Mt. Aocang

At Mount Aocang, the air was thick with tension as the Adepti gathered to discuss the grim news that had shaken their world. The normally serene and mystical landscape now felt charged with anger and sorrow. The assassination of Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon, had sent shockwaves through the Adepti, who had long served and revered him.

Around a large stone table, the Adepti had assembled. Each one was a powerful being, with a deep connection to the elements and ancient traditions. The gathering was a somber affair, but the emotions running high were undeniable.

"Those dirty humans!" a tall, muscular bipedal lion Adeptus roared, his voice echoing across the mountain. He slammed his fist on the stone table, causing it to crack slightly under the force of his fury. "I knew it! Never trust humans, but no one wanted to listen, and here we are!"

The other Adepti present, each unique in their form and abilities, exchanged glances. Some shared the lion Adeptus's anger, while others appeared more conflicted. The loss of Rex Lapis had not only left a void in their hearts but also in the leadership of Liyue, and the implications were grave.

A slender, ethereal crane Adeptus with a long neck and delicate features spoke up, her voice calm but laced with sadness. "It is a tragic loss, but we must not let our grief turn to blind rage. Rex Lapis trusted the people of Liyue, and we must honor his memory by thinking carefully before acting."

"But how can we sit idly by while the humans who were supposed to protect him may have been involved in his death?" a serpent Adeptus hissed, coiling tightly around a nearby tree. "We should descend upon the city and bring justice with our own hands!"

"Justice or vengeance?" a deep, rumbling voice asked, belonging to a massive stone golem Adeptus, his form blending with the very mountain they stood on. "The line between the two is thin, and we must tread carefully."

The lion Adeptus growled, baring his sharp teeth. "I don't care for your philosophical musings! Rex Lapis is gone, and those responsible must pay. If the humans think they can take his place, they are sorely mistaken."

The crane Adeptus sighed, her wings fluttering slightly. "We must remember that Rex Lapis believed in guiding and protecting the people, not in ruling them with an iron fist. His death does not give us the right to abandon his teachings."

Another Adeptus, an elderly deer with antlers that shimmered like gold, finally spoke, his voice heavy with age and wisdom. "We must decide our course of action wisely. A rash decision could lead to the very destruction Rex Lapis sought to prevent. We must gather more information before we act."

The tension among the Adepti grew even more palpable as the conversation continued. The werewolf Adeptus, known as Feng, stood tall with his fur bristling and his golden eyes gleaming with a mixture of anger and resolve. His voice carried the weight of his convictions as he addressed the gathering.

"We already have the information we need, Moon Carver," Feng growled, his eyes cutting through the darkness that surrounded them. "The Liyue Qixing stabbed the Geo Archon in the back. Absolutely shameful! With Rex Lapis gone, what's stopping them from coming for our throats next?"

Adeptus Tang Zhi, the lion Adeptus, nodded in agreement, his fierce gaze sweeping over the others. "One totally agrees with Adeptus Feng. One says we go there and crush the Liyue Qixing. They have overstepped their bounds, and it is time they paid the price."

Cloud Retainer, the crane Adeptus, remained composed despite the fiery tempers around her. Her calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the fury of Feng and Tang Zhi. "What about the humans, Tang Zhi?" she asked, her voice measured and thoughtful. "One does not believe the Liyue Qixing would consult with mere farmers or commoners on such a grave decision. This treachery, if true, may not reflect the will of all humanity."

Tang Zhi's eyes narrowed, his anger tempered but not extinguished. "One takes back the idea of punishing all humans," he conceded, his gaze flickering towards Shenhe, who stood silently behind Cloud Retainer. Her presence was a reminder that not all humans were to be blamed, though Tang Zhi had always regarded her as little more than a pet of Cloud Retainer, a human molded by an Adeptus.

"But the Liyue Qixing must suffer for their crime," Tang Zhi added, his voice hardening again. "They were entrusted with the care of this land, and they have betrayed that trust in the worst way possible."

Cloud Retainer observed the shifting emotions among the gathered Adepti, her mind working to find a path forward that would not lead to unnecessary bloodshed. "One understands your anger, Tang Zhi," she said. "But one must also caution against hasty action. If we are to confront the Liyue Qixing, we must do so with clear evidence and with a plan that does not plunge all of Liyue into chaos."

Moon Carver, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice steady and wise. "If we act without proof, without understanding the full scope of what has happened, we risk becoming the very thing Rex Lapis strove to protect against—forces of destruction, rather than guardians."

Feng growled lowly, his claws flexing in frustration. "And what would you have us do, Moon Carver? Sit idly by while those responsible for this treachery go unpunished? Rex Lapis was our leader, our guide! To let his death go unanswered is a betrayal of everything he stood for."

"No," Moon Carver replied. "We must investigate, gather the truth, and then decide on our course of action. Only then can we ensure that our actions are just and in line with Rex Lapis's teachings."

Gu Yang, the tall monkey Adeptus, stood up, his voice rising above the murmurs of the gathering. "Rex Lapis is dead!" he declared, his tone carrying a mix of sorrow and defiance. "That means there are no more contracts to be fulfilled. This applies to us too… Some of you may not be in favor of punishing the Liyue Qixing, but some of us are… Does that mean you're going to stop us from bringing justice?"

His words hung in the air like a challenge, a stark reminder that without Rex Lapis, the bonds that had once united the Adepti were fraying. The idea that the contracts, the very foundation of their duties, were now void, sent a ripple of unease through the assembly.

Moon Carver, ever the voice of caution, stepped forward, his expression calm but firm. "All one is saying, Gu Yang, is that we are being too rash!" His voice was measured, but there was an underlying urgency in his words.

