To wear the crown, you must bear its weight

Paimon glanced at Zhongli twice and blurted out, "Zhongli doesn't want to become a god..."

It made sense. Zhongli had only just faked his death to step down from the Divine Throne. Why would he take his seat again so soon?

Even in another world, the same reasoning applied.

There were no people of Liyue here, no one he protected, and nothing he cherished...

There was nothing wrong with saying Zhongli had come here to wander the mortal world at leisure.

He understood everything, yet cared about nothing.

How many factions had come to curry favor with Zhongli because of his strength?

Zhongli accepted practically everything they offered, but when they truly needed him to act, he might not oblige.

Most of what Paimon knew about Zhongli came from the quests she had done with the Traveler.

She knew a little herself—not much, but it was all "core" secrets.

For instance, Zhongli liked perfume, and he had once taken on the role of a big sister...

Paimon's voice was neither particularly loud nor particularly quiet.

There were only three of them in the quiet private room.

"Xue Qinghe" could hardly have missed it.

"Doesn't want to become a god?"

Had anyone else said that, "Xue Qinghe" would probably have mocked them on the spot. You sorry lot don't want to become gods? More like you can't!

Doesn't want to become a god? Why are you putting on such airs?

But those words were not about just anyone. They were about the Vago Rock Emperor, Zhongli!

This being who had suppressed several gods with one hand did not want to become a god?

"Xue Qinghe" froze, bewildered and at a loss. His mouth hung slightly open, but the words would not come.

Was becoming a god not the goal of every powerful individual?

Was that not what his grandfather and his... that woman were striving for?

Why? Why would anyone not want to become a god?

Could that also be why Zhongli had revealed the true nature of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?

So he would learn what the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was and take it back of his own accord...

If Zhongli did not want to become a god, how had he become one later?

"In that age, demons and gods rose together. Though I had no wish to vie for supremacy, I knew the suffering of the people..."

Those words suddenly echoed through "Xue Qinghe's" mind. He seemed to understand, to have grasped something crucial.

Zhongli truly had no desire to become a god. But wars between several nations and battles between several gods had left the people destitute and all living beings devastated.

The people's fervent wishes pleaded for someone to bring the war to an end...

Those streams of power of faith had converged, making Zhongli—the being most likely to attain godhood—a god on the spot!

Ascending through faith was the very path the former Angel God had taken. It was possible.

Someone who did not want to become a god had become one so powerful, while those who wanted to become gods...

Countless thoughts churned through "Xue Qinghe's" mind, but he had to pull himself together. Some things could be pondered slowly once he returned. He could not neglect this guest elder.

"Little Paimon, whether Mr. Zhongli wishes to become a god or not, the Sea God's Heart has already been given away. There is naturally no reason to take it back."

"Please accept it, Mr. Zhongli!"

Xue Ye: Qinghe, oh, Qinghe, did you get my permission to say that?

If this had been the real Xue Qinghe, he would already have been on his way back to the imperial palace with the Sea God's Heart, afraid that even a second's delay would let someone snatch it away.

But this was not the real Xue Qinghe.

He did not care about the Sea God Inheritance, because he had an inheritance of his own.

If that dream had been his previous life, then he would surely surpass it in this one. At the very least, he would not be taken out by a single divine skill from Zhongli...

Zhongli looked "Xue Qinghe" over. For some reason, he kept feeling that something was odd about him, though he could not put his finger on it.

The trace of fear in his eyes was genuine, and it had been there before Zhongli had revealed his strength—or rather, from their very first meeting.

And there was the Sea God's Heart. Zhongli had explicitly stated that it held the Sea God Inheritance, yet "Xue Qinghe" had still given it to him without hesitation?

Why?

Judging by the timeline, "Xue Qinghe" should not have known about the Angel God's inheritance yet.

Even if he knew about his ancestor's inheritance, would it not be better to bring the Sea God's Heart back to Spirit Hall and give it another god?

Unable to understand why "Xue Qinghe" would do such a thing, Zhongli eventually accepted the Sea God's Heart.

The three chatted for a while longer. Then "Xue Qinghe" left, as he still had matters to attend to.

"Being His Highness the Crown Prince really isn't easy. There's so much to deal with."

Paimon watched "Xue Qinghe's" retreating figure and muttered softly.

"Those are the duties of the position. Once you occupy that seat, you must consider the matters that come with it."

"Having chosen to take that seat, you should bear those burdens."

"Zhongli, all that talking is making my head spin. Can't you make it simpler?"

Paimon held her head, looking rather distressed.

Zhongli turned his gaze toward the little one and smiled helplessly. "To wear the crown, you must bear its weight."

"Oh, I get it!"

"Zhongli, is that why you stepped down from your god position?"

"You didn't want to bear all that weight..."

"That was not the reason."

Before Paimon could finish, Zhongli interrupted her. "Under the protection of the Adepti and myself, Liyue has weathered so many years."

"A child must grow up eventually."

"Even the hardest stone may feel weary at times..."

"Liyue will be the Liyue of its people. As for me, having stepped down from my god position..."

"After all that talk, it was still Corrosion that forced you to step down, wasn't it?"

Zhongli: "..."

"Yes."

What else could he say?

If not for Corrosion, he would not have gone to the Outer Sea of Darkness, nor would he and Paimon have accidentally crossed into another world.

"Let us go, Paimon."

"In a couple of days, I will take you for a stroll through the Star Dou Great Forest. But you must agree to one condition."

At those words, Paimon instantly perked up, her eyes widening!

Were they about to set off on a journey?

Wonderful!

"What condition? As long as it isn't 'no eating,' Paimon agrees!"

"Talk less."

"???"

"Why? As your guide, how will you learn anything if I don't talk?"

Paimon spoke without thinking.

"Is this the Teyvat Continent?"

"Oh, right. This is the Douluo Continent. You seem to know more than I do."

"But why do I have to talk less?"

Zhongli fell silent. After a long while, he finally said, "You will understand when the time comes."

"All right."

Paimon felt a little down. The Traveler had never said anything like that before, telling her to talk less!

She had usually done all the talking. Some people had even called her an external organ, the God's Mouth.

Pah! What stupid God's Mouth?

Paimon was Paimon!

"Um, well, Mr. Zhongli, about this bill..."

Just then, the proprietor came over and spoke with an embarrassed expression.

Yesterday, these three had set a precedent by putting their meal on credit and charging it to the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Surely they were not planning to put it on credit again today?

Well, actually... they really were.

Zhongli took out Ning Fengzhi's Token and handed it to the proprietor. "Simply send the bill to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

The proprietor looked at the Token, then at Zhongli. The corner of his eye twitched, and he felt rather numb...