Liyue.
After Morax obtained the Gnosis and fully ascended as one of the Seven Archons, the Archon War finally came to an end. The world began to enter an age of peace, and each nation steadily advanced into prosperity.
As Liyue's population grew and its harbors filled with merchants from all corners of the world, new problems inevitably followed.
Though the war of gods was long over, petty troubles multiplied—fights, thefts, scams, and swindles.
Dealing with such human affairs proved far more troublesome than Morax had anticipated, especially when it came to determining who was right and who was wrong.
Sometimes, disputes devolved into situations where "each side had their own reasoning," making judgment nearly impossible.
The Millelith, responsible for maintaining order in Liyue, began to find themselves overwhelmed.
Most of them had joined to battle demons and monsters, not to mediate human quarrels. Skilled in combat but not in administration, they struggled to manage such mundane disputes.
After consulting with the Adepti and Yakshas, Morax decided to establish the Liyue Qixing, an organization meant to handle human affairs—everything from governance to the creation of laws and regulations.
The first members of the Qixing were chosen by the Adepti and Yakshas themselves.
Since the previous Lantern Rite, many Adepti had taken human form to live among mortals, experiencing Liyue's vibrant world firsthand. They had come to know many of its people well, and thus the seven they selected for the inaugural Qixing were individuals of unquestionable integrity.
However, once the Qixing began their duties, they quickly discovered flaws in the system. Humans had limited stamina; too much work left them exhausted and unfocused.
At that time, Ganyu volunteered to serve as the Secretary of the Liyue Qixing, helping to organize, plan, and coordinate their workload more efficiently.
Administrative matters were never the Adepti's forte—and with the demon threat long gone, they eventually withdrew to the Guili Plains.
But though the Adepti weren't suited for such tasks, the Yakshas were another story.
They still remembered the time when the Emperor had once sent them to the mortal world to gather information. Over the years, they had accumulated valuable knowledge of human records and systems.
Thus, the Yakshas joined Ganyu in managing the Qixing's documents, and their participation greatly reduced her workload.
"Brothers! Let's get to work!!!" Bosacius roared, all four of his hands moving rapidly as he dove into the mountain of paperwork.
"Work hard every day, finish early, and we'll go get almond tofu!" Indarias called out, following right behind him.
"Yeah! Almond tofu! Let's get working, everyone!"
At the mention of almond tofu, Bonanus immediately lit up with excitement.
"What does 'get to work' mean?" Ganyu asked curiously, tilting her head in confusion.
The Yakshas paused, exchanging puzzled glances.
"Ganyu, you don't know?" Alatus asked, genuinely surprised.
She shook her head. "No."
"It means to work hard! I heard the Emperor mention it once. You joined Liyue before us—how could you not know that?"
"I've never heard the Emperor use that phrase before. This is my first time hearing it," Ganyu admitted.
"Then I'll get to work too!" she declared earnestly.
"Hahahahahaha! While you were chatting, I've already finished a ton of work! Seems like you're not working hard enough! Who can compete with me, anyway? I've got four hands—I can double-time it!"
Bosacius's booming laughter echoed through the room as his four arms blurred into motion. His hands moved so fast they left faint afterimages, and in moments, a towering stack of papers had been perfectly sorted and neatly organized to one side.
"Damn it! He's actually ahead of us!"
"That speed... I'd call him the King of Sorting!"
"If he didn't have four hands, there's no way he'd beat me!"
The others were left speechless, staring in disbelief—but naturally, they weren't about to admit defeat. Each Yaksha buried himself in work, matching his pace with determination.
"Hahahahaha!!! You'll never surpass me! I am the great Bosacius—the King of Productivity!!!"
While their lively "battle" raged on, another kind of labor was unfolding in the Guili Plains.
There, four Adepti and Ghizhong were still hard at work, constructing more Ghizhong Machines.
By now, their creations covered nearly half of Liyue, but Ghizhong's ambition was to see them spread across the entire land.
Although the Archon War was long over, those who had lived through it still remembered its terror vividly.
Especially Ghizhong—a mortal without any true combat power—had felt the helplessness of standing before calamity.
Even with peace restored, her heart could not rest.
Her sense of vigilance ran deep; only when Ghizhong Machines blanketed every corner of Liyue would she finally feel at ease.
She never wanted to relive the pain of watching disaster unfold while being powerless to act.
No matter how Morax and the Adepti tried to dissuade her, she refused to listen—stubbornly and tirelessly devoting herself to her work.
In the end, the Adepti had no choice but to join her, helping to build the machines faster so she might finally rest.
It's worth noting that the Ghizhong Machines were built in what would later become known as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
At that time, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor wasn't located in Liyue Harbor but in the Guili Plains.
Ghizhong herself was its founder and sole member. The hall was large but mostly empty.
Her schedule was relentless—each morning, she would travel through the Guili Plains promoting the Funeral Parlor's purpose. From noon until evening, she worked inside, building more Ghizhong Machines.
After dinner, she would go out once more to spread awareness before finally resting for the night.
Three times a week, she traveled all the way to Liyue Harbor to continue her efforts.
Her persistence soon paid off. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor welcomed its first customer—a nervous soul arranging their very first burial.
But Ghizhong remained calm.
Though it was her first time conducting such a ceremony, she had lived for centuries as a god. Her body might have been mortal, but her heart and composure were not.
And so, the first funeral was held perfectly.
Many curious people came to witness this "funeral," intrigued by the concept and eager to see how it would unfold.
After watching the ceremony from start to finish, all were deeply impressed by Ghizhong's precision and solemn grace.
Soon, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's reputation spread, and business flourished.
Between Liyue Harbor and the Guili Plains—both bustling centers of life—the Parlor became the sole provider of funerary rites, keeping Ghizhong busier than ever.
The Adepti, taking human form, came to lend their hands as well.
Under their guidance and efforts, Liyue thrived—its lands prosperous, its people at peace.
The nation shone with a vitality unlike any before, a true picture of flourishing prosperity.
Only Morax sat alone atop Mount Tianheng, quietly sipping a pot of strong tea.
Though its taste was bitter and astringent, he found himself fond of it.
Each sip filled his heart with a deep, tranquil sense of peace.