I'm in the Teyvat running group

“The core of Liyue Chess lies in how to achieve victory using limited methods, but that’s not your personality.” Anya picked up a cup of tea and took two sips. “I’ve seen all your battles and experiences. You could say you’re a preparation maniac. From the earliest Dvalin rescue battle to Oser, as well as the battles of Bushgaro, Gusto, and the Flood Discharge, you wouldn’t enter the fray without being absolutely certain.”

"If we played this game according to your thinking, you might be thinking of building a hundred chariots and then attacking horizontally, right?"

"But the chessboard isn't a battlefield."

"But from the elemental barrier to the storage bag, from the Sealed Spirit Cave Mirror to the artificial demon god core, Yunxiu has increased Teyvat's war potential by a thousandfold in twenty years. I don't think there's anything wrong with that approach. Besides, playing chess can be boring sometimes. I used to play chess with Alice often, but she would come up with other ideas, like turning the chess pieces into bombs that would automatically explode if held in her hand for more than ten seconds..."

"Um... that's a good way to play fast chess." Yunxiu glanced at Nico helplessly. Although he had already fixed Nico's voice, the angel still liked to speak in people's minds like this.

Just as they were about to put the chess pieces back and play another round, they saw a portal open in front of them, and a figure appeared behind them with a white-haired warrior.

It was Okotavia who returned with Skok. The powerful warrior had a hint of fatigue on his face, as if he had just done something very important.

"You're back?" Yunxiu looked at Skek's face, but didn't know how to start, so she could only tentatively ask, "What's the situation with those enemies...?"

“I… took my revenge.” Skok sat down gently and said hesitantly, “I found that planet. They also have their own lives, their own families and friends. I found those who managed the invasions. They are still doing similar things. After seeing my great power, they repented and were even willing to compensate me.”

"I hesitated, but soon, I saw the shadows of them destroying my hometown and slaughtering my relatives and friends... There is an old saying in Liyue: revenge only leads to more revenge. I did think that way at first."

"But I don't want to anymore."

Chapter 535 The Empty Executioner Meets with Worldly Talk

"So...in the end you still..."

“Yes, I did take my revenge in the end.” Skok sighed. “I couldn’t let go of my parents’ gaze, I couldn’t let go of my family’s eyes, I couldn’t let go of the disaster and all the pain from back then…”

"So, I still swung that sword."

Yunxiu certainly understood this feeling.

Your feelings are real, your story is believable, you have a conscience, and your remorse is genuine, but hatred is like a raging fire that will consume everything.

"When will the cycle of revenge end? Only blood debts can be repaid in blood." This is the answer that Skok gave after slaughtering half the planet—it may be cruel, but Yunxiu fully understands.

"Drink up, this is dandelion wine that was just brewed this year." Yunxiu poured a glass of wine for Si Keke, then chuckled, "Congratulations, though."

"Congratulations?" Skok took the glass with some surprise. "I've killed a lot of people... Are you congratulating me?"

“I’m not congratulating you on your revenge; revenge isn’t important. What I’m congratulating you on is that you’re no longer dwelling on it.” Yunxiu also raised her glass and clinked it with hers. “Whatever you do, I will support you because you are my friend. If you let go, I will still congratulate you with this glass, but the most important thing is that you choose for yourself…”

"Isn't this something to celebrate?"

"You really are a strange person."

“Many people say that.” Yunxiu smiled, then looked at Okotavia: “How is that planet now? How many of its inhabitants are still alive?”

“The civilization can still barely be maintained. Skok didn’t actually go too far; in fact, she was quite mild.” Okotavia picked up a bottle of wine and started chugging it straight from the bottle. This witch was quite a hearty person: “She destroyed almost all the Abyss Anchors on the entire planet with just a few sword strikes. Many people living around them perished as a result, but other places were not affected much.”

"This is quite common in the universe. It seems that the struggle against the so-called dark fate is really quite fierce." Yunxiu sighed, but didn't say anything more. It was good that Skoke wasn't bothered by it anymore.

It's not that I don't feel anything about killing, but rather that it has little to do with good or evil anymore.

At this point, all that's left is the law of the jungle: you kill me, I kill you. Since you can kill others, it's only natural that one day a strong person from someone else's child might come out to take revenge on you.

The tea party lasted a while longer before everyone dispersed, as they all had their own things to do.

Yunxiu flew all the way back to his home. At the entrance of Wanmintang, he saw a familiar figure playing with a child. Besides Daiyin, there was another unexpected person with him.

“Kong, this is…Ms. Asmodé? We’ve had quite a few dealings before.” Yunxiu smiled at the two of them. “You two have finally come to talk things out? That’s a good thing, it’s rare. It seems you’ve come for the final stop as well.”

“I’m just here to see Pingchen and Anxing. In this battle, I will help you stabilize the moon and prevent it from being corrupted by the abyss… That’s one of your backup plans, isn’t it?” Kong looked at Yunxiu and smiled, then continued, “As for Lady Asmodie, she’s here to see this divine kingdom.”

