I, the Geo Archon Morax with 2.1 Billion Mora, Have Joined a Chat Group [86]

A light drizzle hung in the air.

As always, Liyue Harbor was shrouded in a delicate, veil-like mist, soft and ethereal.

The Traveler stood quietly by the port, her attire neat and composed, holding an oiled paper umbrella she had bought after arriving in Liyue. Beside her floated Paimon, her tiny companion also under the umbrella’s protection.

In the gentle rain, the Traveler resembled a serene Glaze Lily, swaying lightly under the weight of the dew.

A soft breeze carried the mingled scents of light and rain, brushing against her hair and dampening the hem of her cloak.

It wasn’t long before a familiar figure emerged from the mist—a tall, composed Zhongli, walking toward her with an umbrella in hand.

His golden eyes briefly met hers, and he gave a small nod. “Follow me.”

Without a word, the Traveler stepped forward, her umbrella shielding her from the drizzle as she followed Zhongli.

The two walked in silence, their figures weaving through the hazy veil of rain, like shadows drifting through a dream.

They had left Liyue Harbor far behind by the time the rain began to let up. The rhythmic pitter-patter of droplets faded, replaced by the soft crunch of boots on damp earth.

At last, Zhongli broke the silence. “Liyue has an old saying: ‘Even walls have ears.’ In Liyue Harbor, Lady Ningguang’s network of informants is extensive. Speak too loudly, and your words will undoubtedly reach her ears.”

Paimon, who had been dozing lazily on the Traveler’s shoulder, perked up at his words, suddenly alert.

She flitted to Zhongli’s side, her face filled with alarm. “Wait! You’re saying that Keqing’s speech at Wanmin Restaurant the other day... Ningguang knows about it?!”

“Of course,” Zhongli replied with a calm nod. “But Keqing is aware of this fact as well. She spoke those words deliberately for Ningguang to hear.”

“Huh? Why would she do that?” Paimon asked, confused.

“It was a declaration of war,” Zhongli explained, shaking his head slightly. “Keqing’s words that day were not intended for you. They were directed at Ningguang and the rest of the Qixing.”

“Ohhh, now I get it...” Paimon said, realization dawning on her. Then she paused, tilting her head. “Wait—Zhongli, you heard everything too?”

“Indeed,” Zhongli said with another small nod. “By now, most of the merchants in Liyue Harbor with any significant connections have also heard about what Keqing said at Wanmin Restaurant.”

He paused for a moment before adding, “Though, unsurprisingly, most merchants are not particularly interested in her ideals.”

“Why not?” Paimon asked, her face scrunched in confusion. “Keqing made a lot of sense!”

Zhongli chuckled softly. “While her ideals may hold merit, most merchants are pragmatic. They care little for Liyue’s history or its future. Their focus lies solely on this month’s profits—and next month’s.”

“Even those with a broader perspective rarely look beyond the next fiscal year.”

“After all, business is business. If there are Adepti willing to assist, why complain?”

“Hmm... I guess that makes sense,” Paimon muttered, nodding slowly. “Liyue’s merchants are really practical, huh?”

The Traveler, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, finally spoke up. “And what about you, Mr. Zhongli?”

Her question seemed to give Zhongli pause. He tilted his head slightly, one hand holding the umbrella while the other rested thoughtfully against his chin.

“Compared to Keqing’s vision, Ningguang’s proposals are far more palatable to the merchants,” he said thoughtfully. “But... if I had to choose, I’d be more inclined to explore Keqing’s path.”

“Rex Lapis is gone. Everyone knows that Liyue cannot remain the same as it was during his reign. But if there were even a small chance to preserve some semblance of that era, I would be inclined to pursue it.”

“Perhaps others might feel the same.”

As he finished speaking, Zhongli stopped in his tracks and folded his umbrella.

“We’ve arrived. This is the Tomb of the God of Dust.”

The Traveler came to a halt, blinking in surprise. She hadn’t even noticed that the rain had stopped.

In front of her stood a simple, unassuming gravestone, standing alone amidst the natural landscape.

Taking a few cautious steps forward, she peered at the gravestone and read the inscription engraved upon it: Tomb of Guizhong.

“This is... the tomb of a god?” Paimon floated closer, her voice tinged with doubt. “It’s so small! How are we supposed to find anything here? Are we just supposed to dig it up?”

Zhongli shook his head. “Of course not. You’ve already experienced such things when visiting the Adepti. This tomb, too, contains a realm.”

“However, entering this realm requires meeting a certain condition.”

“What condition?” Paimon asked, tilting her head.

“A man and a woman,” Zhongli replied matter-of-factly.

“Wait here.”

As he spoke, a faint golden glow emanated from Zhongli’s body. The light enveloped the modest gravestone, and a sudden gust of sand swirled in the air, coalescing into a doorway.

Around the doorway, the sand formed an inscription in elegant, flowing script. The delicate penmanship seemed to capture the warmth of the person who had written it.

"You and your lady friend may enter together."

“Th-This... is the condition?” Paimon stared at the inscription in disbelief.

“It is,” Zhongli replied calmly. He seemed entirely unsurprised by the text. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and opened the sand-formed door.

“Come. It’s time to enter.”

As Zhongli disappeared through the doorway, the Traveler and Paimon exchanged a quick glance. Then, without hesitation, they followed him.

When the Traveler opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in a small, cozy room styled in traditional Liyue decor.

A simple wooden desk occupied the center of the room, flanked by neatly arranged bookshelves filled with volumes.

Driven by curiosity, the Traveler approached the shelves and began scanning the spines of the books.

Titles like [Introduction to Agriculture], [Theories of Livestock Rearing], [Aquatic Farming Practices], [Alchemical Fertilizer Formulations], and [Speculations on New Farmland Models] lined the shelves. Occasionally, there were more peculiar titles mixed in, such as [Glaze Lily Appreciation] and [How to Flirt with Boys].

“Hmm.” Zhongli’s voice came from behind her, drawing her attention. “There’s no need to be puzzled. Guizhong often appeared as a gentle young woman with flowing robes. The people under her protection were skilled in farming and cultivation—fields far removed from the mining expertise of those under Rex Lapis.”

The Traveler turned to find Zhongli standing at the doorway of the room, gesturing for her to follow.

“Come,” he said. “What we’re looking for isn’t here. We’ll need to go deeper.”

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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!