He changed Tiwat

Another legend says that a rainbow appears over the sea, with mist surging from it. If a lucky person steps on the rainbow and lands on the island, they will surely discover a long-buried treasure.

But Zhongli knew the truth. The so-called fairy island in the sea, Changhong, was not a treasure trove, but rather the dwelling place of a gigantic demonic beast—the Whirlpool Demon God, the nine-headed sea serpent Oser!

That white rainbow piercing the sun was an unusual phenomenon emanating from the demonic aura of Oser. Zhongli once personally pierced the white rainbow with his long spear, sealing the vortex demonic god at the bottom of the sea. And today, a thousand years later, the phenomenon of the white rainbow piercing the sun has reappeared.

Even among the diners at "Three Bowls Before Passing Hong Kong," some exclaimed, "Was it dawn just now?" only to be laughed at by their companions for being drunk.

Zhongli's eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he focused his divine power into his pupils. However, no matter how he manipulated his divine power and immortal techniques, he could not discern even a trace of the demon god Oser in Han Fulai. Or rather, no matter how he looked at him, Han Fulai was just an ordinary person. Zhongli pondered the origin of the white rainbow phenomenon, but he could not come up with a conclusion that could convince him.

Han Fulai had no idea that reciting two lines of poetry would nearly alarm all of Liyue's top-tier combat power. He was about to be surrounded by Liyue's three-eyed, five-manifested immortals, receiving top-tier demon god treatment. It's worth noting that the last time all the immortals of Liyue gathered in such a spectacle was three thousand years ago.

Having just recited Li Bai's "Ballad of the Knight-Errant," Han Fulai felt inexplicably exhilarated, experiencing a sense of unrestrained joy and exhilaration, as if all the pent-up frustrations he had suffered in the past had been swept away, leaving him with an indescribable sense of freedom and pleasure.

Zhongli tapped his wine glass lightly with his index finger, and after a long pause, he said, "Good poem," before drinking the wine in one gulp.

Han Fulai then remembered that although Chinese poems were passed down in Teyvat, the names of the poets were not. This must be due to the difference between the two worlds. He wondered if it was a coincidence or something done by a previous time traveler.

After thinking about this for a moment, Han Fulai explained to Zhongli, "These are lines of poetry that I saw in an ancient book before. I don't know much about the author, I only know that he was a banished immortal."

Zhongli nodded, his expression somber. "Before Morax established Liyue, this land was home to many poems that have been passed down through generations. However, the continuous war between the demon gods has caused many of these poems to be lost, leaving only fragments that make it difficult for us to glimpse the brilliance of our ancestors. How elegant and heroic it would be to drink and discuss poetry with them."

Upon hearing this, Han Fulai wanted to have another drink with Zhongli, but little did he know that the wine pot was already completely empty.

Zhongli picked up his wine jug, only to find it empty as well. He immediately smiled bitterly, “The mood hasn’t quite arrived, but the wine is already gone. What can I do?”

Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, or perhaps it was because the suppressed emotions of the past few days had found an outlet, but Han Fulai suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit. He looked at Zhongli and said loudly, "Although I do not possess the elegance of the ancients, I am somewhat familiar with their heroic spirit. Since Mr. Zhongli is interested, would you be willing to listen to a story?"

Zhongli nodded and said, "Of course I'm willing. It's a pity you have a story, but I have no wine."

Han Fulai laughed and pointed behind Zhongli. De Gui, the owner of "Three Bowls and You Can't Cross the Harbour," was passing by behind the two men with a pot of wine, ready to refill the other customers' glasses.

Han Fulai stood up, snatched the wine pot from Degui's hand, and placed it in front of Zhongli.

"In this way, Mr. Zhongli has wine, and I have stories."

De Gui was startled to see that the person who stole his wine was Han Fulai, this "little thief." He was furious, but he couldn't show it in front of Mr. Zhongli.

Han Fulai ignored Degui's anger, his face still bearing a provocative smile:

"Boss, I heard that Tian Tiezui can't tell stories today, so I'll fill in for him. If I can win a standing ovation, you'll treat me to a pot of 'Three Bowls Before Crossing the Harbor,' how about it?"

