Chapter 9 - Red Curtain, Golden Strings
"Wakey, wakey~"
"I'm already awake. Can you take this thing off?"
The brown bag was finally lifted from his face as Aether sucked in a deep breath. He internally scanned his entire body for damage, and thankfully, found none. Unsurprisingly however, his hands and feet had been tied to a creaky wooden chair while he was unconscious. The same blue string as before, but this time around, his neck was free.
That woman had probably carried him all the way to... where exactly was he? At first glance, it was an extremely bland living room. The wooden walls, floor, and ceiling were looking slightly decrepit, but the house was by no means unkempt. The first thing he noticed was the complete lack of any personal items – no picture frames, vases, or a single decorative trinket. The room had little to no furniture, and from his point of view he only could see two empty bookshelves and a sofa with a folded blanket on top, the only sign that someone had been living here. The last item of note was obviously the bamboo table in the center, which his abductor sat across, opposite to him.
No torture devices in sight, so that's good. He had a strange feeling, however, and decided to keep it in check. He wouldn't lash out at her. For now.
"You regained consciousness quickly." she noted. "Been in this kind of situation before?"
The Traveler was still checking out his surroundings without a care in Teyvat. "Can't say I haven't. Where exactly are we, if you don't mind telling?"
"This is my house, actually. Close enough to the harbor so I could bring you here unnoticed, but far enough that no one will hear you scream. Convenient, right?"
"Wow, taking me home on the first date?" he chuckled. "I see you're the forward type, nice. This is gonna be fun."
She offered an amused smile for half a second. "Nice try. You're just trying to test my boundaries to see if you can talk your way out of this one. But if this is the kind of game you want to play, I'll gladly accept the challenge."
Aether shook his head as his own faux smile vanished. "We'll see who plays who, lady. As far as I know, you're just a maniac who kidnapped a young man in broad daylight, before dragging him to your secluded home for possibly unspeakable reasons. I have broken the law quite a few times myself, but I'm pretty sure you're in way hotter water than I."
He provoked her, and she taunted him back. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. For now you're at my complete mercy, so why don't you make things easier for the both of us and start behaving, hmm?"
There goes the plan for a reverse interrogation. Whatever her goal was, Yelan wasn't about to let him stall with idle chatter. But she didn't feel like a member of the Fatui, nor an undercover Millelith for that matter. His thoughts still shrouded with uncertainty, The Traveler needed to take a step forward into the dark and play along if he wanted to know what she expected from him.
If she was trying to get into his head, it was somewhat working.
"Alright," he sighed. "how can I help you, miss...?"
"Yelan. Just call me Yelan." She leaned forward and he knew this party was about to get started, for better or worse. "Let's begin with something simple: what brings you to Liyue Harbor?"
"I came for the Rite of Descension, stayed for the copious amount of bullcrap the Millelith put me through. That's one way of summing up my journey, anyway."
The investigator scribbled his words down, probably still hoping to put pressure on him. "You traveled for the Rite, that's already useful information... If you're not a merchant, what were you hoping to gain from attending?"
"Intel. I was hoping for an audience with the Geo Archon concerning my sister's whereabouts – we got separated during an incident and haven't seen eachother since, before you ask." he trailed off. "And well, we both know that went- are you seriously gonna write it all down?"
She ignored and followed up in a way that completely blindsided him. "Did you kill him?"
It was different. Outside of Shenhe, no one had ever even asked before pinning the blame on him. So when a complete stranger actually wanted his side of the story rather than making assumptions... it felt different. The Traveler stared into Yelan's eyes for what felt like a solid minute, his face as immovable as the very stone this harbor was built on. He did not try to escape, he did not go for her neck, he just awkwardly sat there, unsure about what to say - or do - next. But he did not have to, for Yelan's laugh broke the stalemate.
Wait, she laughed?
"Kidding." she chuckled. "Gave you quite a fright, didn't I? Don't worry, your presence here has nothing to do with the Archaic Lord's passing, quite the opposite actually. But unlike most people you've encountered, I don't really care for the culprit's identity – I just want to control what happens next."
