"I AM SO SORRY, ANEMO ARCHON! I CAN'T APOLOGIZE ENOUGH! Please, choose an Antique from my shop, free of cost!"

...

"Yánwáng-dìjūn, please, quell your anger! I AM REALLY SORRY FOR DISRESPECTING YOUR OLD FRIEND!"

...

...

This is how his "discussion" with the weird Liyuan woman basically ended,

Yet even now, when he was choosing an artifact, Venti still couldn't help but wonder about what just happened...

*As he found out from her frantic tale, she badmouthed him to the Traveler during last year's Rite of Descension,

Which, while a situation that annoyed him, happened more than a year ago and seeing the intensity of her regret...

...

...

Apparently she was the owner of "Xigu Antiques" and sold some pretty interesting stuff in her shop,

Which seemingly included some "fossilized wood, a runner from a primordial tree", that "was so gigantic its root system spread throughout the entire world"...

*Honestly, he wasn't certain how she came to know about the Irminsul tree, legend or not and didn't particularly care whatever the fossilized wood was authentic,

Her gesture of letting him choose a gift for himself was still a nice one and he could also use this moment to "see" what everyone else was doing...

...

-Hu Tao, now that you know full well what you did wrong, isn't there something you need to tell Chongyun...? -Shenhe was coldly telling the other, as she was hovering over her, looking and sounding quite murderous. -...I hope that you do it with utmost sincerity, or else something unfortunate might…~

-I-I am sorry for pranking you with a chili pepper-flavored popsicle! I am really sorry! -The other yelled out almost right away, as she dropped before the now-shocked teen's feet, looking and sounding like she was about to cry. -I am sorry! I am really sorry! I won't do it again! Please, don't let your aunt kill me!

She almost begged, shocking the other even more,

Which led to Shenhe looking even more murderous and Hu Tao more apologetic...

*It was definitely an almost unending circle of events in the making,

One which some people clearly realized the nature of...

...

-Yelan, isn't it time to stop your friend...? -Kaeya, being one of said people, soon asked the other in thoughtfulness and some concern. -Seeing as things are right now, this might continue even after Lantern Rite starts.

-...That's true, but I will rather wait a little more. This scene is just too amusing to watch~ -Yelan soon answered him, an evil grin clearly seen on her face. -...We managed to get some "pocket money" and now have an interesting show to watch. Aren't you having fun, just like I do, my "dear friend"...?

She asked in some amusement and tease, still looking towards the "scene" in great interest,

As she now wondered if she could use this "little mistake" as blackmail in the future...

-...It is quite amusing, yes. Would work well enough as blackmail against Hu Tao, too. -The Cavalry Captain soon answered in intrigue, upon realizing what she planned, before his expression fell a little. -...But I can't help but feel like something is wrong...

He soon mumbled in some annoyance, upon turning to glance in another direction,

Mainly the table where Diluc and Childe recently held their "Theater Mechanicus battle" at...

...

The two appeared to have become closer now,

Which shouldn't be even possible, since his brother hated the Fatui with a passion!

-Yo, comrade, I am used to being hated, as it's part of the job, but it looks like your brother is trying to drill a hole in me with his eyes. -Childe said as soon as he noticed the other's glare towards himself, sounding a little confused. -Normally I would gladly accept the challenge, but I don't want Zhongli to nag me.

-...I will ask him what's wrong. -Diluc soon answered, quite confused about the whole situation himself. As well as him apparently forming an acceptance with the Fatui and even starting to tolerate his presence-...How did this become my life...? How did I become friends with a Fatui...?

He couldn't help but sadly mumble to himself,

During his walk all the way to his clearly annoyed brother...

...

-...They seem to be having some kind of a relationship problem, though as for the cause, I am uncertain...-Emilia couldn't help but quietly comment, as she noticed the chaos around, before turning back to her conversational partner. This was not the time to be distracted. -...The book, "The Mystery of Dragon Relations", you are certain it is going to be a success?

-...I can certainly, 100%, say that it would. A book about this kind of topic is not something you can usually easily find, much less verify as the complete truth. -Xingqui soon answered her, as he just recently finished reading said book and gave it back to the Alchemist. -Knowing your twin brother and how he operates, I already hoped for us to become partners. I am glad to admit that while your personalities are different in some aspects, I still feel like we could make a long term cooperation of our own.

He made sure to add, showing a small appreciative smile as he did so,

As he also tried really hard not to look at a certain amusing scene nearby...

