Genshin Impact: I, the Winter's Executor, am forced to work.

In Tianli's view, this was already the fuse that caused Zhongli and Qin Ye to go their separate ways. Even if the Ice Queen's actions were not right, Tianli believed that she would not immediately sweep across the six kingdoms and return to being herself.

Moreover, without Zhongli, who would provide him with the power? Who would protect him while he was collecting the Heart of God as an executor?

"I know that in Brother Qin's eyes, my existence is the most important cornerstone for the plan to continue, but what if I had the power to overturn the laws of nature from the very beginning?"

"..."

Qin Ye fell silent. He hadn't expected that someone as composed as Zhong Li would have such a stubborn and narrow-minded idea.

"I don't need you to do these things."

This was his honest opinion. From the perspective of his subjects, he hoped for a leader like the Emperor, but as a friend, he felt the opposite, because this person had too strong a sense of responsibility. Over a thousand years, he had to both develop and innovate, which was very difficult for an ordinary person.

As people reach a certain age, their thinking inevitably becomes rigid. Zhongli has already put a lot of pressure on his own mind to get to where he is now.

Zhongli raised his head slightly and continued his narration.

With his exceptional memory, even without experiencing wear and tear, every detail of the past, the passing of a friend, is a source of pain for him.

Looking back to the end of the Kanria war, when disaster swept across the continent, he had already done everything he could to rush back to Liyue, only to be met with the impending end of a great war.

He still appeared to suppress all disasters, and the people called out the name of the Emperor as before.

Whenever he thinks of him walking down the street, brushing past the crippled Thousand Rock Army soldiers who are helping each other, and how they attribute their victory to the Emperor's divine intervention, it creates an extraordinary pressure.

"I do not have your ability to see the big picture and be comprehensive like Brother Qin, nor do I have the wisdom of Gui Zhong. If any one of you were to become the emperor, the outcome would likely be different."

It's not that Zhongli is being self-deprecating; he only says this because he hopes someone can do better. To him, the people of Liyue and his former friends are even more important than himself.

After all, in the past thousand years, who else could stand by his side and listen to his true thoughts?

A thousand years have passed, yet this single sentence, which wasn't even a complaint, earned Qin Ye's admiration.

Zhongli was indeed thinking of Liyue's best interests.

"So you think that even if you take office again, you won't be able to do your best?"

"Brother Qin understands me."

"I see."

This suggests that, in Zhongli's view, humanity's self-reliance and striving for progress have far surpassed his own innovative vision. He has been in power for far too long, so long that even the people of Liyue only trust his decisions.

It's as if a Sumeru being who relies on the void will become mindless.

The people of Liyue had already developed slash-and-burn agriculture even without Columbia's help. The people nurtured and raised on this land must never lose the resilience in their bones.

"That's why you admire Master Ke so much... that little girl from Yuheng Star."

"exactly."

"hehe."

Qin Ye shook his head helplessly.

This kid said he'd be a hands-off boss after stepping down, but he still thinks about everything that needs to be thought of.

"There's one more thing I need to apologize to Brother Qin." Zhongli's tone returned to that of a friend.

"Oh? And there's something about you, King Rock, wronging the Eight Desolations?"

Qin Ye's tone became teasing.

"Heh, I made a pact with Brother Qin back then that we shouldn't forge Mora lightly..."

"...So you've finally started committing crimes because you owe too much money?"

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Oh no, I've become a chat pro!

"Brother Qin's words are quite interesting. Although I usually write many IOUs, I will always repay them in full in the end."

"..."

Well said. Next time, I won't use money from Beiguo Bank and Wangshengtang.

"When the war ended, Liyue was in dire need of reconstruction. Even Ganyu and the Seven Stars were struggling financially with Mora. To provide relief to those whose families had fallen soldiers, I..."

"Well, there's no need to worry about that too much. I told you that before so that you would realize the importance of your abilities to the people and that you shouldn't let personal matters interfere with public duty. There's no contract between us, and besides, you did nothing wrong."

Qin Ye had heard that at some point in time, a mysterious collector appeared in Liyue who collected the relics of those who died in battle at high prices. He didn't force anyone; he just quietly provided the money to collect them.

If it were Qin Ye, he would have to squeeze more money out of other countries. Zhong Li has already been very generous; at least he's more human than Qin Ye.

"Brother Qin's words have put my mind at ease." Zhongli sighed, his tone filled with relief. "Brother Qin, you've been gone for a year. Is there something important that you've come to see me today?"

