"Aether, what's your ship like?"
To be honest, Koji had always thought Aether and Lumine crossed the stars using sheer physical strength.
"A normal one," Aether replied casually. "Nothing special. It's just a vehicle."
"I thought you two flew across space with your bodies," Koji said.
Lumine rolled her eyes. "How could that be possible? That would be such a pain."
Neither sibling was that powerful yet.
"If we had that kind of strength," Lumine added, "I wouldn't have been imprisoned by that Sustainer of Heavenly Principles and then— eh, never mind, ehehe~"
"Lumine!" Aether's face stiffened. "Can you not talk like that?"
Koji coughed awkwardly. "Alright, you two catch up. I'll get going."
Guyun Stone Forest — Guizhong's Reconstruction Project
Koji's new villa in Guili Plains was finally complete. With both the Dust Archon and the Geo Archon lending a hand, construction had been ridiculously fast.
"So, what do you think?" Guizhong asked proudly, admiring the polished stone walls. She was already planning to build her own home nearby.
"Looks great," Koji nodded in satisfaction.
"By the way, Zhongli," Koji said suddenly, "I was thinking of suggesting to Ningguang that you become Liyue's second Geo Archon."
"Pfft—!"
Zhongli choked on his tea, giving Koji a death stare. Did this man hold a grudge against him or something? He had just retired, and now Koji wanted him to be an Archon again?
Guizhong burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "I agree! Let's make Zhongli the second Geo Archon!"
It was cruel, yes — but so much fun.
Even Venti laughed. "Why not? The previous Geo Archon's dead, technically. Zhongli fits the requirements perfectly!"
"No need," Zhongli said flatly. "Let Ningguang and the Qixing decide their own future. I've no intention of becoming an Archon again."
He had waited thousands of years for retirement. He'd rather die than retake the post.
"Morax, are you really so confident in letting Liyue join the four great civilizations?" Guizhong asked curiously.
"Humans possess creativity and potential," Zhongli said calmly. "We gods restrict their growth. Stepping back and letting them develop freely is the right choice."
Those wise enough to realize the Geo Archon hadn't truly died would also know there were lines not to be crossed.
"Alice already left?" Guizhong asked.
"Yes," Zhongli nodded. "She bears the duty of maintaining the border. She can't stay away for long."
With Alice gone, he could finally relax. Her presence in Liyue was… stressful.
"Your next stop should be Inazuma, correct?" Zhongli asked.
"Yeah," Koji said. "The Nation of Thunder… I heard the Shogun can't cook. Is that true?"
Zhongli froze, memories flashing before his eyes.
"You'd best not eat anything she prepares," he warned gravely. "Even gods can't handle Beelzebul's cooking."
"Is it really that bad?" Guizhong asked, curious.
"Worse," Zhongli sighed. "She once destroyed an entire kitchen just by trying. Her dishes are lethal."
Koji raised a brow. "That bad, huh?"
Zhongli nodded with deep sincerity. "During one gathering, we had the misfortune to taste a bite. I would rather fight another Archon War than endure that again."
Guizhong inhaled sharply. "That terrible?"
"Want me to bring you some next time?" Koji teased.
Zhongli recoiled instantly. "No— thank you— unless you wish to attend my funeral."
Koji chuckled. "The old man's right. Ei's cooking really is deadly. One bite could kill even a god."
He might be immortal, but he had no intention of dying to a meal.
Still, the idea amused him. Maybe he'd save some for certain enemies — like the Whale of Devouring Stars or the Knights of Malevolence. They'd love a taste of the Shogun's "Judgment of Eternity."
Beyond Teyvat, somewhere far away, one of those knights suddenly felt an ominous chill.
"Zhongli," Guizhong asked, "Inazuma's Vision Hunt Decree — what exactly are Visions? Are they just external magic organs?"
"Not exactly," Zhongli replied. "Nothing in this world is free. A Vision grants the power to wield elements, but it carries a price."
"And when the time comes to pay that price," she continued, "can the wielder really afford it?"
Zhongli's eyes grew distant. "The moment one receives a Vision, the wheel of fate begins to turn. Accepting that fate is often the wisest — and safest — choice. Trying to defy it is dangerous."
"For most, living under destiny's design is happiness," he said. "But beware — should the Vision ever turn against its bearer, survival depends on whether they've lived long enough to face that day."
Koji crossed his arms. "Venti, can someone with a Vision ever become a god?"
"They can," Venti said softly. "But the odds are… slim. Vanessa made it to Celestia, but I haven't seen her since."
Even as one of the Seven, he couldn't simply walk into Celestia whenever he pleased.
(End of Chapter)
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