“Two thousand years old, and you even fought in the Archon War… I’m envious,” Jia Changjiang said honestly. “For most humans, a long life is already a luxury. To live for so many centuries… that’s amazing.”
“It’s not as impressive as it sounds,” Ganyu said, waving her hand dismissively. “For the past two thousand years, I’ve simply served as the secretary of the Qixing. I haven’t accomplished anything remarkable.”
As Ganyu waved off his praise, Jia Changjiang shook his head thoughtfully.
Time… Its meaning is entirely different for those with fleeting lives and those with eternal ones.
It’s like a mayfly trying to understand the life of an ancient tree.
Without experience, it’s better to remain silent.
For the mayfly, even a single day of life is a full lifetime.
For the mayfly, that fleeting life is lived without pause.
So, just focus on living your own life.
A faint smile appeared on Jia Changjiang’s face.
Ahead lay a tough battle.
“By the way, were you looking for Glaze Lilies?” Ganyu asked, steering the conversation back. “I happened to pick one earlier. If you don’t mind…”
“Then we gladly accept,” Zhongli said as he took the flower without hesitation.
“Thank you, Coconut—uh, Ganyu!” Lumine exclaimed, shedding her thick coat and pulling Ganyu into a warm hug. “In return, I’ll sing the song I prepared for the Glaze Lilies just for you!”
Ganyu blushed slightly at the hug. “It’s Ganyu… And I should be the one thanking you for contributing to the Rite of Parting. It’s an honor.”
Before long, Ganyu excused herself, rushing back to work.
“With this, all the preparations for the Rite of Parting are complete,” Zhongli said, nodding in satisfaction. “Since the most challenging tasks were handled earlier, the final steps were rather straightforward.”
“Zhongli might seem like a broke wanderer, but he has the aura of someone who could run a thriving business,” Lumine observed.
Jia Changjiang chuckled and agreed, “True. He’s got a natural boss vibe.”
“Once, I did oversee a venture of my own,” Zhongli said, shaking his head slightly. “But as time passes, feelings… wear down.”
Zhongli’s gaze rested briefly on Jia Changjiang, clearly having observed his interaction with Ganyu earlier.
“When things wear down too much, one must examine oneself. Otherwise, cracks may form in the soul—irreparable ones.
“This is… the law imposed upon all things by Celestia.”
Zhongli’s words left Paimon scratching her head in confusion. “So, are we done now? Can we head back and wait for the Rite of Parting to begin?”
Paimon stretched, yawning. “Ahh… I’m suddenly feeling really tired.”
“We did most of the work, Paimon. You just flew around watching,” Lumine pointed out.
“Flying is tiring too!” Paimon retorted.
—
Back in Liyue Harbor, they found the city bustling with tension. Millelith soldiers patrolled heavily, while several Fatui members were detained under strict watch.
One Fatui agent spotted Zhongli and hurried over. “You’re the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Mr. Zhongli, correct?”
The agent lowered his voice. “The Millelith are monitoring us closely. It’s a tense time—please, don’t act recklessly.”
“Oh? A tense time?” Zhongli crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
“It’s said that the Adepti are investigating matters related to Rex Lapis, and their relationship with the Qixing has grown strained. As a result, many of our activities in the city have been restricted,” the agent explained. “Apparently, the Adepti haven’t yet seen the Exuvia, which has caused some friction with the Qixing.”
“If the Adepti decide to attack… Liyue Harbor may not withstand it.”
“Hmm.” Zhongli absorbed this information before turning to Jia Changjiang, his expression contemplative.
Jia Changjiang had played no small part in steering events to this point.
“But the Qixing won’t just sit idly by, will they?”
“Hmph.” The Fatui agent sneered. “Everyone knows how stubborn the Qixing are. Their hardline stance is precisely why tensions with the Adepti are about to boil over.”
The agent added, “Mr. Zhongli, as a collaborator of Lord Tartaglia, your position reflects the Fatui’s as well. Please, don’t give anyone an excuse to act against us.”
He hesitated briefly before continuing, “It seems even Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has been caught up in conflicts over the Rite of Parting, clashing with the authorities…”
With that, the Fatui agent took his leave, leaving Lumine and Jia Changjiang looking puzzled.
Did he not recognize them?
Or was Zhongli’s aura as a “harmless vagabond” so strong that it overshadowed them entirely?
“What now?” Paimon asked nervously. “It feels like something big is about to happen in Liyue Harbor. The Adepti wouldn’t actually start a fight here, would they?”
“Probably not… but if things drag on, the conflict could escalate,” Lumine said, clenching her fist. “It’s time to do something.”
“Agreed.” Jia Changjiang licked his dry lips. “It’s time to put an end to this.”
“Oh?”
Zhongli’s gaze shifted between Jia Changjiang and Lumine.
According to their contract, Jia Changjiang’s involvement was expected—but Lumine’s willingness to intervene was a surprise.
“Will you mediate as neutral parties, or use force to shift the balance?” Zhongli asked. “Both approaches carry their own difficulties.”
“To prevent an all-out disaster, you must first consider the fuse. What will you do about it?”
Zhongli’s question hung in the air as he awaited their decision.
Lumine spoke first. “The Adepti revere the Geo Archon, and so do the people of Liyue. This can’t end in disaster.”
“And you?” Zhongli turned to Jia Changjiang.
“Me?” Jia Changjiang grinned. “I’ll stick to the contract. I’ll see my promise through, no matter what.”
He added, “Zhongli, meet me at the tavern where we drank last time. I’ve got something to deliver to you.”
“As for everything else…”
Jia Changjiang flexed his fingers, cracking his knuckles as his excitement built.
“We’ll handle it directly!”
Zhongli regarded them for a moment before nodding. “Very well. I’ll wait for your good news.”
As Zhongli departed for Liyue Harbor, Paimon hovered, still puzzled. “So… what exactly is the fuse?”
Lumine’s eyes narrowed. “The clueless big spender who started all this trouble.”
Jia Changjiang’s expression lit up with excitement. “The opponent I’ve been waiting for!”
“The one causing all this chaos only has one possible destination left!”
“Let’s go… to the Golden House!”
—
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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