Seven of Rex Lapis chose back then?" Paimon said with a smile.
"At that time, we didn't know Zhongli was Rex Lapis. Now it seems that was the one Zhongli himself liked."
"Huh?"
"Which one?"
"It was the third one. The Statue of the Seven chose the third one." Paimon said very seriously. "So the third Scented Balm is what Zhongli likes too."
"Is that the Scented Balm from the Chunxiang Kiln? I've heard of it." Keqing asked thoughtfully. Only now did she realize that Rex Lapis liked Scented Balm.
"Mhm."
"Yes." Paimon nodded. Those events hadn't happened long ago, so Paimon still remembered what occurred then.
"Then should we go to the Chunxiang Kiln to buy Scented Balm... and give it to Mr. Zhongli?" Keqing was confused at this point. Why would Rex Lapis like Scented Balm? Wasn't that something women used?
But Lumine hadn't refuted what Paimon said, which meant that what happened back then was true.
Raiden Makoto had been listening to everything Paimon said. So many interesting things had happened back then; it was a pity she hadn't been involved in any of it.
At this moment, she said teasingly, "Don't you think what Morax likes might be mature older sisters, rather than Scented Balm?"
"Ah?"
Keqing's eyes widened. She stared blankly at Raiden Makoto.
"Rex Lapis likes mature older sisters?"
"No way..."
She finally understood why Rex Lapis seemed to appreciate Ningguang more. Was it because she wasn't a mature older sister?
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