The Millelith rushed into the Ministry of Civil Affairs to rescue people. It took them half an hour to get everyone out.
The Northland Bank staff were pulled out, along with Sun Yu and his junior disciple. No one died, but everyone had injuries of varying severity.
"This is going too far!" the Northland Bank manager shouted. "You arrested us, never questioned us, just locked us up—and now we're hurt because of you! You owe us an explanation!"
"Yeah! Give us an answer!"
Sun Yu's junior disciple bared her teeth. "Your Ministry grabbed us for no reason, and now we're injured because of you. Is this how you serve the people of Liyue?!"
She wasn't quiet about it either, and her voice drew plenty of attention.
The explosion had been deafening. Several nearby areas had been affected, and even with the Millelith holding the perimeter, curious onlookers still gathered and tried to peek inside—though none of them rushed to judgment.
Ryou stepped up in front of them and let out a cold laugh.
"Northland Bank has the nerve to say that?
"La Signora forcibly stole Sigils of Permission—at least a thousand of them. Those talismans were created by Rex Lapis himself. Even as replicas, they carry devastating destructive power."
His eyes sharpened.
"And a Fatui Harbinger steals them. Do I really need to spell out what that means?"
He raised his voice so the crowd could hear him clearly.
"Our Ministry issued a public notice not long ago. We postponed the Rite of Descension for this exact reason.
"And now? Our worst fears have become reality.
"We've done our jobs with a clear conscience—yet we're still being blamed."
Ryou swept a hand toward the injured staff and soldiers.
"Look at them. Every one of them is hurt. And you still want to accuse them?
"Do you want to make heroes feel like their sacrifices mean nothing?"
The words hit hard—especially with Ministry staff and Millelith soldiers visibly wounded. The crowd stirred.
"You're right," a middle-aged man said, face tight with guilt. "I doubted the Ministry earlier… no. That was my mistake. We should've trusted them!"
A woman beside him raised her voice too. "They've been serving Liyue and got hurt doing it—how can we blame them? They're heroes. Heroes deserve respect, not accusations!"
"The Fatui are vicious!" someone else snapped. "A thousand Sigils of Permission—what kind of disaster could that cause? Don't blame the Ministry. Blame the Fatui!"
The Northland Bank people went pale under the angry looks. They'd complained once, and suddenly the whole crowd was turning on them.
Sun Yu's junior disciple shrank back, head down, not daring to say another word.
Ryou lifted a hand.
The noise died instantly.
He faced everyone and spoke steadily, like he was laying down a final verdict.
"Sigils of Permission come from Rex Lapis. By all rights, most of them should've been recovered long ago.
"But a thousand—replicas or not—are more than enough to reduce Liyue Harbor to rubble.
"The Rite of Descension has always been vital to Liyue. Postponing it wasn't a choice we made lightly."
He paused, then continued without flinching.
"I know this will anger Rex Lapis. The old man might even blame me for it.
"But for Liyue Harbor—for its future—I'll accept any punishment. Even if it makes me the villain, I'll still postpone the Rite of Descension!"
With his [Face] lending weight to every word, and with a massive explosion as fresh proof in front of them, the speech landed like a hammer.
"We can't blame Ryou-sama," a merchant said seriously. "This was unavoidable. Postponing the Rite is the best decision!"
"Exactly! Blame the Fatui!" another person shouted.
"So that's what happened…" someone murmured. "No wonder the Ministry issued the notice. For Liyue Harbor, I—I agree! I agree!"
"Me too!"
"What Ryou-sama did was for Liyue Harbor," a middle-aged woman said, voice ringing out. "He's a hero. Heroes shouldn't have to carry all that abuse. We should stand with him!"
Keqing watched Ryou with eyes that burned a little brighter.
He had presence—real presence. When he spoke, people listened. When he raised his hand, the crowd fell silent.
That kind of leadership shook her more than she wanted to admit.
What a man.
…And yes. That's my husband.
"We'll handle the aftermath," Ryou promised the crowd. "Tomorrow we'll distribute an official notice. Go home and rest."
Most of the onlookers finally started to disperse, though a few still lingered, staring toward the wreckage of the Ministry.
Just then, Ryou's father arrived with Ningguang.
"You brat—are you hurt?" his father barked the moment he saw the blood. "Move! Get to Bubu Pharmacy and get treated!"
"Father, it's just surface wounds," Ryou said, unfazed. "I'm a grown man. If I run to the doctor over a scrape, what does that make me?"
Smack.
His father slapped him right on the head. "You're talking back now? I told you to go—so you go. Keqing!"
"I'll take him right now," Keqing said quickly. She was already worried something worse might be hiding under the blood, and with her father-in-law insisting, she immediately hooked Ryou's arm and started guiding him toward Bubu Pharmacy.
"Father, this is—" Ryou tried again, but one look at his father's glare shut him up. He swallowed the rest and went along obediently.
