The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [225]

“This matter… actually…” Tartaglia began, but Signora interrupted him with a dismissive wave.

“Don’t waste time. If you want to chat, save it for after I’ve finished my business.” Her gaze shifted to Zhongli, her tone as imperious as ever. “According to our agreement, I’m here to claim your Gnosis, Morax.”

“Morax?!” Lumine’s eyes widened in shock. “The Gnosis? But Morax is the Geo Archon! This means—”

Before she could finish, Zhongli let out a faint, sardonic chuckle. Turning to glance at Lumine, he then addressed Signora.

“Our contract is fulfilled. As agreed, I bestow upon you the promised object.”

Zhongli extended his hand, and an invisible force coalesced in his palm, forming a shimmering chess-piece-shaped artifact—the Gnosis. It floated gracefully toward Signora.

“Hmph,” Signora sneered, grasping the Gnosis. “Such condescension in your tone…”

“And what would you prefer?” Jia Changjiang interjected, rolling his stiff neck as if loosening up. “How about we go a few rounds? I could help fix that arrogant mouth of yours—with a slap, perhaps?”

“You—!” Signora’s eyes flared with anger as she glared at Jia Changjiang and Lumine.

It wasn’t the first time Jia Changjiang had challenged her. In Mondstadt, after defeating her, he had disdainfully tossed Venti’s Gnosis to the ground before her, treating it as nothing more than a trinket for the Fatui to scavenge. Now, his defiance was just as brazen.

“Wait!” Lumine suddenly grabbed Jia Changjiang by the arm, shaking him in exasperation. “You mean Zhongli is really Morax?! And that was the Gnosis?! Why would he hand it over to the Fatui?”

“Yup, Zhongli is the Geo Archon…” Paimon muttered, slumping onto Lumine’s shoulder in confusion.

Zhongli’s calm voice cut through the chaos. “The contract I made with you is also fulfilled, as per your wish,” he said, turning to Jia Changjiang.

Signora smirked. “So, Morax, it seems you’ve been busy with side deals, apart from your arrangement with the Tsaritsa.”

“My contract with him in no way affects my deal with the Cryo Archon,” Zhongli replied smoothly. “That agreement was forged not as the Geo Archon but as Zhongli, a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.”

“Another contract?!” Lumine nearly shouted, turning to Jia Changjiang. “What’s going on?! Is Zhongli really the Geo Archon?”

Jia Changjiang nodded.

“Seriously?!” Lumine’s mind raced back to the stories of Morax she’d heard in Mondstadt.

The Geo Archon was said to be wise, immensely powerful, and deeply committed to upholding contracts. He was a legendary figure who had led Liyue through the Archon War, forging its prosperity with an iron will and unmatched strength.

And now… he was Zhongli? Zhongli, the man who never carried his own Mora and mooched off others?

“But why would he hand over his Gnosis to the Fatui?” Paimon asked, still reeling.

Zhongli responded with composed gravity. “It is not a gift but a trade—a transaction based on a contract. This matter concerns the Cryo Archon and myself alone.”

“But why fake your death?” Lumine pressed, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

“Yes! Liyue prepared an entire ceremony to honor you, and then—bam!—a giant dragon drops out of the sky, causing chaos across the harbor. It nearly brought disaster upon Liyue!”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Tartaglia quipped from the side, his tone laced with irony. “Gathering the undercurrents of hidden tensions, pushing them to the breaking point until they burst… That’s precisely what he wanted to see, wasn’t it?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Paimon asked, confused.

Zhongli turned to face Lumine, his voice calm yet steeped in history. “Let me explain.

“As you know, I have walked this world for over 6,000 years. The establishment of Liyue, alongside the Adepti, dates back 3,700 years.” His deep voice carried the weight of time. “Even the unyielding stone is eroded by the passage of time. Yet, I have always convinced myself that the cracks in my purpose have not yet formed.”

