"The Gnosis?"
Lumine had seen the Gnosis before, although it was different from Venti's, it emitted the same mysterious aura, allowing her to recognize the identity of this chess piece at a glance.
However, why would the Gnosis be in Wang Daoyi's hands? Moreover, the casual manner in which it was taken out seemed a bit too nonchalant.
Paimon, standing beside her, also looked shocked, muttering to herself and making a seemingly reasonable yet absurd inference: "Wait, wait! If Daoyi has the Gnosis, and the Gnosis belongs to the Geo Archon, then does that mean Wang Daoyi is the Geo Archon?"
With a disdainful glance at Paimon, Lumine turned to Zhongli. "No matter how you think about it, you should know that Zhongli is the Geo Archon, right!"
Giving Lumine a look that said 'You're really smart', Wang Daoyi casually tossed the Gnosis to the woman who seemed increasingly eager, "The contract is fulfilled. Here is your reward."
The casual gesture made Paimon exclaim, "No no no, even though Wang Daoyi has the Gnosis, it's still shocking that Zhongli is the Geo Archon, but why would you give the Gnosis to the Fatui?"
Lumine, standing beside Paimon, shared the same confusion.
Wang Daoyi remained silent. Although he guessed the deal between Zhongli and the Cryo Archon, it was something that Zhongli should explain himself. After all, he wasn't Zhongli's "mouthpiece".
Zhongli shook his head. "It's not a gift, but a transaction based on a contract, something between me and the Cryo Archon."
Lumine shook her head, still unable to understand. "I can't understand your thoughts."
In her eyes, what Venti had "fought to death" to protect was now being handed over by Zhongli, which she found unacceptable.
Paimon nodded as well. "Yeah, your fake death was really over the top! We organized a ceremony to welcome you, and suddenly, a dragon fell from the sky, causing chaos in Liyue Harbor, and almost causing a catastrophe!"
As she spoke, Paimon seemed to remember something and turned to Wang Daoyi beside her, "And you, Daoyi, you knew everything, but you didn't tell us anything, causing us to worry so much!"
Wang Daoyi put on an innocent expression. "Haha, what about me? There's nothing I can do about it. I'm just a powerless scholar. If the Archon doesn't let me speak, I can't do anything about it. Besides, I did remind you to beware of Tartaglia, didn't I?"
Tartaglia: "?"
"Hehe, gathering the hidden currents under the surface and exerting pressure to the limit before detonating, isn't this what the Geo Archon hopes to see?" The woman put away the Gnosis, sneering a few times, as if answering Paimon's question about Zhongli.
"Eh?" Paimon was puzzled. She didn't understand why it had to be done this way.
Lumine, however, seemed to understand something, thinking deeply about it.
"Let me explain it myself."
Zhongli's voice was calm but firm, attracting the attention of Paimon and Lumine.
"As you know, I have spent over six thousand years in this world, co-founding Liyue with the Archons, which was three thousand seven hundred years ago."
"The unyielding rock that even the vortex cannot shatter will also wear away under the erosion of time. It's just that I have always convinced myself that the day when the rock wears away has not yet come."
"It wasn't until a rainy day that I was walking at the port and heard a merchant praise his subordinate: 'You have fulfilled your duty, now, go rest.' At that moment, I stopped amidst the crowd, asking myself continuously: 'Have I fulfilled my duty?'"
Zhongli's voice seemed a bit weary, perhaps this was the deepest feeling in the heart of this ancient deity.
Paimon was somewhat moved. "Zhongli."
Zhongli did not respond to Paimon's call but continued, "However, when I first discussed with Daoyi whether I should step down as an Archon... I realized that I still have many reasons I cannot leave behind."
"Is Liyue, the land I walked alongside the Archons, ready to enter the next era? I must create an opportunity for a serious observation, and then make a decision."
"So, I designed this fake death, involving the Archons, the Qixing, the Fatui, and you all, and Daoyi, it was at my behest that he concealed this plan from you."
Lumine nodded, showing a forced smile. "So, is this considered a good ending?"
For the first time from start to finish, Zhongli showed a smile. "Very good, this nation has reached a point where it can move forward on its own."
"In other words, if everything descends into chaos beyond control, you will personally intervene and use your divine power to overcome a crisis for Liyue?" Paimon pondered, realizing that the seemingly dangerous situation had always been under Zhongli's control.
"Of course, and for him, it's easy." The woman beside him showed a strange expression, then sighed, making it unclear whether she was well-intentioned or malicious, "But now it seems as if the city called Liyue has already made some progress in the face of [the death of a god]."
Zhongli shook his head. "No, the Geo Archon has fallen, I will not intervene. However, when everything spirals out of control, Daoyi will use the Gnosis to help Liyue overcome this crisis."
Wang Daoyi nodded, indicating that he was the last line of defense.
"The final resolution of all these events has exceeded my expectations!" Zhongli's smile became even more evident on his face. "The Qixing faced the oppression of the Demon God but still held onto their beliefs, and the hermits from beyond the world, with the least information, initially maintained the maximum restraint, then were willing to cooperate with the Qixing at a difficult time, and finally even tried to understand the hearts of the people."
Having said that, Zhongli looked at the seemingly absent-minded woman beside him and said, "This [lady], as the envoy sent by the Cryo Archon to fulfill the [contract], under my request, concealed the truth from her colleague—the [Harbinger], without revealing the truth she knew."
Tartaglia: "?"
"I, on the other hand, walked as a mortal [Zhongli], and in the end, as this mortal, fulfilled the tradition of Liyue. Thank you for accompanying me on this journey, Traveler."
"All of the above was within my plan. The only thing that exceeded my expectations was the actions of the Qixing."
"My expectations of them were originally the same as the Archons', to protect Liyue. But their final answer was..."
"Using this opportunity to replace the gods, seizing all the rights of Liyue during my 'death'."
Wang Daoyi nodded slightly. After persuading the Archons to leave, he discovered that the Qixing and the agents of the Ministry of Civil Affairs were acting swiftly, swiftly cleaning up some old forces that did not obey the Qixing.
Without the Archon above them, the Qixing's power not only did not diminish but became even stronger.
Paimon was puzzled. "It sounds like it's not a good thing?!"
Zhongli smiled. "Haha, I think it's quite good, actually. It's something I've been worried about being too early for, but also vaguely anticipating. This is the sincere practice of the old deity that I used to be."
Zhongli's smile may have stimulated someone, as Tartaglia said unhappily, "Hey, what about me? You've all been playing me around, don't you want to apologize to me?"
Before Zhongli could respond, the woman showed a mocking look, "Hehe. Why not say thank you to him? Your interference was actually part of the plan. The Geo Archon should thank you for your splendid performance. If it weren't for you creating tremendous pressure with the battle between the Gods and the mortal, Liyue, this coal that has been played with for thousands of years—wouldn't be able to become the shining gem it is now."
Tartaglia looked at the woman in disbelief. "Huh? Why are you, from another nation's perspective, mocking your colleague? Do you want to fight?"
Ignoring Tartaglia's provocation, the woman did not answer. "Hehehe, so, now that the Gnosis is in hand, there's no point in chatting. Let's return to the Winter Palace to meet the Queen. The Qixing will probably surround this place soon."
Tartaglia sneered, "Alright, but I'll go back later. I don't want to ride on the same boat as you."
Tartaglia and the woman left.
Wang Daoyi glanced at Zhongli, estimating that he still had something to say to Lumine, so he bowed to Zhongli. "Since everything is finished, Your Excellency, I'll take my leave!"
Zhongli nodded, not stopping him.