Keqing: "Hey, is the Emperor willing to give me the Rock Green?"
Zhongli: "Why not? Yuhengxing originally fought for Liyue, and I haven't used the Rock Green for more than 500 years. This sword is actually not very useful to me now, so why not give it to Yuhengxing?
We are all in the same guild now, so there's no issue with giving the Rock Green to Yuhengxing.
I also trust that you won't disappoint me, Keqing, and that you won't use the Rock Green for anything wrong."
Keqing: "Emperor, I won't embarrass you!"
Zhongli: "Well, I'll send it to you this afternoon."
If it had been before, Zhongli wouldn't have cared much about the battle between Keqing and Tartaglia. What difference did it make if Keqing lost or won? Could a loss truly harm Liyue in any substantial way?
As long as she was stronger than the Ice Queen, that was enough.
"Great! The Emperor is willing to give me the Rock Green." Keqing's face lit up with a wide smile, her heart filled with gratitude for the recognition and trust of the Rock King Emperor.
If Smith hadn't spoken on her behalf, the Emperor might never have given her the Rock Green.
Although the Seven Stars were important to Liyue, no one could remember how many times the Seven Stars had been replaced over the centuries. Perhaps even the Rock King Emperor himself couldn't recall all the changes.
But because of Smith, she and Ningguang were now officially among the top management of Liyue.
Keqing stammered excitedly, "Smith, thank you so much. If it weren't for you, the Emperor would never have trusted me so much. I don't know how to thank you."
This was all Smith's doing!
Smith, who had been silently observing, smiled and asked, "Then should you reward me?"
"Reward or something…" Keqing hesitated. Yesterday, she had already given Smith Hi Si. What could she give him now? Was it possible that he wanted more personal gifts?
Surely there wasn't a world where people gave gifts like that, right? It would be too embarrassing!
Just as Keqing was lost in thought, Smith suddenly pulled her close by the waist and kissed her on the lips. The kiss lasted only a moment before they both parted immediately. Keqing's eyes went wide in surprise, her face flushed with a mix of anger, shock, and confusion.
But Keqing was quick to react. She shot Smith a flustered look. "How can you do that? And, there are so many people here!"
She noticed the gazes of the people around them, clearly watching their interaction. However, because of their high status, no one dared to openly criticize them. Still, Keqing knew that, in Liyue, this kind of behavior would quickly make them "celebrities."
Liyue wasn't like Fontaine or Mondstadt. The people here were more reserved.
Smith, unfazed, responded, "What's wrong with it? Isn't it normal for boyfriends and girlfriends to do these things?"
He shrugged, his expression casual. "Besides, you're so cute, Keqing."
Keqing blushed instantly. "C-Cute or something…" She stammered, flustered. Then, regaining some composure, she warned him in an angry yet shy tone, "Well, don't do this again in the future.
At least not in public."
Keqing's face turned even redder. "I don't know what your world was like, and I respect the customs of your world, but we are in Liyue now. You need to consider the situation here. At least, we're going to live in Liyue from now on!"
Smith raised an eyebrow. "So, when we get home, we won't have to worry about these things?"
Keqing sighed in frustration, not knowing how to respond to Smith. It felt like all he cared about were these small details, yet the most important thing was his strange ability to grow stronger effortlessly—just by eating and sleeping.
But, thinking about it, maybe it was time Smith started buying his own house. Living in Ningguang's residence all the time wasn't ideal.
There was nothing wrong with living in her house—after all, when it came to real estate in Liyue, Keqing's family was undoubtedly at the top. But still, it didn't seem right for Smith to keep living in her place.
Though the people in the guild would never think anything of it, Liyue's people didn't understand Smith's true identity. Keqing didn't want Smith to be mistaken for a gigolo or some sort of freeloading man.
---
In the Cloudless Room, Zhongli looked at Yunhai, continuing to narrate his story to Mewtwo.
"This is the general process of how I established Liyue. Is there anything else you wish to ask?"
Since arriving in Teyvat the previous day, Mewtwo had been asking Zhongli about Liyue. Despite the differences between their worlds, Mewtwo could understand Zhongli's perspective.
"Why hasn't our world developed into a nation led by gods?" Mewtwo hesitated before asking. "From what you said earlier, many gods in my world are as powerful as you. Is it because they aren't as wise?"
Before departing, Mewtwo had been taught a lot by its creators. Though Mewtwo wasn't sure if it could apply all the knowledge it had been given, it was important to let Mewtwo know about the nature of its world.
"Wisdom?" Zhongli reflected on what Smith had shared with him earlier. "In your world, the alliance was established by the gods, with Ho-Oh leading the charge. But after the alliance was formed, the gods chose to leave. They didn't directly guide humanity. This is quite different from Teyvat.
I can't say for sure whether our approach is right, or whether their decision was better. After all, the world itself is different.
I have considered giving humans more power, but through all my years, I have seen more of their nature."
"Guidance and supervision?" Mewtwo nodded thoughtfully. It recalled the teachings of Smith. In the Pokémon world, while the gods were indeed powerful, many of them, like Groudon and Kyogre, were more like primal beasts, wielding great strength but lacking wisdom.
"Yes," Zhongli continued, his expression serious. "Your power is vast, and you've mastered godly powers not long after your birth. But you've never learned how to control it. Without proper control, you would have been unable to fight back before.
However, your talent is extraordinary, even surpassing that of many immortals. The path ahead will be difficult, and you must be prepared."
Mewtwo's eyes gleamed with determination. "I'm ready, Master!"
---
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