His gaze lifted, unfocused, as though peering into the past. “One day, on a quiet, rainy afternoon, I overheard a merchant commend his subordinate: ‘You have fulfilled your duty. Now, take your rest.’

“In that moment, I found myself questioning… Have I, too, fulfilled my duty?”

Zhongli’s reflective words quieted Lumine’s rising anger. Paimon, too, listened with rapt attention.

“But as I began to consider stepping down from my divine role, I realized I was bound by responsibilities I could not simply abandon,” Zhongli continued. “Liyue—was it ready to enter a new era without me? I needed to create an opportunity to observe it closely before making my decision.”

“So, you staged your death,” Lumine muttered, beginning to understand.

“Precisely,” Zhongli confirmed. “I designed this scenario to draw Tartaglia, the Adepti, and the Qixing into chaos.”

Tartaglia chuckled wryly from the side. “I only just learned all of this myself.”

“But what if something went wrong?!” Lumine demanded, recalling the peril they’d faced against the ancient god. “What if Liyue had fallen?”

“That is why I retained the Gnosis,” Zhongli explained.

Paimon blinked, piecing it together. “So… if things had spiraled out of control, you would have used your divine power to save Liyue one last time?”

“Indeed,” Zhongli said.

Signora interjected with a sly smile. “But as it turns out, like children maturing after losing their parents, this city named Liyue has grown remarkably in the face of its god’s ‘death.’”

“Every outcome of this experiment has exceeded my expectations,” Zhongli admitted. “The Adepti, though isolated, chose restraint and cooperation with the Qixing. They began engaging with the Liyue of today.

“The Qixing, in the face of disaster, acted decisively, maintaining order and rallying the city. They embraced responsibility and united with the Adepti and citizens.

“And as for the Millelith,” Zhongli continued, “their resolve to protect Liyue shone brightly, even in a war against an ancient god.”

Turning to Lumine and Jia Changjiang, he added, “The greatest variable in this plan, however, was you two. Your actions brought change and cohesion that I could not have foreseen.”

“Our actions?” Lumine tilted her head, puzzled.

Zhongli smiled faintly. “Your presence encouraged the Adepti to see Liyue’s people as individuals. You prevented conflict between the Qixing and Adepti and helped the Millelith find their purpose amid chaos. These changes surpassed anything I had imagined.”

“And me?” Tartaglia crossed his arms, smirking. “What about the guy you used and played like a pawn? Don’t I get a review too?”

“Perhaps Morax should thank you,” Zhongli said dryly. “Your disruptions added the necessary pressure to turn an unpolished stone into a diamond.”

Tartaglia scoffed. “Do you ever get tired of mocking your fellow Archons?”

“You want to fight again?” Lumine teased, rolling her eyes.

“Hah. Say no more,” Tartaglia muttered, coughing awkwardly.

Signora clapped her hands. “Well, we’ve lingered enough. Let’s return to Snezhnaya and report to Her Majesty.”

“You go on ahead,” Tartaglia replied. “I’ll follow later—I have no desire to share a boat with you.”

“Suit yourself,” Signora said, brushing past Jia Changjiang and Lumine without sparing them another glance.

Watching her leave, Lumine clenched her fists. “Someday, I’m going to give her what she deserves!”

---

When the Fatui had left, Zhongli addressed Lumine and Jia Changjiang once more. “Now, do you have any final questions?”

“What kind of deal requires a Gnosis as payment?” Lumine asked.

“Yeah! Isn’t a Gnosis priceless?” Paimon added.

Zhongli folded his arms. “Indeed, there is no equivalent price. But as the God of Contracts, I have overseen countless agreements over the millennia. This was the ultimate contract to end all contracts. As for what Her Majesty offered in return, that is a truth you must uncover on your journey.”

“Hmph. Another riddle…” Lumine grumbled. “Fine. But what about your deal with Jax? What’s that about?”

Zhongli smiled enigmatically. “That, young traveler, is a promise to usher in a new era.”

---

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!