In Dihua Marsh…
“Why did Zhongli ask us to come here? What exactly do we need to find for the Rite of Parting?” Lumine wondered aloud, her curiosity piqued.
With these questions in mind, Lumine and Jia Changjiang arrived at Dihua Marsh, where Zhongli was already waiting.
“How was the Jade Chamber?” Zhongli asked.
“It was amazing! So big, so beautiful… and Ningguang is so rich!” Paimon exclaimed, stretching her arms wide as if to illustrate the size.
“And she seems really kind, too!” Paimon added, visibly delighted.
“Although her kindness might not be entirely genuine right now,” Lumine said, her fists clenched with determination. “But that’ll change—I’ll make sure of it!”
“Ningguang trying to win us over is only natural,” Jia Changjiang remarked to Zhongli. “As far as partnerships go, Ningguang’s business-savvy approach makes her easier to work with than Keqing.”
“You’ve met Keqing too?” Zhongli asked, intrigued. “What did she say?”
Paimon mimicked Keqing’s tone. “She said something like, ‘The era of the Adepti is over. If the Liyue Qixing can’t face this reality, what future does Liyue have?’”
“Hahaha…” Zhongli chuckled upon hearing Paimon’s imitation. “Defying the gods… She made a similar remark during last year’s Rite of Descension.”
“Oh, Zhongli! Do you know anything about the All-Inclusive Talisman?” Lumine suddenly remembered and pulled out the talisman Childe had given her. “We discovered that the Fatui are trying to replicate it!”
“The All-Inclusive Talisman…” Zhongli’s expression remained neutral. “No matter what the Fatui are plotting, it’s best to remain vigilant when dealing with them.”
That, too, was part of the contract.
“For now, our focus is on finding wild Glaze Lilies,” Zhongli said, steering the conversation back to the preparations for the Rite of Parting. Seeing the group’s puzzled expressions, he explained further. “The ones in Yujing Terrace are cultivated artificially and unsuitable for the ritual. Wild Glaze Lilies are exceedingly rare these days.”
“Only when ground into powder and placed in the censer can the Rite of Parting be considered complete,” he continued. “However, for the flowers to bloom to their full potential, I’ll need your assistance.”
“How can we help? Do we… sing to them?” Paimon tilted her head quizzically.
“Exactly,” Zhongli confirmed, his gaze shifting to the group.
“But… does anyone here actually know how to sing? I’ve never heard any of you sing before…” Paimon said, glancing between Jia Changjiang and Lumine.
Jia Changjiang shook his head. “Don’t look at me—I’m completely tone-deaf.”
“You’ve got to be kidding!” Lumine gave a thumbs-up, pointing at herself confidently. “I’ve got this—I’m great at singing!”
“Very well,” Zhongli nodded approvingly. “Then let’s search for the Glaze Lilies.”
—
After about ten minutes of searching along the marshy riverbank, they finally found a cluster of Glaze Lilies.
“I’ve got this!”
Lumine stepped forward confidently, clearing her throat in preparation to sing to the flowers.
However, as she approached the Glaze Lilies, the ground beneath her suddenly shifted.
In an instant, the Glaze Lilies transformed into Whopperflowers, lifting Lumine into the air before dumping her unceremoniously into the water.
Before she could climb out, the Frostarm Whopperflowers surrounded her, unleashing their Cryo attacks. Layers of ice rapidly formed around her, restricting her movements.
As the Frostarm Whopperflowers launched attack after attack, the ice encasing Lumine grew thicker, her struggles weaker.
“Ahhh! The Glaze Lilies turned into monsters!” Paimon shrieked, clutching at Jia Changjiang’s sleeve. “Mr. Jax! Save the Traveler!”
—
After a chaotic skirmish, the group finally managed to fend off the Whopperflowers. Now back on the riverbank, they had lit a fire to warm up a shivering Lumine, who was wrapped in thick clothes.
“Stupid Whopperflowers! Sneaky little tricksters…” Lumine grumbled, sniffling as she huddled by the fire. “Pretending to be Glaze Lilies… How dare they!”
“Unfortunately, these Glaze Lilies and Whopperflowers often grow together,” Zhongli said, shaking his head. “While they make excellent medicinal ingredients, they’re unsuitable for the Rite of Parting.”
“So, we’ll have to find more Glaze Lilies elsewhere?” Jia Changjiang asked, poking at the fire with a stick.
“Are you searching for Glaze Lilies?”
A soft voice interrupted them. They turned to see Ganyu approaching, her expression calm yet curious.
“Oh! It’s you! Ningguang’s emissary!” Paimon exclaimed, trying to remember her name.
“Miss Wang Xiaomei!” Lumine pointed dramatically at Ganyu.
“Wang Xiaomei? That’s… not my name,” Ganyu said, shaking her head.
“Coconut Goat!” Lumine tried again.
“I’m not Coconut Goat either. I’m Ganyu,” she corrected patiently, though her tone betrayed mild exasperation.
As Ganyu looked at the group, her gaze lingered on Zhongli. Although she didn’t seem to recognize him outright, there was a distinct sense of familiarity in her expression.
“Ganyu, aren’t you the secretary from Yujing Terrace? Why are you here?” Lumine asked, sniffling.
“I… came to look at flowers,” Ganyu replied hesitantly. “The Yujing Terrace holds painful memories since it is the place where the Geo Archon fell.”
“The Geo Archon existed for over six thousand years,” she continued. “Two thousand years ago, when the Archon War ended, the original Seven gathered in Liyue and shared a drink with Rex Lapis.
“Now, only Barbatos of Mondstadt remains among the Seven. And soon, even he may fade from this world.”
“…”
Zhongli remained silent for a long moment before finally asking, “And how do you view this farewell to Rex Lapis?”
“Me?” Ganyu looked surprised but took a moment to think. “As a human, it’s difficult to imagine what comes next. But as an Adeptus… I suppose I’ll have to accept it someday.”
“As an Adeptus?” Lumine tilted her head. “Oh right, you’re the Coconut Goat!”
“I’m not a Coconut Goat,” Ganyu said, exasperated. “I’m half-human, half-Qilin—a hybrid with Adeptus blood. I fought in the Archon War and signed a contract with Rex Lapis afterward, becoming a secretary for the Qixing.”
“You fought in the Archon War?”
Paimon counted on her fingers. “That was two thousand years ago… So you’re over two thousand years old?!”
Hearing this, Jia Changjiang glanced around at the group, suddenly struck by a realization.
Excluding Paimon, whose age was unclear, he was the youngest person present.
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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