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

Finally, a question arose in his mind.

Where is Grandpa Zhongli?

Where are the people who promised to provide shelter?

He unleashed the power of the Sky Nail, and now the Abyss of Layered Rocks has been blasted into a huge crater.

He completely purified the secret realm, and he lured out the imitators of the Extreme Evil Rider. Skirk, Xiao, and the three True Lords all arrived.

Even after things have escalated to this point, the old man is truly remarkably composed.

On a distant cliff, the night wind rustled through the deserted rocks.

That figure standing there with his hands behind his back is no longer there.

Chapter 103 Ying's Concern (I got off work quite late, the next chapter will be a while later)

Liyue Harbor, Bubulu.

The midday sun was blazing down, and the blinding light shone through the window onto a figure wrapped in bandages like a dumpling.

Layers of white bandages revealed only a pale face and two closed eyes. The person lay upright with their hands folded over their chest.

For some reason, this scene gives off a creepy, warm feeling of a corpse.

After a short while, the rice dumpling moved.

Xu Chuan opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the ceiling above him.

"Another unfamiliar ceiling."

His voice was hoarse, and his tone was extremely weak.

Xu Chuan was already quite adept at this somewhat familiar experience, and didn't experience much emotional fluctuation.

After all, this isn't the first time.

As soon as consciousness returned, the pain surged like a tidal wave.

Every muscle and bone in his body was rebelling.

Xu Chuan's brows furrowed, and his expression was particularly sour.

"hiss--"

He gasped, feeling that he might as well have remained unconscious.

This trip to the Abyss of the Rocky Mountains was truly exhausting.

This was probably the time he was most seriously injured.

The Sky Spikes erupted, and the "Extreme Evil Riders" launched a sneak attack. Being alive and lying here is already a blessing.

As Xu Chuan was battling the pain with his willpower, the door was gently pushed open.

"Xu Chuan, you're awake!"

Paimon flew in first, his eyes full of joy.

Ying followed and sat down by the bed. Her golden eyes carefully examined Xu Chuan before she spoke: "You were unconscious for a day and a night. Paimon and I were very worried."

"Don't worry, you won't die."

Xu Chuan twitched the corner of his mouth, wanting to smile.

He was laughing for a moment when he touched his wound, and his expression instantly contorted.

His eyebrows were furrowed like two caterpillars, and his mouth was half-open but frozen, looking just like an unfinished dough figurine.

"Pfft!"

Paimon couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It was too late for her to cover her mouth; the laughter was exceptionally loud in the quiet room.

Ying raised her hand and tapped Paimon on the head, making a crisp "thud".

“We got the information from Ningguang.”

Ying withdrew her hand and looked at Xu Chuan, "I didn't expect you to be so badly injured in just a few days."

Paimon rubbed his head, which had been hit, and added insult to injury: "Yeah, yeah, Xu Chuan, what did you do?"

"It turns out that Bitwalin was seriously injured back then."

"We just ran into a little trouble." Xu Chuan looked up at the ceiling. "I'm sorry to have worried you."

Ying did not look away.

A hint of surprise appeared on the girl's delicate face, but it was quickly replaced by seriousness.

She had witnessed Xu Chuan's strength, and the thing that had brought him to this state must be related to the gods.

"Next time you encounter this kind of trouble, remember to call me."

The girl's golden eyes looked directly at him, filled with earnestness and sincerity.

"We're friends, aren't we?"

The room fell silent for a moment as soon as he finished speaking.

Xu Chuan opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But when he met those eyes, the words he was about to say stuck in his throat.

A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and even the pain in his body lessened a bit.

“Fine,” he said. “Since you’ve put it that way, I won’t stand on ceremony with you.”

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Ying's face.

"It's long overdue."

……

Meanwhile, at the Qunyu Pavilion.

At this moment, the atmosphere is completely different.

In the magnificent hall, sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the gleaming floor.

But a tense atmosphere permeated the air.

A group of immortals stood in the hall.

Except for Xiao, who maintained his human form, the others all appeared in their original forms.

Ningguang stood in the main seat, smiling and composed.