He raised a brow. "You want to fill in the power vacuum too? Oh wait, I know what your next question's gonna be."
"The Yuheng." she persisted. "What's your relationship with her?"
Bingo.
The Traveler leaned back in his chair - as much as his bonds allowed him anyway. "Well, I wouldn't say we're friends, but we're not enemies either." An image of Keqing scowling at him on Mt. Aocang briefly crossed his mind. "We've worked together after clearing up a few misunderstandings, so I do place a certain level of trust in her. Now that I think about it, she seemed worried about a situation within Heiji Hall..."
As expected, his abductor seemed pleased. "Is that so? Poor little Yuheng. What else can you tell me?"
He slowly nodded, as it all clicked in his brain. "So you're the one behind all this. That faction in the Communications Office is at your fingertips."
"The Communications Office? I... don't know what you're talking about." she shrugged.
"That's probably because I wasn't talking to you. You have no need for this information."
"Excuse me?"
Aether triumphantly smiled, as the presence he'd sensed confirmed his doubts. "I'm talking to the person who's quietly listening in from the other room." His head snapped towards the empty doorframe to his right. "Come on now, show yourself. I don't bite."
Yelan actually showed her surprise this time, her own eyes darting towards the door. "Not bad. I never caught what you were going for." Her slighty agape mouth curved up into a coy smile as she leaned back in her chair. "Alright, I like your style – you're the kind of asset I'd want to keep around, Traveler. I personally think he passed with flying colors, what about you?"
A slender figure stepped from the shadows, a black hood and cape covering an elegant silk dress. Setting her pearly white hair free, Ningguang pranced into the living room. A very different aura from the one she carried at the Rite of Descension surrounded her, less formal, but certainly not relaxed. She graciously accepted the seat Yelan was offering her and did away with the cloak, still smiling politely at a now somewhat confused Traveler. Well, he'd guessed correctly that someone was eavesdropping, but he did not expect the actual Tianquan to show up.
But that smile of hers did not mean his troubles were over.
Ningguang set a stray bang behind her ear. "Before we begin, I would like to apologize. In the current political turmoil, making you disappear for a while was my only way of meeting you. And thanks to Miss Yelan's efforts, it seems we now have a chance to talk."
"If anything, I'm wondering why all the powerful women in Liyue have it out for me." The Traveler shrugged. "I hope you can at least make this quick, someone's waiting for me."
"But of course. As you already know, Liyue Harbor is on the verge of undergoing rapid change. And as a member of the Qixing, it is my duty to uproot all evil that threatens our beautiful city before it has a chance to strike." A golden pipe materialized in her hand and she began to draw from it, releasing little puffs of smoke in the air as she spoke. "It's an awfully tiring job, especially when your peers are not so bent on cooperating towards that goal. So from time to time, they'll need a bit of pressure to get back on the straight and narrow. And, well, fear is a great motivator."
Behind her words, Aether sensed an underlying intent. The Tianquan was urging him to find something, but what could it be? Racking his brains about what the Qixing could be afraid of, he realized he'd overlooked a minor detail. She was tossing him an easy bone because it was a general rule, not only in politics, but also combat.
Power is afraid of power.
"You're the one who oversees the Communications Office, right?" he mumbled aloud. "You wanted Keqing to get a move on, so you fabricated a fake conspiracy and ordered your subordinates to play the part, all to make her feel threatened. She had no other choice but to be even more proactive right when you needed her to, and you'd already won the game when she decided to hunt me down. In other words, you played us both like a fiddle."
Ningguang's red lips curved into a modest smile. "Now, the Yuheng is by no means a slacker, quite the opposite, but her energy is often directed towards goals that aren't very profitable on the long term. And thankfully, your timing could not have been more perfect. She chased you down as expected, and thanks to her hard work, the rumors about a suspicious activity within Heiji Hall will mysteriously disappear."
The blond shuffled around on his chair. "Okay, very well executed, but where's the catch? You didn't bring me here all tied up just to say that you're a political mastermind, so what do you expect me to do now that the game's over?"
