Chapter 25: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [25]
On Yujing Terrace, a sea of people gathered as the Millelith began carefully inspecting each visitor attending the Rite of Descension.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged a few hurried words, seemingly realizing the gravity of the situation, and decided to sneak away through the crowd—an action that did not escape Luo Qing's notice as he observed from his perch.
Luo Qing couldn't help but wonder why Lumine felt the need to flee so stealthily. Every year, many foreigners came to watch the Rite, and while the Millelith weren't the most competent guards, they were hardly indiscriminate. Lumine's actions would only draw suspicion.
Unsurprisingly, the Millelith noticed Lumine's attempt to slip away.
"That's the Traveler?" came a lively, enthusiastic voice from behind Luo Qing. Turning, he found Childe standing there, having arrived unnoticed.
"Indeed, Lord Tartaglia. She has close ties with the Anemo Archon in Mondstadt and has come to Liyue to seek out the Geo Archon. Befriending her might just lead you to Morax's whereabouts," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly, taking a sip of his bubble tea.
He'd known Childe was hiding nearby, even eavesdropping on his conversation with Yelan. But there was little of value in their chat, so Luo Qing hadn't bothered to intervene.
"Let's hope your information is accurate," Childe said, cracking his knuckles before leaping from his hiding spot. In an impressive display of agility, he landed right in front of the Millelith, intercepting their pursuit of Lumine with a well-placed flying kick to one guard's face.
"Run!" he called to Lumine, who didn't need to be told twice. She darted away, while Childe's sudden attack put him face-to-face with Yelan, who arrived a moment later.
"Well, what do you think? Who's going to win?" Luo Qing asked with amusement, turning to Natalia and the others.
"Uh... Lord Tartaglia, I suppose?" Natalia ventured hesitantly. Childe was notorious as Snezhnaya's number one berserker, a reputation well-known among Fatui recruits.
"Why aren't they fighting yet...?" Luo Qing muttered in disappointment, watching the tense standoff between Childe and Yelan below.
He'd come all the way here for the show, after all. It would be such a letdown if nothing exciting happened.
The standoff didn't last long—Yelan was the first to move, attempting to bypass Childe to go after Lumine. But Childe reacted instantly, summoning a Hydro bow and firing a quick arrow to block her path.
Forced to engage, Yelan retaliated with her own water-based attacks, leading to an intense battle between two Hydro archers. As Natalia had predicted, Childe's raw strength gave him the edge, and before long, he found an opportunity to break away and escape.
Having fulfilled his objective of aiding Lumine's retreat, Childe saw no need to press for a conclusive victory.
"Well, that's that. Let's head back," Luo Qing said with a nod, standing up. He'd seen what he needed to, and there was no reason to stick around. He planned to visit Zhongli at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor later, perhaps to fish and discuss how best to play Childe.
After bypassing the Millelith guards surrounding Yujing Terrace, Luo Qing and his group descended the mountain from the opposite side. Just as he was about to grant his subordinates a well-earned break before heading to Wangsheng, a squad of Millelith soldiers appeared, blocking their path.
"You there! Did you see a blonde-haired girl and her floating companion run this way?" the squad leader asked urgently.
Luo Qing looked at the squad leader with a sudden spark of excitement, raising his voice dramatically.
"Officer! You've come to the right person!"
"Where did she go?!" the squad leader asked, his hopes rising.
"Well, funny thing... I didn't see her at all."
"..."
[+1 Frustration from Zhang Deshuai]
The leader's face darkened, and he glanced at Natalia and the others—foreigners with blonde hair and blue eyes. His expression hardened, and he motioned for his men to surround Luo Qing's group.
"I have reason to believe you are connected to the suspect who attacked the Geo Archon. You'll be coming with us to the Ministry of Civil Affairs," he declared seriously.
"Excuse me?" Luo Qing was genuinely taken aback. This guy's really throwing accusations around like it's second nature.
"The suspect had blonde hair, and so do you. If you have any objections, you can bring them up at the Ministry," Zhang Deshuai said coldly.
"Hold on! You Liyue people are going too far! We are employees of Snezhnaya's Northland Bank! Falsely accusing us could lead to a diplomatic incident!" Natalia snapped, her frustration boiling over. Igor and Sergei moved to shield Luo Qing, ready for a confrontation.
"Snezhnayans?! That only makes you more suspicious. I advise you to come quietly," Zhang Deshuai responded, his prejudices flaring. Recent troubles in Liyue had often involved the Fatui, and Zhang Deshuai felt justified in his caution.
"You dare!" Sergei growled, stepping forward to confront the Millelith.
"Stand down, Sergei. Let me handle this," Luo Qing said, placing a calming hand on Sergei's shoulder. He stepped up to Zhang Deshuai, their gazes locking.
