Peaceful Prosperity No Longer Needs Morax

Chapter 15: Peaceful Prosperity No Longer Needs Morax.

Heaven Dou City, the Dugu... no, Zhongli Manor now.

After listening to music and watching the show, Zhongli and Paimon returned to their residence.

Though Zhongli was a Crown Prince's Mansion Guest Official, he had refused Xue Qinghe's suggestion that they live together.

Paimon floated ahead, occasionally looking back to see whether Zhongli was keeping up.

Suddenly, she seemed to think of something. Her eyes lit up as she asked Zhongli, "Zhongli, how much of your former strength do you still have?"

After all, Morax had planned to head for the Outer Sea of Darkness because he could no longer endure Corrosion.

Corrosion could drastically weaken a Demon God's power.

Paimon was deeply worried that Zhongli's strength would likewise be greatly diminished.

Zhongli: Morax is the one suffering Corrosion. What does that have to do with me, Zhongli?

Hearing this, Zhongli halted and fell into his memories.

All-Devouring Void, Mountains and Seas taking form, stars born in barren lands, blazing like the scorching sun—Morax...

He wondered how Ruo Tuo was doing. If he was not in Teyvat, would the last shred of kindness in Ruo Tuo be worn away by Corrosion?

At this point, worrying was useless.

Zhongli shook his head, casting those thoughts aside. He spoke calmly, "In a peaceful and prosperous age, there is no longer any need for Morax."

When there was no conflict under heaven and the people lived and worked in peace, there was naturally no need for Morax.

Nor did Morax need to reveal that Boundless Killing Intent of his.

After a pause, Zhongli continued, "As long as Liyue, or the people of the world, need me."

"Then I shall still be that..."

"Vago Rock Emperor!"

He did not know whether he would ever be able to return to Liyue.

With a silent sigh, Zhongli soon regained his composure.

Over more than six thousand years, his emotions rarely fluctuated much.

Unless it concerned someone he cared about...

"You mean... you mean you have always been at your peak?"

Paimon's eyes widened, and she even stammered.

Those words had truly shocked her!

Zhongli merely shook his head and smiled, offering no direct answer.

"Rest early. There should be many guests tomorrow."

The sliver of power he had revealed today was only a tiny, tiny fraction to him.

Yet to the people of Douluo Continent, it was practically the pinnacle.

Under such circumstances, it was impossible that no one would come calling.

"Eh~"

Paimon froze. She had been following Zhongli the entire time and had not left his side for even a step, so how did she not know guests were coming?

"Zhongli, when did you invite people over?"

"Is it Crown Prince Xue Qinghe?"

"I do not know, but she should be among them."

They were both pronounced the same, so Paimon could not tell whether he meant she or he.

Seeing Zhongli enter the manor, Paimon blinked. Had he left something unexplained just now?

"Damn it, this Riddle Man!"

Paimon remembered. She had asked Zhongli whether he had always been at full strength...

"Zhongli, wait for me!"

The sun rose and the moon set. A new day, a new cycle.

"Huh? Zhongli, aren't we going out for breakfast today?"

Seeing Zhongli making tea, Paimon's tiny head filled with enormous question marks.

With a silent sigh, Zhongli waved a hand, and an exquisitely crafted tray appeared. Several mouthwatering soup-filled Pipi Pig dumplings rested upon it.

There was no steam rising from the dumplings' surfaces, making them appear cold.

Yet they had indeed just come out of the steamer. Only a true Master could make such dumplings with this effect.

"These are soup-filled Pipi Pig dumplings from Widow Li's shop south of the city. Their flavor is passable."

"Anything that earns such praise from you, Zhongli, must be delicious!"

"Hehe, thanks."

"You even went out early in the morning to buy me food!"

Paimon rubbed her hands together, about to dig in when Zhongli handed her a pair of chopsticks and a spoon.

"?"

Paimon understood the chopsticks.

But why would she need a spoon to eat dumplings?

Though confused, she accepted them anyway.

"I shall demonstrate the proper way to eat them."

As he spoke, Zhongli took out another pair of chopsticks, picked up a dumpling, and placed it on the spoon.

He then bit through the dumpling's skin, and immediately... (I won't go into detail; these dumplings somehow feel improper.)

Every movement was exceedingly elegant, leaving Paimon utterly stunned.

So this was how one was supposed to eat them?

Amazing!

Wait, did Zhongli simply want another one for himself, so he used the excuse of demonstrating it to her?

He had bought them, after all. There was nothing wrong with him eating another one, right?

After Paimon finished breakfast, she was still wondering why dumplings contained soup when the gates of Zhongli Manor rang out.

There were no servants in this residence. Only Zhongli and Paimon lived here.

Its former owner had been reclusive and likewise had no servants...

"Huh, someone really came?!"

Paimon's eyes widened as she turned toward the unruffled Zhongli, as though she had discovered a new continent.

Did the Rock Demon God possess divination abilities too?

That should not be possible. If he had such skills, then Guizhong and some of the Yaksha...

Thinking of this, Paimon did not say it aloud.

Even with her low emotional intelligence, she understood that it was the pain of Zhongli's life.

I wished to buy osmanthus wine and sail together once more, but alas, when shall I see my old friends again...

This showed that Zhongli had never truly let go. The knife... pfft, the pain had always remained with him.

"I shall go greet them. You..."

Given Paimon's tiny frame, forget it. She was the sort who could not even open the gates.

"You rest here for now. I shall return shortly."

"No!"

Paimon hurriedly shook her head. As a professional God's Mouth, how could she rest here?

"I'll go with you!"

"Very well."

Zhongli did not think much of it and agreed directly.

There were two visitors.

One of them possessed an extremely formidable aura, one of the strongest Zhongli had encountered since arriving on Douluo Continent.

Humans were, ultimately, only human.

The other party's strength was fairly decent on Douluo Continent.

As for the other, his aura was stronger than that of many people, but his frail appearance was truly hard to judge.

After thinking briefly, Zhongli more or less guessed who the visitors were.

When he opened the gates, the first person he saw was a middle-aged man with a gentle smile. He exuded a refined, scholarly air.

Behind him stood an elderly man with sword-like brows and bright eyes. His white hair fell over his shoulders, his gaze was sharp as fire, and a hint of battle intent radiated from him.

"Mr. Zhongli, I am Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"I have come uninvited. I hope you will not take offense!"

Ning Fengzhi spoke very politely. With his status, even though he did not possess the strength of a Titled Douluo, he could still associate with Titled Douluo as an equal.

After all, he was the sect master of one of the Upper Three Sects. Ordinary Titled Douluo truly did not dare put on airs before him and would at least address him as Sect Master Ning.