Now everyone understood why Lucian had been giving Guoba ink and brushes all along—it turned out to be the protagonist of the story.
If anything, the one feeling the most uncomfortable at this moment was Xiao, because in the story, he hadn't recognized Guoba. In fact, the "chef" he had mentioned back then was Marchosius himself, yet he hadn't even noticed Guoba standing right beside him.
The taciturn Xiao decided to head to Liyue Harbor. Though the current Marchosius couldn't hold a conversation with him, he still planned to leave some 'Spicy Meat Buns' for him.
Returning to the story in the book, Granny Ping explained to everyone the reason behind the stone statue's cracking. It turned out that the God of the Hearth was a deity who acted in accordance with people's wishes. Though the Chef's Competition was lively, it was driven more by effort than genuine desire. On the contrary, it was Keqing's fulfilled wish that awakened the statue.
The statue depicted Guoba in its prime, looking nothing like its current adorable and clumsy form—instead, it bore some resemblance to a 'superhero.'
[Granny Ping to Guoba: "How does it feel to see your divine statue from your prime? Look at him—still so majestic."]
[Xiangling caught the key point and asked in confusion: "Prime... Wait, what happened to Guoba? Was Guoba different before?"]
[Granny Ping replied: "Him? He used to be the Land God of Liyue. Now, he's your Guoba."
"All the wisdom and power he once possessed were devoted to this land."
"It was he who accompanied you through the barren plains, led you to the harbor, built your homes, and lit your hearths."
"He personally lit Liyue's first night lamp, letting the aroma of meals drift into countless households."
"You no longer remember him, but in the days when you still knew him, he was the most approachable of all the adepti."]
The people of Liyue held back tears. So their god had never been aloof or distant. Their god had always walked beside them—thousands of years ago, and even now. This was Liyue—a nation that walked alongside gods. And the god who walked with Liyue was not just Morax alone.
But why had they forgotten him? They should never have forgotten him!
Later, Lucian drew an illustration depicting Marchosius' true form.
["The God of the Hearth, Marchosius, born from the sparks of colliding stones, was a god who dearly loved humanity."]
["A thousand years ago, as the ancients expanded their city and established settlements on the plains, they named it—'Guili Assembly.'"]
["The God of the Hearth cherished the people's livelihoods, creating countless avatars to slip into households, helping them light fires, cook meals, and reunite families."]
["However, a great flood took their homes, and the waters destroyed the Guili Assembly."]
["The people were forced to migrate south, back to Liyue Harbor. Though the journey was not long, they faced fierce storms along the way."]
Another illustration followed, showing the adepti and gods descending to the mortal realm. A crane stilled the winds and calmed the rain, spreading its wings to shield the people, while a qilin carried them on its back like a boat.
["The adepti escorted the people for over ten days. During this time, the God of the Hearth created an ancient dish—"]
["Made of naan and a meat sauce that could dispel dampness and cold, easy to carry."]
["In the centuries that followed, as disasters and plagues plagued the land, the God of the Hearth no longer appeared frequently. Instead, he poured all his power into the earth to quell the calamities."]
A final illustration showed Guoba's massive form, raising its hands as if wielding the power to sever heaven and earth.
["Having exhausted his power, the God of the Hearth lost much of his intellect, and his form shrank."]
["By the time he bid us farewell, he was no taller than a person."]
["He entrusted Rex Lapis and me with the recipes that brought happiness and the secrets of the hearth."]
["Then he departed for the mountains, falling into a long slumber."]
["As the God of the Hearth left this world, Guoba was born."]
["On the day he awoke, he tasted the Spicy Meat Buns made by a girl in yellow."]
["Though he could no longer remember the past, he was deeply moved and resolved to follow her."]
["After the God of the Hearth quietly vanished, each morning, vendors still set up their stalls early, calling out their wares."]
["People still went out to shop, lit their fires, and cooked their meals—no different from any other day."]
["Because Liyue has always been this way."]
The last illustration depicted the adepti of Liyue gradually blending into mortal society, eventually becoming ordinary people.
["Ganyu: 'Through wind and rain, we celebrate; with mountains and seas, we rejoice—such is the blessing of heaven and earth.'"]
["Ningguang: 'Fame and glory are mine to claim; through a hundred years and a thousand autumns, never forget to wander by candlelight.'"]
["Keqing: 'Past and present, all things surge like the river's current; grand visions await new talents.'"]
The tears the people of Liyue had been holding back could no longer be contained. Yes, Liyue had always been this way. But for those words—"always been this way"—how many adepti, how many Millelith had given everything?
The Third-Round Knockout was, after all, a public space. No one wanted to be seen crying, so they all lowered their heads, wiping their tears discreetly.
Zhongli remained silent for a long while before finally smiling faintly.
"Old friend, they remember you now. The title of 'God of the Hearth' can finally be returned to you..."
"So Guoba was the god my grandfather was searching for..." Keqing murmured, overwhelmed with emotion. The god they had been searching for had been beside them all along, since ancient times. It had always been this way.
"It's so beautifully written," Havria remarked. Though she had no close ties to Liyue's adepti, she was still deeply moved by the story. As a god who also loved humanity, she could empathize deeply.
"Yes, Ping told it so well," Guizhong whispered, secretly wiping her tears. Her usual habit of raising her sleeves high meant no one noticed her wiping her eyes. Only Lucian's system exposed Guizhong's emotional moment.
Ganyu smiled without a word, while even the usually energetic Hu Tao fell silent. This time, she didn't perform a eulogy as she had during Venti's story—because Marchosius wasn't dead.
Speaking of which, Venti and Guoba were somewhat alike—both had used their power to maintain the stability of their lands.
"Marchosius, huh... This one's for you," Venti said before downing another bottle of wine.
The people of Inazuma were also watching, though they didn't feel much envy—after all, the Raiden Shogun had once protected them in the same way. Even if they didn't know that Makoto had also become the Sacred Sakura to watch over their land, they still believed in their god. Not to mention the 'Yae Miko,' who had 'turned into a monster' yet still guarded them—though they remained unaware of this for now.
Yae Miko, however, had a rather odd takeaway: "A story about cooking... No wonder Ei didn't want to watch it."
So far, Yae Miko hadn't been emotionally affected much. Who knew if that would change when she saw the story of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual?
"A truly admirable predecessor," Nahida said sincerely. To sacrifice oneself to quell disasters—such greatness.
Thinking of sacrificing oneself to stop calamities, Furina also found herself musing:
'If sacrificing me could stop the prophecy... That would be wonderful.'
Then she remembered Lucian's promise. Yes, Lucian would definitely find a way to resolve the prophecy!
===✧✦✧===
Character Voiceline · Guizhong: About Guoba
"He's so adorable now. The last time I saw him, he seemed to be saying something to me—I wonder if he was asking, 'What would you like to eat?'"