We Still Don't Know How Much Zhongli Has Hidden Away

"I knew things would turn out this way..." Paimon shrugged helplessly.

Then, Paimon and Ying looked at Xingsu in unison, as if by perfect understanding.

"..."

Was I set up?

In the end, the bill for this meal still fell on Xingsu's shoulders.

Goodbye, Xingsu!

"Goodbye, Traveler. I believe we will meet again." With that, Xingsu stood up, secretly relieved, and prepared to leave.

"Young friend, please wait." Zhongli's voice came from behind him. "It was indeed my oversight that I didn't prepare Mora earlier. Why don't you come with me to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and get some Mora to apologize in person? What do you say?"

"Haha," Xingsu chuckled dryly, "Mr. Zhongli, you flatter me. It's just a little Mora, no need to take it to heart."

Before he could finish speaking, he hurriedly turned around, subconsciously quickening his pace, only thinking about getting away as quickly as possible.

He has a wife and children at home; there's really no need to deal with a deity who governs mortal contracts in a foreign land.

"There is no reason for the host to cause the guests to spend money."

The moment those words were spoken, an overwhelming and unparalleled pressure suddenly descended from behind.

Xingsu felt the oppressive force behind him, as if a mountain had crashed down on his shoulders.

The surrounding hustle and bustle of the city seemed to be isolated by an invisible barrier, leaving only the sound of my own rapid heartbeat in my ears.

Xingsu's hair stood on end, a chill ran down his spine, and his limbs felt as if they were firmly bound by an invisible boulder, his steps frozen in place.

Do I really have to die?

Xingsu had no choice but to stop and slowly turn around.

What's meant to be will be. Xingsu had a feeling while they were eating that Morax's invitation to dinner was a pretense, and that he was really after her.

But Xingsu couldn't figure out, no matter how hard he racked his brains, what he had done to offend this ancient god.

It can't be that he overheard you and your partner showing affection when you swore an oath to the God of Contracts, and then, being single yourself, you were forced to witness their lovey-dovey behavior and are now holding a grudge...

"What's wrong, young friend?" The glittering light in Zhongli's eyes slowly faded, and the oppressive aura, as heavy as a mountain, also dissipated.

"It's nothing. Mr. Zhongli is absolutely right. His words of righteousness have completely won me over."

Zhongli nodded. "Then come with me."

"Hey, Zhongli Guest Elder, so you finally realized you're trying to boost the sales of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor after bringing people back?" At the entrance of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao, carrying a large iron shovel, bumped into the two of them.

"Hello young man, I am Hu Tao, the 77th generation head of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Funeral services are guaranteed with me! You look very young, but has someone in your family passed away? Would you consider buying a joint tomb? The second tombstone is half price! Don't hesitate, act now!"

"Um... Director Hu is really... quite witty." Xingsu forced a smile.

"Hey, buddy, you look terrible. Ah, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order. Death isn't scary; it's like a cool summer night, a time for peaceful, carefree sleep."

"Ahem, Director Hu, this gentleman is a guest I invited. I have important matters to discuss with him. As for you..." Zhongli looked at Hu Tao holding a large iron shovel taller than Chlothar, "Do you have business to attend to?"

"Oh dear, I almost forgot! I've been keeping watch for a while now. It's usually around this time that Qiqi goes out to gather herbs! Enough said, I have some important business to attend to!"

Carrying a shovel, looking for Qiqi

Seeking business opportunities at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Life and death are just casual conversations.

Half-price stone tablets... why isn't anyone buying them?

Humming a short, disjointed poem, Hu Tao skipped and hopped away in a flash.

"..."

"..."

Xingsu sat opposite Zhongli.

Zhongli leisurely picked up the teacup and savored the tea, Xingsu remained silent, his mind tense.

One person didn't rush to speak, and the other didn't dare to chime in. A strange silence filled the room, and this silence lasted for a long time.

