The next day at noon.
The sky was clear, the weather perfect.
After lunch, Gu Chen and Paimon headed to the South Wharf of Liyue Harbor.
Zhongli and Wendy accompanied them.
The four each held a tomato, leisurely munching away.
The faint sweet-and-sour flavor put Gu Chen in a great mood—
But what delighted him even more was that Osial was about to arrive at the South Wharf.
Yuheng-Xing Keqing was a swift and decisive person; if there was work to be done, she would never delay it until tomorrow.
And the South Wharf indeed needed clearing.
In the past, the General Services Bureau would have had to hire workers—an expensive undertaking.
But things were different now.
With Osial, this Tool-God available, they could save a mountain of Mora.
Gu Chen squatted on the wharf, waiting.
Before long, the slightly rippling sea began to churn with rising waves, as if some colossal creature was moving beneath the surface.
A mighty aura belonging to a Demon God was surging from the direction of Guyun Stone Forest.
After a thousand years of suppression, Osial's leaking aura was fierce and ominous—but he remained extremely rational.
After all, Liyue Harbor now housed not only the retired Morax, but also the Taixuan Cult Master himself.
He didn't dare behave recklessly.
Obediently, slowly, he approached the South Wharf.
Before long, many people in Liyue Harbor saw the huge figure emerging from the water.
His entire form was pure, crystalline blue like the Hydro element; his five serpent-dragon heads made hearts tremble with a single glance.
Osial deliberately suppressed his aura to avoid frightening civilians and having Liyue add more years to his sentence.
For a Demon God to be reduced to this…
He was one of a kind.
But he had no choice.
"It's all because I wasn't strong enough," he sighed internally as he neared the wharf.
"Yo, he's here."
Gu Chen looked up from his squat, smiled, and waved.
"Cult Master, you're here too," Osial responded weakly.
Aside from Gu Chen, he also spotted Zhongli and Wendy.
Wendy sat on the edge of the wharf, smiling at him.
Zhongli stood with hands folded behind his back, wearing that faintly amused expression.
This old fellow even pretends to look dignified while watching me suffer!
The more Osial thought about it, the angrier he got—
Yet he couldn't show it.
Which made him even more angry.
"Let's begin. Don't waste time."
Keqing briskly walked over with a map in hand.
It was the underwater topographic map of the South Wharf—drawn long ago when the wharf had first been constructed, meant to aid future dredging work.
"Got it."
Osial clicked his tongue.
If he could, he'd rather be anywhere but here.
But breathing free air made his entire being feel lighter.
What annoyed him was the growing number of Liyue onlookers watching the spectacle.
He was irritated, yes—but work was work.
Vortices appeared on the surface of the sea, the water quickly clouding with stirred-up silt.
Gu Chen glanced down. Aside from mud, there were all sorts of debris—likely dropped cargo and other junk over the years.
With Osial cleaning it this thoroughly, the South Wharf would be smooth for large ships for at least three to five years.
[Transcendence Group Chat]
[Wendy]: (Photo of Osial working) (Photo of Gu Chen squatting and eating a tomato) (Photo of Paimon staring up at Osial) (Photo of Zhongli posing with hands behind back, looking profound)
[Hu Tao]: Zhongli is doing that again? (Hu Tao threatening emoji)
[Xingqiu]: Doing what? (Sucrose questioning emoji)
[Azhdaha]: I'm talking about that old man Zhongli. I seriously suspect every gesture he makes is deliberately designed to look cool. (Zhongli Dragon-King smirk emoji)
[Zhongli]: This is malicious speculation. (Zhongli black-line emoji)
[Furina]: Maybe living long enough just makes you like that. (certain emoji)
[Gu Chen]: Then why doesn't Raiden Ei have the same effect? She's lived two or three thousand years at least. (mischievous emoji)
[Yae Miko]: (smirking fox emoji)
[Raiden Ei]: Brother-in-law, please don't say it like that… (Ei hiding emoji)
[Childe]: Even this Demon God Osial is doing labor reform with me—fantastic! I must have a drink with the other inmates tonight! (Wendy celebration emoji)
[Arataki Itto]: Huh?! Liyue prison life is THAT good? You guys can DRINK?! (Itto scratching-head emoji)
Itto, as the number-one gang leader of Hanamizaka's delinquents, was very familiar with the Tenryou Commission's prisons.
Prison?
More like tea and rice at a monastery.
But Liyue's labor-camp inmates could still drink with their cellmates?!
