Wangshu Inn stood quietly above the marshlands of Dihua. From the top floor, the world felt wide, serene, and far too peaceful for Takumi, who had spent the past three days trying not to be murdered by the locals.
A soft breeze brushed past the railing, lifting strands of his unnaturally white hair. Once jet-black back on Earth, now it screamed "I'm suspicious!" in every direction. And sitting across from him were two men who didn't help his nerves at all.
Zhongli — calm, golden-eyed, dressed like a scholar attending his fifth tea ceremony of the day.
Xiao — sharp gaze, tense shoulders, posture screaming I tolerate you only because Zhongli said so.
Takumi swallowed.
"So, Zhongli," he began, pointing to his white hair as if presenting evidence in court, "give me the Geo Vision."
Zhongli blinked slowly, as if processing a very small, very confused bird.
"Look at me," Takumi insisted. "White hair. Obviously Geo material."
Xiao's eyebrow twitched.
It was a miracle nobody had stabbed him yet.
Three Days Ago — The Beginning of the Disaster
When Takumi first appeared in Teyvat, he woke up surrounded by hilichurls debating whether his limbs or torso would make the better stew. If Xiao hadn't been patrolling that day, Takumi would've become lunch.
But the real trouble began when Takumi, relieved and half-delirious, looked up at Xiao and blurted:
"Wow. You're short in person."
The next three seconds were the longest of his life.
Xiao was one heartbeat away from testing how far a human neck could rotate. Only Takumi's immediate, dramatic apology saved him.
After that, Xiao dragged him to Wangshu Inn like one drags a problematic stray animal they aren't sure they want to keep. Then, deciding Takumi was "too weird to deal with," he went to fetch Zhongli.
And that was how Takumi ended up sitting between a yaksha who wanted him dead and a retired god who didn't admit he was retired.
Back to the Present
Zhongli placed his tea cup down with the elegance of someone who definitely wasn't broke at all.
"The Eye of God is not something I issue," he said gently. "Nor something I can bestow at will."
Takumi frowned. "But you can interfere, right? At least influence the decision?"
"In theory," Zhongli admitted. "But Sky Island's rules supersede even Rex Lapis."
Takumi sighed. "So no Geo Vision for me."
"For someone who feared for his life three days ago," Xiao muttered, "you are oddly upset about this."
"It's not about power," Takumi protested. "It's about aesthetic consistency! White hair, Geo glow — imagine the branding!"
Zhongli looked at him with the expression of a father deciding whether the child was old enough to know Santa wasn't real.
Takumi leaned back, staring up at the ceiling beams. "Figures. I transmigrate to Teyvat and don't even get a cheat. No Vision, no system—"
A soft chime echoed in the back of his mind.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
Calm A.I. Assistant Online.
Welcome, Takumi.
Takumi stiffened.
Xiao noticed immediately. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Takumi lied. "Just… remembering I left the stove on. On another planet. Never mind."
The voice returned, smooth and emotionless:
[Blueprint Database Locked]
Specialization: Civilization Development — Industrial Era.
User confidentiality: Absolute.
Takumi resisted the urge to scream.
NOW you show up?!
Zhongli watched him with interest. "Traveler from another world," he said slowly, "your expression has become quite complicated. Are you uncomfortable?"
Yes, Zhongli, I am very uncomfortable.
My cheat finally activated and it wants me to build factories.
Zhongli's Curiosity Awakens
Zhongli folded his hands. "I wish to ask: from what kind of world did you come?"
Takumi hesitated.
Earth was… Earth. But explaining it to someone who lived for over six thousand years? Hard.
Still, he owed Zhongli some kind of answer.
"It's an ordinary world," Takumi said. "No gods. No Visions. Just people building everything themselves."
Zhongli's gaze sharpened.
"People," he repeated. "Without divine power?"
"Yeah. We built countries, technologies, even went to space." Takumi paused. "Liyue actually reminds me a lot of my country back home. Ancient era, strong culture, disciplined society… but without elements or gods."
Zhongli's eyes widened very slightly — which, for him, meant "emotionally explosive reaction."
"So your world's progress," Zhongli murmured, "was achieved purely through human will."
