"What... resurrection?!" Guizhong's spirit covered her mouth with her wide sleeves, gasping in disbelief.
What Luya had just said seemed utterly impossible to her.
"Yes... resurrection," Luya replied with a calm smile—just four simple words.
Yet, those four words stirred waves in Guizhong's heart, which had been still as ancient water for millennia.
To her, Luya was just an ordinary human—fragile and fleeting, like the ones she once tried to protect.
Mortals struggled simply to live in this world. Even she, the Goddess of Dust, had perished in the Archon War; how could a mere human survive such trials?
The Goddess of Dust, Haagentus—known affectionately as Guizhong—had been close friends with Morax, the Geo Archon. The Adepti had always called her by that name.
Their peoples settled north of Mt. Tianheng's foothills, founding a community they called the Guili Assembly.
Guizhong, whose power could not compare to Morax's, deeply empathized with humanity's efforts to cultivate wisdom out of fear of death.
She had hoped to combine her intelligence with Morax's strength to make Guili prosper, but the outbreak of the Archon War destroyed everything. Guizhong fell, turning to dust and scattering across heaven and earth.
Now, as a lingering soul within a card, hearing Luya claim he could resurrect her left Guizhong stunned. Though she existed now in a peculiar form within the card world, if there were truly a chance, she longed to experience this world again with her own body—to feel the breeze of Guili Plains brush against her face, to watch the sails of Liyue Harbor come and go.
"Then how will you bring me back to life?" Guizhong asked hesitantly.
"That's easy," Luya nodded, then turned toward Zhongli with a smile. "Mr. Zhongli, lend me [Goddess of Dust – Guizhong]."
Zhongli didn't question him.
He knew he could trust Luya completely. Without Luya, even Guizhong's spirit would not have been visible now.
And besides, Luya had transformed the barren Guili Plains into a modern city in just a few hours.
Zhongli drew out the card [Goddess of Dust – Guizhong] and handed it to him.
[Goddess of Dust – Guizhong] Level 10 │Pendulum 1│EARTH│Divine│2000 ATK / 1000 DEF
Luya placed [Goddess of Dust – Guizhong] in his left hand and activated Divine Hand.
The card glowed as it took physical form.
Golden light flared brightly...
A breeze swept across Guili Plains.
Then, the nearly extinct Glaze Lilies began to bloom once more, miraculously covering the land in fragrant color.
A faint, sweet scent drifted on the wind and filled Luya's lungs.
Zhongli looked around, astonished, as nostalgia welled up in his chest. Once, the plains of Guili had been a sea of Glaze Lilies, blooming endlessly in the sun.
Since Guizhong's death, the flowers had vanished.
As the golden light faded, the wind grew calm.
Before Luya stood a petite young woman.
Guizhong had returned.
Her long, grayish-blue hair cascaded down her back, tied neatly into a low ponytail with a blue hairpin, two slender strands framing her face and swaying gently.
Upon her head rested an interlocked hexagonal headdress adorned with a gradient tassel that swayed with her movements. She wore a short blue-and-white dress over a black inner layer, her outer garment fastened at the chest and waist by a chain clasp.
Her hands were tucked into her wide sleeves patterned with constellations and decorated with geo-flower motifs. Her bare legs, adorned only with hexagonal anklets, gave her a lively, almost playful charm.
Her sleeves connected at the back, adding an elegant flow to her silhouette.
Her presence was like a fresh breeze brushing across Luya's heart, leaving him momentarily stunned.
At his side, Zhongli's eyes grew wet as he gazed at his long-lost friend, now standing once again before him.
It was a feeling beyond words—his chest filled with a deep and tender longing.
The passage of time had not eroded their bond; it had only made it more precious.
Zhongli stood in silence, as if time itself had paused.
His old friend had returned—perhaps by the will of fate.
Warmth rose within his heart, and he quietly gave thanks for this reunion.
...
"Really?! Truly?!" Guizhong exclaimed, feeling her restored body—alive again!
Overwhelmed with emotion, tears filled her eyes.
"Thank you so much!" she said, controlling the dust around her as she drifted lightly through the air.
To see the world once more with her own eyes, to witness people living happily—it filled her with boundless joy.
High above, she looked down upon Liyue, her heart brimming with delight.
Luya thought to himself—Guizhong was indeed a god worthy of respect.
And so, he severed his link to her.
Since Guizhong had been materialized through his card, maintaining that link would mean she could never truly be free.
Sensing Luya release control over her, Guizhong's respect for him deepened.
She hadn't expected a human not only capable of reviving a god but also willing to trust her completely.
That trust inspired her to a firm resolve: she would dedicate herself to helping Luya manage the new city of Guili Plains.
"I hereby make a pact with you," Guizhong said earnestly. "I shall assist you in governing this city and protect its people."
"Hahaha, no need," Luya replied lightly. "I know your heart is kind. Just take care of this place well."
Luya's confidence in his own strength—and in Guizhong—was absolute.
So... a contract was unnecessary.
...
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