Chapter 49
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Chapter 49
Ying put away the photo, glanced at Ningguang and Keqing, and asked with a playful smile.
"Would you two like to have one too?"
Ningguang and Keqing were stunned. Refusing didn't seem like an option.
And so, the two women stood beside Osel and took over a dozen photos, changing poses with each shot.
The photoshoot wrapped up on March 7th, and everyone was pleased with the results.
Meanwhile, Xueyue, Lishui, and Grandma Ping stood at the bow, watching Osel roll his eyes and faint.
"Are kids nowadays really this powerful? Defeating a demon god like it's nothing," Grandma Ping mused.
They had witnessed the entire battle from the Qun Yu Pavilion—the spectacle of Kevin relentlessly chasing down the demon god.
The trio's verdict?
"That was beautiful. They should do it more often."
After all, Osel had been an enemy of Liyue for ages. Watching it suffer brought them satisfaction. And seeing the impressive strength of Tianquan and Yuheng, along with the little girl who had defeated Osel, only made them more excited. If it weren't for the presence of the Qianyan Army and the Seven Stars, they would have applauded on the spot.
But now, Ningguang and Keqing had a new problem—what to do with Osel's enormous body.
Kevin, noticing their dilemma, casually pulled out the Judgment of Shamash.
"Should I just finish him off?"
Xiao immediately intervened, his voice sharp.
"No. If a demon god dies, it releases an immense amount of energy. It would leave behind dangerous residue."
Kevin shrugged.
"Well, that means I'm out of ideas."
Hu Tao tapped her chin in thought.
"How about I ask my guest official? He might have a solution."
Ningguang raised an eyebrow.
"Guest official? You mean that Mr. Zhongli? He's knowledgeable, yes, but he's just a regular person. What could he possibly do?"
March 7th suddenly chimed in, shocking all of Liyue.
"That's a great idea. Isn't your guest official the Rock God of Liyue? He must have a solution. Hu Tao, go find him. We'll wait here."
Hu Tao gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
"Got it! You guys go wait at the Jade Pavilion. I'll take a boat back to Liyue Harbor and head straight through Xiangling's place."
Xiao scoffed, folding his arms.
"Don't bother. I'll take you."
Without another word, he gathered his Anemo energy and vanished into the wind, carrying Hu Tao away.
Ningguang and Keqing stood frozen in place.
What? Hu Tao's guest official—Mr. Zhongli—is the Geo Archon?!
Oh no.
Ningguang's mind reeled. She had invited Zhongli to work at Yujingtai before. The memory alone made her want to bury herself in paperwork forever.
Keqing, meanwhile, felt herself turning to stone.
Ha… Ha… Haha… I lectured the Geo Archon about his own ideals?
She wanted to disappear.
Inside Yuri's store, the four-player chess game had reached its conclusion.
Champion: Zhongli.
Runner-up: Welt.
Third place: Jing Yuan.
Last place: Yuri.
Yuri was utterly drained. These guys played on an entirely different level, thinking ten moves ahead while he struggled to keep up. He was eliminated early on.
He checked the time and sighed.
"Alright, I'll go make dinner."
Just as he stood up and opened the reception room door, he found Hu Tao standing there, grinning.
"Hu Tao? Back so soon?"
Hu Tao shook her head.
"Not yet. I came to fetch my guest."
Hu Tao peeked into the room and spotted Zhongli sipping his tea.
"Zhongli, I need to talk to you."
Zhongli set down his teacup and approached the door.
"What is it, Master Hu?"
Hu Tao waved a hand casually.
"Oh, nothing major. We were at Guyun Pavilion this afternoon, playing around. Klee and the others were frying fish and, well… they kind of blew up the demon god under the sea. Then Kevin knocked it unconscious. We don't know what to do with it. You wanna come?"
Zhongli's eye twitched.
Fried fish… blew up the demon god?
That demon was Osel. What kind of explosives did Klee and the others bring?! They even managed to breach a seal!
At that moment, Jing Yuan and Welt stepped out of the house.
