While I was in Mondstadt, I never imagined becoming a god.

"The departure of the Emperor is of great significance to Liyue Harbor."

His voice was as gentle as usual, making it impossible to discern anything amiss.

Xu Chuan listened and waited a moment.

Unfortunately, Zhongli did not continue.

Is that really all there is to it?

Zhongli turned her head and glanced at him.

Xu Chuan met that gaze.

"I think the Rock King Emperor is playing a long game."

Zhongli stopped walking.

He turned around and looked directly at Xu Chuan.

The lantern light shone from the side, dividing his face into light and shadow.

There was a glimmer in his amber eyes, the kind of glimmer that only appears when someone is truly intrigued.

"Oh? What insightful opinion does Mr. Xu have?"

His tone was a fraction higher than usual.

But for Zhongli, this was already a huge emotional upheaval.

Xu Chuan keenly noticed this change.

"I'm sure Mr. Zhongli has already heard about this from Hu Tao."

Xu Chuan put his hands behind his back and took another step. "It was the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons who escorted me all the way to Liyue."

"To have the renowned Demon-Slaying Great Sage escort you," Zhongli nodded, "Xu Keqing's affinity with immortals is quite profound."

He said this without any extra expression on his face.

There was no surprise, nor even a hint of asking further questions.

Bathed in the lantern light, Zhongli's expression was as calm as an ancient well that never ripples.

Xu Chuan looked at his calm and composed demeanor.

A thought suddenly popped into my head, like a seed that had been buried under a stone for a long time, sprouting without me even realizing it.

I wanted to break the calm on that face.

He wanted to see under what circumstances this 6,000-year-old Rock King Emperor would finally lose his composure.

Once the thought popped into my head, I couldn't take it back.

Xu Chuan pondered for a moment.

Why did I suddenly think this way?

Logically speaking, he shouldn't have had such thoughts.

But he just suddenly appeared, and no reason could be found.

Xu Chuan decided to stop looking and follow his heart.

“I heard something from the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons.”

Xu Chuan spoke, his tone becoming serious, carrying the solemnity one would show when discussing academic matters.

"When the demon god falls, it is no different from a natural disaster. That great power will obliterate everything around it, leaving not a single blade of grass."

He paused, and Zhongli didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

"But this did not happen when King Yan passed away."

"So, I think he's still alive."

He turned around and faced Zhongli.

The two were two steps apart, with a warm yellow patch of light cast by the lantern between them.

The sea breeze blew in from the direction of the dock, lifting the hem of Zhongli's robe and also lifting the cuffs of the Liyue outfit that Xu Chuan had changed into.

"Furthermore," Xu Chuan emphasized the last few words, "he is very likely in Liyue Harbor, watching all of this."

If you're acting, then I'll act too.

Xu Chuan couldn't help but think this to himself; he wanted to see who would give themselves away first.

Fortunately, the person opposite them was Zhongli.

Having lived through thousands of years, the Rock King Emperor didn't care about any of this.

When a visitor from another world guessed his identity, he simply nodded slightly and said, "Generally speaking, rationally speaking..."

If it were General Thunder, the Eternal Practitioner would probably have enshrined him in a statue immediately, to keep him company with an entire wall of Eyes of God.

"Generally speaking, this is indeed the case."

Zhongli nodded.

There was no panic, no denial, and not even a trace of embarrassment at being exposed in his tone.

He simply acknowledged Xu Chuan's reasoning, like acknowledging a student's correct answer in class, nothing more.

"Then what do you think?" Zhongli started walking again, "What exactly is the Rock King Emperor's purpose?"

The pier was not far away, the fishy smell in the air was getting stronger, and the sound of the tides crashing against the embankment was becoming clearer.

"Who knows?" Xu Chuan lowered his voice, as if he were just mentioning it casually. "Maybe he wants to pursue his own freedom, just like the wind god of Mondstadt."

This line was just copied from a bard who claimed to be the best in Mondstadt.

Judging God by one's own standards.

But what he's about to say isn't something he learned.

"However, I am not a god after all, and I can only speculate from my own perspective."

“To judge others by oneself…” He paused deliberately, “No, to judge God by oneself.”

