22: He Who Wears the Crown Must Bear Its Weight

Paimon glanced at Zhongli twice and subconsciously said, "That guy Zhongli doesn't want to become a god at all..."

Come to think of it, Zhongli had only just faked his death and stepped down from the Divine Throne. How could he possibly sit back on it so soon?

Even if this was another world, the principle was the same.

There were no people of Liyue here, no one under his protection, and nothing he treasured...

It would not be wrong at all to say Zhongli had come to wander the mortal world.

He understood everything, yet cared about nothing.

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

Zhongli accepted almost all of them, but when they truly needed him to act, he might not necessarily do so.

Most of Paimon's understanding of Zhongli had come from doing quests with the Traveler.

She herself knew a few things too. Not much, but they were all "core" secrets.

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

Paimon's voice was neither loud nor soft.

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

It was difficult for "Xue Qinghe" not to hear it.

"Doesn't want to become a god?"

Had anyone else said that, "Xue Qinghe" would probably have mocked them on the spot. With you bunch of nobodies, what do you mean, you don't want to become gods? You just can't become gods, can you?!

You don't want to become a god? Why are you putting on such an act?

But these words were not aimed at anyone else. They were about the Vago Rock Emperor, Zhongli!

This was a being who had suppressed several deities with one hand. He did not want to become a god?

"Xue Qinghe" froze. At a loss and bewildered, she parted her lips slightly, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

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

Was that not the goal of her grandfather and... that woman?

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

Could this be why Zhongli had revealed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud's true nature?

So that she would learn what the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was and willingly take it back...

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

"In this world, Demons and Gods rose together. Though I had no intention of contending for supremacy, I knew the suffering of the common people..."

Those words suddenly echoed in "Xue Qinghe's" mind. It was as though she had understood something and grasped a key point.

Zhongli indeed had no aspiration to become a god. Yet because of the wars between several nations and the battles between several deities, the people had suffered beyond measure, and countless lives had been lost.

The people desperately wished and prayed for someone to put an end to that great war...

Streams of Power of Faith gathered together, causing Zhongli, the one most likely to become a god, to ascend on the spot!

Becoming a god through faith was possible. The former Angel God had taken that very path.

The person who did not want to become a god became such a powerful deity, while those who wished to become gods...

Though her thoughts were in turmoil, "Xue Qinghe" had no choice but to return to her senses. There were things she could ponder slowly after returning; she could not neglect this guest elder.

"Little Paimon, regardless of whether Mr. Zhongli wishes to become a god, since this 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, Qinghe, did you get my permission before saying that?

Had he been the real Xue Qinghe, he would have already taken the Sea God's Heart back to the imperial palace. Even a second's delay would have left him afraid that someone might snatch it away.

However, this was not the real Xue Qinghe.

She did not care about the Sea God Inheritance, because she had her own inheritance.

If that dream had been her previous life, then in this life, she would definitely surpass her former self. At the very least, at the very least, she would not be instantly defeated by one of Zhongli's divine skills...

Zhongli studied "Xue Qinghe" twice. For some reason, he always felt that there was something strange about "Xue Qinghe," though he could not put his finger on it.

The fear in her eyes could not have been faked. It had been there before he revealed his strength, or rather, when they first met.

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

Why was that?

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

Even if she knew of her ancestor's inheritance, would it not be better to bring the Sea God's Heart back to Spirit Hall and give Spirit Hall another deity?

Unable to understand why "Xue Qinghe" had acted this way, Zhongli eventually accepted the Sea God's Heart after a long pause.

The three chatted for a while longer. "Xue Qinghe" still had matters to attend to, so she took her leave.

"Being His Highness the Crown Prince sure isn't easy. There are so many things to deal with."

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

"This is the duty that comes with the position. Sitting in that seat means one must consider the matters that seat requires one to consider."

"Since one has chosen to sit there, one should bear those burdens."

"Zhongli, you're making my head spin with all that. Can't you put it more simply?"

Paimon clutched her head and said miserably.

Zhongli glanced at the little fellow and smiled helplessly. "He who wears the crown must bear its weight."

"So that's what it means!"

"Zhongli, is that why you stepped down from your God Position?"

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

"That was not the reason."

Before Paimon could finish, Zhongli interrupted her. "Under the protection of myself and the adepti, how many years has Liyue already endured?"

"Children must eventually grow up."

"Even the hardest rock may sometimes feel weary..."

"Liyue will be the Liyue of its people. I, who stepped down from my God Position..."

"After saying all that, it was ultimately Corrosion that forced you to step down from your God Position, 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 have accidentally crossed worlds with Paimon.

"Let's go, Paimon."

"In a couple of days, I'll take you to look around the Star Dou Great Forest. But you must agree to one condition."

The moment she heard that, Paimon became interested, her eyes widening!

Were they about to set out on a journey?

Wonderful!

"What condition? As long as it isn't making Paimon stop eating, Paimon will agree to anything!"

"Talk less."

"???"

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

Paimon said instinctively.

"Is this the Teyvat Continent?"

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

"But why do I have to talk less?"

Zhongli fell silent. Only after a long pause did he say, "You'll know when the time comes."

"Okay..."

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

Usually, she was the one who did the talking. Some people even called her an external organ, God's Mouth.

Pah, God's Mouth my foot!

Paimon was Paimon!

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

At that moment, the innkeeper approached with an awkward expression.

Yesterday, those three had run up a tab and charged it to the Crown Prince's Mansion, setting a precedent.

They were not planning to put it on a tab again today, were they?

Well, what do you know—they really were.

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

The innkeeper looked at the Token, then at Zhongli. The corner of his eye twitched as his mind went numb...