Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [365]

"The issue here isn't just the overzealous reactions from the crowd," the ceremonial attendant remarked, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the room from the second-floor window.

"Oh? Care to elaborate?" Hu Tao asked casually, though her expression betrayed a hint of unease as her gaze swept over the excited patrons below.

Keqing frowned. "What are you two talking about? Care to explain for those of us who aren't following your cryptic musings?"

"In simple terms," the attendant began, pointing at the overly animated audience, "there's something odd about this place. These reactions aren't just from excitement at what they're seeing. There's something else at play."

He gestured toward the stage. "Sure, the dancers' movements might be suggestive enough to excite some viewers, but this level of frenzy? It's unnatural."

Keqing quickly caught on. "You're suggesting that some kind of emotion-manipulating formation is in place here?"

The attendant nodded. "Most likely."

Hu Tao chimed in, her tone light but her words heavy. "But there's no proof right now. They could just dismiss it as the patrons being overly enthusiastic. Of course, that only works if they've hidden or destroyed the evidence before anyone can investigate."

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut in, startling all three women.

"Bingo. But we've got our eyes on something much bigger."

Hu Tao groaned, covering her ears in mock agony. "Ugh, it's Sanqiu, preaching again. I don't want to listen!"

Keqing tapped her fingers on the table, ignoring Hu Tao's antics. "Where are you two?"

"Look for the table with two maniacs screaming 'I want to have your children!' to the dancers. That's us."

Keqing, Hu Tao, and the attendant froze in unison, then hurried to the window. Sure enough, two young men were shouting outrageous declarations that were so over the top even the frenzied crowd had distanced themselves.

Keqing's expression soured. "You two are really... something."

Xingqiu's exasperated voice cut through the mental link. "Don't listen to him. Those are just paper effigies he left behind. We've already left Jihai Pavilion."

"And here I thought you were upset about missing the dancers' smooth legs and enticing movements," Gu Sanqiu teased.

"Stop making me sound like a pervert!"

"Enough, both of you!" Keqing snapped, bringing the conversation back to focus. "If you've left, does that mean you found something unusual?"

"This place has some serious problems," Gu Sanqiu replied, his tone becoming uncharacteristically grave. "Beyond the obvious oddities on the second floor, there are at least twenty hidden rooms underground. I didn't investigate further—too much risk of running into spirit-detection devices."

"And what's upstairs?" Keqing pressed.

"A statue. Of a forbidden god."

The air in the room grew tense. Both Keqing and Hu Tao instinctively reached for their weapons, their postures protective as they positioned themselves to shield the attendant.

"Are you sure?" Keqing demanded.

"Who would know better than someone from my family?" Gu Sanqiu replied nonchalantly. "Relax. Just keep playing your roles as pampered rich kids. We'll handle the rest."

Xingqiu's voice added context. "In addition to the hidden rooms, there are several underground tunnels. We're investigating where they lead. Sanqiu insists that if we're going to deal with this, we should go all the way."

"Careful!" Keqing warned. "This is inside the city. If you overstep, there'll be consequences."

"Relax. If anything happens, I'll warn you to get clear," Gu Sanqiu reassured her. "By the way, I've planted fifteen high-yield explosive barrels around Jihai Pavilion. If necessary, I'll send the whole place sky-high."

Xingqiu chimed in. "He means that literally. Those barrels are reinforced with geo-elemental energy. If they detonate all at once, it's equivalent to him using an Earthquake Technique. No one underground would survive."

Keqing felt her heart leap into her throat. "Are you insane?! Didn't Ningguang forbid you from using high-impact techniques within the city?!"

"Not a technique—just some overcharged explosives," Gu Sanqiu replied casually. "Don't stress yourself out, Yuheng. You need to work on that temperament of yours."

Before Keqing could respond, the connection abruptly cut off. The paper effigies in the main hall collapsed into inert piles of paper, leaving behind their absurd declarations about fathering children.

"That lunatic!" Keqing slammed her fist against the table, her frustration boiling over. "I should've told Ningguang to lock him up in Bubu Pharmacy for a century!"

Hu Tao raised a tentative hand. "Um, even if he were confined, there's an elder there who owes his family a huge favor. He'd walk out anytime he pleased..."

Keqing froze, her face darkening. She grabbed Hu Tao's cheeks and began to tug mercilessly.

"Whose side are you even on?! Why do you keep throwing cold water on my plans?!"

"Mmmph! Mmmph!" Hu Tao retaliated by tickling Keqing's sides, sliding her hands under the other girl's clothes with alarming speed.

"Ah! Stop that! Not there—!"

"Pffft..."

The ceremonial attendant could only sigh as he watched the two descend into chaos. "Sanqiu, it seems tonight's success rests entirely on your shoulders..."

---

Deep within the tunnels, Gu Sanqiu and Xingqiu, clad in stealth gear, carefully avoided the countless traps.

"Ugh, why are these all alarm triggers? This makes it impossible to brute force our way through," Xingqiu complained, narrowly stepping around another trap.

"It's a comprehensive system. There's probably a button somewhere to bypass everything for the 'guests,' but we're clearly not on that list," Gu Sanqiu muttered, running his fingers over the stone walls.

"These walls are lined with anti-psychoactive materials," he noted grimly. "They're trying to guard against adventurers with specialized gear."

"So, the place really is shady," Xingqiu concluded. "By the way, do you know what god that statue depicted?"

"No clue. After the Archon War, too many gods were reduced to elemental residue. But it's definitely not anything good."

"That statue seems to be absorbing frenzied spiritual energy. No idea what for, though."

Gu Sanqiu's voice was calm, but his next words carried weight.

"One thing's clear: if this continues unchecked and it all detonates at once, it'll throw Liyue Harbor into absolute chaos."

---

T/N: check out my first fanfic! Is It Wrong To Stay Composed In A Dungeon!

...

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