8: Arrival at Liyue Harbor

The Geo Archon once said: "A ship bearing wealth will always anchor at a port."

Thus, Liyue became the place where wealth accumulates.

To handle such enormous wealth, Liyue Harbor's docks had grown to a similarly massive scale. Because of this, the arrival of two unremarkable small boats caused no stir—no one even noticed.

A girl in a nun's robe and black veil leapt ashore first—

—and immediately doubled over at the dock's edge, vomiting.

Another woman in a red qipao-style combat outfit, her left eye hidden under an eyepatch, followed swiftly after. She crouched beside the girl and gently patted her back, mumbling,

"Seriously, you're seasick? Why didn't you say something earlier? I thought you were just sleepy from keeping your eyes closed the whole trip. There, there. Don't worry, I'll get someone to fetch some motion sickness medicine."

Saphir waved her hand weakly to show she'd live.

Behind them, Ada—still frozen with uncertainty—finally stepped forward and took over, allowing Beidou to go look for fresh water.

After a few sips, Saphir finally managed a full breath.

"Ugh… I'm alive again. I hate boats."

Beidou couldn't help but laugh. She handed Saphir the motion sickness medicine she'd just gotten from a sailor.

"Here, take this with you next time. Trust me, it'll help. Anyway, we've reached Liyue Harbor—I can't stick around much longer. This is where we part ways."

She had a lot on her plate. The intelligence she'd acquired needed to be delivered to Ningguang immediately. As for her Southern Cross Fleet… well, without her there, they were probably running wild, but that could be handled later. Once she showed up in person, most problems would resolve themselves.

But Ningguang was different.

If that woman did something impulsive before learning the truth…

Beidou didn't dare risk it. She turned and rushed toward Yujing Terrace.

On the way, she recalled the conversation she'd had with Saphir earlier.

"Beidou, can you promise me something?"

"Depends what it is. If I can do it, I will."

"Can you not tell Ningguang… that I brought you back to life?"

"...Sorry. I can't. This kind of Taboo ability—reviving the dead—even if I wanted to hide it, I couldn't. My crew saw me die with their own eyes."

Saphir had explained everything about Light of Resurrection—its risks, its limitations.

Beidou had to report it to Ningguang.

It wasn't betrayal—it was loyalty. A Liyue woman's loyalty to her homeland.

Back at the harbor, Ada's curiosity finally boiled over.

"Lady Saphir… you knew Beidou wouldn't keep your secret. Why resurrect her anyway?"

Saphir chuckled and replied with a question,

"Ada, how many people do you think know what happened at Guyun Stone Forest?"

Ada blinked. "You… me… and Beidou?" She sounded uncertain even as she said it.

Saphir shook her head.

"You forgot at least five more."

"Five?!"

"That's right," Saphir said with a smirk. "The being sealed beneath Guyun—that demon god—isn't as dormant as people think. It can sense what happens above. And in Liyue, there's nothing that escapes Morax's notice. When Beidou's Fate Star re-ignited, at least four immortals felt it."

As they walked, they arrived at Chihu Rock, where the famed storytelling stall outside Third-Round Knockout stood.

A man in ornate robes sat listening intently to a tale.

Saphir looked at him without turning her head.

"Even gods have regrets. If they learn those regrets can be undone… what do you think they'll do?"

Ada suddenly broke out in cold sweat.

"Then—doesn't that put you in danger, my Lady?"

Saphir smiled faintly.

"When the swallows return, the spring festival is still new; by the time pear blossoms fall, the Qingming rains begin again..."

"Life and death wears down not just mortals. The longer you live, the more it hurts."

She turned to Ada.

"Let's go. Time to meet with Tartaglia."

—

Unbeknownst to them, the well-dressed man sipping tea at the storyteller's stall—Zhongli—had heard every word.

That line—

"When the swallows return… the spring festival is still new..."

—he repeated under his breath. "...Interesting."

Though Saphir had seemed to be speaking to Ada, it was clear she'd intended him to hear.

Zhongli could not deny it—this girl intrigued him.

It wasn't her title as a Harbinger.

He didn't care about that.

What he cared about was Beidou's resurrection. He had nearly confirmed it was Saphir's doing.

And yet… when he laid eyes on her for the first time, all that was driven from his mind.

It was her face.

Not her beauty. Not her expression.

Just her face.

"…She looks… too much like her."

Zhongli stared down at the trembling teacup in his hand.

He couldn't believe it.

The girl whose ashes had long since returned to the soil of Guili Plains… the one who had once stood defiant before gods and demons alike… who had once promised to make a songwriting machine just to spite Cloud Retainer…

The girl who, alone, held off a horde of demon gods until help could arrive.

She had died bathed in blood, like a wilting Glaze Lily in late autumn.

And now, here she was again.

A single tear fell from Zhongli's eye and splashed onto the table.

His companions looked at him in shock.

"Mr. Zhongli? Are you alright?"

A kindly fish vendor named Old Zhou waved his hand in front of him.

"Did something happen? Did someone wrong you?"

Zhongli blinked, only now realizing—he was crying.

"…Ah. My apologies. I was… remembering an old friend."

He gently wiped away the tear. "Forgive me. I've intruded on your good mood. I'll be taking my leave."

"Take care, Mr. Zhongli," the onlookers said kindly, not prying.

"If only we could buy osmanthus wine and drink with old friends again. But who knows when we'll meet once more…"

Zhongli turned into a quiet alleyway—and disappeared.

—

Back at the docks, the Death Omen Star remained docked in silence.

Usually, this was cause for celebration.

But today?

No one had left the ship.

Their captain, Beidou, had sacrificed herself for them.

And they were ready. If Ningguang gave the word, they would storm the Fatui without hesitation—even if it cost them their lives.

Then, Huixing returned.

She carried Ningguang's message:

"Hold your position. Tianquan is considering retaliation."

The crew bristled with anticipation.

Not far from the harbor, Saphir finally met up with Tartaglia.

She looked as carefree as ever, which only made him facepalm.

"You just strolled in like that?" he groaned. "Do you want to be surrounded and executed by the Millelith? I like fighting, but I'm not about to take on an entire army."

Saphir just shrugged.

She knew the moment Beidou reached Ningguang, tensions would evaporate.

In fact, she was expecting an invitation to the Jade Chamber by sundown.

"Relax. Problem's handled. Why else would I be walking around like I own the place?" Her tone was as breezy as if she were saying, I had a Sunsetia for dessert today.

Tartaglia didn't quite believe her.

He waved for a subordinate to check on the Millelith's movements—just in case.

While they waited, Saphir sent Ada away and plopped down beside him. She picked up a cup of tea and took a long, satisfied sip.

Then she snatched the dagger he'd been idly spinning in his hand and inspected it with interest.

"Hey, Childe," she grinned. "This dagger's nice. Where'd you get it? Mind getting me a pair?"

"First of all—don't call me Childe. And second—no, I'm not your weapons dealer! Don't you use oversized weapons anyway? What do you even want these for, musclehead?"

In the Fatui, "giant weapons" referred to enormous tools of war—battleaxes, hammers, totem poles, or even Saphir's sacred cross. Anything requiring sheer strength.

Saphir grinned shamelessly.

"Can't a girl branch out? Try some finesse for once? C'mon—I'll stop calling you 'Childe' if you get me a matching set."

Tartaglia turned his head away in a huff.

"No way in hell."

"Tch. Stingy."

~~~----------------------

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