Xingqiu: Who Is This?
"It was only later, when the Geo Archon appeared, that the three gods finally reached an agreement—joining forces to purge the four corners of the land and carve out an eternal paradise for humanity."
"To that end, the three gods relocated their people to Guili Plains—what is now known as Guili Assembly."
"The name Guili was taken from the names of the two gods, while Liyue itself was a title bestowed by the Geo Archon."
Tian Tiezui spoke smoothly, growing more animated as the audience continued to swell.
Even the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild was completely engrossed.
He felt secretly pleased.
His street-side storytelling clearly wasn't inferior to the refined performances of Heyu Teahouse.
Yet just as he reached this point, a dissenting voice rose from the crowd.
"Back then, the three gods didn't get along so easily. They didn't simply come together at a word—without a great battle, Morax would never have acknowledged such an alliance."
Tian Tiezui frowned and looked up.
There stood a young man with an almost bewitching appearance. At first glance, he was merely extraordinarily handsome.
But the longer one looked, the more a chilling, oppressive sensation crept in.
Unnoticed, cold sweat had already formed.
"May I ask who this gentleman is?"
Sensing the man was anything but ordinary, Tian Tiezui dared not be negligent and asked respectfully.
"Just a traveler," the young man replied calmly.
"Your account isn't entirely wrong, but some details are missing. I merely wished to offer a small correction."
Luo Li added lightly,
"Back then, the Geo Archon and Luo—ahem, the God Luo clashed once, neither gaining the upper hand. They later agreed to fight again after purging the land, with the victor ascending to the divine seat."
Xingqiu listened with dawning realization and said,
"So that's how it was. The three gods were both allies and enemies. But in the end, only the Geo Archon ascended—what became of the other two?"
Tian Tiezui, ever straightforward, answered without hesitation,
"Isn't it obvious? They were defeated by the Geo Archon and faded into the river of history."
Most of the audience nodded in agreement.
Their reverence and trust toward the Geo Archon had long been carved into their bones—
for more than three thousand years, they had walked alongside their god.
Luo Li merely smiled faintly and offered no rebuttal.
Guizhong had perished, the Archon War had ended, and he himself had never cared for the divine seat.
With nothing left tying him to Liyue, he chose to depart during the great migration.
Unlike the crowd's general agreement, Xingqiu felt differently.
He fixed his gaze on Luo Li, increasingly convinced that this man was no ordinary traveler.
A person's bearing and presence could not be faked.
To know such ancient secrets in such detail—could this be an adeptus walking among mortals?
Having made up his mind, Xingqiu stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"My name is Xingqiu. May I ask how I should address you, sir?"
"Luo Li."
Xingqiu smiled.
"So it's Mr. Luo Li. I have a great interest in ancient history—if you have time, perhaps I could host a small banquet later and seek your guidance?"
Glancing at the sky, Luo Li shook his head.
"I have another engagement shortly. If fate allows, we'll meet again."
Seeing the storyteller already thanking the crowd and preparing to disperse, Luo Li whispered a few words to Raiden Makoto.
Leaving behind a few mora, he departed with the still-unsatisfied Eula and Noelle.
Xingqiu watched the youth—who seemed like an immortal descended from the heavens—until his figure vanished from sight.
He couldn't help but sigh.
"So the reclusive masters described in books truly do act like this… What a pity I couldn't seek his counsel. I wonder if we'll ever meet again."
Fate could not be forced.
With his naturally open-minded disposition, Xingqiu tucked away his regret and turned his hopes to the future.
Afterward, he set off toward Feiyun Slope.
Halfway there, a thought suddenly struck him. His expression changed instantly.
"Oh no!"
Ignoring the startled looks around him, he broke into a run toward Wanwen Bookhouse.
A quarter-hour later
Staring at the closed doors of Wanwen Bookhouse on the vermilion bridge, Xingqiu shook his head with a wry smile.
"Oh well. I'll come back tomorrow."
With his plan to buy a new novel ruined, he leisurely headed home instead.
"On moonlit nights with none to see, alone I face Zhaotan to subdue the evil dragon…"
Reciting poetry without caring about passersby's glances, Xingqiu took half an hour to stroll back to the Feiyun Commerce Guild.
As one of Liyue's top merchant clans, though it couldn't rival the Liyue Qixing, it was still powerful enough to shake the city with a single step.
Its estate featured carved beams and painted rafters, ornate eaves and murals fully displaying the deep foundations of a great family.
At the entrance of the Feiyun Commerce Guild
Seeing the second young master return at a leisurely pace, the gatekeeper, Xu, hurried forward.
"Young Master Xingqiu! Where have you been? The master has been looking for you—there's an important guest visiting."
Xingqiu was puzzled.
"Oh? Isn't my elder brother here? Why do I need to attend?"
"The eldest young master is present as well. I heard this guest is of exceptional status—both the master and the eldest young master treat him with great respect."
Now Xingqiu's curiosity was truly piqued.
Someone his father held in such regard?
With that curiosity in mind, he stepped inside and headed straight for the grandest, most exquisitely furnished reception hall.
After all, meeting guests followed its own etiquette—something a merchant family understood well.
At the hall entrance, he indeed heard his father's and elder brother's voices—along with a third, steady and slightly weathered male voice.
After listening briefly and finding nothing confidential, Xingqiu strode inside.
The sudden interruption halted the conversation.
A wealthy-looking middle-aged man—likely a handsome figure in his youth—was just about to scold the intruder when he saw his most cherished second son clasp his hands in greeting.
"Greetings, Father. Elder Brother. I was delayed by some matters and returned late, causing discourtesy to our guest. Please forgive me."
"Where did you run off to this time?" the patriarch complained lightly, then pulled Xingqiu forward with one hand.
"Come, Xingqiu. Pay your respects to Mr. Zhongli."
Mr. Zhongli?!
As the man who had been facing away slowly rose and turned around, Xingqiu's eyes widened in surprise.
Contrary to expectation, this guest was not elderly at all—
he was astonishingly young, with strikingly handsome features.
He had dark brown hair with a long braid fading into a lighter hue, and wore elegant attire that radiated dignity and composure.
More than that, there was a familiar aura about him—
a profound world-weariness, as though he had seen through all mortal affairs.
Deep within his eyes lay restrained wisdom.
Xingqiu frowned slightly.
Why did this man feel so familiar?
Where had he seen him before…?