Where is it?
"Mmm... So good~"
Although Elysia and Furina had tasted countless delicacies thanks to the chat group's ability to traverse different worlds, Wanmin Restaurant, a renowned, time-honored establishment in Liyue, still managed to make them squint their eyes in pleasure as they savored the delicious food, despite its seemingly ordinary culinary skills.
"Hehe, I'm glad you like it. I heard you're from out of town, so I was a little worried you might not be used to our Liyue specialties," Xiangling, sitting next to Hu Tao, said with a happy smile. Even the large raccoon-like creature beside her cheered.
"Uh... Is something wrong with the taste?"
Noticing [Mei], who had only taken a single bite, Xiangling felt a little uneasy and puzzled.
"It's nothing. This flavor just brings back some memories."
Chef Mao's cooking was authentic, but for [Mei]—that is, Jiang Qiao—he could pick out countless flaws in it.
However, that clearly wasn't something worth dwelling on.
If it were just about taste, he could easily recreate any flavor, no matter how delicious the food.
Only the feeling it evoked held a certain charm.
There wasn't much in Liyue that required his personal intervention.
After all, the people of this nation had long since grown resilient and strong through their arduous journey of hardships. Many things they could resolve on their own, even without external aid.
Therefore, aside from assisting Furina with her diplomatic duties, he didn't plan on doing anything deliberate for the time being.
However, when you're hanging out with Hu Tao, some things are just unavoidable.
After all.
Liyue's Geo Archon, now going by the name Zhongli, was freeloading at the aforementioned Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, living a leisurely, laid-back, retired life.
It was hard not to run into him, really.
After Mr. Zhongli, who was strolling down the street and had just spotted something he fancied—intending to 'expense it to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor'—was caught red-handed by Hu Tao, he maintained a natural expression. But upon noticing [Mei] and the others with Hu Tao, he calmly asked:
"Director Hu, these individuals are..."
"Oh, Consultant Zhongli! These are the very important guests and friends I told you about!"
"I see."
It was clear that even now, Hu Tao hadn't figured out the true identity of this freeloader of hers. Not that it was surprising; as they say, 'the older the ginger, the spicier it is.' With this old fox's cunning, fooling Hu Tao was quite simple.
Moreover, since Hu Tao wasn't the type to keep secrets, the old man had completely figured out the whole chat group situation.
Yunyun and Kyoko had visited Hu Tao before, so seeing visitors from another world wasn't anything particularly noteworthy.
That being said.
But Zhongli found it hard not to be wary of [Mei] and her two companions.
Setting aside the pink-haired girl, who seemed to possess an innocent beauty—and he could roughly tell she was likely pure-hearted by nature—[Mei] and Furina were a whole different story. They were enough to give an old man a heart attack.
The Hydro Archon of Fontaine... and this one... Looking at that face he'd seen five hundred years ago, if not for being an Archon himself and thus able to discern that she probably wasn't Inazuma's Raiden Shogun, Zhongli wouldn't have dared to move an inch just seeing this pair.
In his judgment, these two powerhouses were top-tier even among Archons, the kind he wasn't sure he could beat even at his peak. And now two of them show up—what on earth were they planning?
As Hu Tao led them back, [Mei], who was trailing behind with Zhongli, said casually:
"We were just invited to Liyue for a visit. No need to be so vigilant, old man."
"You jest. You are Director Hu's guests, not enemies. Besides, matters of vigilance should be left to the Millelith. What capability does a mere consultant like myself possess?"
Oh, you're really putting on an act! Jiang Qiao thought.
"So... you mean you wouldn't mind if we stirred up a little trouble in Liyue then?" [Mei] asked.
Why do you think I'm tailing you? Zhongli thought with exasperation.
He absolutely couldn't trust these three.
It wasn't that he thought Hu Tao was a bad judge of character or that Jiang Qiao and the others might be villains. On the contrary, in his view, these three were likely friends, not foes... But even so, Zhongli found it hard to just let them be.
