In the video.
Gu Chen walked all the way east.
He walked for a very, very long time—crossing mountains, fording rivers—yet still did not see a single human other than himself.
The land was utterly desolate, as if there was no one left in this world but him.
A bleak, ancient stillness hung over the empty earth.
From a high vantage point, the entire land was barren except for sparse vegetation.
[Paimon]: So this is what ancient Sumeru looked like? It feels like life here must've been really miserable! (Paimon: shocked)
[Nilou]: It's completely different from the Sumeru we know. It's hard to imagine what the ancient era was like. (Nilou: peeking)
[Collei]: Just feeling this vast loneliness spread across the land already makes me despair ahhhh. Mr. Gu Chen has walked day after day without seeing a single intelligent being.
What must he be feeling… (heartache)
[Kaeya]: Hard to guess, but one thing's certain—the world definitely has humans somewhere. The question is where. Since the Cult Leader insists on heading east… does he know something? Or is he just choosing a random direction? (Albedo: pondering)
[Dehya]: From the positions of the desert and rainforest, Mr. Gu Chen just crossed the boundary between the two. Going east from there should be Sumeru City. And if he crosses past Sumeru City and keeps heading east, that'll be Liyue territory. (Dehya: flowers)
[Azhdaha]: This era… sigh, I can't even figure out the timeline. How about the Cult Leader stop messing around in Sumeru and just keep going east to Liyue! This time we'll directly conquer all of Teyvat! (Azhdaha: roar)
[Zhongli]: A fine idea.
[Venti]: If you ask me, if the Gu Chen in the video kept all his memories, I don't see why he couldn't just directly rule Teyvat. (funny)
[Kaeya]: Analyzed realistically, it's indeed feasible—just need to guard against the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, and then… hehehe. (funny)
[Sustainer of Heavenly Principles]: …
[Furina]: (Furina: amused)
[Xiangling]: Wait! Mr. Gu Chen encountered something! (Paimon: shocked)
Gu Chen, who had been walking, stopped in place.
He turned his head to look toward the distance.
There, vines arched upward forming something like a moon-gate.
A small green little creature stood beside it, head tilted as it looked at him.
"A fascinating creature."
Gu Chen observed it for a moment, then tried approaching.
The little thing blinked, not afraid, simply staying where it was.
When Gu Chen got close, it began muttering something in a language he couldn't understand.
Gu Chen listened for a long while, brows slightly furrowed.
At last he spread his hands. "I don't understand."
The little creature: "…"
[Kaeya]: Oh, sure, you 'don't understand,' yet you pretended to listen seriously for half a day, huh? (funny)
[Rangdajari]: So Gu Chen-nara can't understand Lanarion language. (Nahida: thinking)
[Xiangling]: Huh! That little creature in the video looks just like the one in that profile picture above!
[Xingqiu]: What kind of creature is that? Is it also something devolved from a god? (curious)
[Guoba]: (Qiqi: observing silently)
[Nahida]: They are the Forest God's familiars—a race called the Aranara. (Nahida: praise)
[Paimon]: Looks pretty cute. (Yoimiya: good nara)
[Yoimiya]: Waaah, looks so fun! (Yoimiya: chin on hands)
[Rangdajari]: Everyone here is a good-nara! (Nahida: excited)
[Gu Chen]: Stay calm. Only half of this group are good-nara. The other half are bad-nara! (Zhongli: Dragon King smirk)
[Childe]: Stop fighting stop fighting! (cry)
[Venti]: Childe: "How do you know the Fatui aren't good people?" (funny)
[Rangdajari]: Why can a good-nara not understand the Aranara language? (Nahida: question)
[Gu Chen]: No idea. (shake head)
[Tighnari]: Strange. I've heard small children who can dream sometimes see Aranara, and they can converse with them. But Gu Chen can't?
[Collei]: The land looks totally devoid of humans. Maybe the Aranara haven't yet learned to speak human language? (Collei: no response)
[Rangdajari]: Possible! (nod)
In the video.
The Aranara seemed able to understand Gu Chen's meaning.
Gu Chen, however, couldn't understand a word of theirs—only endless muttering.
