Genshin Impact, I, a mere mortal, cannot accompany you to the very end.

The clean, even cut of the broken sword seemed to tell a story of what it had been through.

"Yes... ah, it's a sword. It's the sword of the Salt God."

Wan Yan's eyes rippled as she stared intently at the broken sword, almost murmuring, "It's a broken sword. This is evidence that the Salt Demon God once rebelled."

Compared to the salt ruler and salt container, this broken sword, shattered in battle, serves as more evidence to reveal the truth of history.

What the Ginhara Hall needs most are these two broken swords; their research value is the most precious!

They should abandon the salt ruler and take the broken sword instead.

Wan Yan gazed at Mr. Zhongli with a slightly complicated expression, and involuntarily recalled the man's advice in her mind. Could it be that all of this was within Zhongli's expectations?

—Did he know what the next relic would be?

Were we outmaneuvered by Mr. Zhongli?

But in fact, no, quite the opposite; Mr. Zhongli even gave the correct advice.

Unfortunately, I did not heed this gentleman's advice.

She had always known that this Mr. Zhongli was erudite and mysterious, but he was actually this enigmatic. A fine sheen of sweat appeared on Wanyan's forehead; she was indeed beginning to regret her previous choice.

Or rather, deep regret.

According to the rule of taking items in order, it's Qingnuoyan's turn to take the broken sword this time.

"Wait a minute..." she said involuntarily.

Qing Nuoyan stopped, staring at her calmly without saying a word.

Ying, standing to the side, became indignant. Her bright golden eyes revealed a deep sense of disgust as she stared at Wanyan and said in an unfriendly tone:

What are you going to do now?

Ying disliked the bespectacled female scholar, and she cursed Qing Nuoyan's past life repeatedly, calling him a bastard. "This big idiot is a bad guy?"

What a joke! Bad guys need to be very smart. This guy is stupid and stubborn. He does everything like that. How could he possibly be a bad guy?

Moreover, this guy also stole Qingnuoyan's salt ruler.

"I..." Wan Yan paused, her lips moved, but she remained silent for a long time—it seemed that her pride would not allow her to continue.

But finally, for the sake of what she considered 'right,' she lowered her head. "You want the salt ruler, don't you... I'll give you the salt ruler, and in return, this broken sword..."

Clearly, she knew how rude her request was.

She lowered her eyes, clenched her teeth, and dug her nails into her palms. After making this impolite request, she remembered Mr. Zhongli's last words, and her pupils widened slightly: "Similarly, with appropriate concessions, what belongs to you will eventually return."

Was the second half of the suggestion originally addressed to Qing Nuoyan?

Now, haven't I decided to return the salt ruler to Qingnuoyan?

Wan Yan looked at Mr. Zhongli with the gaze one would use to look at a monster. Could it be that this man had already read her mind...?

Mr. Zhongli remained calm, his dark golden eyes as still as a golden lake, without a single ripple.

Noticing Wanyan's gaze, he coughed lightly and turned the pair of golden lakes towards her. Their eyes met, and Wanyan's slightly flustered expression was reflected in the golden lakes.

“Ms. Wanyan, according to the contract, you have taken the salt ruler, and the broken sword should belong to my friend Qingnuoyan.”

"But...but," she pursed her slightly chapped lips, "we can make a trade, right? As long as he agrees, we can make a trade, right? We can actually achieve a win-win situation...a win-win situation!"

It was rather amusing that after half an hour of Wan Yan's heated debate over the salt ruler, she couldn't wait to return it to Qing Nuoyan, calling it a 'win-win' situation.

A win-win situation; in some ways, it is indeed a win-win situation.

Qing Nuoyan stared at the broken sword, but after only a glance, he looked away without any interest.

This broken sword was indeed useless to Qingnuoyan.

The agreement never mentioned the broken sword; what he needed were the salt ruler and the salt container. Agreeing to Wanyan's request and exchanging them was indeed a win-win situation.

but.

Qing Nuoyan's thoughts were unclear because he had been kidnapped once again—kidnapped time and time again by Wan Yan in the name of righteousness.

Once you've made a choice, you can't regret it; once you've signed a contract, you should abide by it.

He looked calmly at Wanyan.

"Your idea is good, but I refuse."

He has a very good temper; he's made of stone, but that doesn't mean he never gets angry. Even a stone can have its moments of shock.

On the contrary, Qing Nuoyan chose to live a carefree and happy selfish life. In fact, everything he did was selfish, because fulfilling the promise made him feel satisfied and made him more insightful. That's why Qing Nuoyan fulfilled one promise after another.

"you...."

