The sun was high and scorching in the sky. The streets and alleys of Liyue had faded away from the bustle, leaving only a few pedestrians. The noise of cicadas came and went, making the heat even more intense. The heat in the port was completely different from that in the inland, and the former was more inclined.
Due to the stuffy heat, even if you just sit still, you will easily be contaminated with moisture, making your whole body sticky and uncomfortable.
Only the gurgling canal water beside the street is comfortable and relieves some of the heat. The luxuriant vines hang down from the branches, silently announcing the tension of life. The landscaped spring water outside the temple is clear and translucent. The breeze brings ripples, and the reflection is gentle in the water.
Ripple away.
The afternoon in Liyue should have been pleasant and leisurely, but when the traveler and Paimon slowly came to the stone railing in the southwest corner of the square, they found that Zhongli, Famas and Wendy were strangely gathered together. The three of them seemed to be having a friendly chat.
Small talk, but many of the details prove otherwise.
Famas leaned against the flag banner erected for the emperor. He seemed to have his hands behind his back indifferently, and his eyes were empty as if he had lost focus. In fact, he had secretly grasped the flag pole with his back hand, ready to insert the flag pole on Zhongli's head at any time.
meaning above.
The sight of the gods is everywhere. Zhongli, who has retired, will obviously no longer use the power of earthly governance at will, but even so, he can see Famas's impatience from his tense body.
However, Zhongli did not make any defensive gestures, and even folded his arms in front of his chest quite leisurely, looking at the bard who came from Mondstadt with a smile, and then turned his eyes back to the young man.
, that confident look seemed to be telling Famas:
"Do you have the ability to touch me?"
Under the noon sun, the building is clearly light and dark, and people can see large areas of bright light, as if everything has lost its color, and the plants have drooped their branches and leaves and are paralyzed in the flower beds lifelessly.
However, the confrontation in the corner of the square made the surrounding air colder. Wendy, who was sandwiched between the two, sat on the edge of the stone railing and played the piano, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. However, as the situation became more serious, the poet's music became more intense.
It's urgent, and it actually sounds a bit like a war song.
"Wendy... is obviously fanning the flames, right?"
The traveler quickly judged the delicate situation between the three of them and hurriedly coughed twice to attract everyone's attention. Then he quickly stepped forward and blocked Zhongli and Famas with his body.
"Hi... Zhongli, Famas and Wendy... what are you talking about?"
The traveler brought up the topic abruptly. Paimon tilted his head and looked at everyone, seeming to notice that the atmosphere was a little strange.
However, after the traveler forcefully intervened in the negotiation, Wendy stopped the music she was playing, and Famas let go of his hand behind his back, leaving only clear fingerprints on the sandwood flagpole, and Zhongli's golden and stone-like eyes.
His eyes were silently looking at the girl in front of him, as if he was looking at all the living beings on the land of Liyue.
"Oh? It's Traveler and Paimon... After saying goodbye yesterday, I was very worried about you. What do you two think of today's immortal ceremony?"
Zhongli did not answer the traveler's words. Instead, he smiled and asked how they felt about the ceremony of sending immortals. The difference from the past was that Mr. Keqing's eyes were more humane, as if the boundary between gods and humans had been completely drawn.
"Although there were twists and turns, it ended smoothly in the end. I'm still very happy?"
The traveler answered honestly, glancing at Famas and Wendy from the corner of his eye from time to time.
Seeing that Famas's mood was stable, Yingmei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, hey! What's the point? When the people of Liyue heard the Qixing announcement that the emperor was seriously injured and died, they all felt that they would never see Prince Yan again. Look at the atmosphere of memorial... Zhongli himself felt relaxed.
…”
Paimon pouted and complained, circling around Zhongli. After experiencing the adventures of the past few days, the traveler was full of inexplicable and complicated emotions. Only the little mascot still looked happy and carefree.
appearance.
"Haha, won't it become easier now that the burden of 3,700 years has been lifted?" Zhongli smiled and shook his head, "He died of serious injuries... This is a good reason, but it has made your Excellency suffer a lot that he did not deserve.
Unjust, I think it will be difficult to see him in Liyue in the future."
Zhongli shook his head with emotion. After the dust settled, he could now express his thoughts calmly.
The time when he served as a guide for Dadalia was also the happiest time Zhongli spent while traveling around the world.
"If you like that stupid executive so much, just bring some warm clothes and go with him to live in the winter."
Famas suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention to herself. Wendy also blinked her beautiful green eyes, turned her head and stared at Famas who was leaning on the stone railing.
Famas originally wanted to make a few taunts to dampen Morax's interest, but these words were all blocked in his mouth under Wendy's innocent gaze. The little poet sat on the stone railing and shook his legs, smiling slightly.
It's like an unfettered breeze.
"I originally had this intention, but I still have unfinished business in Liyue, so I have to think more about it."
Zhongli was not angry at Famas's ridicule, and even nodded in agreement. Then he raised his right hand as he spoke, and two amber balls that exuded bright rock light appeared in his hand.
This is the forbidden knowledge that Zhongli sealed away in the Golden House.
The remnants of the war five hundred years ago are still vivid in my mind, and even someone as powerful as Morax is insensitive to this kind of forbidden knowledge.
Fortunately, the living container that sealed the taboos was right in front of him, so the wisdom that should not be known to the creatures of Teyvat still had a suitable home.
"Famas, do you still remember your promise with the goddess of destiny? Fulfill your duty."
Zhongli casually threw the ball to Famas, seemingly not worried that the other party would not accept it. Famas, as he expected, was stunned for a moment and then hurriedly caught the amber ball.
"Wait, a date under the skirt?!"
Paimon covered her mouth and screamed. Of course she and the traveler still remembered what Zhongli said in the Golden Room. Famas had made a deal with fate and served as the keeper of forbidden knowledge.
But the term "pact under the skirt" seems to be a bit different from the meaning of transaction, right?
After hearing this, Famas also stared at Zhongli with disbelief. His hand slipped and almost crushed the two pieces of forbidden knowledge. Then he turned his head and looked at Zhongli who was sitting on the stone railing and shaking his legs as if sensing a crisis.
of Wendy.
The little poet smiled and tilted his head, staring directly at Famas. It was obvious that he wanted to say: "Oh? So you have a secret love story that I don't know about?"
"Morax...you want to harm me!?"
Famas gritted his teeth and glared at Zhongli, but found that the other person still looked indifferent, as if he didn't mean to mention the past.
It's just that Mr. Keqing couldn't hide the smile in his eyes. He was clearly replying to Famas's remarks to the young master just now.
"If you misinterpret my relationship with Dadalia, then I will tell you all the trivial things in your past in front of a certain poet."