"I'll clean up this mess with Ningguang," his father said, stabbing a finger at Ryou. "You go get treated. And if I find out you didn't, I'll break your leg when you get home!"
Ryou shuddered.
He knew his father was worried about him, but getting treated for a few cuts still felt humiliating.
Still—
This is father's love. So off he went.
…
Zhongli watched the situation with a splitting headache.
La Signora had made too much of a mess this time. Before, he could still force Ningguang's hand and push the Rite of Descension forward—but after what happened today, and after Ryou's speech, the people of Liyue had fully grasped the danger.
There was no way the Rite could proceed now. A postponement was inevitable.
Zhongli rubbed his forehead, sighing. "Everything's going wrong lately."
…
"Keqing, it's just surface wounds. I'm fine," Ryou said as they walked.
"No," Keqing shot back. "Father said you're getting treated. End of story."
"Keqing, you know how sturdy I am—why are you—ow!" Ryou yelped as Keqing pinched him hard.
"Don't you dare," Keqing hissed, cheeks blazing. "We're outside. And earlier, I was already—hmph. Not talking about it. Move. You're going."
She clung to his arm and marched him up the steps.
They'd only climbed a few when three figures stepped into their path.
"Excuse me—my husband is injured, so could you—" Keqing started, then blinked. "Huh? Shenhe? Why are you here?"
She'd thought Shenhe left with Ganyu. So why was she blocking them now?
Shenhe didn't even look at Keqing.
She stood in front of Ryou and stared at him for a long moment. Her heartbeat thudded faster and faster, loud enough that she could feel it in her ribs.
"I don't know your name," Shenhe said at last, voice calm and serious, "but I can feel my heart racing.
"Master once told me that if someone can make my heart speed up—if I can't control it—then that means…"
She took a breath.
"…I've fallen for him."
Keqing froze.
Wait—what?
I greet you, and you tell me you've fallen for my husband?
"Shenhe, what are you saying?" Keqing snapped, all warmth evaporating in an instant. "That's my husband. We're married. Do you understand that?"
She'd actually liked Shenhe a little before. That goodwill vanished on the spot.
Shenhe turned to her. "Keqing, I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't 'sorry' me," Keqing shot back. "When I have time, I'm going to ask Cloud Retainer what she's been teaching you!"
Confessing to her husband right in front of her—was Shenhe pretending Keqing didn't exist?
Shenhe shook her head. "No. I mean… I'm taking your husband."
She reached for Ryou. "You're injured? I can heal you."
Keqing instantly grabbed Ryou's other arm and glared. "Are you serious? You're openly trying to steal my husband? I'm being polite because of Ganyu. Keep this up, and I won't be polite anymore."
"I've already chosen him," Shenhe said bluntly, refusing to let go. "He moved my heart. So… I won't give up.
"Don't worry. We won't stay here and bother you. I'll take him to Mt. Aocang to meet Master, and she'll set our marriage."
"Set what marriage?!" Keqing nearly choked. "That's my husband!"
She was so angry she wanted to bite someone.
Shenhe was insane. Stealing a man in public—right in front of his wife—like Keqing didn't matter at all.
Sure, Keqing had thought—very briefly—that it might not be the worst thing in the world if someone shared the pressure with her.
But Shenhe?
Who are you to show up and snatch him like this?
Around them, a few onlookers watched with eyes full of envy.
A tall, stunning woman was literally grabbing Keqing's husband in public—and she was bold enough to do it with her hands.
"Ryou-sama really is blessed," a passerby muttered. "Keqing's already gorgeous, and now another beauty is fighting over him."
"I'm so jealous," a young man said, practically bouncing in place. "Both of them are unbelievable. If it were me, why would I choose? I'd take both!"
A middle-aged man shoved him. "Take both? Who do you think you are?
"Besides, Keqing supports one husband, one wife. Even if you climbed a hundred steps higher in life, you still wouldn't be worthy of two women like that."
"…Yeah, true," the young man muttered, scratching his head.
Ryou's head started pounding.
He tightened his grip and yanked both women inward. The force pulled them off balance, and they stumbled straight into his arms.
Before either could grab at him again, he pinned them in place—one arm on each side—and marched them into Bubu Pharmacy like he was escorting troublemakers.
Baizhu looked up, saw Ryou walking in with two women clinging to him, and his expression slowly darkened.
"Ryou-san," Baizhu said mildly, "Bubu Pharmacy is a clinic. A respectable place."
He paused, then added, deadpan, "If you're looking for that kind of service… Liyue Harbor still has plenty of inns open today."
"Doctor Baizhu, that's not funny," Ryou said, shooting him a glare. He released both women and stepped forward. "Treat my wounds. If my father comes asking and I didn't get them cleaned up, he'll break my leg."
Baizhu coughed once, clearing his throat. "Alright. Come with me."
[End of chapter]
[200 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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