Solace Book House.
At this moment, a pillar of golden light descended from the sky, instantly drawing everyone's attention inside the shop.
"Huh? Why is there suddenly golden light again?
Did someone else get a reward?"
Cloud Retainer looked puzzled.
There were only a few of them left in the shop now, weren't there?
"It's the Peace Star!
It has to be the Peace Star taking effect!"
Xiao suddenly became excited.
His words immediately reminded everyone else.
"That's right! Boss Han already told us to wait just now—this must be the effect!"
"Fantastic! We can finally see the Geo Archon again!"
"When His Excellency returns, we must ask who assassinated him and take revenge!"
"Exactly! Because of that person, we wasted a Peace Star!"
A Peace Star could grant any wish.
The things it could accomplish were countless.
If it weren't for reviving the Geo Archon, Cloud Retainer and the others would never have used it so lightly.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
What mattered most was confirming the Geo Archon's return.
The adepti stared at the golden pillar with anticipation, hoping to see the familiar figure emerge from within.
"Boss… can the Geo Archon really be revived?"
Watching the golden light, Noelle couldn't help but ask.
At first, she had been half-doubtful, but judging by the current situation, it really did seem possible.
"Just keep watching and you'll know."
A faint smile appeared on Han Feng's lips.
He had already figured it out.
If Zhongli had truly been assassinated, then the Peace Star could indeed revive him.
But the problem was—
Zhongli had only faked his death.
Since he wasn't dead in the first place, how could he be revived?
At most, the Peace Star would simply act according to Cloud Retainer's wish and bring him over whole and unharmed.
Which meant—
This Peace Star was effectively wasted.
"I wonder what expressions they'll make once they learn the truth."
A hint of anticipation flashed through Han Feng's eyes.
At that moment, the golden light inside the shop slowly faded.
A figure appeared before everyone—
It was Zhongli, summoned by the golden light.
"This is… Boss Han's manga shop?"
Zhongli wasn't flustered. Instead, he calmly surveyed his surroundings.
After realizing where he was, he looked slightly surprised.
"Did Boss Han summon me here?"
The thought crossed his mind quickly.
After all, when that golden light enveloped him earlier, he had felt no ability to resist, as if the force came from an entirely different dimension.
If it was Boss Han—
then it made sense.
"Boss Han, you… why are all of you here?"
Zhongli was about to ask what was going on when he suddenly noticed Xiao and the others, freezing on the spot.
They were actually here reading manga?!
No wonder Lumine hadn't been able to find Madame Ping earlier.
"Your Excellency! You're finally revived—this is wonderful!"
Seeing Zhongli, the adepti excitedly rushed toward him.
Although they had never seen this mortal form before, that aura—
They would never mistake it.
This was the Geo Archon, without a doubt!
It seemed the Peace Star had not been wasted after all.
"Wait—revived?
And why is there a slime in Boss Han's shop?"
Faced with his overly enthusiastic old friends and their words, Zhongli was momentarily confused.
"Your Excellency, I'm not a slime.
I'm Cloud Retainer."
Cloud Retainer said helplessly.
If anyone else had said that, she would have already jumped up and punched them.
But since it was the Geo Archon—
She let it slide.
"You're Cloud Retainer?"
Zhongli was taken aback.
Wasn't Cloud Retainer originally an adeptus crane?
How did she turn into a slime?
But Zhongli quickly put two and two together.
"Is this… another one of Boss Han's rewards?"
"Yes, yes. It's because of a Slime Experience Card.
I'll recover after seven days."
Cloud Retainer sighed.
Wait—
Something felt wrong.
If I really drew a Peace Star…
Doesn't that mean I'll have to stay a slime forever?!
A terrifying thought flashed through her mind.
No!
She had to ask Boss Han later!
She absolutely had to confirm this!
"Then just endure it for seven days."
Zhongli shook his head.
If it was Boss Han's reward, there was nothing to be done.
Then, after a brief pause, he turned to Xiao.
"Explain everything to me from the beginning."
From the fragments of conversation, he already had a rough idea.
But he still needed confirmation.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Xiao nodded and began recounting the events—
From Cloud Retainer learning of the Geo Archon's 'death', to searching for the adepti at Mt. Aocang and Wangshu Inn, then confronting Ningguang, encountering the demon god, and finally, after defeating the demon god, coming to the manga shop in search of a way to revive him.
After hearing the entire story, Zhongli remained silent for a long time.
He truly hadn't expected his old friends to go this far.
If the Geo Archon died, then revive him—simple logic.
Zhongli couldn't help but feel both amused and touched.
"This was my oversight.
I didn't consider Boss Han's manga shop."
Zhongli sighed.
Who could have imagined that something capable of reviving the dead even existed?
Especially since these people had such outrageous luck and actually drew one.
Thinking of this, Zhongli asked curiously,
"So… what reward did you use to revive me?"
Xiao had mentioned the revival, but not the method.
So Zhongli was genuinely curious.
"It was this Peace Star!
You can make a wish with it, and any wish will come true.
This is what we used to revive you."
Cloud Retainer gestured toward the Peace Star fragments floating in the air.
Originally, it had been a complete sphere.
After the wish, it shattered into fragments.
"Any wish can come true?"
Zhongli was stunned.
If that were true, this Peace Star was far too terrifying.
It was on the same level as the If-Phone Booth he had seen in Doraemon.
"Yes, yes! This was a reward I got through a burst of incredible luck!"
Cloud Retainer said proudly.
Though… the price paid might have been a little high.
Zhongli: "..."
What was he even supposed to say?
If he had truly been assassinated, then using the Peace Star would have been worthwhile.
But he hadn't died at all.
Which meant—
This wish merely teleported him from Liyue to here.
In other words—
A divine, reality-defying treasure had been completely wasted.
Thinking of such an incredible artifact being used up for nothing…
Even someone as composed as Zhongli felt an overwhelming urge—
to hit someone.
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