Liyue.
At the foot of the Fulong Tree beneath Mt. Hulao, near the South Heaven Gate, the air trembled.
Azhdaha's low laughter echoed endlessly through the cavern, heavy with anger.
Morax wasn't dead!
And worse—he had orchestrated everything from the very beginning!
Was this man sick in the head or what?!
"Hmph… pity that coward Vortex God…"
Azhdaha's rough, rumbling breath stirred the gravel at his feet.
Of all potential pawns that could breach the immortals' seals upon Mt. Hulao,
Vortex God had been his best bet—
a fellow demon god, one who shared his hatred toward Morax.
As for humans like Tartaglia…
Azhdaha hadn't even spared them a thought.
"Morax… damnable bastard!"
He roared, the fury within him shaking the stone walls—
and only after a long while did the darkness settle into silence again.
[Transcendent Chat Group]
[Lumine]:So what exactly was Mr. Zhongli's reason for faking his death?
[Paimon]:I just can't understand him! (shrugs)
[Ningguang]:From what the video shows, the Geo Lord often spoke of erosion.
When he conversed with Ganyu, he even asked her thoughts on his 'departure'.
All signs suggest that the Lord of Geo intended to abdicate.
[Keqing]:What?! Does the Geo Lord want Liyue to enter the era of human rule?! (shocked)
[Zhongli]:The video should make everything clear soon enough. (sips tea)
[Hu Tao]:@[Zhongli] My dear consultant!
You're the Geo Archon, the maker of Mora,
yet every time you go out, you "forget" to bring any,
and the bill ends up back at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! (Hu Tao·menacing)
[Zhongli]:Hall Master, I really just forgot. (Qiqi·fainted)
[Hu Tao]:You'd better have! (Hu Tao·menacing)
[Tartaglia]:Hello? Does no one care about me, the tragic clown in all this?!
I was the one sent to take the Gnosis!
I was the one footing Mr. Zhongli's bills!
And in the end, not only did my colleague deceive me—
Zhongli himself tricked me too!
From start to finish, I was the biggest fool in the room!
At this point, I think I might actually be on par with that "Prince"!
[The Prince]:…
Do you have a problem?!
You act like a clown—why drag me into it?!
The chat fell silent for a moment, as if even the air itself laughed.
[Scaramouche]:Hahahaha! What a delightful farce.
Thoroughly entertaining.
But you've disgraced the Fatui name, you pathetic fool. (snide chuckle)
[Tartaglia]:...
[Gu Chen]:Truly tragic!
[Tartaglia]:First of all—I'm in prison.
Second, this was clearly Zhongli and the Lady's plan!
I was used!
@[Ningguang] @[Keqing]—so… can I get out now? (Sucrose·innocent)
[Ningguang]:You can explain away the plan by blaming the Archon, sure.
But what about releasing a demon god?
[Tartaglia]:Okay, okay, fine. How long's the sentence? (Qiqi·collapsed)
[Yanfei]:Until the end of time!
[Furina]:My recommendation—death penalty! (Hu Tao·evil grin)
[Keqing]:Hard labor!
Work until it's reduced from death to life imprisonment. (Hu Tao·evil grin)
[Tartaglia]:Wait—so I'm mining for the rest of my life now?! (Paimon·shocked)
But hang on, these are my past life crimes! You can't punish this life for that!
[Yanfei]:Technically, the law doesn't cover that—
but no worries, I'll just draft a new one and send it to the Tianquan Star for approval.
Once she signs it—you're guilty! (Paimon·smug)
[Ningguang]:No need to review. Approved.
[Yanfei]:Then, Mr. Tartaglia,
for the sins of your past life, you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment.
You'll contribute to the construction of Liyue as atonement.
If you perform outstanding deeds, your sentence may be reduced!
[Tartaglia]:If you're sentencing people, you'd better put Zhongli in here too!
The great Morax himself hid among us, nudging everything along—
That's treason against his own people!
@[Zhongli] Come on, let's share a cell!
[Zhongli]:...
[Yanfei]:That's… tricky. (Kaveh·scratches head)
[Venti]:Well, think about it—
The old man's both powerful and clever.
That so-called "All-Taboo Talisman" the Fatui had—
Who's to say he didn't subtly arrange for them to get it?
Everything might've been under his tacit approval.
He knew Tartaglia would release the demon god!
He merely wanted to test Liyue's strength!
Look at how he explained things in the video—
This entire ordeal was orchestrated by him from the shadows!
[Furina]:I knew it! I've been saying the Funeral Parlor was behind everything!
Morax, huh? Guilty. Death sentence! (Hu Tao·evil grin)
[Gu Chen]:My vote's for life imprisonment!
[Yae Miko]:Seconded!
[Kaeya]:Seconded!
[Venti]:Wholeheartedly agree!
[Azhdaha]:Why not make it death instead?
[Zhongli]:...
Zhongli had expected chaos once his identity was revealed—
but this?
They were actually forming a tribunal to sentence him!
For a brief moment, even the unflappable Archon felt his composure slipping.
As silence spread among the Liyue natives in the group,
Venti, drinking with Gu Chen in Windrise, fanned the flames again.
[Venti]:Come on, let's be fair—am I wrong?!
[The Lady]:Liked!
[Tartaglia]:Mr. Zhongli, I'll be waiting for you in prison.
By the way, the food here's not half bad! (photo of prison meal)
[Raiden Ei]:Makes sense! (nods)
But… why does something still feel off? (Kamisato Ayaka·confused)
[Yae Miko]:Don't overthink it, you won't figure it out anyway. (Yae Miko·grin)
[Furina]:When's the trial? I want front-row seats!
[Venti]:See? The people have spoken!
If Zhongli doesn't get executed, I'll refuse to recognize your so-called justice! (mischievous)
[Gu Chen]:Morax has fallen! Brothers, rise up and take Liyue! (laughs)
[Azhdaha]:(suddenly alert)
[Zhongli]:@[Venti] It's truly inconvenient that red envelopes can't contain Heavenly Earthquake, All Creation Trembles. Don't you agree? (annoyed)
[Gu Chen]:He's mad. (smirk)
[Venti]:He's mad. (smirk)
[Zhongli]:Where are you two? Send me your location.
[Venti]:Well, by general reason, I'm sure the Geo Lord has his deeper motives for doing this! (nervous nod)
[Gu Chen]:Exactly! In fact, I think it's compassion—
after a thousand years, Vortex God was about to go stir-crazy,
so the merciful Morax just let him out to get some fresh air! (snicker)
[Paimon]:Shameless! (throws hands up)
[Azhdaha]:Can you two grow a spine?!
He threatens you once and you fold like wet paper! Stand tall, damn it! (despair)
[Zhongli]:So very tiring. (Qiqi·collapsed)
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