Turn back the time before Ningguang arrived at Beiguo Bank.
"Zhongli, wait for us!"
The traveler and Paimon followed the direction in which the emperor left and returned to the corner of the viewing gallery bridge.
Zhongli didn't intend to go far. After hearing Paimon's call, he stopped and stood on the railing. He turned to look at the little mascot and the travelers who were following him: "You two... there is no need to be in such a hurry."
"Aren't we afraid that you will disappear like the Immortal Mandrill?"
Paimon flew too fast and ran directly into Zhongli's arms, and then grabbed Zhongli's clothes, fearing that he would turn into rock light and disappear.
The distance between the front and back was only a few tens of meters, and the little Paimon flew out of breath. Fortunately, the travelers who caught up behind him stopped Paimon's rude behavior in time.
"That is the technique [Wind and Wheel Standing] honed by the Great Sage of Conquering Demons in hundreds of battles."
"Now I am just a guest at the Rebirth Hall, so how can I use immortal magic?"
The breeze carrying the sea tide and smoke passed across the covered bridge, making Zhongli's long brown hair flow with the hem of his clothes. From a distance, he looked like an immortal coming to the world in a Liyue landscape painting.
Mr. Zhong also took this opportunity to raise his hand and calmly smoothed the wrinkles on the edge of his clothes that Paimeng had grabbed.
"Mr. Zhongli, I want to know who the maintainer of heavenly principles you are talking about is..."
The young girl stepped forward and asked expectantly, wearing Intivat flowers in her hair that swayed in the wind.
But before the traveler could finish speaking, Zhongli lowered his eyes and shook his head.
"He is the same as Famas, both are creatures that existed before I was born."
"History can be recorded, but history is not reliable, and memory is more likely to be distorted over the years."
Zhongli's golden eyes are as bright as amber, and they seem to also carry countless pasts. When they are narrowed, they are as narrow as dragon pupils. Just by looking at them, you can feel the oppressive feeling of a god looking down at all things.
"I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the history I know, so I cannot answer your questions."
Although he had expected it, his expectations were not fulfilled, and the traveler still felt a little disappointed, but he quickly adjusted his mood and glanced at the little Paimon beside him.
"Hey, Zhongli, did you also sign a contract with Famas?"
"A guy as stingy as a bastard would actually willingly cooperate with you in acting..."
As a traveling companion, Paimon immediately flew in front of Zhongli with understanding, blocking his downward gaze.
"Little friend Paimon guessed well."
Zhongli was not angry and nodded with a smile.
"The content of the contract...can I tell Paimon?"
The little mascot seemed to have heard some great secret, his heart burning with gossip, and he waved his fists excitedly.
It's just that this time, Paimon, who has a sly mind, did not put his ear closer to him, but kept an appropriate distance from Zhongli.
"The content of this contract is not worth mentioning. It just uses some insignificant things in exchange for what Liyue and I need."
Seeing that the other party was already wary, Zhongli waved his hand in a funny manner and responded to little Paimon's question with his usual words.
"That doesn't mean you didn't say anything!"
Paimeng flew to Zhongli angrily and grabbed Zhongli's arm tightly, as if he wanted to prove with actions that he would never leave without answering her question.
At this moment, Ying also quietly walked around to the other side of the covered bridge, forming a double-team with Paimeng, and then looked at Zhongli with a smile.
The emperor, surrounded by the two men, was dumbfounded. Ever since he became the King of Rocks in the world, no one had ever dared to grab his clothes and talk to him proudly.
Of course, a drunken bard doesn't count.
"That's all. If you two really want to know the contents of the contract, I can reveal a few details."
Zhongli looked at the creases in his clothes that were scratched by Paimeng with distress. After a brief hesitation, he gave in.
This piece of clothing was originally designed for General Xin Yuan during his lifetime. During the war, Zhongli couldn't bear to wear it. Now that our old friend has passed away, these are the only things that can be kept in memory.
"Hey...I'm sorry, Zhongli."
