"Lady Ningguang, Director Hu of Wangsheng has left Liyue Harbor with almost all of the funeral parlor's high-level combatants. Even that woman named Shenhe went with them."
"Oh? Almost all of them? Who's left at Wangsheng then?"
"Only a few ordinary people without Visions are left to watch over the place."
Baixia answered respectfully. Ningguang found this quite curious. Wangsheng was now the only place in Liyue Harbor where adepti and mortals coexisted. For an adeptus and so many Vision holders to leave together, she wondered what Director Hu was planning.
Thinking of Hu Tao's mischievous nature, Ningguang felt a headache coming on. People like her were the hardest to predict. Even a successful merchant like Ningguang couldn't claim to fully understand her.
"Can you tell where they're headed?"
"Based on their direction, it seems their destination is around Dragonspine. Lady Ningguang, should we send someone to ask?"
"Lady Ningguang, urgent report! Verr Goldet from Wangshu Inn sent word asking if Liyue is planning to invade Mondstadt!"
Before Ningguang could answer Baixia, Baishi burst through the office door, shouting that something was wrong. Seeing her out of breath and struggling to speak showed how urgent the message was. Ningguang took the report and read it carefully.
"Let's see... Wangsheng Director Hu Tao, Consultant Zhongli, Astrologist Mona, Adeptus Su Bai, Adeptus Zhongtuo, Klee, Qiqi, Ganyu's junior disciple Shenhe, and the Traveler Lumine."
"That white-haired flying mascot must be Paimon. Quite an apt description."
After reading the report, Ningguang actually relaxed. Baishi was baffled. This involved diplomacy between two nations. How could Lady Ningguang be laughing? Had she been affected by losing the Jade Chamber?
"Heh, Baishi, don't worry. These are all reasonable people and adepti. They won't cause trouble."
"Besides, if they really wanted to attack Mondstadt, we probably couldn't stop them anyway."
Ningguang glanced at the intelligence on Zhongli. Though detailed, it had no record of his life before becoming a consultant at Wangsheng. It was as if he had suddenly appeared in Liyue Harbor.
"This Consultant Zhongli seems quite mysterious too. So many powerful figures in one small funeral parlor—how enviable."
"Lady Ningguang, should we inform the Knights of Favonius? If Mondstadt misunderstands, they might be in danger."
Baishi asked cautiously. Ningguang thought for a moment and shook her head. If Hu Tao's group did clash with Mondstadt, it would be Mondstadt's problem. For a city that hadn't seen its Anemo Archon in ages, such a force would be nearly unbeatable.
"No need for now. Consultant Zhongli went with them, right? With him there, Director Hu shouldn't cause too much trouble."
"Besides, I recall Su Bai is on good terms with several Knights' higher-ups, and the Honorary Knight Lumine is with them too. A conflict is unlikely."
Ningguang rubbed her forehead. With someone reliable like Zhongli around, Hu Tao would probably behave. Unfortunately, she was wrong this time.
On their rare trip to Dragonspine, Zhongli couldn't control Hu Tao at all. When Azhdaha joined them halfway, the three little ones—Azhdaha, Klee, and Qiqi—let Hu Tao's wild side loose, her mischievous nature on full display.
Ever since Azhdaha joined the group, Su Bai felt something familiar about this little girl with dragon horns. If Zhongli hadn't explained that Zhongtuo carried Azhdaha's bloodline, Su Bai might have mistaken her for the dragon king herself.
"By the way, Zhongli, since Azhdaha entrusted his descendant to you, do you know where he went?"
"As Rex Lapis's familiar and old friend, Azhdaha is probably traveling Teyvat with him."
"I don't know the details. Maybe you'll run into them someday on your own travels."
Zhongli watched Azhdaha laugh happily, genuinely glad for his old friend. He owed her far too much after all these centuries. If she wanted to travel in the future, he might join her.
"According to my divination, we'll encounter some trouble on this trip, but nothing life-threatening."
Mona took a bite of her Mora Meat, bought from Wangshu Inn. She had to admit that chef Yanxiao was quite skilled. His Mora Meat was almost as good as Xiangling's.
Though the chef had a bit of a temper. When she asked if there were still ghosts in the kitchen, he got all worked up. Too bad she hadn't told him the ghosts hadn't disappeared—they'd actually multiplied.
Mona pouted and spun the water disc before her. Though she couldn't see the fates of many in the group, she could still predict the general flow of events.
"Crossing Yaoguang Shoal is the shortest route to Dragonspine. There might be some monsters, but as long as we don't go too deep, it should be fine."
"A while back, Lumine and I came here to collect Starconches. Before we could even find a few, a flying monster chased us. It lived deep in the shoal."
"But Lumine was clever that time. Using a Wind Catcher to fly up, she took it down."
Paimon described the battle's intensity. With the three little ones and Hu Tao clearing the way, the group's journey was smooth—except for the craters left by Klee's bombs. Mona, focused on her water disc, tripped into one, muttering about bad luck and accidents. She must have seen her own fate.
As they pressed on, Dragonspine's majestic form came into view. Though they hadn't entered the mountain proper, the cold wind and dropping temperatures warned them they were getting closer.
Lumine stood on a rock, looking at the snow-covered peak, her head held high. This time, she had a bunch of powerful helpers. There was no way she'd get chased around by monsters again.
In that moment, her heart swelled with pride. Once, she had been a rookie with no companions, running from monsters. Now, she was confident she could claim every chest on the mountain.
"Let's go! Conquer this mountain! Make Dragonspine bow before us!"