I, the Rock King Emperor with 21 billion in power, have joined the chat group.

Zhongli found a square table with only one person and sat down. He nodded slightly to the young girl who was eating noodles and asked, "Excuse me, may I sit here?"

“Of course…” The girl with purple hair and cute high pigtails stopped eating her noodles. She looked up and saw Zhong Li’s face clearly, and was so shocked that she stood up straight.

"The Rock King..."

Before she could even finish her surprised words, Zhongli waved his hand gently at her.

A force she couldn't perceive suddenly gagged the young girl and forced her to sit down.

"Miss Yuhengxing, please be quiet while eating."

Zhongli waved his hand leisurely, signaling Xiangling, who was serving food nearby, to come and take their order.

The energetic girl with a modified bun hairstyle ran over as usual. She stood in front of Zhongli and said excitedly, "Ah~! It's Mr. Zhongli. It's been so long since you've come."

"I've prepared a ton of them..."

Xiangling held up her bare, snow-white arm and drew a big circle to indicate that there really was a lot.

"There are so many new foods. But many people can't get used to them. I was thinking that if it were Mr. Zhongli, who is willing to try all kinds of new products, he would definitely be able to give me real feedback."

"I've been waiting for you for so long."

“Hmm.” Zhong Li nodded slightly, seemingly indifferent. “No rush. I’ll be coming over in the next few days so I can try all your new products. That’s one of the joys of my life.”

"Okay." Xiangling winked playfully, made a peace sign at Zhongli, and quickly ran towards the kitchen—it seemed she had indeed prepared a lot of new dishes, waiting for Zhongli to taste them.

Turning his gaze back, Zhongli looked at Keqing, the Jade Constellation Star, who had been sitting silently since the beginning, and said softly and gently, "Jade Constellation Star, there is no need to make a fuss. Everyone should know that I am still in Liyue Harbor, and the immortals are also well aware of it."

"I just came to Wanmintang for a meal, just like you like to eat noodles at Wanmintang."

Yuhengxing nodded slightly.

Zhongli gently tapped the table with his fingertips, and instantly, the power binding Yuheng Star vanished without a trace.

"Hello, Mr. Zhongli..."

After a moment of silence, Ke Qing carefully considered her words before greeting him.

Zhongli took a sip of tea and nodded in response.

"Why...why are you leaving?" Ke Qing asked, her expression inquisitive, directly voicing her biggest question.

She seemed to have experienced a lot during Zhongli's absence, so when she asked questions, she was less sharp and more composed and reminiscent.

"Just like you said before."

Zhongli responded calmly.

"You are proud to be a Liyue human."

“Although you are a noble of Liyue, your thoughts and actions are not for your own selfish desires. I can guarantee that with my own conscience.”

"You make too many demands on many things because you can't stand the Liyue people's lack of ambition, and they only hope for the mercy of the Geo Archon."

"The reason you asked the Geo Archon those questions was to urge the people of Liyue to be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace, and to know that relying on oneself is the right path."

"Your actions are all for the justice of Liyue, and your heart is without a single flaw."

Ke Qing's expression did change slightly; she pouted and stammered.

"Although I said it before, but..."

“No need for but.” Zhongli interrupted her, raising his head and staring into her bluish-purple, glass-like eyes with his pale golden dragon eyes.

"That's the right way."

"That's something I've been thinking about too."

Zhongli's resolute words caused Keqing's expression to change once again.

Her face flushed slightly at first, and she seemed a little shy, but then she became calm, as if she had thought of something.

His voice carried a hint of resolute understanding.

“Lord Zhongli, even today I do not regret my conversation with you in the Hall of Rebirth that day.”

Zhongli nodded slightly: "I still remember Yuheng Star, which was at the forefront of the times."

"However, I want to remind you that you must remember your current thoughts. I have seen countless mortals, and in general terms, every mortal has moments of depravity and deviation from their ideals."

"For mortals, time is both the best friend and the worst enemy."

“Keqing, just like the three questions I asked you that day.” Zhongli put down his teacup, calmly gazing at the bustling Liyue Harbor outside Wanmin Hall, and said softly, “Today, I also want to ask you a question.”

Ke Qing nodded slightly, her expression serious: "Please speak."

Zhongli's question was indeed almost exactly the same as that day.

"What are you doing in Liyue Harbor, where the Emperor has already departed?"

This question clearly startled Ke Qing.

Before she could say anything, Zhongli continued, "Did you really do what you said that day, 'There must always be someone at the forefront of the times, personally paving new paths. Yuheng Star must step up without hesitation'?"

After saying this, Zhongli closed his eyes and remained silent.

Meanwhile, on the delicate face of Yuhengxing Keqing, a conflicted and complicated expression was revealed.

Many thoughts raced through her mind: frustration at her own shortcomings, worry about the booming real estate industry in Liyue Harbor—she was responsible for the land and buildings of Liyue—and hatred for the powerful and influential merchants in Liyue Harbor who deceived their superiors and had connections everywhere.

