"This place looks kind of familiar… Isn't this the Ruin Hunter that Little Ming once possessed?"
This was a sparse Sandbearer forest. After searching for a bit, Victor Wang found a tree that perfectly met the requirements for a streetlamp—just a short distance behind a wrecked Ruin Hunter.
He treated this as training, using his sword like an axe to chop at the tree. But now, no matter how he tried, his current sword intent lacked the sharpness of his earlier Heart Sword. If it were like before, the tree would've fallen in a single strike.
"I'm a little woodworker, chopping trees with might and power…"
He hummed a silly tune he'd improvised, striking the tree over and over, widening the notch at its base.
To anyone watching, the scene was downright absurd—a mysterious man wearing a cloak adorned with a cute pattern on the back, humming a strange song, chopping a tree with a sword in a forest known for Hilichurl sightings?
"Hello, are you a local resident around here?"
"Huh?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Victor Wang stopped and turned around—his gaze met a pair of rose-violet eyes.
Standing before him was none other than the one who peaked at debut (a nod to her release), reinvented herself in Sumeru, founder of the diagonal sword style, Liyue's own Electro Archon, slayer of miscellaneous beef, Master Keqing—no, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing: Keqing.
After so long apart, she was still just as stunning as the day they first met.
Her ash-purple hair was tied into twin cat-ear buns on top, with long twin tails flowing behind them. The complex hairstyle was accented only with blue and gold accessories near the "ears."
Her face, sharp and poised when addressing strangers, was framed by delicate arms like lotus roots—white and soft—supporting gloved hands, which rested politely against the tall collar of her white gown.
Although dressed in regal shades of violet and white, the luxurious fabric, intricate embroidery, and layered sleeveless dress projected a crisp and capable aura. Still, the ruffled feather-like shoulder sleeves, paired with the gloves' frilly edges and those cat-ear buns, added a surprising touch of playful cuteness.
These subtle design contrasts gave life to her accessories—her earrings, her dress ornaments—all seemed to whisper: their master was just a girl who liked to dress well.
And of course… her legs were beyond compare.
But right now, Keqing was frowning slightly, staring at him in confusion. Victor Wang didn't dare to stare too long.
"I'm not a local resident."
Keqing's beautiful brows furrowed even deeper. "Then you should know that unauthorized tree cutting is illegal. Cutting down someone else's tree is destruction of property."
"Eh? Wild trees have owners too?"
Keqing sighed. "This doesn't count as the wild. This forest is under the jurisdiction of Mingyun Village to the east."
"But the innkeeper of Wangshu Inn told me to come here."
"Wangshu Inn? Well, this area is under their broader administration… but your strange clothes and strange behavior make you hard to trust."
"I swear on the Archon if I'm lying."
"The Archon, the Archon… There's no need to bother the Archon over something so minor. You say the inn needs this tree? Why not just ask Wangshu Inn to confirm it?"
"Fine. Just let me finish chopping this tree."
Victor Wang turned back and continued hacking away at the base, now a third of the way through.
"Hyaaah—!" A flash of violet light—Keqing swung her blade. The tree toppled.
Swift, clean, graceful. No elemental power used—just a single sword strike.
So, this… is sword intent?
"Your efficiency was far too low. This is the only tree you need, right?"
"Yeah. Just for a streetlamp. One is enough."
"Then leave it here. You're coming with me."
Keqing walked toward Mingyun Village. Although unsure, Victor Wang obediently followed.
"Miss Keqing, why are you here in person?"
"You know who I am?"
"Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. Who in Liyue doesn't know you?"
Suspicious… increasingly suspicious. Keqing narrowed her eyes. "Hmph. You don't sound like someone from Liyue. My main duty is land and construction management. I led the last land reform. A true Liyue local would know where the wildlands end—and yet you know who I am?"
"...That, I really don't know. I've been wandering as an adventurer for years. Seems I missed quite a bit."
"Hmph."
"But today is the Rite of Descension, right? It should be starting around now. Yet one of the Qixing is hundreds of miles away?"
"The Archon's judgment is important—but it's not everything. Everyone has their role. This year, the Rite is Ningguang's responsibility. The rest of us must still do our jobs."