Wan Yan was stunned. She frowned, trying to persuade the young man in front of her by appealing to his interests. Cultured people were always good at this. Her voice softened:

"Nuoyan".

"This sword is broken, and most of its scepter is damaged. It's just an ordinary artifact. Even if you, young man, took it, it wouldn't be worth much, far less than a salt jar... It would be better to leave it for the Ginhara Agency to conduct archaeological work. Perhaps it can help correct historical inaccuracies."

She became more and more excited as she spoke.

His eyes seemed to sparkle.

"What an honorable undertaking that is! You will also have a share in this great achievement... You want money, right? Ginhara-tei can pay you money... lots and lots of money."

"Miss Wanyan."

Qingnuoyan said calmly,

“You’ve got one thing wrong. I don’t need a lot of money, and I have absolutely no interest in your so-called honors—yet you’ve been so arrogant in defining us all along.”

"I came to the Salt of the Earth for only one purpose: to fulfill a promise I made to a friend... and, um, to accompany a certain blonde lady on a trip."

What...?

Not for money and fame?

impossible.

travel...?

Visiting Salt Flats in the Earth?

Wan Yan was stunned, and her first reaction was suspicion.

“We have a contract, and you want to break it. You’ve said this before, haven’t you? Contracts are sacred and fair.”

Qing Nuoyan's pale blue eyes reflected Wan Yan's face. He picked up the two broken sword pieces and handed them to Wan Yan. "Of course I can exchange them with you—"

I can exchange with you.

He said this.

Wan Yan's eyes lit up again.

“However,” Qing Nuoyan calmly gazed at her, “according to the contract, you need to accept the punishment for breaking it.”

He needs to accept punishment...

Those who break the contract shall be punished by being devoured by the rocks.

In fact, Qingnuoyan didn't know what this so-called punishment of eating rocks was. Mr. Zhongli always liked to use strange words, so it couldn't really be a punishment of eating stones... Based on his impression of Zhongli, he shouldn't be so perverse.

Qing Nuoyan's idea was actually very simple: she could change her mind and take the things back, but she had to pay a price, otherwise she would be morally blackmailed... Her own thoughts were not very clear.

punishment.

Wan Yan subconsciously looked at Zhong Li, who was also staring at her.

“Miss Wanyan, the contract is non-negotiable and cannot be violated. The contract tests people’s hearts the most.”

Mr. Zhongli calmly said, "Miss Wanyan, if you wish to exchange the relics, then you will have to accept the 'Salt Punishment.' Have you thought it through?"

The punishment for eating rocks.

Miss Wanyan was stunned. She pursed her lips, her eyes trembled, and after a long while, she finally raised her head, her eyes flashing with what could only be described as fervent emotion:

"For my faith, for the Salt Demon God in my heart, even breaking the contract... I will not hesitate!"

"Morax must have distorted history!"

She said this appearance seemed noble, righteous; she would accept punishment for her faith, for the Salt Demon God in her heart.

—Qing Nuoyan gazed at the believer, involuntarily pondering what kind of Salt Demon God she held in her heart.

It must be very powerful, a strong contender for the throne of the mortal world, and perhaps even very skilled in warfare, which is why Morax fearfully sent Fushe to assassinate it—this is her definition of the Salt God.

But perhaps, that was just the salt god in her heart.

This strange thought flashed through Qing Nuoyan's mind:

Humans are always good at defining, good at imposing impressions, constantly constructing, and have unwavering faith in their own imaginations; therefore, they are very good at 'creating gods'.

"As punishment."

Zhongli's voice was steady and calm, echoing in the empty ruins, "Wanyan, I will tell you the truth—this is the punishment. And Qingnuoyan, do you agree to let me tell her?"

Is telling the truth punishment?

Qingnuoyan was very surprised.

But what's even more surprising is why Zhongli wanted to ask for his opinion?

You even need to give your consent...?

Zhongli gazed calmly at him, and Qing Nuoyan instinctively replied, "Go ahead and speak."

"Wanyan, you need to sign a new contract with me."

Zhongli's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority: "That is, what you hear next... must not be spread."

But his eyes were lowered when he said this.

It's inexplicable.

Qing Nuoyan sensed that Mr. Zhongli seemed to be conflicted—there was a contradiction between the content of his words and the thoughts he longed for in his heart.

Wanyan felt a sudden, unprovoked pang of anxiety. She seemed to have foreseen something, but she couldn't pinpoint it. She overlooked all the contradictions because her emotions were swept up in an almost blind faith.

She raised her head, stared at Mr. Zhongli, and said:

"If you know the truth, then tell me the truth!"