After waiting for Keqing's expression to change several times and for her to examine herself for a long time, Zhongli continued, "Actually, when the Emperor was still in power, you did a very good job as the ruler of Yuheng. At least, you ensured that the property prices in Liyue Harbor, which gathers the essence of all the people of Liyue, were not outrageous. You strictly controlled property prices and created policies that benefited the people, so that even ordinary people had a place to shelter."

"But at that time, the Emperor was still in power. With the Emperor's tacit approval, the other members of the Liyue Seven Stars did not make things difficult for you. The major merchant guilds under their control could only follow your system."

"But today, the Emperor has abdicated, and the Seven Stars of Liyue each have their own responsibilities and are equal in rank. When you formulate policies that affect the interests of the major merchant guilds, they sometimes ask the Seven Stars of Liyue, who are of the same rank as you, to give you face or transfer benefits to you so that the policies you formulate are slightly biased towards them."

"These kinds of things happen a lot nowadays, don't they?"

Ke Qing remained silent.

“If you insist on your point of view, the other Seven Stars will inevitably be unhappy. You are all Seven Stars with them, so naturally you have some mutual respect. There will also be times when you need their help.”

"So, you're also going through some torment. Is that true or not?"

Zhongli's analysis was practically a mirror image of Keqing's current situation.

She couldn't help but nod slightly.

Seeing her expression, Zhongli continued speaking calmly.

"Then, let me ask for more details."

"Yuhengxing, do you think it's more important for the big merchants to make more profits in Liyue Harbor, or for ordinary people to live a better life?"

To this question, Keqing tossed her twin ponytails and answered without hesitation: "Of course, the lives of ordinary Liyue people are more important. However, does the interest of the Great Merchant Guild conflict with the good life of ordinary people?"

Zhongli did not answer the question, but continued to ask.

"Hmm... So, Yuheng Star, do you think Liyue is Liyue for merchants, or Liyue for all ordinary people in Liyue?"

Ke Qing was taken aback, but continued to answer.

"Of course, Liyue belongs to all ordinary people in Liyue, but merchants are also ordinary people in Liyue. Does that mean merchants and ordinary people are opposed to each other?"

Zhongli still didn't answer, but asked for the third time.

Is the Rock Tea House still there?

This question left Keqing stunned once again, and she shook her head slightly.

"...Still there."

"Never mind." Zhongli looked at Xiangling, who had already come out of the kitchen, and abruptly stopped the conversation.

"My new dishes have arrived. Your noodles must be getting cold. Would you like to have some with me?"

Ke Qing's expression turned strange at the sudden change of words, but she didn't say anything. She just looked at Zhong Li's pale golden pupils and nodded slightly: "Mm."

......

After an unknown amount of time, Yuheng Star Keqing returned to her courtyard in a daze.

Her home is a vast, garden-like building, one of the largest and most luxurious in Liyue Harbor.

As the daughter of Liyue's largest real estate developer and one of Liyue's ancient nobles, she was naturally born into such a vast and luxurious place.

However, she also knew from a young age that not everyone could live in this place. There were many people in Liyue who couldn't even afford a regular brick house.

That's why she became the Jade Balance Star, so that everyone could live in a house like hers.

She sat by the artificial hill and stream in her home, pondering Zhongli's questions. The more she thought about it, the more she considered the details, and the more alarmed she became.

In the end, when she looked at the artificial hill and flowing water beside her, she felt a different kind of beauty.

Where did the money to build this artificial mountain and water feature come from? What does being the biggest real estate developer mean?

.........

After finishing the last bite of the [Crystal Glazed Dragon Lizard Core Galaga Slime Set Meal], Zhongli nodded to the [Young Master] who had just appeared and was about to eat, asked him to pay, and then left Wanmintang.

Today's chance encounter with Ke Qing, the star of Jade Balance, was just a small accident.

For Zhongli, his primary goal now is to obtain the computing power support of the [Multiverse Chat Group] to deduce his own path forward.

The events unfolding on the land of Liyue no longer held much interest for him.

However, since we've already met by chance, offering a few words of advice to the most promising person to gain some inspiration is just a matter of a few casual remarks.

So why not?

Chapter Four: With the Traveler, With the Sleeper

It was a pleasant afternoon.

The once peaceful Zhongli courtyard was suddenly filled with noise.

It was springtime, and all sorts of fragrant flowers gathered in the courtyard, yet they didn't appear chaotic; instead, they created a strange harmony.

At the corners, the elegant and radiant glass lilies do not compete for fragrance, while in the center, the magnificent and luxurious rainbow flowers bloom. A windmill chrysanthemum sways in the wind on the wall, and a pair of pure and serene flowers stand proudly atop the artificial hill.

Zhongli stood in the courtyard, his hands behind his back, admiring the beautiful scenery of the glass lilies.

A familiar yet noisy voice suddenly appeared.

"Hey, Zhongli, we've come to see you."