Chapter 97.
Beneath the Guili Plains, within the silent ruins—
The Fatui soldier stared at the Memory of Dust, a faint trace of fanatic fervor flickering in his eyes. The accumulated knowledge of a god's entire existence—such a thing was more than a treasure; it was temptation itself.
As a member of the Fatui, he understood that allure better than most.
Yet the emotion vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. His breathing steadied, his gaze regaining clarity. Both his strength and mental fortitude surpassed the average operative's—otherwise, he would never have earned Il Dottore's notice, nor become his trusted subordinate in Liyue.
More importantly, Il Dottore had just said that even Rex Lapis had failed to unravel its secrets. Not only that—Morax had gone so far as to seal this object beneath the Guili Plains.
That realization sent a chill through him.
A sudden thought struck. Cold sweat seeped from his brow, and his expression tightened with unmistakable fear as he spoke, voice low and strained.
"Il Dottore-sama this place couldn't be—"
"The ruins of the God of Dust, could it?"
The words escaped before he could stop them.
It was clear he had pieced something together—and the conclusion unsettled him deeply. After all, he had operated in Liyue for a long time. As an intelligence gatherer, he was privy to many of the region's buried truths.
In Liyue, secrets were never entirely hidden.
Even the most ancient matters could be gleaned from wandering storytellers—though wrapped in embellishment and legend, truth and fiction intertwined, fragments of reality always lingered beneath the tales.
However, the majority of those tales were still grounded in truth. At most, they exaggerated the feats of Lord Rex Lapis—which was only natural. After all, he was the God of Liyue. Praising one's own deity was hardly unusual; Snezhnaya was no different in this regard.
But this matter was something else entirely.
The God of Dust, whose remnants lay beneath Guili Plains, was said to have been Lord Rex Lapis's closest companion. During the Archon War, the two gods had ruled Guili Plains together. And it was precisely the God of Dust's death that seemed to have awakened something within Morax.
From that point on, in every battle, he donned a stone mask. His killing intent became boundless, sweeping away all opposition, until he emerged as the final victor of the Archon War.
There were even third-hand rumors—whispered half in jest, half in reverence—that Rex Lapis and the God of Dust had once been Couples.
Whether those rumors were true or not no longer mattered.
If they touched anything here—would the Harbinger and the Fatui stationed in Liyue truly escape unscathed?
The Fatui soldier's breathing grew uneven. Panic had already taken root in his heart.
"Oh?" The Harbinger turned to look at him, interest flickering in his gaze. "You're quite perceptive. It seems you're not completely ignorant of Liyue's affairs."
"Let Rex Lapis know?" The Harbinger's lips curved into a faintly disdainful smile as he glanced at the sealed Memory of Dust. "Relax. He won't discover it. And even if he does, he'll only conclude that the Abyss Order was responsible."
"The power I'm using originates from the Abyss. I don't yet wield it perfectly, but it's more than sufficient to erase any traces. The Rite of Descension is imminent. Morax's attention will be fixed on Liyue Harbor—not Guili Plains."
He paused, then looked back at the Fatui soldier with a meaning-laden gaze. "Which means my only flaw—is you."
Cold sweat instantly drenched the soldier's back. He dropped to one knee without hesitation, not daring to utter another word.
"Hahahahaha." The Harbinger laughed openly. "Don't be so tense. I have no intention of doing anything to you. It's just that for the next few days—you won't need to leave this place."
It was confinement in all but name, yet the Fatui soldier let out a quiet breath of relief. He lowered his head at once, signaling his obedience.
He understood clearly: frequent movement between here and Liyue Harbor would only draw suspicion and expose Il Dottore's actions. Remaining here was the safest choice.
"Is there anything you require of me?" the soldier asked cautiously.
"You'll guard the entrance," the Harbinger replied calmly. "If anyone approaches, inform me immediately."
The soldier nodded, turned, and withdrew, leaving the Harbinger alone within the ruins.
"What? You say there's risk?" Il Dottore suddenly spoke to the empty air, as though addressing an unseen presence. His tone was unhurried. "Of all things worth doing, what comes without risk?"
