In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

"Although most people only bring them out to share and appreciate, they will still make a purchase if the price is right."

As he spoke, he smiled and said to Wang Yan, "If Mr. Wang Yan takes a fancy to anything, he can have someone find the owner and then we can discuss the price."

Wang Yan looked around but didn't sense any extraordinary power. Most of the items were just ordinary antiques. He shook his head and said, "I can't afford antiques. I'm already satisfied with being able to appreciate a few."

"Haha, since you're Mr. Zhongli's friend, if you really like something, I'll give you a 20% discount." A woman dressed in dark blue stepped out and said with a smile.

Zhong Li smiled and said, "This is Miss Lin Lang, the initiator of this exhibition."

As she spoke, she introduced Wang Yan to Linlang, saying that he was a scholar from the Academy of Teachings.

"To be able to come with Mr. Zhongli, you must be a learned person. It's a pity that renting the Pearl Boat from that Rouran fellow is really not cheap. Here's what I'll do: I'll give you a 30% discount." Linlang was very polite.

Wang Yan shook his head: "Even at a 30% discount, I can't afford it. I'll just look at it. Good things are meant to be appreciated, not kept."

"Hahaha, that makes sense, that makes sense. But, sir, you mustn't tell anyone else what you're saying, or I won't be able to do business," Linlang said with a smile.

Telling an antique dealer that it's about appreciating rather than collecting is somewhat disrespectful.

Wang Yan realized what had happened and quickly apologized, saying, "I misspoke, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright, those two can continue browsing. There's still a group of tourists coming, so we'll leave soon!"

"Yes, take care, shopkeeper Linlang."

As Wang Yan watched the other person leave, he was about to speak with Zhong Li when he suddenly noticed that the other person's gaze shifted and looked towards the boarding gate.

Wang Yan subconsciously followed the other person's gaze and saw a blonde girl leading a white flying pygmy gourd onto the deck.

"I didn't expect to run into an old friend again." Zhong Li chuckled.

Wang Yan pursed his lips. Did you really not expect this?

But he didn't say anything and followed Zhong Li toward Ying and Paimon.

"Gentlemen, how have you been?"

The two women who had just boarded the ship turned around and saw Zhong Li walking towards them, accompanied by a young man dressed in the robes of a scholar from the Academy of Religion.

"Oh dear, just as expected, Hu Tao was right, you really are here." Paimon put his hands on his hips and nodded slightly.

Ying also nodded: "We're here to see you, Zhong Li... and who is this?"

She then looked at Wang Yan.

"This is Mr. Wang Yan, a scholar from the Academy of Teachings," Zhong Li introduced.

"Hey, hello, hello, I'm Paimon, and she's Ying," Paimon quickly introduced.

Wang Yan smiled and said, "I have long heard of your deeds. It is my great honor to meet you today."

“Hehe, we really are famous.” Paimon said to Ying with a grin.

Ying, on the other hand, was much more composed. She nodded to Wang Yan and said, "Hello."

Just then, two more people walked over from the other side.

"Oh, these are all familiar faces: Ying, Paimon, Mr. Zhongli, and Wang Yan. Good evening." Beidou waved and greeted them.

Beside her was a beautiful girl, Yun Jin.

No wonder Wang Yan didn't have any scenes with Yun Jin today; it turns out she came to the exhibition with Bei Dou.

Chapter 117 Zhong Li's Curse

"Hey, does Beidou actually know Wang Yan?"

Paimon was somewhat surprised.

“When I came back from Sumeru before, I happened to meet Captain Beidou clearing out monsters at sea. We had a brief encounter,” Wang Yan explained.

"Oh, I see." Paimon nodded, then, as if remembering something, waved to Beidou and Yun Jin. "By the way, happy Lantern Festival to you both."

Yun Jin smiled gently: "You too, and Ying, Happy Lantern Festival."

"So you're here to look at antiques too?" Paimon asked curiously.

Yun Jin nodded: "Most operas are adapted from past stories. I heard that there are many old things on display this time, so I came to take a look."

Beidou, with one hand on his hip, also spoke up: "Ningguang said the same thing, and told me to come and see, saying it can improve one's cultural literacy."

"Since we're all here to see the exhibition, why don't we take a look around together first?" Zhong Li suggested.

Wang Yan naturally agreed and nodded in agreement, and the others followed suit.

