I, the Geo Archon Morax with 2.1 Billion Mora, Have Joined a Chat Group [239]

"Why?"

Eck tilted his head slightly, his expression curious.

"Mr. Zhongli, what led you to such a conclusion?"

Fu Hua also turned to look at Zhongli. She had initially assumed that, given Zhongli's personality, he might simply admit that he was the one who rewound time that day.

But to her surprise, Zhongli outright denied Eck's assumption, rejecting it without hesitation.

"Or perhaps..." Eck's lips curled into a faint smile. "Lord Zhongli, are you in fact the one who turned back time that day?"

"Did you refuse me so directly because you have no intention of helping me?"

Zhongli did not answer the question, but neither did he deny it.

Eck nodded slightly, as if he understood.

"In that case, we shall take our leave."

He had arrived swiftly, making a grand entrance, yet his departure was utterly silent. Before Fu Hua and the others could even register his words, Eck, along with the alchemist of gold, Rhinedottir, the witch, the prince, and the rest of his entourage, had already vanished without a trace.

It was as if time itself had been cut away. Fu Hua saw nothing—no movement, no trace—only emptiness where they had once stood.

"...They're gone?"

The abrupt and anticlimactic exit left Fu Hua momentarily stunned. But in the next second, she processed the implications—though Zhongli had not explicitly confirmed anything, his lack of denial was a silent admission in itself.

Since Zhongli had indirectly validated Eck’s suspicion, the latter naturally had no reason to linger.

"Still, I didn't expect him to leave so decisively. It's surprising," Fu Hua mused, shaking her head. "I thought this Eck character would be more persistent."

"Leaving so decisively... something feels off."

Fu Hua voiced her doubts aloud, her tone filled with uncertainty. "He didn’t even try? No attempt at persuasion? He just gave up and left?"

"From the way he spoke, it was clear he was obsessed with resurrecting the girl. I thought he would at least humble himself and plead with Zhongli."

"It’s precisely because he left without hesitation that we should be even more wary," Guizhong said, her expression growing increasingly serious. "It’s possible that he was already convinced Zhongli would never help him—no matter how much he begged, no matter how much he lowered himself, Zhongli would never agree."

"Perhaps he was so sure of that, which is why he walked away without a second thought."

"If that’s the case, then he must be an extremely irrational fanatic."

"I fear he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal."

"...Indeed," Fu Hua nodded in understanding. "That is a real possibility."

Meanwhile, Zhongli stood with one arm crossed over his chest, the other resting thoughtfully on his chin, lost in deep contemplation. He said nothing.

At the back of the group, the traveler girl wore a tense expression, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Paimon, hovering beside her, noticed the pain in her heart and gently offered comfort.

"At least... your brother is still alive."

"Mm, I know."

A single tear slid down the traveler's cheek, landing upon the snow, where it crystallized into a delicate frost flower.

She understood the weight of this reunion. Her tears carried joy, longing, and sorrow in equal measure.

"Traveler."

Zhongli's voice suddenly reached her ears.

At some point, the ancient Geo Archon had moved to stand before her, gazing into her eyes as he spoke.

"Our contract may not last much longer."

"...Huh?"

The traveler girl blinked in surprise. She had been about to respond when a realization struck her—flashing through her mind like lightning.

Our contract...

"I will help you with certain troubles on your journey. In return, you need only do what you must."

"Our contract ends when either your goal or mine is achieved."

And Zhongli’s words just now implied...

"My goal...?" The traveler murmured, her eyes searching Zhongli's. "Reuniting with my brother?"

She whispered the words to herself before shaking her head firmly.

"No, Mr. Zhongli."

"Hm?"

Though Zhongli's tone carried a hint of questioning, his gaze was not doubtful—it was encouraging.

It was as if he was urging her to affirm her thoughts, to voice her true intentions.

"I want to travel..."

She lowered her head slightly as she spoke.

Her voice was quiet, but Zhongli, Fu Hua, and Guizhong heard her words with absolute clarity.

"Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, once told me—no matter the purpose of a journey, never forget to appreciate the journey itself."

"I didn’t fully understand those words before."

"But now, I think I finally do."

"A journey is a journey. My travels in Teyvat are also a journey. Even if this journey has a different purpose, that doesn't change what it is at its core."

"And that, too, is why my brother and I have always traveled across different worlds."

"To discover the beauty of the world... to witness the beauty of life."

"In the world of Teyvat, though I seek my brother, the people I meet along the way—these encounters are the most beautiful sights of my journey."

"Ganyu, who dedicates everything to Liyue."

"Keqing, who works tirelessly for the people."

"Jean, who forces herself to work even while sick, all for Mondstadt’s prosperity."

"Klee, mischievous yet pure-hearted."

"Mona, outwardly poor yet inwardly rich in wisdom."

"Noelle, reckless yet steadfast."

