At the banquet.
King Deshret openly voiced his grand ambition.
He was like a monarch possessing vast ambition and vision—wishing to forge his kingdom into an eternally flourishing empire.
The Goddess of Flowers listened and offered her encouragement.
She believed that a king with such ideals and drive would surely lead his people toward a greater future.
Hearing the Flower God's praise, King Deshret was overjoyed.
A surge of hot blood rushed through his chest, power flooding his limbs as if giving him boundless energy.
The three gods exchanged thoughts and experiences, and their relationship gradually grew closer.
Noticing that Gu Chen seemed a bit too "invisible," Buer frequently mentioned him during her conversation with the two gods.
"If not for my very first Great Sage, many things—even with wisdom—could easily lead one to stumble over one's own intellect."
Buer wore a faint, gentle smile.
The Goddess of Flowers glanced at Gu Chen twice before smiling brightly.
"What a clever and unique human."
"Your Grace flatters me." Gu Chen bowed slightly.
He did not speak much—only responding occasionally when needed.
King Deshret looked at Buer, then at Gu Chen, and for some reason… suddenly felt a little envious.
[Chat Group]
[Kaeya]: Don't tell me he's jealous that the Dendro Archon keeps bringing up the Cult Leader? He's gotta realize how important he is to her. Meanwhile the Flower God barely knows he exists—our desert king's about to eat lemons. (mischievous)
[Nilou]: Ahhh! Rukkhadevata and Mr. Gu Chen are so shippable!! (Nahida: excited)
[Collei]: I'll move Celestia over right now so they can hold their wedding there!! (Kirara: please give a like meow)
[Sustainer of Heavenly Principles]: Then where am I supposed to live? (Nahida: confused)
[Venti]: You can be their officiant. After all, the Dendro Archon technically counts as your employee. (Zhongli: dragon-king smirk)
[Sustainer]: Makes sense… but remember to return Celestia to me. (Zhongli: helpless shrug)
[Childe]: Wait wait, no way. Mr. Gu Chen and the Archon have a superior-subordinate relationship! She's too wise to let a subordinate feel left out—that's why she keeps mentioning him. It's just like my relationship with the Ts— cough the Queen! (Childe: surfing)
[Azhdaha]: Child, you and your Queen will always be superior vs subordinate. But the Cult Leader and the Dendro Archon? Their relationship won't be fixed forever. Understand?
[Childe]: Huh??
[Osial]: Rookie. Someone like the Cult Leader—taking down the Archon? Easy work. (Paimon: smug)
[Gu Chen]: Yes, praise me exactly like that.
[Childe]: How can someone be amazing in every aspect?! (Childe: losing his glow)
[Gu Chen]: There is a kind of person whose whole life is a legend. Whose brows are etched with charm. Whose deeds are sung as epics. That kind of person…
is called Gu Chen. (Zhongli: dragon-king smirk)
[Paimon]: Ugh! What kind of self-praise is THAT?! (disgusted)
[Lumine]: Unfamiliar.
[Guizhong]: Mind your image—this is embarrassing! (facepalm)
[Yae Miko]: Image? He has an image in the group? (shocked)
[Raiden Ei]: I'm just spacey. But brother-in-law is actually bragging. (Ei: soft laugh)
[Kaeya]: Bragging? Looks factual to me! (smirk)
[Osial]: Which part isn't true? It's natural for the Cult Leader to be great! (Zhongli: dragon smirk)
[Cyno]: When you compare them like this… King Deshret and the Flower God are clearly impossible.
But Mr. Gu Chen and the Dendro Archon? …Possibility found.
No wonder Deshret is jealous. (Collei: alert)
After the banquet.
The Flower God and King Deshret departed.
The alliance of the three gods was joyous news for all of Sumeru.
Once the two gods were gone, the smile slowly faded from Buer's face—replaced by deep worry.
Standing at her side, Gu Chen noticed the change in her expression. He comforted her:
"Don't overthink it."
"You don't understand…" Buer shook her head with a sigh.
"She's planning all of this. She intends to carry out her plan. Everything is for her mission. But the land will be swept by calamity…
Is it really worth it?"
