Hearing Ningguang's answer, Cloud Retainer instantly understood.
"So that's it—a playful attitude toward the world.
No, it's not quite playfulness. He suddenly gained power beyond comprehension and found himself in a completely different world."
"A world with an entirely different worldview. That's why he lacks goals and can't find any.
He simply does and says whatever comes to mind in the moment, then?"
As an Immortal who had lived for millennia, Cloud Retainer quickly pieced together Lin Ze's situation from Ningguang's fragmented remarks.
"In other words, he doesn't truly want to start a harem?"
"Such a strange focus. It's hard to say. In his current circumstances, even with his immense power, he's easily influenced.
Perhaps it was just a passing whim at the time, but over time, it might become more than that. Of course, he could also completely forget he ever said it.
Everything depends on the influence of his surroundings."
Cloud Retainer shook her head slightly, unable to fathom why Ningguang was so fixated on such an odd detail. Still, she offered an explanation.
Upon hearing this, Ningguang and Keqing's eyes flashed with sudden insight.
*Lin Ze is most susceptible to influence right now?!*
*Everything depends on the surrounding environment?!*
The implications of this statement were profound.
"This Immortal knows what you're thinking," Cloud Retainer cautioned. "But this is merely my analysis. No one can be certain that Lin Ze's Black Flag Power was truly acquired only after arriving in Teyvat. Nor can we confirm that Teyvat was the first world he experienced after leaving his own."
No further explanation was needed. Cloud Retainer might be reclusive, but she wasn't foolish. She immediately discerned Ningguang and Keqing's intentions and quickly intervened to dissuade them.
"Liu Yun speaks truly," Madam Ping added urgently. "Your intentions are commendable, but this old woman strongly advises against attempting such a thing."
If Cloud Retainer could see through their plans, Madam Ping, being an Immortal of the same era, naturally could as well.
She didn't advise Ningguang and Keqing to pursue that course of action.
"Why not?"
Seeing both Cloud Retainer and Madam Ping immediately reject her idea, Keqing's brow furrowed.
While their reasoning was sound, why had Madam Ping said she wouldn't mind them trying?
Could they be planning to win Lin Ze over to the Immortals' side?
And then have the Immortals govern Liyue in the future?
"Don't doubt us. We have no intention of trying to recruit Lin Ze," Madam Ping explained, having spent decades in Liyue Harbor and practically watched Keqing grow up. She could easily discern the young woman's thoughts.
"Even if Lin Ze truly did leave his world by accident—or 'transmigrate,' as he calls it—and arrived in Teyvat on his first attempt..."
"His original world must have been extraordinary. You may not have noticed, but he knew about the existence of a System after transmigrating. He even insulted it in his diary. He also possessed prior knowledge of our world."
"For now, let's assume everything he's shown us is genuine—that he truly transmigrated for the first time and ended up in Teyvat."
"But he's already been to Celestia. He likely knows far more about the world's unspeakable secrets than we do."
"Even if Lord of Geo himself intervened, we might not be able to guide him."
Having walked the mortal realm for centuries, Madam Ping had observed far more than the others. She noticed details they had overlooked, and it was clear that Lin Ze had known about the System and its properties long ago.
"Moreover, is it truly impossible for Lin Ze to control this System? He already understands its characteristics."
"Hiss~!"
Hearing Madam Ping's analysis, even Cloud Retainer gasped.
This point had indeed been overlooked.
If Lin Ze understood the Diary System and Diary Instances so well, could he truly be unable to manipulate this so-called System?
Could the System itself be a product of the Black Flag Power?
The more they pondered, the more their minds spiraled into chaos, leaving them dizzy and disoriented.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Lin Ze was sound asleep, hugging a five-star ornamental fish pillow, completely unaware of the mental and emotional turmoil gripping the group on the Jade Chamber as they wrestled with their suspicions.
In the end, even Keqing, a non-smoker, snatched a puff from Ningguang's cigarette.
This wasn't just any cigarette; it was specially crafted to sharpen the mind and enhance focus.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
But as a first-time smoker, Keqing choked on the smoke.
Her coughing jolted the others out of their terrifying train of thought.
Yet a shared flicker of lingering fear flashed in their eyes.
"Perhaps... we could just ask Lin Ze directly?" Yelan suggested, her mind still reeling despite regaining her composure. "He doesn't seem wary of us and even acts naturally friendly. Maybe, like he said, Liyue reminds him of his country's ancient past. If there's a natural affinity, he might be willing to tell us whether our current speculations are correct."
Though Yelan had regained her composure, her mind remained somewhat muddled, leading her to propose what the others considered a reckless move: directly confronting Lin Ze.
No one responded to Yelan, but as she gradually returned to her senses, they covered their faces in embarrassment.
"Forget I said anything."
*Directly ask Lin Ze? That would be like openly admitting we've been secretly suspecting him behind his back!*
Though Lin Ze's abilities allowed him to guess much of it, there was a world of difference between seeing through something and openly acknowledging it.
"What's wrong with you all?"
As Yelan covered her face with one hand, the Rock Archon Zhongli, the elder sister figure, appeared within the Jade Chamber.
She had long sensed the immortal power of Cloud Retainer and Madam Ping, but delayed her arrival to give them time to converse. After all, with the Diary Instance present, her Divine Sense would instantly alert Ningguang and the others if they tried to discuss it, interrupting their conversation.
"Greetings, Lord of Geo. Here's what happened..."
Cloud Retainer made no attempt to conceal the truth, recounting the events in detail.
Of course, anything that couldn't be directly stated was subtly hinted at to Zhongli.
"There's no need for excessive speculation or precautions. If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.
The Heavenly Principles themselves likely can't comprehend what you're pondering, and even Lin Ze himself might not fully understand it.
As long as his actions benefit Liyue, that is all that matters."
Compared to Cloud Retainer and the others, Zhongli—or rather, the Rock Sovereign—had pondered deeper, witnessed more, and understood more. He immediately offered a warning.
Some matters cannot withstand close scrutiny, especially when one begins with a preconceived notion and then tries to deduce evidence to fit it.
When you start with a desired conclusion, any reasoning becomes nothing more than twisting evidence to fit that outcome, rendering the entire process meaningless.
"Understood, Lord of Geo."
......
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