"Though the melody is lofty, it is not unrecognized—there are always those who appreciate its profound beauty—", "With a crimson spear, the sword gleams like a shooting star—it points directly at the raging waves, cleansing the sea and making it clear—"
Yun Jin concluded her song and softly narrated:
"At that time, the crane returned, boundless heaven and earth offered no refuge, and she departed alone."
"Today, we meet again, new and old friends fill the hall, gathered in this moment."
After the song finished, there was a moment of silence.
"Good!", "Excellent, excellent, excellent!"
"Bravo!!!"
The Millelith cheered and applauded. Before, when they heard the story of Goddess Splitting the Clouds, they only felt it was just a story.
Now, hearing it again, it felt as if they were listening to their own story. Although not entirely, they had just experienced some of it, hadn't they? Some even cried upon hearing it.
Especially the final narration, 'new and old friends fill the hall!' This truly was their greatest hope.
"How was it? The song I composed isn't bad, right? Can it count as payment for drinks? It can, right? It can, right?" Venti asked.
"It is indeed not bad." Zhongli nodded. He liked this revised Goddess Splitting the Clouds even more.
Shenhe also rarely showed a smile. Beside her sat Lin Qiu, Ganyu, Hu Tao, and Lumine.
Shenhe also had to admit that Yun Jin's musical attainments were indeed slightly superior to her junior disciple's.
"Shen… Senior Sister, you look very beautiful when you smile. You should learn from Director Hu and smile more," Lin Qiu said.
"Mr. Lin Qiu is right, but learning from Director Hu might be a bit… hmm… too much effort?" Ganyu chimed in.
"This Hall Master smiles very naturally, where is there too much effort?" Hu Tao tilted her head, her face full of confusion.
"It's because you're always smiling, making Shenhe learn from you is a bit much to ask," Paimon said, wiggling her little finger.
"How about learning from me?" Lumine put her hands on her hips and smiled.
Shenhe actually imitated Lumine, putting her hands on her hips, tilting her head back, and smiling.
However, only her mouth smiled, her eyes remained unchanged, making it a forced smile.
"Aiya, not like that, it's like this!" Paimon corrected Shenhe, making an identical gesture and expression.
Shenhe tried hard to imitate, and seemed to make a little progress.
Cloud Retainer looked towards Shenhe's side. "That child Shenhe is indeed more suited for the mortal world."
"To be so happy is truly good," Lishui nodded.
"It's good to make friends," Xiaoyue said.
These few Adepti could be said to have watched Shenhe grow up, so naturally, they wished for Shenhe to live better.
Yun Jin walked down from the stage and came to Lin Qiu's table.
"How was it? Did I sing well?" Yun Jin smiled gently and asked Shenhe.
"I liked it very much." Shenhe's answer was the same as before.
"It's good that you liked it," Yun Jin said with a smile.
The group chatted cheerfully, while Lin Qiu was pondering the story for the third act.
This time, the third act would no longer be a spoiler for the future, but rather a record of history. Although for those unaware, the difference was minimal, and the information conveyed was immense.
Anyway, whether it was spoiling the future or recording history, the focus was on exposing Zhongli's identity.
Speaking of which, Ningguang's act of sacrificing the Jade Chamber had indeed won over many people. Lin Qiu planned to write about Ningguang's decision to sacrifice the Jade Chamber at that time in the book.
Since it was a novel, including psychological descriptions was quite normal.
This way, the people of Liyue would know Ningguang's determination when she protected Liyue.
This would also stabilize the power of the Qixing. Zhongli intended to return power to humans, so the prestige of 'humans' must be higher.
Although it was impossible to surpass the Rock God, at least it could make the people of Liyue more convinced by the Qixing.
Lin Qiu approached Zhongli, ignoring Venti who was 'chugging' his drink, and quietly asked, "What did you discuss with the Northland Bank and the Fatui?"
Zhongli looked at Lin Qiu. You want to expose my identity, and you come to ask me for details? Isn't that a bit too direct?
