Peaceful Times No Longer Need Morax

Heaven Dou City, Dugu Manor... No, it was Zhongli Manor now.

After listening to music and watching a play, Zhongli and Paimon returned home.

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

Paimon floated ahead, glancing back now and then to make sure Zhongli was following.

Suddenly, something occurred to her. Her eyes lit up, and she asked, "Zhongli, how much of your old strength do you still have?"

After all, Morax had been preparing to leave for the Outer Sea of Darkness because he could barely withstand Corrosion any longer.

Corrosion could greatly diminish a Demon God's power.

Paimon was worried that Zhongli's strength had fallen just as drastically.

Corrosion is Morax's problem. What does it have to do with me, Zhongli?

At her question, Zhongli stopped in his tracks, lost in memory.

All-Devouring Void. Mountains and Seas taking form. Stars rising from barren land, brilliant as the blazing sun. Morax...

How is Ruo Tuo faring? If I'm no longer in Teyvat, will Corrosion wear away the last of the goodness in him?

Worrying about it now would do no good.

Zhongli shook his head, put the thought aside, and said calmly, "In an age of peace, the world no longer needs Morax."

With no conflict under heaven and the people living in peace, there was naturally no need for Morax.

Nor did Morax need to reveal his Boundless Killing Intent.

After a pause, Zhongli continued, "But if Liyue, or any living soul in this world, needs me..."

"Then I will still be..."

"The Vago Rock Emperor!"

Liyue... I wonder if I can ever return.

Zhongli sighed silently, then soon regained his composure.

In his more than six thousand years of life, little could stir his emotions anymore.

Unless it concerned someone he cared about...

"You mean... you mean you've been at your peak all along?"

Paimon's eyes went wide. She could barely get the words out.

That was a shock!

Zhongli only shook his head and smiled, giving no direct answer.

"Get some rest. We should have plenty of visitors tomorrow."

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

But to the people of Douluo Continent, it was close to the pinnacle of strength.

There was no way no one would come calling.

"Huh?"

Paimon blinked. She had been with Zhongli the whole time, never leaving his side. How had she missed him inviting guests?

"Zhongli, when did you ask anyone over?"

"Is it Crown Prince Xue Qinghe?"

"I'm not sure, but she should be among them."

The spoken word gave Paimon no way to tell whether Zhongli had meant "she" or "he."

As Zhongli walked into the manor, Paimon froze. Hadn't he left something unanswered?

"Argh, that Riddle Man!"

Now she remembered. She had asked whether Zhongli had been at full strength all along...

"Zhongli, wait for me!"

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

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

At the sight of Zhongli brewing tea, Paimon's little head filled with questions.

With a silent sigh, Zhongli waved a hand. An exquisite platter appeared, bearing several mouthwatering soup dumplings.

No steam rose from their surfaces, making them look cold.

But they had indeed just come out of the steamer. Only a true master could make soup dumplings look like that.

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

"If they earned that kind of praise from you, Zhongli, they must be delicious!"

"Hehe, thanks."

"For buying me breakfast so early!"

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

"?"

She understood the chopsticks.

But why did she need a spoon to eat a dumpling?

Puzzled, she took it anyway.

"I'll show you the proper way to eat one."

Zhongli picked up another pair of chopsticks, lifted a dumpling, and set it on the spoon.

Then he bit through the dumpling's skin, and at once... (Better not go into detail. These dumplings are starting to sound rather improper.)

Every movement was so elegant that Paimon could only stare.

So that's how you're supposed to eat them?

Amazing!

Wait. Did Zhongli only demonstrate because he wanted another one?

He bought them, so there's nothing wrong with him having another, right?

Paimon finished breakfast and was still wondering why the dumplings contained soup when...

A knock sounded at the gate of Zhongli Manor.

There were no servants in the manor. Only Zhongli and Paimon lived there.

Its previous owner had been reclusive and hadn't kept any servants either...

"Huh? Someone really came?!"

Paimon's eyes widened. She turned toward Zhongli, who sat there utterly at ease, as though she had discovered a whole new world.

Could the Rock Demon God tell fortunes too?

That can't be right. If he could, then Guizhong and some of the Yakshas...

Paimon stopped herself.

Even with her poor grasp of social niceties, she knew those losses were the pain of Zhongli's life.

If only I could buy osmanthus wine and share it with old friends. But when will I see them again?

It was clear Zhongli had never let go. Those knives... no, those wounds had stayed with him all along.

"I'll greet them. You..."

Given Paimon's size, perhaps not. She couldn't even open the gate.

"Wait here and rest. I'll be right back."

"No!"

Paimon shook her head at once. As the professional God's Mouth, how could she sit this out?

"I'm coming with you!"

"All right."

Zhongli agreed without giving it further thought.

There were two visitors.

One had an exceptionally powerful presence, making him one of the strongest people Zhongli had encountered since arriving on Douluo Continent.

But a human was still a human.

By the standards of Douluo Continent, the man's strength was quite respectable.

The other's presence was stronger than many people's, but he looked so frail that Zhongli hardly knew what to make of him.

After a moment's thought, Zhongli had a fair idea who they were.

He opened the gate to find a middle-aged man wearing a gentle smile. With his refined air, he looked rather like a scholar.

Behind him stood an older man with sharp brows, bright eyes, and long white hair falling over his shoulders. His gaze was keen, with a faint eagerness for battle.

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

"Forgive us for coming uninvited!"

Ning Fengzhi spoke with great courtesy. Given his status, he could treat Titled Douluo as his peers even though he was not one himself.

After all, he was the sect master of one of the Upper Three Sects. An ordinary Titled Douluo would hardly dare put on airs with him and would at least address him as Sect Master Ning.