I, from the Celestial Empire, have parachuted into Teyvat.

Ivan smiled wryly, thinking to himself, "How could I possibly sleep with you next to me?"

"Never mind that for now, just release the spell on me. I can't move all night, and my arms and legs are killing me."

"No."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun suddenly flipped over and straddled Ivan, staring at Ivan's face with a slightly fanatical look in his eyes, and said, "What if you run away if I let you go?"

Feeling the soft touch of Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun's pert buttocks between his legs, Ivan's cheeks flushed slightly. He could sense that Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun's hidden yandere tendencies had been inexplicably aroused a little bit, perhaps without Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun himself even realizing it.

Although Ivan wanted to feel the warmth of Liuyun Jiefeng Zhenjun a little longer, he said helplessly, "Why should I run away? Where can I run to? Today is the day of the Sending Immortal Ceremony, and I have to go. If I don't go soon, I'll be late."

Upon hearing Ivan's words, the obsessive fervor in Liuyun Jiefeng Zhenjun's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a somber and sorrowful expression. He sighed, "Yes, today is the day to bid farewell to the Emperor; it is certainly not the time for fooling around..."

As he spoke, True Monarch Liuyun stepped off Ivan, then used a magic incantation to release the elemental force binding Ivan. Ivan immediately sat up, moved his arms and limbs, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go, we should be able to make it if we go now."

Since the True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng didn't take off his clothes last night, Ivan didn't need to change his clothes anymore, saving him a lot of trouble.

Before long, Ivan brought Xiang Feng and Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun to Yujingtai.

This place is both the venue for the ceremony of inviting the immortals and the place for bidding farewell to the immortals.

Because no one in Liyue had ever seen Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhen Jun in person, the Thousand Rock Army guarding the area assumed she was Ivan's female companion and allowed her to pass through with Ivan.

Today, the entire Liyue region is immersed in a somber atmosphere, and the air feels somewhat oppressive.

On the way to Yujingtai, Ivan saw many Liyue citizens spontaneously taking to the streets, holding white candles to clear the way for the Emperor and bid him farewell.

Although Ivan should have shown some sadness, as one of only two people who knew the truth, he couldn't stay serious at all when he thought of Chungli making a peace sign at his grave. It was already difficult enough for him to hold back his laughter.

The plaza where the Jade Capital Terrace was originally the site of the ceremony to invite the immortals was now filled with colorful flowers used to send off the emperor, creating an atmosphere of indescribable sadness and solemnity for Su.

Of course, since Zhongli was an expert guest specially invited from the Hall of Rebirth by the organizers of the Sending-Off-Immortals Ceremony, these colorful flowers were naturally prepared under his guidance.

In addition, the amber stone and sacrificial wine that represent the Emperor have been neatly placed on the altar.

Yes, Zhongli chose these herself.

At this moment, Zhong Li was also on the altar. Watching Zhong Li's busy figure, the picture of Zhong Li Emperor's tomb that Ivan had just manually deleted from his mind popped up again.

Ivan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The others standing next to Ivan frowned and looked at him with some confusion. Ivan quickly put his hands together and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Lord Liuyun asked in bewilderment, "What's wrong with you?"

"Ahem, it's nothing. A little bug just flew into my neck and it's a bit itchy... Speaking of which, this time, the Seven Stars Ceremony for Sending Off Immortals will still be presided over by Ningguang. What about your side of the immortals? Are you the only one coming?"

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun said, "Yes, it's just me, and if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have come."

Ivan raised an eyebrow and said, "You have fought alongside the Emperor for many years. Now that the Emperor has ascended to immortality, don't you all want to come and send him off on his final journey?"

