Travel through Teyvat and spend your life with Linghua

Chapter 257 Zhongli's Decision

After saying this, Xianyun looked at Zhongli eagerly and asked respectfully, "Emperor, you once suggested that we prepare for a possible war in the future. Could you please tell us about that in detail now?"

"War? Why would they start another war?" Gui Zhong's expression suddenly grew serious, her eyes filled with panic and anxiety. The word "war" was like a scar that would never heal for her. "Zhongli, what on earth is going on?"

Zhongli sighed helplessly and patted Guizhong's shoulder, trying to calm her. "Don't get excited yet. I was planning to tell you this later. Now that it's mentioned, I won't hide it anymore. In the near future, the continent of Teyvat may stir up a storm declaring war on Sky Island."

Zhongli paused briefly before continuing, "The Queen of Winter, through numerous and meticulous tests, concluded that Heaven's Law might still be dormant. Therefore, I struck a pact with her. She sent the Fatui to assist me in testing whether the people of Liyue were capable of protecting themselves after leaving the divine protection. In return, I gave them the Heart of God."

Gui Zhong frowned and asked in confusion, "According to this, it should be Zhidong who declared war. Why do you say it was the continent of Teyvat? And how does this relate to Liyue?"

Zhongli shook his head slowly, his expression grim: "Although the Queen of Winter promised me that she would do her utmost to prevent the war from affecting Liyue. But this time the opponent is Sky Island. Once the war breaks out, the entire continent of Teyvat will be involved. How can the Seven Kingdoms remain immune? Liyue will naturally not be spared. In the past, I might have been lucky and hoped that Liyue could avoid this disaster. But now, my thoughts have changed." A trace of determination and ruthlessness flashed in Zhongli's eyes.

Guizhong subconsciously grasped Zhongli's hand, his emotions boiling: "No, Morax, as the god of Liyue, you cannot make such a risky and irresponsible decision!"

Zhongli grasped Guizhong's hand with his backhand, his gaze firm. "Guizhong, everything I've done so far was to test whether the people of Liyue could survive independently without me. Facts have proven that even without Morax's protection, Liyue can still function normally. They already possess the ability to protect their homeland."

Gui Zhong's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with worry. "That being said, the scale of this war and the high stakes are incalculable. Liyue has endured countless hardships to achieve its current peace and prosperity. How can we easily be drawn into this terrible conflict?"

Zhongli gazed resolutely into the distance, his tone steady and forceful, "In the end, I never acted impulsively. Liyue today, with its united manpower and united will, possesses a solid foundation to resist external enemies. Furthermore, the fate of Teyvat should not be forever controlled by Sky Island. If we can seize this opportunity to break Sky Island's shackles, it will be a chance for the entire continent to be reborn."

Zhongli's gaze slowly turned to Guizhong, a mixture of tenderness and determination in his eyes. "Guizhong, I am both Morax, who has protected Liyue for a thousand years, and Zhongli, who now wanders the mortal world. Thousands of years ago, you were brutally murdered by the law of nature. How can I forget this deep blood feud? Shouldn't I seek justice for you?"

Hearing this, Gui Zhong's body trembled violently, and tears instantly filled her eyes. The painful memories came flooding back like a raging tide. The devastating disaster she had endured had left her with a deep understanding of the cruelty of war.

"Morax... I never imagined you would keep this so deep in your heart, and regard it so seriously." Gui Zhong's voice trembled, and he burst into tears. "But even so, the cost of war is too heavy. Countless innocent lives may be lost. How can we so easily embark on this road of no return filled with blood and death?"

Zhongli gently embraced Guizhong in his arms, softly stroking her hair, and whispered soothingly, "Guizhong, I completely understand your concerns. Every life is inestimably precious, and I understand this better than anyone. Look at Liyue today. On the surface, the people live and work in peace and contentment. But beneath this seemingly peaceful surface, undercurrents surge. Sky Island's control over the continent of Teyvat is like an invisible and heavy yoke, ruthlessly fettering the development of every nation and imprisoning the fate of every individual."

Gui Zhong leaned on Zhongli's shoulder, tears silently soaking his clothes. "Morax, even if what you say is true, are we truly certain of winning this war?" Gui Zhong's voice trembled with despair. "Liyue's current prosperity has been hard-earned. I truly fear it will all be wiped out in the flames of war."

Zhongli patted Guizhong's back gently. "Guizhong, I'm not blindly optimistic. Over the years, I've witnessed the growth and transformation of the people of Liyue. They've demonstrated through their actions their unwavering will and fearless courage. Today, Liyue not only has the resourceful Seven Stars coordinating the overall situation, but also numerous righteous immortals. The combined strength of all these forces has forged an indestructible force. We will surely fight this war to the bitter end and secure our own chance of survival."

"Furthermore, since the Winter Queen dared to provoke this war, she must have a plan and a reason behind it." Zhongli's gaze was penetrating, revealing a precise understanding of the situation. "We in Liyue only need to be fully prepared and cooperate with her to increase our chances of victory."

Gui Zhong slowly raised his head, the hesitation in his eyes gradually dissipating, replaced by a firm determination. "I really can't convince you. Fine, I believe in you, Morax, and I also believe in the strength of the people of Liyue. But no matter what, you are not allowed to act on impulse. The safety of the people must come first."