"Are you certain you want to drag us to the Ministry?" Luo Qing asked coolly.
"Do you think you have a choice?" Zhang Deshuai retorted.
"Ugh," Luo Qing grimaced in distaste before suddenly shouting over Zhang's shoulder, "Miss Ganyu! We're innocent, I swear!"
Not far away, Ganyu, who was overseeing the effort to calm the crowd, heard someone calling her name. She turned to see a black-haired young man waving desperately at her, his face a picture of exaggerated distress.
Ganyu couldn't ignore a cry for help. After giving a few instructions to her fellow secretaries, she walked over to investigate.
"What's going on here?" she asked gently, glancing at the Millelith soldiers surrounding Luo Qing's group.
Seeing that Ganyu didn't recognize him, Luo Qing figured it wouldn't matter. He grabbed her hand, his face a picture of exaggerated despair as he wailed, tears streaming down his face.
"Miss Ganyu! We're just honest businesspeople, but these officers are accusing us of being connected to the attack on the Geo Archon! We're innocent! We don't have the power to harm the Archon!"
Luo Qing felt like his acting skills had reached a new peak—he was practically Oscar-worthy.
"Is... is that true?" Ganyu asked, frowning at Zhang Deshuai.
Zhang Deshuai's expression twisted. Why didn't I notice Ganyu was nearby? If I'd known, I'd have never risked such a rash arrest.
Ganyu was a respected figure in Liyue, having served since the days Morax himself founded the nation. Though technically a secretary to the Qixing, her status far surpassed even the most senior among them.
The Qixing came and went, but the secretary was eternal.
"Miss Ganyu, they are from Snezhnaya, which is why we found them suspicious..." Zhang Deshuai tried to explain.
"Oh, so all Snezhnayans are criminals, huh? And just a moment ago, you said it was because my subordinates were blonde, just like your suspect. Now you're changing your story?" Luo Qing interrupted, his tone sharp and accusatory.
He rearranged his expression into a perfect imitation of wounded innocence before turning back to Ganyu.
"Miss Ganyu, this man is simply too unreasonable!"
---
T/N: WAIT IS HE NOT BLONDE???????? WAS I FRIGGING TRICKED DID I READ IT WRONG? Why am I translating this at midnightttt
If there are any mistakes let me know!
Read up to 30+ Chapters! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Chapter 26: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [26]
Ganyu's expression was apologetic as she addressed Zhang Deshuai and his men.
"Y-Yes, Miss Ganyu..."
Though Zhang was still frustrated with Luo Qing and his group, he couldn't afford to contradict Ganyu. Taking the chance she'd offered them, the Millelith squad quickly retreated to continue their investigation.
"Miss Ganyu, thank you so much!"
Luo Qing feigned deep gratitude as he eagerly shook Ganyu's hand. The adeptus, slightly flustered by the contact, gently pulled her hand away with a polite smile.
"You're from Snezhnaya?" she asked.
"Yes, we're all upstanding citizens working for Northland Bank!" Luo Qing declared with enthusiasm.
"..."
Ganyu remained puzzled by how this obviously Liyue-blooded man claimed to be from Snezhnaya, and how he seemed to know her. But she kept her tone gentle.
"Things have been... a bit unstable recently. I hope you can forgive any inconvenience caused," she said.
"Oh, it's no trouble at all, not when Miss Ganyu is here!" Luo Qing replied smoothly.
"Well, if that's all, I still have other duties to attend to. Please excuse me," Ganyu said with a polite nod before turning to leave.
The moment Ganyu was out of sight, Luo Qing's three subordinates could no longer contain themselves. Natalia was the first to speak.
"Luo Qing, do you... like that adeptus?" she asked with curiosity.
"Huh? What makes you say that?" Luo Qing responded, puzzled.
"Just now, when you shook her hand, your eyes were practically glowing," Igor teased.
"You don't get it—that was all an act, to win her sympathy," Luo Qing said dismissively.
"Pfft, sure," Sergei scoffed. "You were practically drooling."
"That's nonsense! I did it on purpose!" Luo Qing shot back indignantly.
Meanwhile, not long after walking away, Ganyu had calmed down. Yet, she sensed a familiar aura lingering in the air—an aura that reminded her of that night in the bath when the window blew open.
She carefully scanned her surroundings but found nothing out of place.
Raising her hand, the aura intensified, and she realized it was coming from her own fingers.
Bringing them to her nose, she took a hesitant sniff.
Her adeptus blood granted her senses far sharper than any mortal's, capable of picking up even the faintest scents. In the crowd earlier, the mingling of people had masked it, but now, alone, she recognized it.
That scent...
The realization hit her. That night wasn't a fatigue-induced delusion—someone really had burst into the bath, seen her and Yaoyao, and left just as swiftly...
