Chapter 62 – The Childe Who Was Played Like a Fiddle

Lumine and Paimon had previously speculated about Qiu Bai’s identity, but they never imagined that Qiu Bai was actually the Adeptus of the Two Principles.

Moreover, Zhongli, who had been helping them prepare the Rite of Parting, turned out to be Rex Lapis himself.

Although they had guessed that Qiu Bai’s identity was unusual, they had never expected this.

That sword strike that split heaven and earth was actually delivered by their friend, Qiu Bai.

La Signora slowly rose from the ground, cold sweat streaming down her face.

She hastily took the Gnosis from Zhongli and fled in a disheveled state.

“Sorry, Lumine and Paimon.”

“I’ve kept this from you for so long.”

Qiu Bai watched La Signora’s retreating figure, then glanced at Lumine and Paimon, awkwardly rubbing his nose.

“As for why I concealed my identity and didn’t reveal it to the Adepti and the Liyue Qixing…”

“You can ask Zhongli. I know you have many questions.”

Then Qiu Bai turned to Zhongli and nodded.

“Hmm, earlier, Qiu Bai hid his identity and did not reveal it to the Liyue Qixing and the Adepti.”

“This is because I wanted to test this generation of the Liyue Qixing and the Adepti.”

“If our identities were exposed, how could we together test Liyue Harbor, which had lost its deity?”

Zhongli looked at Lumine and Paimon and slowly explained.

“As for the Gnosis, it was not a gift but a transaction based on a Contract.”

“It is a matter between me and the Tsaritsa.”

“Liyue, the land where mortals walk alongside gods—whether it is ready to enter the next era.”

“I had to create an opportunity to observe carefully before making a decision.”

Hearing Zhongli’s explanation, Paimon shook her head.

“So your earlier fake death and Qiu Bai’s disappearance were to test Liyue.”

Paimon waved her hands, looking at Zhongli and Qiu Bai.

“Of course. Otherwise, why would I have said such things to Ningguang on the Jade Chamber?”

Qiu Bai waved his hand, looking at little Paimon and Lumine as he spoke slowly.

“You really fooled us badly.”

“I wondered what was up with all those little Mystic Arts of yours. So that’s how it is.”

Paimon crossed her arms angrily, glaring at Qiu Bai.

Zhongli glanced at Qiu Bai, then turned his gaze to Paimon and Lumine.

“That is why I orchestrated this fake death.”

“Drawing Childe, the Adepti, and the Liyue Qixing all into the chaos.”

Zhongli gestured with his hand, explaining to Lumine.

“So even if it failed, Qiu Bai would have been there to handle it.”

“And you could fake your death, while Qiu Bai could use the excuse of slumber to withdraw from worldly affairs?”

Lumine looked at Zhongli and Qiu Bai, speaking slowly.

“So, was the outcome satisfactory?”

Lumine asked curiously.

“If the Fatui Harbinger, The Doctor, had not released the sealing power of the Stone Spears.”

“Completely lifting the suppression on the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial.”

“I believe the Liyue Qixing and the Adepti would have been capable of suppressing the Demon God back into the deep sea.”

Zhongli spoke slowly to Lumine and Paimon.

“The resolution of all these events has satisfied me beyond expectations.”

“The Adepti living in seclusion… they had the least information, yet they first exercised the utmost restraint.”

“Then, in times of crisis, they were willing to cooperate with the Qixing and even tried to understand the hearts of the people.”

“And as for that lady earlier, at my request…”

“She managed to keep it hidden from her colleague, Childe, without revealing the truth she knew.”

Zhongli paused for a moment, then turned his gaze to Qiu Bai beside him.

“As for Morpheus and I, we walked the earth as mortals Zhongli and Qiu Bai.”

“And in the end, we upheld Liyue’s traditions in these mortal identities.”

“Thank you for accompanying us on this journey, Traveler.”

Zhongli closed his eyes slightly as he recounted all this, then looked toward Lumine and Paimon.

“All of the above was within my plans. The only thing that exceeded my expectations… was the actions of the Liyue Qixing.”

“My initial expectations for them were the same as for the Adepti—to protect Liyue would suffice. But the answer they delivered was this:”

“To seize the opportunity to replace the divine, using the void left after my ‘death’ to swiftly take control of all authority in Liyue.”

Zhongli crossed his arms and spoke slowly to Lumine and Paimon.

“Ehh~! That doesn’t sound like a good thing.”

Paimon, hearing Zhongli’s words, rested her chin on her hands and exclaimed in surprise.

“Haha… I actually think it’s quite good.”

“This is something I’ve long worried might come too soon, yet also vaguely anticipated would eventually arrive.”

“It is the most sincere farewell to me, an old god.”

Zhongli chuckled softly as he addressed Lumine and Paimon.

“Ah, after all, who can resist retirement?”

Qiu Bai slowly waved his hand.

“Hey, you!”

“That’s not at all what Zhongli meant.”

Paimon looked at Qiu Bai beside Zhongli, somewhat annoyed.

If she had to say which of these two had tricked her and the Traveler the most, it was this Qiu Bai.

Back at the Golden House, they had thought Qiu Bai was about to be beaten to death.

But not only was Qiu Bai fine—making them worry for nothing—he even sliced the Demon God in the sea in half with one sword strike. How could she and the Traveler not be angry about that?

“Haha, saying it’s retirement isn’t entirely inappropriate.”

Zhongli waved his hand with a smile.

“Hey? What about me? You two had me running in circles.”

“Aren’t you going to apologize to me?”

Childe crossed his arms, looking somewhat angrily at Qiu Bai and Zhongli.

“Childe is really too embarrassing.”

“Speaking of which, I was deceived just like Childe.”

Lumine looked at the angry Childe, covered her mouth with a chuckle, then turned her head and glared somewhat indignantly at Qiu Bai.

“Ah, damn it… Haven’t the people of Liyue taught you not to state the obvious?”

“Ahem…”

Childe coughed awkwardly. Lumine pointing it out only made him more embarrassed.

“Ah, fine then, Mr. Zhongli and Mr. Qiu Bai.”

“I should take my leave now too. You two really tricked me badly.”

Childe held his head, feeling rather humiliated. He never expected that Qiu Bai, who seemed evenly matched with him at the Golden House, was actually acting.

“Let that woman La Signora go first. I don’t want to share a boat with her.”

As he spoke, Childe walked toward the entrance of the Northland Bank.

Recalling the sword strike with which Qiu Bai felled the Overlord of the Vortex sent a chill down his spine. He had actually thought about sparring with Qiu Bai just moments ago.

Zhongli watched Childe’s departing figure, then turned his gaze back to Lumine and Paimon.

“Finally, do you have any more questions?”

Zhongli looked at Lumine, who still seemed to have doubts.

“What could be worth the price of a Gnosis?”

Lumine asked curiously.

After all, that is the symbol of The Seven. What could possibly make Zhongli offer his Gnosis as a bargain?

“Indeed, Zhongli often says that transactions must be fair.”

“But in this world, what could possibly be worth exchanging for a Gnosis?”

Paimon placed a hand on her chin, looking at Zhongli with confusion as she shook her head.

“From a universal rational perspective, indeed, there is nothing.”

“Huh?!”

Paimon didn’t quite understand Zhongli’s answer.