Ren Kai frowned and looked at Zhongli, Azhdaha, and Guizhong.
"Let these matters fade with the wind."
"I do not wish for any of you to come into conflict with Celestia."
Ren Kai spoke calmly.
Deep down, he understood the terrifying power of the Heavenly Principles.
It was far beyond what any Archon could resist.
The warmth and peace of Liyue must never become the next Khaenri'ah.
"…I understand."
Zhongli stood there silently.
Only after a long pause did he finally speak.
"You two are still injured, yet you came here tonight."
"Is there something else going on?"
Ren Kai did not believe that a simple gathering would bring Zhongli and Azhdaha here in their wounded states.
Thinking of the hilichurls and Abyss forces appearing in large numbers—
Khaenri'ah's fate must already be approaching.
Azhdaha glanced at Zhongli but said nothing.
Zhongli sighed helplessly.
"When I fought the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles…"
"She came to find me herself."
"It was because of Khaenri'ah."
His tone was heavy with helplessness.
Inside, he was still struggling with the truth.
"Khaenri'ah represents the pinnacle of human civilization."
"But they became arrogant."
"Born as humans, yet they sought to uncover forbidden secrets."
"They even allied themselves with the Abyss."
"The most terrifying part… was their ambition to unify all of Teyvat."
"This is something Celestia cannot tolerate."
"Any force capable of threatening the world of Teyvat must be destroyed."
"Celestia has already cast a curse upon Khaenri'ah."
"Many of its weaker citizens have already gone mad."
"And the stronger ones are preparing to resist."
"The Sustainer's request was simple."
"In six months, the Seven Archons will join together to destroy Khaenri'ah."
After saying this, Zhongli fell silent again.
The matter had made him realize something deeply unsettling.
Once a nation grew strong enough—
It inevitably became a thorn in Celestia's side.
"…Why didn't you tell me?"
Guizhong also fell into thought.
She had never expected a godless nation like Khaenri'ah to reach such a point.
If that was their fate—
What would become of Liyue in the future?
"If I hadn't dragged him here to meet Lord Rexas…"
"He would have kept this from both you and Rexas."
Azhdaha said with a troubled expression.
"You… hmph!"
"I'm not talking to you anymore."
Guizhong glared at Zhongli.
She hated his habit of hiding terrible news behind silence.
"Khaenri'ah…"
Ren Kai sighed softly.
He had long known that Khaenri'ah would be destroyed.
According to the story he once knew, their fate was partly their own doing.
But the curse Celestia had placed upon them—
It was cruel beyond measure.
It was clearly meant as a warning to the Seven Archons.
"Liyue must prepare for war."
"Khaenri'ah will not sit quietly and accept destruction."
"Their retaliation will certainly possess the power to devastate the other nations."
Ren Kai said seriously.
There was no way to save Khaenri'ah now.
Six months was far too little time.
The curse had already fallen.
"…Understood."
"I'll listen to you, big brother."
Guizhong nodded seriously toward Ren Kai.
Then she shot Zhongli a displeased look.
Serves you right for hiding things from me.
"War…"
Marchosius looked up at the sky with a confused expression.
His voice carried quiet resignation.
"You two should recover your strength as soon as possible."
"I'll accelerate my own preparations as well."
Ren Kai looked at Zhongli and Azhdaha.
Zhongli would soon head toward the most dangerous battlefield.
If Azhdaha were at full strength, Liyue would remain safe.
As for Ren Kai—
He still needed to watch over Inazuma and Raiden Makoto.
But with the main battlefield being Khaenri'ah…
There was no way he would miss it.
"…Understood."
Zhongli and Azhdaha both nodded.
"The calm before the storm."
Guizhong quietly concluded.
The atmosphere immediately grew heavy.
Then—
"Haha, there's no need to worry so much."
"It's only a small war."
"Everyone should go rest."
Ren Kai smiled calmly.
After all—
No war could intimidate the God of War.
"Hehe, then I can go back and sleep peacefully."
Guizhong instantly returned to her playful self and happily walked beside Zhongli.
"Heh. Coming here to see Lord Rexas was the right decision."
Azhdaha laughed cheerfully while looking at Zhongli.
"Always trust Lord Rexas."
Marchosius grinned in his usual simple way.
Seeing everyone regain their confidence after Ren Kai spoke, Zhongli could not help recalling their past battles.
Whenever he fought beside Rexas—
They had never lost.
"…Yes."
"Liyue and everyone here will remain safe."
"Big brother, we'll take our leave now."
Zhongli said with a confident smile.
"Go on."
Ren Kai's calm smile reassured everyone.
After Zhongli and the others left, Ren Kai returned to the room.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"The memories of the War God Rexas are really influencing me."
"My personality is starting to resemble his."
He could clearly feel the change within himself.
Once he had faced war with the mindset of an ordinary person.
Now—
He could greet it with a calm smile.
"Perhaps that's part of the fun."
"The more mysteries there are, the more motivated I feel to face them."
Ren Kai chuckled softly.
For now, those complicated mysteries would have to wait.
His true priority was increasing his strength.
He opened the system interface again.
[Uchiha Madara]
Role-Playing Progress: 28%
Strength: Late Super-Kage Level
Eye Power: Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan
Authority: War (Not Activated)
"Twenty-eight percent…"
"I wonder if reaching thirty percent will unlock the Rinnegan."
Ren Kai smiled with anticipation.
This template was his greatest trump card.
He walked to the bedside where Qiqi and Yae Miko were sleeping.
Sitting cross-legged beside them, he began cultivating.
The mountains of Liyue at night were terrifying—even for adepti.
In a hilichurl camp deep in the mountains, human screams echoed.
Chaos.
Fear.
Despair.
"This is giving me quite the headache."
Cloud Retainer sighed helplessly while gazing at the hilichurl tribe below the mountain.
Those cursed citizens of Khaenri'ah no longer looked human.
They rolled on the ground, clutching their heads and screaming in madness.
"Is there any way to relieve their suffering?"
Ping'er asked quietly beside her.
"…None."
"This is a curse from the gods."
Cloud Retainer replied with a helpless expression.
"Sigh… then let's return."
"This has been going on for so long, and we still see no hope."
Ping'er sighed and turned away.
The people of Khaenri'ah were innocent.
Yet the curse fell upon everyone equally.
The weak had already gone mad.
The strong were preparing for war.
Morning arrived.
The pink fox, Yae Miko, was suddenly awakened.
This time it wasn't Ren Kai who woke her—
It was Qiqi.
Yae opened her eyes and saw Qiqi happily jumping on the bed.
"Yae, wake up!"
"Come do morning exercises with me!"
"Big brother taught me this!"
Qiqi said with a bright smile.
She began performing the Ninth Set of Radio Calisthenics—"Youthful Vitality."
"…."
Yae Miko stared at her silently.
Her expression was pure disbelief.
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