There was never any such thing as giving without a reason in this world.
Whatever people did, they always wanted something in return.
Take Ellin, for example. To protect her friends, she would even disregard her own life. That seemed selfless enough, didn't it?
But she wanted something, too. She wanted her friends to live happy, fulfilling lives.
So there was never any such thing as giving without a reason in this world.
The same was true of Zhongli. He had protected Liyue for thousands of years. He was indeed great, indeed selfless.
But he, too, had something he wanted.
He wanted to see Liyue prosper, to see his people safe and happy.
And when he saw his people willingly surrender their profits to contribute to the Rite of Parting, his feelings were complicated.
Yet amid those complicated feelings, he was also delighted.
He had once said that Archons needed no descendants, because all the people of Liyue were his children.
And now, like an old father watching his children grow up and become sensible, he felt deeply gratified.
Liyue Harbor had stood for three thousand seven hundred years.
Now, Liyue flourished.
The age of humanity was gradually dawning, while the age of the adepti was slowly fading.
Yet the people of Liyue had never forgotten the kindness of the adepti.
How could such a nation, such a people, fail to bring comfort to the Geo Archon?
A god deeply loved the nation he protected. To see that nation prosper, its people living and working in peace, was surely something for him to rejoice in.
He stood on the railing of Yujing Terrace, gazing down over Liyue Harbor from above.
His gaze settled on a street in Liyue Harbor, and his thoughts returned to the past.
It had been a