After all, regarding the combat capabilities of these three—Furina aside—the girl named Elysia and [Mei] looked like ordinary people.
...Ordinary people?
Zhongli thought, anyone who believed that was a fool.
Did these look like the faces of ordinary people? Whether they were ordinary or not, he couldn't tell—but Elysia and [Mei], these two outsiders, with their 'harmless ordinary person' act, Mr. Zhongli, as a seasoned old fox, was certain: these two were definitely the type who had excellent control, loved to 'play the pig to eat the tiger,' and then suddenly hit you with a big surprise—the 'haraguro' type.
As for why he was so sure? Because he did the same thing himself!
Letting such big shots wander around his turf without keeping an eye on them? No matter how broad-minded he was, that wasn't how things were done.
It wasn't until they reached Wangsheng Funeral Parlor that a young woman with grayish-blue hair, dressed in a wide-sleeved, flowing immortal gown, came out to greet them. After noticing the situation, she covered her face with her sleeve and let out a laugh.
"Sorry, sorry... Zhongli is a bit overly sensitive because of some past events."
Since Hu Tao had business to attend to, she had asked this woman to look after them. With Miss Hu Tao absent, many things clearly didn't need to be skirted around.
And this person...
[Mei] glanced at her.
Jiang Qiao knew that Hu Tao had used a reward from the chat group to help this person win her 'Resurrection match.' However, aside from occasional group photos Hu Tao posted in the chat, he had never seen her in person.
Now, seeing Guizhong, the Goddess of Dust, Liyue's greatest regret, in person, couldn't help but stir new feelings within him.
As for the 'sensitivity' she mentioned.
He could guess.
It most likely referred to Guizhong herself.
The death of this 'white moonlight' of Liyue had always been the greatest regret for many of Liyue's adepti, and even for the Geo Archon Morax.
Because he was too preoccupied during the great war, by the time the battle ended and he rushed back, he found Guizhong had already perished protecting the people of Liyue, leaving only her remains to be found.
With such an experience.
After Guizhong won her 'Resurrection match,' even in these peaceful times, Zhongli couldn't help but have some PTSD.
"It's alright," [Mei] said. "After all, Mr. Zhongli is Liyue's guardian deity."
"It's only natural for him to be concerned."
Just like Hu Tao, the talkative Guizhong quickly hit it off with Furina and Elysia.
She even enthusiastically showed them the adepti mechanical components she had developed after winning her Resurrection match.
The only problem was probably that [Mei] and Zhongli had absolutely no room to interject.
More accurately, it was the latter—Zhongli.
As for Mr. Jiang Qiao himself, he would have had no problem blending in using this current body.
But, thinking it would be rather pitiful if the old man were left alone, he didn't use his body's 'advantage' to join the girls' group.
Instead, he started playing chess with Zhongli.
During this process—
Without them even needing to bring it up—during this leisurely time, after Guizhong and Zhongli learned more or less about the situation in Inazuma, they proactively expressed their desire to get involved.
It couldn't be helped.
You see, the news of Sumeru and Fontaine collaborating had already made nearby Liyue quite envious. National cooperation! Who did that before? Everyone just did their own thing. Liyue would dabble in commerce, and Snezhnaya would send the Fatui and the Northland Bank for small-scale collaborations.
But compared to the virtually limitless cooperation currently unfolding between Fontaine and Sumeru, those were practically nothing.
Liyue initially had a conservative stance on this, but of course, due to its commerce-oriented mindset, it was willing to accept cooperation.
However, it was definitely a case of 'you invite me, I make the demands.'
Having the initiative in negotiations is advantageous, after all.
But... Sumeru and Fontaine showed almost no inclination in that direction.
While Liyue was practically shouting, 'Look at me! Hey, look at me! I'm waiting for you!' the two nations were thick as thieves, seemingly unable to accommodate a third party.