The True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng sighed with a sorrowful expression, "Farewell is a sad thing. We immortals are not only the Emperor's followers but also his friends. Over the years, several of my old friends have passed away. Having experienced so much, most immortals, like me, feel that silently bidding farewell to our departed friends while holding onto our memories is the best choice. Although we immortals have infinitely long lifespans, we still have to experience the pain of separation that mortals would have to go through several lifetimes to endure. Gradually, our emotions are worn down, and our feelings slowly disappear. Even those with long lives can never escape the erosion of time."

At this point, True Monarch Liuyun Jiefeng suddenly revealed a stunning smile. She looked at Ivan's face and said, "But after meeting you, I suddenly realized that wear and tear is not such a terrible thing."

Ivan and Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun stared at each other for a few seconds. Finally, unable to withstand Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun's gaze, Ivan coughed with a slightly flushed face and said, "Um, I'll go take a look over there first."

After walking a distance, Ivan rubbed his face, trying to calm himself down a bit.

I can't take it, I really can't take it. When a beautiful woman suddenly says these words to you with an extremely beautiful smile, who could resist?

Just as Ivan was composing himself, Xiang Feng walked over with a communicator.

"Commander Yi, something's up. Hmm? Commander Yi, why is your face so red? What happened?"

"It's nothing, I'm just a little hot... You just said there was something going on?"

"Yes." Xiang Feng nodded.

"The team members responsible for monitoring the Golden House have just sent word that the Fools have made their move."

Chapter 109 Persuading with Reason

"The Fools have made their move?"

Ivan raised an eyebrow.

"They're very quick... Have you seen the young master?"

"I see, it is indeed the young master leading the team."

Ivan stroked his chin and said, "It must be that the Ceremony of Sending Immortals must have redeployed some troops from the surrounding area to maintain order at the scene, which is why the Fools felt they had an opportunity to take action."

"Commander Yi, what should we do?"

Ivan asked, "How long have they been inside?"

"Just went in."

Ivan's eyes lit up, and he said, "Let's go to the Golden House."

The farewell ceremony was still ongoing when Ivan led Xiang Feng out of the venue and headed straight for the Golden House in the southwest of Liyue Harbor.

Ten minutes later, Ivan, Xiang Feng, and several members of the Orca team who were monitoring the area near the Golden House met at a high point north of the Golden House.

Ivan picked up his binoculars and peered at the distant golden house, then asked, "How's the situation?"

One of the team members said, "Early this morning, the Thousand Rock Army outside the Golden House was transferred away, leaving only some guards in the inner circle, less than a hundred people. Just now, a small group of Fools knocked out several guards from the west side of the Golden House and sneaked in. The leader was the Executor Prince of the Fools."

Xiang Feng asked, "Should we tell Liyue about this? That way we can do them a favor."

Ivan squinted and thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "There's no need for that."

After saying that, Ivan turned and asked, "Is there any way to get in?"

The team member said, "Yes, there are two paths. One is the route the Fools used to infiltrate."

Ivan frowned. "That path won't work; the Fools will surely have sentries to cover their retreat just in case. What about the other way?"

The team member pointed to the towering cliff behind the Golden House and said, "The other way is to use a zipline to rappel down to the roof of the Golden House and break through from the roof."

The Golden House is situated in a basin-like terrain, backed by cliffs and mountains. If we follow the team members' advice and break in from there, it would indeed be a good idea, since the Thousand Rock Army has not deployed any troops on the roof.

Ivan snapped his fingers: "Alright, get ready for the zipline, we'll burst into the Golden House from the rooftop."

Although no one, including Xiang Feng, knew what Ivan was going to do, as soldiers, it was their duty to obey orders unconditionally.

After determining the route, Ivan and his group quickly circled around from the side and rear of the Golden House to the cliff behind it.

Several members of the orca team quickly set up a zipline at the top of the cliff and then took the lead in descending down the cliff.

Xiang Feng walked up to Ivan and helped him put on the zipline suit, then asked, "Commander Ivan, are you alright?"

Ivan gave a thumbs up.