De Gui frowned with disdain, preparing to refuse this seemingly drunken young man, but then he saw Mr. Zhongli, who was sitting at the table, nod slightly to him.

Anyway, with Mr. Zhongli here, there's no need to worry about who will pay for this pot of wine. Degui curled his lip and replied, "I'll let you tell a story here. If you don't do it well and get booed, don't even think about shortchanging me on the wine."

"Heh, then listen carefully!" Han Fulai picked up the empty wine glass on the table, flicked it with his finger, and made a clear, ringing sound.

Most of the patrons around were dockworkers and sailors who would come here after work to "drink three bowls before crossing the harbor" and listen to a story. When they saw someone going on stage to tell a story, they all cheered and made a fuss.

Han Fulai's courage to tell stories didn't come from Liang Jingru. When he was a child, his family was poor and they didn't have any computer games. His usual entertainment was sitting in front of the old transistor radio after dinner. He listened to Mr. Shan's "Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties" and "The Story of Yue Fei" countless times.

The saying goes, "If you can read three hundred Tang poems by heart, you can recite them even if you can't compose them." Han Fulai, emboldened by the wine, had long forgotten stage fright. Holding an empty cup, he strolled to the screen in the shop. That was where Tian Tiezui usually told stories.

Han Fulai cleared his throat, flicked his finger against the cup as a cue, and recited in a loud voice:

"The Moral Rock King became emperor, fame and power were supreme, demons and gods fought for supremacy in the Spring and Autumn Period, and rise and fall were over in an instant."

"A few lines of names in history, countless desolate mounds in vain, the seeds sown by the predecessors are reaped by the successors, nothing more than a struggle between dragons and tigers!"

"He waves a fan before the crowd, slams a gavel on the table, and listens carefully to the story. How many legends have been woven by the storms and turmoil of this land, the passage of time, and the clash of swords?"

Han Fulai's opening remarks were quite impressive, drawing cheers from the patrons. Zhong Li quietly picked up the wine pot and filled his cup.

On the dock behind Zhongli, the young immortal stood atop the mast, his spear "Hepu Kite" reflecting the moonlight, poised to strike.

An elderly woman with white hair stood not far away, her hands behind her back, the dust-removing bell at her waist swaying in the wind.

Two cranes and a deer came flying through the air and landed behind the old woman.

All eyes were fixed on Han Fulai in front of the screen; they were waiting for the command of the Rock King Emperor.

Zhongli held a wine cup, seemingly talking to himself: "Old friends, since you're here, let's listen to a story together."

Chapter Fourteen: Do you recognize Gu Hua?

In the Qunyu Pavilion, Baiwen hurriedly entered the study.

"Lord Ningguang, I have just informed Feng Yan, the instructor of the Thousand Rock Army, that he has assembled the troops on duty at Yujingtai today. Please give your instructions, Lord Ningguang."

Ningguang formed a hand seal, and a light screen formed by condensed elemental power floated in front of her. This was the rumored magic array of the Jade Pavilion.

The rumors circulating among the people of Liyue are not unfounded. Although Ningguang doesn't know everything, she does have a good grasp of most of the information about Liyue Harbor. With her ability to use the Rumor Array, she can see every detail within a hundred miles of Liyue Harbor, but the array is extremely expensive, so Ningguang doesn't activate it casually.

Ningguang stared at the immortals in the picture, as well as Han Fulai, who was speaking eloquently on the stage, and pondered for a long time.

"Baiwen, tell Fengyan. Qianyan Army...does not move."

At the South Wharf of Liyue Harbor, during the "Three Bowls Before Crossing the Harbor" ritual, Han Fulai, standing in front of the screen, was completely unaware that almost all of the high-ranking members of the Liyue Asuras were watching him. At this moment, he loudly proclaimed:

"The story of the Rock King is probably familiar to everyone here, but how many of you know that in the era of the battle between the demon gods, there was a salt demon god named Heuria?"

One viewer questioned, "Shouldn't the Rock Demon God be the Emperor?"

Han Fulai responded with a light laugh:

"Don't be impatient, dear reader. This salt is not that rock. You all need salt for your three daily meals, and the power wielded by this Salt Demon is none other than salt itself!"

