"Mountain Shaper! Are you certain that the Archon entered beneath the Dragon-Queller Tree?"
"…You've asked over a dozen times already. I saw with my own eyes that the Archon calm the tremors and walk into the underground seal. Weren't you also drawn here by the tremors of Azhdaha, Lord of Vishaps?"
"But it's been a whole day already—why hasn't the Archon come out yet?!"
"Eh— don't exaggerate. It's only been three hours…"
"What's the difference?" Cloud Retainer turned her head with a huff, pacing uneasily upon the Dragon-Queller Tree. "Do you think the Archon could be fighting the Lord of Vishaps again?"
Moon Carver shook his massive, horned head, denying it. "If their battle was at such a scale, there should have been signs."
"Then what have they been doing for three hours?"
"Catching up?"
The moment he spoke, Moon Carver himself felt the answer was unrealistic.
The Lord of Vishaps had been suppressed here because his mind had been eroded. And with time, that erosion would only worsen.
Feeling the gaze of his two old friends—eyes filled with concern as though looking at a fool—Moon Carver lowered his head in shame, struggling to argue: "Perhaps the Archon found a way to resist the erosion?"
The two crane-formed adepti shook their heads in unison. That was impossible.
Mountain Shaper speculated again: "The young man with the Archon—do you truly not recognize him?"
"If he is indeed the human who appeared at the Jade Chamber that day, wearing a mask… then no, I do not. Likely a mortal friend the Archon made while disguised."
"But why would a human tread into this place…"
"Who can say."
As the sun gradually slid westward, Cloud Retainer spoke in deep concern: "If the Archon has not returned by sundown… we must consider entering ourselves."
No sooner had she spoken than the stones at the roots of the Dragon-Queller Tree shifted apart, revealing a path. From within, Zhongli stepped out with unhurried grace.
"Archon!"
The three adepti quickly descended to the ground, surrounding him. A flood of questions pressed at their lips, but their eyes first went to Victor Wang. "So there truly was a human?"
There were some matters not suited for mortals to hear.
"…I brought this young friend to handle certain private affairs, and by coincidence the Lord of Vishaps' seal weakened. But it has been resolved."
"As long as you're safe, as long as you're safe."
"In the past, sealing the Lord of Vishaps cost no small effort. At this tremor, I nearly summoned back all my companions in haste."
"Archon, since taking this form, it has been long since you visited us in the mountains. Even in dreams, last time was only a brief farewell. Now that you are here, why not stay a while and gather with us?"
The three adepti each spoke in turn. Zhongli looked around in silence, then replied, "…Very well. But I must first see this friend back to Liyue Harbor."
As he spoke, he set a hand upon Victor Wang's shoulder.
"Wait! Zhongli, please—go and reunite with your friends. I'll remain here to observe the stones, then return to the harbor on my own."
After all, he still needed to unlock the surrounding Teleport Waypoints. This place was far from Liyue Harbor; if he left without unlocking them, coming back would waste much more time.
"Diligent as always. Then I shall go ahead."
"Mhm."
Waving farewell to the three adepti, Victor Wang began planning his route.
It seemed the adepti had flown toward Mt. Aozang—unsurprising, as bowls and chopsticks were kept there, making it suitable for a small gathering.
But there were two waypoints, one above and one below Mt. Aozang. He wished to unlock them as well… but if he appeared to follow, it might seem like he was spying, which would be terribly awkward. So, he decided to unlock only the lower waypoint.
He would also unlock the waypoint atop Mt. Hulao. Starting there, then circling back from below Mt. Aozang toward Qingyun Peak, passing Nantianmen, Tianqiu Valley, Dunyu Ruins, Lingju Pass, and Mt. Tianheng—this trip would nearly complete his unlocking of Liyue's waypoints.
Riding his Wentian Sword upon the wind, he soared upward. Though his morning battle against the Geo Hypostasis and the long flight from Guyun Stone Forest carrying Chongyun had drained much of his energy, after cleansing the Geo element, his spirit power had doubled—like a full recovery.
The Wentian Sword climbed higher and higher, easily unlocking the waypoint atop Mt. Hulao. Along the way, he picked up two yellow crystals unique to the mountain and a few ordinary stones, before diving down toward Mt. Aozang.
Travel did not require running legs—only guiding the flow of energy with his mind. Even while hurrying, the scenery was beautiful, and not without its joys.