Finally, Xingsu broke the deadlock, speaking in a deep voice, "Mr. Zhongli... or rather, the Rex Lapis of Liyue. May I ask what business you have with a mere mortal like me?"

"Just a mortal, huh?" Zhongli chuckled softly, his gaze falling on the tea leaves floating in his cup. "I'd like to ask my Xingsu a question: what method of recording history will ensure its longest preservation?"

"Recording history... is mostly done by putting pen to paper, isn't it?" Xingsu replied after a moment's thought.

"But paper will eventually decay and decompose. No matter how well it is preserved, after tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years, the ink on the paper will fade away, and even the paper itself will disappear without a trace."

Xingsu faced the problem squarely, thought about it seriously for a long time, and finally gave his own answer.

"Then let the words... be engraved on the hard rock."

"Indeed, that was also the answer I came to." Zhongli took another sip of tea, the teacup gently falling back onto the wooden table with a soft sound. "For a long time, I have been pondering the essence of recording history."

It wasn't until later that I realized that history can be recorded, but it is not reliable. Time has a powerful force, and history can be distorted over time.

I need to find a better "record" to truly etch history. Carving words on stone is indeed a timeless form of "record."

But... even the stubborn rock will be gradually blown into silt by time and weathering. The seemingly unchanging rock, the seemingly unchanging world, and I may all disappear one day.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhongli crossed his arms over his chest, his deep golden eyes calm and still, and quietly looked at Xingsu, waiting for his response.

"I see. Forgive my ignorance, but there really isn't a better way to record history."

"Is that really so?" Zhongli raised his eyes, his golden pupils staring directly at Xingsu. "Or is it that your 'memory' in Teyvat isn't precious to you?"

"..."

Damn it, I couldn't fool them.

The short sentence was like a thunderclap in Xingsu's mind. Xingsu's pupils suddenly contracted, and his blood seemed to freeze in an instant.

You should have said so earlier! Why would I have kept it a secret?

What's the difference between this and asking someone to open your box on the street?

Zhongli stood up, and his tone suddenly changed.

"The more text is engraved on the rock, the greater the Erosion it will experience."

I witnessed the rise and fall of an era.

He looked out the window; the lights of Liyue Harbor flickered, and the hustle and bustle of merchant ships drifted in from afar. A thousand years of human life were captured in his calm eyes.

"Stone tablets will weather, inscriptions on bronze vessels will rust, and even my own memories will slowly be covered with dust over the long years."

Zhongli withdrew his gaze and turned to Xingsu, his voice softening, earnest and solemn, "I believe you have seen the wandering masses and met many people that history books will not record."

I just hope that you will travel the world, see more, and turn these experiences into your own memories.

"Grand history is written by the victors, but what the world holds more of are the joys and sorrows of ordinary people, the lives and deaths of the nameless. These will not be engraved on stone tablets, nor recorded in annals. If even those who experienced them firsthand are completely forgotten, then they have truly and utterly vanished from the world."

"Years later, when the past has been distorted and all traces of the old era have been erased, at least your memories will remain, able to reconstruct everything that truly happened."

Xingsu looked at him, and remained silent for a moment.

Zhongli sighed softly, "Memories are indeed heavy, but some things should always be recorded."

After saying that, he took out a simple and dark token from his sleeve. The token was decorated with flowing cloud and rock patterns on the edge. The solid rock material felt slightly cool in his hand. He handed it to Xingsu.

Xingsu lowered her eyes to look at the token, not immediately reaching out to take it. "Why...?"

"In exchange, I hope this history can be etched into your memory, so that Teyvat will have another 'backup of existence.' This is my personal request, or rather, a contract with the God of Contracts."

Xingsu remained silent for a long time before reaching out and taking the heavy token, its cool rock surface pressed against his palm.

"... Okay, I accept."

Zhongli's deep voice carried a hint of solemnity as he slowly uttered that timeless vow.

"The contract is complete; those who break their word will be Wrath of the Rock. I wish you a pleasant stay in Liyue."

Wait, did he just swindle us out of the money for that meal?