"Morax refuses to unseal the Memory of Dust. I don't know what he's thinking—but I intend to obtain this divine knowledge. Ignorance is unacceptable. Knowledge is everything to us. Otherwise, why would we invest so much effort in Sumeru? Why train Scaramouche at all?"
"Hehehe—denying my actions? And if something goes wrong?" His smile widened. "Then I'll bear the consequences myself."
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze locked onto the sealed Memory of Dust, icy and fervent. "As fellow 'Harbingers,' some people are simply too short-sighted. I truly cannot comprehend the younger and older versions of myself. Knowledge is paramount. Even if I offend Lord Rex Lapis—so what? At worst, it is only death."
His eyes burned with fanatic resolve. He had spent over a decade laying the groundwork for this moment. No one would halt his progress.
He waited, patiently, for the moment to arrive.
—
Outside Guili Plains, a young woman stood silently before the entrance to the ruins. She wore a fur-lined coat, her long, smooth hair falling neatly to her shoulders. Her gaze was sharp, her ambition unmistakable.
"Half an hour already," she murmured. "Still no sign of them."
Her name was Yelan.
Her identity was a mystery, yet her existence was well known among Liyue Harbor's upper circles. No one could say with certainty whom she served—some claimed the Ministry of Civil Affairs, others whispered of Ningguang herself, and still others believed she was a Qixing secretary like Ganyu.
But one thing was undeniable: Yelan always acted in Liyue's interests.
Her presence here was no exception. She was investigating the Second Fatui Harbinger—Il Dottore.
At this point, she was nearly eighty percent certain that Dottore was inside these ruins. The Fatui had entered and failed to reemerge.
Recently, numerous ruins across Liyue had been unsealed. Some imprisoned Demon God remnants had escaped—some swiftly recontained, others requiring exorcists to intervene until the Adeptus could reinforce the seals after the Rite of Descension.
Yelan's mission was to uncover the Harbinger's objective.
And now—she had located him.
Though she had yet to see him with her own eyes, her instincts told her he was inside. Should she storm the ruins herself—or withdraw and seek reinforcements?
A flicker of thought passed through her eyes. In the next instant, she transformed into a streak of blue light and vanished toward Liyue Harbor.
The intelligence was clear: this Harbinger was extraordinarily dangerous.
Recklessness would only ensure that the information never reached Liyue.
—
That same night in Liyue Harbor, the eve of the Rite of Descension had arrived. The city was alive with revelry, streets and alleys filled with celebration that threatened to last until dawn.
Futsu Mitama and the others, immersed in the festive atmosphere, made a rather unexpected decision.
They went home to sleep.
None of them had much interest in the final warm-up festivities. Aila, Kuki Shinobu, and Shenhe all wished to continue training.
Aila and Kuki Shinobu felt an unspoken urgency pressing upon them.
As for Shenhe, though she acknowledged the beauty of mortal celebrations, cultivation still held greater appeal.
Albedo's reasoning was simpler still—Klee was exhausted. So he carried her back to rest.
With everyone departing, Futsu Mitama prepared to return as well. Director Hu, eager for late-night business, stayed behind.
"So full~"
Futsu Mitama patted his stomach. The snack street had exceeded expectations—delicacies from countless regions laid out in abundance.
Tonight, as the final prelude to the Rite of Descension, was the liveliest moment of all. Bringing Aila a day early had been a wise choice.
"Mm." Aila nodded, rubbing her own stomach. She, too, was thoroughly satisfied.
"Are we staying here tonight?" Shenhe asked softly, gazing at the mansion ahead. A subtle emotion flickered in her eyes. It had been a long, long time since she had stayed in such a place.
"Mm." Kuki Shinobu nodded. She glanced at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor next door. "Mitama bought this house at a bargain. At market price, it would've cost a fortune."
"I'll take Klee inside," Albedo said, adjusting the sleeping girl on his back.
"Go ahead," Futsu Mitama replied.
Albedo nodded and entered the house. Just as the rest were about to follow, a blue silhouette appeared on the street. Everyone present was alert. Their gazes snapped toward the newcomer.
"Yelan?" Futsu Mitama raised an eyebrow, surprised. Why would she be seeking him out?
