Chapter 130

But she still looked earnestly at the choices below.

A: Those who usurp the gods must be struck by divine punishment and executed immediately.

B: The Demon God loves her people; even if subjects commit mistakes, they should be met with care and tenderness.

C: Azhar is not wrong—he merely seeks greater wisdom.

D: As a god, failing to fulfill the demands of one's subjects is a failure of self, and one ought to be imprisoned.

Answer... answering

The audience in the livestream was completely baffled.

At this moment, they truly did not understand what Su Bai was trying to do.

Nahida: "This... what on earth is going on..."

Alhaitham: "With our wisdom, can we not comprehend what the screen is trying to convey?"

Neuvillette: "Perhaps if we knew who the Great Tree King was, we could unravel all of this—Mr. Su Bai seems to be acting on behalf of the Great Tree King."

Venti: "Forget who the Great Tree King is—what do you think is the correct answer to this question?"

Furina: "Do you even need to think? Look at Azhar's attitude toward Nahida, and his plan to create a god—it's clearly an attempt to overthrow divine authority. This isn't just usurpation—I say no deliberation is needed; execute him immediately."

Neuvillette: "Madam Furina, please calm down. Fontaine does not appear to have any laws permitting execution."

Cyno: "Actually, Sumeru doesn't have capital punishment either. Azhar is merely imprisoned for now."

Azhar: "Why should I be executed? I only wanted more wisdom. Have I done anything wrong? I haven't committed a crime—you're falsely accusing me!"

Azhar: "If I could create an omniscient and omnipotent god, why would Sumeru need the Little Grass King at all?"

Dainsleif: "Azhar, you're a prisoner now—how can you still be so arrogant?"

Colette: "But in the past life, the true great sage was Mr. Su Bai, not Azhar."

Zhong Li: "Could he be deliberately using Azhar to test Nahida?"

Hu Tao: "Prince Zhong Li, what do you think is the right choice for this question?"

Zhong Li: "Hmm... I have never encountered true usurpation. I don't know."

Tianquan Ningguang: (Covering her face)

Qiqi: (Covering her face)

Yotog Dragon King: "Hahaha—who dares usurp Morax? Look at the fates of me and Oserar, and you'll understand."

Oserar: "Trapped in one place, unable to move, frozen in the same posture for thousands of years—life becomes worse than death."

Tevyat: (Covering her face) "Now it seems that Barbatos, aside from doing nothing proper, is undoubtedly the gentlest god."

This...

Just four options.

Nahida felt her little head couldn't hold it all.

The Demon God loves her people—it was as if this were the law of the world.

When subjects are in peril, the Demon God will surely intervene to help.

When subjects wish to fulfill their heart's desire, the Demon God must strive to realize it.

Since birth, Nahida's mind had seemingly been imprinted with this belief.

Looking at the four options before her.

Nahida had a sudden insight—she finally knew the answer.

The answer is the second one.

Nahida's small finger pointed to the answer.

Option B.

"The Demon God loves her people. Although Azhar spoke those extreme words and sought to initiate the god-creation plan..."

"But as a subject of Sumeru, and as Sumeru's Little Lucky Grass King, I believe I should forgive him."

"After all, his desire for greater wisdom is his wish—he has done nothing wrong."

"If I cannot fulfill his wish, then it is my fault."

"Therefore, even if he has erred, it is because of my inadequacy—I should offer him even more care and tenderness."

The Demon God loves her people.

This is the most common belief in Teyvat.

Long before the War of the Seven, before the Era of Contention arose.

Though people in that age suffered terribly, it was never because the Demon Gods deliberately harmed humanity.

It was because the Demon Gods fought, and mortals paid the price.

Large-scale battles among the Demon Gods rendered human habitats perilous.

Yet even so, each Demon God still preserved the duty to protect the subjects of their own lands—even if other Demon Gods perished, they would never harm the humans of rival territories, but instead incorporate and cherish them under their own rule.

Demon Gods and demon beasts are fundamentally different beings.

Paimon: "In her past life, Nahida thought exactly the same way at first."

Lumine: "Sigh... such a doormat personality is really exhausting..."

Nahida: "Sorry—I really did cause you trouble back then, Lumine."

Neuvillette: "So the Little Lucky Grass King's answer..."

Furina: "It's definitely wrong. The correct answer is execution."

Azhar: "You!"

Neuvillette: "Has your understanding of him grown since you've been with Su Bai?"

Furina: "Hehehe..."

After hearing Nahida's choice.

Su Bai nodded.

"Very good."

"Really?" Nahida's eyes lit up.

She felt she had finally received recognition.

Being recognized by someone arranged by the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, did this not prove she possessed great wisdom?

"You truly have some ability."

"With just a few brief words, you have summarized the other three options, excluding Option A, into one."

"But unfortunately, there is only one correct answer."

Su Bai's serious expression instantly stunned Nahida.

From the meaning in the other's words, she could tell she had seemingly chosen incorrectly.

"I specifically arranged three options with nearly the same meaning; you truly did not disappoint me."

"Extend your hand."

Huh?

Nahida looked at Su Bai, who had picked up the ruler, with trembling eyes.

"You... what do you want to do..."

"Extend your palm and accept the punishment for being wrong."

Extend your palm?

Nahida did not understand, but she, whose personality was cowardly and who did not know how to resist, obediently stretched out her open small hand.

Slap, slap, slap!

Three light cracks struck Nahida's palm.

Nahida immediately had tears welling up from the beating.

What is going on?

Clearly within consciousness, why does it feel so painful?

"The correct answer is A."

"A god's love for people is never wrong, but one must distinguish what kind of person is being cherished."

"A deity is like a banner; she represents everything of this nation."

"She is the guardian deity of the subjects, and also their spiritual leader."

"But she does not blindly seek to please the subjects like a sycophant."

"The person a deity loves must first be someone who loves and supports her."