"I have a method that can let us communicate properly," Gu Chen said after thinking for a moment. "Don't move. It won't hurt."
As he spoke, a faint green light rose from his hand.
The Aranara watched curiously.
The green light floated forward and sank into its body.
After a while, the Aranara looked up at Gu Chen, then at itself, then stared in confusion.
"Try speaking," Gu Chen suggested.
"How do I speak?" the Aranara asked, bewildered.
"There we go." Gu Chen smiled faintly.
The Aranara froze, then asked, "You can understand me now?"
"Of course." Gu Chen nodded. "Please repeat what you said earlier."
"You're amazing." The Aranara nodded, then said, "It's not safe outside. All sand. Do you want to come with me?"
"Go with you?"
Gu Chen pondered for a few seconds. "Where to?"
"A place with no sand."
"Alright."
Gu Chen nodded. "I'm not fond of sand."
The Aranara waved, then pattered forward, looking back occasionally to make sure Gu Chen followed.
As they walked, it chattered, introducing a place where humans lived.
A forest—full of many Nara who looked similar to Gu Chen.
They were clever, beautiful… but lonely.
[Paimon]: I get it! The Aranara's taking Gu Chen to the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata! (Paimon: smug)
[Rangdajari]: Smart Nara! (Nahida: praise)
[Paimon]: Hehe.
[Yoimiya]: Waaah, Aranara footsteps are so cute—pachi pachi! (Yoimiya: feeding)
[Nilou]: Aranara are adorable! (Klee: yay)
[Klee]: Aranara are adorable! (Klee: yay)
[Kaeya]: Klee, which is cuter—Aranara or Dodoco? (funny)
[Klee]: Dodoco is the cutest! (Klee: yay)
[Rangdajari]: What's Dodoco? A Nara? (Nahida: question)
[Alice]: A species that exists only in dreams. (Paimon: smug)
[Kaveh]: By the way, how did Mr. Gu Chen manage to communicate with Aranara instantly? (Kaveh: scratching head)
[Paimon]: Magic!
[Nilou]: Magic!
[Zhongli]: With common reasoning, whether it is "magic" or not is hard to say. But based on the keyword the First Sage, Mr. Gu Chen clearly possesses abilities different from ordinary mortals. (Zhongli: tea)
[Furina]: As long as you don't treat Gu Chen as a human, everything makes sense! (Yoimiya: smug)
[Heizou]: Funny—same thought here! (Paimon: smug)
[Gu Chen]: Why am I being stripped of human status again?! (Nahida: pointing)
[Azhdaha]: What kind of human can use absurd abilities like this? (pick nose)
[Gu Chen]: Doesn't every young person learn at least twenty skills before graduating? (Keqing: question)
[Alhaitham]: I agree with Mr. Gu Chen.
[Kaveh]: Shut your stinky mouth! (Scaramouche: threat)
[Paimon]: Can't afford to mess with academic overachievers. (Fungal Beast: afraid)
[Venti]: Good news! The Cult Leader walked half a month with the Aranara and finally arrived. Bad news! The place is full of Aranara! (funny)
In the video.
The Aranara led Gu Chen to a place.
Unlike the barren land far away, this place teemed with life—like a sea of green.
In the forest, Aranara lived atop the great trees.
A group of Aranara gathered around Gu Chen, muttering excitedly.
"They say they welcome you as a guest," the first Aranara explained.
"Please convey my thanks." Gu Chen nodded.
The first Aranara turned and muttered to the others.
After a while, it said, "Come. Deeper in the forest, many Nara live."
Following the Aranara, Gu Chen passed through their gathering place to where humans lived.
In the thriving forest, humans lived relatively well—certainly better than in the endless desert.
They warmly welcomed Gu Chen, explaining—together with the Aranara—how life worked here.
Gu Chen listened for a long time.
Clearly, these humans still lived in an early primitive stage.
Fortunately, human intelligence had allowed them to learn basic tool usage; living together also taught them shame and modesty.
For this age, these humans lived at the forefront of development.
Probably thanks to her, right?
Gu Chen slowly looked up.
