Rebuilding Liyue Harbor! The Name of the Divine Dragon Archon Spreads Throughout Liyue!

Over the past few days, Liyue Harbor has been working hard to rebuild after the recent earthquake and the invasion of a great demon. Life must go on for the people, and now the city is bustling with reconstruction efforts. Everywhere you look, people are busy working.

"Hand me the hammer!"

"Careful, careful, make way! Alright, it's set. One, two, three, lift!"

Near these busy construction workers stood a young girl with cat-ear-shaped hair, surrounded by members of the Qianyan Army, intently studying the blueprints in her hands.

"Lady Keqing, the personnel and materials for the western district have all been arranged, and the rebuilding has begun!" reported a Qianyan soldier, saluting respectfully after speaking.

"Very good!" Keqing wiped her forehead and continued studying the blueprints. As one of the Qixing in charge of construction, the post-disaster reconstruction fell directly within her responsibilities.

"What about the eastern district?" she asked.

"Lady Keqing, there's been a landslide near Mount Tianheng. The stones needed for the eastern district's construction are blocked by the debris, and it'll take two days to clear."

Keqing frowned and thought for a moment before giving orders, "We can't afford any delays in the reconstruction!"

"There's a stock of reserve stones in the warehouse. Take my seal and use them to get started. Once the external supply arrives, we can restock."

Keqing handed over a jade token, a symbol of her authority as Yuheng of the Qixing, to a Qianyan soldier. The soldier accepted it with both hands and went to carry out her orders.

Keqing continued overseeing the reconstruction efforts. Since the death of the former Geo Archon, Liyue had faced several disasters. Fortunately, the appearance of the new Archon had prevented Liyue Harbor from falling completely into chaos.

This reconstruction, apart from being a necessary response to the current atmosphere of resilience in Liyue, was also the first major task the Qixing had taken on since the new Archon's arrival. Success or failure in this endeavor would not only reflect the new Archon's opinion of the Qixing but also shape the public's perception of him. After all, the previous Geo Archon had ruled Liyue with unparalleled wisdom for over three thousand years.

If the new Archon could not even oversee the rebuilding of the city, the contrast would be stark (though Lin Yuan, the new Archon, had no direct involvement in the reconstruction). Therefore, the Qixing unanimously agreed that this task could not be delayed, and Keqing was given full authority to mobilize resources. If needed, they could even tap into personal resources from other members of the Qixing to make up for any shortages Liyue Harbor might face.

Along with the affected civilians and the Qianyan Army, many Vision bearers, inspired by the appearance of the new Archon, voluntarily joined in the reconstruction efforts. And in their breaks from work, everyone—regardless of status or background—would sit together, drink, and share stories, enjoying moments of camaraderie amidst their hard work.

Although the earthquake brought massive destruction to Liyue, the current atmosphere is notably relaxed. This sense of relief stems from the presence of the new Geo Archon, Lin Yuan, known as the Dragon Emperor. After the battle with Azhdaha, the name of the Dragon Emperor has become widely known.

The people of Liyue had witnessed an overwhelming scene: A mighty foe that even the adepti couldn't defeat, and Ningguang, despite sacrificing the Jade Chamber once again, was powerless to stop. Yet, in the face of the Dragon Emperor, Azhdaha was easily crushed, like a child before a giant.

The citizens of Liyue may not fully understand the lofty principles of the Seven Archons, but they know one thing clearly—Liyue is still protected by a god, even after Rex Lapis.

Liyue has a history of divine rule spanning 3,700 years, and the dependence on their Archon is not something that can be easily shaken off. Beyond matters of faith or spiritual reliance, in a world like Teyvat, where superhuman power reigns supreme, without the strength of a god, it would be impossible to defend against powerful threats like the demons and monsters that even the combined efforts of the adepti and the Qixing struggle to fend off—let alone the ordinary people.

Thus, the Dragon Emperor, as the new Geo Archon, quickly gained the support of the people.

In just a few days, storytellers all over Liyue began spreading tales of Lin Yuan's heroic deeds!

At a popular venue in Liyue known as "Wanmin Restaurant," business has been booming lately, and the main attraction is none other than Tian Tiezui's recounting of the Dragon Emperor's stories.

"Snap!" Tian Tiezui flicked open his folding fan.

"Last time, we spoke of the great evil dragon terrorizing the land, shaking the very mountains of Liyue!" he said. "This dragon's rampage caused endless earthquakes, reducing homes to rubble and forcing countless people to flee!"

"But then, responding to the prayers of Liyue's people, the Dragon Emperor appeared from the heavens!"

"He descended into the Valley of the Dragon, where he clashed with the mighty beast. In that battle, the sky darkened, and the earth trembled as the Dragon Emperor transformed into his true, colossal dragon form, battling the evil dragon alone!"

