After returning, Hu Tao had been in low spirits. She couldn't believe she had missed the opportunity to hold a funeral for the Geo Archon. If only she hadn't gone out.
Zhongli, of course, understood the situation. Ever since Hu Tao's return, he had been avoiding her. But today, in a moment of carelessness, he failed to evade her and was caught red-handed by the young lady.
"Director, speaking from a rational standpoint, it would have taken you far too long to return in time. It simply wasn't feasible."
"Moreover, the Rite of Parting for the Geo Archon was a matter of utmost urgency."
Zhongli took a sip of tea, speaking unhurriedly.
"Fine, I know that. But I still can't help feeling regretful. If only I hadn't gone out."
Hu Tao's face was bitter, her tone filled with remorse.
Seeing her despondent expression, Zhongli was about to offer some words of comfort when—
Unexpectedly, Hu Tao bounced back on her own, her usual lively demeanor returning in full force.
"Ah, well. Some things just can't be helped. But since I missed the Geo Archon's Rite of Parting, I absolutely can't miss the chance to hold one for another adeptus!"
"In this lifetime, I must send off an adeptus! That's the only way to make up for my regret!"
With that, a fiery determination blazed in Hu Tao's eyes.
This really isn't necessary…
Zhongli's heart skipped a beat at her words, and he was just about to intervene when—
"Heheh… Qiqi, here I come!" Hu Tao declared with a grin.
…Oh.
It's just the Little Healer Adeptus.
Never mind, then.
Zhongli immediately relaxed.
The love-hate dynamic between Qiqi and Hu Tao was practically common knowledge throughout Liyue.
But after all these years, Hu Tao still hadn't managed to bury Qiqi.
With the rest of Liyue's citizens keeping an eye out, it was practically impossible for Hu Tao to succeed in "sending off" Qiqi. Thus, Zhongli no longer needed to worry.
As he watched Hu Tao hurry away, however, he couldn't help but feel a vague sense of bewilderment.
So… Director, what exactly did you come here for?
"Sigh…"
Zhongli exhaled deeply, muttering to himself, "Truly, this child is beyond me."
...
After Hu Tao left, Zhongli retrieved a small stone from his pocket. On its surface, a horse's head was clearly outlined in purple pigment.
Gazing at the Horse Talisman in his hand, Zhongli's mind drifted back to the previous night.
This seemingly unremarkable talisman had completely cured him of his erosion.
No—
"Cured" wasn't the right word.
It had expelled the law of erosion imposed upon him by the Heavenly Principles. From now on, erosion would no longer afflict him.
As expected of an ability described by the chat group as capable of dispelling all external forces. Truly extraordinary.
Now, if Zhongli so wished, he could return to his peak form at any moment—resuming the mantle of the God of Geo, the Lord of Rock and Contracts. With a mere gesture, mountains would crumble, and with a thought, meteors would rain from the sky. He could reshape the very landscape, altering rivers and valleys at will.
He could unleash his full might, effortlessly obliterating any who dared threaten Liyue.
But Zhongli had no such intentions. Having already resolved to entrust Liyue to its people, he had no plans to intervene unless the nation faced existential peril.
In short, the present Zhongli had fully embraced the role of an elderly retiree, content to spend his days birdwatching and enjoying operas.
As for fighting? He wanted no part of it.
"The timing should be about right. They should all have arrived by now."
Clutching the Horse Talisman, Zhongli calculated the time.
After a while, he rose from his seat and leisurely departed from the Third-Round Knockout.
Stepping into a secluded corner, his figure paused—then vanished without a trace.
...
Mt. Aocang.
In the abode of the Cloud Retainer, where tranquility usually reigned, the mountaintop was now bustling with activity.
Upon the sacred peak, the adepti had gathered:
Cloud Retainer (Xianyun)
Moon Carver
Streetward Rambler (Granny Ping)
Mountain Shaper
Yanfei's father
The Vigilant Yaksha, Xiao
Alongside them were their disciples:
Ganyu and Shenhe (disciples of Xianyun)
Yanfei, Xiangling, and Yaoyao (disciples of Granny Ping)
Even Xiangling's little companion, Guoba—whose true identity was the Stove God, Marchosius—had tagged along.
With the exception of Qiqi, the Resurrected Child and Little Healer Adeptus, every adeptus, disciple, and even the illuminated beasts of Liyue had heeded the call of the Geo Archon and assembled here.
Qiqi's absence was not due to Zhongli's neglect.
As a recognized member of Liyue's adepti, Qiqi was unquestionably part of their ranks. However, her existence as a zombie—a being suspended between life and death—was sustained by the adeptal energy within her.
Given the Horse Talisman's power to expel all external forces, Zhongli couldn't be certain whether it would target Qiqi's undead nature… or the very adeptal energy keeping her "alive."
If the talisman removed the latter instead of the former, his well-intentioned act could result in Qiqi's permanent demise.
After careful consideration, Zhongli decided to postpone Qiqi's treatment, leaving her fate to be addressed by otherworldly means in the future.
"Why has the Geo Archon summoned us to Xianyun's abode so suddenly?" Moon Carver mused aloud, his expression puzzled.
"Who knows? We'll find out once His Majesty arrives. No need to fret," Mountain Shaper replied calmly.
"Honestly, Moon Carver, you're as impatient as ever. After all these years of cultivation, one would think you'd have learned some restraint," Yanfei's father teased.
Granny Ping paid them no mind, her aged eyes crinkling with amusement as she watched her three disciples.
Xianyun, too, rolled her eyes behind her crimson half-frame glasses before lifting a teacup to her lips.
Ganyu, witnessing this grand assembly of adepti, felt a surge of emotion. It had been centuries—since the cataclysm five hundred years ago—since so many of them had gathered in one place.
"Ganyu, are you really not returning to Liyue?" Yanfei asked, approaching her. She couldn't understand why Ganyu had suddenly decided to retreat to Jueyun Karst.
"Yes. Ever since the Geo Archon stepped down and the Qixing took full control, Liyue has fully entered the era of humanity."
"As one of Liyue's adepti, with the blood of illuminated beasts flowing through me… there's no real place for me in the city anymore."
"I suspect the Qixing only assigned me this letter-delivery task as an excuse to send me away."
...
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(End of Chapter)