“The Emperor and I thought alike.”
Liu Yun’s lips curled into a subtle smile, seemingly pleased that she was on the same wavelength as Zhongli.
“Jiang Yan’s statements about cultivation, let’s set that aside for now. Let’s talk about this Shushan… ”
“All of us in Teyvat, from birth to death, remain here.”
“How can we, without ever leaving Teyvat, use a perspective from beyond the world to judge the existence of Shushan?”
“This isn’t Jiang Yan’s problem, it’s our narrow vision.”
“If there existed someone who had traveled across countless worlds, then perhaps Jiang Yan’s words could be judged.”
“Ultimately, it’s still because Jiang Yan mentioned things like the Great Dao, which are… well, I think this kind of existence is too ethereal, don’t you?”
Liu Yun simply let out a sigh.
But this sigh gave Zhongli a hint.
His eyes lit up, and Zhongli set down his teacup.
“Liu Yun, you reminded me. We may not be sure of the true nature of the world, but I know there is one person who would certainly be aware of these things.”
“Who?”
Seeing the bewildered expressions of the others, Zhongli didn’t say anything, but simply took out a peculiar doll from his pocket dimension.
A sigh escaped him. It was clear that Zhongli didn’t want to contact this person. If Liu Yun and the others could see the face under Zhongli’s hood…
They would probably be frightened.
Zhongli, for the first time ever, seemed conflicted.
But considering Liyue, Zhongli ultimately squeezed the doll.
“Beep beep beep, this is the Alice Hotline. The beautiful and elegant Ms. Alice is currently busy. If you are busy, please hang up.”
“Ms. Alice will get back to you when she has time, in three hundred years. Please wait patiently.”
Liu Yun and the others suddenly realized.
Klee’s mother, the Archon of the Knights of Favonius, Alice.
Someone who’s always been stationed at the borders of Teyvat, even traveling to other worlds many times.
Back then, when she came to Liyue, it was Zhongli himself who hosted her.
Later, who knows what happened. Zhongli came back with a dark expression.
He ordered that no one named Alice be allowed to travel within Liyue.
Rumor has it…
Alice used the kitchen pots at Wangshu Inn to make bombs. This is why Zhongli later made Xiao permanently stationed at Wangshu Inn.
Besides that, there seem to be some other amazing feats, like trying to experiment with a perpetual motion machine using Hilichurls in a certain ruin.
He accidentally caused a small earthquake in Liyue.
But these, presumably, are not the reason for Zhongli’s dark expression.
According to the most unbelievable rumor, someone saw Alice’s bombs… exploding in Zhongli’s face…
Several of his golden scales were broken off.
“Beep beep beep…”
The same words repeated. Zhongli’s face grew darker.
Liu Yun, unsure what was going on, said softly:
“Emperor, since Ms. Alice isn’t here, perhaps…”
Zhongli sighed, and said in a deep voice:
“Alright, stop playing around, Alice. This is the hotline you gave me. Only I can call. I know you’re listening.”
The mechanical-like voice stuttered slightly, then continued.
“Beep beep beep, incorrect password. Please state the hotline name correctly.”
Zhongli’s face grew even darker, with black aura even starting to emanate from behind him.
He knew it! Every time he contacted Alice, the wear and tear would get worse!
“I have business with you!”
“Beep beep beep, you cannot connect without stating the password.”
Liu Yun and the others could clearly tell that Alice was the one speaking.
They wanted to rebuke her for disrespecting the Emperor, but considering her status as Alice, the one even Zhongli would treat with courtesy, the Archon of the Teyvat border…
Everyone pretended not to hear it.
Zhongli took a deep breath and muttered something under his breath.
“Beep beep beep, can’t hear you. Alice-sama won’t respond unless you say it out loud.”
The black aura behind Zhongli was almost obscuring the heavens. If it could be manifested, it would probably be no weaker than Jiang Yan’s Jie Yun (劫云 - Jie Yun, roughly translates to "劫 Cloud").
Grinding his teeth, Zhongli said in a slightly gritted tone:
“Golden… Golden Great Dragon Dragon and the beautiful, elegant Witch-sama’s private hotline.”
“???”
Liu Yun and the others nearly fell off their chairs.
They exchanged glances, finally confirming with disbelief that Zhongli had just said those words.
Realizing this, Liu Yun and the others suddenly felt uneasy.
They had heard Zhongli say such shameful words. They feared that he might kill them to silence them.
Ganyu looked at the paper in her hand where she had recorded a single “Jin” (金 - Jin, meaning "gold"), and silently destroyed it with Elemental Power.
If the people of Liyue found out about this…
Would the Geo Archon still be alive?
“Beep! Password correct. The beautiful and elegant Witch-sama Alice is now online.”
“What does the Golden Great Dragon Dragon want from Alice-sama? Alice-sama’s time is precious, you know.”
The teacup in Zhongli’s hand shattered.
“Speak! Human! Language!”
“Tch… Morax, you’re still as boring as ever! Look at that grumpy old General next door, she doesn’t mind the nicknames I give her.”
Doesn’t mind?
That’s because Ei knows she can’t beat you, and if she wants to tangle with you, she’ll just be annoyed to death. She’s too lazy to bother with you.
This Alice has no idea that every time she goes to Inazuma, Tenryou Commission closes its doors completely?
Zhongli grumbled to himself, but still said in a serious tone:
“Alright, we can chat later. I have a very important matter to ask you. It’s very important. It concerns the future of Liyue.”
The doll’s voice was silent for a moment before Alice spoke again, seemingly slightly more serious.
“What do you want to ask? Let’s get this straight, if it’s about some way to resolve karmic debt, forget it. I’m not omnipotent.”
Hearing this, Zhongli shook his head.
“It’s not karmic debt. Karmic debt has already been resolved. My wear and tear has even reversed by one-fifth.”
“What?!”
Alice’s voice suddenly rose in pitch.
“Who is it! Morax! You’re so unfair! You went to someone else for help! Who is it! Grrr, if Xiao wasn’t unwilling to try my potion, maybe he would have been healed by now!”
Xiao, standing nearby, shuddered and quietly retreated to the side.
“That’s what I want to tell you about.”
Zhongli ignored Alice’s complaints, and said in a deep voice:
“Do you know what’s beyond Teyvat?”
“…”
This time, Alice remained silent for longer, her voice somewhat low.
“Isn’t it just the Sea of Darkness and other worlds? What’s so big about that. Don’t you know that too?”
“No. You know. I’m not looking for that fake news.”
Zhongli’s voice was serious.
“I’ll ask you again. Beyond Teyvat, what exactly is it?”
“The False Sky?”
“Are you still going to play riddles with me?”
Zhongli was a bit dissatisfied. Alice said in a deep voice:
“Morax, I don’t know why you’re asking, but I can tell you that things beyond Teyvat are not meant for you to know.”
“I’m doing this for your own good.”
“Just pretend this conversation never happened. Things have been unstable on the border lately. I’m busy here. Don’t bother me.”
“No! Don’t bother me!”
As she spoke, Alice was about to hang up, as if possessed.
This made Zhongli chuckle a bit.
Before, wherever Alice went, others would avoid her. Now, just because of something beyond the world, she’s become like this?
It seems Jiang Yan’s words are basically confirmed.
Noticing Alice’s intention to hang up, Zhongli said casually:
“The Tree and the Sea, right?”
“What?!”
Alice’s voice suddenly rose in pitch. After she realized what she’d said, she quickly tried to cover it up.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really?”
Zhongli chuckled.
“Alice, you’re flustered. Let me tell you. It’s the Irminsul and the Quantum Sea, right?”
“…Morax! Shut up!”