The five of them, forming a group, strolled around the exhibition.

Although they were supposed to be together, it could also be said that they were each looking at their own things and not putting their collections together.

Zhong Li stood before an ancient book, carefully reading it, then looked at Wang Yan beside him: "Mr. Wang Yan, could you possibly understand the ancient text in this book?"

Wang Yan's gaze fell on the ancient book.

Perhaps due to its age, the ancient book is not made of paper, but rather a scroll of bamboo slips. However, it is well preserved and shows no signs of oxidation or corrosion.

[Language proficiency] Activation.

After glancing over the document, Wang Yan began, “This is a local chronicle that tells the story of how, under the protection of the God of the Land, the fields yielded bountiful harvests and people lived in peace and prosperity.”

"Huh? The God of the Land?" Paimon suddenly appeared, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Isn't that Zhong..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ying covered his mouth with her hand, saying, "The artifacts unearthed in Liyue, this God of the Land should be the Emperor, right?"

Zhong Li looked at Wang Yan, who shook his head: "I study ancient texts, and although they involve history, I really don't know much about the God of the State."

Then, Wang Yan turned the conversation back to Zhong Li: "Mr. Zhong Li, you are very knowledgeable. Could you please enlighten me?"

Everyone else looked at Zhong Li, especially Yun Jin, who seemed very curious about these ancient stories.

Zhong Li spoke in a calm voice, "She is the god of the land; Ji is the god of the five grains."

"The Emperor has had many titles, as travelers know, including the title of the Kitchen God."

He paused slightly, giving Ying a moment to nod, before continuing, "But the title of God of the State is not among the many titles of the Emperor."

The Rock King has done many things for Liyue. He established laws with his divine power and is known as the "God of Contracts"; he forged the first Mora and is revered by merchants as the "God of Commerce"; due to his great age, historians call him the "God of History"; and he is also known by other titles such as the "God of War".

But farming and food production are indeed not very relevant to him.

Even Maxius, the god of the stove, and Hargentus, the god of dust, are closer to the concept of gods of the land than Morax.

"Who is the god of the land mentioned in the bamboo slips?" Paimon asked subconsciously.

“It’s the White Horse Immortal,” Zhong Li said softly.

Wang Yan glanced at him in surprise, thinking that the other party would continue to be the riddle teller, but unexpectedly he said it out loud.

"The White Horse Immortal?" Yun Jin exclaimed in surprise. "I've read about him in stories. This White Horse Immortal lives on the moon."

Ying was taken aback. Wasn't it Columbia that lived on the moon?

Before she could speak, Zhong Li said, "In the interesting stories of Liyue, this White Horse Immortal has quite a few identities."

“Oh, I know, I know,” Paimon chimed in. “This afternoon, Walnut said that the White Horse Immortal is Golden-Eyed, riding the Yellow Moon Steed, one of the Eight Wonders.”

"Xingqiu said that there is also a legend in Qingce Village that the White Horse Immortal emerged from the clear spring and transformed into an immortal to assist the Rock King Emperor in battle. In the Chenyu Valley area, some tribes regard this immortal as the daughter of time, believing that she is an immortal who lived in an earlier era."

"Xingqiu also said that among the artifacts unearthed this time, she is also a messenger who listens to the wishes of mortals and spreads the blessings of the heavens and the moon to the mortal world."

Now that Paimon has a student status in the Yinlun School, his memory seems to have improved, and he recounted the story of the White Horse Sage that Xingqiu told him that afternoon.

At this point, Zhong Li glanced at Wang Yan unintentionally and saw that his expression changed slightly, as if he had thought of something.

This is fake!

Wang Yan certainly knew the story of the White Horse Immortal, but when he noticed Zhong Li's gaze, he subconsciously made a reaction.

He just didn't know why Zhong Li had brought him here and drawn him into the story of Ziba's resurrection.

But this doesn't prevent Wang Yan from pre-determining his own role and identity.

If Zhongli believed that he was a scholar who had been blessed by angels by accident, then Wang Yan should have responded, and must have responded, when he heard the words "messenger who spreads the grace of the heavens and the moon to the mortal world".

Therefore, Wang Yan's expression changed slightly.

Nearby, Paimon, clearly unaware of the subtle exchange between Wang Yan and Zhong Li, continued talking:

"Hehe, we came to find Zhongli because we heard their story but still couldn't figure out who the White Horse Immortal was."

