The beautiful woman was none other than the Geo Archon, Morax. Bai Luo had a pretty good idea of this.
Let's be honest, how many people in Liyue Harbor would dare to carry an umbrella with the intricate "Fangsheng" pattern and wear robes adorned with dragon motifs? Add to that the unique diamond-shaped pupils that only the Geo Archon possessed... it could only be him.
There had long been rumors that the Geo Archon often walked among mortals in the guise of an ordinary person. Bai Luo never expected that "ordinary" to mean this ordinary.
No wonder such rumors persisted. Whenever the Geo Archon appeared, the owners of inns or teahouses probably noticed something unusual about him but simply played along with his act.
"How's your injury healing?"
Walking in the rain, the Geo Archon's question made Bai Luo pause for a moment. He knew what this question implied—the Archon probably just wanted to beat him up.
However, the Geo Archon didn't ask about the "Fairy Glitter," likely because he didn't think it was necessary.
"Dr. Bai's skills are truly unmatched. There's almost no trace left, and I've mostly recovered."
Should he pretend to still be injured? He wanted to, but his energetic demeanor made it clear he wasn't hurt.
No wonder the Geo Archon had approached him in this form. It seemed the Archon had seen through his tricks and wanted to prevent him from faking an injury to avoid a fight.
"What about the contract...?"
As expected, the Geo Archon brought up the contract with a smile, as if he had been storing up elemental energy for days, ready to start with a "Planet Befall" right off the bat.
"The contract..."
Bai Luo's eyes began to wander, as if searching for a way out. Unfortunately, aside from the rain, there was nothing else around.
Wait... water?
"Of course, I've actually been wanting to have a proper battle with the Geo Archon to see how far I am from a god's power."
Bai Luo's face once again showed that deceptive smile. His every movement exuded a strange confidence, as if he believed he wouldn't suffer too much in a fight against the Geo Archon.
"Oh? Shall we meet at the usual place then?"
The Geo Archon grew even more intrigued by Bai Luo's inexplicable confidence. What gave him this confidence? That beam of light that pierced the heavens?
Admittedly, the Geo Archon acknowledged that the light was impressive enough to warrant his attention, but it wasn't exactly a trump card. Or... did Bai Luo have some new trick up his sleeve?
Thinking about Bai Luo's ability to freely change his appearance, the Geo Archon became even more convinced of his own speculation.
"The usual place, but I hope the Geo Archon can give me three days. After three days, I'll definitely be there. The Fatui always keep their word."
Bai Luo looked into the Geo Archon's diamond-shaped eyes and spoke with sincerity. But given the Geo Archon's understanding of him, whether this sincerity was genuine was another matter entirely.
"Very well. The Fatui's reputation for keeping promises is indeed quite good."
The idea that the Fatui had a good reputation might sound laughable, but it was an undeniable fact. These people from the northern nation were more reliable in matters of trust than even the self-proclaimed righteous Fontaine.
If the Fatui said they'd deal with you, they'd make sure you were dealt with within three days. If they said they wouldn't touch you, they'd coexist peacefully with you.
According to statistics, the Northland Bank, a business from Snezhnaya, had the fewest commercial disputes in Liyue this year and had not received a single complaint so far.
Though Osial's buffet seemed to be getting more crowded.
"Your Tsaritsa has proposed a contract to me."
As they walked, the Geo Archon suddenly mentioned this, making Bai Luo wonder how the Archon planned to trap him this time.
But he played along, saying, "Regarding this contract, the Harbinger in charge of Liyue, Childe, should know about it. I'm responsible for Inazuma."
"Inazuma? You really know how to pick, don't you?"
Even though he already knew Bai Luo was responsible for Inazuma, hearing it directly from him made the Geo Archon give him another look.
The Geo Archon was more aware of Inazuma's situation than most, and he had heard some of its secrets. In terms of difficulty, it was practically a hellish starting point, wasn't it?
"Tell me about it. But I didn't have much of a choice."
When it came to this, Bai Luo couldn't help but sigh. The more time he spent in Liyue, the more he grew to like the place—except for the Geo Archon who always wanted to beat him up, Baizhu who wanted to poke him with needles, the adepti who wanted to stab him with spears, Childe who wanted to fight him...
Wait a minute... maybe I should just leave early?
The more Bai Luo thought about it, the more he realized something was off. It seemed he had managed to provoke every dangerous figure in Liyue, making even the hazardous Inazuma seem peaceful in comparison.
Teasing Kujou Sara, bullying Sayu, pressuring Kamisato Ayato... could life get any better?
Wait... speaking of dogs, what about the cat? Was it still stuck in the tree at the training ground? Had it starved to death by now?
Under the cherry blossom tree at Tenshukaku, a small white cat sneezed while munching on a fish. This worried Kujou Sara, who was feeding it.
Can cats catch colds?
"Returning to the topic at hand, envoy from Snezhnaya, I ask you this: if this nation were to lose the protection of its god, what would become of it?"
This time, the Geo Archon didn't address Bai Luo by name but by his title. In other words, the Geo Archon was now speaking to him on a national level.
"Times change, and so do gods. Just as the Tsaritsa created us, the Geo Archon could try placing his trust in them."
Bai Luo knew that the Geo Archon's hesitation wasn't due to a reluctance to relinquish power. Even stone wears away over time, and under such erosion, the Archon was more eager than anyone to retire.
But could a land that had walked alongside gods adapt to the new era? The Geo Archon must have been anxious about this.
He was like an elderly man, stumbling along, wanting to let his child grow strong but also fearing it couldn't withstand the storms of life.
In a way, Liyue was indeed that child, always sheltered under his wings.
"If the Geo Archon is truly worried, why not create an opportunity to observe it? If it passes your test, you can confidently fulfill your contract with the Tsaritsa. Even if it doesn't pass, you can still use your divine power to help it overcome the challenges and guide it to grow, then set new tests for it."
What Bai Luo was suggesting was essentially what the Geo Archon had done in the original story. His words were more of a catalyst, sparking a plan that had long been buried in the Geo Archon's heart.
"Then... what kind of test would be appropriate?"
Should he have the adepti put on a show? But that didn't seem reliable, as the adepti still had feelings for Liyue. If they were to act, it wouldn't achieve the desired effect.
So...
"Do you remember Osial, whom you sealed away?"
Seeing the Geo Archon deep in thought, Bai Luo smiled mysteriously and reminded him.