Chapter 21 — Uncle Tian
A month had passed since Kael first arrived in Liyue, and the world had begun to change—slowly, but unmistakably.
He rarely ventured into direct combat himself; the heavy lifting had been done by powerful allies. Zhongli, Xiao, Madame Ping, and a small group of adepti worked the front lines, purging Abyssal taint and the lingering resentments of fallen gods. Their nightly sorties returned with tens of thousands of points each. Zhongli alone contributed an astonishing stream of points—on good days over fifty thousand—simply because he could strike into areas Kael could not yet cleanse himself.
Kael's growth in the month had been rapid. Where he had once been a weak demon-god–level figure, his refinement and training had pushed him to the middle tier. He was still far from an Archon, but the acceleration was real: five or six times stronger, according to his own measurements. With Zhongli's martial knowledge and the constant purification efforts feeding the chat system, Kael felt the bottleneck keenly: no matter how many allies purified corruption, Kael's own capacity to absorb and transmute that energy set the upper limit on how fast the chat-funded restorations could proceed.
"Better to wait until Kael gets stronger," Zhongli had said once, folding his hands and staring into the Chasm's black heart. "More hands only help if the source can accept the flow."
It was a frustrating truth. Even with an army of adepti, the rate at which corruption could be erased depended upon Kael's own refinement of the chat system—his "bandwidth," as he sometimes joked to himself. Still, aided by Zhongli and other allies, Kael's personal power curve was steeper than he'd expected. If he kept this pace, he might soon be in a position to reach for another Gnosis.
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Keqing and Ningguang: Building the Future
Meanwhile, Keqing and Ningguang had not been idle.
Keqing recovered swiftly from her ankle sprain and doubled down on monster hunts. She made the Liyue Harbor–Guili Plains route her regular patrol, slashing through corrupted creatures with a single-minded intensity. Points accumulated; internal-energy cultivation advanced. She trained not only her new cultivation system but also focused on:
raw physical strength,
elemental energy recharge efficiency, and
speed/agility integration between swordwork and internal power.
Her progress was startling. Kael often watched her from a distance—sometimes amused, sometimes uneasy. If Tartaglia ever tested her now, the outcome would be far less predictable than anyone expected.
Ningguang, on the other hand, put points and brainpower to work. After Qingce's expansion proved a successful pilot, she moved toward infrastructure: cement formulas, durable road designs, streamlined logistics. She and Keqing formed a merchant guild together—Ningguang running operations, Keqing lending political cover and martial oversight. Funds from the guild would seed development projects and, crucially, provide the Mora needed to begin reclaiming tainted land like Guili Plains.
They had discussed more ambitious plans—state banking, structural reforms—but both understood the political reality. Many members of the Qixing and other governing figures had deep ties to the Northland Bank and the Fatui's economic networks. Any sudden attempt to nationalize banking would be met with heavy opposition. So their decision was pragmatic: build legitimacy and power quietly, and remove opposition piece by piece.
Ganyu, the Qixing's secretary and moral compass, watched in silence. Her tacit compliance spoke volumes—she would not actively block them, but she would not be their loudest cheerleader either. That quiet neutrality mattered; with Ganyu neither obstructing nor endorsing, the two could proceed without immediate interference.
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The Millelith and Political Chess
Keqing's plan was bold: if they could train a core corps—Millelith units and volunteer militias—in internal-energy methods, they would have a self-reliant defensive force that did not depend solely on Archon patronage. Step by step, this would break the old balance of power that left Liyue exposed to external manipulation.
Ningguang's economic maneuvers would ensure resources followed the plan. Together they were constructing a slow, lawful revolution: build capacity, win public support, outmaneuver internal enemies. It was the kind of patient politics Ningguang loved—clean, efficient, profitable, and decisive.
Kael watched it all as both a strategist and a beneficiary. The stronger Liyue grew, the stronger he would become. The better the nation healed, the more points the chat would funnel back into his growth, allowing faster purifications and greater influence. It was symbiosis: his power helped them; their actions helped him.