"To be honest, we just met."

“I’ve known you for a long time,” Asmodie said slowly, but she didn’t continue, seemingly waiting for Yunxiu to ask something.

Yunxiu didn't have anything to ask, and the three of them just stared at each other awkwardly until Kong couldn't stand the atmosphere any longer. In the end, Kong couldn't bear it any longer and left with Pingchen.

Asmodie didn't seem embarrassed at all; instead, he sat down in place, as if waiting for Yunxiu to speak.

“I don’t really have much to ask. In fact, I think no one knows Teyvat better than me right now.” Yunxiu finally broke the awkward silence: “Or is it that Ms. Asmodie has something she has to say that she insists I say?”

“I’ve met your mother and told her some things… because I fought you in that battle, which is one of the reasons I betrayed you.” Asmodeus seemed to have made up his mind before slowly speaking: “As for why I’m completely on this side, it’s because you saved Zhiqiong that time.”

“In every timeline, Zhiqiong dies, although it may not be at that specific point in time, but she will definitely experience an absolutely magnificent death. This is an ironclad rule.”

"But you have altered the destiny star, shattered a star of the divine plan... even if it is only one."

"To be honest, I don't quite understand. Is Fanes really that powerful?" Yunxiu reached out and took out a peculiar book from behind her back. She opened it and showed it to Asmodie. It contained records of battles and past stories that she had had recorded over the years.

However, this book is difficult to sell.

“We are her shadows, of course we know how powerful she is… Like during the War of the Dead, she was practically fighting against the world, but she still won.” Asmodian glanced at Yunxiu: “Wasn’t your clone one of the participants back then? Don’t you know how powerful she is?”

"Then you should also know that the reason I didn't continue fighting is probably only half because it was really difficult to fight." Yunxiu did not deny Fanes' strength, but he did not think the matter was that simple.

“I know you’re doing this so that Teyvat can survive… but have you considered this: what about Fanes?” Asmodian shook his head: “In the future, or rather now, you have the ability to save the Teyvats even without Fanes. Aren’t you going to go all out and fight a massive battle to completely change this world?”

Yunxiu didn't speak, but his expression said it all.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Asmodeus or Fanes, but at this point, almost everyone was already beyond redemption.

Concession not only means utter annihilation, but also the loss of everything, which is absolutely unacceptable.

“I understand. It seems the conflict is indeed irreconcilable.” Asmodeus sighed. “If this is my request… I hope you can be lenient in the end?”

“To be honest, you are more confident than I am, so let’s lay it out—do you think I’m the kind of person who enjoys killing?” Yunxiu held up a finger: “Strictly speaking, since I came to this world, there has only been one person I genuinely wanted to kill quickly. You should have met him. His original name was Zandik, and he was a researcher at the Church of Christ and a doctor of the Fools.”

"Apart from that, based on my personal likes and dislikes, I can almost say that I haven't killed many people."

"Besides, I don't have any grudge against Fanes... On the contrary, I still support him becoming an administrator. He's quite capable; he just took the wrong path at the beginning."

The Teyvat world is a mess; no one is truly wrong, and no one is truly right. Everyone is simply in a limited environment, and they all achieve a result that isn't too bad, including what the Doctor did in the original timeline.

But this is precisely what Yunxiu hates most.

Yunxiu is not averse to grand narratives, nor is she averse to the sacrifices that grand narratives require.

However, whether there are sacrifices, who makes the sacrifices, and why these people make the sacrifices are other questions altogether.

Can you say that many of the things the PhD did were wrong? From a global perspective, they were not wrong.

But if we look at it from the other side of the world, were those people who were used for experiments, those people who struggled in pain, really necessary sacrifices?

The so-called necessary sacrifice refers to a situation where your initial purpose and methods are good, but some things happen unavoidably during the process.

Instead of forcing them to sacrifice themselves from the outset and then glorifying it as a necessary sacrifice, that's pure robber logic.

So he simply killed the doctor to prevent him from doing anything else. As for information, the world, and experiments, he would find a way to deal with that.

It's like you can tell people over fifty to step forward and then lead the way to the moon to drop a nuclear bomb, but you can't be forty-eight years old and then call on people over fifty to step forward while you stand still in line.

Then, after enjoying the fruits of their labor, to shamelessly claim that it was a necessary sacrifice is utterly ridiculous.

"You really are the strangest person I've ever met." Asmodie remained silent for a long time before finally uttering these words.

“Someone just said that, so it seems you two are the same kind of people.” Yunxiu chuckled, then continued, “If you have any other questions, feel free to tell me. I’ll see if I can resolve them before the war. As for after the war… you can go to the New World if you want, or stay here; I won’t interfere.”

"I have no problem now. Since several of my colleagues have joined your camp, I will naturally join as well. Since everyone has betrayed you, there is no such thing as betrayal anymore."

