I, the Geo Archon Morax with 2.1 Billion Mora, Have Joined a Chat Group [91]

It took less than two hours to return to Liyue Harbor from the Dust God's Tomb of the End.

The return journey seemed faster than the trip there.

Standing on the entry bridge to Liyue Harbor, Zhongli and the Traveler prepared to part ways.

"Traveler, if you have time tomorrow, please visit the Yiyan Temple. I will be hosting the Rite of Parting there," Zhongli said softly, pausing on the bridge. "It’s best to come early. If you're late, I fear there won’t be enough space."

"Tomorrow will likely be quite lively."

"Mm," the Traveler nodded slightly.

Paimon, unusually quiet, said nothing.

“I’ll head this way—I still need to gather some materials. There’s not much, so I plan to collect them overnight.” With a slight wave, Zhongli disappeared into the gradually darkening evening.

Watching him leave, the Traveler snapped out of her thoughts, exchanging glances with Paimon before crossing the bridge.

Minutes later, back at the inn where they were staying, the Traveler slumped into a chair, exhaling deeply.

“Hey, hey, hey~~!” Paimon couldn’t hold back any longer, anxiously flitting about.

“What are we going to do?? Suddenly finding out that Zhongli is the Geo Archon, and that he faked his death for some unknown scheme? This is kind of a big deal!”

The Traveler sat silently, her thoughts unreadable.

After a few minutes, she raised her head, looking at Paimon.

“Zhongli isn’t a bad person.”

“Huh?? Lumine, what do you mean?” Paimon was utterly perplexed by the Traveler’s sudden statement.

“Even if he faked his death… he wouldn’t do anything evil,” the Traveler said with a resolute nod.

“That’s true,” Paimon admitted after calming down. “If Zhongli really is the Geo Archon, then his three thousand years of protecting Liyue and ensuring its prosperity can’t be fake. He’s made this land flourish—it’s undeniable.”

“If he didn’t care for the people of this nation, he couldn’t have achieved that.”

“Mm.” The Traveler nodded firmly, her belief unwavering. “So...”

“So...” Paimon floated beside her, crossing her arms and tapping her chin in thought. “He must have his reasons. Whether it’s faking his death or doing all of this, there must be a purpose behind it.”

In that moment, Paimon’s rare display of wisdom was striking.

“We still don’t have enough information to draw any conclusions.”

The Traveler stared at Paimon, lost in thought, before abruptly standing up.

Grabbing Paimon, she bolted out of the inn.

“What? What’s going on?” Paimon exclaimed, startled.

“We’re going to find Ganyu,” the Traveler said, her eyes blazing. “To the Jade Chamber… to find Ganyu.”

“Why… why Ganyu?” Paimon froze for a moment before realization struck. Of all the adepti and half-adepti, only Ganyu had truly interacted with Zhongli.

And during their first meeting, Ganyu had referred to him as Lord Zhongli, not Mr. Zhongli.

“We can get answers from her,” the Traveler said with determination.

“Right!” Paimon’s excitement reignited. “Ganyu must know a lot of the truth. We can ask her directly—perfect plan!”

The Traveler wasted no time, quickly leading Paimon to the guide station for the Jade Chamber.

Before she could speak to the guide, a figure descended from the vermillion skies above.

Clad in a full-body black stocking and crowned with small curved horns, it could only be Ganyu.

As the ancient saying went, What is sought with iron shoes may be found effortlessly.

This thought flashed through the Traveler’s mind as Ganyu landed.

The Traveler took a step forward, ready to speak to her, but noticed the adeptus’s anxious, even panicked expression.

“Miss Ganyu, Miss Ganyu!” Paimon didn’t seem to notice Ganyu’s demeanor and flew straight up to her. “We need to talk!”

Ganyu acknowledged the Traveler and Paimon with a slight nod but quickly shook her head.

“Apologies, I don’t have time right now.”

“What’s wrong?” Paimon tilted her head.

Ganyu glanced at her, then at the Traveler, hesitated for a moment, and leaned closer to whisper in the Traveler’s ear.

“Lady Ningguang left the city earlier today to establish new contracts with the adepti, but she was ambushed midway. Over ten Millelith were killed or injured. Lady Ningguang herself was gravely wounded and is now unconscious.”

“What?” The Traveler’s eyes widened in shock.

Her mind flashed back to Zhongli’s figure as he slowly disappeared into the darkness outside Liyue Harbor.

Was this… a coincidence?

---

In the darkness, Zhongli walked at a measured pace.

The stars in the sky twinkled incessantly, representing the countless lives of Teyvat, rising and falling like breaths.

Beneath the faint starlight, the golden glow of the [Memory of Dust] at his waist gleamed faintly.

Even the Hilichurl camps at night were shrouded in silence.

Zhongli passed through the camps, past the Abyss Mages manipulating ley line energy, and soon arrived at his destination:

Guyun Stone Forest.

There, the members of a peculiar group were already waiting for him.

“Hey, what took you so long? I was about to doze off,” complained a silver-haired boy claiming to be an “irredeemable villian,” stretching languidly atop the water’s surface.

“Oh, Lord Zhongli, once we’re done here, won’t you consider becoming the deity of my shrine? I’d be the most devoted shrine maiden ever!” said a red-and-white-dressed shrine maiden, flitting to his side and persistently advertising her shrine.

“Hey, Zhongli, I’ve already prepared the trial for those strong-willed girls you mentioned!” shouted a muscular man standing atop a stone spear, his physique gleaming under the moonlight.

“Go! Go! Go!” Two boys—one silver-haired and the other black-haired—trained on the shore, hyping themselves up.

“You’re here,” said a calm, clear female voice. The speaker, clad in a crimson cheongsam, nodded slightly as a greeting.

Seated nearby on the beach, a girl read a book in the moonlight, while her bored companion fidgeted beside her.

“Everyone, thank you for your help.” Zhongli bowed slightly to the group before him.

“Tomorrow marks the end of everything. Let us see this through to the very end.”

In his palm, a radiant orb and a sandglass flowed with golden light, spinning gently.

---

T/N: LMAO no way zhongli taught ningguang a lesson because she was too business focused LMAOOOO

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