"It has nothing to do with Ningguang. This year, the Rock God will definitely grant your wish from last year!"
"Young friend, are you truly certain of this?"
Zhongli looked at Li Yue, intrigued. Li Yue's confidence was unusual. Though Zhongli had his own plans this year, which might lead to an outcome similar to Keqing's desire for human rule, it had nothing to do with her wish specifically.
"That's right, I'm sure of it!"
Li Yue made an "OK" sign with one hand and pointed to the sky with the other.
"No one understands the Rock God better than me!"
It was that same line again. Zhongli tilted his head slightly back, silent.
"I can even predict what the Rock God will do during the Rite of Descension!"
"Tell me!" Keqing leaned forward, her eyes bright with expectation.
"The Rock God values talent. If he sees promise in you, he will guide you and give you chances to make mistakes. But the human rule you seek is impossible to achieve so long as Liyue's people continue to instinctively trust him. Thus, there is only one way for Liyue to be ruled by humans: the destruction of the Rock God!"
Zhongli's pupils contracted sharply in surprise.
"The End of the Rock God?"
"That's impossible!" Keqing protested, her expression trembling with disbelief. Though she longed for human leadership, she was also a loyal admirer of the Rock God. If he truly faced such an ending, she could never accept it.
"Of course it's impossible. The Rock God is the strongest War God in Teyvat, far above the Seven Archons. Even if they joined forces, they could never defeat him!"
"Then why suggest he would fall?" she pressed.
"Yes… he will not be destroyed. But he may disappear."
Li Yue slammed the table, glaring at Zhongli.
"Zhongli, you know exactly what I mean."
"I don't understand you," Zhongli replied.
"No! You do. There are only three of us here. No need to feign ignorance. You know what I mean."
Zhongli slowly nodded. "Young friend Li Yue suggests… that the Rock God will fake his death."
"Fake his death?" Keqing was stunned.
"That's right. He's protected Liyue for millennia, making wise decisions every step. But to achieve human rule, his presence—his influence—must vanish. The Rock God's death, staged or otherwise, is the only way. As Zhongli said, he'll fake it."
Li Yue began to speak passionately.
"And the best stage for such an act is none other than the Rite of Descension itself. He could fall from the heavens in front of all, his body striking the ground before the eyes of every citizen. No method could be more direct and shocking.
"All of Teyvat would believe the Rock God had fallen. The people would then have no choice but to begin the era of human rule. You, Keqing, as the one who first proposed it, would shoulder that burden. Meanwhile, the Rock God would retreat into the shadows, secretly guarding Liyue still.
"He understands that in Teyvat, a godless nation has no true defense. The Archons are the ultimate weapons of their respective lands. Even the weakest among them is beyond human reach. Though the Seven Nations are not openly at war now, peace without power is only temporary."
As he finished, Li Yue turned again to Zhongli.
"Zhongli, you understand what I mean."
Zhongli's scalp tingled. Some details differed from his own "retirement plan," but the essence was nearly identical. Could this young man truly have discovered his identity? No—it was impossible. He had hidden himself too well. Besides, Li Yue was just an ordinary wanderer, weaker even than dockworkers. He could not possibly know.
Which meant only one explanation remained: Li Yue truly understood the Rock God's heart so well that he predicted this on his own.
Zhongli's gaze grew complicated.
"I… I cannot believe it," Keqing whispered. Li Yue saying such a thing was one matter—but Zhongli seeming to agree startled her to the core.
A Rock God Fan Torn in Two
"Keqing, haven't you always wanted human rule? The Rock God will go so far as to fake his death to give you that chance. And yet you refuse it now?" Li Yue challenged her.
"It's not that I refuse," Keqing insisted, shaking her head, her twin purple braids swaying. "Of course I hope to see human leadership. But faking death? That's too much. Even if he wished to give me a chance… he needn't go that far.
"You say he recognizes me, and that gladdens me. But I still can't believe he would do something like this."
"But he has no other option!" Li Yue pressed.
"For thousands of years, he has guarded this land. His influence has become far too entrenched. As long as he remains on the throne, Liyue can never escape his shadow. To usher in human rule, he must disguise his departure, step back, and relinquish power."
"I only want human rule… I don't need him to sacrifice so much for me."
There it was—the contradiction of a true Rock God fan: eager to leave his rule, but unable to part with him.
Li Yue sighed. "Then don't dwell on his sacrifice. If you're honored with his trust, think instead of how you'll prove yourself worthy. Think of how to realize your ideals for human rule—and do it well."
Keqing fell into thought, then rose to her feet.
"I still don't believe it, but you're right, Li Yue. I must focus on my own work. My efforts are lacking. I will redouble them."
"Mr. Zhongli, Li Yue—I'll take my leave now. More overtime awaits tonight."
With that, she strode away.
A Trickster's Explanation
Watching her leave, Li Yue casually sipped his tea.
"As expected of Keqing. So determined and efficient."
"Indeed," Zhongli replied. "The Yuheng Star approaches her duties with seriousness and responsibility. It is a fortune for Liyue."
"Or perhaps," Li Yue chuckled slyly, "she's just naïve and easy to fool."
Zhongli froze mid-nod, staring at him. "…Young friend, you mean…?"
Li Yue spread his hands.
"You know how serious she is. She mistook me, a mere storyteller, for some great sage! She wouldn't stop pestering me, even asking how to deal with the Adepti. What could I possibly say? So I gave her something to chew on. Look—she's thrown herself into work now."
"…Then what of this plan, the Rock God faking his death?"
"Ha! I just made that up. Even if it's wrong, it hardly matters. If he indeed does it—look how wise I seem. If he doesn't, well, who truly understands a god's thoughts?" Li Yue grinned shamelessly.
Zhongli fell silent at his audacity.
"Young friend… aren't you afraid the Rock God himself might find out about these fabrications?"
"And what if he does? Will he come knocking at my door? And if he dares appear personally—"
"What then?" Zhongli asked.
Li Yue smirked.
"I'll fall to my knees and beg for mercy!"
Zhongli: …
Li Yue was a simple modern youth, nicknamed Sha Diao Le Zi Ren—a fool who took joy in other people's misfortune online.
Yet fate played its trick on him. While laughing at others' suffering, he was suddenly transported to Teyvat, right into the midst of a Hilichurl tribe. Weak and powerless, he nearly died at their clubs. Desperate, he shouted one name: Xiao!
A green shadow appeared, and the vigilant Yaksha saved him. Though confused by Li Yue's modern clothing—flower shirt, shorts, flip-flops—even Xiao had seen stranger things in this world. He sent him safely to the outskirts of Liyue Harbor.
From then on, Li Yue survived by freeloading: eating at Wanmin Restaurant under the guise of "research" with Xiangling, and napping in the coffins at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor alongside Hu Tao.
Later, with Xingqiu, he even co-authored the wuxia novel Smiling Proud Wanderer, making enough profit for a decent life. But entertainment soon called louder than wealth, and he turned his talents to storytelling—spinning tales of gods and Adepti, delighting in teasing the Rock God.
And before long, he discovered something far greater: a mysterious "Chat Group"…