"Over?" The businesswoman laughed. "All of the chesspieces have been placed on the board, this is where the battle truly begins. And I need you to jump into the fray. You're an asset, Traveler, and you will be more useful to me if I don't keep you in the dark regarding my intentions."
He did not expect her to be so clean about manipulating him. But if someone as knowledgeable and powerful as the Tianquan wanted his help specifically, there had to be something he could get out of it, right? And Celestia above knows he needs many things.
He squinted. "You're trying to make a deal with a man you've tied up, knocked out, and brought here against his will. I don't really know what you have to offer, but it needs to be really, really good."
Another puff of smoke rose to roof, its creator blissfully aware that she was offering him a deal he couldn't possibly refuse. The Traveler had no interest in money or status, but she knew exactly what he needed. Resources. Information. A trade overlooked by many, but that she had found over the years to be worth more than gold. Surely someone as bright as him could understand.
After all, why have another pawn when you can summon a second player entirely?
"I don't think you have any interest in a pay in Mora." she began. "You certainly don't want or need an expensive abode in the higher districts, ownership of a prosperous gold mine, nor a legendary relic. But something you could use is... a title."
It was probably incredibly rude to laugh in the Tianquan's face, but she pressed on before he could turn her down.
"I know, it sounds ridiculous – I'm offering you a title in exchange for your help, who wouldn't refuse? But what I'm hinting at is a name, a facade for the people, unassuming words on the outside, but bountiful benefits underneath. Lend me your talents, and I will make you Honored Guest of the Qixing."
Aether had no idea what that meant, but judging by the way Yelan's eyes widened, it could only be serious. Extremely serious. The Honorary Knight of Mondstadt was more of a designation than a title really, but the Honored Guest of the Qixing carried immense weight. By the name alone, he could guess that countless souls in the harbor had been yearning for these words to be bestowed upon them.
Which wasn't quite enough to win him over, but did spark his interest.
The Tianquan saw right through his curious gaze. "You're already taking me a lot more seriously, that's a relief. Though some people may not be aware, the Honored
Guest – as well as his innermost circle – is granted diplomatic immunity, and has full access to Yuehai Pavilion's archives, Liyue's treasure trove of information. Of course, they may also request an audience with a member of the Seven Stars whenever they want, and the Eight Trades have an obligation of full transparency towards them. I think now you're beginning understand what I'm truly offering you?"
A fake seat in the Qixing. A shadow who has no hand in law-making, but gets all the insight and privileges reserved for the official members. It just seemed like a title of recognition at a glance, but it was the one thing he'd lacked this entire time. No incrimination, no boundaries. Something that would allow him to continue his journey unperturbed while making sure he never has a bad run-in with the Millelith ever again.
The stars know how tempting that sounded.
But if this was a business transaction, he could always try to negotiate, no?
"That's certainly a clear-cut deal," he began. "but I still think you're not revealing all of your cards. Yuehai Pavilion's archives sound like a big deal, but how can I be sure that most of it is not outdated information? So much information goes through this place - you have an overworked General Secretary, I'll remind you - so why wouldn't there be quite a few dusty records neither of us has any use for? I'm willing to cooperate as long as you can throw in something a little more... versatile."
"As in?"
Aether immediately struck through the opening. "Half of your intel. You can keep everything pertaining to laws, trades, and business trends, but I want access to every piece of information about mysterious travelers, monsters, Abyss Order activity and the like. A fraction of your network that you don't even need as a businesswoman, but that I can utilize to the fullest. How about it?"
She contemplated it – which was already a small victory in itself, considering her reputation as the shrewdest merchant of them all. Ningguang pondered his offer, her smooth chin resting on her hand. The pipe had now stopped producing smoke, and it just sat in her other hand awkwardly, like a soldier who'd forgotten his purpose mid-battle. Her scarlet eyes stopped staring into the void and laid back on Aether, the last spark of hesitation flickering behind her orbits.
"You are certainly asking for a lot..." she articulated.
"You need someone to defend your home." he shot back. "Mine is long gone."