Even the God of Wisdom could be troubled by certain riddles.
Gu Chen remained silent.
Through the Flower God and Buer's three questions and three answers, he had already understood the hidden meanings.
The Flower God was playing a massive game—she had a plan unknown to others.
From her behavior, she knew she would die.
But that goddess, blooming like a flower, did not fear death.
She even wished… to die more brilliantly—like a blossom spending all its beauty in the moment before winter's chill descends.
As for King Deshret—
Gu Chen had understood as well.
He was moved by the Flower God's beauty; entranced by her graceful dancing.
He secretly admired her.
When Buer answered the first riddle, King Deshret had already fallen deep into thought—realizing then that he and the Flower God were never meant to be.
Yet he didn't stop loving her.
He loved her even knowing she would never respond.
"People of deep affection often turn mad because of it." Gu Chen said quietly.
"…Yes."
Buer nodded deeply, then asked, "When that day finally comes… what should we do?"
"For now, focus on what must be done. Prepare as much as possible." Gu Chen replied.
Wisdom cannot stop arrows,
but it can resist destruction.
Wisdom cannot break armor,
but it can topple cities.
Gu Chen understood the meaning behind Buer's answers.
Buer was the Princess of Wisdom—the Queen of a Thousand Trees.
If she faced a powerful god like King Deshret head-on, her chances of winning were low.
She was not skilled in combat.
She excelled in wisdom.
Just as she answered:
She may not be able to break armor—but she could destroy a city.
Yet the worry on her face did not fade.
She was not worrying about herself.
Wisdom does not die,
yet neither is it born—
it is eternal and ancient.
Buer never worried about herself.
Her concerns were always for the vibrant forest and the humans building their new cities beneath it.
"If that day truly comes… will you still be at my side?" Buer suddenly asked.
There was a hint of melancholy in her voice.
"What are you afraid of?" Gu Chen asked.
"Wisdom will perish, and wisdom will return.
But the wisdom that is reborn… is new wisdom.
She will forget everything."
"When calamity sweeps the land… how many familiar faces will still remain?"
Her words left Gu Chen unsure how to respond.
He could not stop the Flower God and King Deshret.
Even the loving and great ruler of wisdom herself chose not to stop them—because she already knew she couldn't.
From her third answer, it was clear:
Wisdom cannot stop an arrow,
but it can resist destruction.
She could not prevent the calamity,
but she could try to lessen it.
When the tide of calamity hits, everything on the shore is washed away.
What's left—shells, fish, traces on the sand—are just the remnants proving it happened.
Humans would weep in the calamity.
Wisdom would be swept away as well.
And the newborn wisdom…
would forget everything.
Gu Chen said softly:
"I will be there. Always."
"You come from beyond this world. You don't have to do this," Buer said with a brief smile before advising, "Leave Sumeru. Head further east. It may be a better choice."
Gu Chen laughed lightly.
"There's no 'best choice,' only 'better.'
But once I choose—
I never waver."
Buer looked at him for a long time before shaking her head helplessly, then smiling brilliantly—more radiant than any flower in bloom.
[Chat Group]
[Collei]: Master Tighnari!! Help explain this part!! (Klee: begging)
[Nilou]: Ahhh I understand half and not the other half and it's painful!! (Diona: frustrated)
[Kaeya]: You two kept shipping instead of paying attention to the meaning! Understand this part and the ship gets even better! (Hu Tao: mischievous)
[Tighnari]: Based on the current narrative:
The Dendro Archon knows what will happen. She cannot stop it, but she can resist it—that's her answer to the Flower God.
She knows she will fall and be reborn, but the reborn version will forget everything—she will no longer be who she once was.
In this passage, she asks Mr. Gu Chen whether, when the new her forgets everything, he will still remain by her side.
She also worries that he may be caught by the calamity and die.
Gu Chen clearly responds: he will stay. Always.
(Tighnari: chalkboard tap)
[Heizou]: Not only that—she directly mentions Gu Chen being from "outside this world"!
Meaning the calamity has nothing to do with him.
He could leave and no one would blame him.
That's why she suggests he head east—toward Liyue—far from danger.
