At that moment, Qiu Bai figure disappeared.
In a secluded corner of Liyue Harbor, the Yin-Yang Immortal, with a slight shift in form, transformed back into the familiar Qiu Bai the Traveler knew.
With a smile, he walked toward the Northland Bank.
Upon reaching the entrance, two Fatui guards stationed at the door immediately opened it for him.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, please come in."
Qiu Bai nodded with a polite smile before stepping inside.
Inside, the first thing that caught his eye was Zhongli, Childe, and La Signora—all of whom turned toward the doorway upon hearing the entrance.
"Well, well, I didn't expect it to be you, Mr. Qiu Bai."
"Are your injuries already healed?"
Tartaglia eyes gleamed with battle hunger as he locked onto Qiu Bai.
"In that case, why don't we pick a day for a rematch?"
He grinned eagerly, unable to contain his excitement.
"Of course, Tartaglia. I'd be happy to oblige."
Qiu Bai chuckled, meeting Childe burning enthusiasm head-on.
Beside them, Signora let out a sigh, pressing her fingers against her temple in exasperation.
"You've arrived, old friend."
Zhongli greeted him warmly, nodding as Qiu Bai approached.
"Tartaglia, have you really not noticed anything different about Mr. Qiu Bai?"
Signora sighed, visibly frustrated, as she turned to Childe.
By now, even an idiot should have figured out who Qiu Bai really was.
After all, who else would be addressed as "old friend" by the God of Geo, Morax himself?
"You... You're the Yin-Yang Immortal!"
Tartaglia stared at Qiu Bai, utterly dumbfounded.
"Back in the Golden House, you were actually hiding your true strength?!"
"No wonder something felt off—how could your wounds have healed so fast?"
His expression screamed betrayal as he looked at Qiu Bai, realization hitting him like a Fatui warship crashing into a rock.
"And you, Signora you called this a collaboration between the Harbingers?"
"Shouldn't a so-called 'collaboration' at least involve sharing information?"
Childe turned to glare at Signora, his brows furrowed in frustration.
"Heh, don't dwell on it too much, Childe. In the end, you ignored all the deals and schemes."
"You simply stormed in and wreaked havoc—isn't that what makes you happiest?"
"It suits your style perfectly..."
Signora smirked with mocking amusement as she slowly spoke.
Tartaglia listened, then glanced around at the three people surrounding him.
Wait a second.
So you're telling me... that EVERY SINGLE ONE of you played me for a fool?
His eyes narrowed at Zhongli, feeling a particular sense of betrayal from the man who literally turned out to be the Geo Archon himself—all while going on about preparing a Rite of Parting like it was someone else's funeral.
Damn it!
Just as Tartaglia was about to speak, Signora's gaze shifted toward the entrance of the Golden House.
"Hold on... It seems someone familiar has arrived."
She said calmly, her expression unreadable as she looked toward the door.
Lumine and Paimon stepped inside, looking at the four people in front of them with confusion.
"It's Qiu Bai, Zhongli, and Childe... and you are—?"
Paimon tilted her head, staring at the broad-chested woman before them with surprise.
"Signora..."
Lumine immediately took a combat stance, her expression ready for battle.
"Heh, it's you two. We met once in the city of that drunken bard, didn't we?"
"Not bad, you actually remembered my name."
Signora turned to Lumine with a smirk, her tone laced with mockery.
"Well, I suppose it's hard to forget... that helpless feeling of watching a friend lose something important right before your eyes—while you were powerless to stop it."
Lumine expression darkened at her words.
"It's not too late to take it back now."
She drew her sword, ready for a fight.
"Yo, Traveler. This is our first time meeting again since everything ended."
"How should I put it... the atmosphere feels a bit... hmm... awkward?"
Childe chuckled and raised a hand in a half-wave, looking a little uneasy.
"Hmph! The moment we found out you were a Fatui Harbinger, we should've never trusted you!"
Paimon put her hands on her hips, frowning angrily at him.
"Come on, don't be like that. Sure, I lied a little before, but I never had any bad intentions toward the Traveler."
"Haha… well, aside from how badly things ended, our cooperation was pretty fun, wasn't it?"
Childe scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.
"It was simply a matter of differing positions. I don't take it personally."
"Of course, if you two want to hold a personal grudge, that's fine as well."
He grinned at Lumine and Paimon before turning toward Qiu Bai, Zhongli, and Signora.
"But those three—Qiu Bai, Zhongli, and Signora…"
"They played me for a damn fool."
Childe sighed, covering his face, clearly still not over it.
"Qiu Bai and Zhongli tricked you?"
Lumine and Paimon turned their eyes toward Qiu Bai and Zhongli, curious about what Childe meant by "tricked."
"Actually—"
Childe was just about to explain when—
"Enough wasting time, Childe."
"If you want to chat, do it after we're done with our business."
Signora shot Childe a glance before walking toward Zhongli.
"As per our agreement, I am here to claim your Gnosis, Morax."
Her words made Lumine and Paimon freeze in shock.
"Wait, WHAT are you talking about?"
"Gnosis?!"
Paimon brain was overloading from the sheer amount of shocking information.
"The contract is fulfilled. As promised, I grant you what you seek."
A small, golden chess-like object appeared in Zhongli's hand, faintly glowing with a warm light.
"Hmph, speaking like you're above everyone else."
Signora crossed her arms, scoffing as if the one standing before her wasn't a god but merely a subordinate beneath her.
"Harbinger of the Cryo Archon, mind your tone."
Qiu Bai eyes turned cold.
A terrifying pressure instantly locked onto Signora.
Even though Childe and Lumine weren't directly targeted by the aura, they could still feel an immense weight crushing down on them—let alone Signora herself.
"Ah—!"
In an instant, Signora collapsed to the ground, completely unable to resist.
"I am abiding by Morax contract!"
"Morcius , you cannot do this to me!"
She struggled to speak, as if just uttering those words had drained her of all strength.
"The contract you signed was with Morax."
"What does that have to do with me?"
Qiu Bai spoke calmly, watching the fallen Signora with an indifferent gaze. Then, he turned toward Zhongli and gave him a small smile.
"Heh."
Zhongli waved his hand lightly and chuckled as well.
"Watch your tone, Signora."
"Otherwise, even if Morax gives you the Gnosis, I cannot guarantee you will walk out of Liyue Harbor alive."
As soon as Qiu Bai finished speaking, the crushing pressure vanished.
Childe and Lumine let out a breath, cold sweat dripping down their backs.
Meanwhile, Signora was drenched in sweat, her legs trembling as she struggled to stand up.
"Wait a minute!"
Lumine brain finally caught up with what had just happened.
"Qiu Bai and Zhongli... One is the Immortal Lord, and the other is the Geo Archon?!"
"No, no, no— I mean, that's shocking and all, but—WHY are you giving the Gnosis to the Fatui?!"
She was completely dumbfounded.
She had spent so long searching for the Geo Archon and an Adeptus, only to find out they had been right in front of her this whole time!
"Wait… that sky-splitting sword strike—"
"That was Qiu Bai?!"
Lumine mind raced back to that moment on the Jade Chamber.
The sheer power of that strike had sent shivers down her spine.
It was the first time she had ever witnessed the might of a true god in this world.
And to think Qiu Bai had been acting the entire time inside the Golden House?!
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