Zhongli's peaceful days in Jueyun Karst did not last long.
It wasn't that the Adepti were bothering him.
Cloud Retainer, though she noticed his arrival, saw a faint sorrow between his brows. Thinking he had come seeking solitude, she tactfully did not disturb him. (The Adepti bird had returned to her cave after reading the book in Liyue Harbor, waiting for the right moment to send the books to her old friends.)
What truly made it impossible for him to remain completely detached was the notion of the "contract" lingering deep within his consciousness.
It wasn't that a contract he had made with his people was being violated, but rather that his people, based on a beautiful misunderstanding, were fulfilling a "repayment" he hadn't asked for in a way he found difficult to stomach.
This gave him a subtle sense of discomfort; though harmless, it disturbed his original clarity.
That night, the moonlight was like water, flowing over the strange peaks of Jueyun Karst.
Zhongli sat quietly in a secluded cave, surrounded by a faint glow of the Geo element.
He decided he could no longer allow this "seafood trend" to continue. Directly appearing to clarify was out of the question; thus, his only option was to use the power of the "humans" still guarding Liyue.
Soon, his divine sense crossed the mountains, swept over the harbor, and precisely found the Jade Chamber floating above Liyue Harbor... Ningguang had also been somewhat troubled lately.
He was naturally aware of the craze sparked by "the dust journey of shi po, volume three." In fact, when he first read it, he had even been moved by the Lord of Geo's past of "testing a hundred flavors with his divine form."
As one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, he was pleased to see the people's love and remembrance for the Lord of Geo. This trend had also objectively stimulated the prosperity of seafood-related industries, which was beneficial to the economy.
But gradually, he also sensed something was off.
While the intention of every household offering seafood as worship was commendable, what was written in the book was not absolutely true.
Would the Lord of Geo... really like such worship?
In the records he remembered about the Lord of Geo, though there were no clear preferences, he always felt his demeanor was closer to the steadiness of mountains and the ancient elegance of stone, which didn't seem to align with the fresh and unrestrained nature of the sea.
Furthermore, the seafood aroma currently permeating everywhere in Liyue Harbor was indeed... a bit too enthusiastic.
That night, Ningguang finished the last document in his study at the Jade Chamber. He rubbed his brow, but was suddenly overcome by an irresistible wave of sleepiness. He shook his head and decided to rest early.
In a haze, he found himself not in his familiar study, but in a mist-shrouded, dreamlike fairyland. In the distance, the mountains were majestic, with a dragon-like shape faintly coiled, a scene of magnificent grandeur.
His heart tightened, and he immediately knew this was no ordinary dream.
"Tianquan Star, Ningguang."
A steady and majestic voice rang out from the Akasha. That voice was familiar and ancient, making Ningguang's spirit tremble—it was the divine voice of Rex Lapis that he had heard during the Rite of Descension!
Ningguang immediately bowed in the direction of the voice and said respectfully, "Lord of Geo! I did not know you had summoned me. What are your instructions?"
He was secretly surprised. Since the Lord of Geo "passed away," he hadn't felt such a clear "divine revelation" for a long time, even in a dream.
The mist billowed slightly, and the voice rang out again, calm but clear in every word: "I am aware of the recent trend in Liyue Harbor. It seems... a bit too noisy."
Ningguang's mind raced, and he immediately understood what the Lord of Geo was referring to.
He chose his words carefully: "Does the Lord of Geo mean... the matter of the people offering seafood worship sparked by that folk tale? This is a gesture by the people to express their gratitude for your past grace through food offerings."
"The heart of gratitude is indeed precious," the Lord of Geo's voice remained steady. "However, all things have their nature, and preferences vary. Gods are not omniscient or omnipotent, and certainly not... lovers of everything."
He paused slightly, seemingly organizing his words, which made Ningguang listen even more intently.
"Though the intention is sincere, the actions can be reconsidered."