Xianyun appears in the form of a crane, his voice emanating from the crane's beak, carrying an imposing and dignified aura.

“As the Seven Stars who govern Liyue on behalf of the Emperor, your generation has been far too derelict in your duties.”

Lord Lishui Dieshan nodded, his crane-headed head slightly raised: "Hmm."

The True Lord of Carving Mountains and Building Sunshine nodded in agreement: "Indeed."

Two nods are more embarrassing than any long speech.

"First it was the Emperor's affair, and now even the Layered Rock Abyss is experiencing this kind of trouble."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun took a step forward, his crane claws making a crisp sound as they landed on the polished floor. "When did Liyue become like this?"

She turned her crane neck and glanced at Ningguang and Keqing.

"I have reason to suspect that under your management, Liyue may deviate from the Emperor's ideals."

This statement carries significant weight.

Ningguang remained smiling, listening to all the questions without rushing to defend herself.

The hall was silent for a few seconds.

Ningguang then spoke, her voice unhurried: "I have remembered everything the True Lords have said."

"The Seven Stars have already sent people to thoroughly investigate the matter of the Layered Rock Abyss."

"Once the truth comes out, we will give you all an explanation."

She paused, then added, "As for the Emperor's philosophy..."

She raised her eyes and looked directly at the True Lord Liuyun Borrowing the Wind.

"Liyue has never belonged to any one person. Qixing is merely the Emperor's assistant in managing Liyue."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun didn't speak, but just stared at Ning Guang for a long time.

"The anomalies in the Layered Rock Abyss were not caused by the Seven Stars' oversight."

"The incident happened suddenly, and I believe that you, my esteemed lords, will be able to investigate it thoroughly."

"As for the Emperor's philosophy, we have always followed the Emperor's will in the annual Immortal Invitation Ceremony. We do not know where we have deviated from it?"

Ningguang's retreat as a strategic advance caused the immortals to fall silent for a moment.

At this moment, True Lord of Water and Mountain spoke up, his voice steady: "Since the Seven Stars have already made their arrangements, we shall simply wait for the outcome."

The True Lord of Carving Mountains and Building Sunshine also nodded.

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun glanced at Ning Guang one last time, his crane wings slightly spread: "I hope the explanation you give is worthy of the Liyue left behind by the Emperor."

Xiao, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up.

"The guy we captured from the Abyss of Layered Rocks was corrupted by the remnants of the demon god and lost his mind. We don't have any useful information about him in the short term."

"The breakthrough point is still with Xu Chuan; he should be a witness to the whole incident."

“The Great Sage Who Subdues Demons is absolutely right.”

……

Xu Chuan lay on the bed, listening to Paimon complain about traversing mountains and valleys in Liyue.

Ying then recounted in detail the deeds of the fools.

Although he already knew these things in his mind, he still listened very attentively.

"Dr. Bai told you that you need to rest and remember to take your medicine."

A little girl with a talisman on her forehead walked into the room, interrupting the group's chatter.

She quietly approached, carrying a white porcelain medicine bowl, and spoke softly.

Seeing that Xu Chuan did not move, the little girl continued.

"Qiqi, I will make sure you take your medicine."

"Leave it to me, he's not available to do it right now."

Qi Qi looked at Xu Chuan's hands, which were wrapped in bandages, and nodded.

Ying first helped Xu Chuan up, then took the white porcelain medicine bowl from Qi Qi's hands.

She naturally began to feed Xu Chuan the medicine.

Chapter 104 An Unexpected Joy

Xu Chuan leaned against the pillow, half-lying on the bed.

Bandages were wrapped from his chest to his ankles, making him look like a carefully wrapped mummy.

Ying sat on the edge of the bed, holding a white porcelain medicine bowl in her hand.

She scooped up a spoonful of dark brown medicinal soup, brought it to her lips and blew on it gently until the heat dissipated a little before bringing it to Xu Chuan's lips.

"How is it? Is it hot?"

"It's not hot."

"That's good." Ying scooped up another spoonful. "Come on, open your mouth."

Xu Chuan opened his mouth in perfect compliance.

The medicine bursts with bitterness on the tip of the tongue upon entering the mouth.