Parallel Earth.
Today marks the launch of Genshin Impact's Version 1.3.
In this version, players will experience a highly significant festival—
The Lantern Rite of Liyue.
This festival holds extraordinary meaning for the people of Liyue.
And for the people of Dragon Country on Parallel Earth, it's no different.
Because this festival coincides with the real-world Dragon Country's Spring Festival.
The relationship between Liyue and Dragon Country goes without saying.
Thus, today, Guinaifen also woke up early, eagerly awaiting the start of the event storyline.
Meanwhile, in Teyvat...
Lumine had gone to Mondstadt but failed to find the blond, eyepatch-wearing man mentioned by Amber.
After waiting many days without his appearance, and with the Lantern Rite approaching, Paimon went to great lengths to coax Lumine into attending—
Constantly whispering about the festival in her ear,
Mentioning things like "the promise with Changchang" and "the Lantern Rite is a time for reunion, everyone will be there."
After all this nagging, Lumine had no choice but to temporarily abandon her search for the blond man.
She decided to head to Liyue first and resume her search after the Lantern Rite.
Thus, they returned to the harbor of Liyue Harbor.
And this is where the players' storyline begins.
Just as Lumine and Paimon arrived back in Liyue,
Taking in the festive decorations and lively atmosphere of the harbor,
Lumine was about to sigh in admiration when—
A mustachioed merchant approached and asked,
"Hey there, miss—mind if I ask how much you'd sell that little floating thing for?"
——————
Guinaifen's Livestream:
This sudden turn of events had Guinaifen in stitches.
"Pffft—what kind of opening is this? The event just started and we're already getting memes?"
["Hey there, miss"]
[Paimon's my best adventure buddy!]
[Gotta pay extra for that!]
——————
Lumine raised an eyebrow. "You can't afford my asking price."
Paimon gave her a weird look.
She hadn't expected that response.
"That sounds... kinda weird!"
Paimon pondered, stroking her chin.
"Honestly, now I'm curious... just how much is that price?"
Lumine smirked mischievously. "Heh, how much indeed?"
Paimon pretended to be angry.
"Hmph! I'll just take that as you saying 'not for any price'!"
The merchant, undeterred by the rejection, laughed good-naturedly.
"Hahaha! Times are tough lately, so I really can't afford it."
"After all, I'm just an ordinary merchant—not some trafficker of rare treasures."
Paimon crossed her arms. "...That tone sounds pretty shady to me."
The merchant leaned closer. "Now, now, little one—want some candy?"
[WTF, what's this uncle planning to do with Paimon?]
[I don't even wanna think about it]
[Cowards, I do! Use her for...]
Paimon's reaction, however, was both unexpected and utterly predictable.
Faced with candy offered by someone she'd just called "shady,"
Her eyes sparkled. "Lumine, I think we can trust this guy!"
Lumine facepalmed and yanked her back.
"Classic Paimon. But no—don't take food from strangers."
The merchant popped the candy into his own mouth instead.
Noticing Lumine's foreign attire, he shifted the topic to the Lantern Rite.
"Here for the Lantern Rite, I take it?"
Lumine nodded.
The merchant suddenly puffed up with pride.
"This year's Mingxiao Lantern is gonna be spectacular!"
"The floating stone used to lift the giant lantern is the biggest in twenty years."
"So huge it makes you wonder—if those mythical floating cities in the clouds really existed..."
"They'd probably just have a similar-sized piece of Voidstone underneath."
[Is it as big as the Jade Chamber?]
[No way]
[LMAO imagine having one that big and using it for fireworks instead of rebuilding the Jade Chamber]
Soon after, the merchant was called away to tend to his business.
"Hahaha! See you around! Welcome to Liyue—well, I can't speak for the whole harbor, but my shop's always open to you!"
Lumine found his enthusiasm amusing, though she'd been to Liyue Harbor many times before.
After parting ways, the two ventured further into the harbor.
With the festival approaching, countless stalls had sprung up, nearly filling the entire dock.
The crowds were bustling with energy.
