Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [611]

“You’ve figured out what you’re here for, haven’t you?”

Albedo lifted the teacup from the table. “Having someone like you as a hidden ally… really does put the mind at ease.”

“Oh no, no. How could I be considered an outsider? I’m part of Mondstadt too, aren’t I? I just don’t belong to any of the current factions.”

Gu Sanqiu chuckled softly. “I’m the Holy Son of the West Wind, after all. Though who knows if I’ll ever get promoted to one of the Four Winds… Seems a bit unlikely.”

Getting the approval of the East Wind guardian, Dvalin, wasn’t an issue. Nor was earning the recognition of the Lionfang Knight—or rather, the Dandelion Knight. The problem lay with Falga.

As for the Knights of Favonius, Gu Sanqiu hadn’t even considered them. Most of the higher-ups there were basically old friends. But without the North Wind Knight’s acknowledgment, it’d be difficult to justify giving himself a new title.

“Empty titles. Not worth fussing over.”

Albedo shook his head. “Anyway, I have some information you might find interesting. It’s about Captain Kaeya.”

“Kaeya? Did something happen to him?”

“Not exactly. The source is Master Diluc.”

Albedo paused to recall. “One night, I left Mondstadt under the cover of darkness to retrieve some of Klee’s bombs she’d accidentally left out in the wild. I happened to run into Diluc, who was in the middle of a skirmish with some Abyss Order members.”

“Maybe it was because it was so late, but Diluc hadn’t bothered concealing himself. He ended up perfectly matching the image of that ‘Darknight Hero’ from the Mondstadt rumors.”

Gu Sanqiu’s expression twisted. There were too many things to roast at once—he didn’t even know where to begin.

With how much Klee loved stashing her “treasures” everywhere, he’d always wondered why there weren’t more rumors among adventurers about “lethal outdoor treasure traps.” Now it made sense—Albedo was doing the cleanup.

And as for Master Lu… Seriously? After I “saw through” him last time, he still hasn’t learned his lesson. What, does he think night owls don’t exist in this world?

“Alright, fine. What’s this intel you mentioned?”

“What Diluc is investigating… is connected to Khaenri’ah.”

Albedo’s tone grew serious. “And his investigation ties into information that concerns me too. We just never had a chance to speak about it until now.”

“We exchanged intel. He also told me something rather fascinating.”

“Kaeya’s full name is Kaeya Alberich.”

“That surname—it's from the regent lineage of ancient Khaenri’ah.”

Gu Sanqiu’s interest was piqued. “You’re saying Kaeya’s bloodline traces back to Khaenri’ah? And not just any branch—he’s from a noble line?”

“That’s the beauty of information exchange.”

Albedo elaborated, “I shared some related secrets with Diluc, and in return, he explained just how heavy that surname truly is.”

Gu Sanqiu mused, “Interesting. So, was he trying to test your reaction with this tidbit?”

“More or less. But I imagine he was disappointed by the result. From an ordinary person’s perspective, yes—my ancestral home is Khaenri’ah. But I don’t actually know much about that nation.”

Albedo said, “I’m telling you this to remind you—what happens in this world is never so simple.”

“Even a nation that was supposedly wiped out long ago… From what we know now, aside from Snezhnaya’s involvement, it seems there are still many Khaenri’ah remnants moving in the shadows.”

“And whatever their goal is—it’s probably nothing good for us.”

“This world is never simple,” Gu Sanqiu replied, shifting into a more relaxed posture. “Even defeated archons can return to the mortal realm—what else would be impossible?”

“Let me ask you one thing: when the time comes… whose side will you take?”

“Mondstadt’s. Without a doubt.”

Albedo didn’t hesitate. “The land of freedom gave me shelter. It gave me family. I have faith in protecting this nation and the ones I love.”

“Tch. And here I was thinking I could lure you over to Liyue.”

Gu Sanqiu stood. “I’ve got to run—another meeting. If you guys are missing some details, maybe someone in my household might know.”

“Alright. Stay in touch. If someone’s tailing me, I’ll find a way to get word to you.”

Gu Sanqiu waved casually without turning around. “Tch, you worry too much. If someone’s following you, just wrap up one of Klee’s bombs and hand it over as a gift. Easy.”

“Klee’s still a child. She shouldn’t be involved in things like this.”

Watching him leave, Albedo seriously began contemplating the feasibility of that particular method.

It might actually work...

As long as I’m discreet, no one would suspect me. Other factions might even start blaming each other.

If bombs are too obvious, there are alternatives.

Poison gas from failed alchemical experiments. Toxic minerals...

No, too easy to trace. I need to approach this from another angle. Something exotic... foreign poisons, perhaps.

As Albedo wandered deeper into morally gray territory, Gu Sanqiu had already spread out his spiritual sense, searching for Venti. Probably passed out under a tree—or downing drinks in some tavern.

Unsurprisingly, he found Venti right outside Angel’s Share.

Today just so happened to be the final round of the monthly Bard’s Story Relay Contest. The two contenders: the infamous “Anti-Anemo Archon Bard” Venti, and an unnamed middle-aged poet whose eyes practically wept with sorrow and experience.

Each participant took turns telling a story, with the next person required to build on it. Trickery in setup was allowed—hidden traps in the narrative—and rebuttals could follow after each round. The audience served as the judge.

But since it was a lighthearted event, most bards didn’t go too deep with their tricks. That way, the audience stayed entertained, which was kind of the point of Angel’s Share hosting it in the first place.

Given these constraints, the melancholic poet stood no chance against Venti and ultimately lost, though they parted with a gracious handshake—one marked by the poetic spirit of defeat.

The winner’s prize was a week of unlimited drinks at Angel’s Share. Of course, the bartenders were under strict orders to stop serving anyone once they were clearly sloshed.

“Hehe, see? When I take things seriously, I can earn my drinks through honest work. Bet you didn’t expect that!”

Inside the tavern, Venti proudly flashed his Unlimited Drink Voucher at Gu Sanqiu. There were seven little boxes on it—once they were filled in, the voucher would expire.

But since the contest had just ended, the table was still covered in free premium alcohol—an employee perk.

“Objectively speaking,” Gu Sanqiu remarked, “when a god needs to boast about something like this… it usually means some unspeakable truth is being quietly confirmed.”

Venti’s smile twitched, then darkened. He immediately snatched Gu Sanqiu’s cup away.

“Since when did you start sounding like your old man? That’s my employee compensation you’re drinking!”

“‘Objectively spea—’”

Venti leaned in, voice low and dangerous. “Say that one more time and I’ll seal your powers and blow you all the way to the Golden Apple Archipelago. Let’s see you swim back.”

“Fine, fine. Let’s get to the point. Which unlucky bastard does my dear uncle want me to kill this time?”

Gu Sanqiu reclaimed his cup. “Since it’s Dad’s request, I’ll waive the usual fee.”

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T/N: welcome back incense burner its been... years.

This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. 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!