"Barbatos, the idle yet beloved Anemo Archon."

"Morax, the Geo Archon who tirelessly labors to revive the one he loves."

"These people, these lives... I cherish them all."

"This land of Teyvat, this world shrouded beneath a false sky—in just two nations, I have already fallen in love with it."

"I have fallen in love with this world and the feeling of traveling through it."

As the traveler spoke at length, the thoughtful expression on Zhongli’s face deepened.

He gazed at her—the girl who had, at some point, lifted her head once more. In her golden eyes, there was a flicker of starlight.

"And so, what do you plan to do next?"

Lumine smiled.

It was a smile unlike her usual reserved one in front of Zhongli, or the carefree one she showed her brother.

It carried something deeper—a sense of resolve.

"I want to keep traveling in Teyvat, whether or not I find my brother."

"I want to meet more people. I want to see more landscapes. I want to explore more nations and encounter more gods."

"And in the end, I will share everything—the people I met, the sights I saw, the experiences I had—with my brother."

"At the very last, I will uncover the truth—the secret hidden beneath Teyvat’s false sky, the truth so grand that it has filled this world with endless tragedies and suffering."

"I am willing to step into the vortex of fate."

"No matter what awaits, I will bear the responsibility that is mine to take."

"Even if my journey was arranged by someone... even if destiny itself has dictated my path—"

"I will still step forward of my own free will."

"I will see this through. And I will succeed."

"Because I am the Traveler—Lumine, the wanderer of countless worlds, the child of man, the protagonist of fate, the one who stirs the tides of destiny—"

"And the one who will tear through Teyvat’s false heavens."

After hearing the traveler's words, Zhongli fell silent.

For a moment, even he was stunned.

Zhongli pondered for a moment before softly remarking, "The age of adolescent delusions should have passed by now. Lumine, you must be hundreds of years old, aren’t you?"

"Ugh~~!" Lumine’s face visibly flushed. "I-It's not adolescent delusions..."

At that moment, little Paimon stepped in, crossing her arms and lifting her chin proudly as she looked at Zhongli. "Hahaha~~! How could you call what my Lumine said 'adolescent delusions'?! She was just speaking from the heart! Hahaha~~! No laughing allowed!"

"You’re laughing the loudest," Guizhong chuckled, tapping Paimon lightly on the head.

Though Fu Hua also had a faint smile on her lips, her expression remained notably serious. She nodded slightly at Lumine. "Since this is your resolve, then you must carry it through to the end."

"The mysteries of Teyvat are clearly far from ordinary. It feels as though someone has constructed an intricate puzzle for the entire world—and you are the one meant to solve it."

Saying this, Fu Hua’s gaze shifted to Zhongli. "And it’s also clear that someone already knows all the clues and all the answers… but perhaps he won’t reveal them."

"Indeed. I cannot say," Zhongli responded naturally. "If I were to tell you everything, it might not be to your benefit, Traveler. You need to uncover the truth on your own, through your journey."

"I understand." Lumine nodded, her expression understanding rather than resentful.

"Alright, alright," Paimon patted Lumine’s shoulder, wearing an all-knowing look.

"Since we've pretty much figured out the mystery here, it's time to go back, Lumine."

"Honestly, this snowy mountain is way too cold."

"Yeah."

Lumine nodded slightly, gazing at the delicate snowflakes drifting through the air. The warm breath from her lips rose with the cold wind, disappearing into the sky.

Her thoughts, like the snowflakes, drifted over the mountains, chasing after a golden-haired prince in the distance.

—Brother, wait for me. I will unravel every mystery, overcome every hardship. And when that time comes, the two of us will continue our journey through Teyvat together.

—Not for any grand purpose, just like before—simply to embrace the beauty of this world, to cherish the people we meet.

—Wait for me, Brother.

---

"Achoo~~!"

In an unknown space, the golden-haired prince couldn't help but sneeze.

"What’s this? Someone thinking about you, Your Highness?"

The witch leaned in toward Aether, a teasing smile curling at her lips. Her smooth, sinuous movements made her seem like a water serpent as she nearly pressed herself against him.

"...Maybe it's my sister," Aether muttered, instinctively shifting away.

"My, my, Your Highness, you’re still as pure-hearted as ever." The witch giggled, covering her lips with a gloved hand. "The more innocent you act, the more delightful you make things for me."

"But… your sister, huh?"

She tapped a delicate finger against her lower lip, tilting her head in thought. "I recall you mentioning before… This was a reunion five hundred years in the making. You must be overjoyed."

"Yes, I am."

Aether sat there, speaking slowly. "So happy that I wish I could embrace her right now, hold her hand, and tell her everything I’ve been through over these five hundred years."

"But… I don’t want to drag her into this. The enemy we face is too powerful. The things we must do… are too terrible."

