The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [227]

Zhongli stood in thoughtful silence after hearing Jia Changjiang’s words, his gaze distant. “Perhaps I can understand now why that old friend of mine held you in such regard.”

“If one were to call you a friend, it might indeed be a most relaxing experience.”

“Hah,” Jia Changjiang chuckled, patting his shoulder. “Our contract is complete. We’re already friends now, aren’t we?”

“Indeed.” Zhongli allowed a rare smile to cross his face. “When the opportunity arises, I will invite you and Lumine to dine at Liuli Pavilion.”

“Liuli Pavilion, huh?” Jia Changjiang mused aloud. “But isn’t Xinyue Kiosk right across the street? I heard their food is just as good, if not better.”

“Let’s stick with Liuli Pavilion,” Zhongli replied, shaking his head. “I find the flavors of Xinyue Kiosk… less agreeable.”

“Fair enough. In that case, let me treat you and Lumine next time. I need to apologize to her anyway,” Jia Changjiang said with a grin. “How about Wanmin Restaurant? It’s not fancy, but it’ll do the job—and it’s what I can afford!”

“If Xiangling is the chef that day, Wanmin is a destination not to be missed,” Zhongli agreed, his voice carrying genuine admiration for the young cook’s skills.

“Then it’s settled,” Jia Changjiang declared, hopping down from the railing. “And we’ll bring some wine—no leaving until we’re good and drunk!”

---

In the aftermath of the ancient god’s attack, Liyue Harbor swiftly began its recovery. Yet alongside the restoration efforts came a tide of rumors.

The topic of the moment was, of course, the Rite of Parting and the shocking claim that Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon himself, had perished.

All across the city, people speculated about what had transpired.

In one corner of the bustling streets, a self-assured man passionately shared his theory. “I’m telling you, the one who assassinated Rex Lapis must be someone high up in the Fatui—probably that young Harbinger they call Childe!”

“That makes sense,” someone else chimed in. “The Fatui are greedy, ruthless types. Everyone knows they can’t be trusted!”

Nearby, another group was discussing the sudden reappearance of the Vortex God, Osial.

“There’s no way that ancient god would just pop out of nowhere!” one merchant exclaimed. “Rex Lapis sealed him away for two thousand years, after all.”

“Exactly! And it’s far too convenient that Osial showed up right after Rex Lapis was supposedly assassinated,” another speculated. “What if the assassin and the one who released Osial are the same person?”

“Hey, now that you mention it, that does add up! It’s gotta be some scumbag working with the ancient god to bring down Rex Lapis!”

Passing by with a snack in hand, Lumine overheard the conversation. She couldn’t resist adding her own “insight.”

“Actually, someone over there was saying it might’ve been the Fatui!” she chimed in casually. “Especially that one guy who’s always smiling—it’s way too suspicious!”

“The Fatui, huh? That makes sense!” her comment only fueled the crowd’s speculation, sparking even more animated debate.

Paimon hovered nervously at Lumine’s shoulder. “Traveler, isn’t it a bit… mean to talk about people behind their backs like this?”

“I’m just being honest!” Lumine replied matter-of-factly. “It was Childe who released Osial, after all…”

---

As they continued through the bustling streets, more outlandish rumors reached their ears.

“Did you hear about the strange pillars and that ‘Taisui Star’ during the ancient god’s appearance?”

“No, what’s that about? Isn’t Taisui Star supposed to be one of the Adepti?”

“I thought so too,” another person replied. “But I swear I saw them that day—a strong-looking man and a young woman in white. Wait, does that mean Taisui Star is actually two people?”

“No, no, no! You’ve got it all wrong,” someone else interjected in a conspiratorial tone. “I heard Taisui Star isn’t an Adeptus at all.”

“What? Then who are they?”

“They’re celestial stars descended to earth! They channeled the power of everyone in Liyue to help repel the ancient god. How else could there be two of them?”

“Ah, that makes sense!”

“...Huh?” Lumine blinked in confusion, her mind struggling to process the sheer absurdity.

By the time they reached the harbor’s edge, the rumors had spiraled even further. Taisui Star had been transformed in the public imagination into a celestial savior—one capable of wielding divine powers to vanquish calamities.

Some claimed the entity was the manifested “Constellation” of a Liyue hero from ancient times, descending in human form to protect the city. Others spoke of legendary weapons and towering giants battling gods amidst the chaos.

“Traveler, the rumors in Liyue Harbor just keep getting weirder…” Paimon sighed, exasperated.

“Liyue people have such active imaginations,” Lumine replied, shaking her head. She hadn’t expected her efforts in assisting Jia Changjiang to result in both of them being reimagined as mythical figures.

As they walked, she overheard a group of merchants discussing plans to commission a golden statue of Taisui Star for a new shrine.

---

Among the chatter, one detail caught Lumine’s attention.

“So, today’s the Rite of Parting?” she asked aloud. “After all the preparation they’ve done, we might as well go check it out.”

“Yeah! Even if the star of the ceremony is a bit… fake, it’d be a shame to miss it after all the work they put in!” Paimon agreed. “Let’s go find Mr. Jax and head there together!”

“Sounds good,” Lumine said with a nod. “Let’s grab Jax and attend the ceremony. Maybe we’ll even run into Zhongli.”

“Mhm, mhm!” Paimon chimed in enthusiastically. “Though… doesn’t it seem a bit odd to see the guy who planned the Rite of Parting actually attending it?”

“Eh, no one else knows. Let’s just roll with it.” Lumine took a bite of her snack and broke into a jog, heading toward the inn where Jia Changjiang was staying.

Unbeknownst to them, the Millelith had prepared an official announcement, ready to be shared with the public at the ceremony.

---

This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 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!