There stood a woman in a white gown.
Her long white-to-green hair flowed behind her. Her elven ears tapered sharply; her gemlike green eyes carried a white cross in their pupils.
At first glance she was stunning—radiant and graceful.
At second glance she seemed gentle and infinitely kind, divine grace emanating from her very presence.
Just by standing in the forest, she made Gu Chen feel the surroundings flourish; even the plants seemed to brighten in her presence.
"Your Eminence."
Gu Chen bowed slightly in respect.
"Eh?"
The woman blinked at him, her gaze sweeping him up and down before she smiled softly. "You're… different from them."
From his refined clothing alone, she knew he came from somewhere far more advanced.
"Your Eminence sees clearly. I come from beyond this world," Gu Chen said calmly.
"From beyond this world…"
She murmured, then asked, "What have you seen in this world?"
Gu Chen thought for a moment. "Endless desert and barren earth."
"Yes. The endless desert and barren land drove humans here. Only this small refuge can protect these clever and beautiful children." She sighed.
"Why not block the sandstorms?" Gu Chen asked.
She shook her head. "The land is vast. How can one block the wind and sand?"
"True. Human ability is limited. It would take generations." Gu Chen sighed.
"How long will you stay here?" she asked.
Gu Chen reflected. "I came to this world without a goal. I intended to travel endlessly in one direction… but in such an environment, travel seems unnecessary. Everything is primitive and wild."
She listened with a warm smile, then asked, "Since you came from beyond the world, you must have knowledge unknown to us. Will you stay and help these humans?"
Gu Chen looked at the distant humans… then at the first Aranara by his feet, staring up at him with eager, bright eyes.
He fell silent.
She didn't rush him.
After a long time, Gu Chen nodded. "I'll stay."
"Welcome."
She extended her jade-white hand.
Gu Chen clasped it gently. "It is I who should thank Your Eminence for taking me in."
She smiled. "My name is Rukkhadevata."
"Gu Chen," he replied.
[Nilou]: First meeting of the male and female leads! Front-row photo! (Klee: yay)
[Collei]: Aaaaah!! Help!! Lady Greater Lord really radiates divine presence—just seeing her feels like being embraced by a kind mother!! (Paimon: shocked)
[Kaeya]: A charming god, no doubt. My evaluation: the Cult Leader got a bargain. (funny)
[Venti]: My evaluation: He's pretending to think deeply but is actually celebrating inside—"A pretty girl invited me!" (funny)
[Gu Chen]: You two are outrageous. (Furina: amused)
[Osial]: What do you know? The Cult Leader simply cannot bear to see humans suffer! He's staying to help them prosper! You shallow people cannot comprehend his greatness!
[Prince]: Where did this Cult-Leader fanboy come from? (pick nose)
[Azhdaha]: (funny)
[Osial]: You call that 'fanboying'? You understand NOTHING of the Cult Leader's greatness! I once thought you, commander of the Abyss Order, had some vision—but you're shallow! (heartbroken)
[Kaeya]: Osial feels… unfamiliar today. (Hu Tao: smirk)
[Venti]: I suspect Osial's been possessed. (certain)
[Furina]: Tell the truth—are you being threatened? If you're kidnapped, send three…! (Yae Miko: evil smile)
[Osial]: @Gu Chen You saw that, right? These people don't understand your brilliance at all! Only little Osial is your most faithful follower!
[Gu Chen]: @Venti @Kaeya You two should learn.
[Venti]: Can't see, simply can't see. (funny)
[Kaeya]: Can't hear, absolutely can't hear. (funny)
[Gu Chen]: Allow me to show you something good. (photo of Cangsheng Sword glowing)
[Venti]: Anyone maliciously speculating about the Cult Leader's motives must leave the group at once! You fools can't even perceive his compassion for the world!
[Kaeya]: From the moment the Cult Leader decided to lead humanity into a golden age, I knew my life had found its purpose—to follow the great Cult Leader! (arms out, selfie)
[Prince]: Disgusting.
[Kaeya]: No way, no way—you don't actually think we're Cult-Leader haters, right? (funny)
[Prince]: ?
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