While Lumine went off to find Childe and Baizhu prepared the Everlasting Incense, Zhongli and Jia Changjiang waited outside Bubu Pharmacy.
Zhongli watched Lumine’s retreating figure before casually asking, “Do you harbor a deep hostility toward the Fatui?”
“Hostility might be too strong a word,” Jia Changjiang replied, crossing his arms as he stood beside Zhongli. “It’s just that whenever I see them, I can’t resist messing with them a little.”
He chuckled lightly before continuing, “Take this time, for example. I pulled one over on them, but who knows? Maybe next time I’ll actually end up helping them out.”
“As for that million Mora? I wasn’t planning to keep it anyway. I don’t spend much on myself—just enough for the basics. The rest… I have something specific in mind for it.”
Jia Changjiang smiled slyly. “Don’t worry, I’m not greedy. Mora is just a tool for me—enough is as good as a feast. But if I can get Mora from the Fatui’s schemes, I’ll happily use it against them.”
“As for Childe, I hold no particular grudge against him. Our paths simply diverge. Sooner or later, we’ll clash. Honestly, I’m looking forward to it. If you hadn’t intervened before, Zhongli, we might’ve already fought back then. He was radiating hostility toward us, after all…”
Jia Changjiang laughed heartily before adding, “Or you could just say I hate losing, even in petty things.”
“To you, this is another form of fairness, isn’t it?” Zhongli remarked, his gaze scrutinizing Jia Changjiang. “You’ve experienced the Anemo God’s concept of freedom. Now, what do you make of Liyue’s concept of contracts?”
“Freedom and contracts… I like them both.”
“Oh?” Zhongli’s curiosity was piqued. “And why is that?”
“Because, in their own ways, both protect the weak, don’t they?”
From the high vantage point of Bubu Pharmacy, one could see much of Liyue Harbor. Jia Changjiang leaned against the doorway, gazing at the bustling streets below. Children played, merchants haggled, and travelers passed by.
“Barbatos and his friends granted freedom to Mondstadt’s citizens, while Rex Lapis established millennia-long contracts to safeguard Liyue. How many weak and vulnerable individuals have been protected by these ideals over the centuries? Even their Archons probably couldn’t keep count.”
“For someone like you, who seeks to grow stronger, do you really care about the weak?” Zhongli asked, intrigued. “Aren’t you more interested in challenging the strong?”
“Looking upward doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten to look downward,” Jia Changjiang said, leaning against a pillar. “Everyone starts off weak. I don’t know how it is for gods, but for humans, we’re born fragile. Without the support of parents or guardians, survival is almost impossible.”
“But the future? That’s anyone’s guess.”
He gestured toward the harbor, a faint smile on his lips. “One day, one of those children might grow up to be someone extraordinary. Isn’t that worth protecting?”
“Children will grow, becoming stronger, their futures unwritten. And because of that uncertainty, those futures are worth safeguarding.”
“To answer your earlier question,” Jia Changjiang said, turning to Zhongli, “I see contracts as a form of fairness—a way for the strong and the weak to coexist. Like now…” He gestured between himself and Zhongli. “We’re having this conversation because of a contract between us, aren’t we?”
“I see. So that’s your perspective on contracts,” Zhongli said with a thoughtful nod. “I suppose I understand now why you agreed to sign one with me.”
Before their conversation could continue, they noticed Childe approaching, led by Lumine.
Childe had clearly been filled in on the situation, and the details had left him laughing so hard he clutched his stomach.
“Ha ha ha! A Coconut Goat?! You actually got tricked by that? Ha ha! My sides hurt!”
“###!!!”
Lumine glared at Childe, her forehead nearly sprouting visible anger marks. “He’s so punchable! Can I punch him?”
“Ha ha ha! Let’s resolve the issue first, shall we?” Childe wiped tears of laughter from his eyes before turning to Baizhu. “You must be the proprietor of this fine establishment, Mr. Baizhu. I’m Childe, a Harbinger of the Fatui. If you’re open to it, perhaps we can collaborate in the future.”
He smirked, adding, “If Bubu Pharmacy needs it, the Fatui could help set up a faster supply chain for coconut milk.”
Changsheng, the white snake, let out a disdainful hiss. “The Fatui recruiting allies from the underworld isn’t surprising, but is Bubu Pharmacy so easily bought with coconut milk?”
“Coconut milk?” Qiqi perked up at Childe’s words, tugging on Baizhu’s sleeve. “Mr. Bai, coconut milk… coconut milk…”
Qiqi’s hopeful expression made Baizhu chuckle softly.
“Qiqi, come here! I’ll buy you all the coconut milk you want!” Lumine called out, causing Qiqi to hesitate, glancing back and forth between Baizhu and Lumine.
“Well then, thank you, Mr. Childe. I hope our future collaborations are fruitful.”
Baizhu smiled knowingly as he handed over the Everlasting Incense. “As for the price… how about a discount? Let’s say four million nine hundred ninety-nine thousand Mora.”
“So this is the dark side of adulthood…” Paimon murmured, having watched Jia Changjiang negotiate the price up to five million, only for Baizhu to shave off a single thousand. The cheerful adults now seemed a little terrifying to her.
“At a glance, it seems insignificant, but from a practical standpoint, it is indeed one thousand less,” Zhongli noted with a slight nod. “With the Everlasting Incense secured, it’s time for us to return to the Jade Chamber. Mr. Baizhu, little Qiqi, Mr. Childe—until next time.”
Zhongli led Jia Changjiang and Lumine away, but not before Lumine stuck her tongue out at Childe, who chuckled in response.
“Ha… what an amusing group.”
After exiting Bubu Pharmacy, Childe turned toward a shadowy corner nearby and addressed the darkness.
“Well? You’ve been lurking long enough. Did you hear everything?”
A female Fatui agent stepped out of the shadows, kneeling before Childe.
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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