"No matter," Streetward Rambler said, waving her hand.
Lin Qiu was startled. No matter? Guizhong probably wouldn't want a man to see her naked, right?
"I've kept Guizhong's clothes all this time," Streetward Rambler said, taking out the clothes Guizhong usually wore.
Lin Qiu nodded. So that was it. In that case, it truly didn't matter.
"Zhongli and I should step out for a moment. I'll tell you how to use it."
As Lin Qiu spoke, he explained how to use the doll to Cloud Retainer and Streetward Rambler.
It wasn't difficult; they just needed to guide Guizhong's lingering thoughts or remnants into the doll's body. The rest depended on whether Guizhong could awaken.
If not, it meant that mere God remnants couldn't 'resurrect' her.
Lin Qiu and Zhongli went outside the sealed ruins and chatted. "Zhongli, how long do Gods usually live?"
Because a God was about to be resurrected, Lin Qiu was somewhat curious about Gods.
He remembered Zhongli's conversation with Azhdaha; it seemed a God's lifespan wasn't infinite, nor was it comparable to a dragon's.
Zhongli, however, was wondering if Lin Qiu, as a human, was concerned about his own lifespan.
As knowledgeable as he was, he hadn't realized that Lin Qiu could even exchange for lifespan through the system.
"A God's lifespan is very long. If you wish, you can also become a God," Zhongli said.
Lin Qiu knew this; all Vision wielders were 'allogenes,' after all.
However, Lin Qiu had no desire to become a God. Wouldn't becoming a God mean working for the Heavenly Principles? And working was out of the question.
"Compared to the end of their lifespan, 'erosion' often comes first," Zhongli continued.
Azhdaha, whose lifespan was almost infinite, had forgotten many things due to 'erosion.' Zhongli couldn't even be sure if 'his original self' was still 'alive.'
Lin Qiu nodded. Erosion was something imposed by the Heavenly Principles on the life of Teyvat, and Lin Qiu didn't have it.
However, if he experienced too many unhappy things, with his memory, he might also suffer greatly in the future, the kind that keeps him awake at night replaying events.
That's why Lin Qiu wanted to try his best to make up for some regrets and make his memories more beautiful.
"Sigh, I must have made you recall unpleasant things," Lin Qiu said, seeing Zhongli looking in Azhdaha's direction, realizing he was thinking of Azhdaha.
Lin Qiu couldn't resist his habit of patting heads for a moment, but Zhongli wasn't small like those girls; his height was just right for a head pat.
Zhongli was a bit taller, so raising his hand wouldn't be as comfortable or natural. Instead, he simply reached out and patted Zhongli's shoulder.
"Don't be sad. Perhaps there will be a way to save Azhdaha in the future."
Given Zhongli's temperament, he naturally wouldn't mind Lin Qiu's actions. Lin Qiu used to frequently put his arm around him at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, so he was more concerned about something else.
"You truly know about Azhdaha's matter as well..."
As they chatted, the two women walked out from behind them, but Guizhong was nowhere to be seen.
"Did it succeed?" Lin Qiu asked. The result of this first experiment was very important to him.
Zhongli, however, didn't ask, because he had already sensed the aura of his old friend.
Indeed, Xianyun and Streetward Rambler slightly turned their bodies, and Guizhong stood behind them.
It was just that Guizhong was so small that she had been blocked by the two mature women earlier.
Guizhong had long gray hair that looked like shoulder-length bob. Above her shoulders, her hair was loose, while below, it was tied with a hairpin.
She wore a long-sleeved dress with wide cuffs, predominantly white with blue accents, and was barefoot.
Guizhong smiled happily, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons. She raised her small hands, hidden within her sleeves, and waved them in greeting.
"Hello, my savior~!"
"Guizhong?" Lin Qiu was also very happy. He already liked Guizhong, and Guizhong's 'resurrection' also proved that this method was truly feasible.
"Hmm... I'm very sorry. You saved me, but I can't remember who you are..."
Guizhong's tone was apologetic, her long sleeves brushing together, her small hands, still within the fabric, clasped together.
Cloud Retainer and Streetward Rambler had only briefly explained the general situation to her and hadn't gone into detail about Lin Qiu before bringing Guizhong out.
After all, Zhongli and Lin Qiu were still waiting outside, and it wouldn't be good for the three of them to stay inside reminiscing.
"It's normal for you not to remember him, as you had no prior connection," Cloud Retainer explained.
"Huh? We don't know each other?" Guizhong was slightly surprised. If we don't know each other, why would he save me?
"I know you, but you don't know me," Lin Qiu said.
"Ah?" Guizhong felt her mind was still not very clear.
The method of resurrection for lingering thoughts had caused her to forget many things, and her strength was only at the level of an ordinary Vision holder.
The reason she couldn't understand now must also be an effect of the resurrection, right?
However, she still remembered Xianyun, Streetward Rambler, and other Adepti, as well as some deeply imprinted events. Naturally, she hadn't forgotten her identity and experiences.
Guizhong moved closer to Lin Qiu, observing him with her small head tilted left and right. Her tiny nose even twitched slightly, as if confirming Lin Qiu's scent.
"If I touch you, you won't get angry, right?" Guizhong asked.
"No," Lin Qiu shook his head.
Hearing Lin Qiu's answer, Guizhong's small hand extended an index finger from within her long sleeve, and the index finger touched Lin Qiu.
This series of actions always gave Lin Qiu a strong sense of déjà vu. Wasn't this Hu Tao? A polite Hu Tao?
"Your aura, are you a mortal?" Guizhong was a little uncertain.
Even after confirming repeatedly, Guizhong still found it somewhat unbelievable. Could a mortal truly possess the ability to resurrect a God?
Had humans evolved to this extent over the past thousand years?
"I am indeed still a mortal, that's correct," Lin Qiu nodded.
"Don't talk about me, do you still remember this old fellow?" Lin Qiu pointed to Zhongli.
Guizhong looked at Zhongli, tilting her small head, "Morax?"
Guizhong felt that Morax's aura was completely different from before.
Coupled with Zhongli constantly hiding his aura, Guizhong hadn't even noticed his identity at first.
"It's been a long time, old friend. I am now called Zhongli," Zhongli said with a smile.
"Oh, oh, Zhongli? Hmm... that's quite good too," Guizhong nodded, resting her long sleeve against her chin.
"It's so good to see you all again! Oh, right, Morax... Zhongli, when I first opened my eyes just now, I saw Streetward Rambler crying, you know."
That Streetward Rambler would cry was truly a rare occurrence.
"Oh? Really?" Zhongli looked at Streetward Rambler.
"Indeed, this Adeptus saw it too," Cloud Retainer nodded.
"That was merely because the resurrection of the God of Dust stirred up too much dust, getting into my eyes," Streetward Rambler smiled.
"Why do you make it sound like I'm so dirty!" Guizhong complained.
As the God of Dust, she could be said to be spotless! Although she ran around barefoot, her feet would never get dirty.
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Character Voice Line · Streetward Rambler: About Lin Qiu
"I am very grateful to him. I was already indebted to him for helping Liyue fight Osial, and now he has