And after learning that Inazuma had become the 'third wheel,' those who hadn't paid much attention before—since Liyue's affairs were definitely handled by the Qixing, and adepti like them had no intention of interfering—couldn't stand it anymore.
Sumeru, Fontaine, and Inazuma... damn, add Mondstadt to the mix, and they'd practically have Liyue surrounded!
If they hadn't found any ill intentions from the other nations and there were no existing grudges, anyone seeing this situation would feel their hair stand on end.
"It's not impossible," Furina said.
"However, as for the specific content of the cooperation..."
When it came to this topic, Miss Furina, who had been having a great time with Guizhong, her expression turned serious.
It wasn't that she was being stingy.
Honestly, on a personal level, Furina wouldn't mind cooperating with any nation, even Snezhnaya, which didn't have the best reputation.
She was even willing to provide aid to a poor nation like Inazuma—anyway, the specifics of how to provide aid would be handled by Neuvillette and the others. As long as Neuvillette and his team did the work, she, who was responsible for stamping, signing, and bringing in the work, had much more to consider.
But Liyue... due to the Qixing-led mercantilism, Liyue was known among the Seven Nations for being shrewd and profit-driven.
When cooperating with merchants, you definitely have to play by merchants' rules.
"...I will ask the Qixing to negotiate," Guizhong said with a resigned smile.
She knew her own affairs well and was very clear about Liyue's situation—they liked to talk about benefits in everything. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that; after all, people have to look out for themselves. Sumeru and Fontaine's close cooperation couldn't possibly be a one-sided losing deal either.
Even with divine backing, Neuvillette and Nahida would have to consider the thoughts of those at the bottom.
But Liyue, having done so much business, inevitably went a bit overboard in this regard...
As an Archon, it was difficult for her to judge the pros and cons, nor did she particularly want to interfere. After all, Morax had already delegated most of the authority to the Qixing, and unless absolutely necessary, she didn't want to disrupt Morax's painstaking efforts.
"Then there's no problem. I'll have Neuvillette come discuss it," Furina nodded.
As an onlooker, [Mei] could roughly guess that this cooperation would definitely succeed in the end. Although the Qixing were somewhat shrewd, they would surely understand the immense benefits of cooperation among the Seven Nations.
However, due to Liyue's mercantilism and a certain degree of isolationist tendencies, the cooperation would likely be very limited, not as seamless as that between Sumeru and Fontaine.
He didn't pay too much attention to these matters. After all, regarding Teyvat, once he had dealt with the more troublesome issues, the rest should rely more on the efforts of the Seven Nations themselves, not him.
He couldn't protect them forever... or perhaps he could. In terms of capability, Jiang Qiao indeed possessed the power to solve everything, to shelter this world as if it were in swaddling clothes.
But that would be meaningless.
If he did that, this world would be less like living people and more like pets he had raised in captivity. He was certain that if he did so, they would inevitably miss out on their own true, infinite 'future.'
And such an outcome.
Like the Solitary King of the High Tower, or Phanes, it would invite rebellion from those who longed for a future. The former was the most recent example, and the latter was an example yet to come.
Jiang Qiao had no interest in becoming a second Phanes.
As night deepened, sitting atop Mt. Tianheng, he looked at the artificial, false sky and found it rather uninteresting.
After all, it was something man-made, and due to its limited scale, it couldn't even compare to the simulated universes created by geniuses. One could see its limits at a glance—it was only natural that such a thing would invite rebellion.
However, gazing at this dull sky, he could feel his thoughts gradually becoming hazy.
And Mr. Jiang Qiao, long seasoned in countless battles, was clearly no stranger to this sensation.
He now possessed the ability to resist this initial 'gift.'
But…
Sensing the end of this 'fateful connection,' Mr. Jiang Qiao couldn't help but feel a new interest stirring.
After all, this wasn't any body he had used before, and even...
—it was a brand new world.