But Gu Chen says once he makes a choice, he never changes it.
Meaning—
He chose her.
He will not choose anyone else.
(Heizou: I'm so good)
[Nilou]: I get it now!! Mr. Gu Chen chose Lady Rukkhadevata so firmly—even knowing the danger! Yes yes yes!! (Klee: yay)
[Collei]: This arc's reward for the Archon better be a SOLO main story chapter!!! (screaming)
[Neuvillette]: This kind of emotion is… difficult to understand. Do humans truly risk their lives for a choice?
[Xingqiu]: …You're not human?
[Neuvillette]: Correct. I am not. I apologize for not understanding.
[Furina]: Stop burying yourself in work! Chat more in the group! There's so much you can learn here! (Neuvillette: upper-class pose)
[Neuvillette]: Understood.
[Kazuha]: To answer his question—yes. Humans often value will and resolve even above life itself.
My friend once gave his life for a mere possibility.
[Raiden Ei]: I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry—please stop scolding me! (Ei: shuts down)
[Gu Chen]: Ei is triggered? Yae Miko what did you DO?!
[Yae Miko]: Huh? Brother-in-law don't falsely accuse me! (Miko: polite smile)
[Kazuha]: A misunderstanding. My friend died honorably in a duel before the Shogun. It was the law—and it was his choice. There is no need for the Shogun to apologize. (Kazuha: shocked)
[Raiden Ei]: (nods)
[Zhongli]: The Cult Leader's words are so resolute… it can be considered a promise.
Then the video keyword "Broken Promise"—must refer to this promise.
[Diluc]: Judging from the cover and the story… likely yes.
[Gorou]: The cover is… I don't want to remember. It already feels tragic. (crying)
[Nilou]: Mr. Gorou! You didn't have to bring that up!! (Kokomi: energy dropping)
[Ayaka Kamisato]: Then… two keywords already match:
"First Great Sage" — Gu Chen becomes second-in-command, managing all affairs.
"Broken Promise" — he will not be able to fulfill this vow.
Then "Eternal Forgetting" must mean—
The Archon's rebirth will eternally forget everything. (Ayaka: confused)
[Nahida]: Through what method would the Archon revive? (Nahida: curious)
[Paimon]: YOU don't know, you second-generation god of wisdom?! (shocked)
[Nahida]: I really don't!! (Ayaka: confused)
[Furina]: Hm? If you don't know, that makes me suspect you are Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's reincarnation!
Maybe you just forgot everything!
Also—your profile picture looks young. But if you grew up, wouldn't you look… exactly like her? (thinking)
[Keqing]: Wait—she's right. Same elf-like ears, same cross pupils, same white hair with green gradient! (Venti: shocked)
[Nilou]: ??? Little Lord Kusanali is actually Greater Lord Rukkhadevata reborn?! (Paimon: shocked)
[Collei]: T-This is explosive news?! (crashes)
[Alhaitham]: Wisdom dies and is reborn… This possibility is very plausible.
[Kaveh]: So the Little Lucky Grass King rarely showing up for 500 years… was because she's just the reborn Rukkhadevata?! (Kaveh: scratching head)
[Dori]: Sounds absurd—but also kinda logical! (nod)
[Nahida]: I–I–I'm really not!! (Hydro Fungus: crying)
[Gu Chen]: Nahida, stop pretending. You are Rukkhadevata. (mischievous)
[Kaeya]: Five centuries have passed!
Welcome back, Archon!! (Venti: throws confetti)
[Venti]: No way—this is ACTUALLY the Archon returning, isn't it?! (shocked)
Jade Chamber of Pure Goodness.
Dottore stared at the utterly-dumbfounded Nahida.
Behind the mask of his bird-beak visage, his eyes turned increasingly strange.
Before, no one knew what Greater Lord Rukkhadevata looked like.
But now the videos exposed everything!
Nahida might be small now…
But if she grew up—she'd look EXACTLY like the Greater Lord.
Meaning—
The "little Kusanali" imprisoned by the Akademiya for years—
was actually the same Great Lord they had worshipped fanatically?!
Absurdity.
Pure absurdity.
This was…
too abstract!!
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