The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [203]

“In a situation like this, how do you plan to fulfill our contract?”

Zhongli set his teacup down, replacing it with a wine cup. He poured himself a drink, then filled one for Jia Changjiang, who accepted it without hesitation.

“Of course, exactly as agreed—word for word,” Jia Changjiang replied. “Or are you saying you’ve forgotten the terms of our contract?”

“I would never forget,” Zhongli said, setting the wine jug aside. “It was, after all, one of the most intriguing contracts I’ve ever made.”

He leaned back slightly. “Such an ambiguous agreement... It’s been a long time since I’ve entered into something so unorthodox.”

Zhongli recalled vividly the contract they’d forged when Jia Changjiang offered to keep his identity a secret. It wasn’t just a promise of discretion—it extended into a vision for the future of Liyue.

Jia Changjiang had vowed to help Liyue find a way for mortals and Adepti to coexist harmoniously. He had promised to let Zhongli witness how Liyue would respond to calamity without relying on its Archon.

In their contract, Jia Changjiang claimed he and Lumine would reshape Liyue for the better, proving that Adepti and mortals alike were integral to its future. He had declared that the Adepti were as much a part of Liyue as its people and should not be left behind in its progress.

For his part, Jia Changjiang had made grand promises—many of which Zhongli had deemed far-fetched, bordering on fantasy.

In exchange, Zhongli’s only obligations were to grant Jia Changjiang one duel and to offer him friendship.

“Such a vague contract... Even I rarely agree to terms like these. The costs on both sides seemed highly uneven,” Zhongli mused.

“And yet you agreed,” Jia Changjiang said, propping his chin on one hand. “Because no matter how you look at it, I’m the one who’s coming out ahead. After all, who wouldn’t want to count you as a friend?”

Zhongli chuckled softly.

Jia Changjiang gestured lazily toward the chaos outside. “The Jade Chamber’s already heading toward Osial. You saw that, right? Lumine’s on her way there too."

“That Harbinger sure made a mess of things... He said he wanted to force you out."

“Looks smart on the surface, but really, he’s an idiot. Even if he did manage to lure you out... What exactly does he think he can do to you?”

“Heh...” Zhongli allowed himself a faint smile. “That’s all part of another contract.”

“So, what’s your next move?” Zhongli asked, his gaze steady. “Given the current situation, individual strength alone can’t shift the tide much anymore.”

“True enough... How about a bet?” Jia Changjiang downed his drink in one gulp, setting the cup down with a thud. “Drinking without a wager feels like a waste.”

“A bet? What kind of bet?” Zhongli’s curiosity was piqued.

“Three bets,” Jia Changjiang said, holding up three fingers. “First, I bet that I’ll succeed. Stakes: 1000 Mora.”

Zhongli raised an eyebrow. “1000 Mora? By common reason, that’s a rather modest wager.”

“It’s plenty! Even the Anemo Archon can’t always earn that much with his musical ‘performances.’ Besides, this is a friendly wager over drinks—it’s not supposed to be extravagant,” Jia Changjiang said with a smirk.

“Fair enough. I’ll take that bet,” Zhongli agreed. “What’s the second wager?”

“For the second wager, let’s bet whether there’s something more important than Ningguang’s Jade Chamber,” Jia Changjiang said, resting his chin on his hand. “Still 1000 Mora. I say there is.”

“And the third wager?” Zhongli asked, intrigued by the seemingly random stakes.

“The third...” Jia Changjiang grinned. “I bet I can drink 18 bowls of Three Rounds Knockout. Another 1000 Mora.”

The last wager, completely unrelated to the others, took Zhongli by surprise. Then he chuckled.

“Very well.”

“Done!” Jia Changjiang slapped the table as he stood up. “Boss! Bring me your strongest wine—Three Rounds Knockout, the same as last time.”

The teahouse owner hesitated.

“Sir, with everything going on outside... You still want to drink?”

“I’m paying, aren’t I?” Jia Changjiang placed a pouch of Mora on the counter. “Eighteen bowls. Don’t worry—I’ll finish them.”

Reluctantly, the owner complied, quickly lining up bowls of the potent brew on the table before Jia Changjiang.

The patrons sheltering in the teahouse watched in astonishment as Jia Changjiang prepared to drink. Some recognized him as the storyteller who had once recounted the tale of Wu Song’s legendary drinking feat.

Amid the murmurs, Jia Changjiang began downing the bowls one by one.

The first few went down easily.

By the time he reached the later rounds, however, the onlookers were wide-eyed, unable to tear their gaze away.

When he had told the tale of 18 bowls before, it had seemed like mere theatrics. Now, witnessing it in person was a different matter entirely.

“Seven... eight...”

The crowd started counting along, their voices rising with each bowl.

Finally, Jia Changjiang lifted the eighteenth bowl high, the last drop falling into his mouth.

A moment of silence passed before the onlookers exhaled collectively, realizing they’d been holding their breath.

“I win,” Jia Changjiang said, clapping Zhongli on the shoulder. “1000 Mora. We’ll tally everything up at the end!”

He glanced around and spotted Tian Tiezui, the storyteller who frequented the teahouse.

“Remember that story I told you last time?”

“Of course, but without your permission, I didn’t think I should retell it,” Tian Tiezui replied cautiously.

“You have my permission now,” Jia Changjiang said, pulling out a finely crafted steel monk’s staff. “Tell the story—there are plenty of people here to hear it."

“And take this staff. I’ve got another gift for you too.”

He handed Tian Tiezui a small notebook. “It’s a new chapter from Havoc in Heaven. Make good use of it.”

Then, shouldering the monk’s staff, Jia Changjiang strode toward the door.

“But... now?” Tian Tiezui asked, stunned.

Amid the chaos outside, Jia Changjiang seemed unaffected. He had just finished drinking and now wanted to hear a story.

“Yes, now. Stir the crowd’s spirits. And don’t forget, the next story’s on me.” Jia Changjiang waved him off before stepping into the pouring rain.

“After all, I’ve had my drinks... Now it’s time to finish the rest.”

Jia Changjiang walked into the storm, his clothes quickly drenched. Without hesitation, he stripped off his soaked upper layers, tying them around his waist and revealing the crimson Exorcist’s Mark on his back.

The mark glowed faintly, catching the attention of those watching from the teahouse.

With his eyes fixed on the towering demon god, Jia Changjiang declared,

“Wine’s done... Now it’s time to fight!”

---

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!