The people still enjoying the lively festivities of Lantern Rite hadn't realized how quickly the day had passed. Before they knew it, the hour had crept into the early morning.
The crowds had thinned somewhat by now—not enough to empty the streets, but enough to ease the congestion. The lanterns people had released had drifted off to who knows where; only a few still dotted the sky.
Some weary voices had begun to fade away as people gradually departed. The same held true for the adepti gathered at Yujing Terrace. Xiao prepared to return to Wangshu Inn in Dihua Marsh, Bosacius headed back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and Ganyu readied herself to resume work.
As for Bonanus, she chose to stay put. After all, she'd already agreed to reside here, and she still had someone to meet later. She hadn't forgotten.
Both Bosacius and Xiao had learned of Bonanus's decision to stay. Neither objected. Compared to other places, this seemed safer.
After all, this place had a great adeptus like Ping, along with a talented young half-adeptus. The environment and tranquility were top-notch—truly suitable for Bonanus.
The three Yakshas guarded different areas. Unless some serious crisis befell Liyue, they generally didn't operate together.
Well, except during rest hours.
"Sister Bonanus, if danger arises, call my name. I will heed your summons and come to protect you with all speed." Xiao said to Bonanus with utmost seriousness.
"Rest assured, Yujing Terrace is arguably the safest location in all of Liyue Harbor." Granny Ping walked over with her hands behind her back, her aged voice carrying a hint of laughter.
Xiao simply nodded at this. He merely feared the one-in-ten-thousand chance. Having conveyed his message, and knowing he could visit Sister Bonanus anytime, he had nothing left to say.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao nodded to everyone present, then vanished in an instant with a flash, leaving behind only a faint trace of adeptal energy.
"Well, I'll be off too. If anything comes up, don't hesitate to find your big brother." Having watched Xiao depart, Bosacius stepped forward and gently patted Bonanus's head before leaving with a hearty laugh.
Bosacius's laughter rang out particularly loudly in the dark night. If not for the festival keeping many people awake, someone might have opened a window to curse him out.
"I should be going as well. I still have much unfinished work. Wishing you all a pleasant time." Ganyu gently pressed a hand to her chest, her voice soft and warm.
"Don't push yourself too hard, Ganyu. Even though you're half-adeptus, you still have limits." Bonanus said with concern.
"I don't find it tiring at all. On the contrary, I'm happy because I'm fulfilling Rex Lapis's contract and helping the people of Liyue live better lives." Ganyu replied with a gentle smile.
Having said this, Ganyu also vanished in an instant, disappearing from the area. In the blink of an eye, only the old woman and two young women remained in the small courtyard.
"They've all gone." Bonanus gazed quietly at the sky, taking a deep breath of cool air as she stretched.
After completing this series of movements, Bonanus couldn't help but reach out and pat Yanfei beside her again. She had to admit, this half-adeptus was really nice to touch.
Having been struck by the headpat attack, Yanfei snapped back to reality. The torture of Genius Invocation TCG was finally over!
Yanfei tilted her head happily. Who knew what she'd endured these past few hours? Repeatedly crushing a novice, repeatedly winning.
Now Yanfei truly understood the meaning of "lonely at the top." Tedious and dull.
"Hehe, I'll go tidy up a room for Sister Bonanus now. If you need anything, just let me know." Yanfei said excitedly, then turned and dashed into the house.
Seeing this, Bonanus rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. Poor little Yanfei, having to play Genius Invocation for so long with her elder today.
Exhaling deeply, Bonanus sat back down beside Granny Ping. The tea in her cup was still warm—perfect for drinking.
"Did you have fun just now?" Granny Ping took a sip of tea and asked lightly.
"Not bad. Though Genius Invocation TCG is quite challenging—I kept losing." Bonanus also took a small sip from her teacup.
"This is the most popular card game among mortals these days. Consider it part of your experience." Granny Ping chuckled softly. She'd seen Bonanus dragging Yanfei around for quite a few rounds.
Yanfei rarely relaxed outside of work, so this had been a different experience for the child.
"Haha, that's for the best." Bonanus nodded in agreement. Good thing I have a stable mindset. If I kept losing like that, I'd probably have broken down long ago.
"By the way, Sister Ping, does Rex Lapis ever find time to visit you?" Bonanus asked knowingly. She was just making casual conversation—some things only felt real when heard directly from the person involved.
"Him? He's quite busy—probably doesn't have much time to visit an old woman like me." Granny Ping laughed as she said this.
Bonanus laughed along. Except for certain recluses who spent all their time holed up studying mechanisms and rocks, everyone knew the truth: Rex Lapis Morax spent every day slacking off.
Either running tabs or drinking tea, either drinking tea or eating meat, or either eating meat or listening to opera and storytelling. His daily life couldn't be more comfortable.
Though he appeared to slack off constantly, Morax was still quite responsible.
Sometimes Granny Ping worried about Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Sure, with their financial resources, they could withstand Zhongli's spendthrift ways, and with their monopoly, bankruptcy was virtually impossible.
But the director of Wangsheng was only sixteen years old. A six-thousand-year-old man mooching off a sixteen-year-old child—however you looked at it, it was strange!
Fortunately, aside from the adepti, almost no one knew the truth. Otherwise, rumors would definitely start spreading.
After this topic, the two gazed silently at the sky for a while before Granny Ping broke the silence.
"Liyue has weathered another crisis with the adepti's united efforts. Who knows what unexpected things the future holds?"
Bonanus nodded lightly. But before long, the adepti might all be retiring—after all, the true test is yet to come.
"I have a feeling a new era is approaching. We guardians must prepare to embrace it!" Granny Ping sighed and shook her head.
The Qixing's little maneuvers were impossible for Granny Ping to miss, given her strength. But she chose to turn a blind eye.
Because Rex Lapis had once said, "Liyue, this nation sheltered only by adepti and gods, will soon usher in the age of humanity."
"Perhaps. A new era isn't necessarily good or bad." Bonanus simply smiled at this.
An era of human governance meant Liyue would be led by humans. The adepti would no longer shelter them—everything would be decided by mortals themselves.
Who knew how these mortals would resist the remnants of gods and external threats? But that wasn't Bonanus's concern. After all, that woman was here.
"Enough talk. Shouldn't you be getting to your business?" Granny Ping finished her tea, slowly set down the cup, and spoke softly.
"That gentleman has been waiting at the harbor for quite some time."
Hearing this, Bonanus immediately understood. Rex Lapis had already gone ahead to wait for her. She needed to hurry.
"I'll be back soon." Bonanus vanished in a whoosh. Indeed, all of Liyue's adepti were the same—they could all teleport.