[Childe]: You wouldn't get it—I've been performing well! (selfie with prison guards praising him)
[Gu Chen]: Liyue's great prison needs energetic youths like you. Work hard. Liyue's construction depends on you. (nod emoji)
[Childe]: Suddenly I feel fired up! Forget lunch—I'm digging two more cartloads of ore and pushing them to the road crew!! (Paimon proud emoji)
[Osial]: …
Seeing Childe's message, Osial couldn't help laughing.
"What are you laughing at? He's sincerely doing labor reform. He's far more self-motivated than you." Keqing said calmly.
Osial glanced at her.
Such a tiny Yuheng-Xing. Weak, fragile.
But influential—and powerful in authority.
He had to listen to her.
Annoying.
"Keqing! Come have some fruit!" Paimon waved at her.
Keqing looked over—and when she saw Gu Chen and Zhongli, her eyes lit up.
She hurried over.
"Emperor! Cult Master!"
Seeing the heroic girl greet the two men, Wendy couldn't hold back. He peeked from behind Zhongli:
"And me?"
Keqing froze for a moment, then laughed softly and said seriously,
"Hello, Mr. Wendy."
"Much better."
Wendy nodded with satisfaction and added approvingly,
"You're good. The old man praises you all the time. The Cult Master even says you're talented—the kind who'll lead Liyue to greater prosperity."
Keqing's eyes widened, disbelief and excitement flashing within them.
Zhongli chuckled softly and nodded.
"Follow your heart, and lead Liyue forward."
Gu Chen added,
"Anyone who personally measures Liyue's land, disguises themselves as an ordinary laborer, works and lives with the workers to understand their hardships—
You're excellent."
Then he added,
"For a person to stay young, they need youthful cells.
For a nation to flourish, it needs fresh blood.
The future belongs to your generation."
As expected of the Cult Master!
Wendy found Gu Chen's ability to flatter nearly equal to his own—but undeniable in effectiveness.
After drinking that bowl of chicken-soup encouragement, Keqing was burning with passion, her chest filled with fire.
This was praise from the Cult Master and the Emperor—two of the most significant figures in all Teyvat.
One was mysterious and unfathomable; the other was her lifelong idol.
Her cheeks flushed as she felt both shy and determined to work harder so she wouldn't disappoint them.
"But remember," Gu Chen added cheerfully,
"balance between work and rest is the real truth. Don't exhaust yourself."
"I understand!" Keqing nodded vigorously.
"Here, Keqing."
Paimon handed her some fruit.
"Thank you!"
Everything on this side was cheerful—
Which only made Osial even more depressed.
He felt like he was the only one in a bad mood today.
After finishing the South Wharf, he asked helplessly,
"Good enough?"
"The North Wharf too."
Even on break time, Keqing never forgot her duties.
Osial: "…"
"Let me rest first!"
"You're a Demon God! You're only clearing some mud and junk—why do you look so tired?" Paimon asked, baffled.
"You don't understand."
Osial shook his heads heavily.
Was his body tired?
No. A single thought could accomplish this.
His exhaustion was mental.
"I'll allow you thirty minutes of rest," Keqing said after checking the time in the chat.
"At least you have a conscience."
Satisfied, Osial lowered one head toward Gu Chen—making Paimon jump.
"Cult Master—share some fruit with me too?"
Osial asked obsequiously.
A thousand years of imprisonment had left his psyche damaged.
Seeing Gu Chen and the others enjoying a relaxed afternoon with fruit made him want to taste some himself.
"Sure."
Gu Chen didn't refuse and tossed a few.
To Osial it was just a mouthful—barely enough to wedge between teeth—but the flavor almost brought tears to his eyes.
He couldn't remember the last time he'd tasted anything like this.
Regret washed through him.
If he hadn't become Morax's enemy…
His life might have been pretty good too.
"No more resting—I'm getting back to work! I want my sentence reduced!"
He immediately turned and swam toward the North Wharf.
"He's enlightened?" Wendy muttered.
"Perhaps." Zhongli nodded.
"A good thing, then." Wendy shrugged.
Keqing excused herself—she needed to supervise.
After a while, Wendy suddenly asked,
"It's about time—aren't we getting a fan-made bonus video this episode?"
Paimon thought. "Doesn't seem like it."
"Good."
Zhongli's face darkened.
Thinking of the first fan-made episode made even his six thousand years of mental composure waver.
Especially that crooked-smile meme—still circulating everywhere.
Just yesterday, Zhongli checked the ordinary group, and it had spread so widely it was practically mandatory.
Amusing? Yes.
But not when you were the subject.
"Stay calm," Gu Chen patted his shoulder.
"I am calm." Zhongli answered lifelessly.
What could he do—fight it?
