Chapitre 15: I'm Just a Dragon, How Did I Become the New Geo Archon?
"Geo Archon?"
Ganyu's soft murmur echoed in everyone's ears like a thunderclap.
That single word, Geo Archon, left the entire Wangsheng Funeral Parlor staff in a daze.
"You said what? Geo Archon?"
"It sounded like Lady Ganyu was talking to Huan Huan."
"Lady Ganyu, did you misspeak?"
"Is Huan Huan really connected to the Geo Archon?"
The staff, who had been convinced by Zhongli that Lin Yuan was some kind of mystical creature, were now even more confused.
They thought they must have misheard. After all, Ganyu had served the Geo Archon for countless years. She, more than anyone, would know what the true Geo Archon looked like. There was no way she could mistake Huan Huan for the Geo Archon—unless Huan Huan really had some connection to him?
Hu Tao blinked in surprise, her mind spinning quickly.
If even Ganyu was calling Lin Yuan "Geo Archon," then his species seemed pretty clear now.
It was as if all her luck in life had been spent when she went to Wu Wang Hill to conduct a simple ritual and casually picked up the egg of a creature related to the Geo Archon.
Meanwhile, Zhongli remained silent, his brow slightly furrowed. Ganyu's single word had stirred up a storm in the minds of everyone at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
As for Lin Yuan, the one Ganyu had addressed, he was just as shocked.
"Geo Archon? Is she talking to me?"
Lin Yuan confirmed that Ganyu was indeed staring at him in shock, not at Zhongli, who had already retired.
What was going on? Why was Ganyu calling him Geo Archon, even though she hadn't recognized Zhongli's true identity?
Confused, Lin Yuan looked up and saw himself reflected in a copper mirror nearby.
The image showed a head shaped like a dragon or a serpent, with eyes round as copper bells and two small, undeveloped horns.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He shook his head as if to double-check what he was seeing.
Staring at his reflection, Lin Yuan was dumbfounded.
Wait, I'm a dragon?!
The head and horns looked strikingly similar to the appearance of the Geo Archon's dragon form, except that he hadn't fully grown yet—he was still a young dragon.
No wonder everyone at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor thought he resembled the Geo Archon. They were of the same species!
He was a dragon—the true dragon of Liyue!
Lin Yuan was filled with excitement. He had been reborn as a dragon, a being that was equal to any other living creature in the world.
Feeling a surge of emotion, Lin Yuan instinctively opened his mouth, wanting to let out a mighty roar, but the sound that came out was:
"Ying-ying-ying!"
Lin Yuan quickly stopped himself, internally reassuring himself.
That wasn't some childish noise—it was the roar of a young dragon!
Sure, it might sound a little silly now, but when he grew up, it would transform into a majestic dragon's roar that would awe the world.
Hearing Lin Yuan's squeaky sound, Ganyu couldn't help but smile, her eyes filled with joy as she looked at him.
"Little one, don't worry. When you grow up, all living beings will bow before you."
Ganyu had not expected to encounter a true dragon similar to the Geo Archon on this visit.
She had thought the egg Wangsheng Funeral Parlor picked up might contain a celestial being at most.
Ever since the Geo Archon's departure, despite Ganyu and others working hard to rebuild Liyue, it had always felt like something was missing in a land where gods once walked.
Now, Ganyu understood—they had been missing the hope that the gods would continue to care for their people.
Though Lin Yuan was still a young dragon, Ganyu already saw that hope in him.
"Lady Ganyu, what do you mean by 'Geo Archon'?" one of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor staff finally asked.
Everyone turned to look at Ganyu, as every citizen of Liyue held deep respect and nostalgia for the Geo Archon.
Ganyu, realizing she couldn't leave them puzzled for life, explained softly:
"This little one's appearance is almost identical to that of the Geo Archon in his early form."
Everyone's hearts skipped a beat—so Lin Yuan was indeed the same species as the Geo Archon!
"It's said that a god's dominion is part of the heavens and the earth. Even if a god falls, a new one will be born to take up their mantle."
Ganyu began to reveal some secret knowledge that was considered common sense among powerful beings like her, but for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor staff, it was the first time hearing it. They held their breath, listening intently.
"The neighboring land of Sumeru is proof of this."
Ganyu's expression grew reminiscent.
"After the original Grass God, the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, perished, the Little Lesser Lord Kusanali was born to succeed her."
"However, the transition between the two Grass Gods was anything but smooth. The initial sages of the Akademiya went through great trials before they could find the current Lesser Lord Kusanali."
By now, the listeners were starting to understand the significance of Lin Yuan's existence, their breathing growing heavier.
Ganyu's voice turned sorrowful as she said, "And just recently, our own Geo Archon… passed away..."
She stopped mid-sentence, and a somber atmosphere filled the room. Everyone remained silent, mourning the departed Geo Archon in their hearts.
Not wanting to linger on grief, Ganyu quickly composed herself and looked down at the young dragon in her arms with a faint smile.
"What we didn't expect was that Liyue would find its new-born Geo Archon so easily."
Compared to Sumeru's struggles, Liyue was incredibly fortunate. They hadn't needed to endure political upheaval to discover the new Geo Archon.
Reflecting on the former Geo Archon's passing, Ganyu felt deep regret. Looking at Lin Yuan, now a young dragon, she silently vowed to protect this new Geo Archon and ensure his survival.
The staff of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor were left speechless.
The birth of gods was cyclical?
Had their director just casually picked up the egg of the next Geo Archon from Wu Wang Hill?
Every sentence Ganyu spoke was earth-shattering.
They took a long time to digest this new information.
Especially now, knowing they had almost fed the future Geo Archon some spoiled leftovers, their scalps tingled with fear.
If they had actually succeeded, the wrath of the celestials could have wiped Wangsheng Funeral Parlor off the face of the earth.
Even now, they dared not breathe a word of it.
Meanwhile, Zhongli's internal monologue was one of exasperation.
What are they even talking about?
While technically correct, Lin Yuan wasn't born to replace him.
In fact, the emergence of a new Geo Archon was impossible at this time.
Lin Yuan's birth was an anomaly, one not aligned with the celestial order.
And that's what had left Zhongli in deep thought all along.
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A/N:
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