Chapter 265

And with Gui Zhong's help, Liyue's grain production increased.

The happiest person was undoubtedly Markus.

The increase in grain meant he could allocate more resources to research even more delicious dishes for his people.

Gui Zhong's lively and spirited nature made already bustling Liyue even more vibrant.

Occasionally, Gui Zhong and Heulia would devise a series of ideas to enhance folk entertainment.

Liyue soon became the richest and most lively region in this territory.

During this time, Zhong Li led his people in mining and discovered a slumbering colossal elemental being within the ore deposit.

Zhong Li painted its eyes, awakening it, and named it Ruotuo Long Wang.

He also slew the demon god who commanded the Yecha, and upon learning of the Yecha's oppression under the demon god's rule, the compassionate Zhong Li took the Yecha under his wing.

At this moment, Liyue had not only become richer than before, but its military strength had also been unprecedentedly enhanced.

Su Bai's mansion.

Gui Zhong spread out a map and pointed toward the coastal direction far from Liyue.

"This is the territory of the Sea Demon God."

"Hmph!" Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun let out a haughty scoff.

"We extended a gracious invitation for him to join us, and he said we were deluding ourselves."

"We really ought to teach him a lesson."

A lesson, then.

Gui Zhong's lively eyes flickered slightly.

She understood perfectly what Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun meant—"a lesson" meant war.

In Gui Zhong's memory,

the Sea Demon God's power far surpassed her own.

But he was also a benevolent demon god.

He was worshipped by coastal villagers.

In fact, these villagers, to ensure their own livelihood, annually offered young maidens as brides to the Sea Demon God.

Yet the benevolent Sea Demon God merely brought these abandoned maidens to his underwater palace, providing them with comfortable chambers.

"I heard that the Sea Demon God once fell ill and unleashed a 613-meter tsunami that drowned the village that offered him tribute."

Su Bai sipped tea and asked casually.

As for the Sea Demon God himself, he had already formed his own opinion.

After gaining a general understanding of the situation, he would personally seek out this ruler of the deep sea.

Rumor had it he was the master of the Chi beasts.

When appearing, he surfaced atop a clam-shell throne pulled by Chi beasts, exuding great grandeur.

"Indeed."

"The coastal people almost all rely on fishing for their livelihood."

"To ensure calm seas each year, they select young maidens from the poorest families in their villages and offer them as brides to the Sea Demon God."

"The Sea Demon God never mistreated those maidens; instead, he cared for them deeply."

"But apparently, one maiden refused to live underwater, and the Sea Demon God allowed her to return to shore—and she married and had children."

"I recall that the village this woman came from was the one drowned by water; moreover, before the flood, the Sea Demon God himself appeared and took her back to the deep sea, and it seemed she carried her child with her."

"Oh? Have you already investigated?" Su Bai looked at Gui Zhong curiously.

At this, Gui Zhong placed a hand on her waist and pouted: "In the past, our Gui Zhong Collective had ties with the Sea Demon God's villages."

"We had some knowledge of his flooding of the village."

"It was because the villagers of that village chose the maiden's child as an Offering to the Sea Demon God."

"The maiden summoned the Sea Demon God."

"Was it because she couldn't bear the villagers' wicked custom?" Su Bai nodded, not denying the Sea Demon God's benevolence toward his people.

Loving one's people is a principle all demon gods abide by.

But each demon god expresses love differently.

Take the Sea Demon God: the villagers' sacrifices represent their need for his protection.

Yet those maidens were never persecuted by the Sea Demon God; instead, he grieved for their abandonment by the land.

The flooding of the village was surely the Sea Demon God's way of preventing his people from ever again expressing devotion through such oppression of others.

But even so,

since the Sea Demon God refused Su Bai's invitation, he was now an enemy in Su Bai's eyes.

"We should prepare to take control of this coastal region."

"Once the coastal region is incorporated into Liyue's territory, we will have secured nearly one of the seven regions."

Su Bai's words fell silent.

Gui Zhong, however, frowned faintly and said: "I'll go with you this time—perhaps I can persuade him again; he might change his mind."

Demon god wars are cruel.

Wars for the demon god throne are cruelty upon cruelty.

Gui Zhong, so intelligent, naturally understood Su Bai's direction.

Once he seized the coastal region of Liyue's territory and brought it fully under his control, his next step would be to wage war on the neighboring territory.

Gui Zhong grieved, yet she knew better than anyone: having chosen to aid Su Bai, she would do everything in her power to help him.

【...】

【Coastal region.】

【The people of every village were surrounded on all sides by men in uniform garb gripping long halberds.】

【The massive ballistae erected atop the high ridge also sent a chill down their spines.】

【"You are..."】

【The village head of one settlement tottered forward and asked in a feeble voice, "Who are you? What have you come to do?"】

【"We are the subjects of Su Bai, the God of Swords."】

【"The Liyue Millelith."】

【"Our purpose in coming here is to reclaim all the villages along your coastal region."】

【The Millelith captain who answered spoke in a booming voice, brimming with confidence.】

【He didn't spare the village head before him even a glance.】

Paimon: "Wow, Su Bai's Millelith are this arrogant?"

Lumine: "It's not arrogance. Look at the gap between them — those villagers don't have a single armed force among them."

Dai Yin: "Throughout Liyue's development, the God of the Sea has been holed up in the ocean the whole time, never bothering to let his own people grow strong. When war comes, does he truly intend to defend these subjects with his own strength alone?"

Alice: "Even among gods, there are differences in wisdom. Perhaps the God of the Sea devoted most of his energy to the great ocean."

Yae Miko: "Oh my, Su Bai reclaiming the coast is a foregone conclusion. This stretch of sea can't be left to the God of the Sea — if it were, the people of Liyue would have problems every time they went out to sea."

Dvalin: "Why don't I see Osial? Isn't the God of the Sea Osial?"

Osial: "No, I am the God of the Vortex. By the time I appeared, the God of the Sea had long been dead."

Dragon King: "You're weaker than the God of the Sea, Osial."

Osial: "Hmph! Says who? He could command great waves, and so can I — I can also stir up towering whirlpools on the sea's surface."

Venti: "Then aren't you even worse off? If you showed up after Su Bai had taken control of this region and wrecked the coastal villages, he definitely wouldn't let you off."

Osial: "Ugh, well, there's nothing I can do about it."

【Deep beneath the sea.】

【The God of the Sea kept hearing the silent prayers of his coastal people drifting to his ears.】

【All of them were cries for help directed at him.】

【"Which god has come to harm my people?"】

【The God of the Sea opened his eyes in fury.】

【On the land.】

【Su Bai gazed at the sky in the distance, which was steadily growing overcast.】

【The once-calm sea began to churn.】