Elliot Yuan pushed the thought aside, deciding instead that in the future he should take off his mask more often to secretly listen in on the discussions of those karmic debt merchants. Perhaps he could uncover more from their conversations.
For now, the Archon War had only just begun, and the end of this reincarnation was still a long way off. He chose to simply stay cautious, with no intention of investigating further.
After all, the Archon War would last a thousand years, and only about ten years had passed since it started. Looking into the purpose of the Masks of Virtue and Vice now would be meaningless.
For the time being, his priority was to steady Morax while gradually shaping Liyue into something greater.
At present, Liyue remained purely defensive, never once taking the initiative to launch an attack. They only guarded their small territory—specifically, the area surrounding Tianheng Mountain. Compared to the vast land of Liyue, it was but a tiny corner.
Elliot Yuan planned to wait until Morax's temperament was tempered enough before considering campaigns to conquer the other regions of Liyue.
"I just hope the Abyss keeps itself well-hidden and doesn't get caught," Elliot Yuan thought to himself as he slipped the mask back on.
...
Back at Tianheng Mountain, Elliot Yuan resumed his role as Mentor, teaching both the Adepti and Morax.
Ganyu's determination was far stronger than he had imagined. Each day she trained for long hours, eating only the barest amount of food.
Elliot Yuan often saw her, face drawn tight with hunger, restless and uneasy. The abundance of flowers and plants around Tianheng Mountain made the temptation even harder for her.
It was like trying to train on a food street—everywhere you looked, there was something delicious. You poured your heart into exercise, but all around you were temptations: hotpot, barbecue, fried chicken.
And the worst part? None of it cost anything. All she had to do was walk over, open her mouth, and she could eat.
Under such temptation, the struggle of dieting was painfully clear.
Elliot Yuan did not stop her. Weight loss was a trial she had to endure, and guidance for the work that followed could wait.
He wanted to spread out the burden a little—he no longer wished to let Ganyu shoulder everything alone. Even a divine beast deserved time to rest and enjoy life.
The reason Ganyu worked so hard for millennia without complaint, beyond her contract with Morax, was mostly... because of her confusion.
After a thousand years of the Archon War, Morax's heart had been worn down to nothing, leaving him unable to truly notice the state of those around him. So he had never guided Ganyu onto the right path.
Whenever Ganyu looked upon the bustling streets of Liyue, an icy loneliness would rise within her.
It was a solitude deeper than even the remote, smoke-free mountains of Jueyun Karst. In the vastness of Liyue, there was no place she could call home.
After the Archon War, she worked tirelessly for Liyue, yet never gained a true friend, never found a companion.
Her working hours each day were harsher than even the exploited workers of Earth. On Earth, even short breaks came with moments of entertainment—short videos only lasted seconds, and novels could be read chapter by chapter in no time.
But in Teyvat, entertainment was inseparable from companionship.
With no friends, Ganyu could only spend her breaks tending to flowers and plants. There was no one to confide in.
So she felt alone. Deeply, unbearably alone.
She believed that a being like her, a divine beast, could never truly belong to Liyue.
She dared not reveal her identity to any human, afraid she would frighten them away.
Day after day, she worked overtime for Liyue, ensuring its smooth growth. Yet no one knew it was her efforts that made such progress possible.
In truth, much of Liyue's success rested solely on her shoulders. By comparison, the Liyue Qixing contributed far less.
And yet, it was always the Qixing who received the praise.
"Your efforts will not be in vain," Elliot Yuan murmured as he stood at the edge of Tianheng Mountain, watching Ganyu struggle to slim down.
In this life, he would never allow things to unfold the same way again.
As for Morax, though Elliot Yuan hadn't guided him perfectly, his efforts had still spared him from many mistakes.
Given Morax's original nature, without Elliot Yuan's direction, he would have easily let countless gods slip away, leaving Liyue vulnerable to their schemes.
The final outcome would have been obvious: only through repeated hardship would Morax's icy character have been forged.
Perhaps one of the gods he spared would later exploit his weakness, causing devastation and loss across Liyue.
Or, unwilling to kill a god's subjects, he might have welcomed them into Liyue—only to unknowingly invite disaster upon the city.
Without Elliot Yuan's guidance, the only way Morax could have become the cold, unyielding leader of legend would have been through bitter, firsthand experience.
"Morax, come. I have something for you," Elliot Yuan said gently.
Hearing his voice, Morax approached his side.
Elliot Yuan lifted his hand slightly. With a burst of dazzling golden light, a finely wrought, beautiful mask slowly appeared before them.