In reality, Han Xue had already realized his mistake, but in the book, he was still stubbornly holding his ground.
[Han Xue: "Then let me ask you, thousands of years ago, when Liyue Harbor was undergoing grand construction, the Geo Archon taught the people architectural techniques."]
["The model he used for demonstration was entirely forged from Mora, wasn't it?"]
["If it weren't for valuing the divine properties of Mora, why would the Geo Archon make such an extravagant gesture?"]
From an ordinary person's perspective, using gold to create a demonstration model did seem extravagant. But looking at the Geo Archon's actions through human eyes, wasn't it akin to an emperor plowing the fields with a golden hoe?
[Zhongli: "That's easily explained. For the Geo Archon, Mora is the most readily available and lowest-cost material."]
[Han Xue was left speechless.]
Zhongli's reasoning was so sound that he couldn't argue back.
[Paimon remarked: "It's like he's talking about someone else's story."]
[Zhongli chuckled lightly: "Heh, it is the story of the Geo Archon, after all."]
The people of Liyue were puzzled. Did the Geo Archon have some sort of quirk? He always seemed to be telling or listening to stories about himself. Well, to be fair, it was partly their fault—every three sentences, they'd mention the Geo Archon.
For Morax, Mora was simply too easy to come by, which is why the current Zhongli always forgot to bring money. He always felt that Mora was something he could create at will, so there was no need to carry it around.
"Speaking of which, telling stories about himself while having no money does sound familiar," Kaeya said, glancing at Venti.
"Ehe," Venti didn't deny it.
He and Zhongli were different in some ways. Zhongli listened to others tell his own stories, at most correcting errors when they arose. Venti, on the other hand, personally sang his own tales as ballads, earning a bit of coin to buy wine. One god had money but didn't carry it; the other had money and spent it immediately. In the end, both ended up penniless, their paths converging in the same result.
Back in the book, Wan Yan, who had been listening quietly, saw how knowledgeable Zhongli was and took the initiative to strike up a conversation. She mentioned she had questions about archaeology and wanted to discuss them in a quieter place.
Zhongli had no objections, and the group moved to a secluded spot where Wan Yan explained her purpose. The reason she wanted a private setting was that her words might be seen as disrespectful to the Geo Archon. She approached Zhongli not only because he seemed learned but also because he appeared to be a bit of a skeptic when it came to the Geo Archon. Thus, she dared to share her critical thoughts about the Geo Archon only with him.
[She asked Zhongli: "Were all the gods slain by the Geo Archon truly evil?"]
The readers couldn't help but exclaim—how astute! Every one of them managed to ask their questions directly to the Geo Archon himself.
[Zhongli, unperturbed, responded objectively: "…Good and evil aside for now, the Geo Archon respects 'Contracts.' Therefore, the gods who fell by his hand must have broken some form of 'Contract.'"]
This statement made Venti break out in a cold sweat. Back then, he had forged the Geo Archon's name on a signature. No wonder the old man had given him a beating—it was deserved. Given Zhongli's temperament, he had actually been lenient.
Wan Yan continued, sharing her findings. She was advocating for a kind-hearted god.
[Wan Yan: "The Salt God, Havria… she was a benevolent god, yet she was still, in the war, by Morax…"]
["By Morax, using dishonorable means… assassinated."]
This Salt God, Havria, was kind by nature and committed no evil deeds, yet she was 'assassinated' by the Geo Archon. Wan Yan wanted to uncover the truth of the story, and so did the readers. Wan Yan's interest stemmed from her faith in the Salt God, while others were simply curious.
What kind of divine figure would require the Geo Archon to resort to assassination? How terrifying must such a being be—perhaps with three heads and six arms, or a menacing, fanged visage? Under normal circumstances, with the Geo Archon's strength, would he even need to resort to assassination? Couldn't he just charge in and dominate the battlefield, unstoppable like the elderly Monkey d. Garp in his prime? As long as Garp appeared, the outcome was clear.
Or was it the kind of assassination where everyone was killed, leaving no witnesses, thus making it an 'assassination'?
The book continued. At this point, a Fatui member named Clement appeared, posing as an archaeologist. He hired Zhongli from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor as an archaeological consultant.
This made the people of Liyue want to scoff. You went to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for archaeological business? Isn't the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for handling funerals? And you hired their guest consultant for 'tomb raiding'?
Others might have wanted to comment, but Zhongli, hearing it was work for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, accepted the job with professionalism, even bringing along the Traveler, who wasn't an archaeologist.
Clement wasn't pleased. This was archaeology, not a sightseeing trip—he didn't want to bring so many people.
[Zhongli: "But my friend here has an unparalleled talent for treasure hunting."]
[Clement asked: "What talent?"]
[Zhongli: "Never missing a single treasure chest in sight!"]
"Pfft, hahahahaha, that's just too perfect!" Kaeya burst into laughter.
"Hey, Traveler, did you offend a prophet in Liyue or something?" Kaeya asked.
The Traveler was in Mondstadt, waiting for someone named Dainsleif. Lucian had described his appearance to her, making him easy to recognize. Lucian had told her that Dainsleif had information about her brother, so she had been waiting.
"No way! We're on great terms!" Paimon said, crossing her arms.
"Lucian was praising us. This talent is super impressive for an adventurer!" Paimon continued.
"Exactly. It's like saying Paimon never misses a single bowl of rice in front of her. It's a compliment," Lumine nodded.
"Hm? Why does that feel weird?" Paimon tilted her head, scratching it.
Paimon's little CPU started processing, trying to figure out if this was praise or a subtle jab.
The group ignored the puzzled Paimon and continued reading.
In the book, the group arrived at Guyun Stone Forest, where numerous treasures were buried—relics from when Ningguang had smashed the Jade Chamber down. Everyone understood that without the prophet's involvement, in the battle against Osial, Ningguang had indeed sacrificed the Jade Chamber.
[Zhongli: "Legend has it that the Geo Archon used stone spears, hurling them into this sea to pierce and suppress the god."]
["Those stone spears, weathered over long years, eventually formed the unique landscape we see today."]
["What remains before us now is but a fraction of the whole. The number and size of the stone spears the Geo Archon cast far exceed what we see here."]
Zhongli recounted the story of the Geo Archon to the group. He wasn't boasting about himself; his main intent was to share this story with the Traveler.
The tale sent the people of Liyue into a frenzy. Guyun Stone Forest was formed by the Geo Archon's stone spears, and what's more, the spears he cast were far greater in number and size than what remained!
This is our Geo Archon! Does your nation have a Geo Archon like this?
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice: Traveler - About the Historia Antiqua Chapter
Paimon: "So, that line in Zhongli's book—was it praising us or mocking us?"
Lumine: "Knowing Zhongli's personality, it's probably praise."
Paimon: "Then what about that line you said about me? Was it praise or mockery?"
Lumine: "Knowing my personality, it's probably mockery."
Paimon: "Argh! You—! I'm so mad! No more picking apples for you!"