Yunxiu chuckled and summoned Ayaka Kamisato, arranging for Asmodian to stay. His backyard had truly become the place with the most monsters and demons in Teyvat. The Witches' Guild, the Seven Gods, the Four Shadows, the Five Great Sinners... it could be said that he had some connection with almost everyone.

With my own family also joining in, it was indeed incredibly lively.

"Tomorrow... is the anniversary of the flood discharge war. After the oath-taking ceremony, we will officially begin the war." Yunxiu flipped his hand, and a small box appeared in his hand.

He gently opened the box, inside was 292 Mora, left over from the first time the Emperor invited him to dinner, which he had kept until now.

"An Li, An Li!" Yun Xiu called out to his daughter twice, and soon saw a young girl running over: "Father, is there something you need?"

“Go to Sanwanbugugang and buy some wine, the kind your grandfather usually drinks, and use this Mora.” Yunxiu handed a small handful of Mora to Yun Anli: “Remember, make sure you spend all this money, and then let this Mora return to circulation.”

"I want to have a meal with your grandfather..."

Chapter 536 Joining Hands to Face the Future!

"Mortals have an emotion called anxiety. You have become a god, yet you still have this emotion. It is indeed rare. Having emotions is a good thing."

“Your Majesty, it’s just the two of us, so there’s no need to make things so complicated…” Yunxiu poured a cup of tea in a very obsequious manner: “Besides, isn’t my strength still a bit behind yours?”

“In terms of order and protection, you have already surpassed me… As for why your strength is still somewhat lacking, it’s mainly due to the lack of experience.” Zhongli shook his head, took a sip of tea, and continued, “In terms of understanding the laws, you have reached the pinnacle, and in terms of building systems, few can surpass you.”

"As for faith and anchors, even among the seven gods of Teyvat, none can surpass you. You can be considered a true 'Ancestor of the Dao,' a fact I must acknowledge."

"But right now, you're still lacking that ease and grace. Only time can bring that, but for you, making up for it would just be icing on the cake."

Yunxiu chuckled, not denying it, because in terms of strength, he had indeed reached that level.

Once its own laws become a world, they combine with its own small world to form a double-cycle perpetual motion state of laws. No attack from a single direction can break this cycle; it can only enter a single cycle.

With Yunxiu's powerful spatial magic, no one among the Seven Gods could defeat him.

Moreover, the faith is indeed sufficient, because he is a genuine god of magic, and may even be more powerful than all the mages in Teyvat history combined.

After all, he already had a demigod-level mage disciple under his command. Zhilin successfully entered the realm of demigods and even had her own demigod law—the Imprint.

Although it can only be considered a minor branch of the law, it truly allowed her to stand on the demigod level. Even though the advantages of the Scribes were weakened considerably at the demigod stage, they still possessed very strong combat power. Moreover, due to the characteristics of their profession, the Scribes were among the most well-rounded demigods, although their ultimate abilities were not particularly strong.

“But I’ve actually been thinking about whether this war is necessary…” Yunxiu thought for a moment and then voiced her concerns: “With my current strength, if I take over Fanes’ position, I can at least buy Teyvat a hundred years to develop, because my laws are more suitable than his.”

"This way, almost no one will die, and the impact on me won't be significant... it's only a hundred years."

"Oh?" Zhongli chuckled at his expression, then suddenly said, "In that case, come with me to the Heyu Teahouse today to listen to a storytelling performance. Today is the latest episode of 'The Tale of Master Yunxiu Subduing Demons.'"

?

Although Yunxiu was full of doubts, she still obediently followed Zhongli and set off.

The old man still enjoys walking, so he naturally walked from Wanmintang to Heyu Teahouse step by step.

Along the way, he greeted all sorts of people. It had been almost twenty years since the Emperor retired, and most of the plaques along the way had been replaced with those inscribed by the Emperor. Although these things were theoretically very valuable, almost every decent shop in Liyue Harbor had one.

The old man asked this question for free; he was just doing it for fun. Plus a meal, that basically satisfied all his needs.

"Hey! Your Majesty and True Lord Yun are here together today? Same place as always?" The waiter at the teahouse quickly spotted the two approaching and rushed over enthusiastically: "Today is a crucial day for Old Liu. His own family members are said to be going to the battlefield, so after finishing this episode, Old Liu will also be going to support the front lines!"

“Very good, the soldiers at the front also need some interesting things.” Zhongli chuckled, and a glint of light condensed in his hand, revealing a peculiar talisman: “This is my gift to Liu Su, it should be able to save him from death once.”

The shopkeeper accepted the talisman with a mixture of envy and surprise, thanked him respectfully, and then left.

Yunxiu followed Zhongli to his usual spot, a corner at the back of the teahouse. Zhongli usually sat there, partly for the peace and quiet, and partly to avoid disturbing the teahouse.

Before long, a waiter brought over three plates of snacks and a pot of tea. Perhaps knowing that Yunxiu wasn't very interested in tea, the teahouse also prepared several bottles of soda and two ice cups for him so he could drink iced soda.