"As her brother, I know exactly what kind of person she is. Even after five hundred years, that hasn’t changed."

"If she stays by my side… it will only bring suffering to both of us."

Hearing these words, the witch fell silent.

She knelt down beside him, placing a gloved hand gently on his head, stroking his golden hair with a soft and comforting touch.

"My poor prince," she murmured, her voice laced with sympathy.

"You finally reunited with the sister you’ve longed for, after five centuries apart… yet the path you walk prevents you from acknowledging her, from holding her hand as you once did."

"My poor, pitiful prince."

"If you’d like, my arms are always open for you," she whispered teasingly. "You’re free to enjoy them anytime~."

"Ahem!"

Rhinedottir, the faceless Alchemist of Gold, coughed twice, clearly reminding everyone of her presence.

"Aether, don’t overthink it," Rhinedottir said, her tone steady. "The path we walk is full of obstacles and hardship. We can’t bring your sister into it."

"…Yes, Master, I understand."

The golden-haired prince nodded slightly. "Leaving her behind is the best choice."

"I just wonder when we’ll meet again. Even if it’s only from a distance..."

Before he could finish his thought, a familiar voice suddenly echoed through the space.

"Your Highness, you and your sister won’t have to wait too long for your next meeting."

From the shadows, Eck stepped forward. The youthful figure wore his usual easygoing smile.

"The entanglement of the fated twins is not something so easily severed."

"Even though the future is still unclear to me, one thing is certain—you and your sister will cross paths again. No… in fact, we will all be meeting her more frequently."

"She plays a role far beyond the ordinary in the vortex of fate that engulfs this world."

"Perhaps… the hope we’ve been waiting for all along rests in her hands."

"Hmm?"

The Alchemist of Gold frowned. "What do you mean?"

"That, I cannot say. Nor do I need to," Eck replied smoothly. "When the time is right, our paths will naturally intersect."

He gave a cryptic smile before casually changing the subject.

"Let’s talk about something else," he said, finding a seat and resting his towering staff across his knees.

"For example, the earthly ruler of Liyue—the Geo Archon, Morax. He was completely beyond my expectations."

Eck’s tone was laced with genuine surprise. "I never imagined that he had also delved into the domains of time and the world itself—and even deeper than I have."

"The oldest of the Seven truly is extraordinary. No wonder, five hundred years ago, during the calamity that descended from the heavens, Liyue and Mondstadt suffered the least damage."

"The domains of time and the world…"

Rhinedottir, the Alchemist of Gold, fell silent in thought for a few seconds before speaking again. "Then… will he interfere with our plans?"

"I don’t know."

Eck casually pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds from nowhere and began cracking them open as he spoke.

"…You don’t know?"

Rhinedottir clearly hesitated, her tone sharpening. "How could you not know? Isn’t time manipulation your specialty?"

"Because he’s just a little bit stronger than me."

Eck held up a sunflower seed between his fingers. "Hmm, about this much stronger."

"But that tiny difference means I can’t see through him. I can’t understand him. I can’t even comprehend him."

A shadow of melancholy flickered across Eck’s face.

"Just like you all can’t comprehend the world as I see it… perhaps I, too, cannot comprehend the world as he sees it."

"So…"

The witch suddenly leaped up, raising a hand as if answering a question in class.

"You ran away!"

"Of course!!"

Eck grinned, turning to high-five her.

"Why would I stick around? The moment we met, we started fighting. If we hadn’t run, we’d all have been beaten up!"

"Haha, true! When it’s time to flee, you flee," the witch agreed, laughing.

"Hmph."

Rhinedottir let out a cold snort before flicking her robe. Her form melted into flowing stone, sinking into the ground.

She had no interest in listening to any more of their nonsense.

"It’s all my fault…"

The golden-haired prince lowered his head, looking guilty. "If I hadn’t rushed to fight my sister, maybe Master wouldn’t have stepped in."

"You were too reckless. But it’s fine," Eck shrugged. "Even if we had a peaceful discussion, he still wouldn’t have agreed to help us."

"The balance of the world is a troublesome thing."

"Even if he knows how, he definitely won’t help us."

"This, I can say for certain."

"So, whatever. Just pretend that old Geo Archon doesn’t exist."

"That doesn’t sound like you, Eck," the witch teased. "You’re not one to give up so easily."

"What else can I do? I can’t beat him, I can’t befriend him—I can only avoid him."

Eck smiled, tapping his staff on the ground. His figure vanished in an instant.

Only his voice lingered in the air.

"Your Highness, may your reunion with your sister be a joyful one."

"This is Eck’s blessing."

---

T/N: heh most if not ALL the people lumine mentioned was girls hehehehehehehehhehuehuhEuehe ALSO VOLUME ENDS!!! SHORT BREAK!!!

This is a fan translation of 我，21亿岩王帝君加入聊天群 by 大一统. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!