Zhongli

Jiang Xiaofeng headed toward Tian Tie Zui's storytelling spot.

Just as Jiang Xiaofeng had expected, that useless member of society was already getting ready to slack off.

Jiang Xiaofeng walked toward Zhongli.

Passersby pointed at him all along the way, but Jiang Xiaofeng couldn't be bothered with them.

He had something to do now. There was no need to care...

Jiang Xiaofeng reached Zhongli's table and sat down.

Zhongli glanced at Jiang Xiaofeng as he sat down,

and gave a slight nod.

Jiang Xiaofeng nodded back at Zhongli.

Then Jiang Xiaofeng began listening to Tian Tie Zui's storytelling too...

"Last time, we left off at... blah, blah, blah."

Jiang Xiaofeng listened for a little while before he began dozing off...

After an unknown amount of time, someone woke Jiang Xiaofeng.

Jiang Xiaofeng looked up. It was Zhongli.

He looked at the sky next. Hmm, the sun was still up. It wasn't late yet.

"You have been in Liyue Harbor for some time now, my young friend. I am truly sorry that I have failed to fulfill my duties as a host."

Jiang Xiaofeng shook his head.

He didn't care about such things anyway. There was still plenty of time before the Rite of Descension...

But Zhongli's opening remark about his duties as a host made Jiang Xiaofeng feel that he was being held in rather high regard.

Was he not even going to pretend anymore, and just admit he was Morax?

Jiang Xiaofeng stood up.

"Do you have some free time now, Mr. Zhongli?"

"Then please come with me."

"There's something I'd like to ask you about."

Jiang Xiaofeng pulled Zhongli over to a nearby Waypoint.

"Please."

Zhongli watched Jiang Xiaofeng bring his palms together, and Jiang Xiaofeng vanished.

Zhongli: "..."

Very soon, Jiang Xiaofeng came running back.

"Mr. Zhongli, please hold on to me."

Jiang Xiaofeng spoke without any change in his expression.

He had forgotten to tell Zhongli, but would he feel ashamed?

No!

He would only pretend it wasn't his fault.

Zhongli was the Geo Archon, after all, and had enough composure not to call Jiang Xiaofeng out. He simply placed his hand on Jiang Xiaofeng's shoulder.

Jiang Xiaofeng brought his palms together again. Zhongli felt his vision blur, and the scenery before him changed completely.

Zhongli looked at Jiang Xiaofeng and asked, "You can actually use the power of Teleport Waypoints, my young friend?"

Jiang Xiaofeng nodded and said, "Mr. Zhongli, let's not beat around the bush."

"This time, there's something I need your help resolving."

Zhongli nodded. "Please, go ahead."

Jiang Xiaofeng continued, "Mr. Zhongli, you should be able to tell at a glance that I'm not a being from this world."

"I want to go back to my world and take a look, but right now, there's no other way."

"The only possibility is to destroy this strange thing inside me."

"As Rex Lapis, you should be able to see this thing inside me, right?"

Zhongli nodded.

"Indeed. These two things are quite conspicuous. I could see them at a glance."

"Yes, then... huh? Two?"

Jiang Xiaofeng was a little bewildered.

Why were there two?

One was the system, so what was the other?

Unwilling to give up, Jiang Xiaofeng asked, "Mr. Zhongli, are you sure the other thing you're seeing isn't my soul, or my true body?"

Zhongli shook his head.

"I am quite certain. There are two very unusual things inside you."

Jiang Xiaofeng fell silent.

After a long while, Jiang Xiaofeng said, "Then, is there any way to destroy these two things?"

The world of Dead Cells didn't run as deep as Teyvat, and its power system probably couldn't compare with Teyvat's either...

So, if he wanted to destroy the system, he could only ask one of Teyvat's top-tier fighters to give it a try!

Jiang Xiaofeng had only decided to destroy the system after careful consideration.

After all, judging by his current circumstances, he probably couldn't die anymore.

In that case, there was no need to rush around collecting cells to upgrade the system!

Even if continually upgrading the system would eventually let him return to the world of Dead Cells, Jiang Xiaofeng didn't want to wait anymore.

Because Jiang Xiaofeng kept feeling that there was something strange about the system.

Why could The Collector leave him a message?

Why was it The Collector who had left him a message, and not someone else?

When it came to who most wanted the island to recover, it was indeed the former Collector.

But Jiang Xiaofeng couldn't be certain whether The Collector had gone mad and started pursuing the Panacea.

Yet after recalling the words The Collector had left him, Jiang Xiaofeng couldn't be certain anymore either.

The Collector knew the legend of the Panacea, but when he had started going insane was unknown.

Still, there was only one thing he could be certain of from The Collector's words.

His transmigration was connected to the system.

Then, if he destroyed the system, would whoever had sent him here fly into a rage?

So Jiang Xiaofeng had sought out Zhongli.

He wanted Zhongli to destroy these two things.

If even Zhongli couldn't do anything, Jiang Xiaofeng would truly have no choice but to seek out the Abyss.

Actually, there was a reason Jiang Xiaofeng wanted so badly to return to the world of Dead Cells.

After all, Jiang Xiaofeng still wanted to try doing something about the Malaise.

If he really couldn't save it, he would take a different approach.

If he could go back, then he would surely also be able to bring some of those who could still think to Teyvat.

After all, in the entire kingdom, only the king hadn't been thinking about stopping the Malaise.

At this thought, Jiang Xiaofeng looked at Zhongli, who was pondering.

Unfortunately, Zhongli shook his head.

Jiang Xiaofeng felt somewhat disappointed too.

So, if he wanted to destroy this system that barely had any intelligence, could he only turn to the Abyss?

Oh, right. Now there was another thing of unknown identity too.

Zhongli apologized. "I'm sorry. I have no way to destroy that thing inside you either."

Jiang Xiaofeng waved a hand.

Since there was currently no hope of destroying the system, he would stop thinking about it for now.

Continuing to collect cells and squeeze the last bit of value out of the system was the top priority.

Besides, he still needed a new body.

Jiang Xiaofeng said to Zhongli, "Regardless, thank you, Mr. Zhongli..."

Jiang Xiaofeng bowed.

"I will certainly pay you a visit at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor someday."

Zhongli nodded.

Jiang Xiaofeng thought for a moment, then spoke anyway. "Are you planning to retire, sir?"

Zhongli nodded slightly and said, "Indeed."

"Liyue Harbor is flourishing at present. It is ready to enter the age of human governance."

"I have decided to step away as well."

Jiang Xiaofeng nodded.

"Then I wish you good fortune in battle, Mr. Zhongli."

With that, Jiang Xiaofeng placed his hand on Zhongli's shoulder and teleported back to Liyue Harbor.

"Well then, Mr. Zhongli, this is where we part."

Jiang Xiaofeng let go of Zhongli's shoulder and left without the slightest reluctance.

That wasn't how one used 'good fortune in battle'...

As Zhongli thought this, he watched Jiang Xiaofeng follow the wooden bridge out of Liyue Harbor.

Meanwhile, a Fatui Debt Agent appeared before Childe and reported Jiang Xiaofeng's movements.

After hearing the report, Childe gestured for the Debt Agent to leave.

After a long while, Childe suddenly laughed.

"This fellow is rather interesting."

La Signora... Jiang Xiaofeng didn't know where La Signora had gone either.

But Jiang Xiaofeng had long since noticed the Debt Agent spying on him, and he hadn't bothered with him.

If he wanted to watch, then let him watch.

Whatever schemes you have, you'll have to be able to beat me before you get a chance to use them...