On the manuscript paper, it was written as follows:
[Book Title] "record of shi pos wanderings, Part One: Lord Zhongli Didn't Bring Mora Today Either"
[Author]: Lovia
[Main Text]:
On that day, the weather was clear and the breeze was pleasant. Lord Rex Lapis, finding himself with nothing to do, suddenly felt a desire to experience the mundane world. Thus, he concealed his divine radiance and transformed into an elegant young nobleman, taking the pseudonym "Zhongli."
This name was meant to imply "as tough as a rock, as transparent and precious as amber."
This young master "Zhongli" was composed in manner and generous in spending—clearly the type who didn't carry money.
Before long, he leisurely strolled to the marketplace of Liyue Harbor.
Young master "Zhongli" was graceful and knowledgeable. Seeing the new Spicy Wowo-tou at Wanmin Restaurant, he nodded in praise: "This item has a primitive shape and a bold spicy fragrance. Very good."
Passing by The Jade Mystery, seeing the abundance of raw stones, he added: "Hmm, there may be a glimmer of jade within these. This row, I want them all."
The shopkeeper was naturally beaming with joy. He moved nimbly, completing the packing and the invoice in one go. In the blink of an eye, everything was packed, and the bill was respectfully presented, as he waited for the young master to pull out Mora.
Hearing this, the young man remained calm. He reached into his sleeve—a habitual movement he had performed without thought for thousands of years.
Mora? With a slight thought, it would naturally gather at his fingertips like golden sand.
However, this time, his search came up empty.
In the young man's calm, stone-like golden eyes, an extremely subtle flicker of surprise passed by. Without changing his expression, he reached into the other sleeve pocket, which was also empty.
Feeling his waist, there was nothing but an "imitation" ornament of the dust realm key, warm as jade... Hmm?
Morax, or rather, Lord Rex Lapis, who was currently using the pseudonym "Zhongli," finally remembered one thing: mortals need to bring some Mora when they go out.
When he was the Lord of Geo, the gold of the world and the treasures within the rock layers were all extensions of his will. Mora was originally formed from His flesh and blood; why would there be any reason to "carry" it?
Although he was now wandering the mortal realm, how could a habit ingrained to the bone be changed overnight?
The shopkeeper's smile began to stiffen: "Customer?"
Mr. "Zhongli" gave a light cough, withdrew his hand, and placed it behind his back. His posture remained calm and unhurried, as if he had just been checking the embroidery on his sleeve.
He pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Shopkeeper, I left in a hurry today and did not bring any Mora."
The shopkeeper's face instantly turned pale. Holding the package worth over a million Mora, he didn't know whether to take it back or not: "This... Customer, surely you are joking?"
"I am not." Mr. "Zhongli" looked composed. "As such, you may record the bill."
The shopkeeper was bewildered: "Re-record it to whom?"
Mr. "Zhongli" raised his hand, pointing casually toward the magnificent complex overlooking the entire harbor. His tone was flat and indifferent, carrying a sense of natural entitlement: "Send it to the Sea Gazers Pavilion; the Seven Stars of Liyue can receive it. They will handle it."
"Or, simply find the gentleman named 'Ningguang' for reimbursement. Just say... it's for 'Zhongli's' daily expenses. He has been busy with the Jade Chamber reconstruction lately, so his cash flow should have eased up significantly. Handling these small expenses should be no problem."
Shopkeeper: "...Ah? Se-send it to Lord Ningguang at the Sea Gazers Pavilion??"
He doubted his own ears. Who on earth buys things and tells the shopkeeper to send the bill to Liyue's highest governing body?!
Was this person out of his mind?
But seeing Mr. "Zhongli" finish his instructions as if he had completed a trivial matter, he naturally took the package of raw stones from the shopkeeper's hand and gave a slight nod: "Thank you for your trouble."
Having said that, he actually turned around with steady steps and fluttering robes. Under the shopkeeper's stunned gaze, he leisurely departed.
He merged into the crowd in the streets and vanished in an instant.
Leaving the shopkeeper alone, dazed in the wind, still holding an exorbitant bill that he didn't know whether to write, or where to send if he did.
It is said that to this day, several bills are still wandering on the way to the Sea Gazers Pavilion.
Is this the wisdom of wandering the mortal world?
As they say: Why need Mora when walking the earth? With a value in mind, everything can be charged (to someone else's name)!
Morax created Mora, yet he seems to have never truly "owned" it.
Perhaps this is the realm of a god: I own nothing, but everything is at my disposal?
(To be continued... If this piece can earn a few Mora to fill the belly, the anonymous author may continue to reveal the Lord of Geo's "frugal" ways in the mortal world.)
...Silence.
A deathly silence.
Beads of sweat broke out on the bookstore owner's forehead. He suddenly took off his glasses, wiped them hard, put them back on, and re-read the contents of the manuscript.
His lips trembled, and his face turned from pale to red.
"Lord... Lord Rex Lapis... pseudonym... Zhongli? Telling the shop to find... find Tianquan Star Lord Ningguang... for re-reimbursement?!" He gasped, feeling his heart about to jump out of his throat. "Da-daily expenses?! Wa-want them all?! This, this, this..."
This, this, this... this unofficial history is far too wild! It's simply beyond all bounds!
To actually dare to make up such things about Lord Rex Lapis! Writing him as a fellow who buys things without money and then righteously tells the shopkeeper to go to the Seven Stars for reimbursement.
But... why did he faintly feel that this style of righteously letting others pay, when paired with Lord Rex Lapis's identity, seemed to have a slight... sense of reasonableness?
Lord Rex Lapis indeed doesn't need to carry money! Mora was made by Him after all. Letting the Seven Stars clean up the mess... didn't seem entirely impossible?
And the writing style, the details, the dialogue—it was so vivid, as if the writer had been right there at the corner of the wall watching! Especially the "entitled" and "composed" demeanor of Lord Rex Lapis; the description was incredibly lifelike!
It was even a bit... funny?
Especially the line "He has been busy with the Jade Chamber reconstruction lately, so his cash flow should have eased up significantly." The bookstore owner could even imagine the serious and natural expression on young master "Zhongli's" face when he said it.
"Pfft..." He couldn't help it and actually laughed out loud. Then he immediately covered his mouth in terror, looking around like a thief, fearing that some passing Millelith might hear him.
Absurd! Too absurd! Just who was the audacious fellow who wrote this?!
If this were to be published... The owner's heart pounded wildly, but as a businessman, his keen intuition told him that although this thing was extremely dangerous, it would likely attract all of Liyue!
This "unofficial history" was written vividly, with rich details and a voice that mimicked the real thing perfectly. It had a style of serious nonsense and was full of abstract "fun."
The shopkeeper's heart was thumping. He hurriedly smoothed out the manuscript and picked up the "letter of entrustment" to take another look.
"A certain gentleman who does not wish to reveal his name"?
Who are you kidding! What "gentleman" could write such a thing? This is clearly a genius who can understand Lord Rex Lapis so... er, intimately!
...And at this moment, the culprit, Lovia, had long since bolted far away, hiding in an absolutely safe corner, patting her chest and panting heavily.
"I sub-submitted it!" she whispered to herself, both nervous and excited. "Now it's in the hands of fate! Morax protect me... no, wait, I just wrote about his dark history! Then I hope his Lordship is magnanimous and doesn't come to find me in a dream tonight to settle the score..."
She felt her growling stomach and looked longingly toward the Sanyu Bookstore.
"I hope the owner recognizes its value and decides to publish it quickly. My meal money depends on this..."