Chapter 211: When Gods and Mortals Ask the Same Question

Keqing never expected this.

The distinguished guest that Ningguang had gone to great lengths to receive turned out to be that Sumeru who had casually caused trouble at Liyue Harbor before.

Combining Luo De's way of addressing her, Keqing curled the corner of her mouth: "You, you recognized me back then?"

"Hmm."

Luo De admitted it straight away.

"Your skill at concealing your identity still needs work."

Keqing muttered a sentence, then straightened her face and spoke in an extremely official manner: "Guest from Sumeru, I am Keqing, the Jade Balance of the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing. Welcome to Liyue."

"No need for such formalities."

Luo De laughed and waved his hand.

Having said that.

He then walked side by side with Keqing, following her lead straight to the Pavilion of Gathered Jade, the palace complex of the Heavenly Authority Ningguang, belonging to the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing.

This time Luo De came either carrying a handwritten letter from the Dendro Archon or with an official visit document issued by the Academy.

In terms of status and importance, it is no less than that of an envoy.

Such formal official meetings are usually handled by Liyue's Heavenly Authority, Ningguang.

As for the Jade Balance,

her main duty is managing land and planning, and diplomatic affairs still don't really fit her role.

Liyue's welcoming party for Luo De was rather low-key.

Aside from the Stone Guard escorting the party, from outward appearance alone you couldn't tell that those inside were the Sumeru envoy and the Jade Balance.

Along the way.

Luo De remained interestedly observing his surroundings, lingering a bit longer on anything that caught his eye.

As for Liyue this nation,

he has always held a special feeling for it.

It's too similar.

Whether it's culture or customs and architecture, they are far too similar to the ancient era Luo De knows.

Although he has now confirmed that he appeared in the Teyvat continent thanks to the Flower God's legacy, his household registration still lists him as a Sumeru national.

Moreover, after arriving in Teyvat, he has spent the vast majority of his time living in Sumeru.

But every time he comes to this country that is extremely similar to his homeland, he still gains a sense of closeness that he could never feel while in Sumeru.

"Mr. Luo De, I wonder if it would be convenient to ask you a few questions?"

After sizing up Luo De for a good while, Keqing hesitantly asked.

"Go ahead."

Luo De lowered the carriage curtain and replied, "As long as it's not something hard to bring up, it's fine."

"Um, I'd like to ask something."

"When the Dendro Archon was imprisoned, how did godless Sumeru keep functioning?"

When asking this question, Keqing looked reluctant to bring it up, yet her eyes were full of anticipation as she waited for Luo De's answer.

This question is indeed rather presumptuous.

For a nation's god to be imprisoned is no small matter.

Even speaking of it is rather embarrassing.

Usually Sumeru people abroad rarely talk about this; they merely keep the hope of the Dendro Archon's return on their lips.

It's just that Keqing is genuinely curious.

How does a godless nation sustain itself relying solely on mortals?

According to Keqing's knowledge,

Sumeru, despite lacking the Dendro Archon for these past few centuries, still has a good reputation abroad.

Its modern scientific technology, excellent educational conditions, top-tier medical standards, and prosperous livelihood of its people

are the image it presents to the outside world.

Occasionally, any bad reputation basically comes from mercenaries who often turn on their employers.

In Keqing's view,

this godless country seems, surprisingly, to have decent social order?

If it were someone else, perhaps they wouldn't have much to think about this.

But facing Luo De is Keqing.

the only dignitary in Liyue's upper echelons who does not revere the gods.

"【The Sovereign has protected Liyue for a thousand years, but will the next thousand, ten thousand, even a hundred thousand years be the same?】"

This is what Keqing once asked during the Rite of Descension.

This remark can be said to be the utmost disrespect.

However, the Geo Archon neither grew angry nor dissatisfied; he merely smiled, did not answer the question, and then drifted away.

However,

In Liyue, where worship of the Geo Archon is the prevailing custom, Keqing's remarks naturally became the target of everyone's criticism after that Rite of Descension.

Especially since she is the Jade Balance of the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing.

Her every word and deed are naturally amplified by those who pay attention.

Let alone when she voices such a question publicly.

Besides the ordinary civilians present, many among the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing and Eight Ministries also have reservations about Keqing, including the Secretary who has been stationed at the Moonchase Pavilion for a thousand years, Ganyu.

Although everyone restrained themselves and did not bring these emotions into their daily work.

But inevitably, those who had opinions of Keqing would show lax and slack emotions while working under her.

This caused considerable trouble for Keqing's work.

Consequently, she became increasingly impatient in her work, her trust in others grew ever thinner, she insisted on doing everything herself; even for a task requiring talent, she would try every means to shorten the cycle and finish it in a day or two, her pace could not be synchronized with those around her, and nobody who assisted Keqing's work could last more than three months.

