Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

Xiao also liked Jiang Bai's attitude. He also disliked seeing his mortals being obsequious to him or treating him as their hope for salvation.

Besides his own reasons, the attitude of ordinary people towards him was also one of the reasons why he distanced himself from worldly affairs.

“I saw it once... I was passing by Tianheng Mountain when I noticed someone near the statue in Lisha Suburbs, so I stopped to take a look.”

Jiang Bai suddenly realized, "I was wondering why I felt someone was watching me. It was you."

"The shrubs you trimmed are...unforgettable." Xiao searched for a long time before finding a suitable adjective.

It's not that he used euphemisms; it's that he truly made a lasting impression.

"It's just a quick fix. If you like, I can fix the flowers and plants in this inn." Jiang Bai seized the opportunity.

"...No." Xiao was silent for a moment before replying with two cold words.

He discovered that this person, like Hu Tao, was the type he couldn't handle.

"Xiao, do you usually stay at Wangshu Inn?" Jiang Bai was quite curious about this young immortal.

A thousand years may not seem long, but it is actually a very long period of time.

Over time, dynasties changed, and the sea turned into mulberry fields.

This immortal who has protected Liyue for over 2000 years has countless stories passed down and known to the world.

"I occasionally rest here."

"So what do you usually do?"

"Deal with evil spirits, cleanse the defilement of demons, and slay the filth that breeds from the remnants of demons..."

To Jiang Bai's surprise, this immortal, who looked cold and intimidating, was actually quite easy to talk to.

At least they were willing to answer his questions.

Chapter 48 Tired, Need to Rest

"Has it always been like this?" Jiang Bai was quite surprised.

Don't be fooled by his nonchalant manner; everything he said was far from simple.

If this continued for thousands of years, it would be too exhausting.

"Of course." Xiao replied calmly, not finding anything wrong with it.

This is the contract he made with the Emperor, and it is also the meaning of his existence.

"Haven't you thought about resting? Didn't the Rock King Emperor let you rest?"

"Why should I rest? This is a contract I made with the Emperor, and I must fulfill it to the best of my ability. I only know how to kill, and my life will eventually end in killing."

Xiao's statement was perfectly reasonable.

Perhaps because few people ask him these questions, or perhaps because he hasn't had such an equal exchange with others in a long time, he unusually talked a lot.

"Whether human or immortal, everyone needs rest. If you're always like a taut rope, you'll break sooner or later."

Jiang Bai was an outsider. He didn't know what Jiang Bai had been through, what had happened, or what story he had with that Rock God.

But he knew one thing: whether human or immortal, everyone gets tired.

When you're tired, you need to rest.

Rest refers not only to the physical but also to the mental.

Only with proper rest can we face the next battle with renewed vigor.

“Jiang Bai is right, people shouldn’t be too tense.” Hu Tao nodded in agreement with Jiang Bai’s words.

The reason why the land of Liyue is so peaceful and rarely has dangerous demons is because there is a great demon sage who tirelessly eliminates those dangerous monsters day and night.

She met Xiao during a monster-hunting operation.

Back then, the monsters were dangerous, emerging from unknown rifts, and once injured, they would bleed uncontrollably until death.

Even for her, dealing with it was extremely difficult, and she dared not let the evil spirit get close at all.

It was at that time that Xiao appeared and defeated those monsters in a devastating manner.

She encountered him a few more times afterward, and gradually became acquainted with him, learning that he often stopped at the Wangshu Inn.

"The demons won't rest just because I rest." The young immortal possessed a stern and murderous aura, and his voice was as cold as a piece of stone.

His duty is to slay demons; he cannot stop, nor will he ever stop.

During the conversation, the maid Yuhua brought the dishes to the table.

Seeing Xiao there, Yu Hua was a little surprised, but she didn't say anything and just smiled and stepped aside.

As an employee here, she naturally knew that an immortal lived on the top floor of the inn. However, this immortal did not like to show himself or make noise. It was truly rare for him to be able to sit here and have a meal with Hu Tao today.

"Come, come, here's your favorite almond tofu." Walnut pushed the almond tofu in front of Xiao.

As far as she knew, the only thing this demon-slaying sage truly loved was almond tofu.

Xiao picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. The familiar taste washed over him, and the cold expression on his face softened considerably.

Seeing that Xiao was enjoying his meal, she boldly voiced her own thoughts.

“You can’t think like that. Liyue is full of talented people now. Whether it’s dealing with evil spirits or clearing out monsters, you can let us do it appropriately. Otherwise, if we always live under your protection, what will happen to Liyue if you leave and Liyue faces a major crisis?”

Xiao paused for a moment while holding the chopsticks, but only for a moment.

The Emperor will not disappear, but he will die one day.

After he dies, the Emperor will probably reassign someone else to carry out his mission.

"As long as the Emperor is here, Li Yue will be fine."

His words were forceful yet utterly ordinary, simply stating a fact.

"But what if the Rock King Emperor is no longer here?" Jiang Bai asked, voicing Hu Tao's thoughts.

It's no wonder he asked that question; after all, the Hall of Rebirth is home to a powerful figure who wants to overthrow the rule of the gods.

