Strictly speaking, this matter couldn't really be blamed on the adepti.
After all, everything they did was out of respect and loyalty toward the Geo Archon.
Thinking about this, Zhongli felt a trace of warmth in his heart.
To have such devoted subordinates was, in truth, his good fortune.
From another perspective, the only one to blame was himself.
If he had informed at least some people in advance when he faked his death, perhaps none of this would have happened.
"Ah well… what is fated will come, and what is not fated cannot be forced."
After a long while, Zhongli sighed and chose not to dwell on the matter any further.
However, the expressions on the faces of the adepti were… strange.
Why did the Geo Archon look so depressed after being "revived"?
Xiao didn't dwell on that point and instead asked what they had been concerned about earlier.
"Your Excellency, who exactly assassinated you during the Rite of Descension?
Was it Fatui?"
He clearly remembered Ningguang mentioning that possibility.
"Yes, Your Excellency! If it really was Fatui, we'll go take revenge right now!"
"Exactly! Even if Snezhnaya is powerful, showing such disrespect to the Geo Archon is outrageous!"
"Even if His Excellency has revived, this matter cannot simply be let go!"
Once this topic came up, the adepti grew increasingly fired up.
Zhongli suddenly felt awkward.
If he told them the truth—that all of this was merely his own plan to retire—would they explode on the spot?
After all, in order to "revive" him, they had used up a Peace Star.
After the battle with the Overlord of the Vortex, everyone involved knew just how precious a Peace Star was.
Still, seeing their concern for him, Zhongli decided not to hide anything.
"In truth… There was no assassin.
From beginning to end, this was all part of my plan."
He then explained his entire retirement plan.
"Ahem… judging by the outcome, the assessment was reasonably successful."
"So that's what Boss Han meant by 'kind of dead'…"
After hearing the truth, Noelle finally understood.
This was the first time she had ever seen a god fake their own death.
"Could it be that, like Lord Barbatos, he also grew tired of the mortal world?"
Noelle silently pondered.
Meanwhile, the adepti stared at one another in stunned silence.
So… all their frantic running around had been for nothing?
They fought a demon god, and the Geo Archon was watching from the sidelines the entire time?!
The Cloud Retainer froze completely.
"S-so… we wasted a Peace Star for nothing?"
To obtain that Peace Star and save the Geo Archon, she had even sworn to become a slime for life!
And now this?!
The Geo Archon wasn't dead at all.
He didn't need reviving in the first place!
Cloud Retainer felt her heart turn ice-cold.
"By the principles of universal rationality… yes."
Zhongli nodded calmly.
At this point, there was no changing it.
"Then I'm doomed!"
Remembering her earlier declaration, Cloud Retainer hurriedly bounced over to the counter.
"Boss Han! I'm not really going to stay a slime forever, am I?!"
Her small face was filled with panic.
If it were any other shop, she wouldn't take it seriously.
But this was Boss Han's shop—she genuinely couldn't be sure.
If reviving the Geo Archon truly required it, she would accept becoming a slime.
But now—
Not only was the Peace Star wasted, she might end up a slime on top of that?!
This was a catastrophic loss!
"What do you think?"
Han Feng smiled faintly.
"But Boss Han, your shop has so many miraculous rewards—there must be a solution, right?"
Cloud Retainer asked desperately.
She really didn't want to spend eternity as a slime.
The famed beauty of ten villages, or an elegant, immortal adeptus—weren't those far better?!
"It's simple. A Peace Star would do."
Han Feng said with a smile.
"A Peace Star? But I have—"
Cloud Retainer's eyes lit up as she turned around—
Only to see the Peace Star fragments floating in the air.
Her face instantly drooped.
"…It's gone. I already used it to revive the Geo Archon."
"Waaah—!"
The thought of being stuck as a slime forever made her burst into tears.
She had worked so hard… and gained absolutely nothing— instead, she ended up suffering herself.
It was simply too tragic.
The other adepti couldn't help but feel sympathetic.
They were happy the Geo Archon was safe, but Cloud Retainer had truly drawn the short straw.
Unfortunately, there was nothing they could do.
If resistance was impossible, then acceptance was the only option.
"Don't worry. You managed to get a Peace Star this time—there's a chance you'll get another next time."
Han Feng comforted her with a gentle smile.
But hearing that only made Cloud Retainer feel worse.
This time, she had traded a lifetime as a slime for it.
What could she trade next time?
Surely she couldn't use someone else's life—
…Hmm?
Wait.
Ganyu?
Cloud Retainer's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Next time, I'll try using Ganyu's love fate instead!
Who knows—maybe I'll get another Peace Star!"
The moment that thought appeared, her mood instantly improved.
At this point, Zhongli turned to Madame Ping.
"May I borrow your Cleansing Bell?"
"Your Excellency needs it for…?"
Madame Ping asked curiously, though she still handed it over.
"The Rite of Parting requires this item."
Zhongli explained with a smile.
After bidding farewell, he left immediately.
Time was tight—there was still much to do.
"So the Geo Archon is personally organizing his own Rite of Parting…"
Madame Ping's expression turned strange.
She understood his wish to retire, but holding his own funeral still felt… odd.
"Perhaps His Excellency has deeper intentions."
Xiao said thoughtfully.
In his heart, everything the Geo Archon did had meaning.
If he couldn't understand it, that only meant his own cultivation was lacking.
"…Should I try it someday too?"
Xiao quietly considered.
The others stared at him speechlessly.
We know you admire the Geo Archon, but isn't that going a little too far?!
Finally, Cloud Retainer clapped her hands decisively.
"Since the manga is finished and the Geo Archon's matter is resolved, let's leave!"
She needed to go back and 'discuss' things with Ganyu.
After all—
using her without saying anything first did feel a little inappropriate.
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