"At the foot of the snow-capped mountain, beside the reed-covered isle, there is a ruin called 'Salt in the Earth.' It used to have high mountain springs, terraced fields, pavilions and buildings, and painted boats and pleasure boats, making it a prosperous place. But now, only a deep pit remains."

"However, even the 'Salt of the Earth' is merely the final resting place of the Salt Demon. Do you, dear readers, know how vast and prosperous the Salt Demon Heuria's territory was at its peak?"

"From Wuwangpo in the north to Mingyun Town in the south. From the foot of the snow mountain in the east to Dihua Island in the west. Beautiful mountains, beautiful waters, and beautiful scenery, all of these belong to Heulia's territory."

"It's a pity that Heureia, though a supreme demon goddess, was born in the wrong era. In that turbulent era of demon god wars, she hated the endless fighting and only wished for peace in the world, unable to bear seeing bloodshed and sacrifice. But in this world, is there any peace without bloodshed and sacrifice?"

Han Fulai flicked his wine cup, his voice filled with sorrow:

"North of the Stone Gate, there is also a demon god. He is known as the Demon God of Metal, who controls the power of metal, and his name is Wanyan Liang. This Demon God of Metal is not only powerful, but also has the ambition to conquer the world. He has an army under his command, which is as powerful as the current Thousand Rock Army."

"Wanyan Liang coveted the land of Heuliya and led his army to conquer the south year after year. Heuliya retreated year after year and kept ceding territory to sue for peace."

"Consider this, dear readers: if you try to put out a fire by carrying firewood, will it be extinguished? Heuria's offering of land to gold is far better than carrying firewood to put out a fire. As long as the firewood is exhausted, the fire will not be extinguished. Wanyan Liang has already made up his mind that he will not stop until he has completely seized all of Heuria's land and people!"

Zhongli picked up his wine glass and sighed softly, as if it had stirred up memories of the past.

He took a small sip of the wine in his glass, and then heard Han Fulai play a song while tapping the glass, his voice passionate:

"A three-foot sword and ten thousand scrolls of books, what use is my birthright? If I cannot govern the country and bring peace to the world, how can I presume to call myself a great man!"

"It is said that heroes emerge in times of chaos, and the era of the Demon God War was precisely an era in which heroes arose. Among the people of Heuria, the Salt Demon God, many spontaneously formed an anti-Jin righteous army. They hated the Gold Demon God for his insatiable greed and the Gold army for its cruelty and inhumanity, and they also lamented Heuria's cowardice and incompetence, which led to the destruction of the land and the suffering of the people."

“Back then, in the ‘Salt of the Earth,’ there was a restaurant called ‘Anyuan Restaurant.’ Besides merchants and sailors, the people who frequented it were scholars. At that time, the scholars under the rule of the Salt Demon God liked to climb the tower and look into the distance. They looked at the Stone Gate, the Wuwang Slope, and the Dihua Isle. Looking at these fallen lands, they raised their cups and said they would restore their homeland.”

"In Anyuan Tower, there were scholars, poetry, wine, and singing girls. The most beautiful girl in Anyuan Tower was named Xu Chuchu, who was skilled at playing the guzheng. All the scholars at the time were captivated by her. One day, a scholar passed by Anyuan Tower, carrying a heavy sword and accompanied by a yellow crane. The scholar entered Anyuan Tower, ordered a pot of wine, and listened to Miss Chuchu playing the guzheng."

"The other scholars nearby found him interesting, carrying a sword and a crane, so they struck up a conversation with him and asked him to write a poem. This strange scholar did not refuse, asked for pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and wrote a poem in one go."

"I met Chu Qing before the Yellow Crane Tower, where colorful clouds embraced her graceful figure. We chatted and laughed during the meal, feeling as if a gentle breeze was blowing."

"Her character surpasses Zhang Haohao's, her sentiments are as deep as Xue Qiongqiong's. Listening to the zither being played amidst half a curtain of flowers and moonlight."

The scholars cheered loudly, and the charming young lady smiled gently as she played the zither, the melodies filled with the emotions of a young woman.

"The scholar threw down his pen and ink, saying, 'Gentlemen, please stay and drink; I, Liu, must go and save the country!'"

"This extraordinary man was well-versed in the classics and history, knowledgeable in the strategies of governance and chaos throughout history, possessed military tactics and wisdom, and had a chivalrous spirit. Throughout his life, he moved the world with his integrity and righteousness."