"Exactly. Humans decided things. Humans built things. Humans improved things. Gods were… myths. Symbolic."
Xiao looked disturbed, as if trying to imagine a world without Adepti protection.
Zhongli, however, looked fascinated.
"And if you were to build something here," Zhongli asked, "what would it be?"
Takumi opened his mouth — and the system chimed again.
[Blueprint Function Unlocked]
Industrial Foundation Projects Available:
Electronics Manufacturing
Agricultural Mechanization
Food Industry Development
Cultural/Entertainment Infrastructure
Takumi almost choked on air.
The calm AI continued, unfazed:
Objective Recommendation:
Transform Liyue into the first industrial nation of Teyvat.
NOT. NOW.
Takumi forced a smile. "Uh… I don't know. Maybe… modernize things a little?"
Zhongli leaned in, intrigued. "Modernize. How so?"
Takumi rubbed his neck. "Stuff like improving farming, building mass production systems, creating… uh… different kinds of tools. Maybe setting up a few new industries."
Xiao stared. "Industries?"
"Yeah. Electronics, agriculture, entertainment, food processing—"
Xiao raised a hand. "What is… 'electronics'?"
Zhongli silently agreed with the question.
Takumi froze. His mind scrambled for a Liyue-friendly explanation.
"Think… tools that let people communicate faster. Or write, count, and create using energy. Kind of like… portable talismans? But without paper or Adepti magic."
Zhongli blinked.
Xiao frowned. "...Portable talismans that don't use talisman paper?"
Takumi nodded weakly.
Zhongli's Decision
The room fell quiet.
Then Zhongli placed his teacup down firmly.
"Takumi," he said, voice calm but resolute. "Stay in Liyue."
Takumi jolted. "Wait— what?"
Zhongli continued:
"You speak of industries, of tools that require no divine intervention, of structures built upon human ingenuity. Your world's perspective is… refreshing."
He looked out toward the distant mountains.
"For a long time, I have wondered what Liyue's future would look like without Rex Lapis' direct rule. What form human progress may take." He turned back to Takumi. "Perhaps your arrival is the answer."
Xiao made a noise halfway between agreement and "this human will die in a week."
Takumi stared between them. "You want me to… build things? Big things?"
Zhongli nodded. "If you wish. Liyue has always valued contracts between equals. Should you desire support for your… 'projects,' I will assist."
Takumi blinked, mouth open.
He had come to Teyvat expecting monster encounters, epic quests, maybe even a Vision.
Instead, he got a job offer from the Geo Archon.
He slumped back in his chair, overwhelmed. "I… I don't even have a plan yet. Or funding. Or manpower."
The system chimed again.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Manpower Required: Citizens of Liyue
Recommendation: Gain trust and gather local support.
Begin with small-scale blueprint demonstrations.
Takumi resisted the urge to shout. Stop giving me homework!
Zhongli misinterpreted his expression and spoke gently:
"If you are concerned, rest assured. Liyue's people welcome those who contribute. When you decide your path, I will introduce you to those who can assist."
Takumi stared at him. "…Like Ningguang?"
Zhongli coughed politely. "Yes. Eventually."
Xiao stood. "If he attempts anything suspicious, I will end him."
"Comforting," Takumi muttered.
"It is not meant to be comforting."
"Yeah, I noticed."
A Silent Bond
For a moment, all three gazed out across the marshes — Zhongli thoughtful, Xiao vigilant, and Takumi overwhelmed by the absurdity of his situation.
But beneath that chaos… something stirred inside him.
A memory from Earth.
A feeling of wanting to create something meaningful.
A sense that maybe — just maybe — he could do something great here.
Liyue was strong, proud… but stuck between tradition and change.
What if Takumi could help?
What if he could build something that lasted?
The system chimed once more, quietly:
[Calm A.I.]
Purpose Detected.
User Motivation: 42%
Industrial Development Protocol: Ready when you are.
Takumi exhaled slowly.
"Alright," he whispered. "Maybe I can do something here after all."
Zhongli turned toward him with a small, knowing smile.
"Then, Takumi… welcome to Liyue."