"Rash we must be!" Xiao's voice cut through the air like a blade, his expression dark and determined.

The arrival of Xiao, the Conqueror of Demons, sent a ripple of surprise through the gathered Adepti. His presence alone was enough to command attention, but the words he spoke carried a weight that none could ignore.

Moon Carver's eyes widened in surprise. "Conqueror of Demons?" He had not expected Xiao to appear, much less to support the call for war. If even Xiao, known for his solitary and stoic nature, was advocating for immediate action, it spoke volumes about the severity of the situation.

Xiao stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he addressed the assembly. "I strongly believe I know who is responsible for the death of Rex Lapis."

The air grew thick with tension as the other Adepti leaned in, their attention fully captured by Xiao's words. Feng, the werewolf Adeptus, could barely contain his impatience, his claws gleaming as he sharpened them against the stone. "Then spill it, Conqueror of Demons!" he growled, eager for a target to unleash his fury upon.

Xiao's gaze swept across the gathered Adepti, his expression grim. "A few days ago, I encountered an aura unlike any I've ever faced before. It was dark, malevolent, and filled with a power that I had never seen in any creature of this world. My duty compelled me to confront it, to purge whatever vile force it was. But the entity that wielded this aura was no ordinary monster. It was incredibly powerful, beyond anything I've fought before. I nearly lost my life."

Gasps of shock rippled through the Adepti. For Xiao, the Conqueror of Demons—known for his unparalleled strength and his tireless dedication to protecting Liyue from malevolent forces—to admit that he had nearly been defeated was nothing short of astonishing.

"Woah!" The disbelief was evident in the voices of those gathered. Xiao's admission carried with it an implication that chilled them to the core. If this creature was powerful enough to nearly kill Xiao, then it was a threat unlike any they had faced before.

Gu Yang, the monkey Adeptus, broke the silence with a question that had been on everyone's mind. "So, who won?"

Xiao's response was simple, yet the weight behind his words was palpable. "I lost…" His voice was low, but the fire in his eyes spoke volumes. Those eyes, usually so cold and detached, now burned with a mix of hatred and a thirst for vengeance.

Tang Zhi, the Lion Adeptus, was the first to voice the implications of Xiao's statement. "So, you believe that such a monster has killed Rex Lapis?"

Xiao's gaze sharpened, and his fists clenched as he spoke. "That creature was a demon god! I have no idea where it came from or what its purpose is in Liyue, but with the power it wields, it could stand against Rex Lapis himself. That's why I believe this monster is somehow linked to the death of the Geo Archon."

The Adepti were stunned. A demon god, rivaling Rex Lapis in power, roaming free in Liyue? The thought was terrifying. Tang Zhi, always quick to action, was already envisioning the battle to come. "Then we must destroy it before it causes more harm! We cannot allow such a being to exist!"

Feng, the werewolf Adeptus, growled in agreement. "If this demon god is responsible, it must be hunted down and obliterated. No hesitation!"

But Cloud Retainer, always the voice of reason, cautioned against acting too hastily. "This is not a foe to be underestimated. If Xiao, with all his strength, was defeated, then we must tread carefully. We cannot afford to lose more lives in a reckless assault."

"Did the Liyue Qixing make a contract with this demon god?" asked the serpent Adeptus.

The question from the serpent Adeptus hung heavily in the air, casting a shadow of doubt and suspicion among the gathered Adepti. The notion that the Liyue Qixing, the governing body of Liyue, might have made a contract with a demon god was almost unthinkable—but in the absence of Rex Lapis, the protector of contracts, such dark possibilities suddenly seemed plausible.

The Adepti fell silent, their expressions inscrutable. Though they had been quick to shift blame onto the Liyue Qixing at any opportunity, the possibility of such a contract could not be entirely dismissed.

Tang Zhi, the Lion Adeptus, was the first to break the silence. "It wouldn't surprise me. The Liyue Qixing has always sought more power, and more control. They've moved away from the old ways, from the traditions that Rex Lapis set forth. A contract with a demon god might seem like a shortcut to them—a way to ensure their dominance."

"But would they truly be so reckless?" Moon Carver questioned, his tone heavy with doubt. "Making a contract with a demon god is not something done lightly. The Liyue Qixing are cunning, but they are not fools. They must know the dangers."

Cloud Retainer, always the voice of reason, interjected. "One must consider all possibilities, but one must also be wary of unfounded accusations. The Qixing have their faults, but to suggest they would ally with such a malevolent force is to tread on dangerous ground. We must seek the truth, not assumptions."

Xiao, still seething from his own encounter with the demon god, narrowed his eyes. "Whether or not they made a contract is irrelevant at this moment. The fact remains that this demon god is a threat to all of Liyue, humans, and Adeptus alike. If the Qixing are involved, they will answer for it. But right now, our priority is to find and eliminate this threat."

The assembly was divided. Some Adepti were ready to believe the worst of the Liyue Qixing, while others, like Cloud Retainer, urged caution and a more measured approach. The conversation had stirred up old fears and suspicions, but it had also highlighted the urgent need for unity in the face of this new threat.

Gu Yang, the monkey Adeptus, finally spoke, attempting to bring the discussion back to a productive course. "Whether or not the Qixing are involved, we need to prepare for battle. Xiao, you must lead us to this demon god. If the Qixing are guilty, their time will come, but right now, we must focus on the immediate threat."

The Adepti, though still uneasy, nodded in agreement. The truth of the matter would reveal itself in time, but for now, they needed to be ready. The demon god that Xiao had encountered was unlike any foe they had faced before, and it would take all their combined strength and wisdom to protect Liyue from the chaos that threatened to engulf it.