Though she said this, Keqing knew full well the others were secretly—or not so secretly—waiting for the Archon's speech.
Hard to imagine… what would become of Liyue Harbor if the Archon was gone?
"We're here. Stay put and don't try anything. If you run, I'll consider you a criminal."
This was the bridge linking Mingyun Village and Guili Plains—the last crossing over the Bishui River before it flowed into the sea past Yaoguang Shoal.
But the bridge had been destroyed.
From the side, it was in three pieces—ends still intact, but the middle section was damaged beyond repair.
Below the bridge, someone had laid broken planks and makeshift rafts into a flooded path. Anyone not afraid of soaking their shoes and pants could still cross safely.
Keqing hesitated beneath the bridge, then chose to cross from the top.
"Should've worn my work uniform today…"
She always personally handled important tasks. For a worker benefit reform plan, she'd even spent two months living as a common laborer—pulling carts in the Chasm, compacting dirt at the docks, running dishes in roadside diners. Wading rivers to understand the people was nothing. But today's outfit—though the bare minimum of luxury befitting a Qixing—was still not something she wanted to ruin.
She climbed the broken bridge, holding her sword behind her back with her right hand, forming a sword-sign with her left. She tossed a Thunderclap Mark into the air, then blinked to its location and glided with her Wind Glider to the center of the broken span.
She paced back and forth, seemingly measuring the length and width of the deck with her steps. She also kept glancing at the base and both ends—probably estimating the height and the repairs needed.
"Miss Keqing… you came to repair the bridge?" Victor Wang, unable to resist, flew over.
"I told you not to wander."
"Nothing shady about following you. And if I'm innocent, I've got nothing to hide."
Keqing said nothing, simply blinked again via Thunderclap to the Mingyun Village side and resumed her survey.
"What happened to this bridge anyway?" Victor Wang tried to make small talk.
"According to the villagers, it was the Abyss Order. Oddly, a few days ago someone came to report it, but now we can't find a single resident."
"Villagers? The mine hasn't dried up yet?" He thought it was already a ghost town.
"This is one of the main sources of Noctilucous Jade. And in another year or two, once we open the snowy route to Mondstadt, this place will become a thriving hub."
After collecting all necessary data, Keqing headed toward Mingyun Village. The hardened dirt road was carved with the grooves of heavy wagons. Past a toppled cart and several chevaux-de-frise, the sounds of Hilichurls grew louder.
"The Hilichurls have trapped the villagers in the valley!" Keqing picked up the pace. "Either stay put—or stick close!"
Once they entered the valley, they saw a large group of Hilichurls. Oddly, they just stood there, blocking the road, without attacking the town in the gorge.
Victor Wang understood immediately. This had all the signs of being manipulated by Abyss Mages—destroying the bridge, surrounding the village—definitely part of some scheme.
Keqing had already charged ahead. "My sword illuminates the path—cut down all distractions!"
Victor Wang supported from the flank, his sword grid releasing Pyro particles which were then dispersed by Palm Vortex. "Give it a bit of Electro for an Overloaded reaction!"
Keqing raised her hand and launched a Thunderclap—Overloaded exploded brilliantly.
…
"Thank you both for saving us!"
"You're too kind, elder. It was our duty. How long were you trapped? Any injuries?"
"The Archon bless you! The Hilichurls came yesterday morning. They surrounded us but didn't attack, so everyone is safe. It's just that mining had to stop for a day…"
"That's odd… anything else strange?"
"Well, a few nights ago, someone destroyed the big bridge to the west. Without it, we can't get the carts out, so we had to use rafts. It's hard, and not very safe. I just hope the delay doesn't hurt the folks who need the ore…"
Even Keqing had nothing to say in the face of such dedication.
"Everyone… in situations like this, your lives come first. Ore doesn't compare to human life."
"Sigh, yes…"
"Do you have any information about who destroyed the bridge?"
"It was nighttime, and from far away. We just saw a tall, thin figure—none of us recognized them. But there were Abyss Mages guarding the bridge afterward, so it's definitely the Abyss Order!
"Such a fine bridge, gone just like that… Damn devils! May the Archon wipe them out someday!"