*But he had to admit that seeing Miss Shenhe make Hu Tao cry was pretty amusing,

And seeing how embarrassed and confused looking Chongyun was now...~

-Yánwáng-dìjūn, please accept this specially prepared outfit as our offering to you! -Was suddenly heard nearby, as Ningguang, accompanied by a refreshed looking Beidou and a slightly haggard Ganyu, was offering a certain bundle of clothes to the Archon. -Seeing as Lantern Rite is almost upon us, we, the people of Liyue, made sure to create an outfit most befitting of the god whose continuous effort made this nation what it is now...

She soon started going on a whole long speech about the matter,

Making sure that it sounded as grandiose and official as possible...

*Since the whole speech was taking a while, some people stopped listening to it by now,

Which included the children now playing in the area and looking around the shops, as well as Venti,

Who already "saw" enough of what everyone was doing and "finally" found himself a nice Antique to "take home"...

...

Though seeing Morax's reaction to the sudden gift was quite amusing,

Especially since in order to don it, a certain blockhead made most of his "clothes" disappear,

Revealing those rock hard abs of his, which were clearly making some people blush quite hard...~

...

...

Wait...

...

Time was moving a little weirdly again,

Shouldn't the Lantern Rite have started by now...?

...

Is this due to his talk with Kairos at that time...?

Is this due to him thinking something he shouldn't have before...?

Or is this something which was happening for a while now and yet went mostly unnoticeable...?

...

"We apologize for interrupting the festive atmosphere, Barbatos, but there's trouble on the horizon!", the Winds suddenly exclaimed, sounding quite worried, "There's two weird purple shadows following the Crux through the water! We are not sure what those shadows are, but everyone could be in great danger!"


It was almost time for the official start of Lantern Rite,

With many people now gathered by the docks, waiting for it to begin,

Which also included those who just recently returned from their small voyage on The Crux,

As Jean, Barbara and Noelle were now standing in the crowd, wearing the festive outfits they were gifted...

...

Jean was wearing a knee-length dark blue Hanfu with thin, long sleeves stuffed in brassiere,

On the Hanfu itself was a dandelion with seeds scattered across the fabric, white pants with golden detail underneath them and stuffed into white boots,

Her sword was hanging on her hip, strapped to a light blue ribbon across her midsection…

...

Then was her sister, Barbara, who was wearing a long light blue Hanfu with dark blue music notes stitched into the fabric,

With a sheer white overcoat that slowly turned blue at the ends, a dark blue ribbon binded it together around her midsection,

And a long sky-blue shawl was hanging around her…

...

And finally Noelle's attire, which similar to Jean's, was a knee-length Fuchsia Hanfu patterned with multiple light pink roses,

Underneath the Hanfu were black pants stuffed into white boots,

The Hanfu was held together by a white ribbon that she draped in a way, reminiscent of a small apron…

...

...

All of them looked truly majestic in those Traditional Liyue outfits,

As Kazuha had to wholeheartedly admit that they were chosen well...

*Yet, he found himself unable to share their and everyone else's cheer for the upcoming event,

As he couldn't help but wonder about what he learnt only a few hours ago of the situation in Inazuma...

...

It was indeed hours ago that he finally got the confirmation he needed:

The Raiden Shogun, Inazuma's Electro Archon, truly has changed her ways...

*And the way her change came about, the arc of her redemption,

Truthfully, it still felt unbelievable, even surreal...

...

Did she truly nearly sacrificed herself in order to keep the Sacred Sakura alive and save Inazuma...?

*As someone who knew the Archon only as a tyrant, one who hurt and killed a lot of people, including his friend...

...

He truly wasn't certain what to think or even feel about this news...

...

...

-I will inform some people to stay on guard. We can't have this Lantern Rite be disturbed. -Ningguang has just told Zhongli, as she was staying near him now, looking and sounding annoyed and a little mad. -Everyone has put so much work and effort into assuring that this year's celebration is the best yet, we can't let all this effort go to waste!

She continue in more annoyance, as she slightly bowed before Zhongli,

Before proceeding to go and talk to the nearby Millelith and the arrived Keqing...

*Zhongli didn't mind letting her go, as he knew full well that this issue was indeed a major one...

...

After being gifted the specially prepared attire and helped wear it, he could see full well the effort that was put into it:

Many layers went into this one, starting with an even black one, followed by an even brown one,

And topped with once again a black one, but on this one was his Exuvia form in golden and red thread stitched into the whole Hanfu,

The overcoat was a green-brownish color and had a small train at the end, the lapels also stitched with gold thread creating a Geo pattern that was then sporadically repeated on the rest of the overcoat…

...