"And in the end, the Dragon Emperor triumphed, sealing away the evil dragon and restoring peace to Liyue!"

"Swish!" With a quick flick of his fan, Tian Tiezui ended the story about the Dragon Emperor's battle in the Valley of the Dragon.

"Bravo! Bravo!" The crowd erupted in applause, cheering loudly.

Tian Tiezui grinned, showing all his teeth as he bowed in gratitude. "Thank you, everyone! Let me give you another tale..."

"As I mentioned before, after the Dragon Emperor subdued the dragon in the valley, a great sea demon soon rose to threaten Liyue."

"The adepti and the Qixing gathered to face the demon, with Ningguang even sacrificing the Jade Chamber, but they were unable to halt its advance."

"At that critical moment, the Dragon Emperor reappeared, and with one breath of his dragon flame, he burned the demon to ash…"

Though some of these tales had a basis in truth, many of them had been exaggerated. Some stories claimed Lin Yuan was the reincarnation of the previous Geo Archon, while others said he was a naturally born divine dragon—various forms of praise and admiration.

The Qixing welcomed these tales, seeing no reason to downplay Lin Yuan's fame. Unlike Sumeru's Akademiya, which sought to distance itself from its own Archon, the Qixing wanted Lin Yuan's reputation to grow as large as possible.

Meanwhile, seated in the crowd, sipping tea, Zhongli nodded with a smile. Liyue now had a new Geo Archon.

He was now truly retired, no longer needing to secretly intervene whenever Liyue faced danger, as he had previously anticipated. Everything could now be entrusted to the Dragon Emperor. This allowed him to enjoy a more peaceful and leisurely life wandering the world.

Meanwhile, Liyue's new Geo Archon, the Dragon Emperor Lin Yuan, was lounging lazily in his cradle, with a milk bottle hanging from his mouth! When Hu Tao opened the door, she was met with the sight of Lin Yuan sprawled out on the bed like a dragon pancake. Beside him, the Pure Water Spirit Lottia, his loyal companion, had summoned a water bubble to massage Lin Yuan's dragon body.

"Ahh, so comfortable!" Lin Yuan exclaimed with satisfaction.

This sight left Hu Tao utterly shocked. She had witnessed Lin Yuan in his magnificent dragon form, towering above everything, obliterating Azhdaha with a single move. Yet now, seeing him lounging around like this, Hu Tao couldn't reconcile the two images in her mind.

"You silly dragon! You've become the new Archon, and yet you're still lazing around every day like this!" Frustrated, Hu Tao rushed over and grabbed Lin Yuan, shouting at him.

"Huh?" Lin Yuan lazily opened one eye, glancing at Hu Tao before continuing to enjoy Lottia's massage. He didn't seem bothered by her scolding; after all, Hu Tao's strength wasn't enough to affect his powerful dragon body. He lazily flipped over and said, "What do you want me to do? I'm just a baby, not even a month old!"

Hu Tao's eye twitched, contemplating whether to give this lazy dragon a good beating.

At that moment, one of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor officials rushed in, calling out, "Master!"

He then noticed Lin Yuan lying on the bed and addressed him, "Your Excellency, the Geo Archon, Ningguang has arrived and wishes to meet you!"

Ningguang? Could it be that she's here to bring more gifts? Hu Tao's eyes sparkled with excitement. Previously, when Lin Yuan was being raised as the next Archon, the Qixing had sent many gifts. Now that he had officially taken up the title, surely they would send even more!

"Let's go!" Hu Tao immediately scooped Lin Yuan up in her arms and quickly headed to the main hall. Lin Yuan shook his head, knowing what Hu Tao was thinking, but this time, he was sure she'd be disappointed.

"Your Excellency!" Ningguang greeted him with a respectful bow when Lin Yuan appeared.

After the battle with Azhdaha, the Qixing truly came to revere the new Geo Archon. Ningguang's visit to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor this time was to report on Liyue's current state of affairs and seek Lin Yuan's opinion on various matters.

"No need for formalities. Just say what you need to," Lin Yuan said casually as he found a comfortable spot to sit. He figured Ningguang was there to discuss governance. While he had inherited the position from his predecessor, in terms of experience, he could only meet the Archon's standard of power. Handling Liyue's governance, however, was a different story—he didn't have Zhongli's three thousand years of administrative experience.

"Understood!" Ningguang began, "In the recent earthquake and ocean disaster, Liyue suffered considerable losses… the reconstruction efforts have already begun." She briefly outlined the situation, providing a general report to give Lin Yuan an overview of Liyue's current state.

While she spoke, Ningguang carefully observed Lin Yuan's reaction. Seeing no signs of impatience, she began to understand that he didn't seem to mind the Qixing's handling of administrative duties. Lin Yuan himself felt no dissatisfaction. Though he wasn't planning on directly managing governance, as the new Archon, it was his duty to at least keep an eye on things and ensure he wasn't being misled by his subordinates.

