With Zhongli's backing, Paimon raised her small head high, puffed with confidence.
"Hmph! Your colleague, Signora, got completely crushed by Zhongli and ran off with her tail between her legs. You're our prisoner now—don't even dream that anyone's coming to save you!"
"That woman got beaten by Zhongli? Ah, I wish I could've seen her face when she lost," Tartaglia laughed openly, his mockery undisguised.
Given Signora's arrogant and haughty personality, she'd inevitably run into a big loss sooner or later.
Frankly, getting away with just a beating from Zhongli was already generous.
If she'd faced a less patient god, she might've been killed outright.
He'd already accepted that Zhongli was Morax—he didn't have much choice, after all.
Luckily, they'd gotten the Gnosis. The Tsaritsa's mission was complete; nothing else really mattered.
"You're mocking her, but aren't you just as bad off?" Aether lowered his eyes speechlessly.
Did this guy still not realize he was currently a prisoner?
"On the road to strength, you'll encounter countless setbacks. Only by learning from defeat can you truly grow stronger. Don't you agree, friend?"
Tartaglia didn't seem bothered by his own defeat. After all, he hadn't started out as a Harbinger.
If he couldn't even handle a minor failure, wouldn't his resolve be laughably weak?
Master would've probably beaten him to death!
"I already said I'm not your friend," Aether replied, even more speechless. Though admittedly, he had to respect Tartaglia's mindset.
Anyone else in his shoes would be cursing bitterly by now, filled with resentment.
Not only was Tartaglia indifferent, he even saw it as motivation to grow stronger.
"I'm not sure how strong you are yet, but next time we meet, let's definitely have a fight!"
"You should worry about yourself first. Maybe you'll die before you ever get to fight me," Aether retorted sarcastically.
"He's talking so much—he must be trying to distract us and escape!" Paimon said, ever vigilant.
"Look at my current condition—where could I possibly run?" Tartaglia clutched his stomach, coughing twice and looking utterly pathetic.
"Enough nonsense. I'm bringing you back first."
Aether tied him up tightly like a zongzi, leaving only his head poking out.
To avoid misunderstandings with the Millelith, he shoved Tartaglia into a burlap sack, slung it over his shoulder, and headed straight back toward Liyue Harbor.
This guy was tricky; who knew when he might recover and run off? After running around all day and fighting a big battle, Aether was exhausted. He couldn't keep watch forever. Only placing him directly under Zhongli's eyes was safe.
Aether brought Tartaglia back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, arriving in Zhongli's courtyard.
Venti had returned at some point and was idly chatting with Zhongli.
Spotting Venti, Paimon immediately put her hands on her hips. "Tone-Deaf Bard! You came here deliberately yesterday, didn't you?"
This guy definitely knew Zhongli was the Geo Archon from the start. Yet he lied to them, claiming he'd fallen into Liyue by accident. These two gods had teamed up to completely fool them!
"Ehe～" Venti chuckled without answering.
His gaze landed on the sack Aether had placed down. "What's inside such a big sack?"
"Hmph! Obviously, it's the Fatui Harbinger we captured!" Paimon proudly lifted her chin.
Tartaglia's head poked out from the sack. Spotting Venti, he greeted him amicably:
"You must be Barbatos, the Anemo Archon."
Venti lowered his eyelids, looking somewhat displeased. "I'm not exactly happy to see you Fatui."
As a god whose Gnosis was forcibly taken by the Fatui, it was natural he had no goodwill toward them.
"Don't say it like that. Even if we're both Fatui, I'm not the same as that woman, Signora."
Seeing the prisoner acting carefree, Paimon irritably stomped on Tartaglia's head twice. "You're our captive now—mind your position!"
"What does it matter? You've already captured me. Can't I even say a few words?"
Tartaglia cast a resentful look toward Zhongli. "Mr. Zhongli, you really tricked me badly."
Zhongli smiled gently. "I should thank you instead. Without you, I wouldn't have witnessed Liyue present such an excellent answer."
Tartaglia's resentment deepened upon realizing he'd become nothing but a sharpening stone for Liyue.
Paimon earnestly warned Zhongli: "Mr. Zhongli, please watch him carefully! We're too exhausted and need rest—make sure he doesn't escape!"
Jiang Bai had already shared his plans with them. Once the Mora arrived, they'd divide it among themselves.
Right now, Childe was their future moneybag, extremely important!
"I'll keep an eye on him. You two go rest."
After Aether and Paimon left, Tartaglia untied himself and found a wall to lean against.
His regenerative ability was exceptional. Though the internal injuries from those bullets wouldn't heal immediately, at least he could manage basic movements again.
He conjured a small water mirror, observing his bruised and swollen face.
"It's been a long time since I've taken such a heavy beating… Definitely can't let Teucer see me like this..."
"Mr. Zhongli, have you really given your Gnosis to Signora?"
Just to be sure, Tartaglia felt the need to confirm.
Zhongli gently blew on the tea in his cup. "The God of Contracts never breaks his word."
Night had silently descended. Even though waves had surged violently during the day, in this extraordinary world, the skies remained clear and peaceful.
The moon hung high overhead, casting shifting shadows of trees in the courtyard.
Venti held his wine bottle, gulping down mouthful after mouthful, gradually growing tipsy.
"Ahh, now that even the God of Contracts has 'died,' I'm the only one left of the original Seven…"
Zhongli glanced briefly at the drunken mess beside him, lightly replying, "If you feel lonely, I can arrange a funeral for you in Mondstadt too. That way, we can all be dead together."
"The people of Mondstadt would be deeply saddened if their god died. To spare them grief, I'd better keep living for a while longer…"
Venti poured Zhongli a cup of wine. "According to Liyue's customs, I should toast you now—in congratulations."
Their cups gently clinked together, spilling a few drops of wine onto the table.
"Congratulations on laying down your heavy burden of a thousand years and finally retiring!"
Looking at this god who was exceptionally skilled at avoiding responsibility, Zhongli smiled quietly.
"Congratulations to us both."
...
That night, many people in Liyue Harbor had a dream.
In their dream, they saw Rex Lapis.
In their dream, Rex Lapis smiled warmly at them.
Some laughed, some cried, some were sorrowful, others joyful.
They wished to step forward, to touch this guardian who had protected them for thousands of years.
They wished to tell him they had successfully protected their Liyue.
They would continue practicing Liyue's virtues, passing the torch from generation to generation.
From now onward, Liyue would flourish endlessly on this land.
Rex Lapis gazed at each of them, smiled gently, and then turned into starlight, vanishing into the starry sky.
---
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