They soon encountered Changchang, the little girl they'd made a promise to before.
Changchang was overjoyed that Lumine remembered her.
However, she was busy helping her family at the moment.
She wished them a pleasant time in the city and promised to find them later when she was free.
Lumine noticed the giant stag statue at the harbor and moved closer to inspect it.
There, she found Granny Ping gazing wistfully at the statue.
"Granny Ping?"
Granny Ping turned. "Ohoho, it's you two."
"Is there a story behind this statue?" Lumine asked, sensing the weight in Granny Ping's gaze.
"My, my... rare to find someone interested in these old tales nowadays..."
Granny Ping then shared the story.
This stag was the Adeptus known as Mountain Shaper.
His antlers were his greatest pride—said to have absorbed the divine essence of Rex Lapis's Geo power.
Once, they were the hardest substance in all of Liyue.
Yet during "that final battle," as force erupted and mountains crumbled,
To protect the village at the mountain's base,
He willingly let his friends cut off his antlers...
Using the bloodied antlers as a fulcrum, he held up the entire mountain.
And fought on until his last drop of blood was spent.
Now, Mt. Tianheng still stands tall,
While the blood from his final battle formed the Bishui River...
[Classic "that final battle"]
[Translation: "still working on the lore"]
[Let me think of how to bullshit this]
"What an incredible Adeptus," Paimon murmured.
Granny Ping sighed softly.
"Perhaps the Lantern Rite exists because those old friends of ours couldn't bear to be forgotten..."
After chatting a while longer, they bid Granny Ping farewell.
But barely two steps away, they encountered another heavyweight figure—Zhongli.
Zhongli spotted them. "Ah, you've arrived. What are your impressions of the Lantern Rite so far?"
"Lots of people. We just saw Granny Ping, actually."
Lumine asked, "Do the Adepti secretly come to the festival too?"
Zhongli replied, "Not necessarily. It depends on their mood."
Paimon chimed in, "Will Mu Yang come?"
Lumine hesitated. "Uh... he doesn't seem like the type to join crowds."
Paimon grinned. "No problem! We'll just drag him here ourselves!"
[Paimon, you're my hero!]
[I repent—I was gonna sell you out earlier]
[I spoke too soon, Saint Paimon]
Zhongli quickly stopped them.
He explained that during the Lantern Rite, evil spirits in Liyue become more active than usual.
Thus, Mu Yang and Xiao typically spend the festival combating these threats.
Xiao watches from afar to protect Liyue's people.
But Mu Yang's situation is... more complicated.
Even if they went to Chenyu Vale, they wouldn't find him.
When Lumine pressed further, Zhongli cited a contract with Mu Yang—he couldn't reveal specifics.
[Of course, the contract card]
[Ugh, blue-balling us huh]
[Feels like foreshadowing...]
[RIP no Mu Yang this patch, miss him already]
Here, Zhongli made a request:
He asked Lumine to try inviting Xiao to the Lantern Rite this year.
"We'll help, Zhongli! But you have to bless us with riches next year!"
Lumine rolled her eyes. "Of course you'd know that tradition."
The rest of the story unfolded predictably:
A crisis emerged during the festival.
The heroic Lumine saved the day once more.
The Mingxiao Lantern soared, the city glowed with countless lights, and all gathered in joyous reunion.
And on a distant hill, Xiao watched the lantern display in silence.
——————
Guinaifen's Livestream:
"Sigh... Mu Yang really didn't show. Thought it was fake hype..."
[Streamer, you've caught Mu Yang fever]
"Caught it? I'm already drowning in it!"
"Mu Yang, how can I live without you, Mu Yang?!"
"How long till the next update ahhhhhh?!"
(Streamer proceeds to lose it.)
...
Meanwhile, unlike the lively Liyue Harbor,
Chenyu Vale held no grand celebrations—
Just quiet reunions among family and friends over a meal.
On Mt. Mingyuan,
A cold, full moon reflected in the Pool of Silent Swords...
——————
(New arc tomorrow)