"Hallmaster… why don't we read the book first?"
"Besides, generally speaking, foreign funeral cultures should be different from ours, right?"
Zhongli's words reminded Hu Tao.
"Oh right! The consultant is so thoughtful."
Just as Zhongli thought Hu Tao had finally given up on the idea of expanding into the international market,
Hu Tao leaned on the chair, resting her chin on her small hand on the backrest, and looked at him, saying,
"Then we need to quickly learn about foreign funeral cultures. consultant, you know the most, you must understand, so you teach me?"
"?" Is that what I meant?
Zhongli thought, 'Should I also find some time to take a vacation in Fontaine?'
Zhongli stopped speaking, took out the novel written by Lin Qiu, and began to read.
Seeing that Zhongli ignored her, Hu Tao pouted, but she did not disturb Zhongli and also began to read seriously.
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, here ends the transgression of the Son of Man.
Opening with a shock.
"How did Lin Qiu know about Heavenly Principles?" Zhongli wondered.
Although Lin Qiu knew more than ordinary people and had many interesting stories in his mind,
the stories he told Zhongli before were all fantasies.
But this time, the story was real, and it was something ordinary people could not know.
"A bit interesting." Zhongli began to get interested.
Anyway, Heavenly Principles is asleep now, so what harm could there be in looking?
"Huh? I feel like I could be friends with this girl named Amber."
Hu Tao read faster because she didn't know what Heavenly Principles was, so she didn't study it carefully.
Amber? Zhongli also read about Amber's appearance and felt that this child was not as lively as the Hallmaster.
Compared to this girl named Amber, the green-clad youth attracted Zhongli's attention more.
He recognized at a glance that this person was Barbatos.
It seemed his old friend had finally woken up. The days ahead would likely become lively.
Thinking back, not long after the Archon War ended, Venti suddenly came to him, making him highly nervous.
He thought Venti had encountered something and came for help, so he specifically brought the adepti to assist.
It turned out that fellow just came to drink with him.
Zhongli did not doubt the content of the book. After all, Lin Qiu even mentioned Heavenly Principles, which ordinary people would not know.
"Oh no, the Dragon Disaster looks very dangerous. I hope the Mondstadters won't get hurt."
Hu Tao had already read up to the part where Dvalin wreaked havoc in Mondstadt City.
Hu Tao didn't think Lin Qiu was writing a prophecy book; she was simply immersing herself in the story.
Zhongli did not respond to Hu Tao's words but fell into a reverie. He remembered it was about a month ago, right?
That day, Zhongli saw Lin Qiu standing alone by the sea, looking at it, so he curiously approached and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking, whether it's good or bad to let more people know the truth and the future."
Lin Qiu sat cross-legged by the sea, resting his chin on one hand, gazing at the ocean.
At this time, he had not yet decided to write the story of Teyvat, because the content of this story would make many things uncertain.
Zhongli stood behind Lin Qiu without speaking.
"Mr. Zhongli, aren't you going to give me some advice?" Lin Qiu asked curiously. He had thought Zhongli would express his views.
This was the Rock God who had lived for countless years; his insights could be said to be invaluable to people.
Hadn't Liyue Harbor been operating under Zhongli's guidance for so many years?
The current prosperity of Liyue Harbor proved Zhongli's correctness.
Zhongli shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distant sunset glow, and said faintly,
"Your thoughts should not change because of me."
As a God, Morax had lived for thousands of years, witnessing countless rises and falls.
As a human, Zhongli had only lived for a mere few decades.
But these few years had allowed Zhongli to let go of many things and become more willing to believe in human potential.
"I believe in human potential and want to see the future of humanity."
"You speak as if you're not human." Lin Qiu pretended he didn't know Zhongli's identity yet.
Zhongli smiled faintly, neither refuting nor admitting.
He had long seen that Lin Qiu was unusual.
Zhongli was the God of Liyue. How could he not notice a person suddenly appearing out of nowhere in Liyue and wandering around him?
It was just that Zhongli had no intention of exposing Lin Qiu, because in their interactions, he hadn't felt any malice from Lin Qiu.
Time returned to the present, and Zhongli recovered from his memories.
"So the truth he spoke of back then was this…"
Zhongli read the content of the book in his hand and smiled faintly, "How truly bold."
Such truth, such a future, even he as the Rock God could not have known.
Presumably, only some members of the Hexenzirkel could see the future, but it shouldn't be this detailed.
Although he wasn't sure what answer Lin Qiu ultimately arrived at, it must have his deep meaning.
"Alas, old people just love to reminisce." Zhongli shook his head and continued reading.
Meanwhile, the profound Lin Qiu was currently admiring Furina's beauty at the Opera Epiclese.
He was only there to collect emotional value and had no interest in the case itself.
So he simply stopped looking at the case, his attention almost entirely focused on Furina.
Furina naturally noticed Lin Qiu's gaze.
To be honest, even she, who had adapted to gazes, felt a little uncomfortable.
It wasn't because Lin Qiu's gaze was too passionate, or the pressure of being stared at intently; Furina had long been accustomed to these things.
The reason Furina felt uncomfortable was this:
She always felt that Lin Qiu's gaze was different from others. When others looked at her, it was with 'trust' and 'reverence'.
Lin Qiu's gaze also contained these emotions, but besides that, Furina also felt something else, which was 'pity'.
Furina was very sensitive to gazes and stares; she felt she definitely hadn't misinterpreted it.
Trust and reverence were fine; as the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, she had felt such emotions too many times.
But why was there pity?! Where exactly did her performance make her worthy of pity?
It should be known that Furina had always been playing the role of a great God, an omniscient and omnipotent God.
Why would such a God make people feel pity?
"Does he really know something?"
Furina's heart beat a little faster, with both anticipation and fear.
The anticipation was that someone might understand her, and she could find someone to confide this loneliness to.
The fear was that if the other party really knew something, and if he exposed her, wouldn't all her efforts be in vain?
It wouldn't matter for herself, but what about Fontaine?
"Is he… a good person?" Furina was a little worried, secretly observing Lin Qiu.
Whether it was a misconception or not, Furina also felt a hint of 'lewdness' in Lin Qiu's gaze, which made Furina tighten her fair thighs.
But that wasn't right either; looking from below, he couldn't even see her legs, so what was he being lewd about?
"He doesn't seem like a good person… (˃ ⌑ ˂ ഃ )" Furina tried to control her shyness.
...
Zhongli had finished reading this familiar yet strange story.
Strange were the Mondstadters he no longer recognized.
Familiar were the clues buried deep within Teyvat's history.
Hu Tao, on the other hand, didn't think so much; she seemed to have completely immersed herself in it.
Sometimes she laughed, sometimes she frowned, and sometimes she pondered something.
Seeing his Hallmaster unusually quiet, Zhongli couldn't bear to disturb her and quietly left with the book.
He just couldn't bear to disturb Hu Tao's enjoyment of reading; he was absolutely not worried that Hu Tao would come back to her senses and try to chat with him.
----------
Character Voice · Zhongli: About Lin Qiu
"Lin Qiu is a very mysterious person, but in my opinion, he bears no ill will towards this world. His actions must have a profound meaning, right?"