Xu Chuan noticed that Zhong Li's shoulder had been slightly adjusted, a subtle adjustment as if he was "ready to listen attentively."

"I think he might be tired."

Xu Chuan released these six words one by one.

"After all, even the strongest rock cannot withstand the erosion of time."

Xu Chuan said this without blushing or skipping a beat.

I learned this from that bard; it's all his fault.

Wendy can spout nonsense while holding the Sky Harp without batting an eye, and he can also plagiarize what Grandpa Zhongli said without batting an eye.

Sure enough, this statement had a very good effect.

Zhongli's calm and composed expression did indeed show a slight change.

Zhongli's profile seemed to freeze for a moment in the lantern light.

The lotus lamp reflected in the amber pupils flickered, then remained still.

After a moment, he came to his senses.

Xu Chuan gave him no chance to catch his breath.

"If only I could meet this Rock King Emperor in person."

He looked away and gazed at the distant sea.

The moonlight shattered into countless silver scales on the waves, rising and falling with the rhythm of the tide. "I'd really like to talk to him."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhongli again.

"It would be a wonderful thing to sign a contract with this god who is in charge of contracts."

The calm that had just been broken in Zhongli's amber eyes was beginning to return.

"As you said," Zhongli's voice returned to its usual gentle and steady tone, "Perhaps that day will come."

Xu Chuan nodded without changing his expression.

Even at this point, the old man still refused to budge.

It seems he's determined not to reveal his identity under any circumstances.

Okay, you keep acting, I'll act with you.

"I take Mr. Zhongli's auspicious words as a sign. If it really comes to pass, I will definitely invite you to witness it."

Xu Chuan strode forward and continued walking side by side with Zhong Li.

We've arrived at the dock.

The sea breeze surged in from the other side of the breakwater, carrying moisture and hitting my face.

In the distance, a lighthouse rotated its beam in the night, sweeping across the sea every few seconds.

“Oh, right.” Xu Chuan seemed to suddenly remember something, “If the Geo Archon is really still watching over Liyue Harbor, there’s something I’d like to say to him.”

Zhongli tilted his head slightly.

The lantern lights have become sparse, and the dock area is mainly illuminated by moonlight and lighthouses.

The moonlight outlined his silhouette with a silver edge, and the expression on his face was hidden in the dim light.

But Xu Chuan noticed that his tone was slightly gentler than before.

"Oh, what did you say?"

"Cough cough."

Xu Chuan cleared his throat.

"I'm planning to leave Liyue Harbor to travel around."

Zhongli nodded. Young people should travel around to broaden their horizons, especially those from other places.

If the other party could witness all the events in Liyue and bring them into the Star Sea, that would be wonderful.

"Teyvat is much more dangerous than my hometown. I hope he can protect me."

Zhong Li chuckled lightly, seemingly thinking that Xu Chuan's words were no different from those of ordinary believers.

He had heard far too many prayers for divine protection over the past thousands of years.

However, he would make an exception for this little guy.

Just as Zhong Li convinced himself, Xu Chuan raised a finger.

"I'm a very content person."

"Once we leave Liyue, he won't need to worry about me anymore. Of course, if he doesn't mind the trouble, I'd be happy to oblige."

Zhongli stopped walking, standing still like a stone statue suddenly frozen in time.

The sea breeze lifted the hem of his robe, but he didn't pay it any mind.

The moonlight shone on his profile, and Xu Chuan could clearly see that the muscles at the corner of the mouth of this 6,000-year-old Rock King Emperor twitched almost imperceptibly.

He didn't reply.

It's not that I don't want to answer, it's that I don't know how to answer.

Even with Zhongli's cultivation over thousands of years.

At this moment, he was also somewhat stunned by Xu Chuan's words.

What do you mean by saying that once you leave Liyue you don't have to put in any effort?

Does this mean that you have to put in a lot of effort in Liyue?

He understood, but precisely because he understood, he was even more unsure how to react.

Xu Chuan took in Zhong Li's silence.

This is a method I developed through in-depth study of Xiao's advanced experience.

Before each time the Great Sage Who Subdued Demons went out to exorcise demons, he would report to the Emperor, not only to request the Emperor's permission, but also to make a formal report.