Just because we're not doing anything now doesn't mean we won't do anything in the future!

Upon hearing this, a cold light flashed in Xiao's eyes. The feeling of being watched made Jiang Bai feel like he was about to be beheaded in the next second.

He quickly explained, "What I mean is, what if the Emperor wants to retire? What if he wants to relinquish his responsibilities?"

"Has he ever felt tired after protecting Liyue for so many years?"

Xiao remained silent.

He had no idea what the Emperor was thinking, nor did he know whether the Emperor had felt weary over the past thousand years.

Therefore, he did not reply.

But Jiang Bai's words really struck a chord with him.

If the Emperor wants to relinquish his responsibilities, but he is already dead, how will Li Yue cope?

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this anymore..." Seeing that the topic was getting further and further off track, Hu Tao quickly tried to smooth things over.

"We plan to go to Mount Hulao to find a treasure called the Four Directions True Soul. I wonder which True Lord lives on Mount Hulao?"

Hu Tao asked her question.

She came to Wangshu Inn mainly to find Xiao, hoping to ask him if he had any way to let them meet the immortals. If there were any tokens or two, that would be the best.

As a result, the topic was unknowingly led astray by Jiang Bai.

"True Lord of Water Management and Mountain Creation".

"Is there any way to see him?" Hu Tao asked with a hopeful look in her eyes.

"If you have the 'Unrestricted Talisman' created by the Emperor, you can directly inquire about his cave dwelling, meet him, and make your request."

The "Talisman of No Taboos" was forged by the Emperor in ancient times. Taking out this talisman can invoke the immortals.

"I wonder if those old items still exist. Even if they do, they'd probably be family heirlooms and wouldn't be sold..." Hu Tao was stumped; this method was tantamount to impossible.

"Is there any other way for us to see him?"

Xiao thought for a moment, then used his immortal power to condense a crystal butterfly. "This is my token, which will allow you to see him. As for how to obtain the Four Directions True Soul after seeing him, that's up to you."

Hu Tao put away the crystal butterfly, overjoyed, and kept piling food onto his plate, saying, "Thank you so much! Come on, eat more! There's nothing I can do to repay you, but I'll treat you to a meal next time!"

"It's nothing, no need to thank me." Xiao stopped Hu Tao from piling food into his bowl; if she kept adding more, his bowl would be overflowing.

"What use do you intend to use the true souls of the four directions?"

"It's like this..." Hu Tao briefly explained her plans and the materials she needed.

Xiao nodded, without offering to help or anything, only saying:

"If you encounter danger, you can call my name."

"If we call out, will you be able to hear us?" Jiang Bai asked curiously.

What is the principle behind this? Or is it simply an inexplicable magical technique?

"When you call my name, the wind will carry your voices to my ears."

Jiang Bai saw the Eye of God on his body, which was blue-green and had wind attribute.

Is the wind attribute actually used in this way? Or is it only applicable to him personally?

Jiang Bai couldn't figure it out, and he was too lazy to think about it anymore.

Chapter 49 Please enlighten me, Your Majesty

After lunch, the two said goodbye to Xiao.

It's still quite a long way to Huaguanglin from here, and if we delay any longer, it will be dark by the afternoon.

Bye-bye, see you next time.

As he watched the two unfurl their wings of wind and descend from the rooftop into the distance, Xiao brushed a hand across his face, revealing a terrifying Nuo mask before his figure slowly vanished.

……

Liyue Harbor was bustling with people.

After watching the opera, Zhongli strolled through Liyue. The streets were bustling with pedestrians, and the sounds of various vendors hawking their wares filled the air.

He walked quietly, without any destination, and very slowly.

This was one of his leisure activities; he liked to wander around Liyue, looking at every blade of grass, every tree, every flower, and every shrub on this land.

A gentle breeze caressed my cheek, and the aroma of food wafted through the air.

His gaze slowly swept over everything in Liyue Harbor, from the bricks on the ground and the roof tiles to the overhanging eaves. Every plant and tree here had grown under his watchful eye.

For millennia and millennia, he has protected this city, this country, for countless years.

He watched the Hall of Rebirth grow from its inception to its current state; he watched the Seven Stars rise and fall; he watched familiar things gradually be forgotten; he watched objects from the past weather away; he watched old friends disappear one by one...

These wear and tear on him only increased with age.

Will this kind of life continue indefinitely?

What will the future hold?

Lately, these questions have been on his mind whenever he strolls through Liyue Harbor.

Perhaps it was the changes brought about by the recluse, or perhaps he was reminded of the past, or perhaps he simply felt a little tired.

He walked slowly, as if mingling with the crowd, yet also as if detached from it.

Suddenly, he felt a familiar gaze.

A familiar figure appeared in the quiet alley and met his gaze.

He chuckled softly, his brows relaxed, and he walked over slowly.

"Your Majesty." Xiao bowed his head to show respect to the person before him.

“You rarely come to Liyue Harbor. Did you come to see me this time?” Zhongli immediately realized that Xiao had come to find him.

This child never enters Liyue Harbor unless there's a reason.

"Hmm." Xiao nodded slightly. He had some questions in his mind and needed to find the Emperor to answer them.