That person was... him?
Ganyu's face flushed a deep red. She glanced back towards where Luo Qing and his companions had stood, only to find them gone.
"W-What should I do...?"
She looked in the direction they had left, hesitated, then turned back towards Yujing Terrace, bouncing slightly on her toes.
She wanted to go back and confront Luo Qing, but with the Archon's death, the Ministry of Civil Affairs was in chaos. Her workload was overwhelming, and she couldn't leave her post.
I heard he works at Northland Bank... maybe I'll find him there later.
Resolving herself, Ganyu took a deep breath and hurried back to her duties.
Elsewhere...
Despite the little hiccup, Luo Qing's plans continued undisturbed. He dismissed Natalia and the others, giving them some free time, before heading to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
As he stepped inside, he saw Zhongli calmly seated at a table, sipping tea and reading a book, seemingly unperturbed by the news of the Geo Archon's demise.
"Hey there, Luo Qing! Off to fish with Mr. Zhongli again? By the way, did you attend the Rite of Descension today?"
Hu Tao's curious voice greeted him from behind the counter. Ever since Luo Qing had started inviting Zhongli to go fishing every other day, he and Hu Tao had become quite familiar with each other.
"I did. Why do you ask?" Luo Qing replied, intrigued.
"So it's true? The Geo Archon really died?" Hu Tao's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned closer to him.
"Uh..." Luo Qing hesitated, glancing at Zhongli, who remained composed and focused on his tea.
"I mean, he looked pretty dead to me. Why are you asking, though?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Hu Tao replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is the best in Liyue when it comes to funeral services. Isn't it only right that we handle such a significant send-off?"
It dawned on Luo Qing. "You want to be the one to send off the Geo Archon?"
Zhongli's hand paused, his teacup hovering mid-sip, and his eyes briefly flickered toward them.
Then he resumed drinking, turning a page in his book as if nothing was amiss.
"Who else would be better at such a job? When it comes to funerals, no one does it better than us!" Hu Tao stated confidently.
"You really are something, Hu Tao..." Luo Qing chuckled.
"Hmph! Of course!" Hu Tao tossed her pigtails, clearly pleased with herself. "Back in the day, when Grandpa was in charge, we even hosted the Rite of Parting for the adepti!"
"Let me guess, but it's not like that now?" Luo Qing teased with a grin.
"Hey! We're not 'declining'! We're... conserving our strength for a big comeback!" Hu Tao pouted, puffing out her cheeks in irritation.
"Maybe I should have a chat with Ningguang the next time I see her," Luo Qing suggested. "Put in a good word for you to handle the Geo Archon's farewell ceremony."
"Really?! You'd do that for us?" Hu Tao's eyes sparkled with hope.
"Not a chance," Luo Qing said bluntly.
"..."
[+1 Frustration from Hu Tao]
"Hmph! You and Zhongli can go fishing then—I've got business to take care of," she snapped, sticking her tongue out at Luo Qing before turning away. With a quick farewell to Zhongli, she dashed out the door.
Even with Zhongli away, other staff remained to manage the funeral parlor, so there wasn't much to worry about.
Once Hu Tao left, Zhongli set down his cup, made brief eye contact with Luo Qing, then silently went upstairs to fetch his fishing rod.
Under the Liyue Bridge...
Luo Qing and Zhongli sat on one of the stone supports, rods in hand, eyes fixed on the rippling water.
"Mr. Zhongli, our dear Lord Tartaglia will probably be coming to see you soon. Don't forget to string him along," Luo Qing said, grinning.
"I have my own methods, Mr. Luo Qing. There's no need for concern," Zhongli responded calmly.
"Good. By the way, did you stay to watch the scene unfold at Yujing Terrace today?" Luo Qing asked.
"There are wise individuals among the Qixing. To avoid complications, I returned here to Wangsheng as soon as I cast off my guise, making no unnecessary moves."
"Pity you missed it. You should've seen it—so many people were crying their hearts out. They cursed the would-be assassin's entire lineage!" Luo Qing's hand flourished dramatically as he exaggerated the story.
"Humans will continue their lineage, but as an ancient god of a bygone era, even I am destined to fade one day. I cannot protect Liyue forever—this day was inevitable. Liyue must learn to stand on its own," Zhongli mused, eyes fixed on the bobbing line in the water.
Luo Qing's theatrics couldn't shake him. Zhongli's thoughts were far away, contemplating Liyue's future as he watched the currents below.
Fishing, it seemed, was quite a pleasant pastime.
He'd have to make it a habit.
---
T/N: Oops I forgot the +1's were supposed to be in italics... ohh well ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊
If there are any mistakes let me know!
Read up to 30+ Chapters! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
388 Power
stone You may also Like
Paragraph comment