Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Xuan Yue led Kong and Paimon along the road. There were very few people on the road now, and it was quiet all around...

Paimon glanced at Xuan Yue, then at Kong, then back at Xuan Yue, rubbed his eyes, shook his head, and said, "Sigh, I give up. I still can't figure it out."

Xuan Yue turned around and looked at her with amusement, asking, "What are you thinking about?"

Paimon: "The reason for this crisis... the reason 'Young Master' released the Demon Gods to attack Liyue was to force the Geo Archon to show himself! We resolved the crisis on our own—so the Geo Archon still hasn't appeared! Instead, the Celestial Lord, whom 'Young Master' had been so confident about but powerless to intervene, has appeared."

Kong nodded and said, "Paimon is right. If that's the case, then regarding that god's 'death'... Jin Xuan, you must be here to answer that question."

Xuan Yue's smile grew even brighter, as if she had just thought of something: "Hahaha, the place we're going to will answer all your questions. Since you're so eager to know, let's hurry up!" With that, Xuan Yue started running.

Paimon: "Hey! Hurry up and catch up!"

Kong, feeling competitive, kept up with Xuan Yue's pace, running one after the other, and soon arrived at the entrance of the Northern Bank.

"Not bad, you actually managed to keep up." Xuan Yue's words made Kong put his hands on his hips in smugness, while Paimon flew wobbly to their side.

Paimon: "You two...you big bad guys! You ran so fast...I was left behind..."

Kong scratched his head and said, "Sorry, Paimon."

"Ahem... Now that everyone's here, let's go in." Xuan Yue turned around, opened the door of the "Northern Bank," and led Kong and Paimon inside.

"Young Master": "You actually call this 'cooperation between executives'? So-called 'cooperation' should at least involve information sharing..."

"Lady": "Hehe... Don't worry about these things, 'Young Master.' You ignored the deal and the calculations in the end, and simply made a scene. Weren't you quite happy? Very much in line with your style..."

Xuan Yue interrupted their conversation as she led them inside.

[Lady]: "...Wait, it seems like someone you know has arrived."

Xuan Yue laughed confidently, "Looks like I missed a good show...what a pity."

"You are here."

"Zhongli!" Paimon exclaimed in surprise, not expecting that Zhongli would also be present, in addition to the two Fools' Enforcers.

"Lady!" Kong immediately assumed a fighting stance, remembering exactly what this executive officer had done in Mondstadt.

"Lady": "Ah, it's you. We met in the bard's city, didn't we? Not bad, you remembered my name well. Ah—after all, it's hard to forget the feeling of watching your friend have something important taken from you, and being powerless to stop it, isn't it?"

Kong was about to rush up and fight the "lady" when Xuan Yue blocked his way, saying, "Don't be impulsive, this is not the place to fight."

Empty: "But..."

Xuan Yue shook her head, and Kong also calmed down a bit. His reason told him that he was no match for the lady at the moment. He sheathed his bladeless sword, indicating his compromise.

"Young Master": "Yo, traveler, this is the first time we've met since things ended. How should I put it, the atmosphere is a little... um... awkward?"

Paimon was furious when he saw "Young Master": "Hmph, I shouldn't have trusted you when I found out you were an executor of the Fools!"

"Young Master" scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Don't say that. Although I deceived you a little before, I didn't have any ill intentions towards this traveler... haha... aside from the regrettable turn of events at the end, the cooperation before was quite pleasant, wasn't it?"

"It's just a difference in stance; I won't treat this as a personal grudge. Of course, it's fine if you keep your personal grudges against me..." The "Young Master" made no attempt to hide what he had done. To him, he had done it, so why deny it? Wasn't that the behavior of a weakling?

However, he changed the subject, looking at the "lady" with some dissatisfaction, and said, "On the contrary, the 'lady' and Mr. Zhongli—they really fooled me terribly."

Paimon: "Zhongli lied to 'Young Master'?"

Kong also stared at Zhongli in disbelief, but the person in question simply stood with his back to them, arms crossed, seemingly lost in thought.

Paimon: "Zhongli, what are you thinking about?"

Zhongli opened his eyes and replied, "I'm thinking... when will he arrive?"

Empty: "Him?"

Xuan Yue: "Don't rush, he'll be here soon. Want to make a bet?"

Zhongli: "Oh? What are we betting on?"

Xuan Yue: "Let's use that golden thrush you just bought last time as the wager!"

Zhongli frowned and said, "Hmm... I really can't part with that thrush, so let's just forget about this contract."

Xuan Yue spread her hands, saying helplessly, "As expected... I failed again..."

Sora: "Is anyone else coming?"

Xuan Yue answered his question: "Of course, don't worry, you know each other too."

As soon as Xuan Yue finished speaking, a portal appeared out of thin air opposite Zhong Li, and a figure emerged from it—a figure they knew all too well.

"Grandpa Qingyue!" Paimon was shocked again. Kong had never expected that Qingyue was also connected with the Fools.

“Ah Qing…” Xuan Yue said sweetly, but Xuan Qing flicked his forehead with his index finger: “If there is a next time, I will also spar with you.”

