After a week, Keqing, Hu Tao, Xiao, and the others finally ended their trip to New Eridu and successfully returned to Liyue.

Looking at the familiar streets, the architecture, the scenery, and the bustling crowds, Keqing finally felt a weight lift from her heart.

At the same time, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and Tsukishiro Yanagi were still rubbing their eyes. The dazzling light of teleportation had been too much for them, and they hadn't realized they had already arrived in Liyue.

Noticing the Statue of The Seven in front of her had disappeared, Tsukishiro Yanagi instinctively raised a hand to wipe her eyes.

"Miss Keqing, what's going on? Why is the statue gone?"

It wasn't just her. Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, Soldier 11, Nicole, Anby, Billy, and the others were also struggling with their vision, unaccustomed to teleportation.

Paimon, with a serious expression, said, "We're already in Liyue. Of course the statue's gone."

Zhu Yuan frowned. "Already here? What do you mean?"

The next moment, she quickly opened her eyes and looked around.

What she saw left her stunned—rows of old-style buildings, lively streets full of people dressed in clothes resembling those of the old era...

And beyond that, a vast ocean stretched endlessly before her.

The crash of waves on the shore, the shouts of street vendors, the chirping of birds... the sounds filled the air.

What was happening?

Hadn't they just been in the center of Federer District in New Eridu?

How had they suddenly ended up here?

And... where was here?

Zhu Yuan turned quickly, scanning her surroundings. Nothing resembled New Eridu—there was no trace of the city, nor of the ominous Hollow Zero that constantly loomed over it.

What was going on?

Qingyi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Mikhail of the Hollow Investigation Association, Nicole, Billy, Anby, and the rest were all looking around in the same shock and confusion.

One thing was clear—this was not New Eridu.

Zhu Yuan spun back to Paimon.

"What's going on? Why are we here? What is this place?"

Paimon spread her hands helplessly.

"This is Liyue, of course. That's where we were headed. Don't tell me you already forgot?"

Zhu Yuan hadn't forgotten. But how could closing her eyes and opening them again bring her from New Eridu straight to Liyue?

Seeing that Zhu Yuan, Soldier 11, and the others still didn't understand, Paimon explained again.

"I told you before—it's teleportation. We used the Statue of The Seven to teleport directly from New Eridu to Liyue. Otherwise, with such a long distance, who knows how long it would take to get here?"

Hearing this, Zhu Yuan's jaw dropped.

"Teleportation... spatial teleportation..."

So when Paimon and Keqing had mentioned teleportation before, they had meant literally crossing space—directly traveling from New Eridu to Liyue.

In other words, the statue in Federer District was like a Hollow rift, capable of direct teleportation.

But this was far greater than a Hollow rift. The distance it spanned was enormous, and it could exist outside of the Hollows themselves.

Realizing this, Zhu Yuan, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Mikhail, and the others all looked at Keqing differently.

To directly teleport across such an immense distance, from one city to another—what kind of advanced technology was this?

Once, New Eridu's researchers had tried to imitate Hollow rifts and develop teleportation technology. But space in the normal world was too stable—it was impossible to create rifts.

Only inside Hollows, where space was chaotic, could rifts form.

Yet here was Liyue, already mastering an ability that surpassed anything New Eridu's scientists had imagined.

And it wasn't just "spatial teleportation."

What shocked Zhu Yuan and the others even more was the environment itself. In Liyue, they couldn't feel even the faintest trace of Hollow corruption.

Not a single sign of spatial disaster.

Which meant Liyue had completely suppressed every Hollow in the city—and not only that, even outside the city, across the endless sea, not a single Hollow could be seen.

Compared to New Eridu, Liyue was far ahead.

As Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Soldier 11, and Mikhail looked around, eager to learn more about this city, Keqing spoke seriously.

"Everyone, please follow me."

Paimon chimed in, "Billy, Nekomata, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and, uh, that president guy... Don't just stand there. Follow Keqing. Since it's your first time in Liyue, we'll take you to Yujing Terrace."

Billy quickly nodded. "Oh, right... okay."

Nekomata hurried after them as well.

"Meow~ This place is so strange. The houses, the clothes—they're all in the old-era style. I've seen this in movies... That's exactly what old buildings looked like."

Zhu Yuan sighed, glancing at her phone.

"As expected, it's too far. Even the signal's gone."

Following Keqing through the streets of Liyue, everything seemed new and unfamiliar to the visitors.

Especially the ships docked at the harbor—they were wooden, just like the vessels of the old era.

To think a city with such advanced technology as spatial teleportation still used such primitive tools...

It gave the impression of a place both advanced and traditional.

But after witnessing the teleportation just now, none of them dared to underestimate Liyue again.

...

As they were still taking in their surroundings, a girl's voice suddenly called out from ahead.

"Hu Tao! Traveler! Paimon! There you are! I heard you were back in Liyue. I wanted to invite you to try my newest dishes, but I couldn't find you for a whole week..."

At the sound of the voice, Keqing, Hu Tao, the Traveler, Paimon, and the others immediately looked up.

Sure enough, two familiar figures came running toward them—it was Xiangling and Guoba from Wanmin Restaurant.

At the same time, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Nicole, Billy, and the others also turned their eyes forward.

They saw a lively young girl and a round, bear-like Bangboo trotting alongside her.

Finally, something that looked familiar—so Liyue had Bangboo helpers too.

In no time, Xiangling and Guoba reached the group.

Xiangling beamed.

"Traveler, Paimon, come to Wanmin Restaurant! You've got to try my latest dish."

When Guoba spotted the Traveler, Xiao, and Sam Li, he let out an excited string of sounds.

"Lu-lu-lu..."

Billy froze.

"Uh... shouldn't it be 'Mm-mm'? Do the Bangboos here use the 'Lu-lu-lu' language module instead?"