“But! Until the truth is revealed, no one can deny whether my words are wrong!” Wanyan persisted, her voice resolute.
She understood that her actions might seem extreme… but this was her lifelong goal. It was what she believed in, what had driven her all this time.
Even though this was her first time entering the ruins, she had worked tirelessly to reach this point. If she gave up now… then what would all her efforts amount to?
Wanyan turned to Zhongli. “Mr. Zhongli! We made a contract!”
“To face the truth, didn’t we? You promised to judge this matter impartially, even if the truth does not favor Morax!” she insisted, her determination unwavering.
Zhongli nodded. “Naturally. And besides… Liyue is no longer Morax’s Liyue.”
“Come. All the answers lie ahead.”
As Zhongli prepared to lead the group forward, Jia Changjiang suddenly spoke up.
“Wait! Hold on!”
He stepped in front of Zhongli and Wanyan, addressing Wanyan directly. “Earlier, when we were still above, I didn’t get a clear answer from you.”
“If… the truth is nothing like what you believe, if it is entirely different—what then?”
His words stopped Wanyan in her tracks, prompting Zhongli to pause as well.
“What… do you mean?” she asked, staring at Jia Changjiang.
“I mean, if the truth doesn’t align with your beliefs, can you—like Zhongli—judge it impartially?” Jia Changjiang’s tone was sharp and direct. “Before you go any further, if you’re relying solely on your stubbornness, I suggest you take this Salt Ruler and head back.”
He smiled, though his expression held a hint of severity. “You can return and proclaim the God of Salt’s powers to the world, continuing to believe in the fragmented truth you’ve pieced together.”
Picking up the Salt Ruler, he extended it toward her. “So, what will it be? Will you take this and leave now, or…”
“…will you steel yourself to face the truth ahead?”
His bluntness left no room for escape.
Zhongli sighed softly, shaking his head. Yet his eyes stayed fixed on Wanyan, observing her response.
Jia Changjiang wasn’t trying to mock her. He had likely deduced part of the truth and wanted to prepare Wanyan for what lay ahead.
Sometimes, people cling to their beliefs not because they can’t imagine worse outcomes—but because they’re too afraid to confront them.
When forced to think about possibilities beyond their convictions, they might become less obstinate.
And if, after all the reflection, they still persist… it’s because, deep down, they’ve already accepted the possibility of failure.
But this didn’t violate any contract.
It was simply Jia Changjiang’s way of softening the blow before the truth struck.
Zhongli continued to observe Wanyan, curious about her choice.
After a moment of silence, Wanyan clenched her fists, her voice trembling but firm. “I want to know the truth! Even if… even if it turns out Morax wasn’t the one who killed her, I’ll accept it!”
“Good.” Jia Changjiang nodded, tossing the Salt Ruler to her. She scrambled to catch it, startled by his sudden movement.
“Well then,” he said, turning to Zhongli. “Let’s move forward.”
“Very well.”
Zhongli inclined his head and resumed leading the group.
As they entered the next chamber, the number of salt statues around them increased dramatically.
In this room, a broken sword lay enshrined above them, its blade split into two distinct pieces.
“It’s… a sword!” Wanyan exclaimed after carefully examining it. “A broken sword! This is the proof! Proof that the God of Salt resisted but couldn’t withstand Morax’s treachery!”
She seemed visibly agitated. “This sword’s power must surpass the Salt Chalice and the Salt Ruler combined! If we can restore it… we could show everyone the true might of the God of Salt!”
Her excitement was palpable.
Zhongli, however, remained calm. “A broken sword, split into two pieces, constitutes two separate artifacts from an archaeological perspective.”
He continued, “According to the contract, Jia Changjiang may claim one piece, while the other belongs to Miss Wanyan.”
Wanyan, still caught up in her excitement, froze as she recalled the terms of their agreement.
“This… this…” she stammered, before turning to Jia Changjiang. “Mr. Jia! Would you be willing to sell your piece to me?”
Her tone was pleading. “I’ll pay you a fair price!”
Jia Changjiang had already taken one of the sword fragments into his hand, examining it closely.
“Mr. Jia!” Wanyan tried again. “This fragment likely holds no value to you. I can offer you a satisfactory price!”
“No.”
Jia Changjiang lightly tapped the fragment against his palm, his tone resolute. “I refuse to give it to you.”
“Why?!” Wanyan was incredulous. “An unrepaired sword holds no value! If you’re after money, I can pay for it!”
“Are you siding with Morax?!” Her voice grew more desperate.
“No.” Jia Changjiang smiled faintly, handing the fragment to Zhongli. “I just think letting you have both pieces would lead to problems.”
He had already finished his examination.
Hearing this, Wanyan’s face brightened with hope. Yet Zhongli quickly dashed it. “You may only take one piece of the blade.”
“Why?!” she demanded, her frustration mounting. “Clement already broke the contract! Mr. Jia has stepped aside! So why—”
“Because the contract remains in effect. Taking both pieces would constitute a breach,” Zhongli explained calmly.
“No! If I can only take one piece, I won’t be able to restore the sword!” Wanyan’s desperation spilled into her voice.
“Zhongli, she doesn’t seem to mean any harm…” Paimon hesitated, as if pleading on Wanyan’s behalf.
But Zhongli’s voice was firm.
“A contract allows no exceptions. To break it, no matter the reason, is still to break it.”
“No exceptions for good or evil.”
—
T/N: LMAOOO ZHONGLI IS SUCH A TROLL HE REALLY COUNTED THE SWORD AS TWO PIECES
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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