[Edited Again]
"Please?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No!"
Y/n pouted, "But stealing it will be easier! All I gotta do is throw the old hag, we can grab the bell then we can leave!"
"No, no, y/n! Don't go back to your feral ways!" Paimon protested and y/n glared.
"You can't tell me what to do!"
"Y/n, please." Aether sighed, "Remember, this lady is an old friend of Mr. Zhongli. I don't think he'd like it if you were to... uh... throw her."
Y/n tilted her head, "Can I punch her?"
"No."
"Fine..."
They spotted a little old lady ahead which they assumed was Madame Ping.
Y/n, of course, was the first to walk forward and her traveler partners followed quickly, afraid she would say something rude.
"All things must change..." the woman was murmuring, deep in thought.
"How do you do?" Aether greeted before y/n could say something rude.
"Mm? Youngsters, are you here to admire the flowers?" the elderly lady asked, "It's a shame. These glaze lillies have almost all wilted..."
"Are you alright?" Aether asked hesitantly.
"Must be the dementia kicking in-" y/n muttered and yelped when Aether slapped her on the back quite harshly.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. I just thought it a great shame that so many of these glaze lilies have wilted." Madame Ping assured the trio with a sweet little smile.
"What happened to them?" Paimon asked.
"Back in my day, people said that glaze lilies can read human hearts. If they heard beautiful sounds like laughter and singing, they would also bloom joyfully." Madame Ping sighed, "But if they heard too much wild gossip or slander, they would quickly wither away."
"...So that means these flowers feel what's happening in Liyue." Paimon realized.
"Eh? Flowers have emotions?" y/n asked.
"The rumors of Rex Lapis' death are no small matter. They are everywhere. Some say it was a Fatui plot. Others say that the Qixing made it all up, and still others think that which lies in the deep is breaking free. This harbor is like a mountain of dry tinder. One spark and the fire will consume us all." Madame Ping sighed as y/n crouched in front of the glaze lilies, "...Well, I shall say no more. This old woman's grown too old and naggy... Did you have something to say, youngster?"
"Ah, we'd like to borrow the Cleansing Bell." Aether spoke up.
Y/n was no longer paying attention, staring at the wilting flowers instead.
"Hm...." she hummed, brows furrowed, "Would a lullaby help you feel better? Whenever my fratrem were sad, I would sing lullabies to them. Matr sang lullabies to me too when I was little."
As expected, no reply...
"--still, though I can't recall when it started, it's been a long time since anyone has come to borrow it." Madame Ping was saying when y/n talked to the wilting lilies, "Ah, these old bones are too slow to look for things. I doubt you can wait that long..."
"We can look for it ourselves." Aether said with a smile, "It won't be much of a problem."
"That's right granny. We'll follow you back home, and search for it ourselves!" Paimom agreed, "And... um, we can help with chores if you have any too!"
"Alright, children, there is no need to worry. I didn't place the bell very far away." Madame Ping said with a smile.
"Eh? Do you live near here, granny? Whoa, but this is Yujing Terrace. It's gotta be expensive!" Paimon gasped.
"Haha, an old lady like me can't afford to buy a place in this city. See this ceramic teapot? My entire household is in here." the little old lady chuckled.
"The bell is all you own?" Y/n asked from where she had been quietly singing to the wilted flowers.
"Hey, that's rude!" Paimom scolded the girl, "...and even if it was like that, it must be a very expensive bell, right granny?"
"In you go, Paimon." Aether said simply.
"What!? There's no way Paimon would fit in there! And why do you need Paimon to go in, anyway? Can't you just lift the lid and look inside?" Paimon demanded.
"Hohoho, youngsters. I simply mean that the bell is somewhere inside this teapot, and you are quite welcome to borrow it - if you can find it." Madame Ping told them.
Y/n glared, "Quit playing games, old hag!"
"Y/n! Don't be rude!" Aether protested, covering the girl's mouth with his hand, "We're very sorry about her, she was raised by-OW!"
Y/n had bit the blond's hand and was refusing to let go, growling like a very angry wolf as the male tried to shake her off.
"This granny's so weird, what does she mean her whole household is in here. Is she playing with us?" Paimom questioned when y/n finally released Aether.
"Try touching the teapot." Y/n suggested.
The three gathered around the teapot and were immediately transported to a domain.
Aether and Paimon were startled while y/n kind of just stood there in silence.
"Ehh? Where are we? What... just happened?" Paimon demanded.
"Youngsters, this is where this old woman keeps all her things. Quickly now, go fetch that bell." a voice exclaimed.
"Whoa! That sounds like granny's voice. So... this is her teapot?" Paimon chimed.
"GAH! GIANT SPIDERS!" y/n shrieked, pointing at massive cobwebs that indeed had spiders on them.
"Oh dear, so many cobwebs. It seems I really haven't cleaned it in a long while." Madame Ping commented as y/n screamed at the top of her lung, "Sorry to trouble you, children. Please help an old lady clean up."
"KILL THEM! KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!" y/n screamed, whipping out her axe, the blade of the weapon glowing a fiery color.
"Haven't seen that in a while." Aether murmured at the sight of the girl's massive axe, "I forgot how big it was."
The duo watched the screaming girl beat one of the large spiders with her axe, the cobwebs catching ablaze and the poor arachnid being cooked and shanked alive.
"Did you notice? The cobwebs were made of elemental energy." Paimon pointed out as they followed y/n's path of destruction, careful to avoid burning insect carcasses and leftover remains of burnt cobwebs, "How long has it been since granny last swept this place?"
