If not for Zayn's arrival, the people under Morax's rule would probably still be living in straw huts, surviving under his "free-range" style of governance.
Liyue would not flourish until Guizhong later joined and founded the Guili Assembly.
Zayn placed a hand on Morax's shoulder and grinned.
"Brother Morax overpraises me."
His words were modest,
but his heart was already bursting with pride.
Hahahaha—keep praising me!
Morax said seriously,
"Before Zenos arrived, the lives of Liyue's people were far inferior to the prosperity here in Guizhong's city."
Zayn immediately turned to Guizhong and declared with a laugh:
"Hahaha! Guizhong-jie, let me tell you—this guy is literally a rock.
He knows nothing about governing! And even less about art!"
Morax fell silent.
…He instantly regretted praising Zayn in front of Guizhong.
Guizhong, meanwhile, covered her mouth with her sleeve, smiling brightly.
In her view, Morax was capable of governance.
As for his artistic sense… she had never seen it, so she couldn't comment.
Guizhong's expression softened, and she gazed at the flickering candlelight on the stone table.
"Even the most splendid city cannot compare to true strength," she murmured.
"Without sufficient power to support it, prosperity is nothing but a castle in the air."
Her tone carried a faint loneliness.
After witnessing her own weaknesses, she could only feel more powerless.
The surrounding gods fought endlessly over land—
yet she occupied fertile, peaceful plains.
Being weak made her fearful.
Being fearful made her work harder.
If she couldn't surpass others with strength…
then she would surpass them with wisdom and ingenuity.
Zayn blinked.
"Huh? Why the sudden melancholy?
Has the environment around your land become that dangerous?"
Guizhong shook her head.
"No… not yet.
But the fights between gods grow fiercer every day.
I may not participate, but without strength, I cannot protect what I have."
"Oh—so that's what you're worried about."
Zayn puffed out his chest.
"What's there to fear? If danger comes, just tell me!
I'll definitely send Morax to help you!"
Morax: "?"
He slowly turned his gaze, silently asking:
Zenos, why is your promise being fulfilled by me?
Morax said calmly,
"Zenos, a promise made is a promise one should fulfill oneself. You are not weak."
He knew Zayn had overwhelming strength.
The issue was Zayn's personality—
lazy, carefree, avoiding trouble whenever possible…
and pushing everything to him unless absolutely unavoidable.
Zayn grinned sheepishly.
"Fine, fine, I get it."
He then propped his chin on the table and looked at Guizhong.
"Guizhong-jie, your entire Glaze Lily plain is so beautiful.
If I could live here all the time, that'd be great."
He was deliberately guiding the conversation.
And sure enough—
Guizhong responded just as he expected.
"Hahaha~ Since you already called me Jie, how could I refuse?
If you want to live here, I'll prepare a room immediately!"
"My palace is large—too large.
Most days, it's only me here… it gets lonely."
Zayn's eyes lit up.
"Really!? I'll move right now!
Living with this stone all the time is unbearably boring!"
Morax: "?"
Excuse me?
Move out? Just like that?
And calling him boring?
Was that cheating-playstyle chess not "fun" enough!?
Morax's aura turned dangerous.
"I suggest," he said very slowly,
"that you think carefully before answering that."
Zayn immediately felt a chill crawl up his spine,
like a beast had locked onto him.
"Ahem—just kidding! Totally just kidding!"
"If I left, and Morax stayed in Liyue alone, life would become ridiculously dull.
He'd probably let the people fall back into the free-range lifestyle!"
He waved it off with a laugh.
That wasn't his goal.
Guizhong, amused, teased:
"Hahaha! If you're afraid Morax will be lonely, why not move all of Liyue here instead?"
"That way, even if you live away from home, it will still feel like home."
Her tone was playful—
but within the joke lay her true desire.
Of course, moving all of Liyue was impossible.
Though her land was fertile, Morax would never accept living under another god's roof.
Besides, Liyue's mountainous terrain was safe—
beasts struggled to enter.
Zayn laughed:
"Hahaha! Moving all of Liyue?
Even with Brother Morax's strength, that's impossible!
Guizhong, you're giving him a real challenge!"
Morax paused—
and then actually began thinking seriously.
"…In theory," he said,
"If I used my geo authority to solidify the land beneath the city, reinforce the structures,
divide the region into multiple sections, and transport them piece by piece—
it would not be entirely impossible."
"However, it would be far too troublesome.
Rebuilding would be far more efficient."
Guizhong blinked, pleasantly surprised.
"My my… the Geo God actually considered it seriously?
Then should I begin preparing a place to relocate to Liyue?"
She giggled.
The three of them chatted in Guizhong's palace for quite a while.
At last, Zayn extended an invitation:
"Guizhong-jie, would you like to visit Liyue with us?
I'll show you the architectural brilliance of this great master builder!
What do you think, Brother Morax?"
Morax nodded.
"Nothing against it."
Guizhong was tempted—
but she faltered.
Leaving the Glaze Lily Plains meant her city would be left undefended.
If another god attacked, what then?
Zayn saw the hesitation.
He raised a hand—
and a transparent barrier of white light wrapped around the entire city.
"With this protective barrier, Guizhong-jie can travel without worry.
If anything happens, we'll sense it instantly and rush back."
Guizhong touched the barrier lightly and smiled.
"In that case…
I absolutely must go see what Liyue looks like!"
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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