Barbatos informed him of the approaching danger,

And knowing his friend, Zhongli knew that this warning was no trivial matter...

...

...

Hopefully this matter was not as grave as Barbatos deemed it to be,

And yet, the Archon had a persistent feeling that it was even graver than anticipated...

...

...

He also still didn't know the full extent of what Ningguang has prepared for this year's Lantern Rite,

As he could clearly see the fireworks launchers scattered and installed all around the Harbor, but as for the Mingxiao Lantern...

...

Instead of one big Mingxiao Lantern, honoring a hero from the past,

There were in fact five of them, one big in the middle and four smaller ones at the sides,

All of them still covered up by delicate yet thick pieces of golden cloth, patterned with Glaze Lilies...

...

...

-...Just what was this "Special Surprise" that Ningguang had prepared...? -Zhongli couldn't help but mumble, partly in thoughtfulness and partly in sadness, wondering just who they were going to commemorate this year. -...But this Glaze Lily pattern, could one of them possibly be...Guizhong's...?


Minutes later, when the Lantern Rite officially started,

Zhongli's earlier theory indeed proved to be correct...

-...The bigger Mingxiao Lantern looks like Guizhong, just the way I recalled her appearance from my memory...-The Archon couldn't help but say in some sadness and regret, upon looking at it thoroughly, before he turned to look towards the rest. -...And the smaller Mingxiao Lanterns look just like Bosacius, Bonanus, Menogias and Indarias. -He continued soon enough, before sighing slightly. -It would have been nice if Xiao was here to see them, but he is busy helping the Traveler in their "quest" in Sumeru.

-...If you would let me, Yánwáng-dìjūn, I would gladly volunteer to take the job of photographer for the duration of this year's Lantern Rite. -Ganyu soon said, sounding both reassuring and determined. -I will be sure to take as many great pictures of the event as I can, so that Xiao can enjoy them when he returns.

She promised in even more determination than before,

Already fully adamant on completing this task to succession...

*As she also tried very hard not to show her current growing annoyance,

At the fact that Ningguang didn't tell anyone about this "secret surprise", even her...

...

If she knew about the Mingxiao Lanterns, she would have given her help!

And yet, Ningguang decided to leave her in the dark and...!

-So this is this Guizhong you kept talking about. The Goddess of Dust was quite a beauty, wasn't she...? And quite the good mechanic, as well. -A conflicted voice was heard from nearby, as Childe was currently looking towards the Mingxiao Lantern with a small pout on his face. -If she wasn't dead I could have asked her for a test run of some nice weapons she created! -He couldn't help but add, just as the fireworks started going off, feeling a little weird now, especially when he saw the look his "Archon companion" had on his face at the moment. -...I bet that you two were really close, weren't you, Zhongli...? You kept talking so much about her and yet wouldn't even agree to have a small friendly spar with me...! -...For some reason, it made him feel so jealous...-...Did Guizhong have some secret abilities which affect others even if she is no longer here...?

-..."Secret abilities"...? I am not sure I follow what you are trying to say, Childe. -Zhongli couldn't help but admit in confusion, as he finally turned his gaze away from the Mingxiao Lanterns and towards the seemingly jealous looking Fatui. -...As for answering your questions, at the time, I still didn't know much about friendship and bonds, so I am not certain what kind of relationship we had. But if she was alive now, I am certain that she would have liked you, Childe and let you test any new constructions she made.

He reassuringly added, showing the other a small warm smile,

Before he turned back towards the Lanterns, then towards the fireworks in the sky...

...

As he couldn't help but wonder what could have been if she was really...

-MORAX, QUICK! TRANSFORM INTO YOUR ARCHON FORM AND CREATE A BARRIER AROUND THE HARBOR! -Barbatos practically yelled into his head, sounding and looking very frantic.

Which was enough of an indication to do what was asked, without unnecessary questions,

And soon enough he was in his Archon form and created a huge barrier around the whole Harbor...

...

Just in time to stop a huge sea wave from submerging the place!

"For fuck's sake! Why is there a crisis again?!"

He managed to hear through the sound of crashing water,

Soon noticing Barbatos and his people having their weapons drawn, prepared for battle,

As the other was in his "Archon form" now as well, summoning numerous Wind gliders and distributing them to the Vision users around...

*Morax wanted to inquire what just happened, but he knew that this was not the time to do so, especially not when...

-...Osial...? Beisht...? Is that really...? And that purple mist completely enveloping their forms...-He couldn't help but start in rising shock and some horror, still making sure to hold the barrier up, as he saw them emerge out of the water. -...Corruption...? By the Abyss Order...?