Y/n had slaughtered a geo slime and another spider before she finally dropped her axe and curled up on the ground, beginning to cry.
"You're alright, y/n, everything's fine." Aether encouraged the the girl, crouching down beside her to rub her back.
"My tummy hurts-" y/n whined.
"Ohhhhhhh..." Paimon and Aether said in usion before Paimon turned to Aether, "Well that explains it."
Aether ended up picking up y/n and allowing her to rest on his back.
It was tough but they glided up to new levels of the teapot and let y/n kill the slimes and spiders since she seemed to be very good at it.
"...Do you think this old granny could also be an adeptus?" Paimon questioned as y/n stomped on a very persistent spider a sit was still trying to attack her while burning alive, "Paimon's more and more convinced that she's an adeptus. But don't they all live in Jueyun Karst? Why would she stay in the city?"
"Not sure." Aether mumbled and rubbed y/n's head as she whimpered quietly about how she wanted to sleep.
"It would be nice if we had one of these too." Paimon sighed, "Or at least, we wouldn't have to camp outside."
"Hey, maybe we can build a portable house." Aether joked.
"I want a garden." y/n mumbled as her axe disappeared and she wrapped her arms around Aether's neck before ordering, "Carry me, peasant."
Aether obliged, picking up the girl.
"Hey! Carry Paimon too!" Paimon protested then settled atop Aether's head.
They eventually found the bell and y/n carried it for Aether since he was occupied with carrying her.
"Oh, you've found it? Youngsters are so quick on their feet." Madame Ping's voice spoke once more, "Now, let me see... How did this opening work again? Oh dear... Alright, that'll do. Come on out now, children."
When they were freed from the tea pot, y/n turned her head to glare at the old lady rather than bury her face in Aether's shoulder.
"Ho-ho, in and out in no time... You youngsters really are quick." the lady chuckled.
"Are you an adeptus, ma'am?" Aether asked, curiosity in his voice.
"An adeptus... I haven't heard anyone say those words in earnest for a long time. As to whether I am one or not, child, surely you already understand?"
"Ugh... Paimon kinda knows what you mean, but is also kinda confused. Are you really giving us the bell just like that Granny?" Paimon piped in. "Don't you think it's weird? Something's just happened to Rex Lapis, and then we come running up asking for it..."
"Oh, don't be silly. Liyue Harbor has been through a great deal in its history. In that time, it has seen the departure of countless adepti." was the reply, "But no matter what, we have always performed the Rite of Parting first before any other matters. To cry "catch the murderer!" at the top of one's lungs, but ignore the Rite of Parting... That, to me, is what is wrong-headed."
Y/n blinked, curious.
"Now that you have come to borrow the bell, I guess that perhaps an old friend of mine has finally decided to take matters into their own hands." Madame Ping continued, "So, why would I be unwilling to lend you the bell?"
"What if your friend doesn't return it?" Aether inquired, genuinely curious.
"Oh? Well, if it came to that... Haha, they would find a certain old lady knocking at their door. We haven't met in a while anyway, it would be nice to share a drink and chat." Madame Ping chuckled.
The old lady sighed, "Well, you must have things to do. Since you have the bell, you should return. Oh, and, do tell the person who sent you that if they have time, they can come over for tea. I don't have much to offer, but you can always count on an old lady for a pot of tea."
"We will! Thanks, granny!" Paimom exclaimed.
"Tomo!" y/n exclaimed as Aether began walking off with her, "Oi, Blondie. I'm craving food."
"We'll grab some on the way." Aether told the girl with a smile.
"Yahoo!" y/n exclaimed happily.
When they met up with Zhongli, y/n was happily eating a dish called Pile 'em up. Y/n had informed Aether it was her favorite thing to eat, hence why he bought it for her.
"Indeed, this is the Cleansing Bell. Hmm, it's in good condition." Zhongli was saying as y/n nearly slapped Paimon out of the air after the pixie tried to eat some of the girl's food, "Let's place the perfume we've prepared inside."
"Are you an adeptus?" Aether asked.
"An adeptus..." Zhongli murmured
"That's suspicious! But if you don't want to talk about it, we won't pry." Paimon assured the man, "Oh, yes! That old granny asked us to tell you something. If you have the time, you can come over for tea. I don't have much to offer, but you can always count on an old lady for a pot of tea."
"You remembered all that?" y/n breathed and Paimon adorned a proud grin.
"Yep!"
"Ha, that tone does not suit you. Still, her tea pot is indeed very good. There are none better for brewing tea." Zhongli said with a soft smile, "When a suitable time arrives, I'll bring a spot of fine tea and pay her a visit."
A look of disgust found its way onto y/n's face, "But...there were spiders in there..."
(Just imagine y/n's face like-)
"So, what's the next step in our preparations?" Aether asked.
"Hmm... Next, we need to purchase kites."
"Ooh! Paimon loves kites! Are you taking us kite flying? Is this our break time?" Paimon asked, excited.
"What's a kite...?" y/n mumbled.
"Haha, no, no. Kites are children's toys, yes, but they also play various symbolic roles in Liyue's rituals." Zhongli laughed, "I will explain it to you. But our next course of action should probably be to purchase the kites first."
Y/n raised her hand.
"Yes, y/n?"
"After we finish, can you take us kite flying?" y/n questioned, "I have never done it before and I'm curious."
Zhongli chuckled and pat the girl's head, "If you three are up to it, we can."
Y/n's eyes sparkled before she groaned and keeled, "Also... I'm going to need something to help with the pain. Please and thank you-"
(Hm... drowning or being frozen alive then dropped from a high place so the body can shatter into a million pieces?)