Fortunately, things didn’t escalate the way Gu Sanqiu had feared. Zhongli simply complimented his craftsmanship, and the anxious Incense-Bearer managed to deflect with the excuse of “a sudden burst of inspiration.”
“But Zhongli, once you’ve created this… device, how do you plan to use it? Or more importantly, how do you intend to present it to the world?”
Gu Sanqiu pointed to the so-called “pistol” that was more of a hand cannon.
If memory served, attempting to produce weaponry like this in Liyue could very well turn the region into another underground no-god zone in no time.
“Hmm, are you familiar with the terms outer facade and layering?” Zhongli asked.
Gu Sanqiu blinked. “Aren’t those used by antique forgers?”
“Outer facade,” he continued, “refers to a fake exterior with genuine inner parts to fool the semi-knowledgeable. Layering applies to paintings—faking an aged look by adding a faded color layer to claim it’s an ancient masterpiece.”
“Wait, Zhongli, did someone con you recently?” Gu Sanqiu asked, his tone skeptical. “What kind of forgery could fool you of all people? No one would believe that.”
“No, what I mean is,” Zhongli said evenly, “I intend to use a similar method to obscure the true nature of these creations.”
He gestured to the sniper rifle nearby.
“Take this one, for example. Its power and speed could allow it to be referred to as a Luminous Crossbow.”
He then pointed to a basic pistol. “And this could be called a Flying Whistle Bow. The naming convention can be applied to others as well.”
“Further enhancements, especially regarding power, would shift the focus to integrating elemental energy.”
He motioned toward the hand cannon.
“This one, in particular, is where future research should concentrate.”
Gu Sanqiu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I see. With these kinds of names, outsiders would probably just think Wangsheng Funeral Parlor unearthed some old wartime blueprints. Even if they mass-produce these, it wouldn’t attract much attention. Is that about right?”
“Precisely.”
Zhongli nodded. “After our last conversation, I reflected deeply on the matter. This approach, while simple, proves effective.”
“Well, it’s about time. The Hall Master and I must return to Wangsheng to finalize some year-end arrangements. Farewell.”
“I’ll see you out.”
After watching Zhongli disappear from view, Gu Sanqiu returned to his courtyard. He cleaned up the teacups and poured the remaining tea over the roots of his yam and apple tree.
“As expected of the old man,” he muttered. “To think of such an elegant solution—truly worthy of the Geo Archon’s reputation.”
He chuckled to himself. “Luminous Crossbow? What a creative name…”
But his laughter abruptly froze.
Wait.
Gu Sanqiu’s expression turned serious. Was Zhongli really here just to discuss naming conventions?
This was the kind of minor issue that could be resolved in passing—why make a dedicated trip for it?
“Damn it. Did my cover actually get blown?”
His face darkened as his thoughts raced. If his suspicions were correct, then Zhongli’s visit had two possible implications.
First, Zhongli hadn’t overthought it at all. He simply wanted a quiet place to rest while Hu Tao shopped and took the chance to mooch some tea.
Second, Zhongli already knew his true identity and was subtly advising him on how to avoid crossing “certain boundaries.”
If it were the second scenario, then Zhongli might already know that Prototype One wasn’t from this world at all!
There was no comparison between the Fatui’s firearms and Prototype One!
“In the past, I wondered if the old man knew the exact limits of the rules. If what he’s saying now…”
Gu Sanqiu hesitated. Was the higher power overseeing this world really that careless?
If so, then what was stopping him from creating a rogue cult, brainwashing death row inmates, strapping them with explosives and bioweapons, and sending them off screaming “For the cause!” to storm Celestia?
“No. Think again. Maybe the old man just thinks I lucked into finding something from the world’s cracks and is trying to keep me safe by dropping hints,” he muttered, rubbing his face.
Even as he composed himself, the turmoil inside remained.
—
“You seem preoccupied.”
That evening, as Gu Sanqiu arrived at the Jade Chamber, Ningguang immediately noticed something was off.
“Huh? Oh, no, I’m fine.”
“Oh, my dear brother,” Ningguang sighed dramatically, pretending to wipe away a tear. “You’ve grown distant from your sister, keeping secrets from me. How heartbreaking.”
“Cut it out, will you?”
Gu Sanqiu hefted his stack of work for the day. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re secretly laughing right now.”
“Of course not,” Ningguang replied with a serene smile. “I’m simply overwhelmed by sadness at my brother’s reluctance to confide in me.”
She stepped closer, still smiling. “But fine, if you don’t want to talk about it now, I’ll wait. When you’re ready, I’m all ears.”
Feigning a touched expression, Gu Sanqiu said, “You’re the best, Sis.”
“Save the flattery. Get to work.”
On the Jade Chamber’s expansive deck, stacks of scattered documents were neatly arranged. Nearby, a small wooden table held a teapot, its fragrance wafting in the cool night air.
“Wait, don’t tell me you expect me to handle all of this by myself.”
Gu Sanqiu frowned at the mountain of paperwork that represented the fruits of their recent labor.
“Surely this is too much for one person?”
“Of course not,” Bai Shi replied with a sweet smile. “We’ll help. But as a young man in his prime, surely you can handle a bit more to ease our burdens, yes?”
Her smile widened mischievously. Internally, she was practically cackling.
The more Gu Sanqiu handled, the more time she’d have with Ningguang. Perfect!
“Shall we start?”
Gu Sanqiu raised his hand, lifting the farthest two stacks of documents effortlessly with Geo energy.
“Let’s.”
Ningguang clasped her hands behind her back, gazing out over Liyue Harbor. “This year, Liyue remains as peaceful and prosperous as ever.”
Whoosh—
With a flick of his wrist, Gu Sanqiu sent the two stacks flying like throwing knives. They scattered mid-air, fluttering down like snowflakes.
“Another year, another snowfall of jade slips,” Ningguang murmured, her smile warm as she observed the lively streets below.
Some were travelers returning to Liyue Harbor for the festival. Others were merchants bringing year-end bonuses back to Qingce Village. Foreigners marveled at the festivities, while Liyue’s merchants eagerly waited for the official decrees falling from the skies.
“Sis, there’s something I’ve been wondering.”
“If you’re hesitating, it’s probably better left unsaid,” Ningguang quipped, sidling behind him to tweak his ear without obstructing the flurry of papers.
“So? Out with it.”
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