Xiao was so startled that he nearly revealed himself from hiding.
Fortunately, Jiang Bai's attention was fully focused on Zhongli, oblivious to Xiao concealed in the shadows.
He looked at Rex Lapis, utterly perplexed as to why his lord would suddenly take a disciple.
"Hmph, I knew it! You deliberately gave me busywork so you could sneak off and cause trouble. Surprised I finished so quickly?" Jiang Bai crossed his arms, his face clearly saying I've seen right through you.
Zhongli calmly took the cup Xiao had used, moved it aside, and replaced it with a fresh one, pouring wine into it and gesturing Jiang Bai to sit.
"And what if I did? What if I didn't?"
Jiang Bai sank into his seat, puffing out his cheeks indignantly, and turned his head away.
"Nothing, obviously."
Ever since Jiang Bai saw through his supposed schemes, Zhongli didn't even bother pretending anymore, openly showing his true colors—yet Jiang Bai could do nothing about it.
So irritating!
"Let me see what you've brought," Zhongli prompted.
Obediently, Jiang Bai took out the six ceremonial offerings he'd painstakingly acquired: dried meat, red dates, celery, dried longan, lotus seeds, and red beans, all laid out neatly on the table.
Zhongli scanned the items briefly. "Not bad; they're all indeed high-quality ingredients."
"You promised you'd accept me as a disciple if I gathered these! Don't even think about backing out now!" Jiang Bai watched him warily, afraid he'd renege.
Zhongli took a sip of wine, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Weren't you unwilling earlier?"
"You're about to become the next Geo Archon! Only a fool would refuse!" Jiang Bai declared shamelessly.
Hidden in the darkness, Xiao nearly lost his composure, his grip tightening reflexively around the [Primordial Jade Winged-Spear].
"You're mistaken. I have no intention of becoming the Geo Archon again. Knowing this, do you still wish to become my disciple?"
"Really?" Jiang Bai looked skeptical.
Zhongli said nothing further, simply awaiting his response.
Jiang Bai seriously considered the question.
He understood Zhongli was giving him a moment to think it over carefully. After all, formally acknowledging a master wasn't trivial—not everyone was like Xiangling, who casually took multiple masters.
A master is both a teacher and a father figure.
To guide, instruct, and clarify doubts.
Zhongli was the one who had led him onto the path of controlling elements. Whenever he faced uncertainties, his first instinct was to seek Zhongli's guidance—even on matters Hu Tao was unaware of. In Jiang Bai's heart, Zhongli had long since held the role of a mentor.
Formally becoming his disciple would simply deepen their existing bond.
Earlier, he'd joked that the hundred million Mora was Zhongli's retirement fund. Now, once he formally became Zhongli's disciple, he would genuinely be responsible for Zhongli's retirement.
Truthfully, he'd already made up his mind when gathering these items; his stubbornness was merely a front.
It made no real difference to him whether Zhongli was the next Geo Archon or simply Mr. Zhongli.
After all, he'd even ridden on the back of the Anemo Archon without feeling particularly extraordinary.
"Of course, I'll become your disciple. You think I only respect you because you might become the next Geo Archon?" Jiang Bai drained his cup of wine confidently. "To tell you the truth, when my leg was broken in Mondstadt, the Anemo Archon himself carried me out of the city!"
Clatter—
A roof tile shattered above.
Jiang Bai looked suspiciously toward the roof. "Is there something up there? Why did I hear a noise?"
"Perhaps a bird landed poorly," Zhongli replied casually without turning around, hiding his amused smile behind his cup.
"Oh, I'll inspect it tomorrow. Wouldn't want it leaking during the rain and ruining your precious collection," Jiang Bai muttered, not giving it much thought—after all, who would suspect an invisible adeptus secretly eavesdropping on the roof?
"The Anemo Archon carried you? You've never mentioned this before."
"Well, I didn't want you thinking that gods aren't anything special, so I kept quiet," Jiang Bai took another sip of wine.
Now that the Geo Archon was dead, such things didn't seem important anymore.
"You have no idea, but the Anemo Archon was actually traveling with us. That lady from the Fatui beat him up horribly. She kicked him straight into a wall and then snatched his [Gnosis] right out of his chest!"
Crack—
Another tile broke on the roof.
"Why are birds constantly falling onto your roof?" Jiang Bai frowned upward, suspecting something was amiss.
Why was it always right at the critical moments of his stories?
Yet under the clear moonlight, the roof appeared empty.
"Perhaps the tiles are just old and worn out," Zhongli remarked absently.
But the incident Jiang Bai described clearly piqued his interest. "Was what you just said true?"
Jiang Bai nodded earnestly. "I kept quiet out of respect for the Anemo Archon's dignity, but it's all true. He's now disguised as a mortal bard living in Mondstadt. La Signora mocked him for abandoning governance, weakening his divine powers. Considering he couldn't fight back, her words seemed accurate."
Zhongli lowered his gaze in thoughtful silence, saying nothing further.
After a long moment, he finally raised his cup, signaling the end of the conversation.
"It's late. Go home and rest."
"Oh." Jiang Bai walked two steps away before turning abruptly back. "So, are you still going to accept me?"
"With Liyue currently restless, the Glaze Lilies sensitive to turmoil will not bloom. Only after this matter concludes can they bloom once more."
"Then when they bloom, I'll collect the dew again. If they don't bloom for months, could we use Sweet Flower nectar instead?"
Zhongli stared expressionlessly at him. Jiang Bai laughed awkwardly, fleeing hurriedly into the night.
Only after Jiang Bai's figure disappeared completely did Xiao emerge from the shadows once again.
"My Lord..." Xiao's emotions were extremely complicated.
His lord suddenly wished to take a disciple, and now he'd learned the Anemo Archon had his [Gnosis] forcibly taken.
Tonight's revelations were simply too stimulating.
"Are you really planning to accept him as your disciple?"
"If, once this matter concludes, the Qixing prove capable of protecting Liyue, then I shall no longer be Rex Lapis. But if they fail my test, then the mortal known as Zhongli will cease to exist."
Xiao finally understood.
Zhongli intended to take a disciple only as the mortal Zhongli, not as Rex Lapis training an heir for Liyue.
His heart eased slightly at the thought.
Imagining Jiang Bai becoming the Geo Archon's official disciple and becoming even more brazen filled him with dread.
Thank goodness.
Xiao harbored neither envy nor disappointment. Rex Lapis had saved him from slavery under the cruel deity who once controlled him—such kindness was already more than he could ever hope for. Naturally, he would never envy anyone Rex Lapis favored.
"About the Anemo Archon... Was he truly..." Xiao hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.
"With his character, it was likely intentional," Zhongli replied calmly.
Turning the teacup gently in his hand, Zhongli narrowed his eyes at the moonlit bamboo forest, his tone growing colder.
"However, the Fatui truly are becoming overly brazen..."
---
T/N: 4 chapters since i was gonna update yesterday but didnt, bonus chaps are tomorrow and uhhh no character note for thisweek
heres my patreon (patreon.com/wisetl) and heres the powerstone rewardsss Every 100 Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter. 100ps = 1 chp 200ps = 2 chp 300ps = 3 chp etc. uhhh for legal matters, my patreon is only there if you wanna support me yep yep with the added bonus of reading ahead OH OH also heres the discord link discord.gg/wisetl