"In terms of 'contract,' balance and truth are its foundations. Following others blindly, and even imposing conjectures, is not true respect for past achievements." The figure of the Lord of Geo seemed to grow even fainter in the mist. "Guiding the citizens to distinguish truth from falsehood, and knowing that 'reverence' lies in sincerity rather than material things, is also the duty of you Seven Stars. Do not let a misunderstanding born of good intentions turn into a clamor that loses its essence."
Ningguang held his breath and listened, thinking to himself that it was as he suspected.
At this point, Ningguang completely understood the Lord of Geo's meaning.
The Lord of Geo was not displeased with the people's love, but rather disliked this blind following based on a fictional story and a lack of independent thought—especially since the direction of this trend... seemed to have completely misunderstood his preferences.
This was like a grand banquet where the wrong gift was sent; the host was embarrassed, yet the guests were still unaware.
"I shall follow your divine decree," Ningguang bowed deeply. "I understand what needs to be done. I will certainly guide public opinion, clarify the errors, and ensure the people know their intentions are valuable but their actions must be moderate."
"Good."
The mist gradually dissipated, and the majestic voice faded away.
Ningguang suddenly woke from his dream, the moonlight outside bright. Clutching his chest, he could still feel the indescribable divine majesty from the dream.
He couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head.
This dream from the Lord of Geo was less a divine decree and more like an elder, somewhat helpless from the overly "enthusiastic" worship, subtly raising a "protest."
Now that he understood the Lord of Geo's meaning, action was imperative.
The next day, the General Affairs Department issued a series of announcements and guidelines that seemed ordinary but were actually pointed.
The announcements did not deny the content of "record of shi pos wanderings," but rather emphasized that "revering the gods lies in the heart, not in material things," encouraging the public to express their remembrance of the Lord of Geo in more diverse ways that aligned with tradition.
At the same time, they began to promote the history and culture of Liyue's other rich products, such as the bamboo shoots of Qingce Village, the Fowl of Guili Plains, and the commercial benefits of Liyue Harbor's own development, hinting that Liyue's prosperity did not rely solely on the sea.
The secretaries of the Sea Gazers Pavilion also "revealed" privately during meetings with industry representatives: according to research by some scholars of ancient texts, the Lord of Geo seemed to prefer clear tea, fine stones, and elegant music, and perhaps... was not so keen on things that were too fishy or pungent. This saying, like a drop of ink in water, quickly spread among those who were paying attention.
Several old scholars who previously had issues with "record of shi pos wanderings" finally stood tall, quoting classics in various settings to discuss the elegance and transcendence of the Lord of Geo's taste, hinting that tying the Lord of Geo too closely to "gluttony" was unwise.
The direction of the wind in Liyue began to shift quietly.
People still remembered the Lord of Geo's grace, but what was offered before his statue was no longer just seafood.
Clear tea, fruit, pastries, and even a smooth stone or a bouquet of elegant flowers—the usual offerings returned to the altar.
When talking about the Lord of Geo, although the story of the "Seafood Pioneer" was still enjoyed, there was a bit more rational thought.
"The Lord of Geo only tried it for our sake; he might not have liked it himself!"
"Indeed, the important thing in revering the gods is sincerity. I think the Lord of Geo might be even happier with these freshly picked glazed lilies."
...That strong seafood trend that had permeated the whole city finally subsided, returning to a normal state.
A few days later, when Zhongli returned to Liyue Harbor from Jueyun Karst, the suffocating fishy smell in the air had faded significantly.
Walking through the streets and seeing the offerings before the statues of the Lord of Geo restored to their former variety and elegance, he breathed a sigh of relief that was almost imperceptible.
Arriving at Wanmin Restaurant, the Storyteller was now talking about the legend of the Lord of Geo suppressing sea monsters. The tea drinkers below listened with bated breath, and no one was discussing the heat for steaming anymore.
Zhongli ordered a pot of fresh tea and sipped it leisurely.
The tea fragrance was crisp and refreshing.
Finally... it's quiet.
He looked up at the blue sky in the distance and thought to himself: That "Li Xin" gentleman needs to be sought out properly.
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