Ying nodded in agreement: "I just didn't expect that in Zhongli, the White Horse Immortal would have another identity as the God of the Land."

"Why are you asking about the White Horse Immortal? Is there something you need?" Zhong Li asked the two of them.

"It's like this..." Paimon recounted his encounter with Lu Weng, the owner of the [White Horse Inn], from whom he learned about the White Horse Immortal; his conversation with Zhan Zhu Swallowing the Moon at the Three Bowls Port; and his meeting with Lan Yan and others at the General Affairs Department, where they discussed the Moon's Darkness, among other things, to Xing Shu.

"Hmm, sounds like another big problem." Beidou's expression also turned serious, no longer as casual as before.

Yun Jin frowned even more: "Won't something bad happen..."

"You can rest assured about that. With Ningguang around, if something really serious happened, Liyue Harbor would have been under martial law long ago." Beidou waved his hand. "The fact that it's not under martial law yet means it's not a big deal."

As he spoke, Beidou suddenly looked at Wang Yan: "Wang Yan, can you understand Langguang Nainao Zheng Jun?"

She remembered that it was Wang Yan who had just deciphered the bamboo slips and told her about the God of the State.

Wang Yan nodded: "I know a little."

“Alright, how about you and I go see Ningguang after the event? Maybe she needs someone who can translate ancient texts to help her,” Beidou invited.

Wang Yan was taken aback, then looked at Zhong Li.

Zhong Li remained calm: "Tianquan has always been generous to people. If Mr. Wang Yan has time, it would be fine for him to go."

They took me to an antique exhibition and then asked me to help Tianquan...

and many more!

A flash of inspiration struck Wang Yan.

There are several elements to Zibe's resurrection.

First, she perished while shielding the people from the celestial nails, and her soul was frozen into three strands of origin by the ruler of time, Ishtar, and sealed in the bodies of the three corpse gods. The reunion of these three corpse gods is the basis for the resurrection of Zibe.

Secondly, Zhongli attempted to resonate with the spirit of Ziba by founding the Festival of the Moon, and has been trying to establish a connection for thousands of years, laying the groundwork for his later resurrection.

Third, the people of Liyue released lanterns and chanted prayers, using their wishes to pass through the anomaly of Zhan Zhu devouring the moon, causing the three souls to successfully merge and fuse when the moon's shadow collapsed.

Only when all three of the above conditions are met can Ziba be successfully resurrected.

So, what do these three points have to do with Wang Yan?

It's very simple.

Qi Yi, the blessing of the Flower Goddess carries the power of the moon. If the Traveler does not appear, Zhong Li may be able to communicate with the moon through the blessing on Wang Yan and bring the Upper Corpse God (Zi Ju) in the moon shadow back to reality.

Secondly, with the Traveler, who is connected to the orthodox Moon God, Zhongli can avoid relying on Wang Yan's blessing. However, Wang Yan's influence on Langya is limited. The traveler can also help revive Langya by gathering the people's will and power.

It can be said that Zhongli had already arranged everything after meeting Wang Yan.

After figuring it out, Wang Yan wasn't angry. He just thought to himself that this old man was indeed naive and foolish.

However, Wang Yan is not opposed to participating in the resurrection of Ziba.

Regarding the angel's blessing, Zhongli only mentioned responsibility, but not the source of that responsibility. Wang Yan will definitely ask Zibai about this.

Um?and many more!

Wang Yan suddenly realized what was happening.

Could it be that Zhong Li deliberately kept quiet so that I could see through his deceit and follow his plan?

Thinking of this, Wang Yan subconsciously looked at Zhong Li.

Zhongli looked at him in the same way, his eyes gentle, even showing a hint of intimacy.

'Tch, let's not overthink it. The more I think about it, the scarier it gets.'

Wang Yan muttered to himself, then nodded to Beidou: "Of course, I have no interest in Langya."

"Haha, it's settled then." Beidou patted Wang Yan on the shoulder.

Fortunately, the blessing of the Flower Goddess made Wang Yan's body much stronger, otherwise he might have been shrunk by the slap.

On the other side, Yun Jin was also asking Zhong Li, "Mr. Zhong Li, do you have any more stories about Zhan Zhu swallowing the moon?"

She wanted to write a new play based on this story.