Nobody knew.

Such a work style was merely her earnest attempt to emulate the Geo Archon's manner of working, preparing for the Geo Archon's unknown departure at any time.

Moreover, she had carried out countless simulations for Liyue after the Geo Archon's departure, meticulously calculating what turmoil would arise in every industry of Liyue if the Geo Archon were gone, and how to resolve it, etc.

Saying something that might offend Ningguang.

Keqing had even contemplated that.

If the Geo Archon were absent, what diplomatic pressure would Ningguang face?

The godless Mondstadt's diplomatic pressure is plain for all to see; without Fa Erga's staunch support, they would have been bullied badly.

Keqing had previously exchanged ideas with many Mondstadt residents.

But the conclusion she finally reached.

That the two nations' conditions are completely different, making it unsuitable to borrow Mondstadt's methods of protecting its people.

Now, fortunately, a person who had experienced another nation's godless era happened to appear before her, and Keqing could no longer restrain the impulse to ask him thoroughly.

This question also caused Luo De to fall into deep thought for a while.

He thought a lot, pondering what to say.

Finally.

He pursed his lips and concluded, "How to put it? 'A complete mess' would be more fitting."

"Ah?"

Keqing's mouth opened slightly, and she asked in disbelief, "A complete mess?"

Luo De's words cannot be said to be completely inconsistent with Sumeru's external image; at best, there is not a single point of similarity.

At least, the Sumeru scholars who come to Liyue at most complain that writing papers is difficult, and none of them have ever said that Sumeru's public order is chaotic or anything else negative.

Why is that?

"I suppose nobody has ever told you what the desert is like, right?"

Luo De shook his head: "Indeed, with your status, you probably also cannot come into contact with those mercenaries from the desert."

Before Nadixa's return.

Few of the desert dwellers of Sumeru are able to come out, and even fewer can go abroad.

Basically, only those who work as mercenaries have the chance to accompany merchants engaged in overseas business on a trip abroad.

This inevitably means that those mercenaries who know where the true injustices of Sumeru lie cannot come into contact with Keqing.

Even if Keqing hides her identity to visit the common folk.

Given the nature of mercenaries, they also find it hard to run into her.

As for those scholars who are able to come to Liyue to conduct research, they are mostly wealthy people; regardless of their academic performance, at least their family's wealth is sufficient to support them living abroad long-term while doing research.

After all, abroad is not like in Sumeru, where many things are inconvenient, and conducting research also requires time-consuming and laborious official registration.

So how could such well-off scholars, who need not worry about food or clothing, possibly know how life is on the desert side?

Or perhaps.

Even if they knew, they would disdain to speak of it.

Luo De simply gave a brief description of the desert's former scenery.

Many of these things he had personally experienced, and he described them vividly.

After finishing talking about the desert.

He then spoke about the rainforest region.

"Compared to the desert, the rainforest people, with superior climatic conditions, at least need not worry about food."

"The Academy's free education is also universally available."

"Perhaps the only difficulty is that writing a graduation thesis is hard, and the difficulty of becoming a scholar, a person above others, is great."

Finally.

Luo De concluded, "Without gods, one must rely on people; as for whether a country can remain peaceful and stable, that depends on the ruler's personal qualities."

"What you mean is."

"A country cannot lack gods?"

After saying that, Keqing fell into deep thought.

She had not imagined Sumeru's previous condition.

She had always devoted her energy to her duties, and indeed she had not imagined that a godless Sumeru would be like this.

However, just as she was doubting herself.

Luo De, however, shook his finger and said to her, "Look at Mondstadt."

"Mondstadt without the Wind God?"

This ready-made example again plunged Keqing into silence.

Compared to Sumeru, Mondstadt and Liyue have far more trade exchanges, and Keqing is also more familiar with Mondstadt's situation.

It must be said.

If one does not look at the diplomatic pressure Mondstadt faces, they are indeed governing the nation very well in their godless state, which is a completely different scene from the utterly chaotic true situation of Sumeru.

Then where does the problem lie?

"People."

Luo De and Keqing said this word together.

Yes.

Person!

The key lies in being the successor to the godless, being the ruler.

"The Knights of Favonius of Mondstadt are steadfast in their belief, sacrificing their own freedom to bring freedom to the people of Mondstadt."

"The Lawrence clan, which holds Mondstadt's military and political power, teaches its children their first words: 'Forever protect Mondstadt.'"

"These four words are their family's unchanging ancestral precept."

"With such people in charge of Mondstadt, could they possibly do something detrimental to Mondstadt?"

"The counterexample is the Academy."