"His surname is Liu, his given name is Guo, and his courtesy name is Gaizhi. He studied immortality under a master on the immortal mountain of Longzhou. He was always accompanied by an immortal yellow crane, and his Taoist name was 'True Lord Yellow Crane of Longzhou'."

"After Liu Guo left the mountain, he roamed the martial world, upholding justice, helping the poor and needy, and punishing evil and promoting good. Because he was skilled with the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword and was inseparable from his companion Huang He in battle, he was known as the 'Great Hero Huang He'. When the Demon God of Jin led his army to invade, he charged into the midst of ten thousand troops with only his sword and Huang He, took the head of the Jin general, and escaped unscathed!"

The patrons below the stage applauded and cheered. Someone asked, "Since this Hero Huang He is so powerful, surely he can help Heuria reclaim her lost territory?"

Han Fulai sighed heavily and said:

"Liu Guo also met with Heulia and strongly advocated resisting the Jin. He knew that as long as the people of the Salt God were united, they would surely defeat the army of the Jin Demon God. He once wrote to Heulia, saying, 'The ministers in the hall are in command, and the generals on the frontier are ready for battle. With favorable timing, geographical advantage, and popular support, can the Jin be attacked? The answer is: Yes.' He also earnestly requested Heulia to join the battle, saying, 'The restoration of the dynasty depends on the king's divine prowess and his ability to command heroes.'"

"However, Heureia said that peace was the most important thing and forbade him to lead his army into battle, and was determined to make peace with the Golden Demon God."

"Liu Guo had no choice but to secretly form a righteous army with like-minded friends to resist the Jin. However, without the support of the demon god Heuria, the righteous army was severely lacking in manpower, weapons and food. How could they possibly be a match for the army of the Jin demon god? Moreover, the Jin demon god himself was also taking action against them."

"As a result, the number of soldiers in the righteous army dwindled with each battle, and Liu Guo's friends who fought alongside him against the Jin dynasty also perished in one brutal battle after another. Even the yellow crane that was inseparable from Liu Guo died in a battle where he faced the Jin demon god, trying to save him."

A sigh immediately rose from the audience, and some spectators secretly wiped away tears.

What saddened Liu Guo even more was that, in order to avoid fighting the Gold Demon God, the Salt Demon God had already ceded territory and made peace with the Gold Demon God once again. He also ordered all his people to abandon their homeland and move their families to the "Salt in the Earth," forbidding them from leaving.

Liu Guo knew that the Golden Demon God would not give up so easily, but Heuria simply refused to listen to his advice.

"We were ready to fight to the death, why did Your Majesty surrender first?" Liu Guo lamented, his heart filled with grief and indignation, yet he could only drown his sorrows in wine. "In my drunken stupor, I light a lamp to examine my sword, and hear the wild geese returning last night. With whom can I share this half-cup of wine, and hope that this land may be restored to its former glory?"

"Twenty years later, Liu Guo revisited Anyuan Tower, but none of his old friends were there anymore. Looking out over his homeland, Liu Guo wrote a poem."

As the story neared its end, Han Fulai's tone turned somber. He was already immersed in the story he had woven. If anyone could best understand Liu Guo's state of mind when he wrote this poem, it would undoubtedly be Han Fulai.

He looked at Zhongli below the stage, and Zhongli was looking at him as well. The reason he had come up on stage to tell this story was to present this poem to Zhongli—

"Reeds fill the riverbank, and cold sand carries a shallow stream. Twenty years later, I return to the South Tower."

"The boat is still not firmly moored under the willow; how many more days until Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"The Yellow Crane Tower stands broken at the rocky shore; have my old friends ever been there? The old landscape is now filled with new sorrows."

"I wanted to buy osmanthus flowers and share wine, but it will never be like the carefree days of my youth."

I wanted to buy osmanthus blossoms and share wine, but it's nothing like the carefree days of my youth. When Han Fuli uttered these words, a gentle breeze swept through the "Three Bowls and You're Gone" area, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms that seemed to fall from the sky like a rain of blossoms.

The drinkers exclaimed in admiration, praising the book's eloquence, the wind's arrival, and the rain of flowers' beauty!