Jing Yuan smiled.
"What's going on?"
Zhongli sighed.
"It's… nothing too urgent. I must take my leave for now. Let's have tea again tomorrow."
Jing Yuan checked the time. It was still early.
"Are you heading back to your world? Mind if I come with you? I'd love to see what it's like."
Zhongli nodded immediately.
"Of course."
Welt crossed his arms.
"Count me in."
Yuri sighed.
"Alright, I'll open the portal for you guys. I'm not going, though—I need to cook. Oh, Hu Tao, can you swing by Xiangling's place and see if she's free? I could use an extra hand."
Hu Tao gave a mock salute.
"On it!"
Jing Yuan, Zhongli, Welt, and Hu Tao stepped through the portal.
Not long after, the portal flickered again, and Xiangling burst through excitedly.
"Yuri! You called?"
Yuri grinned.
"Yeah, I need help. There'll be a lot of people eating later. Bronya and the others are coming, and so is the Interstellar Peace Company."
Realizing Xiangling wouldn't know them, he smacked his forehead.
"Right, you don't know them, but you will soon. Now, let's get cooking."
Xiangling ran into the kitchen, where Noelle was already washing vegetables. She grabbed an apron, tied it tight, and got to work.
Meanwhile, at the port of Liyue Harbor, a massive crowd had gathered. Almost all of Liyue had shown up.
Osel had been dragged back and now lay at the harbor.
He was conscious again, and utterly humiliated.
These tiny humans were pointing and whispering about him. It was infuriating. But then he glanced at the small, gray-haired one—the one who had split the sea open with a single strike.
And standing beside him was Morax.
Osel sighed internally.
Forget it. There's a saying—those who understand the times are wise.
Zhongli, however, was deep in thought. Sealing Osel again was an option, but what if he was unsealed once more? Killing him would only create another problem—demonic remnants.
Jing Yuan observed Osel and smirked.
"How about I take him back and lock him up in the Prison?"
Zhongli considered it.
"That would be appreciated."
Jing Yuan chuckled.
"It's nothing. Just a small favor."
As he took in the breathtaking scenery of Liyue Harbor, he couldn't help but admire it.
Mountains, rivers, and an ancient, thriving city—it reminded him of Xianzhou Luofu.
Yes, he liked Liyue very much.
Jing Yuan couldn't help but wonder—why not retire here when the time comes?
It didn't seem impossible. Mr. Zhongli was the owner of this place. Surely, he wouldn't mind giving him an acre of farmland and a small house.
Ningguang and Keqing stepped forward and bowed slightly before Zhongli.
"The current Tianquan Star, Ningguang, greets the Emperor."
"The current Yuheng Star, Keqing, greets the Emperor."
Zhongli glanced at Hu Tao, who was playing Landlord with Amber and Eula.
Did he even need to ask? It had to be Master Hu who let his secret slip.
Fortunately, he was standing in a shaded pergola, out of the public eye.
"Ah~ You can call me Zhongli. I am merely a guest consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Ningguang and Keqing, perceptive as ever, immediately understood that Zhongli didn't want his identity exposed.
"Yes, Mr. Zhongli."
Zhongli nodded slightly before turning toward Osel.
"Clear the area. I will handle this matter."
Ningguang and Keqing wasted no time, instructing the Qianyan Army to disperse the onlookers.
Once the civilians and soldiers had cleared out, Zhongli approached Osel.
"Take human form."
Osel snorted.
"Hmph! Why should I listen to you, Morax? A thousand years of hatred—how could I just let it go?"
He had barely begun to rise when he caught sight of the little gray-haired boy silently drawing his flaming sword, smiling coldly at him.
Osel froze, swallowing hard.
Zhongli repeated himself, his voice calm but firm.
"Take human form. Unless you'd prefer pain."
This time, Osel obeyed without hesitation.
His human form was that of a muscular man with a thick beard—wild and rugged.
With that settled, the group made their way to the Hall of All Peoples, stepping through the portal that led back to the train.