"Oh..." Xuan Yue rubbed her forehead and hid behind Zhong Li. (It hurts a little...) Xuan Yue felt wronged...

Zhongli sighed. If there weren't outsiders present, Xuanqing would probably have settled accounts with him, and certainly wouldn't have been as gentle as she was with Xuanyue...

"These are all familiar faces. Let's get down to business." The "lady" felt a little flustered when she saw Xuan Qing, but remembering that she had come with the Queen's "contract," she figured this rude merchant couldn't do anything to her anymore...

"Lady": "As agreed... I've come to collect your 'Heart of God,' Morax."

Sora noticed the key point: "An agreement?!"

Paimon: "What are you talking about?!"

Zhongli didn't speak, but instead took out the golden chess piece, identical in style to Wendy's, from his pocket and handed it to the "lady," saying, "The 'contract' is complete. As you requested, I grant you what was promised."

The "lady" was somewhat displeased with Zhong Li's tone: "Hmph, such a condescending tone..."

“Watch your tone, messenger of Winter!” Xuan Qing spoke coldly this time: “I told you in Mondstadt that I wouldn’t give you a second chance to overstep your bounds. If you still can’t control your mouth, I can personally come to Winter!”

The "lady" was once again intimidated by Xuan Qing's imposing aura, but this time she was clearly smarter and refrained from making any further comments.

"Young Master": "Huh? No way, 'Lady', you're scared already?! Hahahaha, you're such a coward!" Seeing the "Lady" make a fool of herself, the "Young Master" was actually quite happy, because as long as the "Lady" was unhappy, he was happy.

"Shut up!" The woman glared at him and then fell silent, afraid that she would be driven mad by her colleague.

After watching for a while, Kong finally spoke up: "Is the Rock King Emperor Zhongli?"

Paimon had just finished watching a play and hadn't paid attention to what the "lady" had said before. Hearing Kong's words, she finally realized, "What! So Zhongli is Prince Yan?!"

She hurriedly flew to Zhongli's side: "No, no, no... Although this matter is also shocking, but, but... why did you give the 'Heart of God' to the Fools!" She was so anxious that she stammered.

"It wasn't a gift, but a transaction based on a 'contract'—it's between me and that 'Ice Queen'," Zhongli corrected Paimon's statement.

Kong reviewed everything that had happened since they met Zhongli, and suddenly connected him with "Emperor Yan Wang". Instantly... his mind went blank.

Kong (facepalm): "I really can't understand..."

Paimon agreed with Kong's point of view: "Yes, faking your death was really too much! Everyone was holding a ceremony to welcome you, and suddenly a dragon fell from the sky, causing chaos in Liyue Harbor and almost bringing about a great disaster!"

Xuan Qing nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, if it weren't for your 'contract,' these two executors would have completely disappeared by now!"

The "young master" couldn't help but shudder, while the "lady" continued to mock: "Heh... Gathering the undercurrents surging beneath the surface, applying pressure to the limit, and then letting it explode—isn't that exactly what he wanted to see? Don't blame everything on us."

The air pressure around Xuan Qing had dropped to its lowest point. Paimon had already hidden behind Kong, and Xuan Yue had also emerged from behind Zhong Li to distract Xuan Qing, which allowed the temperature to rise slightly...

Seeing this, Zhongli knew he had no choice but to explain: "Let me explain myself. As you know, I have lived for over six thousand years in this world, and it was three thousand seven hundred years ago that I established Liyue with the immortals. Even the rock that the vortex cannot break will be worn down by the erosion of time. It's just that I have been convincing myself that the day when it is worn down and cracked has not yet come."

Zhongli: "Until one drizzly day, I was strolling along the harbor when I overheard a merchant praising his subordinate: 'You have fulfilled your duty. Now, go and rest.' — At that moment, I stood for a long time amidst the passing crowd, constantly asking myself: 'Have I... fulfilled my duty?'"

Paimon: "Zhongli..."

Zhongli: "But when I began to consider whether I should step down from my divine position... I realized that I still had many reasons why I couldn't leave. Liyue, the land where gods walk, is it ready to enter the next era? I must create an opportunity to observe carefully before making a decision. That's why I orchestrated this faked death, dragging the 'Prince,' the Immortals, and the Seven Stars of Liyue into the chaos..."

Sora: "So, is this a good ending?"

Zhongli, however, smiled and said, "Very good. The 'Heart of God,' which I held onto for a little longer, seems to have lost its meaning."

Paimon: "So, if things get out of control, you'll personally step in and use your divine power to quell the crisis for Liyue one last time?"

"Lady": "Of course, and it was easy for him. Alas, but now it seems... just as a child who has lost his parents matures quickly, this city called Liyue has also grown in the face of the 'death of a god'..."

Zhongli: "The final resolution of all these incidents has made me feel more satisfied than expected."

Xuan Yue shook her head helplessly: "Are you satisfied now? You almost made us take the blame!"

Xuan Qing nodded in agreement; it really was a close call, he was the one who caused the trouble.

Zhongli: "Ah... I'm sorry."