As if he could see the distress in Zhongli's eyes, Paimeng embarrassedly let go of Zhongli's arm and smoothed the folds of his clothes with his fleshy hands.
This also caused the parties involved to shake their heads helplessly, and after thinking for a moment, they slowly explained the contents of the contract.
"You should have heard Famas mention that the rule of war is that the loser is reduced to embers, and the winner is rekindled."
"Liyue gathered the power of seven stars and all the immortals to fight against the whirlpool demon Osel, the North Wind Wolf King Andrius, and the war lord Harpas. Although the casualties were huge, we finally won..."
Zhongli's tone was as calm as ever, but he didn't finish his words. Then he gently pressed Shibo, who was glowing with dust around his waist, and looked up at the deep starry sky in Teyvat.
After quietly listening to the emperor's narration, Ying and Paimon were confused at first, but they soon understood the profound meaning from Zhongli's unfinished words.
"The content of the contract...is to resurrect the dead who died in the war?"
Yingmei's light golden temple hair was fluttering in the wind, and her suddenly widened amber eyes showed the girl's shock when she learned the truth, and her sigh that the emperor had forgotten everything.
"Those who have not entered the other shore can be turned around."
The traveler recalled Famas' words at the Northland Bank.
"...Solve the scourge of wars in ancient times, extort compensation from Zhidong, and suppress the development of science and technology in Liyue."
Liyue Port's overall strength seemed to have been severely damaged in this catastrophe, but it also took this opportunity to solve many problems that had existed since ancient times, and even the aftermath was arranged in an orderly manner by Zhongli.
The damaged buildings will be repaired and compensated by Beiguo Bank, and the fallen soldiers will be resurrected by Famas.
As a reward for passing the test, this slightly dilapidated, but vibrant and renewed land is about to enter an era that only belongs to "human beings".
While the traveler was deep in thought, Paimon's attention was attracted by the name Zhongli said unintentionally.
"Wait! Zhongli, you just said, War Lord [Harpas]?"
"Is this the demon name of Famas?!"
The little mascot excitedly circled Zhongli, as if imagining the surprise on his face when he called out his real name.
"Paimon, can you please stop being so naive..."
The traveler looked at the excited Paimeng and Zhongli who nodded in affirmation, and couldn't help but raise his hand to hold his forehead.
If we count the characters in the scene where the emperor fakes his death, we can find that in a very short period of time, Liyue gathered several demon god-level combatants.
War Lord Harpas, High Sky Singer Barbatos, Whirlpool Demon God Osel, North Wind Wolf King Andrius, East Wind Guardian Tvarin...
If you include the King of Rocks and the Demon God of Dust, it will be enough to hold another Seven Gods cocktail party.
It is extremely dangerous for a powerful demon god to rashly break into the territory of another demon god.
I am afraid that only the Rock King can have such courage and regard the gods as a test link.
Just mentioning the Demon of Dust...
Ying's eyes turned to Zhongli again.
Mr. Keqing is wearing retro and solemn clothes as usual. The pattern on the hem of the clothes is complicated but not redundant. The breast button is inlaid with crystal clear stone amber, which is similar to the jade jewelry that suddenly appeared on his waist.
"Mr. Zhongli, is the Dust God... really dead?"
The traveler raised doubts, but received no answer. The surprise in Zhongli's eyes flashed away, and he nodded first, then shook his head heavily.
"What price do we have to pay to get help like Famas?"
Yingmei persisted in asking, and at this moment, little embers began to fall in the bright sky, and the weak firelight spread to every corner of the port city along with the breeze.
Zhongli untied the stone jade from his waist and held it in the palm of his hand.
Sleeping in the warm yellow jade is a girl with wide sleeves who is as pure as a glass lily. The blue ribbon and hair accessories are like the clear sky, and the white bare feet add a bit of delicacy.
"As compensation for the contract and the mistakes made thousands of years ago, I promised him everything except Liyue Port."
Zhongli responded calmly, with a tenderness rarely seen in his eyes that never belonged to the Lord of the Mountain.