As they walked, Jing Yuan took in the dimly lit streets, alive with chatter and the calls of street vendors.
Night had fallen, and the moon cast a soft glow over Liyue. The passersby wore bright smiles as they bustled about their evening routines. Klee and her friends ran through the streets, giggling and chasing one another.
Jing Yuan couldn't help but feel nostalgic. There had once been a place like this in Luofu—Jinren Lane.
As a child, he had run there to buy snacks, finding pure joy in the simplest treats. Now, no matter how exquisite the food, it rarely brought him happiness.
Perhaps that was why he enjoyed spending time with Zhongli, Welt, and Yuri. Their friendship felt equal—free from the burdens of rank and duty. They could joke and tease each other without formality.
It had been a long time since he felt this kind of camaraderie.
Bai Heng, Ying Xing, Jing Liu, Dan Feng…
Up ahead, the four little ones suddenly stopped at a small stall.
Everyone turned to see them staring curiously at a collection of night lanterns on an elderly woman's stand.
"Granny, what's this?" Klee asked, biting her finger.
The old woman smiled kindly.
"These are night lanterns. The Lantern Festival is coming soon. Lighting one brings protection and good fortune."
Klee's eyes lit up.
"Good fortune? Klee wants a night lantern too! Granny, how much do they cost?"
The old woman chuckled.
"Little ones, I'll give you each one as a gift."
The children immediately shook their heads, refusing.
"No, no, we can't take them for free!" Bai Lu waved her hands frantically.
The old woman simply placed a lantern in each of their arms.
"It's alright. They don't cost much. I made them myself. Take them and be good."
Bai Lu hesitated, then unhooked her medicine gourd. She borrowed a cup from the juice vendor next to them and poured some for the old woman.
"Here, granny. Drink this. This is our lantern money."
The old woman, touched by the gesture, smiled even more warmly.
"Alright, alright. I'll drink it."
Once she finished, Bai Lu finally accepted the lantern, satisfied.
Zhongli watched the scene quietly.
"The Lantern Festival is in a few days. It is Liyue's most important celebration."
He turned to Jing Yuan and Welt.
"Would you like to stay and experience it?"
Jing Yuan and Welt immediately agreed.
"Of course."
The group continued to the Hall of All Peoples, where they stepped through the portal.
Back at Yuri's shop, the scent of freshly cooked dishes filled the air.
Yuri, Xiangling, and Noelle had been working tirelessly in the kitchen. With Yuri and Xiangling's speed, dishes were being prepared in mere minutes.
Meanwhile, Belobog's delegation, Jade, and Topaz sat in the lounge area, chatting over tea.
They had only just arrived.
Diamond, upon learning of Bronya's close ties with Yuri, had wasted no time sending resources to strengthen relations.
It was a clear investment in the future.
One more friend meant one more path forward. And in the cold vastness of the universe, allies were everything.
Topaz and Jade had been handling the delivery of supplies to Belobog.
With their support, the city had reclaimed its thawed lands in record time. The Company had provided abundant building materials, and with the help of the mechanical soldiers from the settlement, a residential district had sprung up almost overnight.
Belobog no longer had to worry about housing.
The entire lower city had moved back to the upper city.
After discussions with Topaz, Jade, and Gepard, Bronya had decided to cease mining operations in the underground.
Over-extraction would only spell disaster for Belobog.
Jade suggested she visit Yuri's shop for alternative economic solutions—if anyone had something useful, it was him.
At the same time, he proposed that the Company invest in a factory. The catch? They would only pay taxes. All profits would be theirs, leaving Belobog out of it.
And so, here they were—Bronya and her group, seeking answers in Yuri's shop.
Meanwhile, Jade and Topaz had been struggling with Stellar Jade collection lately.
Or rather, treasure chests across the universe had started disappearing.
Completely vanished.
Now, only a few planets had any left.
As a result, they had only managed to gather 3,000 Stellar Jade this time.
Yuri glanced around at the lively shop, shaking his head with a grin.
Tonight was going to be a long night.