Bab 19: Liyue's Next God? The Little Dragon Lord!
Lin Yuan, who was in the middle of drinking milk, felt everyone's gazes on him. His little claws froze, and he slowly put down the bottle.
Being watched by so many people while drinking milk was just too embarrassing.
The Qixing observed him carefully, marveling:
"Look at those dark yellow scales, golden five claws, and tiny horns. He's going to grow into a magnificent dragon."
"Dragons are born as the strongest beings in Teyvat. We should take good care of him as he grows."
"Do you think this little guy could become the next Geo Archon?"
With that statement, the room fell silent again. Was this small creature before them really Liyue's future Geo Archon?
They recalled the awe-inspiring presence of the previous Geo Archon, and now they looked at the adorable Lin Yuan, lost in thought.
Tianshu Xing was the first to speak:
"I support this little one. He looks just like the Geo Archon. I'm sure he'll grow to be as great as the Geo Archon."
The other Qixing members soon chimed in:
"Tianshu is right. We Qixing should assist him in becoming the new Geo Archon—it's our duty."
"With a new Geo Archon, the people of Liyue can finally feel secure again."
"I'm willing to spend the rest of my days watching him grow."
Most of the Qixing agreed to honor Lin Yuan as the new Geo Archon.
During the time since the Geo Archon had departed, their longing for him had only deepened. Liyue, from top to bottom, had been enveloped in a sentiment of reminiscing about the Geo Archon era.
Now, seeing Lin Yuan, they all planned to do everything they could to support him, waiting for the new Geo Archon to take his rightful place.
Tianshu Xing, noticing that most of his colleagues were in agreement, suggested:
"Why don't we announce this to the public right away? It'll boost the morale of the people."
In the wake of the god's departure, many in Liyue had fallen into spiritual disarray. Upon learning of Lin Yuan's existence, the people would finally have a new pillar of hope.
Just as the Qixing were about to send someone to deliver the news, Keqing, who had remained silent until now, sternly interrupted:
"Hold on. Liyue has already entered an era of human governance. We don't need to rely on divine protection anymore."
Keqing's words surprised the other Qixing, and they paused to reflect. Her gaze was calm yet resolute.
Since the Geo Archon's departure, Keqing had spearheaded Liyue's development and had come to realize how challenging the Geo Archon's role had been. However, this didn't make her yearn for the Archon's return. Instead, she became even more committed to the idea of human governance.
Though their development was not as swift and efficient as it had been under the Archon's guidance, the very process of human rule was a valuable experience in itself. With enough time, Liyue could certainly flourish to the same degree as it had in the past.
Lin Yuan glanced at Keqing and found himself a little impressed. In a world where gods still walked among mortals, Keqing's unwavering belief in human governance was indeed remarkable.
However, Lin Yuan himself wasn't particularly attached to the concept of either human or divine rule. While his past life came from a modern world, the two worlds were vastly different.
In a land like Teyvat, where powerful gods roamed, reverting to divine rule didn't seem all that unreasonable. After all, above the gods was the Heavenly Principles and the primordial being.
In a world where strength was paramount, human governance was fine, but pushing the envelope too far could very well invite the wrath of the heavens. The downfall of Khaenri'ah was the ultimate testament to that.
After pondering for a while, several members of the Qixing, with stern expressions, countered Keqing's stance:
"Keqing, after all this time, you still cling to such naive ideas."
"The gods care for humanity. Letting the new Geo Archon protect Liyue is only for the betterment of the people."
"I have always admired the wisdom of the Geo Archon. No matter how long we govern, we'll never match his capabilities."
Several members rebuked Keqing's argument. They weren't suggesting that they assist Lin Yuan because they were shirking their duties or felt overwhelmed. As some of the most brilliant minds of their time, the Qixing were pragmatists. If having a new Geo Archon would benefit Liyue, they were more than willing to place Lin Yuan in that position.
Besides, their affection for the Geo Archon ran deep. To them, Lin Yuan, who bore a striking resemblance to him, was almost an extension of that bond.
Keqing's eyes flickered with a trace of anger, and she firmly retorted:
"It's precisely because of this experience that I've come to understand the Geo Archon's true intentions. He would prefer to see Liyue as it is now."
The other Qixing members responded:
"The Geo Archon's intentions were always for the betterment of Liyue. We're merely continuing his will."
"Yuheng Xing has always opposed the Archon's guidance. This sentiment is understandable."
"If helping Liyue means bearing the burden of regression, I'm willing to accept the criticism."
Among the seven prominent leaders, aside from Keqing, most were now aligned in favor of Lin Yuan's ascension. Some elder members were even willing to risk their reputations to support this course of action, proving they were not shying away from the challenges of human rule.
Lin Yuan, watching the scene unfold, didn't expect his presence would cause such a divide among the Qixing.
The group had clearly split into two factions: those who supported divine rule and those advocating for human governance. At the moment, Keqing stood alone on the side of human rule, while the remaining members supported Lin Yuan as the next Archon.
All eyes now turned toward Ningguang, who had yet to voice her opinion. As one of the wealthiest individuals in Liyue and perhaps the most influential among the Qixing, her decision was crucial.
Though Ningguang personally agreed with Keqing's viewpoint, she took into account Liyue's current atmosphere and the opinions of the other Qixing before making her choice. With a light smile, she finally spoke:
"You've all forgotten that this little one has only just been born and still has much growing to do."
Lin Yuan, returning to his milk, thought, None of this concerns me.
"By the time he's grown, perhaps many of us will have already been replaced by a new generation. So, this argument doesn't hold much weight."
Ningguang's words prompted the others to reflect. Even they had to admit that she had a point.
Realizing that the moment was ripe, Ningguang continued:
"Why don't we strike a balance between the two? While this new Geo Archon is clearly not ready to protect Liyue, we'll continue with human rule for now. When he matures and proves himself capable, we can recognize him as our Archon."
The other members of the Qixing nodded in agreement. Even Keqing found Ningguang's proposal reasonable.
Thus, they decided to remain in the era of human rule, awaiting the day when Lin Yuan would grow into his full potential.
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A/N:
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