Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [542]

Canglong Mountain. Gu Sanqiu lowered the striker and turned to face the gathered crowd.

“We pay our respects to the sect leader.”

Everyone bowed once more, officially acknowledging his position.

“Alright, this isn’t some rigid monarchy. Relax a little. Just put on a show when outsiders are around.”

“Oh.”

The tension instantly melted away. Some elders leaned back comfortably, while one of the grand elders even sat on a rock and casually picked his nose—completely abandoning any pretense of being a refined immortal.

Gu Sanqiu’s lips twitched. They might be lounging around, picking their noses or lying half-sprawled on the ground, but all eyes were still on him, waiting for their new leader to give instructions.

In other words, while they had relaxed, their respect for him remained intact.

Still, this scene made him feel like a homeroom teacher who had just inherited a class full of delinquent slackers.

To the outside world, Minlin’s cultivation sects were revered as near-immortal beings, paragons of wisdom and enlightenment. Their names were associated with countless praises about their discipline and refined demeanor.

If those same admirers saw this scene right now, their entire perception of cultivators—no, of immortals themselves—would shatter beyond repair.

The new king of the sect had ascended, yet his "courtiers" lounged around him like a gang of idle thugs basking in the sun.

…This isn’t a Gu family problem, right?

Thinking of his own family’s tendencies, Gu Sanqiu cleared his throat, feeling a little uncertain.

After all, there was a saying: Like general, like soldiers. If the sect had ended up this way, maybe his own upbringing had something to do with it.

“Alright, listen up.”

Gu Sanqiu’s expression turned serious. “I didn’t come back to ascend to sect leader just for fun. Liyue is approaching another major turning point.”

“I need your strength.”

“From this moment on, unless absolutely necessary, recall all external personnel while ensuring the daily operations of your sects. I know you’ve all set up various arrangements across different regions, but right now, securing our foundation takes priority.”

His gaze sharpened, and the once-relaxed sect leaders instinctively sat up straight, their expressions turning solemn.

“Sect leader… has the situation escalated this far?”

“Yes.”

Gu Sanqiu lifted his head, looking toward the sky. “When you notice an event unfolding, the first thing you must always determine is where the change began.”

“Do whatever you need to. Send people to Liyue Harbor if necessary. Work things out with the Qixing however you see fit.”

“But the moment you sense that the change is upon us, don’t hesitate. Abandon your isolated sect operations and reassemble into the great cultivation army of the wartime era.”

His voice grew heavier. “This is my first order. I hope you take it seriously.”

“We obey.”

No one questioned his command. This was their sect leader—who was also closely connected to the Geo Archon.

If something beyond mortal comprehension was happening, he would have access to information they did not.

Besides…

The sect leaders exchanged glances, recalling the recent humiliating incident that had made their entire cultivation sect lose face.

Was that also a precursor to the coming change?

Gu Sanqiu became one with the wind, leaving Minlin behind.

Becoming the sect leader didn’t mean he had to personally oversee every little matter within the sect. He was a leader, not a babysitter.

His job was simply to point them in the right direction when it mattered most.

And right now, the biggest matter at hand was “the assassination of the Geo Archon.”

Gu Sanqiu chuckled. “A nation ruled by people, huh? It’s kind of interesting. Maybe Liyue can even use this as an opportunity to rebrand itself—not just as the City of Commerce, but as a prime tourist destination too.”

He wasn’t particularly worried. After all, the old man wasn’t actually leaving this world for good.

Even if others weren’t aware of that, it wasn’t something to be overly concerned about. Liyue had no strange traditions of burying people with the deceased, after all.

As a member of a noble family, he didn’t have to worry about being thrown into a grave by his childhood friend.

At least he wouldn’t have to worry about waking up one day and finding a tombstone erected over his head.

---

"Lord Harbinger."

Deep within a secret Fatui research facility, Tartaglia nodded to his subordinates before heading straight into the lab’s inner chamber.

“How’s the research on the Sigil Of Permission progressing?”

One of the researchers handed him a report. “Thanks to the formulas for ‘Extraordinary Object Elemental Analysis’ provided by Lord Dottore, we’ve deciphered most of the talisman’s surface elemental circuits. However, the core structure is proving more complex.”

“For example, some of its foundational principles involve ancient Liyuean sigils and knowledge systems. If I had to simplify it, you could think of it as a specialized cipher unique to Liyue.”

“This aspect of the research has been particularly challenging. None of our team members are true experts in this field, and the cultural barrier is limiting our progress.”

Tartaglia frowned. “Even with ancient texts for reference?”

The researcher shook his head honestly. “The texts don’t translate directly into practical application. Some of these concepts are only understood through experience, beyond what written language can convey.”

“Implicit knowledge is the hardest to summarize, let alone categorize,” he continued. “And Liyuean script has an added layer of complexity, where a single word can carry multiple meanings depending on context.”

“If Lord Dottore were personally overseeing this, he might be able to cut straight to the core of the problem. But for us… it’s beyond our capabilities.”

The researcher hesitated before suggesting, “I heard you’re acquainted with Liyue’s incense master. While bringing him here is out of the question, we could compile a list of our research difficulties on paper and have you ask him.”

“Absolutely not.”

Tartaglia internally rolled his eyes. The last thing he wanted right now was to run into that old friend of his, and this guy wanted him to seek him out voluntarily?

If these researchers weren’t all carefully vetted members of the Fatui’s shadow division, he’d have suspected this one of being a traitor.

“I won’t go to him, but you can still write down your difficulties.”

He sighed. He was well aware that Gu Sanqiu had returned to Liyue.

In the first few days, he had holed up in the Northland Bank, going nowhere—just to avoid getting dragged into a fight if that lunatic came looking for him.

But then, word spread that Gu Sanqiu had gone to Minlin for his ascension trial. Tartaglia had been tempted to go watch Liyue’s traditional battle spectacle firsthand, but his duties as a Harbinger took priority.

If he approached him now, Gu Sanqiu would instantly see through his intentions. The last thing he wanted was to live under constant surveillance, getting tailed every time he stepped out for grilled skewers.

If that guy decided to fixate on him, a slip-up was inevitable sooner or later.

And the Northland Bank didn’t make money easily.

Not to mention, this research facility had been partially funded with his own earnings from the Ten Gold Association.

If Gu Sanqiu went on one of his rampages, who knew how much damage he’d cause? Tartaglia had no intention of losing both his investments and his dignity.

With a confident smile, he said, “Just write your questions down and leave the rest to me. I’ll handle this.”

After all, Gu Sanqiu wasn’t the only one in Liyue who understood ancient culture. Plenty of scholars specialized in that field.

By sheer coincidence, just a few days ago, he had taken his subordinates out for a team-building retreat and attended a Liyuean opera. There, he had met a man reputed to be well-versed in both history and tradition—a certain consultant from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Sanqiu, bet you didn’t see this coming.

Think you can track down our research on the Sigil Of Permission?

Keep dreaming!

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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!