Caelus looked curiously at Morax, who was sitting opposite him.
The other party had changed into a different set of clothes, and his entire demeanor had become much calmer, no longer carrying the overbearing presence from before.
"You may address me as Zhongli from now on, young friend."
Zhongli nodded to Caelus, then picked up the tea on the table, gently blew on it, took a sip, and continued.
"May I ask what brings you to Liyue, young friend?"
"I am a Traveler."
"Because of some experiences in the past, I have lost many things."
"I need to regain the emotions in my heart and retrieve what was lost by learning different stories, experiencing various events, and witnessing different landscapes."
"Your condition sounds as if you have experienced erosion, to the point that you have lost much of your past."
"Erosion?"
"Everything in this world eventually cannot escape the erosion of time."
"Even the hardest rock will eventually change under the action of time and even turn into dust."
"Even for an immortal god, over the long passage of time, witnessing the deaths of friends one after another and sending off many young people they once valued, such erosion will eventually worsen their temperament. It will lead to the loss of past memories and even cause drastic personality changes."
"When erosion reaches its end, consciousness dies, leaving behind only a mad body."
When Zhongli said this, his eyes seemed to recall many past events, and his tone inevitably carried a trace of sorrow.
After listening, Caelus felt that this was like a burden and damage inflicted on the consciousness and emotions of intelligent beings by the long passage of time, eventually leading to a feeling of falling toward nothingness.
Nothingness itself is a manifestation of emotion.
After experiencing too many things and becoming indifferent to too many things, causing one's humanity to gradually thin, one will inevitably fall toward nothingness.
Since nothingness itself is a manifestation of emotion, could the Eater of Emotions Mask devour the emotion of nothingness?
"Mr. Zhongli, I possess the ability to devour the emotions of others."
"The erosion you speak of is somewhat similar to the concept of Nihility as I understand it."
"I wonder if you would be willing to let me take a bite and see whether I can eat away your erosion?"
Upon hearing this, Zhongli paused slightly. Then he slowly set down the teacup in his hand and looked at the young man in front of him.
The two stared at each other for a moment. There was no emotion in those dim golden eyes.
"Very well."
"I trust my old friend."
"Although he is often unreliable, he rarely bestows blessings upon others."
"Since he gave you that blessing, it is a form of recognition."
"Then go ahead and try. If something goes wrong, there is no need to force it."
"Alright."
Caelus took out the mask and put it on his face.
Zhongli was certain that when Caelus put on the mask with only a mouth drawn on it, his entire aura changed.
The previous Caelus felt like a background character. Even though he had excellent looks and appearance, he could not attract anyone's attention.
Even if someone's gaze landed on him, it would shift away after a brief moment, and people would not remember him for long.
But now Caelus felt like a gourmet diner, dressed properly, wearing a napkin, holding a knife and fork, preparing to evaluate a dish cooked by a chef.
Elegant and proper, yet carrying a hint of wildness and arrogance, like a beast hunting its prey.
Zhongli could even see the mouth drawn on the mask suddenly come alive.
That mouth was grinning at him, baring its teeth.
Pale teeth and bright red gums were completely exposed, as if someone had used a knife to slice open the corners of the mouth so that every tooth was visible. It looked grotesque and unsettling.
Zhongli calmly watched this scene.
To be honest, scenes far more terrifying than this were common during the Archon War.
However, if an ordinary person, or a creature carrying intense emotions that the other party strongly desired to consume, saw this scene, they would probably be extremely frightened, just like Xiao earlier.
As for Caelus himself, who was wearing this strange mask, he honestly felt nothing at all.
At this moment he was slowly eating away the nothingness born from erosion within the heart of Mr. Zhongli, also known as Morax.
"It feels like eating stones. It is strenuous, hard, and tasteless when chewed."
"Although stones should have some earthy flavor or bitterness, this feels exactly like when I eat normally. There is no taste at all."
While this gourmet evaluation continued, Zhongli could clearly feel something inside his body and mind being bitten off piece by piece.
Afterward, his body actually felt a little lighter. Even his heart, which had remained silent for many years, seemed slightly more active.
After the strange chewing sound continued for a full half hour, Caelus removed the mask and subconsciously rubbed his face.
Although the eating was not physical, he truly felt as if he had been gnawing on stones for half an hour.
Zhongli remained seated in silence until Caelus finished.
He slowly exhaled and said.
"Thank you for your help, young friend."
"I feel much lighter than before, as if many burdens have been set down."
"I have even recalled some forgotten things from the past. The limit I once expected has been pushed back considerably."
"You have done me a great favor."
"I wonder what reward you would like. If you have any requests, as long as they are within my acceptable range, I will do my best."
"Hmm, I would like to know some secret stories of this continent, stories unknown to the vast majority of people."
After hearing this, Zhongli was silent for a long time. Finally he said helplessly, "Young friend, perhaps you do not know that many past events on this continent cannot be mentioned."
"Some things are better kept in one's heart. If they are spread or recorded, they may truly invite disaster."
"Oh. Then tell me one that is not so secret."
"Very well. Then I will tell you the story of a god who was killed by the people she loved."
"She possessed the authority of salt. She was the least willing to fight, a god who constantly chose compromise."
Zhongli then recounted the story of the God of Salt, Havria.
Caelus finished recording the story. After Zhongli drank some water to moisten his throat, Caelus asked,
"Even though they were not of the same race, and even though she possessed the power to kill them easily, why was she ultimately willing to be killed by them?"
"Because she loved those people, just as we do."
"As expected, love makes people lose reason and willingly give everything."
"It is indeed an extreme and chaotic emotion."
"Your way of understanding it, young friend, can be considered reasonable."
"Many living beings are always willing to pay any price for the things they desire, obtain, and love."
[Main Quest Progress 1/3]
It seemed that the truth behind the death of the God of Salt counted as one of the secrets according to the system's judgment.
(To be continued.)