He had participated in similar extreme mountaineering activities with his classmates when he was in college. Although he was not as good as professional special forces soldiers like Xiang Feng, he still had no problem with basic cliff rappelling and climbing, just maybe a little slower.

Soon, accompanied by Xiang Feng, Ivan descended from the cliff to the roof of the Golden House.

It has to be said that the cliff is quite high. The drop from the top to the roof of the Golden House is nearly forty meters, and Ivan's heart is still beating a little fast.

At this point, the members of the Orca team began to disperse and search for the entrance on the roof of the Golden House, a palace-like building.

Ivan and his team didn't bring much equipment to Liyue this time. Normally, the Orca Squad would have melted a hole in the top floor of the building with silent thermite for such an intrusion operation.

Fortunately, perseverance pays off, and soon someone discovered the ventilation skylight of the roof support layer under a tile on the roof.

The group climbed down through the skylight and arrived at the top supporting structure of the Golden House. They could see many wooden frames and beams erected there. They slid down one of the pillars and landed on the ground.

After landing, Xiang Feng asked in confusion, "Why don't I see the Fatui?"

Ivan explained, “The Golden House is very large, with several floors and a maze of staircases. The Fools came in from the ground, and it would take them a long time to get here. We, on the other hand, rushed in directly from the roof, so we were much faster than the Fools.”

Xiang Feng nodded and began to observe the surrounding terrain.

This is a huge circular platform surrounded by pools enclosed by stone railings, each pool filled to the brim with something.

Xiang Feng took two steps forward and gasped when he saw what was in the pool.

Mora, Mora everywhere!

These pools are filled with Mora coins! They're piled up like small mountains.

The amount of Mora here can't even be described in billions; it should be measured in tons.

Xiang Feng exclaimed, "No wonder it's the only mint on the entire Teyvat continent; the Mora is piled up like a mountain. If all this Mora were exchanged for Chinese currency at the Mondstadt China Bank exchange rate, it would be an unimaginable astronomical figure. Are the Fools really not here to rob us?"

"No."

Ivan looked up and said, "Their goal is that."

As Ivan finished speaking, everyone turned their gaze to a high platform directly opposite the main platform. There, coiled up, was a colossal black-gold five-clawed dragon.

Xiang Feng was taken aback for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't this the Emperor's corpse? How did it end up here?"

Ivan said, "The Emperor's death was too sudden. In order to prevent the immortals from pressuring the Seven Stars under the pretext of investigating the cause of the Emperor's death, Ningguang hid the Emperor's body here."

Xiang Feng asked curiously, "Could it be that the Fools' aim is to steal the Emperor's body?"

You'll find out soon enough.

Ivan took out his phone and checked the time, saying, "Judging by the time, I reckon they'll be here soon. Let's hide."

The crowd quickly hid in the surrounding area. Five minutes later, the door facing the Emperor's corpse suddenly creaked open and then slowly opened to both sides.

The young master appeared at the gate and then walked in with a wary expression.

Ivan lowered his voice and said to Xiang Feng beside him, "He's here. He should be the only one here."

The young master did not notice the hidden crowd and took a few steps forward, gradually lowering his guard.

"Liyue's Golden House is really interesting; it's heavily guarded on the outside, but there are absolutely no guards inside..."

The young master glanced at the mountains of Mora around him and clicked his tongue in amazement, saying, "This must be the Mora that has flowed to all of Teyvat. There's so much, you can take a few without anyone noticing, right?"

Although he was making witty remarks, the young master didn't stop rummaging through his pockets. Backed by the Liyue Northern Bank, he was not short of money.

The young master turned his gaze to the emperor's corpse directly in front of him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"As for getting this thing..."

Just as the young master was climbing the steps closer to the emperor's corpse, Xiang Feng, who was hiding in the shadows, asked in a low voice, "Commander Yi, what is the young master doing?"

"I'll take something from the Emperor's body, but he was tricked. I'm planning to turn him against us."