A few osmanthus petals drifted in the wind, swirling in the air before landing in the wine cup in Zhongli's hand.

Zhongli's usually calm heart was suddenly filled with a variety of emotions, including confusion and doubt, which then turned into longing for his old friends.

This is near the South Wharf of Liyue Harbor. There is the sound of waves, the sea breeze, and birds flying around, but there are no osmanthus trees.

As Zhongli watched the osmanthus blossoms gradually dissolve in the wine glass, a guess came to him.

Han Fulai, of course, had no idea what Zhong Li was thinking. He said that at this point in his storytelling, it was time to begin the opening remarks:

"This land is fraught with storms and the years have passed. Life is short, and how many can truly see through it all?"

"What became of the great hero Huang He in the end? And what became of the Demon God of Gold and the Demon God of Salt?"

Han Fulai flicked his finger across the wine cup, the sound clear and resonant, like the sound of a gavel striking the hall.

"Want to know what happens next? Listen to me in the next chapter!"

The patrons applauded and cheered, and even the owner, Mr. Degui, was captivated by the performance, admitting that the wine was well worth the price.

Han Fulai, tipsy from the praise, left the stage and sat back down opposite Zhongli.

"Mr. Zhongli, are you satisfied with the story I told you?"

Zhongli nodded and smiled, saying, "I didn't expect young friend Han to be so talented. I should toast young friend Han." As he spoke, he poured a glass of wine for Han Fulai.

Han Fulai didn't stand on ceremony, clinked glasses with Zhongli, and drank it all in one gulp.

At this moment, Zhong Li asked Han Fulai a question: "Young friend Han, do you know Gu Hua?"

Chapter Fifteen: Gu Hua's Opponent is Tian Li

When Zhongli asked him if he knew Gu Hua, Han Fulai was taken aback.

If asked if he had ever heard of the name "Gu Hua," Han Fulai certainly had. There was a sect in Liyue called the "Gu Hua Sect," although it had declined and its disciples were mostly scattered, making a living by escorting goods or running errands. However, the Gu Hua Sect was still quite well-known in Liyue, and Han Fulai had naturally paid attention to this sect when he played the game before.

However, the Guhua Sect has very little involvement in the game's storyline; it doesn't even have a proper sect headquarters, essentially existing as background scenery. Although Han Fulai has a general understanding of which characters in the game are disciples of the Guhua Sect, that's about it.

As for Gu Hua, there is almost no record of him in the game. Han Fulai didn't know how many years the Gu Hua Sect had existed in Liyue, but it should have been at least several hundred years old. Gu Hua, as the founder of the Gu Hua Sect, had long since passed away, so how could Han Fulai possibly know him?

So Han Fulai honestly shook his head and replied, "I don't know him."

Zhongli had anticipated this answer and nodded, saying, "Then I will also give my young friend Han a story, a story about Gu Hua. Where there is a story, there must be wine."

Zhongli looked up to greet the boss, but saw that Boss Degui was walking towards them with a tray in his hand. On the tray was not only a pot of wine, but also a small dish of snacks to go with the wine.

De Gui brought the wine and dishes to the table and even poured Han Fulai a full glass.

"These dishes and wine are on me. Young brother, come to my 'Three Bowls and You Can't Cross the Harbour' for a few storytelling performances sometime. Not only will you get good wine and food, but you'll also get an appearance fee!" De Gui's old face beamed with joy as he held up one hand to indicate a number. "Appearance fee, this amount! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

Han Fulai found Degui's attitude of being arrogant at first and then obsequious at second somewhat amusing, but he forced himself to suppress it and looked up at the sky with a haughty expression.

De Gui chuckled twice and withdrew.

Zhongli sighed softly and said, "Boss Degui is a good man. Twenty years ago, this 'Three Bowls Before Crossing the Harbor' was just an unknown roadside stall, but Boss Degui's sweet rice balls were authentic and reasonably priced, earning him an excellent reputation among the sailors and boatmen near the South Wharf of Liyue Harbor. That's how the shop came to be what it is today."

But he watered down the drinks, exploited his employees, and frequently beat and verbally abused them. Most importantly, he hit me. I hold grudges.

Han Fulai pondered silently, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Zhongli's statement.