"Since my young friend knows about my 'contract' with the Cryo Archon, does he not know what I discussed with the Fatui?" Zhongli asked.
His young friend knew so many stories, yet there were things he didn't know.
You know about the contract with the Cryo Archon, but you don't know about casual conversations with the Fatui.
"You know, Prophets don't look at their own future. The future I see excludes my participation," Lin Qiu had already prepared a reasonable excuse.
"So I wanted to confirm if there are any discrepancies with my prophecy."
Zhongli nodded. This was indeed a taboo for Prophets.
"Then my young friend can write according to what he has prophesied. I also want to see if Liyue can withstand this disaster without your participation."
"It can be withstood, but the Jade Chamber will be gone," Lin Qiu replied.
Zhongli thought. He probably knew how Liyue achieved victory without Lin Qiu's participation.
What he wanted to see was Liyue's determination. When the Qixing, the Adepti, the Millelith, and the crew of the Alcor stood on the front lines to resist Osial, he had already seen it.
At that time, Liyue was already qualified. Afterward, it was just to see if Liyue could withstand the God without him.
"At the Northland Bank…" Zhongli began to recount his experience at the time.
Anyway, Lin Qiu exposing his identity was already a contracted matter and would definitely be completed.
If you can't resist, you might as well enjoy it. It also provided another test to see if the people of Liyue would welcome him back as the Rock God after knowing his identity.
Now the Qixing were in power, and Liyue Harbor 'no longer needed' a God.
Zhongli recounted what happened at the Northland Bank, and Lin Qiu immediately remembered it.
"To hand over the Gnosis through a transaction, why didn't I think of that?" Venti regretted.
How much fine wine he had missed! He could have sent his bills to the Northland Bank too.
It was a pity that he had slept for too long and didn't have time to make a deal with the Cryo Archon.
The other Adepti also heard this conversation and learned about the Gnosis, but they showed no reaction.
Since it was the Archon's 'contract,' it must be fulfilled, and the Archon must have had a profound reason for doing so.
It was just the Gnosis. If the Archon was willing to give it, then so be it. The Adepti's trust in Zhongli wasn't something that came after he obtained the Gnosis and became one of the Seven Archons.
"Lin Qiu, are there any empty houses for sale around your home?" Cloud Retainer asked.
She didn't know where to buy a good house, but since Shenhe lived at Lin Qiu's home, it would be better to choose a place closer to Shenhe.
"No, there aren't." Hu Tao's little head peeked out from behind Lin Qiu.
"Because all the houses near little Qiu Qiu have been bought by me," Hu Tao said with a smile.
Even Lin Qiu hadn't thought of this. No wonder he hadn't seen his neighbors much; it turned out Hu Tao had bought them all.
So, you bought so many houses, and in the end, you still want to stay in my guest room?
"Could you sell one to this Adeptus? This Adeptus can exchange it for antique collections," Cloud Retainer said.
"Antiques…" Hu Tao wasn't very interested in such things.
Zhongli, however, was quite interested. "The antiques Cloud Retainer collects are exactly what I'm interested in."
"How about I sell you my house there, Cloud Retainer?"
Only then did Lin Qiu realize that these two had both bought houses near his home.
But even after hearing the story, they still wanted to stay in his guest room at his home; they just wouldn't go back to their own houses.
"The Archon's house?" Cloud Retainer was very expectant.
The Archon was very particular, so his house must also be very particular.
"Indeed, but it has never been lived in. The furnishings and furniture inside will need to be purchased anew," Zhongli nodded.
He either slept at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor or at Lin Qiu's home. He had truly never lived in that house after buying it.
In fact, the furniture and furnishings in one of Lin Qiu's guest rooms were arranged exactly to Zhongli's liking, making it feel like he was home.
"..." Cloud Retainer was speechless. So it was a bare shell.
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Character Voice · Shenhe: About Smiling
"I'm not good at smiling, but my junior disciple says it looks very beautiful. What do you think?"