đź’– If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon. I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/DragonOP
--------------------
One hundred million deaths! Keqing had never imagined that war could lead to such a staggering, soul-crushing loss of life. She sat frozen, the number echoing in her mind like a death knell. But then, her sharp intellect kicked in. She realized something crucial and looked at Xu Luo in a state of sudden shock.
Xu Luo noticed the shift in her expression and offered a small, knowing smile. Are you starting to see the pattern now? Think about it. There hasn't been a single full-scale war between the Seven Nations of Teyvat in recorded history.
Aside from the Fatui from Snezhnaya causing trouble and stirring up friction in the shadows, there isn't any actual open conflict. This isn't a coincidence. It's all because of the existence of the Archons and the overarching Laws of Heaven. Under their watchful eyes, large-scale wars simply aren't permitted to happen. The supervision of the gods acts as a natural ceiling on human violence.
Xu Luo leaned back, his voice taking on a tone of deep reflection as he compared the two worlds. In the world I come from, there is no divine oversight. There are no Archons to step in when things go too far. Without that restraint, human beings fight to the death over their own interests, resources, and ideologies.
Wars of all sizes happen constantly throughout history. There's truly nothing more terrifying than a human being who isn't bound by any shackles. Even though I'm a human myself, I can't deny that the potential for evil in our nature is horrifying when left unchecked.
In the context of Teyvat, the fallen kingdom of Khaenri'ah served as a perfect, grim example. They had attempted to bypass the Laws of Heaven entirely. To the gods of Celestia, the act of operating without divine guidance was tantamount to a rebellion against the natural order of the world. Every world has its own set of operating rules, and Teyvat was no exception.
When out-of-this-world technology was introduced to a restless portion of the population, it created a kingdom that sought to defy the gods, eventually leading to the explosion of the Abyss and the cataclysm that followed. The common people generally don't care about the high-level politics of gods; they only care about who can provide them with a stable, prosperous life.
Under the rule of the Seven Archons, despite the occasional monster attack or localized incident, the people of Teyvat had enjoyed a peaceful and stable environment for centuries.
Keqing lowered her head, falling into a heavy silence. Xu Luo's points had hit the nail right on the head, and as much as she wanted to argue for total human independence, she couldn't refute the cold logic of his comparison. Teyvat was a world where gods were a tangible, physical reality, and the bond between humanity and the divine was a fundamental law dictated by the heavens themselves.
Xu Luo saw her discouraged look and reached over, gently patting her head. Don't look so down. While a complete, 100% rule of man might be impossible in a world like this, you can still implement a hybrid model. You can have a system where ordinary people handle the day-to-day governance, while Rex Lapis and the adepti remain as a final safety net.
Keqing immediately snapped out of her funk and raised her head, her vitality returning in an instant. Her eyes sparkled with renewed interest, and she was so focused on the idea that she completely ignored the fact that Xu Luo was currently patting her "cat-ear" hair buns. Tell me more! How would that work? Explain the details!
It's actually quite simple. In the past, Liyue's annual plan and its major administrative direction were formulated by Rex Lapis during the Rite of Descension. He coordinated the overall situation from the top down. What you should aim for is a shift where you, the Liyue Qixing, take over the decision-making process entirely. You implement the rule of man you've always wanted by running the nation yourselves. Meanwhile, Rex Lapis and the immortals only step in if Liyue falls into a crisis that is fundamentally beyond human capability to solve.
Keqing bit her lip, her mind racing as she processed the suggestion. It was a remarkably straightforward and direct change. In truth, the Geo Archon only manifested once a year anyway, and the adepti hadn't interfered in Liyue's city affairs for a very long time. Liyue's current operating mode was already leaning toward what Xu Luo described. The only missing piece was the formal transfer of the highest political authority from the hands of the god to the hands of the Liyue Qixing.
That's it! That's the answer! I'll do it exactly like that. When the next Rite of Descension arrives, I'll bring this up and discuss it with the Lord of Geo himself.
Keqing tapped her fist into the palm of her hand, her ultimate plan finally taking a concrete shape. In her mind, the feasibility was perfect. She just had to wait for the ceremony and convince the Geo Archon to officially hand over the reins. She had no doubt that Rex Lapis, in his infinite wisdom and strength, would see the merit in her proposal and agree to let humanity take the lead.
Seeing the look of longing and pure excitement on Keqing's face, Xu Luo felt a pang of guilt. He knew the truth that she didn't—that her idol, the Geo Archon, was already planning to fake his own death and retire on the very day of the ceremony. He couldn't bring himself to tell her, though. Even if he did, Keqing probably wouldn't believe him. Besides, speaking ill of her hero or predicting his demise right after they had established a friendship would be a disaster. He was trying to get closer to the Yuheng, not get himself executed for blasphemy.
The dinner concluded on a high note. Having finished their food and their long discussion, Xu Luo and Keqing left the quiet luxury of Xinyue Kiosk and stepped back out into the cool evening air of the harbor. Keqing was in a rush now; she couldn't wait to get back to the Jade Chamber to discuss this new vision for the rule of man with Ningguang and the rest of the Qixing. She thanked Xu Luo one last time before hurrying off toward the city heights.
Not long after the two of them had departed, a dignified figure stepped out from the private room next to theirs. It was Mr. Zhongli. He had been sitting in the adjacent room the entire time, listening to every word of their conversation through the wall. He adjusted his coat and looked toward the harbor with a thoughtful expression. He had to admit that Xu Luo's analysis was remarkably accurate. In many ways, his own retirement plan was designed to function exactly like the "insurance policy" Xu Luo had described.
Perhaps my original plan needs a few minor adjustments based on this perspective.
Zhongli murmured to himself as he began his nightly walk. Even so, he knew that the people of Liyue still needed to be tested. The contract he had held for over three millennia was coming to an end, and he needed to ensure that his people were truly ready to fulfill their part of the bargain.
The Rite of Descension would still be the stage for the final act, and the trial he had prepared would go forward. He looked up at the moon, wondering about the traveler from another world who seemed to understand the heart of Liyue better than most of its citizens. The game was far from over.