23: After Countless Ages, You Will Understand

Under the respectful gaze of the Seven Treasure Hotel's owner, Zhongli and Paimon left the Seven Treasure Hotel without changing expression.

"Supreme Elder Token..."

"H-He actually used the Supreme Elder Token to put it on the tab!"

Watching Zhongli and Paimon's departing figures, the Seven Treasure Hotel owner was overcome with mixed emotions.

The Supreme Elder Token did indeed have that function, but he had never heard of any Supreme Elder under the sect's banner ever putting something on a tab.

And sending the bill to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect...

That was even more impossible!

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had two Supreme Elders: Chen Xin and Gu Rong.

Whenever Ning Fengzhi left the sect, one Supreme Elder had to accompany him.

The other Supreme Elder would remain behind to guard the sect.

The two of them practically had no chance to act alone, so how could they possibly put anything on a tab?

When traveling with Ning Fengzhi, could they possibly be expected to pay the bill themselves?

Obviously, that was impossible.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Supreme Elder Token could not be fake. Any direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could recognize it.

Besides, who would dare forge a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Token?

Once discovered, it would become a fight to the death!

"Should I send this bill or not?"

The hotel owner sank into deep thought.

Would he really ask the sect for money over the consumption of their own Supreme Elder?

Whether Zhongli was a Supreme Elder or had joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as long as he held the Supreme Elder Token, he was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Supreme Elder!

If he was not one now, then with the efforts of the sect master and the sect, he would be in the future!

Back then, Sword Douluo Chen Xin had been moved by Ning Fengzhi's sincerity and decisively joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, becoming its guardian!

The hotel owner knew that Zhongli was a Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.

He had known it yesterday, before Zhongli and "Xue Qinghe" had even entered the Seven Treasure Hotel.

"Ning Fengzhi, Ning Fengzhi, you truly deserve to be the sect master! I cannot compare to your methods."

"The sect will go farther under your leadership."

This was Heaven Dou City. The Seven Treasure Hotel was the most luxurious hotel in Heaven Dou City, bar none!

How could the person stationed here not be a direct member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

By family ties, this hotel owner was even Ning Fengzhi's cousin.

A level seventy-two auxiliary-system Soul Sage!

He had once had a chance of becoming sect master as well.

However, the former sect master had chosen Ning Fengzhi rather than him.

He had never truly accepted that, until Ning Fengzhi brought the Sky Pillar, Chen Xin, to the sect.

Then he was convinced...

On Zhongli's side.

Paimon tilted her head and said very seriously, "Zhongli, I always feel like that hotel owner is someone with quite a story. How about we go back and investigate?"

Hearing this, Zhongli's eye twitched. His mouth opened slightly, but he stopped himself from speaking.

Was Paimon's occupational habit acting up again?

Go back and investigate?

Investigate until they found out he was a Soul Sage, then listen to him tell his story about thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, never belittle a poor youth, and the like.

Then help him fulfill his wish...

In the end, he would give them a million or so Gold Soul Coins and experience...

Wait, something strange had gotten mixed in!

"As expected of a task expert!"

"Isn't ninety-nine percent of the reason the Traveler is so busy because of you?"

"Only the Traveler doesn't understand what it means to refuse..."

Thinking this, Zhongli looked up at the sky and said, "Paimon, humans all have their own secrets. We need to respect their privacy and secrets."

"Rather than digging to the bottom of everything."

Paimon froze. Zhongli's words seemed to make sense, yet something also seemed off. She simply could not put her finger on it.

That was not right.

"Zhongli, you aren't trying to fool me, are you?"

"Does Paimon look like an idiot?"

With her hands on her hips, Paimon questioned him.

Zhongli lowered his head, glanced sideways, and fell silent.

"No, why the hell did you hesitate?!"

Zhongli had actually hesitated!

Paimon stomped in midair, her face full of anger!

If she could beat even one of Zhongli's fingers, she would have jumped up and punched him in the knee!

"If we don't know humans' secrets, how are we supposed to help them?"

Paimon tried to reason with Zhongli.

"Why do we need to help them?"

"Because, because..."

For a moment, Paimon had no answer.

Was it because of Mora, or something else?

Right, why did they need to help them?

At that moment, Paimon fell into deep thought.

Was it because of the bonds between friends?

Or because...

"Humans, like Demon Gods, must first learn how to grow on their own."

"I was not born powerful either. If one does not learn to be strong, destruction is inevitable."

"Unless they are trapped in a desperate situation where death is unavoidable, I will not intervene."

After saying that, Zhongli walked toward the teahouse on his own.

Paimon was stunned. Zhongli's grand principles left her somewhat confused.

He clearly only needed to move a finger to help many people.

Yet he insisted on waiting until people were driven into despair before acting. Wasn't that sick?

"Hey, Zhongli!"

"Wait for me!"

"I don't really understand what you're saying!"

After countless ages, you will understand.

Zhongli did not say those words aloud. There had been no one around earlier, so he could chat with Paimon a little more, but this place was different.

Liyue had lost its Vago Rock Emperor. The people of Liyue had learned to be strong and how to face crises. Zhongli was deeply gratified by this; at last, he could lay down the burden on his shoulders.

The people of Douluo Continent were living relatively stable lives as well, aside from the oppression of the nobles.

Someone would resolve that matter.

They did not need a Vago Rock Emperor from another world.

If everything became utterly unbearable and disturbed his life...

Just as Evil Soul Masters would ravage the continent ten thousand years later.

Then he would act!

"Ah..."

"Could the goodness of Demon Gods also be a curse, a form of Corrosion?"

Demon Gods were all good, especially toward their own people and humans.

It was merely that when they used inappropriate methods, they never considered whether their people could bear them.

Take that Lord of the Tower, for example. Did he not love his people?

It was simply that his methods were beyond what his people could endure.

Had he not willingly allowed himself to be killed, how could a mere wind elemental spirit have possibly killed him and obtained his authority?

That was the Lord of the Tower!

A Demon God whose combat strength ranked at least among the top ten!

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, two days went by.

That morning, "Xue Qinghe" came to Zhongli Manor and had breakfast with Zhongli and Paimon before bidding them farewell. She was heading to the soul beast forest to hunt for a soul ring.

Once she left, she likely would not return for ten days to half a month.

That was why she had come to tell Zhongli, lest he think she was neglecting him.

"Qinghe, be careful!"

"Okay, Paimon!"

After "Xue Qinghe" left, Paimon's eyes lit up. She remembered that Zhongli had said two days ago that he would take her to the Star Dou Great Forest today.

"Zhongli, when are we leaving?"

"We'll leave after she gets a little farther away."

"???"