Original God Zhongli BG Xiao Qinglong traveled through time

Chapter 298 Transaction (2)

Ying smiled gently, her smile as bright as the warm spring sun, and she looked up at Lin Huan. Lin Huan leaned lazily on the railing at one side, with a gentle smile on his lips. He was indeed in a much better state than before, as if all the dangers before had vanished into thin air.

"Ah Huan." Ying's tone was relaxed and teasing, and her bright eyes were gleaming with a lively light. "Mr. Zhongli, you hid the identity of Prince Yan from me, and you did a great job of hiding it."

"Yeah..." Tartaglia interrupted with a laugh, his bold laughter spreading in the air, "Ms. Lin Huan is indeed smart. You did it so flawlessly, like a perfect chess game. We were all kept in the dark by you."

Lin Huan bowed slightly, her posture graceful, like a dancing butterfly. She smiled and responded, her voice as sweet as the sound of flowing water: "Thank you for your praise. I was forced to do it at the time. I hope you will be magnanimous and not take offense. I am really torn between friendship with you two and the stability of Liyue. I can only choose the latter. Fortunately, although we have experienced many twists and turns, the result is good. I also hope that our friendship will not be damaged because of my concealment."

Ying's mouth corners slightly raised, a sly smile flashed across her eyes, and she snorted: "Hmph, you're quite sensible. I'll let you go this time. But you have to compensate us well. Next time if there is anything, you are not allowed to hide it, otherwise, this traveler will not forgive you." As she spoke, she crossed her arms across her chest and raised her chin slightly, pretending to be angry, but the smile in her eyes could not be hidden, like the stars hidden behind the clouds, twinkling from time to time.

Tartaglia laughed heartily, and her laughter was like thunder, echoing in the air: "Haha, Miss Lin Huan, what you said is really interesting. Since you are so sincere, I will naturally not hold it against you. However, next time if there is such fun thing, don't forget to tell me in advance. I don't want to be kept in the dark again. I can't wait to participate in more interesting adventures."

"What! So Zhongli is the Lord of the Rock?! You knew? No, wait a minute..." Paimon flew around with his eyes wide open. His little head was working hard. It took him a long time to sort out his logic. "Let me sort it out. Ah Huan is an immortal. When we met at Sanwan Buguogang before, she said that she concealed her identity... So Ying, you... guessed it when you saw Ah Huan reveal his immortal identity at the Qun Yu Pavilion... right?" Paimon was stunned and said, "No, no, no... That's not the question... Although this matter is also very shocking, but, but, but, but why... Zhongli, why did you give the "Heart of God" to the Fatui!"

Mr. Zhongli's expression was indifferent, like a bottomless lake, without any other reaction, and his tone was as calm as the sound of an ancient bell, "It's not a gift, but a transaction based on a 'contract' - it's an agreement between me and the 'Ice Queen'."

"Is that so..." Ying frowned slightly, her brows furrowed as if she was worried, and her smile faded slightly, "It's just..."

"Yeah," Paimon echoed from the side, hands on hips, cheeks puffed up, face full of anger, "And! Your fake death was really too much! Everyone held a ceremony to welcome you with all their heart, and what happened? Suddenly a dragon fell from the sky, and Liyue Harbor was instantly in chaos. It almost caused a disaster!"

Lin Huan couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Sir, there is a reason for this..."

The lady spoke calmly at this time, with a hint of sarcasm in her words, "Haha... Gathering the undercurrents surging under the water, applying pressure to the limit and then letting it explode, isn't this exactly what he hopes to see?"

Paimon's little head was in a state of confusion again, "Huh?"

Zhongli turned around and looked at Lin Huan, with a soft and tender smile in his eyes, like the warm sun shining on the quiet lake, "Ah Huan, let me explain it myself."

As he spoke, he slowly turned around and looked at the traveler. His tone was low and soothing, as if he was telling an ancient and distant story. "As you know, I have spent more than 6,000 years in this world. I founded Liyue with the immortals. That was 3,700 years ago."

He raised his head slightly, slowly closed his eyes, and let out a low sigh. The sigh seemed to carry the vicissitudes of life. "...The rock that cannot be broken by the whirlpool will also be gradually worn away by the ruthless erosion of time. It's just that I keep convincing myself that the day when it will be worn away and cracked has not yet come."

"Until... one drizzly day, I was walking in the harbor and heard a merchant praising his subordinates: 'You have completed your duty. Now, go and rest.'" As he spoke, he reached out and gently held the hand of Lin Huan standing beside him, as if drawing warmth and strength from that hand, and whispered, "At that time, I stood for a long time among the bustling crowd, and kept asking myself in my heart: Have I completed my duty...?"

Paimeng seemed to understand. She looked at Zhongli seriously, but her tone unconsciously dropped. She called softly: "Zhongli..."