章節 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(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊
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章節 27: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [27]
Luo Qing returned to Northland Bank, carrying a fishing rod in one hand and a basket of fish in the other. He'd spent the afternoon fishing with Zhongli, and the results had been exceptional. His face brimmed with pride—anyone passing by could expect him to boast about his haul.
Stepping into the bank's lobby, he spotted a certain blonde girl and her floating companion chatting with Tartaglia.
Drawn by his ever-present curiosity and love for a good drama, Luo Qing sauntered over, fishing rod casually slung over his shoulder.
"So, you want us to find those... uh... Adepti, right?" Paimon scratched her head, trying to understand Tartaglia's intentions. "To clear our names... and, hey, who's this?"
The little floating companion's confusion grew as she noticed the dark-haired man standing in front of them, staring at her with a curious expression.
"Huh? How did you know I caught seventeen fish in two hours today?" Luo Qing asked, tilting his head.
"Wha—?"
Paimon's face was a picture of bewilderment.
"Is he a friend of yours?" Lumine asked, turning to Tartaglia with a questioning glance.
"Uh... he's also one of the Harbingers," Tartaglia replied with a slightly strained smile, silently hoping Luo Qing wouldn't derail his plans. "Though he's still just a trainee and hasn't been officially given a code name yet."
"I'm Luo Qing. Nice to meet you!" Luo Qing grinned at Lumine and Paimon. "I've heard a lot about the two of you. Maybe we can go fishing together sometime."
"Hmm... you really seem to like fishing," Paimon observed.
"Of course! Freshly caught fish make the best grilled meals," Luo Qing said cheerfully.
"Ah... well, if we get the chance, we could try it out. Lumine's actually pretty good at fishing!" Paimon declared with a proud nod.
Lumine shot Paimon a warning look: Please don't drag me into this.
Staring at Luo Qing's features, Paimon suddenly looked puzzled. "Wait... you said you're with the Fatui, but you look like someone from Liyue..."
"That's because I'm a Liyue defector," Luo Qing replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"Defector? What's that mean?" Paimon asked, thoroughly confused.
"He just likes to spout nonsense," Tartaglia interrupted, exasperated. "Don't pay him any mind. He grew up in Snezhnaya—his only connection to Liyue is through his bloodline."
"Oh... I see." Paimon nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Since he's also a Harbinger, there's no need to hide anything. But why are you helping us?" Lumine asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she turned her attention back to Tartaglia.
"Because..." Tartaglia started to explain, but Luo Qing jumped in before he could finish.
"To stir things up," Luo Qing said, grinning.
"..."
[+1 Frustration from Tartaglia]
"Stir things up..." Lumine's gaze grew complicated as she glanced between the two. She had suspected that the Fatui wouldn't help them out of pure goodwill.
"But you don't have much of a choice," Luo Qing continued casually. "Your wanted posters are plastered all over Liyue. Step out on the streets, and I guarantee someone will turn you in to the Millelith for the bounty."
He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "If you go through the usual channels at the Ministry of Civil Affairs—even if you're innocent—you'll be detained first, then have to wait for a lawyer, argue your case, and eventually be proven innocent. That whole process? At least six months, minimum."
"So you see, you really only have one option—going to Jueyun Karst," he concluded with a casual shrug.
"But we didn't do anything! We're not the ones who killed the Geo Archon!" Paimon protested, stomping her little feet in frustration.
"Well, that's a question for you two," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly. "Why did you try to sneak away back then? If you'd just stayed put and let them question you, they would've released you in a few hours."
Lumine turned to Paimon with a flat stare.
If Paimon hadn't panicked and made things sound so dramatic, Lumine doubted she'd have tried to flee.
"I... I was scared, okay!" Paimon admitted, her voice small and embarrassed. She then put on her most pleading expression. "But we're friends, right? Friends forgive each other, don't they?"
"Anyway," Luo Qing interrupted with a smirk, "the sooner you meet the Adepti, the sooner you clear your names. They've held authority in Liyue since the founding. Their word counts for a lot."
Luo Qing gave them a friendly wave and added, "I've got fish to grill. Until next time!"
Despite being Tartaglia's subordinate, Luo Qing had a habit of stealing the spotlight, and he figured he'd better let Tartaglia handle the rest without overshadowing him completely.
After saying his farewells, he returned to his room to put away the fish and rod. As he gazed out towards the coastline, he stretched and spoke over his shoulder.
"Igor, I remember you specialized in intel gathering back in training, right?" Luo Qing asked without turning around.
"Yes, Lord Luo Qing. Why do you ask?" Igor responded, stepping forward.
"I have a job for you. Did you see the blonde girl downstairs just now?" Luo Qing asked.
"The one speaking with Lord Tartaglia?" Igor confirmed.
"Exactly." Luo Qing nodded. "From now on, you're to track her movements and report back to me regularly."
Now that Lumine was officially in Liyue, the story arc for the region was unfolding. As someone who had knowledge of future events, Luo Qing needed to keep tabs. He didn't want to be caught unawares if Osial suddenly appeared while he was fishing under a bridge.
Monitoring Lumine's activities would give him a good idea of how far along the plot had progressed.
"Uh... Lord Luo Qing, isn't she the famous Traveler from Mondstadt? She's very powerful. What if she spots me?" Igor asked, a bit hesitant.
"No worries. If you get caught, just tell her that Tartaglia ordered it. Just don't mention my name," Luo Qing instructed with a wave.
"..."
"And if I do mention your name?" Igor asked cautiously.
"If you do," Luo Qing said, stepping closer to Igor with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "you and Sergei can go dance a naked jig at Yujing Terrace."
"...?"
Sergei, who had been standing guard at the door, looked utterly bewildered.
[+1 Frustration from Igor]
[+1 Frustration from Sergei]
"Alright, that's settled," Luo Qing said, giving Igor a pat on the shoulder before turning to Sergei. "Is the boat still docked at the usual spot?"
"It's right where you left it, Lord Luo Qing. Are you heading to Guyun Stone Forest again tonight?" Sergei asked.
"Yeah, got some time to kill, might as well have some fun," Luo Qing replied with a yawn. Stretching once more, he vaulted over the balcony, landing nimbly on the ground below.
He headed towards the street stalls, picking up a bag of snacks before strolling leisurely to the docks.
---
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