Ruby red merged with gold, as the Tianquan unwittingly nibbled on her lower lip. As much as he hated to admit it, the Traveler was fresh out of arguments to convince her. Now if only a little breeze could push her over the edge, he would be most grateful. And there's not a chance he'd pray to that drunkard anytime soon.
"I think we can find a mutual agreement." she yielded. "So before I send you back to your friends, why don't we discuss our little business in more detail?"
Lev sternly walked down the dimly-lit hallways, the flickering light of torches periodically illuminating his masked face. The determined sound of his footsteps on the stone pavements echoed around the underground tunnels, and one could easily mistake him for an entire army marching to war by the rhythmic thumping alone.
Technically speaking, they wouldn't be wrong.
Taking a sharp turn at an intersection, the Fatuus mentally cursed the madmen who'd designed this absolute monstrosity of a labyrinth. It was cramped, humid, and the number of rats they'd had to kill before making this place somewhat hospitable boggled the mind. The only thing it had going for it was its subterranean location, and the fact that its existence was only known by a select few. And the Fatui are always part of 'a select few'.
According to the legend, long ago, a mighty dragon of rock wreaked havoc all across Liyue. Heavens shook, mountains crumbled, and the earth cried akin to a woman giving birth. One of the tremors was so strong it reached the Kongxin maze, and the subsequent cave-ins completely cut the left wing off, sealing its only access under a tremendous amount of stone and rubble.
And while everyone freaked out over a dead god, the Fatui had all the time in the world to carve a way under Mt. Tianheng, and establish a covert base of operations right under the Qixing's nose. So yes, only a select few knew of this location.
A large crimson gate came into his field of view, flanked by two elite fighters on both sides. Large, muscular men, who had been handpicked by the Knave as children before being dispatched under Her Highness' glorious banner. The Fatui agent flashed his insignia at the guards, who immediately let him in without a word. Good. Maybe they could best him in combat without his Delusion, but they were technically still his underlings.
Lev had to admit, working under the Young Sire wasn't half bad. Unlike most other Harbinger Corps, the members of the House of Narwhals could work however they pleased as long as they showed results. In her divine foresight, the Tsaritsa let her youngest asset run wild with little rules knowing he would be more useful this way, and in turn he did the same for his subordinates. Compared to the copious amounts of physical and mental abuse the Fair Lady put her own troops through, this was quite the upgrade.
Passing through the gate and stepping into a larger cave, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of drawn bowstrings. The agent stepped down a flight of stairs, as the sound got clearer and clearer. The 11th of the Fatui Harbingers was practicing his archery in the middle of a circular room, his movements illuminated only by braziers disposed around the training area. Tartaglia unleashed a flurry of arrows on his wooden training dummies, hitting seven shots out of ten.
Lev offered a light bow as he stepped into the light. "Lord Harbinger, I am sorry to interrupt your training session but I bring important news."
"Oh, look who's here!" the ginger wiped sweat from his forehead as he discarded his bow. "Where have you been, lieutenant? Making preparations for our big performance, I suppose?"
"You are correct, Lord Harbinger. It appears monitoring the Lady Tianxuan was the right decision. Thanks to the information she disclosed to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, we have established that the Exuvia is indeed hidden within the main Kongxin area, and some of our spies have gone to great lengths to confirm its exact location. I have been waiting for your blessing to begin the mining process, but if we begin now we should reach the stasis chamber in about two weeks."
"Two weeks, huh." Childe's gaze trailed off, and his subordinate caught a glimpse of dangerous flame dancing behind his dead blue eyes.
The deranged look of a battle-hardened warrior.
"What if I told you-" He interrupted himself for a brief moment, as if relishing the information he withheld. "What if I told you there won't be a corpse to steal in two weeks' time?"
The agent was taken aback, and shook his head to drive the disbelief away. "What? Lord Harbinger, this is not making sense. After the Rite of Parting, the Qixing will most likely seal it back underground, and we'll have all the time in Teyvat to-"
"Not so fast, Lev." The Harbinger raised a knowing finger. "You did a good job of sending our men to spy on the Tianxuan's affairs, but it looks like you missed an important detail somewhere along the way. The scenario you're describing here is what would've happened under normal circumstances, but I need you to remember that this Rite of Parting will be all but normal. We're talking about the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor here."