Collecting a handful of Mt. Aozang soil and two strangely-shaped stones, he began the return journey. While passing the slopes below Qingyun Peak, Little Wen suddenly shouted: ["Look! There's a little girl on that cliff!"]
"Huh?"
Startled by the sudden cry, Victor Wang nearly toppled from his sword. Steadying himself, he peered down. "Climbing in Teyvat is simple enough, even for a little girl. Only low stamina would make it dangerous…"
He scanned the cliff. "Where is she? I don't see anyone."
["Down there! Right below us! Ah! She fell! That's dangerous!"]
Victor Wang lowered altitude and leaned forward—and indeed, on the steep cliff face, less than ninety degrees from the ground, a little girl was desperately climbing toward a Glaze Lily at the top. But each time she slipped back down.
"Qiqi?"
["Or maybe 'Baba'? Either way, let's help her! Letting a cute girl get hurt is a crime! Eh— wait, she has a talisman on her forehead… she's not a zombie, is she?!"]
"What's with that attitude? Being a zombie doesn't make her any less of a cute girl."
["But she's a zombie! Already dead! Scarier than a ghost! Maybe we should leave. A cliff like this won't stop her."]
"If you want to leave, then go. I'm helping her."
["Then I'm leaving!"] Little Wen twitched as though to flee.
"If you leave, don't come back."
["…Heh heh heh… don't abandon me!"]
"Shh."
Victor Wang descended to the Glaze Lily's height, watching as Qiqi climbed, slipped, climbed, slipped—over and over, unwavering.
"Ah… this is clearly an imposed command. She's stuck in a loop. But where is her master?"
Confirming she was truly trapped, Victor Wang flew closer and called, "Qiqi?"
Yet Qiqi, fixated on herbs, did not turn her head—her eyes only on the Glaze Lily.
Not knowing much about zombie commands, Victor Wang asked, "Little Wen, if I take that Glaze Lily, would it break her state?"
["Master! Don't mess around! If her command is simply to gather herbs from this cliff, then taking one will just make her target another. But if her command is specific—to gather that one—who knows what could happen? She might even attack us without a target. Best to find her master to undo the command."]
But Qiqi had no master. She had commanded herself.
Victor Wang sighed inwardly. He also knew how to undo the command: embrace her from behind and say 'I like you most.'
…Is that really okay?
Of course, he was more than willing. But for Qiqi… it might be embarrassing.
"…Let's try it first."
Hardening his resolve, Victor Wang plucked the Glaze Lily. Qiqi froze for a moment, then shifted sideways, climbing toward another flower.
"…Then I'll pick it too!"
One pursued, one snatched away—within minutes, the cliffside was barren. Qiqi turned her little head, finding no new target, and hung motionless halfway up.
"…Qiqi? Don't scare me. Here, take all the herbs back!"
["It's over! She's broken! I told you not to mess around!"]
"Don't say it like that! Don't slander her innocence."
["Tch! Just flatten the cliff so she can climb up, problem solved!"]
"Easier said than done! Do I look like I can reshape mountains? But I can create Geo constructs to help her climb… why didn't you suggest it earlier? What do we do now?"
["Humph! Only her master can undo this."]
"…."
Circling around Qiqi, Victor Wang waved a hand before her eyes, patted her shoulder, trying one last time.
"No use!"
"…."
Victor Wang finally stood behind her, hands resting on her shoulders. Through her clothes, he felt no warmth—only a chill like stone, though softer.
The cold seeped into him, making his words tremble: "Qiqi… I… I like you most…"
["Wow, Master! I didn't expect this from you!"]
"Don't twist it! By age, she's definitely an adult! And besides, this is to break the command!"
["Huh?! But it's not working! Nothing's undone!"]
"…No reaction? Do I have to hold her?"
["Ha! What are you saying—Waaah! You actually… actually dared to touch a little girl like that?!"]
Amid Little Wen's horrified cries, Victor Wang embraced Qiqi and called, "I like you most!"
"Mm… warm, but hot. Uncomfortable. What is happening to Qiqi?"
At last, the command was broken. In his arms, Qiqi tilted her head back, straining to see him. Alarmed, Victor Wang released her—but without his hold, she plummeted.
He snatched her icy hand at the last moment, hauling her onto the Wentian Sword.
["Uwaah! Nooo!"] Little Wen shrieked, trembling in terror.