Like Hall Master Hu said—if you try accepting it, sometimes it becomes tolerable.
When one gives up, the sky suddenly broadens.
"Speaking of which," Gu Chen said, "Pantalone's compensation should have arrived. Shouldn't you share the joy?"
Zhongli gave Wendy a meaningful look.
Wendy bared his teeth. "Fine! Tonight—Wanmin Restaurant—my treat!"
"Huh?!"
"You're the Anemo Archon and you're treating us to Wanmin Restaurant?! I thought you'd go for Xinyue Kiosk or the Liuli Pavilion!"
Paimon folded her arms, unimpressed.
"It's called living frugally, ok?"
Wendy snorted. "Are you coming or not?"
"Based on general rationality," Zhongli began,
"While Wanmin is not as elegant as Xinyue Kiosk or Liuli Pavilion, it is a place that—"
"Speak human language," Gu Chen cut in.
Zhongli paused.
"…Cheap, delicious, lively."
"Now that I can understand." Wendy grinned. "I'll reserve a table with Xiangling. You can reunite with Guoba too. See? My emotional intelligence is great."
Zhongli smiled.
Indeed—it wasn't bad.
"Can I bring my family?" Gu Chen asked.
"No problem! We'll drink tonight—if anyone passes out, their spouse can carry them home."
Wendy then looked at Zhongli.
"I don't have family in Liyue… let Hall Master Hu drag me home tonight, ok?"
"Haha."
Zhongli nodded. "In that case, I'll bring some of my treasured liquor."
"YES! That's what I was waiting for!"
Wendy slapped his thigh excitedly.
Ordinary wine couldn't get the former Geo Archon drunk.
But rare vintage?
Now that was possible.
Night — Wanmin Restaurant
Gu Chen, Zhongli, Wendy, and Guoba sat at one table.
Lumine, Paimon, Guizhong, Raiden Makoto, Ganyu, and Hu Tao sat at another.
Women always had plenty to talk about.
Hu Tao, with her elite socializing skills, quickly blended into the group.
Meanwhile, at Gu Chen's table—
"Heehee… heheheehe…"
Guoba—never especially bright—became even more foolish after two sips of liquor.
He clung to Zhongli's leg, drooling tears and snot all over it.
Zhongli: "…"
Luckily it was Guoba.
If it were Wendy, there would already be a fist-shaped mark on his face.
"Cult Master! A toast to you!"
Wendy raised his cup boldly.
Gu Chen matched him drink for drink.
"Old man, if you can drink, drink! If not, go sit with Paimon's table!"
Wendy complained when Zhongli hesitated.
"Yeah, you're not that old," Gu Chen added, eyeing him suspiciously.
Zhongli paused—then said,
"Fine, fine. Tonight I'll show you my true ability."
Ever since he became mortal, he rarely drank, preferring tea.
But with the videos affecting his mindset, he'd grown younger at heart.
In his youth, he was the geo-dominating Warrior-Emperor—free-spirited, bold, and absolutely capable of drinking.
Before long, ignoring the silly Guoba, the three had barely touched the dishes before the alcohol was flowing.
Late Night
Lumine carried a drowsy, food-coma Paimon.
Raiden Makoto and Guizhong supported a woozy Gu Chen.
After Ganyu paid the bill, she looked to Hu Tao.
Hu Tao looked to Zhongli—both friend and subordinate.
"No need to worry, Hall Master."
Though dizzy, Zhongli still walked steadily.
"What about this one?"
Hu Tao pointed at Wendy—already curled up under the table, sleeping soundly.
"I have a solution."
Zhongli bent down, grabbed Wendy's ankle, and began dragging him toward the door.
Wendy didn't even stir.
Watching his head bump against the threshold, Ganyu asked nervously, "Is he really okay?"
"He's the Anemo Archon—he'll be fine." Hu Tao waved dismissively. "Ah, whatever!"
Watching Zhongli drag Wendy away, Gu Chen suddenly sobered.
He quickly snapped several photos—and recorded a video—before letting his wives help him home.
"Should we wash him? He reeks of alcohol," Lumine asked.
"He can just cast a Purification Technique himself," Ganyu replied blankly.
Hearing that, the half-conscious Gu Chen rolled his eyes and promptly fainted.
Guizhong shot him a playful glare.
"He's doing it on purpose."
"Oh~ I get it. I'm leaving first."
Paimon suddenly perked up.
Thinking about certain books she had read…
She felt that the rarely-used Gu Estate bathhouse was going to be very lively tonight.
But that had nothing to do with her.
She only wanted to get back to her own room and sleep—
And hoped it wouldn't be too noisy.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage