Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [540]

"If the final outcome is not victory, then only defeat remains—reduced to nothing but ash."

"Spare me that ‘victory or death’ nonsense. I’m not buying it, even from you, God of War."

Gu Sanqiu sneered as he slammed down a chess piece onto the board.

"To me, war is nothing more than an extreme, higher-level means to an end. A tool to achieve difficult goals."

"I know war is never a game. And I know not everything can be resolved with words alone."

"But I refuse to believe that the defeated have no way forward, doomed to become nothing but cinders. If one presses on through the thorns with hope in their heart, even the embers of ruin can reignite as divine fire, capable of burning the world to ash!"

"If this is how you want to play—then bring it on!"

"Fortify the ranks!"

"Steel-bound bastion!"

At the center of Gu Sanqiu’s army, the dragon on the war banner erupted in golden light.

Shields of energy descended upon every soldier, granting them protection against the enemy’s relentless assault.

The Pyro Archon paused, looking across the board at Gu Sanqiu—panting, chugging cup after cup of flame—and for a brief moment, she felt the urge to laugh.

What a fascinating child.

Even when facing a deity, he dared to voice his own beliefs aloud.

Regardless of how deep or shallow his understanding of war truly was, that unyielding spirit alone was worthy of acknowledgment.

Gu Sanqiu was gasping for breath—not because he had shouted too hard, but because fortifying an entire army nearly drained him dry.

If it weren’t for the unlimited refills of elemental energy in a cup, he never would have attempted something so reckless.

Thinking about it now, the old man really was the ultimate all-rounder.

A newfound respect for his elder settled in Gu Sanqiu’s heart.

Shields? Healing? Tanking? Ridiculously high damage output?

And let’s not forget—using Geo resonance to scan enemies like a walking radar.

Talk about overpowered, Grandpa!

With the Rockridge Shields in place, the balance of the battlefield shifted. What had once been a one-sided suppression turned into an even match, and the advantage steadily tilted toward Gu Sanqiu’s forces.

"My turn."

The Pyro Archon placed a piece.

From her army, monstrous beasts emerged—roaring lions, gleaming-eyed crocodiles, creatures of pure ferocity.

Under the divine fire’s blessing, the battlefield became a chaotic clash of might, yet her troops remained superior.

More accurately, her command had transcended into an art form—her strategy was so refined, it nearly mirrored the natural flow of the heavens.

A pure, undeniable gap in leadership.

Yet, Gu Sanqiu persisted.

Draining cup after cup, replenishing his energy, placing piece after piece to reinforce his dwindling forces.

He wasn’t letting her have this battle easily.

Hah. Shameless little brat.

By all rights, she should have been the one using a horde strategy, yet somehow, this kid had flipped the script and was stalling her advance with sheer attrition.

The Pyro Archon chuckled softly.

Then, with a flick of her finger, she dropped a single ember into his cup.

"From now on, every time you drink, the temperature will rise."

"Until the moment you can no longer swallow it."

Her crimson eyes gleamed as she gazed across the board.

"Listen, little one—real war doesn’t come with an endless supply of reinforcements."

"War is the grinding millstone of the world. It crushes everything in its path."

Gu Sanqiu wasn’t fazed.

He drank another cup without hesitation.

After all, if each sip counted, it was best to make the most of each refill.

The battle continued, but Gu Sanqiu was clearly outmatched.

Beyond the basic melee, his tactics and strategic maneuvers were completely overwhelmed by the Pyro Archon’s command.

And then, there was the fundamental difference in raw ability.

The Pyro Archon’s mental acuity allowed her to flawlessly command every single unit, ensuring absolute precision in their actions.

Gu Sanqiu?

He couldn’t even come close to that level of control.

His troops were suffering losses at an alarming rate—far beyond what the Pyro Archon’s forces endured.

This was a complete and utter rout.

If he didn’t come up with something soon, he was finished.

Gu Sanqiu adjusted his strategy.

Instead of fighting head-on, he started exploiting weaknesses—maxing out the energy levels of his war chariots, using windcasters to create torrential gales, boosting their charge speed to crash directly into enemy ranks!

"Heavy cavalry—advance!"

From the depths of his army, a hidden battalion of heavy cavalry emerged—rampaging beasts baring their bloodthirsty fangs at equally vicious prey!

The Pyro Archon gazed at him, amused.

"Child… are you trying to burn yourself out?"

She lifted her gaze to the battlefield.

Gu Sanqiu’s body was practically smoldering.

Tiny embers flickered in his hair, an ominous sign—the prelude to spontaneous combustion.

Yet the lunatic kept drinking from the flaming cup like nothing was wrong.

"Why do you insist on prolonging this war? You’re clearly not suited to this kind of battle."

Her gaze flickered to his main encampment.

"You even set up a medical unit."

"These soldiers are nothing more than constructs—illusions on a battlefield."

"Is it really worth wasting energy on them?"

"If you can’t meet my standards, the trial will never end."

"I know."

Gu Sanqiu exhaled, his throat burning.

If he drank any more of this hellfire, he’d probably end up bedridden in Liyue for days—and if that happened, the old master would definitely knock him on the head with a sword hilt.

But he didn’t regret it.

"But if I don’t do this… what if I forget when a real war breaks out?"

"I told you—I don’t take war lightly. And I will always respect the soldiers who fight under me."

"Even if they are mere illusions, I will give them my all."

"I respect every battlefield. I honor every life and death within my sight."

Then, he smiled.

"But you’re right."

"Going head-to-head with you in a war game is just plain stupid."

"I should fight in a way that actually suits me."

Fire erupted across his entire body—the same golden flames that now illuminated the entire battlefield.

The light of his pieces flared to life, shoving back against the Pyro Archon’s oppressive aura!

"I am the Crown Prince of Liyue."

Even if one day he was forced to become an emperor hidden among the people…

"I can invoke the name of the Geo Lord and lead the charge myself!"

Gu Sanqiu became a piece on the board.

Left hand gripping the reins, right hand wielding a spear—he charged forward, roaring with laughter!

A dragon of flame rose behind him, forming a new battle standard!

"Strike the drums—advance!"

His spear slashed through the air.

Flames raged.

The earth trembled.

The wind roared.

He wasn’t a perfect commander.

But when the only thing before him was the enemy—

Mercy was unnecessary.

Enemies on all sides? Then cut them all down!

He was the sharpest fang of Liyue’s stone dragon.

"Steadfast as the Millelith, unyielding as the iron walls—warriors in armor, ever-vigilant against the wicked!"

Gu Sanqiu led the charge.

His soldiers roared in unison, their battle cries shaking the heavens as they followed their commander into the heart of the enemy ranks.

The once outmatched army ignited a counteroffensive, fueled by the sheer ferocity of their leader’s presence.

Because their commander fought at the front.

The Pyro Archon, however, no longer made any overwhelming, rule-breaking moves.

She simply watched.

Her gaze was fixed on the madman who had carved his way through the battlefield seven times over.

"Hah. As expected—not the type I favor."

Her voice carried neither disappointment nor satisfaction.

"This child isn’t fit to be a supreme commander of armies."

"It’s not that he doesn’t understand the necessity of sacrifice."

"He simply refuses to accept it."

Her fingers rested lightly against the board.

"But one day, when he can no longer avoid sacrifice… perhaps he will undergo a transformation that even he could never anticipate."

The flames faded.

The war-torn chessboard shrank back down, returning to its normal state.

Gu Sanqiu, still caught in the momentum of his charge, suddenly found himself snapped back to reality.

Or rather—he had been forcefully ejected from the game.

Before him, the flame-cloaked figure dissolved into a single, gleaming medal, floating gently in the air.

"Congratulations. You have passed the trial."

---

Far away, in Natlan—

The current ruling Archon lifted her gaze toward the distant Liyue coastline, her eyes lingering in the direction of Yaoguang Shoal.

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips.

"Morax’s disciple, hmm? Quite the promising child."

Her expression softened, a glimmer of amusement flashing in her eyes.

"Soft-heartedness is no flaw. In fact, it may just make him rather popular with the ladies."

She leaned back slightly, as if addressing the distant battlefield itself.

"I look forward to seeing your growth, little one."

---

T/N: WHAT LADIES??? ALL HES BEEN ATTRACTING IS OLD MEN hehe dilfs

This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. 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!