I, the Geo Archon Morax with 2.1 Billion Mora, Have Joined a Chat Group [217]

"Would you like some snacks?" Zhongli asked softly, looking at the lively girl before him.

"Yes! Yes!"

Hu Tao eagerly raised both hands in agreement.

Zhongli's lips curved into a faint smile as he tapped a finger against the table.

Two plates of exquisite-looking pastries emerged from the wooden surface.

One was the oozing Slime Crystal Cake the Traveler had enjoyed yesterday, while the other was a simple yet elegant Lily-Glazed Pastry—one of Liuli Pavilion’s signature treats, renowned for over a century.

Zhongli gestured calmly toward them.

"This Slime Crystal Cake is something I picked up this morning. It’s a new creation by Xiangling, the head chef of Wanmin Restaurant, and just yesterday, the Traveler gave it high praise. The other is the famous Lily-Glazed Pastry from Liuli Pavilion. Master Hu Tao, feel free to try whichever you prefer."

As expected, Hu Tao completely ignored the Slime Crystal Cake. Compared to Xiangling’s bold new inventions, she much preferred the flavors of tradition.

"I hate Xiangling’s Slime dishes. They remind me of some very unpleasant memories." Her face twisted as she stuffed pieces of Lily-Glazed Pastry into her mouth. "Xiangling never follows the proper cooking traditions of Liyue. Half the things she makes, I don’t even dare to eat."

"But I do love boiled fish with shrimp dumplings. La-la-la~~! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!"

Zhongli didn’t respond. He simply took a bite of the Slime Crystal Cake, slowly chewing before sipping his tea. Only after swallowing did he finally speak.

"It seems that, from the very beginning, you’ve always been this way. You favor the old over the new, the traditional over the unconventional. With your mischievous nature, one might expect you to scoff at Liyue’s customs, to reject its traditions. But clearly, those people are mistaken."

"It’s just that I understand Liyue’s traditions very deeply."

Hu Tao’s playful air faded. She met Zhongli’s gaze with a sharp, unwavering intensity. Her voice, previously lighthearted, carried a solemn weight.

"As the Geo Archon who built Liyue and ruled it for over three thousand years, you should know this better than anyone."

"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is an organization that upholds the old ways."

"Of course. As a former consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, I know that full well." Zhongli nodded slightly. "To serve the living, one must honor the dead. Wangsheng Funeral Parlor carries a dual responsibility, and so, it must satisfy both worlds."

Hu Tao acknowledged his words with a small nod, her sharp eyes never leaving him. Then, in a measured, serious tone, she said:

"The cycle of life and death follows its own order. Fate is unpredictable, yet death has its own rules. No matter the time, place, or person—regardless of the reason—humans should never provoke death. Only by recognizing and respecting it can we truly understand the value of life."

Zhongli paused.

For a few moments, he remained silent, then shook his head with a quiet sigh.

"Little Hu Tao, so this is why you sought me out today."

"Fate, from a rational perspective, is nothing more than an illusion people create to comfort themselves. Even I, and even the Heavenly Principles, would not dare claim mastery over it. But one thing I can say for certain—what I see, and what you see, are very different things."

His response was just as serious as her warning.

He knew that this little girl, mischievous as she was, had spoken out of genuine concern for him as Wangsheng Funeral Parlor’s former consultant.

"A summer insect cannot discuss ice. A human cannot comprehend what a Slime sees. The knowledge of gods and mortals is worlds apart, just as the perspectives of gods themselves vary greatly."

"I see everything that you see. But what I see… you can only catch the smallest glimpse of."

Zhongli set down his teacup and raised a single finger.

Before their eyes, the cup began to change.

In less than a second, the teacup transformed into a tiny, dark brown humanoid figure, its entire form trembling with both fear and excitement as it gazed up at Zhongli and Hu Tao.

"Is this… a living being?"

Hu Tao immediately sensed the vibrant life force within the tiny creature.

"Yes. A living being that can survive for approximately thirteen to twenty-three years," Zhongli replied. "I just created it from the clay of that teacup."

"This is the world as I see it."

Hu Tao blinked in astonishment.

She looked at the little clay figure, which waved at her in greeting, then turned her gaze back to Zhongli—who remained utterly unchanged, as calm as before.

She reached out and poked the tiny creature’s head.

The little figure scowled and swatted her finger away, baring its teeth in mock aggression.

Hu Tao didn’t get angry. Instead, she leaned forward, resting her head on the table, and bared her teeth right back at it.

Her mouth, by human standards, was small—but compared to the tiny clay figure, it was enormous.

Realizing the size difference, the tiny creature hesitated for a split second… then bolted.

"Hahaha~~!"

Watching it flee, Hu Tao burst into laughter, clutching her sides in delight.

After laughing for a moment, she suddenly hopped off her chair, bowed deeply to Zhongli, and spoke with unexpected formality.

"Mr. Zhongli—no, Lord Morax—it seems I was too narrow-minded. Even after performing farewell rites for the adepti, I still failed to grasp the fundamental difference between immortals and mortals."

Then, she straightened up and, with eyes shining, asked excitedly:

"If Zhongli can bring people back to life, then after I conduct a funeral, you could revive them, right? That way, when they die again, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor would earn twice the Mora!"

Zhongli, caught off guard by her sudden shift in tone, hesitated before prompting,

"And…?"

"And—"

Hu Tao’s eyes sparkled.

"Our funeral parlor's discount vouchers—'Second Service Half-Price'—would finally be useful!!"

She looked absolutely ecstatic.

"….."

Zhongli had no words.

...

Hu Tao came as quickly as she left.

After making Zhongli promise to invite her for snacks again, she cheerfully bounced out the door, disappearing who-knows-where.

Not long after she left, Zhongli’s quiet courtyard welcomed yet another visitor.

A light shimmered, warping the space around it.

To Zhongli’s eyes, this radiance—belonging to a technique he had already deciphered—was brighter than sunlight on a clear day.

It was the signature glow of the chat group’s interdimensional travel function, appearing and vanishing in an instant.

And then, a graceful figure stood before him.

"You’ve worked hard, Guizhong. Welcome back."

---

T/N: oh hutao

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!