"They stir up ethnic conflict in thought, suppress the desert in action, and blaspheme and plot murder in ideology; with such people ruling Sumeru, how could it not fall into chaos?"

Luo De analyzed the situation of the two countries for Keqing, and then, with implied meaning, said: "So, being godless is not impossible; it just depends on whether the one who succeeds the god can do it."

During the later journey.

Having already obtained the answer, Keqing did not ask further questions beyond her duty; after seeing Luo De off at the Jade Chamber, she hurriedly left.

The attendant in charge of reception knew Luo De was a distinguished guest from Sumeru, showed no negligence, and all the way brought Luo De up to the Jade Chamber, arriving before Ningguang, the famed Tianquan Star of Teyvat.

"Honored guest, my apologies for the distant welcome; I am Ningguang, Tianquan of the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing. Please forgive any lapse in etiquette."

The Tianquan Star, symbolizing power and law and also representing wealth and wisdom, wore a high-cheongsam of intersecting gold, white, and black, its hem shaped like a bird's tail, the collar bearing a golden phoenix pattern; unlike Dolly, whose whole body glittered with pearls and jewels, giving an instant nouveau riche impression, Ningguang before Luo De had simple yet splendid adornment, her light makeup still elegant.

"Hello, I am Luo De."

Luo De, who holds no official position in Sumeru, had little to introduce; he could only give his name.

Ningguang didn't mind this small matter, directly gestured and said: "Mr. Luo De, please follow me; the Geo Archon has been waiting for a long time."

"The Geo Archon is waiting for me?"

Luo De let out a soft "eh".

According to Teyvat's understanding, when meeting a deity, one must first submit official documents, obtain the deity's consent, and only then may ascend to the hall for audience.

The Mondstadt envoy team, as well as that proud lady, all followed this procedure.

How is it that I have only just arrived in Liyue, haven't yet formally submitted the documents, and the Geo Archon is already waiting for me, and moreover in the Jade Chamber?

How come I just arrived in Liyue, haven't even formally submitted my documents, and the Geo Archon is already waiting for me, and he's even waiting in the Jade Chamber.

Luo De's mouth twitched slightly, and he hurriedly followed Ningguang's steps, quickly walking deeper into the Jade Chamber.

Luo De's mouth twitched slightly, and he hurriedly followed behind Ningguang, quickly walking toward the depths of the Jade Chamber.

Making a deity wait for oneself, especially a deity with flourishing divine authority, is ultimately rude.

The Jade Chamber is not large.

Soon.

Luo De soon arrived at the innermost room.

"Mr. Luo De, please come in."

Ningguang pushed open the door for Luo De; after he entered, she closed the door and quietly left, although it was unnecessary, but as she exited she also ordered the attendants to retreat, allowing no one to approach.

The Geo Archon's audience with guests is not something these ordinary mortals can meddle in.

The Geo Archon is receiving distinguished guests; this is not something ordinary mortals like us can interfere with.

After entering the door, Luo De's gaze did not fall on the youth in splendid black-and-gold attire, but on another green-clad boy sitting cross-legged on the table, chatting happily with that youth.

After entering, Luo De's gaze did not fall on the young man dressed in splendid black-and-gold attire, but on another green-clad youth who was sitting cross-legged on the table, chatting happily with that young man.

Luo De momentarily forgot what he wanted to say.

"Heh heh, friend, we meet again."

Seeing Luo De, Venti happily greeted him and also explained why he was here: "Well, being on the ship was boring, and I hadn't seen my old man in a while, so I came by to pay him a visit."

Seeing Luo De, Venti cheerfully greeted him and also explained why he was here: "Well, staying on the ship was boring, and I hadn't seen my old man in a long time, so I came by to pay him a visit."

Luo De did not respond to him, turned his head again, and looked at the Geo Archon whom Venti called his old man.

Different from the Zhongli Luo De knew.

As the Geo Archon manifesting, his appearance is more solemn and stern, bearing an aura that keeps people at bay; upon closer look, his outline somewhat resembles that of the mortal Zhongli, but at a glance one would absolutely not recognize them as the same person.

Compared to his stern exterior, Zhongli's words are as gentle as a spring breeze.

And the first thing he said to Luo De was: "Hello, little friend Luo De, I wonder if you could again tell me how a nation should maintain stability after the godless?"

The first thing he said to Luo De was: "Hello, Young Luo De, I don't know if you could tell me again how a nation should maintain stability after the gods?"

Luo De felt a twinge in his heart.

He said "again"!!!

Luo De involuntarily bared his teeth at Venti; without a doubt, he had been sold out again.

Luo De involuntarily bared his teeth at Venti; without a doubt, he had been sold out again.

(End of Chapter)