Currently, with his authority at its peak, the Qixing wouldn't dare deceive him. However, in the long run, if a new set of Qixing arose and he remained disengaged, there was a possibility they could develop ulterior motives that might hinder Liyue's progress. In such a scenario, he knew he could correct the course, but it would be best to avoid unnecessary turbulence altogether.

"Now, the current Tianshu Star is approaching retirement age. Does the Archon have any guidance on the selection of a successor?" Ningguang asked respectfully.

The Qixing's system of governance had been set up by Zhongli, and Lin Yuan realized they were worried he might want to change things. After all, they couldn't very well ask him outright if he was dissatisfied with the system, so this was their roundabout way of seeking reassurance.

The successor to the Tianshu Star? Lin Yuan vaguely remembered that, according to the game's storyline, there was a character named Zhiyi who had attempted to poison the current Tianshu Star. Thinking of this, he replied to Ningguang, "I have no objections to the matters of the Qixing."

After a moment's pause, he added a precaution, "However, in selecting the new Qixing members, both character and ability must be given equal weight." Whether or not the events of the game would unfold in the same way, he couldn't be sure, but he decided to give some guidance nonetheless.

Ningguang continued to report on a few other major governance issues, seeking his input. After listening for a while, Lin Yuan found his head spinning from the endless details and waved his paw dismissively, indicating that the Qixing could handle the administrative affairs on their own.

Once Ningguang had left, Lin Yuan returned to his room to resume his leisurely routine—drinking milk and enjoying massages from Lotteya. Over the next few days, Lin Yuan stayed hidden in the depths of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, rarely venturing out.

Although he had reduced his size, his distinguishing features remained the same, and it was easy for people to recognize him on the street. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he decided to stay home most of the time.

During this period, Ningguang continued to report on Liyue's governmental affairs from time to time. Thanks to the heightened memory granted by his dragon form, Lin Yuan quickly formed a detailed picture of Liyue's overall situation. As he became more familiar with the state of the city, Ningguang's reports became less frequent, focusing only on summaries of major events.

In the meantime, Liyue gradually returned to its previous state. The new Archon's reputation spread widely, and many people no longer dared to act as brazenly as they once had.

However, some people, after spending time together, could return to their previous attitude, while others became even more "bold." Take Ganyu, for example!

These past days, Ganyu had been coming to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor almost every day. Ever since she started seeing Lin Yuan as the next Geo Archon, she had been taking great care of him. Now, she was even more attentive—if it weren't for her responsibilities to Liyue's affairs, she might as well have become his full-time nanny. Even Ningguang mentioned it during one of her reports. Ganyu already had a lot of administrative work, and now she was squeezing in time to care for Lin Yuan, becoming visibly more exhausted by the day. It was only after Lin Yuan persuaded her that she stopped coming so frequently.

Then there was Keqing.

One day, as Lin Yuan was resting in his cradle, the funeral parlor's attendant brought Keqing in. Upon seeing him, she immediately picked him up and started playing with him. Lin Yuan opened his eyes, looking exasperated. "You again?"

Keqing didn't mind and continued to toss him around, playing with his dragon body. Lin Yuan let her be, treating it as a massage. After confirming that Lin Yuan had accepted his role as the new Geo Archon, Keqing had initially kept her distance. However, after one report with Ningguang, realizing that Lin Yuan hadn't changed much, she gradually stopped caring about his title, seeing him more as a friend.

After a while, Keqing suddenly stopped playing with him. Lin Yuan assumed she was about to leave, but then he heard her say, "I was too naive before… thinking I could compare myself to the Archon. Do I really have the qualifications?"

Looking over, Lin Yuan saw Keqing's face filled with uncertainty. It seemed the recent events in Liyue had shaken her. Lin Yuan squirmed in her arms, finding a more comfortable spot before saying with a hint of schadenfreude, "What's wrong? Can't handle the administration, huh? Haha!"

Keqing, annoyed, grabbed him a few more times in response. "Yeah, and you, the new Archon, aren't helping out! Shouldn't you be taking over these responsibilities?"

Of course, it was just a complaint. Keqing was actually quite happy with Lin Yuan delegating power. She still preferred human governance over divine rule, though she was a bit embarrassed about her previous overconfidence. "Weren't you the one who had no respect for the gods?" Lin Yuan teased.

Keqing shot him a glare but couldn't help feeling better after spending some time at the funeral parlor. Rather than wallowing in frustration, she realized it was better to work hard and learn more. After a bit more banter with Lin Yuan, she left to continue managing Liyue's affairs.

Lin Yuan, on the other hand, went back to his cozy spot to rest once again.

-----------------

T/N:

Get 20 advanced chapters at p@treon.com/Ashborn69. Your support helps me so much Thank you!