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Meeting "Uncle Tian"
One crisp morning—golden light cutting across rooftops—Keqing summoned Kael. She guided him through narrow alleys to a modest home a short walk from Yujing Terrace: simple, well-kept, about three or four hundred square meters—no luxury, but dignified. This was the residence of Uncle Tian.
Kael had already heard of him. Uncle Tian was a Qixing member who had risen from commoner roots; he was plainspoken and respected for his practical judgment. He preferred keeping a low profile and often declined politics that smacked of factionalism. That made him a rare asset: someone who had credibility among the common folk without an entrenched suit of allies.
They were shown into a tidy sitting room. Uncle Tian's face was weathered but clear-eyed; he wasted little time.
"You brought Ningguang's advisor," he said briskly. "Do you have business?"
Keqing took a breath and stepped forward. "Yes. This is serious." She spoke with the directness Kael had come to expect. "Ningguang and I plan to introduce a martial system to the Millelith. A formal training regimen based on the new internal-energy cultivation. It will strengthen our soldiers and ordinary citizens who choose to learn. We want your endorsement—and your help to implement it."
Uncle Tian's expression registered surprise and a measure of concern. He had the means to escalate anything directly to the Archon if he wished; his status in the Qixing carried weight. "You're proposing to change the Millelith's doctrine. That's not a small thing, Yuheng."
Keqing nodded. "We understand. But the Adepti have already examined the principle. Madame Ping, Ganyu, and some of the others have tested aspects of the technique. They consider it stable and beneficial—if implemented responsibly. We tried to contact the Lord of Geo directly, but he is occupied. The Adepti told us the same: this must be a mortal-led step. It is our duty."
Uncle Tian's brows knitted. "If the Adepti endorse it, that changes the calculus. Still—have you consulted Rex Lapis himself?"
Keqing had a brief, troubled look. "We attempted to. We couldn't get a definitive response. The Adepti said the Archon is tied up with matters of the Chasm. He trusts Liyue's leaders to make this call in his stead."
Silence fell for a beat. Uncle Tian considered this carefully. "A martial program that the Adepti can stand behind is not something to dismiss lightly. But politics will come: the other Qixing members, and curators with ties to the Northland Bank—many will push back. If you plan to move forward, you must be ready for a fight."
Keqing's gaze did not waver. "We are. We intend to show results—train a core battalion, demonstrate public safety improvements, then expand."
Uncle Tian folded his hands. "Then you will need my support. I will bring your proposal to the council. Not because I trust you blindly—but because if this benefits the people, I'll back it. But mark my words: do this properly. Don't let ambition turn into recklessness."
Keqing gave a short, solemn bow. "Understood. Thank you."
Kael quietly observed—he liked Uncle Tian. He liked people of simple means who preferred substance to spectacle. They were often the ones who would stand and make a real difference when the politics got loud.
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Quiet Preparations, Loud Ambitions
As Kael left Uncle Tian's modest house, his thoughts were busy. Political capital was an essential resource—sometimes even more valuable than Mora. Keqing and Ningguang had chosen their path carefully: a coalition between reformist minds and pragmatic conservatives. If they succeeded, Liyue would gain capacity and independence. If they failed, the Fatui and Northland Bank would be there to exploit the chaos.
For now, the plan moved forward. Keqing would continue training recruits and leading purges that demonstrated the new system's benefits. Ningguang would ensure resources were available and public opinion slanted favorably. Uncle Tian would act as their steady representative among the Qixing.
And Kael? He would keep getting stronger—so the next time a choke point appeared, he could widen it and let the healing surge through.
He had his own reasons, too. There were Gnoses to recover and promises to keep. There was also the simpler truth: Kael had come to like Liyue—the people, the food, the stubborn, industrious warmth. It made him want to see something he rarely saw in his world: a genuine, collective progress that was not built on exploitation but on skill, contract, and shared sacrifice.
As the sun climbed, Liyue hummed with a new kind of energy—one that was human-shaped and hard-won, not handed down from above.
Kael smiled and walked on.