Lev's mind raced. "But I don't see how that changes anything... the way they conduct the last rites is..." A metaphorical gear clicked in his brain. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor put their entire plans in jeopardy by this one, tiny detail. And overlooking it was his own fault as a lieutenant.
"The Flame of Homa." he murmured.
"Bingo." Tartaglia's bow reappeared in his hand, and he took another unorthodox stance to aim. "The Rite of Parting won't be a burial. It's gonna be a cremation, which means this glorious body will be reduced to a nothing but a pile of ashes. And while I doubt a holy item like the Geo Gnosis can go up in flames that easily, it would be significantly harder to retrieve it without the Prime of the Adepti as its shell. So of course, we can't let that happen."
As if to further bolster his statement, the Harbinger let loose another ten arrows, and eight hit their targets this time. Contrasting with his satisfied smirk upon noticing an improve in his marksmanship, Lev's whole body had just tensed up.
"Lord Harbinger, you do realize how terrible these news are, right?"
Childe merely shrugged. ''We're actually in a very good spot, if you followed my orders, that is. How are our troops coming along? Anything to report?''
"As per your orders, every able unit stationed in the Sea of Clouds is ready and standing by." the agent saluted. "Two hundred skirmishers, a hundred mages and an additional hundred Delusion-bearers are ready to move out at your command. I have also received the green light to bring in reinforcements from Lisha and Minlin if need be."
The Young Lord raised a brow at the mention of reinforcements. "Reinforcements are more than welcome, but... Funny, I don't remember being allowed to station my own troops in these two places. I don't think your intel is up to date, Lev, because these guys clearly aren't from the House of Narwhals."
His subordinate audibly sighed, and Childe understood he was reluctant to clarify where the reinforcements came from. "They're... from the House of the Crimson Lotus, Lord Harbinger."
"The-" Tartaglia was suddenly taken into a coughing fit. "What kind of game exactly is that witch playing? She has the audacity to mislead me, smack-talk me into the ground, and now she's graciously offering me backup?" His skin crawled at the word graciously. "No, no. We're doing this operation my way, and I'll be swallowed by seven sea beasts before I cooperate with Signora. My own troops will do just fine, she's just trying to take credit now that she knows I'm getting serious."
Lev reluctantly nodded. "As you wish, Lord Harbinger. I take it you'll personally lead the charge to retrieve the Gnosis before the cremation, then?"
The answer was obvious. "Well, of course! Even though the city's defenses have been lowered, I can't just miss out on the prospect of a good fight. And if the rumors about that blond traveler showing up are true, I'll even get to kill two birds with one stone."
"Then I shall finish the preparations with what little time we have left." Lev bowed. "I wish you luck with your training – I would gladly accompany you, but my bones are still sore from last time."
As the lieutenant began to take his leave, Childe aimed and prepared for another shot. Ten arrows sang as they pierced the air around them, and... Nine. Nine arrows out of ten hit their marks. Separating his bow into two waterblades, the 11th of the Fatui Harbingers rushed forward and closed his eyes. When they opened again, the dummies had all been severed in half, water seeping into the once-sturdy wood. Tartaglia discarded his weapon, pointed at the stone ceiling where light was filtering from above, and laughed.
He laughed like a madman.
"The Seven Stars are offering me their god on a silver platter... so be it. Before a crowd of horrified believers, allow me to steal the most precious artifact of this nation, and make history for the Tsaritsa. Go set the stage Lev, the show is about to begin."
All shall be conquered by the roaring riptide.
Sorry it took so long to make this chapter. I hesitated with two scenes for a while before discarding one completely, and now I have even less time to write because college decided free time was cringe. Uploads will sadly be more sporadic from now on.
On the up side, I'll have more time to brainstorm and put my thoughts into words, which should (I hope) result in higher-quality fics and chapters. Down with the King is almost coming to a close, but thankfully I have my next story planned, as well as some more ideas on the side. I really hope you'll like the climax, because I'm about to go at it with everything I've got.
Have a good one.