"You are Futsu Mitama?" Yelan asked politely.
"That's me." He nodded. "What brings you here? Ministry of Civil Affairs?"
She nodded in return. "I was sent by Ningguang. She asked me to request your assistance."
"This matter is—complicated," Yelan continued. "But she believes you'll find the information valuable."
She had already reported everything from Guili Plains to the Ningguang in Jade Chamber. After some deliberation, Ningguang chose to inform Futsu Mitama—both as a courtesy and in hopes of securing his help.
Liyue Harbor was stretched thin. The Millelith guarded The Chasm. Ruins across the land demanded attention. And the Rite of Descension was imminent.
They needed help.
"Information?" Futsu Mitama asked.
"Yes."
Yelan glanced around. Few people passed near the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor on the eve of the Rite—it was the perfect place to speak freely.
"The Fatui Harbinger's whereabouts," she said quietly. "He is in Guili Plains."
The words landed like thunder.
Futsu Mitama's expression hardened. Kuki Shinobu frowned.
"At this time—?" she muttered.
"Yes." Yelan nodded. "I can confirm his location. Ningguang hopes you'll assist us in capturing him. What happens afterward—and what occurs in Guili Plains—will be overlooked."
"If you refuse, we won't press you. Enjoy the Rite of Descension. Liyue will handle the rest."
She fell silent.
Futsu Mitama looked to Aila.
Originally, he had kept his distance from the Fatui. But for Aila's sake—for the truth behind her existence—this was unavoidable.
"Where is he?" he asked.
Yelan met his gaze. "In Guili Plains Ruin."
Guili Plains stretched endlessly, its ruins scattered like fallen stars across the land. Without someone to guide him, even if Futsu Mitama searched until dawn, he might never find Il Dottore's exact location.
Since Yelan had brought this intelligence, she clearly knew where Dottore was hiding.
"I'll lead the way," Yelan said, then glanced at the people beside Futsu Mitama. "But—how many of you are coming?"
Her gaze swept over the three young women at his side. Each was striking in her own right—and more importantly, each possessed formidable strength.
Two disciples of the Adeptus. One kunoichi whose aura carried the faint suggestion of Yae Miko's lineage.
If all three moved together, even a Harbinger like Dottore would be hard-pressed to escape.
"Shenhe and I will go," Futsu Mitama replied calmly. "That's enough."
"Hm?"
"Hm?!"
Kuki Shinobu and Aila both looked at him in surprise.
"Young Master, I—" Aila stepped forward, clearly wanting to say something.
But Futsu Mitama raised a hand slightly and shook his head, his expression unusually solemn.
"This may be a trap," he said in a low, steady voice. "The Rite of Descension is imminent. You only just left Mt. Aocang, and yet his whereabouts were exposed so easily. Dottore isn't that careless. Guili Plains is likely already layered with contingencies."
He looked directly at Aila.
"Shenhe and I can protect ourselves. But your situation is different. I don't want you taking this risk."
At those words, Yelan lifted an eyebrow faintly. She felt he was overestimating Dottore—and underestimating Liyue's ability to deal with him.
But Futsu Mitama didn't waver.
In his heart, he had already accepted a truth he had never voiced aloud: Il Dottore had tampered with Aila's body, severing her memories and fate, transferring them elsewhere.
If Aila went with them, too many uncontrollable variables could emerge.
For her safety, it was better that she remain in Liyue Harbor. No matter what happened, this city was under the watchful gaze of Lord Rex Lapis—and Zhongli.
"…."
Aila parted her lips, still wanting to argue. But when she met Futsu Mitama's firm, unyielding gaze—so different from his usual gentleness—she stopped herself.
She did not cling or protest.
Instead, she nodded softly.
"Be careful," Kuki Shinobu said quietly. There was disappointment in her voice, but no resentment.
Compared to Futsu Mitama and Shenhe, she knew her own strength. Going along might only become a liability—or worse, a weakness the enemy could exploit.
"Mm."
Futsu Mitama nodded once in response. Shenhe, as expected, voiced no objections.
With that, the two followed Yelan, their figures soon disappearing into the darkness, heading toward the ruins of Guili Plains.
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