Zhongli noticed that Qin Ye kept talking about Liyue. Based on his understanding of his good brother, even if he didn't say that he wouldn't do something without a reason, he was definitely not the kind of person who would just wander around aimlessly.

Aside from spending time with his two girlfriends.

"Oh, right, you've finally gotten to the point."

Qin Ye nodded in satisfaction and stepped on the ground of Tianheng Mountain.

"That kid lost his life here back then."

Listening to the other person talking to himself, Zhongli immediately understood that Qin Ye was talking about the True Lord of Yixiao Daotian.

“I didn’t know how long it would take me to digest the power of the abyss, so I had to take a more aggressive approach at the end. Before that battle, I used the ley lines to preserve their information.”

He stretched out his palm, slowly squatted down, and connected with the earth's veins.

Soon after, a pair of antlers emerged from the ground accompanied by light.

"You always loved to show off, how about that? Saving the people of Liyue with your two horns, and even being worshipped by everyone at the Lantern Festival, wasn't that a good enough show of it?"

Qin Ye muttered softly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes: "You still make the brothers think about you day and night, and you get the limelight and are even hailed as a hero. What kind of good thing is that?"

The power of the earth's veins formed the deer's body, and the energy from the antlers surged forth and seeped into the gradually forming body.

These two antlers not only possess the divine power of the Rock King Emperor, but more importantly, they also have the help of the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies True Monarch. Qin Ye will not go into details about what tricks he played back then.

"what happened?"

The deer gradually transformed into human form, and the man covered his forehead, seemingly still in a daze.

"High~ How do you feel?"

Qin Ye smiled and patted the man's shoulder.

"It's the Eight Desolations... This tone might be okay if it came from a cute girl, but it's really annoying coming from you."

Yi Xiaodao Tianzhenjun gently rubbed the back of his head. He felt as if he had been soaking in water for years... no, that would be unbearable to look at. His handsome face was unmatched.

I remember achieving the coolest moment of my life, and then my horns disappeared...

He reached out and touched the top of his head...

I touched it again, uncertainly.

She strained...afraid her handsome face would swell up, and looked at Qin Ye...

Because he was afraid the other person would slap him, he pinched his arm hard.

Qin Ye was relieved to see that this lunatic was as blank as ever.

"What exactly am I...?"

Yi Xiao stroked his antlers, lost in thought.

Half a day later, he came to a conclusion: "My character is still as handsome as ever."

His eyes turned to another person present: "Hey! Isn't this the Emperor? You're still alive and well, huh?"

“…” Zhongli frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed and said, “Yes, as you can see.”

"Wait a minute, your smile... it's like you're seeing a dead person crawl out of the ground. Hiss..."

Memory has finally regained its footing.

"Strange...I'm not?"

Yes, I've already...

"So, have you figured it out now?"

Qin Ye finally joined the conversation, because he knew that his good companion had recovered from the chaotic state he had just been resurrected.

Zhenjun staggered towards the edge of Tianheng Mountain, his hand still on his forehead, the dizziness still lingering.

A calm sea, bustling streets, a peaceful scene.

Suddenly I felt a slight itch on my cheek.

I touched my face with my hand, only to find that my fingers were already wet with tears.

"That's wonderful, that's wonderful indeed..."

He, who was usually very talkative, suddenly became serious.

How much time has passed now?

He became unusually sentimental.

"Brother Zhongli, do you see? The candidate for Emperor Yan has been decided, hasn't it?"

Qin Ye, however, was chatting and laughing with Zhong Li.

“From a purely rational perspective, even ten Yi Xiaos might not be able to handle it.” Zhong Li shook his head regretfully, clearly having given it considerable thought.

"Don't chat amongst yourself when others are moved!"

The True Lord reverted to his usual impulsive self and rushed to the two of them, saying, "When we signed the contract, I wasn't your subordinate. At least show some concern for me!"

"Do you know who you're talking to right now?" Qin Ye raised an eyebrow teasingly.

"Emperor Yan Wang and True Lord of the Eight Desolations and Six Directions?"

"No, it is the law of nature."

"???" Yi Xiao looked Qin Ye up and down, left and right, and asked, "You?"

He stared blankly at Zhongli, only to see the other nod in agreement.

"Haha, well, you guys talk your way, I'll just listen."

Oh no, how did this kid suddenly become the Emperor's boss?