After many days of busyness…
“Paimon: So… it’s finally over?”
“Qixuan: You still don’t trust me to handle things, Paimon?”
“Moon Carver: Indeed, for these past few days, I haven’t felt that ominous, inauspicious aura. Liyue is truly at peace now.”
“【Ningguang】: Many thanks to all the adepti for your great assistance. If not for your timely presence here, the future of Liyue Harbor would have been truly unpredictable…”
“【Liuyun】: Hmph, why the flattery? Moreover, we weren’t ‘just coincidentally’ here—are you trying to pretend you’ve forgotten our purpose?”
“Granny Ping: Oh, alright, alright. It’s good enough that we know the Geo Lord is fine now. There’s no need to be so confrontational.”
I once heard that when Ningguang first started her business, she already began to use her very limited income to fund the Installation of the Jade Chamber.
Initially, it was only the size of a room, but with continuous expansion, it is now a palace of such a scale…
This is her spiritual pillar as a businesswoman, as a Tianquan, and also a reflection of her entire life.
“The Jade Chamber was destroyed for Liyue, which holds immense significance for her. I think such a level of cooperation and sacrifice should at least earn a word of praise.”
“【Ningguang】: No… at this point, it should be said, ‘at least it can be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations,’ that would be more to my liking.”
“Granny Ping: Hahahaha…”
“【Ningguang】: Many thanks to this adeptus for being willing to speak on my behalf. We all understand… but we must also say that we cannot concede.”
“Moon Carver: Oh?”
“【Ningguang】: Three thousand seven hundred years… According to records, it has been over three thousand seven hundred years since you adepti and the Geo Lord signed the contract to protect Liyue. Although the Geo Lord is now safe and sound.”
And even to this day, Liyue’s mountains and lands remain as solid as bedrock, no different from a thousand years ago. This is a commendable feat.
“But this does not mean that Liyue is still the Liyue of three thousand seven hundred years ago.”
“Please do not only cast your protective gaze upon this land—please also look closely at this city, and at every single person here.”
“Moon Carver: Are you questioning our method of protecting Liyue?”
“Lishui: ………”
“【Ningguang】: No offense intended, I just hope that all of you seniors can consider Liyue one more time.”
“Liuyun: Heh, to still address me as ‘senior.’ You junior Tianquan are not even worthy of ‘seniority’ in front of me…”
At this moment, Qixuan and Zhongli walked over.
“Qixuan: Liuyun, you’re not giving the juniors a chance. Anyway, since this old man is still alive, why not try an era of ‘human governance’?”
“Everyone: Greetings, Lord Geo Lord and Lord End.”
“Zhongli: No need for such formality. I actually agree with Tianquan’s thoughts. You still have something to say, don’t you?”
“【Ningguang】: Forgive my presumption, but we Tianquan, though mortals, also have a contract upon us. The accumulated wisdom of past Tianquan, each generation leaves behind something worth inheriting.”
I also wish to tell the Geo Lord that successive Tianquan, under your guidance, have strived to survive in the human world, constructing a network of contracts called ‘trade.’
“Qixuan: Not bad, don’t you agree?”
Qixuan looked at Zhongli.
“Zhongli: I can sense all these thoughts of yours. I must say you are the most outstanding among all past Tianquan. Everyone, it is time for us to give humanity a chance.”
After a long silence from the adepti.
“We respectfully obey the Geo Lord’s decree.”
“Granny Ping: Haha… You just haven’t tried it. Why don’t you try such an observation?”
At this moment, a little girl ran over…
“【Changchang】: Huh? Why does everyone look so downcast? Didn’t we just defeat the big monster?!”
“Granny Ping: Hehehe… Aren’t you scared? Little girl, it was so dangerous just now…”
“【Changchang】: Changchang isn’t scared, because there are the Millelith uncles, and powerful adults with a Vision, and powerful big brothers and sisters, and everyone in all of Liyue… and that big sister who defeated the big monster in the sky.”
“Qixuan: (Cough cough cough…)”
“【Changchang】: When it’s dangerous, everyone protects Changchang. In normal times, everyone makes fun things, and delicious food, and they’ll make the harbor prettier and prettier!”
“Paimon: ……”
“Granny Ping: Everyone, look. This is what this era looks like…”
The nation of contracts is still grateful to the adepti, but over all these years, Liyue’s problems, big and small, no longer necessarily rely on the power of the adepti to be resolved.
The people we call ‘mortals,’ though their bloodlines are fragile, are also resilient.
The contract between the gods and Liyue has lasted for over a thousand years; now, it is the era of the contract between Liyue and humans.
“Qixuan nudged Zhongli and said: Now you can finally be a hands-off boss.”
“Lishui: Ah… Look around, we just stand here in this harbor, and it seems we feel a bit out of place… Don’t you think so, Liuyun?”
“Liuyun: Why ask me? It wasn’t me who led the way…”
“Qixuan: Alright, everyone, hear me out. Now that the old man… uh, the Geo Lord is safe and sound, why not let Liyue continue to be governed by the people of Liyue themselves? As for the Geo Lord, he can serve as a supervisor.”
“Moon Carver: Ah, fine, fine. We understand your intentions. Let’s go, let’s go.”
“Granny Ping: Hahahaha, you’ve finally changed that stubborn old habit.”
“Paimon: Hooray! Now Zhongli has truly retired!”
“Zhongli: Hahahaha.”
“Qixuan: Don’t laugh yet, Guizhong said she wants to talk to you in a bit.”
“Zhongli: …………”